OK, this is one of those posts where I shamelessly plug everything which is dear to my heart and the hearts of my friends.Which in themselves are close to my heart. So today I'm pondering what my friends (whose spare time never ceases to amaze me) have been up to since I went away.
Well, first of all there's this video from Alice, whose blog I frequently encourage others to read (http://www.mingledyarns.wordpress.com) Now this is a video of Alice and two other lovely ladies (who I don't know) singing in a pub in Islington last week. This came as a bit of a surprise when I received an invitation; not because Alice has never told anyone she can sing - anyone who knows her will tell you how wrong that is - but up until this concert was announced I had no idea that Alice was part of a vocal trio called the Jaffa Sisters. As you can tell from the video, they're very good. Had I been in London this week, I would've gone and supported Alice, but it doesn't sound like she needed me there...
Secondly, on the subject of videos, there is this gem from our (not so) recent Explorer Expedition around Kent. Thanks go almost entirely to Jess for this one, but Becky and Greg helped with some of the filming too. And of course, all my beautiful Explorer Babies were involved in the production in some way. Even if it was only moral support and verbal abuse they couldn't hear (love you guys!!!) It was a beautiful weekend and the video captures it well (minus the swearing because of children and Maureen at the AGM, which was the movie premier.) I was going to try and pick out my favourite bit, but it's all so good. (Apologies if it's all in-jokes and I haven't realised...)
Just a heads-up on that one as well, it won't play on mobile phones, but it should be OK on tablets and PCs/Macs (be they desktop or laptop.)
Next, and on a different note (haha), Miss Niamh McNally has released this for the "viewing" public in honour of her Birthday today. Apparently, there is a whole album to follow; well, I certainly know what to ask for for Christmas now!!! I've always said her talent was wasted as a teacher but, on a wholly selfish note, I'm glad she is. A teacher, that is, not wasted. Although today is her Birthday, so who knows? ;)
Leading on from this (I like how this post is actually flowing rather well), if you happen to be in the Finchley area this Sunday evening (or just fancy a FREE night out to listen to an amazing band and live sort-of locally) then please please please do yourself a favour and go and listen to the Prototypes are playing at the David Lloyd Centre in Finchley at 19.30. Check the link for information, what do you think I am? Facebook?
Finally, I'd like to introduce a new blog to my list of things you should read (of which that is not an extensive list anyway.) For the last few months, my dear friend Sophie, who I so often worry about when I write a particularly un-feminist post, has been keeping an online record of her Gap Year as it unfolds. I did promise to plug her blog in my blog (not that my blog actually reaches many people at all...) a while ago, but I'm pretty sure I haven't yet. Anyway, there it is in all its glory; I particularly like the film reviews, they make me laugh quite a bit.
Anyway, sorry for the long post about other people's life achievements. My life has been pretty empty of successes this week, apart from actually being able to make friends, so I thought you'd like to see some from other people. One last thing: if you want other things to read, may I also recommend this, this, this and your local library. Much love xx
Showing posts with label Concert. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Concert. Show all posts
Friday, 27 September 2013
Wednesday, 10 July 2013
Drinkies With Bernard...?
So, as you've no doubt seen from my last post, my week has been manic. But today I've been pondering why I'll miss the Concert Band so much; I mean, I go along every week and lug the bari with me. Then when I get there I get laughed at by other players, ignored by Mr Bean and angry with myself for not being better at what I do.
It's not even that hard. Especially the bari part.
And seriously, Mr Bean doesn't actually acknowledge my existence about 98% of the time. Not that I want him to turn up every week, make a beeline for me and start to talk to me like an old friend, but during rehearsals, it would be nice if I was classed as an instrument. Most of the time, I'm actually a trombone or a euphonium, occasionally I'm a saxophone and very rarely I'm just a bass, but most of the time I'm just not mentioned when he asks the part I play to practice a particular bar.
But I've been thinking, I'm really going to miss that band next year; they may be insufferable idiots at times, but they're my insufferable idiots. Even though I am quite possible the most dispensible person in the band, and everyone knows it, it's been a big part of my life to turn up for an hour and a half every Monday to sit there next to Hannah, bored out of my brains. Any other band that I'm ever in, no matter how mind-numbingly boring and tedious, will never quite be as fun without being fun, if you know what I mean. Which you probably don't.
At Concert Band, there was always the potential for a laugh, whether it be at the expense of Ben, Mr Bean or the entire percussion section. Like the time Mr Bean was losing his voice and every time he said the number "three" (which was quite a lot) he sounded like a creaky door. Or when Mr Bean spent ten minutes lecturing whoever was drumming about a rhythm which should've gone "rum dum dugga dugga dum!" but didn't. Or a couple of weeks ago when Mr Bean asked the band which famous piece of music was famous for the particular cadence we were playing and Ashley answered "Dynamite by Taio Cruz."
Nothing will be quite the same as the time we had the conversations with the rest of the band out of the windows at the back of the hotel on tour either. We must've spent about an hour with our heads out of various windows shouting the odds at each other because the teachers were patrolling the corridors. That was an excellent evening, although probably not for the teacher who found us...
So, I guess what I'm saying is that I'm going to miss all these people, although why I have no idea. It's not perfect, but it's my band. And I'll miss them. Especially my girls (and Seb.)
It's not even that hard. Especially the bari part.
And seriously, Mr Bean doesn't actually acknowledge my existence about 98% of the time. Not that I want him to turn up every week, make a beeline for me and start to talk to me like an old friend, but during rehearsals, it would be nice if I was classed as an instrument. Most of the time, I'm actually a trombone or a euphonium, occasionally I'm a saxophone and very rarely I'm just a bass, but most of the time I'm just not mentioned when he asks the part I play to practice a particular bar.
But I've been thinking, I'm really going to miss that band next year; they may be insufferable idiots at times, but they're my insufferable idiots. Even though I am quite possible the most dispensible person in the band, and everyone knows it, it's been a big part of my life to turn up for an hour and a half every Monday to sit there next to Hannah, bored out of my brains. Any other band that I'm ever in, no matter how mind-numbingly boring and tedious, will never quite be as fun without being fun, if you know what I mean. Which you probably don't.
At Concert Band, there was always the potential for a laugh, whether it be at the expense of Ben, Mr Bean or the entire percussion section. Like the time Mr Bean was losing his voice and every time he said the number "three" (which was quite a lot) he sounded like a creaky door. Or when Mr Bean spent ten minutes lecturing whoever was drumming about a rhythm which should've gone "rum dum dugga dugga dum!" but didn't. Or a couple of weeks ago when Mr Bean asked the band which famous piece of music was famous for the particular cadence we were playing and Ashley answered "Dynamite by Taio Cruz."
Nothing will be quite the same as the time we had the conversations with the rest of the band out of the windows at the back of the hotel on tour either. We must've spent about an hour with our heads out of various windows shouting the odds at each other because the teachers were patrolling the corridors. That was an excellent evening, although probably not for the teacher who found us...
So, I guess what I'm saying is that I'm going to miss all these people, although why I have no idea. It's not perfect, but it's my band. And I'll miss them. Especially my girls (and Seb.)
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