I’m finding it frustrating that I don’t have as much time to
write as I used to, and I’m wondering if now would maybe be a good time to take
a break from writing my blog altogether. That thought doesn’t make me feel
good, because I enjoy writing my wee blog posts, but I feel annoyed with myself
when too much time passes between posts. This past week’s a good example.
There’s been so much to write about that would’ve been perfect for a ‘What’s
making me feel good today’ spiel, but I’ve not had the time to jot any of it
down.
Tracey and Dave’s wedding last Saturday is a case in point.
Aw, it was such a glorious day, from start to finish, and I would’ve loved to
have written about it. The weather couldn’t have been better – the sun was
splitting the heavens – and the conservatory of the Stirling Management Centre
(where the wedding was held) was bathed in sunshine. Tracey was absolutely
stunning – as was the whole wedding party, but with none being a patch on our
beautiful bride – and she smiled from the moment she walked down the aisle with
her very proud Dad till the moment I last saw her that day; sitting in the bar
with her husband in the wee small hours (the last to leave the party!). The
ceremony was just lovely and I managed to read my poem without stumbling on any
of the words! Hooray! It seemed to go down well; Tracey and Dave loved it and
that’s really all that mattered. Drinks and canapés out in the sunshine,
followed by a few more drinks in the bar, preceded the speeches and meal. Aw
man, the speeches were so emotional. Tracey’s Dad, Brian, was really nervous
but that didn’t detract at all from how very proud he was of his gorgeous wee
Princess (who’s now in her thirties but will always be his gorgeous wee
Princess!) and how very happy he was about welcoming such a great son-in-law to
his family. Dave’s speech was awesome. His emotions were almost tangible; I
felt like I could reach out and touch the love that was spilling out of him as
he spoke. It was so, so lovely and a real privilege to be there; it’s not often
you witness folk being so honest and real about how they feel – especially when
it meant that the Best Man won the ‘will he/won’t he cry’ bet hands down! The
Best Man (Darryl)’s, speech was great too and the overriding theme from
everyone who spoke on the day was just how ‘right’ Tracey and Dave are for each
other. They’re actually just meant to be... Dancing, more food and drink, good fun with
good friends and lots of laughs followed before we finally hit the sack in the
wee small hours. Ocht, it was just very special and it left me feeling all warm
and fuzzy inside!
So, that’s one thing that I wanted to write about but
couldn’t find the time. One of the other things was a visit from one of my
choir friends to the hospice. Mair, who plays the flute beautifully, came along
to Day Care and totally wowed the patients and staff. I’m absolutely kicking
myself that I didn’t video any of it; you’ll just have to take my word for it
that she was awesome. Not only did the patients enjoy listening to Mair play
flute, they also thoroughly enjoyed listening to her sing. One of my other good
friends from choir, Cara, is working on a student placement at Strathcarron at
the moment so we got together with Mair and sang a few songs. Aw man, we had
such good fun – and I think the patients and staff enjoyed it too! I’m still
loving working at the hospice and trying to keep the music initiative going as
much as I can. There are only so many hours I can commit to as a volunteer
though, so I really need to work harder at getting more volunteers on board.
Problem is, I enjoy doing it so much and don’t really want to give too much of
it up! I can think of worse problems to have!
The other thing I didn’t find time to write about was a trip
to the theatre with Alex and Gordon. I’ve written before about how proud we
were of Gordon for doing so well in his exams and this wee trip was his ‘Well
Done’ pressie. You’re maybe thinking we’re a bit weird; most kids get money
these days when they do well, but I prefer to give a ‘thing’ that the kids will
remember as a symbol of how proud we are. Whether it’s a book, a trip, a meal
out, or whatever; it’s something that they’ve either chosen or that we know is
something special that they’ll enjoy. Gordon loves going to the cinema and the
theatre, so he chose to go see Phantom of the Opera at the Playhouse in
Edinburgh. The three of us had a great night out, Gordon absolutely loved the
show, and I just love that we share a passion for the musicals. Phantom’s one
of Alex’s favourites too, so it was a big thumbs up all round!
Of course, as with most weeks, I had to take the bad or sad
along with the good, but this week had a particularly sad edge to it as a special
relative of mine died. I don’t want to write anything much about it now, but I
think it’s important to highlight the fact that just because I write posts on a
blog called ‘What’s Making Me Feel Good Today..?’ it doesn’t mean that things
don’t happen that make me feel bad or sad. It wouldn’t be real life if that was
the case, would it?
Well, there we go, after saying that I didn’t have the time
to write about stuff that’s happened this week, I’ve written about stuff that’s
happened this week! This was supposed to be a
thinking-out-loud-helping-me-to-decide-if-I-should-stop-writing-my-blog kind of
post. Ocht, maybe I’ll just leave all that for another day, a day when I’ve got
a wee bit more time on my hands....
In the meantime, here’s a wee video of the poem I wrote and
read out during the Wedding ceremony. I recorded this for Tracey and Dave
before the wedding, so that we had the opportunity to change any part of it
they didn’t like. Fortunately, they were delighted with it as it was. As you’ll
hear, it’s definitely not Shakespeare, and it’s more of a wee ditty than a
poem, but – just like all the other speeches that day – it hopefully sums up our
lovely Bride and Groom. It’s called ‘Just Meant To Be’:
My last post was a bit misleading; I sort of suggested that
singing at choir had been the only the only thing that made me feel good on
Monday! In truth, there were quite a few other things that made me feel good
that day.
First, I had a lovely time in Glasgow with my mum shopping for
an outfit for an up and coming wedding. I took a big bundle of outfits into the
John Lewis changing room and, with mum’s help, whittled it down to two dresses.
Both of them came home with me, but I’ll be taking back the one that I don’t end
up wearing (i.e. I’ll find it in a bag at the bottom of my wardrobe next
Spring...). There’s a blue flowery number and a sort of grey lacey number; mum
likes the blue flowers and Alex likes the grey lace. Typical! So, Gemma’s
getting the casting vote when she comes home from London at the weekend (HOORAAAY
– GEMMA’S COMING HOME!!! Now that definitely makes me feel good!) I’m really
excited about this wedding as (a) I haven’t been to a wedding for years (b) I’m
very fond of the bride and groom and can’t wait to see them tie the knot
(c) I was commissioned (fingers wiggling under chin and saying ‘ooooh’) to
write a poem that I’ve to read out during the ceremony and (d) it’s going to be
a cracking knees-up!
Getting back to my ‘things that made me feel good on Monday’
list; it was just brilliant to have Alex home – see previous post for further
details!
And then, of course, ANDY MURRAY WON THE US OPEN! Aw man,
what a match! The only downer was that it was broadcast on Sky, so folk
like my wee mum missed out on watching it (though, my wee mum was probably
knackered anyway after traipsing about Glasgow with me all day and probably
wouldn’t have been able to keep her eyes open into the wee small hours!) Aw, it’s
just brilliant that a lovely young lad from up the road in Dunblane has ended
an incredible summer of British sporting highlights with such a historic
achievement. Just brilliant.
So, there we are, I’ve put Monday’s record straight. And, as
I said previously, it really was a perfect night to be singing ‘Feeling Good’!
I first met Alex when I was 12 years old. I first went on a
date with him when I was 13. I fell out with him a few weeks later. I came back
to my senses when I was the ripe old age of 15 and, well, we’ve been together
ever since. In all those years, the longest we’ve ever spent apart is 2 weeks –
and that was a fair few years ago! We’re just not used to spending any length
of time away from each other. (Stop laughing!) So, when he phoned from Sweden
this morning to tell me that he was coming home earlier than expected, ocht, it
just made my day!
I think I’ve mentioned somewhere on my blog before that in
all our 25 years in business, the furthest afield that Alex has worked is
Campbeltown! So, getting the opportunity to do some masonry work in Sweden was
definitely something a bit different! He’s there with one of our employees and
they were supposed to be coming back mid-week but they’ve managed to finish the
job ahead of schedule so will be back late tomorrow night. I know that some of
my pals thought it was hilarious that I was making a bit of a deal of the fact
that Alex and I were going to be apart for a whole ten days (especially those
whose partners work away from home for months on end!) but it’s just something
that we’re not used to! And, surely, it’s all relative, isn’t it?! I consider ourselves really lucky that we don't have to contemplate being apart all that often. Anyway, I’m
like a cat on a hot tin roof now and can’t wait to see him tomorrow night!
The week’s flown past and I haven’t managed to get half of
what I’d hoped to get done done. I have managed to tick a few things off my
list:
Finish enrolment
process for impending Postgrad course: yup
Send photo to Uni so
that I can get my student card so that I can get 10% off in some places: yup
Read first book on
pre-course reading list: kept nodding off but, yup
Read second book on
pre-course reading list: yup, thoroughly enjoyed it
Re-read first book on
pre-course reading list as you didn’t take any of it in first time around: nope
Compile and submit application
to present project overview at ‘Help the Hospices’ National Conference:
must be mad, but yup
Tackle the work work ‘to
do’ pile: don’t be silly
DO SOME HOUSEWORK WOMAN: em, nope
Keep up with essential
work work while Alex’s away: yup
Blow the work work ‘to
do’ pile and the housework and spend more time volunteering at the hospice:
yup
This wee list and all the other bits and pieces that made up
my week – such as a nice Sunday dinner with my mum; yet another fantastic choir
rehearsal where Gordon unleashed his dark side during a brilliant impression of
Vincent Price in Heart of Scotland’s version of ‘Thriller’; a lovely catch-up
breakfast with my special ‘anon’ pal; a sweet afternoon tea with an elderly
friend and a thoroughly enjoyable sing-song afternoon with day care patients at
the hospice – have probably contributed to the time speeding past. And, there’s
more to come before Alex comes home: I’m in the middle of writing a poem for
two very special friends’ wedding and have set myself a deadline of tonight; I’m
spending some time tomorrow through in
Glasgow with my mum (shopping for dress for said wedding!); I have a pile of
unopened ‘that looks like nothing important but it’s not junk’ mail to clear
from the kitchen table and I’m really looking forward to my usual choir
rehearsal endorphin-fix tomorrow evening.
So, back to the poem I go. I'm thoroughly enjoying writing it; it's a poem for two people who are very much in love and want to spend the rest of their lives together - and don't like to spend too much time apart.... Somehow the words are coming fairly easily...
I think I should apologise to anybody reading this who doesn’t belong to the Heart of Scotland Choir. Yes, I am still harping on about our concert the other night!
I've not been sleeping all that well since Saturday (surely it can’t still be the adrenalin?!) so I spent some time late last night writing one of my wee poems. I’ve found - in the past - that scribbling a poem about an experience can help to unravel my thoughts about it. So, here's my thought-sorting ditty about the Bertie experience! I’ve recorded me reciting it as it doesn’t really make as much sense when you read it without my intonations (which is the same for most of my poems – and that’s why I’ll never win any prizes for poetry!!). However, Youtube's playing silly buggers with me tonight and I can't get the video to upload. So, the written version will have to do for now!
My thoughts on The Bertie Experience
When the choir last performed at the Bertie,
I was sat watching TV,
I’d never heard of Heart of Scotland,
It really meant nothing to me.
But luckily Gordon had gone along
With a crowd of his pals from school,
And when I went to pick him up
He was like, “Aw Mum, that was SO cool!”
So when we got home we looked on the web
And checked out the songs on Youtube,
I was like, “Wow, they’re awesome!
I didn’t expect them to be THAT good!"
Now, fast forward to nine months later
(As the whole story would take me an age)
To the choir’s next Bertie performance,
And there we were – up on the stage!
We first sang 'I’m So Excited'
As an opener, the perfect song
As all of our friends and our families
Could clap, cheer and sing along.
'I wish' I could bottle that feeling,
- So high you could 'Rule the World' -
By the time we sang 'Viva La Vida',
All tension and nerves had unfurled.
We sang 'Lean on Me' acapella,
And sounded like 'Angels' above,
It was just 'Like a Prayer' had been answered
As the audience showed us their love.
The appreciation continued
When we sang the next song in the show,
'This is Now' which was written
Just a few short weeks ago.
It's another one written for the choir
By Ray's two talented daughters
They write and support one another
Like a 'Bridge over Troubled Waters'!
The Simon/Garfunkel classic
Was a favourite at the Bertie, I’ve heard,
Jane and Drew sung so beautifully
And many a tear was shed.
The next song we sang is a belter,
It’s always sung out loud and proud,
So 'Firework' sung at the Bertie
Went down a real treat with the crowd!
I’ll pause here to mention how talented
Our choir leader Annie is,
Time and again her 'True Colours' shine through
And the gig at the Bertie showed this.
Not only did Annie play piano,
And direct so we knew what to do,
And sing with the choir and sing solos,
And chat to the audience too.
She’d also arranged nearly all of the songs,
In her own special wonderful way,
And 'Somebody Told Me' she’d taken the Juniors
Earlier on in that day!
'What a Wonderful World' she’s created,
Along with her talented sis,
In the truly special and magical thing
That the Heart of Scotland is.
The song that came next at the Bertie
Was the anthem that Greig sings so well,
Representing a story
Only 'Movin on Up' can tell.
And then it was nearly the interval,
Time to head back up the stair,
But not before we’d rocked the hall
With 'Livin on a Prayer'!
A quick chat with pals and a wee drink of juice
And plenty of plaudits already,
Before we went back to our place on the stage,
Though this time our nerves were more steady!
The opening song of the second half
Had the audience all going “Bless!”
When the choir weans lined up at the front
And gave 'Give it Away' their best!
Everyone was looking forward
- Choir and audience alike -
To hear Annie sing 'Here You Come Again',
A highlight, for sure, of the night.
We all clapped, were delighted to see
Our Annie take centre-stage,
With Steve on piano, Becky on drums
And the lovely Laurie on bass.
The musicians that night were all awesome,
We saw just how talented they are,
Including Dianne with her tambu
And John with his 'Babylon' guitar!
Team Sting then sang 'Every Breath You Take'
And they certainly did themselves proud,
Then we sang one of my favourite songs,
Annie’s 'Above the Clouds'.
It sounded just 'Perfect' and everyone gasped
When it was explained to them all,
That Annie had written this beautiful song
When she was just 13 years old!
'Don’t Stop Me Now' was another hit,
It’s a song that I really love,
The choir and the soloists just let themselves go
T’was the stuff that 'Sweet Dreams' are made of!
'Fix You' was lovely, and sung with such heart,
From the audience there wasn’t a peep,
Then Greig, Drew and Paul raised the tempo and roof
With the awesome 'Rolling in the Deep'.
Ruby had featured throughout the show,
But she captured everyone’s heart,
By enchanting us with her rendition of
'Flower of Scotland' right from its start.
Then it was time for 'Second Summer',
The song that we all adore,
But that meant the show was nearly done
And we would be singing no more!
The crowd weren’t ready to let us away though
Not quite that easily,
So we popped on our cheery Santa hats
For our special wee 'Christmas Medley'!
And then, that was it, the Bertie was done,
We bowed and walked off to the right,
We said our Goodbyes then we headed off home
To reflect on our fantastic night.
From learning the songs at rehearsals,
To finding the perfect red gear,
I loved the WHOLE Bertie experience,
And cant wait to go back there next year!
(13 December 2011)
....I’d hoped that doing this would give me a better chance of a good sleep tonight but, in a moment of madness, I agreed to let Gordon have the ‘after-party’ following his Senior Dance. Thirty odd sixteen year olds will be descending upon us at midnight - clad in their kilts and posh frocks and still raring to go - so I think the chances of me (or Alex) getting a good night’s sleep lie somewhere between slim and none! Ocht well, there’s always tomorrow night.....
...Several hours later...
Video has uploaded at last (though not sure I should be posting it as I'm looking pretty scary!)
I was looking through some of the wee poems I've written over the years, and came across this wee ditty. You'll see that I'm no T.S. Eliot! This brought a wee tear to my eye; I know I'm biased, but Gemma really was the most beautiful little angel in her Primary School nativity....
The Brightest Star
Wisps of curling hair
Bounce together but fail
To dislodge the silver tinsel halo
So lovingly placed there.
Her star on a pole
Leads the line of white sheets
And shuffling black gutties
On angels' feet.
The chorus of ‘Noel’
Isn’t quite as planned.
Timing is lost
To waving hands
Tiny Tears stares blankly
From the bed of straw,
While shepherds (clad in Dads’ shirts and Mums’ tea towels)
Look down in awe
Three satin housecoats
Swish into the hall
And their wise little wearers
Dump gifts on the doll
Silence for the slightest moment.
Then, a crescendo of little voices
Beautifully sing
‘Hark the Herald
to our new born King!’
And, through smiling tears
I watch my wee star
Not for the last time
Shine brightest by far.
Although the date up there says July, it's actually October at the moment! This is a post that I meant to slip in ages ago and, whilst carrying out some housekeeping on my blog this morning, it dawned on me that I'd never got around to it.
I basically just wanted to have a record, on my wee online diary, of the poem I did for Annie and Jane after our appearance on the telly. I wrote a very long post about the whole thing, so felt the poem was a bit of overkill on my blog at the time. However, I do want it here for posterity, so here it is! I wrote the poem the night after our BBC weekend; it was very late at night and I'm very jaded!
