Clare Teal: Heart scare fails to dampen spirits in a busy week

It's at times like this I regret doing the job I do. I can't ring in sick or have time off because of family circumstances.

Well I could, but I might get sued. I certainly wouldn't get paid but would still have to pay the musicians and the venue compensation.

Like I say, thankfully, dad's all right, which was a blessing as we were due to start recording the new record two days later.

As I'm currently out of contract, this is the first studio record we've made on our own, so it's all a bit nerve-racking, with little or no room for error.

Curiously, everything went to plan, but then we haven't finished it yet. Musical director Grant Windsor has written some of the most joyous arrangements I've ever heard, our lovely boys played them exquisitely, and the guys at Air Studios recorded everything to perfection. It was a tremendously enjoyable couple of days – exhausting but great fun.

We all arrived in Leeds on Saturday afternoon, shattered but in good spirits. If you haven't been to the Howard Assembly Room – you must. It's a fabulous venue with a brilliant natural acoustic and a lovely piano. The staff are great – they love what they do and they are very good at it.

You never know how the evening will pan out or how the audience will react, but from the second we heard a group of women accosting the cameraman, we knew we were going to have a great night.

Mrs Bus Pass and chums on the front row, could have had a show of their own; they were hilarious.

It was lovely that mum and dad were there to enjoy it, too. Also in the audience was Ian Firth, chairman of the Yorkshire Kidney Research Fund. It was great to meet him and his wife, Pam, and other committee members.

I am so proud to be a patron – they do some marvellous work. In fact, we're doing a charity concert for them at Leeds United FC on November 12. Get involved if you can.