I would like to begin by wishing all our family, friends, & fans
a very happy new year 2009!
Welcome to my blogspot!
July 2008...
We lived in Tenerife for 10 years, before coming to the Costa Blanca. We performed as the resident band, at the Hotel El Tope, Puerto de la Cruz for several years. We then performed in a vartiety of top hotels, in the north and south of the Island. We also performed for various Dinner Dances, hosted by the Lions Club, Rotary, Conservatives Abroad, and Freemasonry.
We arrived on the Costa Blanca mid July 2008. And despite our having arrived mid season, were fortunate enough to create a substantial Gig Guide. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the journalist Eric Taylor who writes for the local newspapaper, The Round Town News. Eric was extremely helpful and supportive of our Duo Romance. However, shortly afterwards, we were obliged to stop performing. Here is a copy of the letter i sent to Eric explaining our temporary absence from the music scene ...
LIVING THE GOOD LIFE?
Dear Eric,
We have had to put our gigs on hold due to our living the good life ? Well not quite. Let me explain..
Well late September, we bought a modest country house, surrounded by an abundant orange grove. Unfortunately, this house, abandoned for quite some time, was subject to Burglary. Everything including the kitchen sink had, literally, been removed i.e. doors, windows, Bathroom, kitchen etc., So, for the past few months, we have been busy reforming the house to its former glory.
Inspired by the BBC TV sitcom series The Good life, we are now like Tom and Barbara Good, I have had to trade my cowboy attire for dungarees and a pair of soiled wellies. We have always dreamt of getting off the treadmill, and going in pursuit of a more self-sufficient way of life. We have just installed solar panels, generator and a water tank, You could say that we are now, Eco friendly, but. due to the rain and constant flooding, we are, as yet, without electricity and currently, up a creek without a paddle. If all goes well, and the weather remains clement, then, we should be able to move into our new house, on Wednesday. A house, that René, oh so, jokingly refers to, as the house of Tarzan and Jane, which conjures up an image or two.
We have just adopted a beautiful 7 month old, Coneywood German shepherd called Honey, her registered name Blanca Casa Spring Morning. She's gorgeous.
"Honey"
Kindest Regards,
Tracie - Duo Romance
Best of luck with The Good Life - you must be mad !!!!
Regards, Eric
Christmas day, 25th december 2008
we performed in the afternoon at the El Andaluz restaurant, Teulada
There was a great turn out at the El Andaluz. The place was packed and a good time was had by one and all.
New years Eve, 31st december 2008
We performed at the Restaurant El Cantaro, in Orba.
This is owned by a German couple, namely, Holger & Donna.
The restaurant was cosy and beautifully decorated. At midnight,
there was a there was a firework display in the garden.
Weddings & Funerals...
i have created a Bridal music service called RWE - Romance wedding Entertainment.
And as a professionally trained soprano, i currently, sing classical & contemporary songs for church & civil ceremonies. so if you're reading this page and you are shortly to be married or know of anyone that is, then tell them to check out my website As a cremonial singer, i also sing for funerals. There is a page consecrated to this subject on my website www.romanceweddingentertainment.com
New to Alicante is a Wedding & Celebrations Exhibition. organized by the Wedding Services Guild's, And as an exhibitor, i atttended the Guilds first Wedding Fayre, which was held on sunday 2nd march 2008. at the Hotel Zenia, Orihuela coast, near Torrevieja.
26th January 2009
The website regarding our Duo Romance is now up and running. you can check it out by going to www.duoromance.net
14th February 2009 - Saint Valentine's Day
We will be performing beautiful romantic music for a Dinner & Dance, on Saint Valentines Day i.e. Saturday 14th february 2009, at the restaurant El Andaluz, Teulada. 20.30 h until 23.30 h. To book a table call 96.574.57.29 or just drop in for a drink.
17 April 2009
We received a visit from René's family, from France. René's youngest sister Odile and his eldest sister Monique and their respective husbands Gilbert & Jean-Marc. We had not seen them for 18 years - ouch! unfortunatley, it rained a lot during their stay, but despite the weather there were occasional bursts of sunshine, which allowed us to play a party of Petanque - French Bowls, followed by a glass of Pastis or Ricard for the apero
Wild Boar...
In my garden, in England, i espied the occasional red squirrel, but mostly greys, rabbits, hedgehogs, and deer. Imagine my surprise when i awoke to find this beastly fellow, on the premises.
Thursday, 21 May 2009
René was recently, involved in a very bad, domestic, fire, explosion. He suffered multiple secondary burns to his right arm and leg and was immediately, rushed, by ambulance and paramedics to an emergency ward, in a hospital, in Valencia where he was heavily sedated and swathed in mommy-like bandages. For three weeks we were unable to perform but I am pleased to report that René’s bandages have now been removed and he is back on stage. However he has been forbidden to expose his burns to any form of sunlight for one year. This was truly an horrendous experience, which has left us all feeling very lucky to be alive.
27th May 2009 Orange Harvest
The Valencia orange is one of the sweet oranges used for juice extraction. It is a late-season fruit. We were amazed at the amount of oranges we were able to recolt. We sold most of the oranges to a couple of spanish ladies. The rest of the oranges were put to good use - fresh orange juice every morning, home-made marmalade, sorbets and a host of orange based recipes for my Country kitchen cook book.
"Tracie and Rene performed at our wedding reception and they put on a fantastic show for us. Tracie has an extraordinary voice which is beautiful to listen to. It really made the day special and the song dedications Tracie made for members of our families went down very well. We would definitely recommend them to anyone who wants entertainment at their wedding."
We had the priveledge of performing for this wonderful couples wedding reception held, on the 25th April 2009, at the restaurant Tango, La Mata, Torrevieja
I think this wedding reception was extremely successful, due to it ‘s having been tastefully, yet unpretentiously executed. Guests were made to feel immediately comfortable and at ease, Which is no easy feat when it comes to planning the perfect wedding reception. Oh yes, We really enjoyed our meal and I would definitely recommend this restaurant. We will go back there for a meal, if we are ever again, in the area. Tango - Argentinian Restaurant, facing the beach, avda Alemania 90, la Mata, Torrevieja tel. 966.922.333.
This is our Summer Gig Guide
July 2009...
Saturday, 4th July 2009 - Dinner & Dance - We are still performing, at the Restaurant El Andaluz, Moraira . Every Saturday, from 20.30 until 23.30 pm. For Reservations Tel. El Andaluz Rest. 96 574 57 29.
Sunday, 5th July 2009 - The Safari Rastro’s 1st Anniversary party
Saturday 11th July 2009 - Restaurant El Andaluz, Moraira, 20.30 - 23.30 hSunday afternoon, 12th july 2009 Summer Romance, songs from the 60's, 70's, 80's @ Saffy’s Bolero Bar, Calpe, from 4.00 – 7.00 pm
Saturday, 18th July 2009 - Restaurant El Andaluz, Moraira, 20.30 - 23.30 h
Friday, 24th july 2009 - Country & Western Evening, at the Wi-fi Bar – Camping los Llanos, El verger, on And , from 21.00 until 24.00 h
Saturday, 25th July 2009 - Restaurant El Andaluz, Moraira, 20.30 - 23.30 h......................................................................................................................................................
August 2009...
Saturday, 1st August 2009 - Restaurant El Andaluz, Moraira, 20.30 - 23.30 h
Sunday, 2nd August 2009 - Safari park's Rastro’s from 10.00 am until 1.30 pm
Saturday, 8th August 2009 - Restaurant El Andaluz, Moraira, 20.30 - 23.30 h
Saturday, 15th August 2009 - Restaurant El Andaluz, Moraira, 20.30 - 23.30 h
Sunday, 16th August 2009 - Safari park's Rastro’s from 10.00 am until 1.30 pm
Friday 21st august 2009 - Country & Western Evening, at the Wi-fi Bar – Camping los Llanos, El verger.
Satuday, 22nd August 2009- Restaurant El Andaluz, Moraira, 20.30 - 23.30 h
Saturday, 29th Augus 2009 - Restaurant El Andaluz, Moraira, 20.30 - 23.30 h
Sunday, 30th August 2009 - Safari park's Rastro’s from 10.00 am until 1.30 pm
SAFARI PARK'S RASTRO - 1ST ANNIVERSARY
Early wake up call - we performed at 10.00 am! A first for me. Had a great day. However, it was hard work due to our having performed at the El Andaluz the previous evening. Due to public demand, we played 2 hours more than our scheduled 3 and returned home at 3.30 am - so we did not get a lot of rest.
Wind Turbines - A wind turbine is a rotating machine which converts the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical energy i.e. electricity. I know this may sound extremely tedious to some, but this machine could be the answer to all our problems regarding electricity. We have ordered one and it should be arriving, if all goes well, on the 16th of this month
12th july 2009 - Saffy's Bolero Bar.
This is a day i will never forget or maybe i will depending upon the extent of my head injury..
It was a late sunday afternoon, performance, at Saffy's Bolero bar, in Calpe. I was precariously perched, on a stage that is over 1 meter high. It was at the end of our perfomance, and i had just finished singing Perfect - a rather inappropriate song for what was to happen next. As i fell off the stage and suffered serious head and back injuries, which consequently caused concussion. I was immediatley rushed to Denia Hospital where i remained, overnight, in intensive care. After x rays and a blood test, i was finally, released, the next morning. I have been recuperating all week. it was a wake up call and has made me think about my life differently.
14th July 2009 - Happy Bastille Day France! Today, July 14th, is Bastille Day une Fête Nationale in France; celebrating the end of the monarchy in France and the beginning of the First Republic, during the French Revolution in 1789.We were invited to join our French friends Robert, yvonne, Alain - affectionately surnommé Apple Pee and Marie Claude and a host of others. i made a savoury olive cake which was much appreciated.
Thursday 13th August 2009 - Soiree aux Arenes
This was a private Paella Party which took place at the Urbanisation "Les Arenes," in Denia, organised by Madame Viviane Audergon.
There was an international crowd of 80, French, Spanish, Italian, and German united and danced the night away and a good night was had by one and all.
Friday 21st August 2009 - Country & Western Evening
