Today I am really struggling with what to write as I am feeling rather flat and I want to entertain you all, not bore you! My emotions have been very up and down over the last week, but I guess this is only to be expected. Please tell me that you are all feeling similar! Some moments I am full of energy and ideas to keep us all entertained and then other moments I’d be happy just to sit in front of the telly, eat biscuits and not move! I think I’ll focus on what has made me happy in the past week…
The other night I did a group video chat with the girls that I was meant to go to Belfast with earlier in March. We’ve all stayed friends, and meet once a year, since we were all posted to Colchester together. They are all able to work from home still and so found it hilarious that I’d been spending my spare time learning how to draw guinea-pigs from YouTube!! One girl mentioned that her hours might be getting reduced, I knew they had when I saw a TikTok video of her and her son dancing …!
Other than choir, a real highlight of my week is a Saturday night. A wonderful friend of mine has been putting together a virtual pub quiz via Zoom. I have no idea how she does it, but she uses Power Point for the questions and answers, so it’s pretty hi-tech in my world!! Last week she had a fancy head wear theme (so I’m all set for choir tonight!) and this week it’s a cruise around the world. I am looking forward to putting something nice on, I’m thinking along the theme of Patrick’s Sunday night DJ-PJ combo!!
The Scotts have been playing the game Cards Against Humanity. Described as the party game for horrible people, many of us commented on how much they love CAH. If you’ve never played, it is completely hilarious and definitely for adults only! If you’ve got a younger family (age 8+) then they have just released a family edition which is free to download from the CAH website. I have spent most of the morning cutting up 21 sheets of A4 into hundreds of squares, but I think it’ll be worth it because I know that my two (10 and 13) will find it very funny as most of the cards consist of toilet humour!
We were meant to be having some friends visit us this weekend. James was one of Clive’s first bosses when he joined the army. His wife, Claire, and I hit it off straight away and their daughter is a similar age to ours; we’ve all been great friends ever since. About 6 months after meeting her, Claire ended up being my birthing partner when Benjamin was born because Clive was stuck in Germany. I guess once someone has seen you in that state they’ll be a friend for life!
They came to visit us last Easter and we had such an amazing weekend on the beach that we were hoping for a repeat performance this year. We are going to try drinks, a video call and Cards Against Humanity on Friday night instead…!
And now some news from our wonderful Choir page:
Shelli shared a piece from The Bands of HM Royal Marines of the percussionists at the Mountbatten Festival of Music in 2019. Hugely talented and very entertaining.
Sue has received an email from the Crescendo Choir in Spain: “I have had an e mail from Mary, Chairperson of Crescendo Choir in Spain. They have sold over two hundred tickets for our concert in October, as they are in lockdown they are just taking names/addresses until such time as tickets can be sold again. I mentioned that if we are not allowed to travel in October maybe we could re schedule for the Spring? Looking forward to seeing you all tonight, keep safe xxx”.
None of us are sure how likely travel will be come October, but one thing I am sure of is that I am looking forward to this trip whether it be this year or next year! I already have my in-laws booked to come and look after the children as Clive will be (should be) in Pakistan by then.
News from Beth on the Jamie Lonsdale album: “Hi ladies, hope all are well? Fantastic news that Jamie's Footprints album has been accepted onto the Classical charts. Please share far and wide and if you can encourage some great reviews to be posted on social media from family and friends that would be fab too. Please keep an eye out for those posts xx”.
Shelli and Maggi shared photos of their chickens with us today. Shelli’s had laid an almighty double yolker, it looked huge in the photo!
Maggi shared a funny: “Until further notice the days of the week are now called thisday, thatday, otherday, someday, yesterday, today and nextday!”. This is totally how I am feeling!!
Looking forward to seeing you all on Zoom later on. I will leave you now with a poem that both Jane S and Rita shared with us, commenting on how amazing it is and I have to agree. It brought a tear to Jane’s eye; it reminded her of Churchill’s speech.
I'll tell you a tale, that's been recently written, Of a powerful army, so Great it saved Britain, They didn't have bombs and they didn't have planes, They fought with their hearts and they fought with their brains, They didn't have bullets, armed just with a mask, We sent them to war, with one simple task, To show us the way, to lead and inspire us, To protect us from harm and fight off the virus, It couldn't be stopped by our bullet proof vests, An invisible enemy, invaded our chests, So we called on our weapon, our soldiers in Blue, "All Doctors, All Nurses, Your Country needs you" We clapped on our streets, hearts bursting with pride, As they went off to war, while we stayed inside, They struggled at first, as they searched for supplies, But they stared down the virus, in the whites of its eyes, They leaped from the trenches and didn't think twice, Some never came back, the ultimate price, So tired, so weary, yet still they fought on, As the virus was beaten and the battle was won, The many of us, owe so much, to so few, The brave and the bold, our heroes in Blue,
So let's line the streets and remember our debt We love you, our heroes, Lest we forget.
Matt Kelly
Shona
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