February 2026

Firstly, a very happy 2026 to each and every reader, I hope it’s a happy and healthy one. It’s amazing how the run up to Christmas starts rearing its head in October and they we all go nuts decorating the house, putting up the tree, writing cards to our nearest and dearest and even relatives we haven’t heard from in a year, buying presents and organizing the menus as if we were laying on a Gala feast instead of just having the family for lunch.

A lot of us spend New Year’s Eve hiding away and those with the energy of a plethora of Duracell batteries go out till the wee small hours and wake up with hangovers vowing ‘never again’. Then of course there is the deconstruction of the house where all those decorations have to be taken down leaving no trace that any mayhem took place just a week before.

Now, I have blinked and it is already February, as I get older the time really does seem to go faster. It’s quite frightening.  Anyway, take hope that we don’t have to think Christmas for at least another eight months, lol

I don’t know about you but Shropshire and Birmingham were hit hard by Storm Goretti two days ago and we are knee deep in snow and ice with rail services suspended and flights cancelled. The after math of 94 mph winds left an aftermath of chaos with power loss, trees felled and abandoned cars left in the road. The news channels are awash with warnings not to go out unless absolutely necessary and I for one am obeying the warnings. I hope you and yours remain safe during this freakish weather.

Firstly, let me answer a question sent in by one of our followers, Nathan Love who asked if it was dad singing ‘The Good Life’ on the new Compare the Market advert. Sadly, the ad men in their wisdom chose the Tony Bennett version. I don’t actually begrudge Tony as it was a staple track of his successful career, just like Born Free will always be associated with dad. Incidentally the track was originally a French song titled “La Belle Vie” by Sacha Distel with English lyrics later written by Jack Reardon.

The year did start out well though as dad featured on the AA Insurance advert in New Zealand called ‘The Home Intruder’ and he could be heard singing the title track of the film Born Free and the Italian Job, both on Boxing Day.

The other thing to celebrate was the launch last month of our new album download, the never before release of the 60^th anniversary of The Legendary Manila Concert at the Araneta Coliseum on dad’s official YouTube channel and all popular podcast platforms.

I mentioned last year that we were putting together another audio compilation with the working title “Matt at the BBC Volume 2’ which was to be the planned release in January but there were delays waiting for clearance from the BBC but I’m pleased to say that the project is near completion and will be released on

all streaming sites and

our YouTube channel later this year and I have to tell you the sound is extraordinary.

Talk about celebrating, ‘Matt’s Kind of Podcast’ was launched on dad’s birthday last year and we are putting up one edition every month. Thanks to all of you for your support. If you are enjoying it, please tell all your friends to listen in. As you can imagine I was really excited to feature special guest Sam Kane last month and as well as being a very dear friend he had fascinating stories to tell. If you have so far missed it, then take the time to listen in, it is great fun. In fact if you want to listen to any of our past podcasts then you can click the link below and you will be taken to the full list.

https://podd6d.podbean.com/

February is always the hardest month of the year for me, as the 7th marks

Dad’s anniversary and the 25th marks mums. Dad’s been gone 41 years and that to me is astounding, because in one way it seems a lifetime ago and in another it feels like yesterday. I’m sure everyone marks the occasion of a loved one’s anniversary in their own unique way but every year I light candles on their ‘special day’ to remind myself that their light still burns fiercely.

But February is also a joyous time as it the month my brother was born and of course last year my first grandson was born the day after Valentine’s Day. Oh yes and there is another date to revel in as it is my very best friend, and sound engineer extraordinaire Richard’s birthday.

Someone else’s birthday back at the start of the year was a young Filipino lad called Rouelle Carino. In fact, Richard and I were both inundated with messages about this singer last year as he had an uncanny ability to sound like Matt Monro. He gained significant attention on the talent show ‘Eat Bulaga’s Clone” wowing audiences with his mature golden voice. Despite not auditioning but being scouted he finished in second place. He is known for his charming personality, humble demeanour and captivating performances which quickly made him The People’s Choice favourite. He earned the nickname “Bunso” (youngest) Matt Monro making him a viral sensation. He is now seen as a torchbearer for the classic era of music evoking nostalgia for dad’s songs.

In fact, Philippines Television contacted the Estate asking if you could record a quick video clip for Rouelle’s birthday.