People, People who need people............................

People,

People who need people,

Are the luckiest people in the world

We're children, needing other children

And yet letting a grown-up pride

Hide all the need inside

Acting more like children than children

Lovers are very special people

They're the luckiest people in the world

With one person one very special person

A feeling deep in your soul

Says you were half now you're whole

No more hunger and thirst

But first be a person who needs people

People who need people

Are the luckiest people in the world

With one person one very special person

No more hunger and thirst

But first be a person who needs people

People who need people

Are the luckiest people in the world

Above are the lyrics from a song sung by my favourite singer, Barbra Streisand who just happens to be celebrating her 72nd birthday today!

So when did the fascination/obsession start? Well I thought it started in 1989 when I attended the funeral of a family friend who was sadly killed in the Marchioness disaster on the river Thames - I was 17 - the funeral took place in a small chapel in a cemetery in South London. The chapel was packed and myself and my Dad together with lots of other mourners were outside listening on the speakers broadcasting the service outside. At the end of the service a song started to play, the voice blew me away. As my Dad drove me back home (my parents were divorced) I asked him if he knew what the song was and who was singing it - I still remember it as if it was yesterday, he turned to me, smiled and said the song was called People, the singer was Barbra Streisand and was a film called Funny Girl and to ask my Mum!

Anyway, after my Dad had dropped me off I asked my Mum about this singer called Barbra Streisand and the song called People.................... My Mum was a fan, apparently when she was pregnant with me the film, Funny Girl was on at the local cinema (it was originally released in the UK in 1969, but for some reason was showing again in 1972) and she saw in the cinema quite a few times (I think she went every night for a week!!!!) So I really became a fan before I was born!!!! 

I asked my Mum if she had any other music by this singer, so she went through her small record collection (vinyls and cassette tapes) and pulled out a few albums. I asked her if I could play them - I was totally hooked!!! Anyway, back then the normal record stores (Our Price and Woolworths) didn't really carry Barbra Streisand albums, but there was this little old record shop just off Rye Lane in Peckham (where we lived) called Reeves who was able to order in USA imports and non-standard artists - so I saved my months pocket money and I purchased the Soundtrack to Funny Girl - The Original Cast Recording from Broadway (the film soundtrack was really hard to get hold of back then). That is when my collection started, I can now say that I am the proud owner of every single Streisand album on CD and a few on vinyl.

In 1993 she decided to do a world tour, the first time she had performed a concert to the public since 1967 (the concert she did in 1967 was called "A Happening in Central Park" and was a free!) she received death threats prior to her performance which gave her stage fright and made her forget some of the words to her songs and so she gave up doing concerts. At the time I was working in Dulwich and I overheard one of the top guys talking about a Streisand concert and that he was hoping to get tickets - I asked if he would be able to get me 2 tickets. He said that he would do his best, but thought that each person booking tickets would only be able to purchase 2 and he was taking his wife. Anyway, I can't describe my feelings when he told me a few weeks later that he had managed to get me 2 tickets - the tickets were £105 each! (His tickets were £250 each!) So, on the day of the concert, I took the afternoon off work, borrowed a friends car (my car would not have made it to Wembley Arena) and set off early to make sure we arrived in plenty of time! Wembley Arena was buzzing, our seats were amazing, we were 2 rows away from where the seats were £250 - we took out seats and watched all the famous stars arriving. The lights dimmed, the overture started, the stage was set (stunning set!) and then a spotlight appeared on the balcony of the set, the curtain parted and there she was, The Barbra Streisand - she opened with As if We Never Said Goodbye, from Sunset Boulevard. She sang the song and then received a 15 minute standing ovation.

Anyway, in July 2007 she came back - this time I spent a large sum of money for 2 more tickets to see her in Dublin - we were 8 rows from the front. I then saw her twice more at the O2 in London. She then came back again in 2013 and I saw her once more at the O2 in London.

My collection is vast, from music, to books, mugs and other memorabilia, from fun to quirky!

When my Mum passed away suddenly in 2012, I knew exactly what song was going to be played at the funeral, "People"...................................................... when I listen to this song now, I have so many mixed emotions, just writing this blog has been hard as I knew where it was going to end.....................................

But I want to end it on a happier note, another reason for todays blog, was to introduce you to a very, very, very talented artist who I came across on Facebook via the lovely and super talented Katy Mills, the artist is Sarah Mauchline, this young lady has so much talent, I have been blown away by her work. Anyway, I contacted her and asked her if she would do some pieces for me - I sent her some images and she gave me a quote. I gave her the go ahead just before Easter and this evening she contacted me on Facebook and asked if she could share what she had done so far with 2 of the 3 images - I will let you decide for yourself 

She has told me that the 3rd one is almost finished and she will be posting all 3 out to me next week, which I will then get framed. 

If you are looking for some amazing artwork, of your family, pets, favourite actor/actress, singer or whoever else, then you can contact Sarah via her website HERE

This blog post could have gone on for pages and pages and pages, but time is ticking away and I have to be up for work at 4am tomorrow, so I bid you all goodnight.

Paul xxx