Well it has taken me a while to come down from the high of yesterday. I have to tell you that I was petrified before the event but once everyone was seated in the room, I started to feel more comfortable. It was quite difficult for me last year when you all started asking for a meet to be organised because I myself had never attended one before and didn't know what you all would expect from the day.
Everyone was very kind and the general feeling seems to be that you all enjoyed it. I was extremely proud of the way EMI supported the event, Steve Woof pulled out all the stops, not just with the CD's in the goodie bags but in having that gorgeous photograph of daddy reproduced for us - that photo is an exclusive - but boy was I jealous when I saw the "Rare Monro" artwork which he had donated as a special prize. He had told me about it months ago and thought it would be a good idea as no member of the public has ever had one of these. They are made up in Holland and batch numbered. Once the artwork of an album has been approved the remaining copies of the artwork are destroyed so it really is a precious item. With everything that was going on yesterday I don't even remember who won it but maybe one of you could fill me in.
I have to say when planning this over the months, I ploughed through various footage and was very pleased to be able to play a video version of "Maria" as opposed to an audio. Hopefully our wonderful American visitor Paul will have watched this version and changed his mind on the song, Robert I wish you had been there.
I was also excited to play you the first airing of "Love Story" in Spanish which is going on the new album "From Matt Monro, with Love" on January 15th. I thank you all for your suggestions for the album and hope you recognise that not only did I try and include all your requests but I also used the title suggestion. I will place full track details on the updates 1st December and the artwork if it is ready by then.
Finding the "Camay" advert albeit short was the icing on the cake for me this year and I do hope with the advent of the internet that more of them will come to light. Dont' forget to keep your eye out for me. As mentioned the Bennet duet was also a treasured find, but it didn't take as long as the Camay - only 18 years - but I think it is fabulous.
Although I played several tracks that will probably not see the light of day because of copyright issues it was lovely to enjoy your reaction to them and I do have a few more hidden up my sleeve in case we try and repeat the night. It is always difficult in choosing what to release, as you know I worked long and hard on "The Rare Monro". I was thrilled to include the live tracks but they will always sound different to studio recorded songs. I have to say I was rather upset recently when one of the fans e-mailed me complaining on the sound quality of "Birth of the Blues". I shouldn't take it personally but I am so careful in making every effort to get the most out of each recording, and because I own the copyright, the restoration and or remasterings are down out of our pocket. I will definatly have to think twice when next deciding what to issue on future releases.
Personally I think Richard Moore did an incredible job and I thought "Birth of the Blues" had turned out splendidly, but I suppose you cannot please all of the people all of the time.
Taking the "This is your Life" book out of the house for the first time ever was pretty scary for me but I hope you enjoyed looking at it as well as the scripts from "Satan's Harvest and the TV Show "Meet Matt Monro"
Thanks to John Highton who sent down some of his wonderful collection to show to everyone, those Japanese red vinals were awesome. I know some of you bought some of his items that he had offered for sale which was a great opportunity of buying some rare deleted Lp's. I bought three myself. I am always looking for new things to add to my collection as I am a long way off from owning everything.
I hope you enjoyed the buffet and got enough pictures!!!!!!!! I cannot believe how many you all took and it would be nice if I saw some of them appear on the website's scrapbook. The pictures that were taken by Colin McGinn yesterday will take a few days to filter through but I will add them asap. I have already uploaded the ones that Paul took over the last few days. In fact I will start a new header in the Scrapbook especially for all your shots.
In fact with all the pictures you took of yourselves there really is no excuse for your photos not being attached to your postings, if technology frightens you just send them to
murph@lagos.me.uk and he will be happy to oblige.
I want to thank every single one of you for making such an effot to attend the event, the only thing I have to apologise for is the size of the room. Admitably I had not gone to view it as when I made the booking with the theatre they said they had a lovely room. True they said it could hold 50 and we did end up with 61. but at 11.00 yesterday morning they rang me at home to say they could not fit everyone in and a mild panic followed (not so much mild as catastrophic). I did my best under the circumstances but I am not solely to blame. When I stated on the site a few months ago that it was a limited event some people did not understand that it meant you booked in advance so when in the last week 16 - yes 16 - people asked to attend, I unfortunately had to turn most of them down. I think you will agree that we were lucky to get in the room as it was - but lessons have been learnt and we will certainly go for a bigger room next time round.
I thank everyone for their lovely cards and a special thank you to Lena & Harry for the wonderful gifts for each of us and the CD, you really spoilt us, it was a lovely gesture but totally unnecessary.
Congratulations to the people who won those fantastic canvas paintings of dad, were they not fabulous, several of you have asked where they were from - they were specially commissioned from a gentleman called Ian Black. His details are
splikoo@hotmail.com
If anyone is interested, I am sure he will oblige
And lastly I do hope you all enjoyed the show, I know some of you had been before but equally we had some virgins in-house.
I hope you all had a safe trip home, although I think Paul is still en-route back to Maryland. I am sorry Len & Freda couldn't come at the last minute but wish you better Len. I will keep my fingers crossed that you can still go to Clacton and I have given your goodie bag to Paul to give to you on Friday.
Anyways until the next time
Enjoy the music
MM
xxx
well she needn't have worried. 
and wonderful to have the pleasure of meeting Mickie. Isn't the internet wonderful. To think that the day previously we were talking on the forum and the meeting up with all the lovely people in person and what a joy and a pleasure it was. Mariana44, Paul, Margaret and Edgar, Gray, Marian and Peter, Jintygirl and Helen fom Scotland.
who came over from America..
but our son will also love these 
wonderful, (and Marian we know can fill you in with all of these ) and some nostalgic showings of Matt singing great songs and even MARIA 
if only brief, the elusive "CAMAY" that makes you a little lovelier each day, ( and honestly Robert we do use Camay,) 
if it is a different version, is there a chance it might appear on DVD sometime in the future 
