Looking forward to a different kind of buzz from Falkirk

Usually on this day in February I’d be through in Falkirk at the National Cross Country Championships but, unfortunately, I’ve had to give it a miss this year. Alex and Ross are away through and it’ll be weird getting the text or phone call to tell me how Ross’s race has gone; usually I’m running about like a mad thing cheering him on round the course, then doing the same when Alex runs (I’m sure I cover just as many miles spectating as the runners do competing!). It’s a brilliant event; the climax to the cross country running calendar and held in the lovely grounds of Callendar House (as recorded here last year). No matter the result of the races, whether our club’s done well or not-so-well, I've always come away buzzing. I'm kind of sad to be missing it this time around.

However, I will still be buzzing after being in Falkirk later on this day this year – but for a different reason:

It somehow seems kind of fitting that the last time I was in Falkirk Town Hall was many moons ago when I took my Mum to see Gary Wilmot (Yes, I did say Gary Wilmot..!) singing a mixed bag of songs from musicals, stage shows and the charts. Before that, probably the last time I was there was to see the Christmas Pantomime as a child with my Mum and my Gran. So, I’ve got some nice memories of the place and I’m hoping to be adding to those happy memories after performing on the Falkirk Town Hall stage tonight with the choir. This is our first gig since appearing at Stirling Castle on Hogmanay, so I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve been having a last minute practice of the set list while I’ve been doing all my bits and bobs at home today and, as ever, it’s put me in a great mood and left me really looking forward to tonight. I still do that thing sometimes of stepping back and thanking my lucky stars for the night Gordon came home and said, “I think I’ve found you the singing group you’ve been looking for Mum!” Ocht, I just love being part of the Heart of Scotland Choir community!

So, if you’re planning on spending tonight stuck in front of rubbishy Saturday night telly, why don’t you come along instead to Falkirk Town Hall at 8pm and be entertained by a bunch of cheery folk dressed in red singing fantastic covers of songs by the likes of Sting, Coldplay, Queen, Primal Scream, Adele, Simon & Garfunkel and Louis Armstrong! I’m reliably informed that tickets are available to buy on the door – and I can guarantee that you’ll leave the hall with a smile on your face and a song in your heart. Yup, I'm pretty sure that everyone - whether they're a choir or audience member - will leave Falkirk Town Hall tonight feeling great!

Rehearsing (so imagine how it'll sound after a bit of practice and live!):



Our Choir Anthem!:

Another running season and crappy TV

When my wellies are being dug out of the garage, my waterproof socks (yes, you can get waterproof socks) and woolly hat are being dragged to the front of the drawer and my trusty old ski-jacket’s getting hauled out from the back of the wardrobe, it can only mean one thing; cross country running season’s started again! It’s that time of year when I spend at least one day of most weekends trudging around a muddy field cheering on my mad husband and my equally mad son as they race around a cross country route somewhere or another with a load of other equally mad runners, and yesterday saw a pretty normal start to the season in Dundee’s Camperdown Park; lots of rain, lots of mud and lots of mad runners to cheer on.  

One of the best things about cross country events is the pleasure I get from curling up in front of the fire and vegetating – without any guilt as I’ve been walking around outside all day - in front of Saturday night telly when we come home. Having said that, the telly’s usually rubbish on a Saturday night; especially that X Factor. It’s so contrived, it’s just really annoying blah, blah, blah – but there I was last night (and not for the first time..) sitting watching it. How does it manage to draw me in?! I spend most of the time X Factor's on shouting at the telly! Last night was particularly bad as some of my favourite songs were ruined by ridiculous cover versions. I know what you're probably thinking; why didn't I just change the channel? I don't know - I guess once the X Factor's got it's hooks in, I'm trapped!

I suppose there were a few good performances last night, especially the one from the wee Irish girl who seemed to have escaped the ruinous touch of the X Factor production team and just stood in the middle of the stage, looking pretty natural and normal, singing a beautiful version of Coldplay’s ‘Fix You’. I really hope they continue to let her just be herself but, sadly, I don’t think that’ll be the case. And, now that I think about it, the girl who sang ‘Rolling In The Deep’ had a pretty awesome voice too (though she’d been dressed up like something from my kids’ school’s Trash Fashion Show). And I did quite like the guy that sang ‘Ticket to Ride’; he was a bit wobbly in parts, but I really liked his voice and I suppose it was a nice change to the original version....agh, just listen to me! What is it about that bloody programme? I hate the whole concept, but I just can’t help getting drawn in to it... it’s so annoying! I need to just stop watching it! Let’s move on.

Today involved spectating and running again. Gemma competed, just for fun, in a 5k just outside St Andrews. It’s the first time she’s competed for a few years and I’m really proud of her for giving it a go. And, she couldn’t have picked a better event to gently break herself back in; the race was organised by Fife Athletic Club – the best club in Scotland for post-race tea and cakes! (As told on my Tour of Fife post!) Me, Alex and Ross, meanwhile, spent the morning in Kirkintilloch at the Neil McCover Memorial Half Marathon. (Yup, a few miles cross country yesterday and thirteen and a half miles on the roads today; mad.) It was another wet – and very windy – day, so the old ski jacket was pulled back on and the waterproof mascara was re-applied. As ever though, it was worth it. A good brisk walk around in the rain, a nice bunch of folk to chat to, a great deal of pride and pleasure in cheering son and hubbie across the finish line – what better way to spend a Sunday morning?!

And, one of the nicest things about getting out of bed at the crack of dawn to trudge around supporting the boys is the treat that awaits me at home; curling up in front of the fire and vegetating in front of crappy Sunday night telly. In fact, does anyone know what time the X Factor Results show starts....