Blog off

Once again typing on my knees with lowered head. I’m doing this even though, having had to miss choir on Wednesday due to a dose of shingles (there’s something very humiliating about admitting that, I don’t know why), I have no Rudsambee chat, gossip or revelations to submit for your delectation. I do have an anti-viral drug-induced headache of quite monumental proportions so I hope you all appreciate my endeavours. I say ‘all’ though I have little doubt that ‘all’ gave up on this blog long ago, it having become so erratic and unreliable but if there is one solitary, loyal and forgiving reader left out there then I address you, Sir/Madam and thank you, too, for perseverance beyond the call of duty.

What I can tell you is that we had our first concert with the new material on Thursday of last week at the National Gallery of Scotland – a strange place to sing where each member of the choir can hear their own dulcet tones perfectly but has no idea at all what anyone else is singing. This is a little disconcerting; particularly when pesky Olde French words one knew perfectly well go waltzing off to look at the paintings when they are required to be present in one’s head with a view to leaving one’s mouth and entering the consciousness of the audience in an order which makes some sort of sense – or at the very least matches that coming out of the mouths of fellow Rudsambeeites. We were divided into two choirs for the performance of ‘Une Puce’ and Choir 1, in which I wasn’t, sounded as if they did just fine – dare I say, very well indeed. Choir 2, in which I was, may have sounded just as good for all I know but I am painfully aware that my second half of verse 4 was upstairs gawping at the Impressionists when it was supposed to be meeting the gathered throng and I sang complete gobbledegook probably far too loudly. As for the others in Choir 2, who knows? Couldn’t hear ‘em.

The first performance of the year, with new songs (some of which are undeniably tricky) was bound to be scary. Some things went very well and others not so; some things went very fast, Ollie, didn’t they? but it’s always good to get concert #1 out of the way because it becomes (sometimes all too-)clear what needs work and what we can feel confidence in. The people who came to listen – of whom there was a very respectable number – seemed to enjoy themselves which is the main thing and for us, well, onwards and upwards. We have a busy year ahead and by the end of it will be quite brilliant, as usual.

I’d like to say here that this was Luke’s first concert with us so congratulations to him and lots of pats on the back which I’m not sure he received post-concert due to the complicated and protracted ‘where to go drinking’ discussions which took place in the foyer while a very polite doorman began to look rather pained at having to extend his working hours well beyond what was reasonable. Apologies to both doorman and Luke but priorities are, after all, priorities.

Next we have a trip to Cranshaws on May Day which should be fun – they always make us very welcome. We missed our usual Christmas concert there having tried and failed to make our way through the snow. I believe there is to be a barbeque beforehand (yum) instead of our usual mulled wine and mince-pies and it will be interesting to see the village in daylight and – dare I say, sunshine? Fingers crossed….

After that we have Douglas’s wedding to look forward to. I have just seen our song list and there are one or two titles there that mean absolutely nothing to me – ah, well, I suppose we must pay for our pleasures! Better get learning.