just another morning here

On Thursday night we went to the Open Rehearsal of EMG Symphony Orchestra – they do this fabulous thing where they open up their rehearsal for anyone to go and watch. Last time I took children from my school – but this time we went as a family. It’s called ‘Call for the Superheroes’ as they were playing lots of film music etc. so sounded like fun. We’re trying to build some links between their orchestra and the Children’s Orchestra, so this time round anyone over Grade 6 level at ECO was invited to go and play along.

Anna and one other ECO member joined in – Anna loved having the opportunity to play some more challenging music. In fact I did have to laugh at one point as she was grinning at us and sliding her hand up and down the cello – clearly not actually playing the notes!! Anyway it’s given her a taste of the big wide world which I suppose she hasn’t really had before; she is still only really involved in school things rather than anything bigger. It sounded great, too – they played Holst’s Mars, and themes from Gladiator and Pirates of the Caribbean – if Josiah didn’t have a concert on the same night I would be very tempted to go to the concert as well!

On Friday night we had a lovely meal down at the Chinese. I’d lost track of time and not managed to cook tea in time, plus it was the start of half term, plus we hadn’t really done anything for Steve’s birthday, so all of that meant we felt justified enough!

Can’t remember Friday night. Oh yes, that would be because of the bottle of wine that Steve & I shared! Anna was out at a rehearsal and the other two watched some film or other …

Saturday was back to normal this weekend – after a longer-than-usual break it was back to choir, and ECO, and all the other things that regularly happen on Saturdays. Excitingly, ECO have been invited to record with the BBC for their Light Fantastic festival, so we have that to organise – but everyone’s really making an effort so it shouldn’t be too difficult! Had to pop to town to buy Joe some cricket whites, and then it was Suzuki group lesson in the afternoon; it’s held at the girls’ school so Anna came with us to practise in the practice rooms upstairs. I did some school work while there too.

On Saturday evening Steve went out for a gig with his band, while the rest of us took Anna to a charity garden party where she was accompanying some friends she’s met through Panto. A bit cheeky of us all to go really, but we enjoyed ourselves anyway! Anna got to perform by herself as well, and did a great job – especially as someone popped a champagne cork during her song – behind her, so she just heard this massive ‘bang!’ as it hit the wall of the marquee. She jumped a mile! But carried on singing and playing despite the interruption. I am incredibly proud of her. She came away with a little donation towards her Romania fund, too
I’d promised them all that if we made it home before 10pm we’d watch Dr Who, and we made it by 9.45pm, so snuggled up in bed together for that.

Today Josiah was at the Cathedral all day; and Abbie & I ended up at the Barnfield theatre pretty much all day. Abbie wanted to audition for Oliver – she didn’t get in but she’s not too bothered (and I’m quite relieved!). Anna and Steve did lots of housework this morning and have left me all the horrible jobs. I am terribly behind on ChoreWars so I’m going to have to do the ironing, bathroom cleaning, and make dinner – and even that won’t catch me up … just got a little bit of school work to finish off as well. I don’t think it’s really fair that *some people* come home from work in the middle of the day and do jobs …

The kids are making cakes – Anna’s having a cake sale at school tomorrow – more Romania fundraising. Apparently there is also going to be a recording session tonight … and some Grand Prix viewing … so yes, fairly normal around here.

The children decided not to go busking as planned today – I’ve been watching this Exeter webcam and there hasn’t been more than two or three people in the shot all day so I reckon that was a wise decision!!
Instead, as the garage wasn’t open (don’t think we’d have seen many customers ), Steve decided that it would be fun to go out and decorate the Christmas tree with his parents and even more fun to drive there … well, it was adventurous!

This photo was taken just after we’d pushed the car to the top of Pennsylvania Road, which local friends will know is a rather steep hill.
I have never known snow like this in Exeter in all the years I’ve lived here, it’s quite incredible. We are simply not geared up for it so the whole city ground to a halt! The girls and I are preparing to go out to a carol concert now, which should be interesting too …

More pics here, only fairly rubbish iphone ones as unfortunately I managed to leave my big camera on the settings for the ECO Christmas Concert last night, so none of the snow pics I took on that came out. Silly.

A quick word about the orchestra concert while I’m here though, it was fab as usual. I don’t think I will ever tire of it! Abbie in particular did really well with her glock parts, and both girls played throughout as they are also part of the Wind Group that were sharing our concert. Sad to say goodbye to leavers, and a number of people didn’t make it because of the weather, but most people did, and we managed to re-sell most of the tickets (we’d been sold out but then there were some cancellations), so it was a success all round I think. Glad that concert was last night before the heavy snow though, I must confess!

Of course I am biased! I did the committee duty at Orchestra today for a friend who couldn’t make it, and I haven’t done a duty for a while. Really enjoyed myself – they are just a great bunch of young people. I was genuinely sorry to hear today that a few valued members are leaving after Christmas, their families having been involved for a number of years. It’s actually a really nice change for me to be involved with a group of relatively normal children, after the madness of the kids at work (and I mean that in a nice way – I love the children at work too of course, but it’s just such hard work and so manic most of the time!).

We’ve got one of Devon’s Lord Lieutenants coming to visit next Saturday as we’ve been nominated for a QAVS award, and I am truly hoping that we are successful this year.

They got the Christmas music out today – standard Christmas favourites as well as a few new pieces – so that made me feel all warm and fuzzy as well. I think I may cry when I have to hand out the leavers’ certificates at the end of the Christmas concert this year, I don’t know how Richard has managed for 33 years!

Perhaps I’m just having an over-emotional day