Back so soon? I hear you ask. Well, yes. Here I am, raring to go, only days after my last effort. Extraordinary.
Yesterday we sang new songs. Two of them. One of them was called I Remember Clifford. A really silly song title, don’t you think? It’s the name. Clifford. Apologies to any of you who bear that moniker but, well, it’s a silly name to write a song about. It was Sebastian’s idea to sing it and he’s German so we have to forgive him as it’s unlikely he realises quite how daft it sounds. Clifford was, apparently, a very fine trumpeter. Perhaps some of you know his work. I’m sure he is worthy of a whole song-book of praise but maybe the composer should simply have dedicated the music to him and kept his name out of the lyrics. Am I being unfair?
Anyway, we had a note-bashing session and duly bashed them completely senseless. Some work required, methinks. A great deal of work required. Jenny, naturally, had a purple-face episode or two (clashed ‘orribly with her orange jumper, let me tell you), so much so at one point that I was deeply concerned for her welfare. That point was when we had to sing ‘... for these who heard mm...’ - just for those of you who are wondering what sort of thing sets her off. Actually, almost anything can set her off. Actually, forget the ‘almost’.
Our other new piece is another Chinese song, Lake Wild-Goose – and, oh! so squeakily high for the sopranos (and after Ollie promised he wouldn’t give them anything of that nature, too. The boy wonder is shameless). When he suggested we sing ‘the goosey one’ Jenny said, with worried face, ‘but I haven’t got any Debussy’. Orange and purple still looked bad.
We only had to ‘la’ to this as Chinese is pretty much beyond us all – except for our new experts, John and Susan, who learned some for their recent visit to China and who assured us that it is written in Mandarin. Clever, eh? It is also translated into whatever they call it when Chinese is written in our alphabet but as these words never sound how they look it is advisable to leave well alone until someone who knows what’s what can get to us with the information required. Last time this was Ollie who had had instruction from an informed personage and had written it all out in his own version of phonetics so heaven only knows what we were singing about but it probably had nothing whatever to do with a Green Fir Forest. Perhaps this time we’ll be crooning about Peking Duck Pond. I do hope so.
So that was it. Lots of hard work (for those of us who showed up) but a good start.
We had a visitor in the extremely small shape of Anna-Lauren’s sister Skylar (who would fit very snugly in Luke’s pocket) here on a visit from America. She is, I understand, a very good musician indeed so I don’t know what she made of our caterwaulings but she was still smiling at the end of the evening so it would appear she is as brave and polite as she is musical.
I must away to ready myself for a supper date with my cousin and his wife (isn’t that what you’ve always wanted to know?). I have been gardening so it could take some time...
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
AGM and TWOTY - TWO
Plus - The Unexpected and Extremely Exciting Arrival of an Old Friend, with descriptions of a range of interesting and amusing reactions for your delectation...
Yes, well, yet again somewhat delayed though with good excuses this time. A very late return from Germany – they’ve changed the flight times for some reason and I didn’t get back here ‘til after midnight on Sunday; then work and a hard Pilates class on Monday so far too exhausted (!!) to type.
Anyway, the TWOTY was pretty well dealt with last time so on to the AGM; one evening a year (obviously) of huge excitement and absolutely no singing whatsoever; which, as there’s a concert peeking its scary head over the horizon (June 26th, btw, for those fans able to attend and swell audience numbers, Reid Concert Hall at the university, 7.30 p.m. – see you there xx), is/was rather a shame but duty must be done, Treasurer’s reports reported (yawn) (apologies to very useful, efficient and uncomplaining Dick) (Treasurer) (but ‘yawn’ all the same) and discussion had as to who, what, where and when. And why.
Why, indeed.
Alison takes the chair at these meetings and does a fine job keeping us up to the mark and preventing too much deviation from matters-in-hand - and we are an easily deviated no, no, no diverted bunch, I assure you. However, we listened quietly and with respect to the Treasurer’s report and I am pleased to tell you that Rudsambee has come through the last year or so of financial turmoil in fine shape and with money in the bank. How’s that then? Those city types need to have a word with us. There’s something to be said for singing for your supper, after all, eh? Ha!
We also have to go through the list of who-does-what-committee-and-board-members to see if everyone is happy with their lot and willing to continue for another year.
Usually this is very simple because everyone is, but this year, never so far having been allowed a position of responsibility, I decided to stage a coup and bag one. Waving an AK47 in one hand and a machete (brought back from a jungle trip last year by my niece) in the other with the pin of a hand-grenade clamped between my teeth, I demanded – OK, forget the hand-grenade – I demanded to be taken seriously and to be given POWER. POWER , I say. Proper power. None of this bloggy nonsense. What do they take me for? Don’t they know who I am????
What? Where was I? Oh, yes... but this year, Anne announced that she thinks it is time someone took over from her as extremely-useful-can’t-be-done-without-organiser-of-everything-and-everybody. What her real title is I have no idea. Administrator? That sounds about right. There were many gasps of horror and wails of disbelief and absolutely no offers whatsoever from potential successors. But what an act to follow. I, for one, have no intention of applying for the post – you see how I struggle to organise myself into blogging mode; imagine if I were responsible for the organisation of concerts and tours and money. Apparently we are likely to lose Dick as our Treasurer at the same time. Oh Lordy. The end is nigh! What will we do??? I’ll keep you posted. This much I can manage.
There was more, of course, but here you have the best of it.
So... onto the unexpected arrival... I turned up on Wednesday to find that Alison had decided to confound and confuse by taking a seat in the alto section for the purposes, above mentioned, of chairing our meeting. Why? I don’t know but she looked pretty amused with herself and one doesn’t argue with chairs. So, I made for the sopranos and while greeting Elaine did a really rather spiffing double-take with genuine grunt of surprise in the vocal department – nothing I could repeat if I ever find myself on stage and required to do a double take with a genuine grunt of surprise – on noticing our old friend and sometime diva, Claire 1, calmly seated as of old amongst the holy high ones. Well, how lovely. (She seemed very happy to be with us but must have been feeling a little disappointed not to be able to exercise her golden vocal chords. Bad timing, Diva dear. Ollie and I did our best to persuade her she should join us for our St Giles’ concert in the summer when she can warble Cloudburst with us once more. She appears keen!) Next came Anna-Lauren who squealed so loudly in delight when she saw Claire that it is just as well she wasn’t required to sing later for I think she’d have had no voice left to do it with. Claire was then engulfed in a hug of heroic proportions which confirmed, if anyone had been in doubt thus far, that A-L has missed C1 hugely and was over the moon to have her back, even if for one night only. Natalie looked very pleasantly surprised if a little confused when she arrived and spotted our friend; Ollie, whose permission for the visit had been sought and won, not at all surprised but very smiley and then, then came Jenny.
Jenny was late – something to do with boys and babysitting – and crept in as Dick was giving the Treasurer’s Report, seating herself on the floor at Angus’s feet. She was pretty much opposite Claire but failed to see her even when Claire leaned right forward and waved a hand and pulled a face or two (sorry, Dick). I am still amazed at her self-control – not something for which our Jen is renowned - when she finally did realise who she was looking at; A huge intake of breath, hands clamped over wildly grinning mouth, eyes on stalks, eyebrows above hairline, face purple, shoulders shaking – but not one squeak or snort or chortle escaped . Not one. Not from her anyway, though others were less well-behaved. But then, we were watching her and rarely has a funnier sight been seen.
I missed the rest of the reactions as everyone else was there before me but here you have a small selection with my compliments.
The End.
Yes, well, yet again somewhat delayed though with good excuses this time. A very late return from Germany – they’ve changed the flight times for some reason and I didn’t get back here ‘til after midnight on Sunday; then work and a hard Pilates class on Monday so far too exhausted (!!) to type.
Anyway, the TWOTY was pretty well dealt with last time so on to the AGM; one evening a year (obviously) of huge excitement and absolutely no singing whatsoever; which, as there’s a concert peeking its scary head over the horizon (June 26th, btw, for those fans able to attend and swell audience numbers, Reid Concert Hall at the university, 7.30 p.m. – see you there xx), is/was rather a shame but duty must be done, Treasurer’s reports reported (yawn) (apologies to very useful, efficient and uncomplaining Dick) (Treasurer) (but ‘yawn’ all the same) and discussion had as to who, what, where and when. And why.
Why, indeed.
Alison takes the chair at these meetings and does a fine job keeping us up to the mark and preventing too much deviation from matters-in-hand - and we are an easily deviated no, no, no diverted bunch, I assure you. However, we listened quietly and with respect to the Treasurer’s report and I am pleased to tell you that Rudsambee has come through the last year or so of financial turmoil in fine shape and with money in the bank. How’s that then? Those city types need to have a word with us. There’s something to be said for singing for your supper, after all, eh? Ha!
We also have to go through the list of who-does-what-committee-and-board-members to see if everyone is happy with their lot and willing to continue for another year.
Usually this is very simple because everyone is, but this year, never so far having been allowed a position of responsibility, I decided to stage a coup and bag one. Waving an AK47 in one hand and a machete (brought back from a jungle trip last year by my niece) in the other with the pin of a hand-grenade clamped between my teeth, I demanded – OK, forget the hand-grenade – I demanded to be taken seriously and to be given POWER. POWER , I say. Proper power. None of this bloggy nonsense. What do they take me for? Don’t they know who I am????
What? Where was I? Oh, yes... but this year, Anne announced that she thinks it is time someone took over from her as extremely-useful-can’t-be-done-without-organiser-of-everything-and-everybody. What her real title is I have no idea. Administrator? That sounds about right. There were many gasps of horror and wails of disbelief and absolutely no offers whatsoever from potential successors. But what an act to follow. I, for one, have no intention of applying for the post – you see how I struggle to organise myself into blogging mode; imagine if I were responsible for the organisation of concerts and tours and money. Apparently we are likely to lose Dick as our Treasurer at the same time. Oh Lordy. The end is nigh! What will we do??? I’ll keep you posted. This much I can manage.
There was more, of course, but here you have the best of it.
So... onto the unexpected arrival... I turned up on Wednesday to find that Alison had decided to confound and confuse by taking a seat in the alto section for the purposes, above mentioned, of chairing our meeting. Why? I don’t know but she looked pretty amused with herself and one doesn’t argue with chairs. So, I made for the sopranos and while greeting Elaine did a really rather spiffing double-take with genuine grunt of surprise in the vocal department – nothing I could repeat if I ever find myself on stage and required to do a double take with a genuine grunt of surprise – on noticing our old friend and sometime diva, Claire 1, calmly seated as of old amongst the holy high ones. Well, how lovely. (She seemed very happy to be with us but must have been feeling a little disappointed not to be able to exercise her golden vocal chords. Bad timing, Diva dear. Ollie and I did our best to persuade her she should join us for our St Giles’ concert in the summer when she can warble Cloudburst with us once more. She appears keen!) Next came Anna-Lauren who squealed so loudly in delight when she saw Claire that it is just as well she wasn’t required to sing later for I think she’d have had no voice left to do it with. Claire was then engulfed in a hug of heroic proportions which confirmed, if anyone had been in doubt thus far, that A-L has missed C1 hugely and was over the moon to have her back, even if for one night only. Natalie looked very pleasantly surprised if a little confused when she arrived and spotted our friend; Ollie, whose permission for the visit had been sought and won, not at all surprised but very smiley and then, then came Jenny.
Jenny was late – something to do with boys and babysitting – and crept in as Dick was giving the Treasurer’s Report, seating herself on the floor at Angus’s feet. She was pretty much opposite Claire but failed to see her even when Claire leaned right forward and waved a hand and pulled a face or two (sorry, Dick). I am still amazed at her self-control – not something for which our Jen is renowned - when she finally did realise who she was looking at; A huge intake of breath, hands clamped over wildly grinning mouth, eyes on stalks, eyebrows above hairline, face purple, shoulders shaking – but not one squeak or snort or chortle escaped . Not one. Not from her anyway, though others were less well-behaved. But then, we were watching her and rarely has a funnier sight been seen.
I missed the rest of the reactions as everyone else was there before me but here you have a small selection with my compliments.
The End.
Thursday, 20 May 2010
AGM and TWOTY
Hello, dear Readers. Here I am, dashing off a missive before zooming off to the airport for a trip to Munich. And with two occasions to report on I hope I don’t short-change you in my hurry.
So – first things first: TWOTY. Douglas and Jean’s wedding last Saturday which was a triumph and a delight and I feel sorry for all of you who missed it; either because you were not invited (tee hee) or because you were otherwise prevented from attending. We had a great time; good ceremony with an outstanding contribution from your favourite choir (that's us, BTW) who were on superlative form (although I have to admit to a mistake or two entirely due to over-confidence and not looking at my music).
The church was sweet with a good acoustic and very full indeed of smartly dressed people (well, mostly. You can’t be involved in banning bombs and making the world a better/greener place without having a hippie or two for a friend!!) Those who did the readings – well-chosen pieces, too; none of that "love is gentle, blah blah, blah yawn" stuff but Romans (which??), a Janet Paisley poem called "These Rings" or something similar (your blogetteer was a minor poet once-upon-a-long-time-ago, btw, and did workshops with aforementioned lady whose work is worth having a peek at if you don’t know it already) and a beautiful Native American People’s poem/prayer which another friend of mine also used at her wedding and with its bidding to "... walk gently through the world and know (?) its beauty..." sends shivers down the spine of yours truly ... by now you will have forgotten the beginning of this sentence, am I turning into Proust???? – those who did the readings did them really, really well. Bravo.
The reception was a lovely relaxed affair with only one-and-a-bit speeches, from our hosts, and then delicious food to give us some energy for dancing. The choir sang a few rousing numbers to get things going, one of which was an arrangement (notorious to some) of "Only You" with Anne on piano, Douglas brilliantly on lead vocals (took us all by surprise, I can tell you – superb) and the rest of us "ba-ba-ba-ba" and "sha-la-la"-ing for all we were worth in the background. (Luckily the consumption of alcohol thus far had been really very moderate so we didn’t drown Douglas out with over-enthusiasm, which was a real potential danger, let me tell you!)
Energetic dancing (Arno nearly died, I think) followed, with a break or two for further performances (well done, mini-Wild Myrtles, lovely).
I left with exactly the same people I arrived with though I can only speak for myself (and by extension Ollie, Helen and Chris) so I don’t know what dodgy arrangements were arrived at by others (see last week’s blog for explanation) – but we stayed to see the cake being cut and then headed home by which time Ollie and I, at least, had had a fair old gallop around the dance floor and worked off most of the food we’d consumed earlier. I spoiled this by stuffing far more than my fair share of wedding cake but – hey – what can a fruitcake/marzipan/icing junkie do?
Now I have to find somewhere to plant my little crab-apple tree. A lovely feature of the day saw seedling trees of various kinds distributed along the tables along with packets of wild-flower seed for guests to take home and plant/scatter in memory and celebration of Jean and Douglas’s day. How thoroughly romantic is that, then? As well as being so very right for people who care about the world as much as they do. Perfect.
Which, on a sartorial note, was how they both looked, by the way.
I have run out of time, I think, so will leave you with that for now with the promise of a report on both our AGM and the unexpected appearance of an old friend to follow when I return from Deutschland...
Tschus (with an umlaut) xx
ps here's some more photos:
So – first things first: TWOTY. Douglas and Jean’s wedding last Saturday which was a triumph and a delight and I feel sorry for all of you who missed it; either because you were not invited (tee hee) or because you were otherwise prevented from attending. We had a great time; good ceremony with an outstanding contribution from your favourite choir (that's us, BTW) who were on superlative form (although I have to admit to a mistake or two entirely due to over-confidence and not looking at my music).
The church was sweet with a good acoustic and very full indeed of smartly dressed people (well, mostly. You can’t be involved in banning bombs and making the world a better/greener place without having a hippie or two for a friend!!) Those who did the readings – well-chosen pieces, too; none of that "love is gentle, blah blah, blah yawn" stuff but Romans (which??), a Janet Paisley poem called "These Rings" or something similar (your blogetteer was a minor poet once-upon-a-long-time-ago, btw, and did workshops with aforementioned lady whose work is worth having a peek at if you don’t know it already) and a beautiful Native American People’s poem/prayer which another friend of mine also used at her wedding and with its bidding to "... walk gently through the world and know (?) its beauty..." sends shivers down the spine of yours truly ... by now you will have forgotten the beginning of this sentence, am I turning into Proust???? – those who did the readings did them really, really well. Bravo.
The reception was a lovely relaxed affair with only one-and-a-bit speeches, from our hosts, and then delicious food to give us some energy for dancing. The choir sang a few rousing numbers to get things going, one of which was an arrangement (notorious to some) of "Only You" with Anne on piano, Douglas brilliantly on lead vocals (took us all by surprise, I can tell you – superb) and the rest of us "ba-ba-ba-ba" and "sha-la-la"-ing for all we were worth in the background. (Luckily the consumption of alcohol thus far had been really very moderate so we didn’t drown Douglas out with over-enthusiasm, which was a real potential danger, let me tell you!)
Energetic dancing (Arno nearly died, I think) followed, with a break or two for further performances (well done, mini-Wild Myrtles, lovely).
I left with exactly the same people I arrived with though I can only speak for myself (and by extension Ollie, Helen and Chris) so I don’t know what dodgy arrangements were arrived at by others (see last week’s blog for explanation) – but we stayed to see the cake being cut and then headed home by which time Ollie and I, at least, had had a fair old gallop around the dance floor and worked off most of the food we’d consumed earlier. I spoiled this by stuffing far more than my fair share of wedding cake but – hey – what can a fruitcake/marzipan/icing junkie do?
Now I have to find somewhere to plant my little crab-apple tree. A lovely feature of the day saw seedling trees of various kinds distributed along the tables along with packets of wild-flower seed for guests to take home and plant/scatter in memory and celebration of Jean and Douglas’s day. How thoroughly romantic is that, then? As well as being so very right for people who care about the world as much as they do. Perfect.
Which, on a sartorial note, was how they both looked, by the way.
I have run out of time, I think, so will leave you with that for now with the promise of a report on both our AGM and the unexpected appearance of an old friend to follow when I return from Deutschland...
Tschus (with an umlaut) xx
ps here's some more photos:
Friday, 14 May 2010
The Eve of the Wedding of the Year
Yes, we’re off to Biggar tomorrow to witness the marriage of our Douglas and the lovely Jean and to sing for them, too. I am sure you will join me in wishing them a beautiful day, a glorious wedding and many, many years of happily married life.
Lifts to the church were organised on Wednesday evening in a vague sort of a way, with Anne informing us that we didn't have to go home with the same person we arrived with. Hmmm. She also asked who would like to ‘go out’ with both Sebastian and Robin, then suggesting that Jenny might. She might well, but she’s on a hiding to nothing with one of them at least. Also, small matter but she is a married woman so best leave well alone, I’d say. Anne is married too but intimated that she’d be quite happy to swap her Dick for the return journey. All a bit frisky for my liking – I am getting quite concerned for the moral welfare of my fellow choir members. I do hope there is a weighty sermon about the sanctity of marriage tomorrow. I feel it is badly needed to keep people in line. I blame television.
So, much better turn out this week which was good to see. Bet Douglas was relieved. Having to rely on a group of morally questionable warblers to enhance your wedding service is quite bad enough without having them under-rehearsed as well. Things were sounding rather lovely, however, and we even had a chance to go through the impossible Son ar Chistr; a traditional Breton number though, if Ollie takes it as fast as he did on Wednesday, after we’ve all had a drink or two I think it won’t matter a damn what language it’s in as it won’t be anything but slurs and hiccups. Sari, who used to be in the choir, came along to play the bodhran (accents, accents, spelling, spelling) for us during this and our Gaelic set which sounded great and, what with a bit of clapping along, it will all be very jolly. There are a few other things which we plan to sing at the reception which we haven’t yet had a practice of but I think we know them well enough and by then, I daresay, people will bepissed relaxing and determined to enjoy themselves so I imagine they won’t care too much if there’s a certain raggedy charm to the performance.
Helen has promised me that she will wear a frilly dress to the reception and I will report on this next blog. My hopes are not raised too high however and I am prepared to be disappointed. If you knew Helen like I know Helen you’d know that a dress is pushing it - and as for frills... ah, well! Some things were just never meant to be. If she keeps her promise photos are a must and will be attached for your amuseme- ahem, delectation.
All of which reminds me – what am I going to wear??????
Lifts to the church were organised on Wednesday evening in a vague sort of a way, with Anne informing us that we didn't have to go home with the same person we arrived with. Hmmm. She also asked who would like to ‘go out’ with both Sebastian and Robin, then suggesting that Jenny might. She might well, but she’s on a hiding to nothing with one of them at least. Also, small matter but she is a married woman so best leave well alone, I’d say. Anne is married too but intimated that she’d be quite happy to swap her Dick for the return journey. All a bit frisky for my liking – I am getting quite concerned for the moral welfare of my fellow choir members. I do hope there is a weighty sermon about the sanctity of marriage tomorrow. I feel it is badly needed to keep people in line. I blame television.
So, much better turn out this week which was good to see. Bet Douglas was relieved. Having to rely on a group of morally questionable warblers to enhance your wedding service is quite bad enough without having them under-rehearsed as well. Things were sounding rather lovely, however, and we even had a chance to go through the impossible Son ar Chistr; a traditional Breton number though, if Ollie takes it as fast as he did on Wednesday, after we’ve all had a drink or two I think it won’t matter a damn what language it’s in as it won’t be anything but slurs and hiccups. Sari, who used to be in the choir, came along to play the bodhran (accents, accents, spelling, spelling) for us during this and our Gaelic set which sounded great and, what with a bit of clapping along, it will all be very jolly. There are a few other things which we plan to sing at the reception which we haven’t yet had a practice of but I think we know them well enough and by then, I daresay, people will be
Helen has promised me that she will wear a frilly dress to the reception and I will report on this next blog. My hopes are not raised too high however and I am prepared to be disappointed. If you knew Helen like I know Helen you’d know that a dress is pushing it - and as for frills... ah, well! Some things were just never meant to be. If she keeps her promise photos are a must and will be attached for your amuseme- ahem, delectation.
All of which reminds me – what am I going to wear??????
Monday, 10 May 2010
Late again
Yes, yes, yes, I know but it has been quite a weekend in the McDonald household with return of wandering daughter and imminent birthday – 21st, no less – of younger. (No big party this time but lots of shopping required, naturally).
Lydia has returned with footage of her New Zealand bungee jump which looks completely terrifying but great fun and as the oldest person ever to do one was – apparently – 92 there is still plenty of time for me to get a go one day. Whoo-hoo! She apologised for bad language; unnecessarily, I feel, as I’m sure equally choice expressions would leave my lips once out on the ledge with no option but to leap off or look like a fool. Have to say – she did a great job. That’s my girl!
So – back to last Wednesday’s rehearsal which was quite remarkably badly attended. I know I’ve said this before but there were only 8 of us. Yes, 8. And not a Bass in sight!! Shocking. I hope anyone who was ill is now better and anyone who was having to meet a deadline met it and anyone else who had any good excuse for not being there did whatever it was they had to do with a reasonable measure of success and for the sake of Douglas’s nuptials next weekend I really hope there are more of us there this week!
We sang for only an hour or so; (partly, I have to admit, this was my fault as I had managed to lock myself out of my home and needed to get to younger sprog’s dwelling to pick up keys before she went out for the night. Thanks to Jenny I got there in plenty of time and so was able to sleep in my own bed and, more importantly, to let my husband in when he arrived home from Germany at 1 o’clock in the morning. But Ollie decided there wasn’t much point doing a full rehearsal with such depleted numbers and yet another one having to leave early). In our hour we were able to get a good run at This Marriage and to sing through the two songs I’ve never sung before so now I feel I know everything and can approach Douglas’s wedding with something like confidence. Hurrah!
Unfortunately, thanks to Helen and her really rather good impersonation, there are quite a few of us who will have difficulty keeping a straight face when, in This Marriage, we get to the line "... a seal of happiness..." – a lovely image but, well, I became quite hysterical and will have the greatest job to refrain from corpsing at the ceremony (for those of you who don’t know, this is a theatrical term for the uncontrollable urge to laugh during a performance; something that only ever happens at the most inopportune moments and actually causes physical pain!!) but I promise to try and control myself, Douglas, honest.
Oh, lordy – this is full of ME again. But there weren’t enough of us there on Wednesday to give me any scope for diversification. I can tell you, however, that Sebastian had his 40th birthday party at the weekend – which sadly I couldn’t attend – (down at Tyninghame which is an idyllic place) and I’m sure you will join me in wishing him all the best. Hope everyone had a great day/evening/night. It’s almost impossible not to in such a gorgeous place.
Ciao! xx
Claire
Lydia has returned with footage of her New Zealand bungee jump which looks completely terrifying but great fun and as the oldest person ever to do one was – apparently – 92 there is still plenty of time for me to get a go one day. Whoo-hoo! She apologised for bad language; unnecessarily, I feel, as I’m sure equally choice expressions would leave my lips once out on the ledge with no option but to leap off or look like a fool. Have to say – she did a great job. That’s my girl!
So – back to last Wednesday’s rehearsal which was quite remarkably badly attended. I know I’ve said this before but there were only 8 of us. Yes, 8. And not a Bass in sight!! Shocking. I hope anyone who was ill is now better and anyone who was having to meet a deadline met it and anyone else who had any good excuse for not being there did whatever it was they had to do with a reasonable measure of success and for the sake of Douglas’s nuptials next weekend I really hope there are more of us there this week!
We sang for only an hour or so; (partly, I have to admit, this was my fault as I had managed to lock myself out of my home and needed to get to younger sprog’s dwelling to pick up keys before she went out for the night. Thanks to Jenny I got there in plenty of time and so was able to sleep in my own bed and, more importantly, to let my husband in when he arrived home from Germany at 1 o’clock in the morning. But Ollie decided there wasn’t much point doing a full rehearsal with such depleted numbers and yet another one having to leave early). In our hour we were able to get a good run at This Marriage and to sing through the two songs I’ve never sung before so now I feel I know everything and can approach Douglas’s wedding with something like confidence. Hurrah!
Unfortunately, thanks to Helen and her really rather good impersonation, there are quite a few of us who will have difficulty keeping a straight face when, in This Marriage, we get to the line "... a seal of happiness..." – a lovely image but, well, I became quite hysterical and will have the greatest job to refrain from corpsing at the ceremony (for those of you who don’t know, this is a theatrical term for the uncontrollable urge to laugh during a performance; something that only ever happens at the most inopportune moments and actually causes physical pain!!) but I promise to try and control myself, Douglas, honest.
Oh, lordy – this is full of ME again. But there weren’t enough of us there on Wednesday to give me any scope for diversification. I can tell you, however, that Sebastian had his 40th birthday party at the weekend – which sadly I couldn’t attend – (down at Tyninghame which is an idyllic place) and I’m sure you will join me in wishing him all the best. Hope everyone had a great day/evening/night. It’s almost impossible not to in such a gorgeous place.
Ciao! xx
Claire
Sunday, 2 May 2010
Two in a row – whoo-hoo.
Hello, People, (or Person), (or no one at all),
Well, Saturday was going to be our barbeque and sing-song in Cranshaws day, but – bother and blimey, they couldn’t find us an audience! What can that mean????? Apparently the problem involves illness in the community. And lambing. And also, maybe, the fact that they’re programmed to expect us at Christmas, warbling carols. Perhaps nothing else will do. Whatever. We will not be going, after all. Which is a great shame. I will probably never now see Cranshaws by daylight. However, as it is quite magical all dark and glittering with frost and stars (real, proper, countryside starriness) I daresay I can live with the disappointment. See you in December, folks xx
The change in plans allowed us, this week, to have a look at more music for the Wedding of the Year which pleased yours truly because, as related last blog, there are a couple of things I’ve never set eyes on. Actually, three things I’ve never set eyes on. Now there are only two. We make progress. After Wednesday’s rehearsal I think I can claim to know Monateng Kapele (African, Sotho, in case you’re wondering) - great, rousing stuff which we can belt out good and proper – as long as we take care to give the verse a little more consideration. There’s always a catch. Now I just have to learn a Norwegian ditty that appears to be easy being all ‘dum, dum da’ –ey but will be a tricky little number, I’ve no doubt, as getting yer dums and das in the right order is bound to be problematic, don’t you think?
Then there is a version of Only You. This one consists of ‘ba-ba-ba’ and ‘sha-la-la’ – ditto above concern. I am not alone in my ignorance of these songs, which is a comfort. Next week we are bound to cover them and then all will be well...
It was a pleasure to re-visit Ave Maris Stella and If Ye Love Me (both absolute beauties) – and extremely good fun, if a little scary, to sing Gaol mo chridh-sa Mairi Bhan (there’s an accent or two in there which I can’t reproduce, so apologies to any Gaelic speakers who might be reading this) aka Mairi’s Wedding at break-neck speed (ooo, some Gaelic practice required, methinks!) and I hope my enthusiasm for the majority of Douglas’s choices makes up for my unthinking rudeness about one of them.("Do we have to? [practise it] I’ll slit my wrists.") Not clever. Sort of funny, but not clever.
Next week I must take a pen and a piece of paper as I know extremely amusing – occasionally hilarious - things occur or are said weekly and I can rarely remember what or why or by whom by the time I sit down to report. How useless is that? It means I have to write about myself (sigh) instead, which is not at all the point of this blog, though it may be of others. Note to self (me, again!!): MUST DO BETTER.
G’bye.
Well, Saturday was going to be our barbeque and sing-song in Cranshaws day, but – bother and blimey, they couldn’t find us an audience! What can that mean????? Apparently the problem involves illness in the community. And lambing. And also, maybe, the fact that they’re programmed to expect us at Christmas, warbling carols. Perhaps nothing else will do. Whatever. We will not be going, after all. Which is a great shame. I will probably never now see Cranshaws by daylight. However, as it is quite magical all dark and glittering with frost and stars (real, proper, countryside starriness) I daresay I can live with the disappointment. See you in December, folks xx
The change in plans allowed us, this week, to have a look at more music for the Wedding of the Year which pleased yours truly because, as related last blog, there are a couple of things I’ve never set eyes on. Actually, three things I’ve never set eyes on. Now there are only two. We make progress. After Wednesday’s rehearsal I think I can claim to know Monateng Kapele (African, Sotho, in case you’re wondering) - great, rousing stuff which we can belt out good and proper – as long as we take care to give the verse a little more consideration. There’s always a catch. Now I just have to learn a Norwegian ditty that appears to be easy being all ‘dum, dum da’ –ey but will be a tricky little number, I’ve no doubt, as getting yer dums and das in the right order is bound to be problematic, don’t you think?
Then there is a version of Only You. This one consists of ‘ba-ba-ba’ and ‘sha-la-la’ – ditto above concern. I am not alone in my ignorance of these songs, which is a comfort. Next week we are bound to cover them and then all will be well...
It was a pleasure to re-visit Ave Maris Stella and If Ye Love Me (both absolute beauties) – and extremely good fun, if a little scary, to sing Gaol mo chridh-sa Mairi Bhan (there’s an accent or two in there which I can’t reproduce, so apologies to any Gaelic speakers who might be reading this) aka Mairi’s Wedding at break-neck speed (ooo, some Gaelic practice required, methinks!) and I hope my enthusiasm for the majority of Douglas’s choices makes up for my unthinking rudeness about one of them.("Do we have to? [practise it] I’ll slit my wrists.") Not clever. Sort of funny, but not clever.
Next week I must take a pen and a piece of paper as I know extremely amusing – occasionally hilarious - things occur or are said weekly and I can rarely remember what or why or by whom by the time I sit down to report. How useless is that? It means I have to write about myself (sigh) instead, which is not at all the point of this blog, though it may be of others. Note to self (me, again!!): MUST DO BETTER.
G’bye.
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