The day I met my pop (goes the weasel) idols

New toys, funny faces, doggies in the park, daddy's latest dance moves and mummy's penchant for general clumsiness all get the same, very subtle left eyebrow raise. Genius.

But I don't mind admitting that my 'too cool for (nursery) school' disposition dissolved embarrassingly quickly when I got wind of the impending trip backstage at the Piccolo Music Club. These girls (Abi and Anna, the gurus of Piccolo) have provided the soundtrack to my life. Truth be told, I don't remember that much about our first encounter... I was starving, tetchy and knackered all at the same time, so a long feed combined with a kip seemed like the sensible thing to do.

But every Thursday morning since, I've been wider than wide awake to take in every last note and action of the tuneful proceedings.

For the uninitiated (and therefore unfortunate), Piccolo is a music club for babies (that would be me), toddlers (I'm nearly there), young children and parents and is bona fidedly BRILLIANT!

During the weekly sessions in Jesmond and Whitley Bay, Anna and Abi, together with their trustee third pair of clapping hands, Allison (in Jesmond and her Whitley Bay counterpart, Pauline) lead a crowded circle of us in a rousing sing song.

Some songs you'd know, others you wouldn't... but either way I'd bet my best friend (Monkey, if you're interested) that you'd be tapping, clapping and dancing yourself silly before you could confine The Wheels on the Bus to the wheelie bin.

Contagious doesn't come close to describing the power of the Piccolo bug... no matter what your mood when you arrive (and I've been in some absolute stinkers, I can tell you), you never leave without a smile on your face or a spring in your (first and very tentative) steps.

Maracas have always been my instrument of choice when the big plastic box of musical delights gets handed around. The day when I actually mustered the strength and co-ordination to shake it like I just didn't care still resides high (between crawling and a spectacular projectile vomit) in my top 10 proud moments chart.

It was only topped by the morning I got a name check during one of the up-on-your-feet songs. If mum hadn't been holding me tight, fainting like a girl wouldn't have been out of the question.

My favourite songs include Piccolo originals: When I was One I Wriggled a Lot; 1,2,3 Whee!; and Dance Baby Dance; along with reworked classics like The Grand Old Duke of York and Jingle Bells - what an early first Christmas present that was! As you will have gathered (see above gushing) when it comes to Piccolo, you would struggle to find a bigger fan... hence the clammy palms, butterfly tummy and wardrobe dilemma (FYI I settled on a King-Of-Cool T-shirt and jeans combo) which peppered the morning of the big meet and greet.

Up until then, The 'A' Girls, (as we groupies like to call them) had seemed almost untouchable. Even though they were never more than two rollovers and a high-five away, there was still a mystery about them which was about to be dispelled.

The suspense was killing me... and then before I knew where I was, there they were, all lovely and smiley in their co-ordinated pink vests and black jeans, sitting me on their knee and signing my maraca.

Plus I got the WHOLE instrument box to myself and a kiss on the forehead (no washing that spot for a couple of weeks)... life just doesn't get any better than that.

Apparently (according to my older circle of friends) retaining memories from my tender year-old age is improbable... well you just watch me. And in the unlikely event that my memory fails me in years to come, at least I've got the Piccolo piccies and the maraca to prove it!

(If you're having a bit of a deja vu moment, you're probably a reader of Culture magazine, which carried a version of this blog entry in the October edition. If you fancy having a look, simply visit http://www.journallive.co.uk/culture-newcastle/2008/08/28/culture-october-2008-61634-21483419. Granted it's a bit of a mouthful for your navigation bars... but it will be worth it!)