Tag: Singing

Mystery singers

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It’s coming up for Christmas and once again the Clay Chorus choir has transmogrified into the Mystery Singers.

We met last night for our second rehearsal and it was straight into various carols and wassails that we perform in a trip round Penkhulls’ pubs in a few weeks time.

We sang ‘while shepherd’s watched their flocks by night’ Cranbrook arrangement, ‘Good king Wenceslas’, ‘Sweet Chiming Bells’, and several other favourites.

Old friends come and add to the choir numbers. We sounded good last night. I hope we learn some new songs too x

Singing reindeers

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Singing reindeer bringing some cheer…

We went off to a garden centre today to get some pyracantha and roses to add to our hedge, we are bulking it up because it looks like there was another attempt last night to get in. I feel like we are under seige.

Hubby nailed some fence boards back in place and we also bought a lot of chicken wire to go above the bamboo screening we have put in. Spiky Pyracantha will go next to all this. Making it more robust.

We heard Christmas music as we were searching for plants, and these animatronic reindeer made me laugh and cheered me up!

Ugh!

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Yesterday I walked into town, which isn’t far, got some shopping and walked home on my own. Then I contacted a firm to sort something out, then we went to the doctors to get out flu vaccine and finally I joined a choir practice for a Christmas concert. Two hours of Loud singing!

That was more in one day than I’d done in six weeks. But I was feeling stubborn and I’m fed up of being off my feet.

But all I’ve done today is fetch the milk in. I’m shattered. My poorly leg and feet are aching, my arm is shaking and sore, and I just want to sleep.

Could it be the result of the flu jab? I don’t think so, I usually don’t have a reaction. No, I think its because I tried to overdo things yesterday. I shall continue to rest today, then attempt more tomorrow.

Artist, illustrator, singer

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List three jobs you’d consider pursuing if money didn’t matter.

Basically I would work for free if money wasn’t an object. I’m not bothered about sales, it’s the joy of getting my hands on paint, paper, canvas or pen and ink.

If I wasn’t creating art I would join a choir that travelled round and just did spontaneous performances of cool songs. Simply to make people feel better. I would do it without pay, just for the pleasure of entertaining people.

All I would need is enough money for food and shelter. Certainly I would try and share with other artists if money were no object. I would set up a small gallery near the coast and talk to people who visited it, but not as a salesperson, but to discuss art and creativity. I don’t enjoy selling, I’m an artist, not a seller. X

Singing Christmas carols

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What brings a tear of joy to your eye?

Christmas carols bring tears to my eyes. I can’t explain why. Some affect me more than others. Hark the Herald Angels sing, oh come all ye faithful and oh little town of Bethlehem particularly. Choral music especially when it’s in close harmony is wonderful.

I think its from hearing them in childhood, their sentiment stuck with me. That gentle music touched me. Sung at school and church. The music raises my spirits.

I know that when I hear the Christmas service of nine lessons and carols on the radio I have to stop and listen to the beautiful sweet voices singing wonderfully. I love going Carol singing with friends and that can make me feel teary. I can’t really say any more than that.

Joyful habit

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Describe one habit that brings you joy.

Recently I’ve found myself singing in the shower. I don’t think I’m disturbing anyone as my hubby is deaf and the neighbours have moved out!

It’s lovely trying to sing one of the parts for a song our choir is performing. It means I can get the part right instead of struggling. It also means that I can learn the part off by heart and not have to ready from my songbook.

I also try and remember my favourite film tunes. Like Summertime, or Moon river or Singing in the rain. They are all old music, but they are lyrical and sweet. They give joy to my heart.

I think you get a different acoustic in a bathroom, you get an echo that can enhance your singing. That’s why I enjoy it.

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Today I went to a breathing workshop, I’d been invited by a friend. It was good, I was with other people who had different health problems to me, but I felt welcomed. We eventually sang some songs and the participants and although they were not a choir as such they were really good!

My friend had asked me to bring my small paintings so we could raise some money for the organisation she volunteers with. I was only selling tiny paintings, so I donated £1 per painting (between 20% and 50% of the prices). But it didn’t matter because they were wanted and liked. It was a good morning.

Some Yoga

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What strategies do you use to maintain your health and well-being?

I’m not good at yoga, and I only do chair yoga once a week, but I think it helps me a bit mentally as well as physically. I can do standing poses and balances with the aid of a chair. I can’t get up and down from the floor, so sitting on the chair gives me support as I try and adapt the poses.

My physical problems make it hard to bend and twist without feeling dizzy, so I have to try and keep my balance and not over extend the positions I try and achieve. Problems with my arm mean I struggle to extend it. That’s why I like yoga, what we do is not competitive but collaborative. That too means a lot to me.

The yoga class happens before choir practice, and I’m sure that has a good impact on my mental health. Sometimes I don’t go because I’m not feeling well or feel down. But I’m trying to do the best I can. Life can be difficult so it’s worth trying to find something to do that helps.

Mediaeval pageant news

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We sang, we processed!

Newcastle under Lyme borough began in 1173 and this year is it’s 850th anniversary. They hold an Artisans market on the “stones” in Newcastle and we had been invited to take part.

Not all the members of Loud Mouth Women like their images being published so I have adjusted this.

Loud Mouth Women performed, we did a lovely set of songs for the 850th anniversary of Newcastle under Lyme. We were singing at the market cross and sang Greensleeves, Scarborough fair, Cockles and Mussels, La Para Deux, Fair and Tender Ladies among other songs, then we processed around the town centre with a children’s recorder group called the knights templars, a mediaeval minstrel band, freemen of the town and at the head Nello as the King.

Luckily the rain kept off until about half an hour after we finished x

Singing group

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We had choir practice tonight. We started to learn a song ‘it’s getting better everyday’ we had learnt it a few years ago when we had sung in a play at the local theatre. I was thinking about the enjoyment of singing and I remembered that Elton John was extolling the virtues of being in a choir at Glastonbury this year.

We are not a big group but we harmonise well. We did a few sea shanties and started learning another one about going on holiday.

It was such a positive evening, I would recommend joining a choir or singing group if you want to get calm and improve your breathing too. We learn a capella and we are mainly unaccompanied, it’s really fun!