great again

I must amend my profile on this blog as I now have a second great grandchild. I feel very blessed.  I think there are more great grandparents around these days. He is called Marlo,as in Brando but without the `n`. It was a water birth so perhaps he will have the family swimming gene as well as a talent for playing Scrabble.
I have had two very different musical experiences during the weekend. On Saturday, I was at an all day singing workshop at St Bartholomews church in Brighton. There were 80 of us singing unaccompanied (part of Brighton Early Music Festival) and we sang the Victoria Requiem, written in 1604, finishing with a candlelit performance. I did not want it to end, it was sublime.
Then today, it was the Ditchling Village choir singing on Shoreham beach. It is spring tides so there was a great expanse of sand. It was a lovely sunny afternoon, and there were wet dogs and toddlers weaving out amongst us as we belted out La Mer, It Must be Love, Dancing Queens.  Our voices were carried away out to sea on the wind. I love contrasts: Requiem one day, Abba, the next. 

mums the word

We are all anxiously waiting for grand daughter S to give birth up in Newcastle (my second great grand child)  He is definitely on the way (it is a `he` apparently) For the last twentyfour hours S. and family members have been playing non stop scrabble with her and timing contractions. No one has had any sleep, so we hope that the baby will be born in the midst of a high scoring word like `equinox` which will give him a good start in life.
I started back at the school yesterday for my weekly bit of reading and writing with year twos. A lovely teacher again, how I marvel at these brilliant men and women who keep thirty or more children busy, quiet and interested. I am having the usual [problem with learning a new lot of names, there are: two Sonnys, two Archies, a Destiny, a Biba, and that`s just the start.

season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, again

Somehow, it always seems to be autumn and the clocks will be going back before we know it. it is also the season for birthdays, masses of them, including mine and I have the usual dilemma, a party or not? It is such a worry. Last year it was easier as it was the big one.   We have daughter J`s this weekend and she is going to have a drumming party and we all have to bring something to bang on. Also eldest son will be here from USA and he is mad on dancing so we will have some of that too. 
We had a blowy writing session on Brighton pier. There are many notices about all the things you must NOT do, such as feed birds, jump off, fish, take dogs, drink alcohol, or go on the dodgems without a seat belt, but it still feels to me like a den of iniquity. The `amusements` and rides were very frightening, also the ``Horror Hotel`which is like a ghost train.
J and I went to see the new film, Jane Eyre.   J had never read the book so it was much more exciting for her as she did not know what was going to happen. It was very bleak on the moors and quite dark.  Judy Dench is a wonderful Mrs Fairfax, Mr Rochester sufficiently brooding and passionate, and Jane, just the right mixture of spiritedness and intelligence. I liked it.

Writing back

I miss my old writing group in Winchester. We met fortnightly on Tuesday mornings at each others houses, (with a tutor) and this had been part of my life for years and years. It was pure enjoyment.  Alas, I had found nothing similar round here, but daughter J has just started a small group and we meet in unlikely places once a week to write for a couple of hours.Last week it was the museum in Brighton, and next week it will be the Palace Pier. We also plan Macdonalds (where none of us has ever been) and J suggested a betting shop but I don`t think they would let us in.   I usually find museums a bit boring as the objects in them seem worn out with being looked at, but this was good.
Also last week I went to see half Russian baby Daniel born to ex residents from the Meeting House, their fourth. There were several other ex MH residents there too so it was quite a party and the baby was happily passed round and admired. it was a joyful occasion.  It is especially good when you are an old person to keep in touch with new babies They are so amazing.
Just been to the Ditchling choir after the summer break, we are going to go and sing on Shoreham beach next time at low tide. Strange!