Tuesday's Treasures - Feathery Feeding Time!

For this week's Tuesday's Treasures I decided to post a picture of something that's very needed by our feathery friends at the moment.

On my birthday wish list this year was a bird feeding station which was kindly bought for me by my brother.  When I was growing up my Dad was a avid ornithologist (and still is!) but to be quite honest I could never see the fascination! Since getting older however I now have more of an interest in all things 'wildlife' and there's nothing I like better than sitting at the kitchen table on a Sunday morning, nice hot cup of tea in hand whilst watching a garden full of birds enjoying their Sunday brunch.

I like to put a variety of food out but the blue-tits, great-tits and goldfinches particularly love sunflower hearts.  Although, I must have got through at least 8 seed feeders in this year alone as the rather annoying squirrel (gun at the ready) keeps attacking them! I've now had to resort to a metal nut feeder but the feathery numbers seem to have dwindled recently so I really don't think they're impressed with the menu choice!

Listen carefully...I shall blog zis only once!

Went to see my good friend Jo in 'Allo 'Allo on Saturday afternoon (not Wednesday night as I'd originally planned due to a migraine!) at Leasowes Community Theatre.  This was an amateur production by local group Mayhem Theatre but there was nothing amateur about the performance - it was fab!

It was great to see acquaintances from disbanded Halesowen Musical Comedy Society which I used to be a member of, some of which I'd not seen for about 15 years!  Everyone played their parts exceptionally well and did a great job with the German, French and Italian accents which must have been tricky.

Jo's performance as 'Edith' saw her entering the stage for her first scene adorned with bread rolls for hair curlers.  I'd also like to assure anyone who came to see the performance (especially parents of the school choir!) that Jo's singing really isn't that bad and she obviously does a very good act of singing out of tune :)

A lot of work had gone into the creation of the set which was certainly apparent when the curtains opened.  Authentic costumes were hired in to give the performance a really professional feel.  I would urge anyone to grab tickets for Mayhem's next show, you won't be disappointed.

Whenever I see a show like this I remember how much I used to love acting but I also remember the effort and long hours that go into it.  Well done, Mayhem for all your hard work and on a superb show that had daughter and I in stitches on several occasions (especially anything associated with hidden knockwurst sausages!).

'Young Voices' 2010

Young Voices is a nationwide music event that takes place from November to January.  Young Voices is, in essence, the largest children's choir organiser in the world.  Concerts are held at various locations such as Birmingham's LG Arena and London's O2 Arena where school choirs come together to perform the 'Young Voices' songs they have been learning for many weeks.  Many other performers also take part and the childrens choir is incorporated into many of these performances.  This year saw the return of the fabulous 'All Angels' along with Dionne Bromfield, Josh Osho and the superb Young Voices dance troup, Urban Strides.

After taking our school choir to the event at Birmingham for the first time last year and having such a fantastic time, Jo and I could not wait to return again.  Although the location had changed this time with a move from the National Indoor Arena to the LG Arena we were sure the atmosphere would be as electric as ever!

The song list this year included 'Bright Eyes' by Simon & Garfunkel, 'Stand By Me' by Ben E King along with super Michael Jackson, Pop, Snow Business and Golden Musical Memories medley's.  I thought the song list this year was superb and personally preferred it to last years although the timing in Bright Eyes was rather difficult, especially for youngsters.

[caption id="attachment_417" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Please note all faces have been obscured where necessary to protect children's identity"][/caption]

We arrived at the LG Arena by coach on Thursday 25th November accompanied by approximately 38 nervous but excited choir members, some of whom attended last year and others who were about to experience Young Voices for the first time. Luckily, this year there was no hanging around outside which was a good thing due to the drastic drop in temperatures.  We had great seats right in the middle of the massed choir and directly in front of the conductor.  Rehearsal went well conducted by the amazing David Lawrence.  I don't know quite how he does it but he has almost the full attention of over 5000 children!

At 5pm we were surprised by the appearance of 'Carrie Grant' who was there to record a live report for the 'One Show'.  We were given some new items to sing and did several practice sessions before going completely live on the 'One Show' at 7pm.  This was such an exciting experience for us, the children and the audience!!

As we'd already imagined, with the children singing their hearts out and the addition of Santa hats and coloured lights the atmosphere was absolutely magical.  Many of the children were very tired by the end of the concert and then with a walk back to the coach and a trip back from Birmingham I think they were very glad to get home.

This was 'A's last year at 'Young Voices' as next year she'll be off to High School.  She sat next to me during the performance and sang her absolute heart out!  She told me later that she was determined to make the most of it as she wouldn't get the chance to go again.  Unfortunately my partner in crime, Jo, missed the actual performance as she had to leave early due to doing her own performance onstage in 'Allo 'Allo.  This was a real shame after the work we've both put in but I've no doubt we'll be back again next year with a new set of kids and a new set of songs.

Well done Young Voices for excelling yourselves once again and organising a superb event.  What better way to start the Christmas season than with 5000 children singing in unison!

'The Gallery' - Man & Dog

Gallery theme for this week is 'Black & White' and I had just the picture in mind for this.

 

Bude in Cornwall has always been a favourite holiday destination of ours ever since the children were little.  One of our most loved spots is 'Duckpool' - a small National Trust beach a little further up the coast from Bude.  We've spent many a Summer and Autumn day sitting on this beach and this particular photo was taken on a .............Summer day (yes, you wouldn't think it would you!).  The sky was so dark and stormy but the camera just wouldn't do it justice.  I tried a B&W setting and voila!  It captured the scene just as I'd wanted.

Pre December Update!

There's a lot going on recently but nothing that particularly warranted a full on 'post' all of it's own, therefore I thought I'd blog a little 'update'.

Can you believe it's only 30 days until Christmas? It only seems 5 minutes since I was lying on a beach in Majorca - browning nicely and now here I am, hat, scarf and gloves at the ready and precariously plodding my way to school as the dog nearly pulls me over on the icy pavements!  Say what you like though about the hype, but I do love this time of year with the anticipation of Christmas.  Cold, frosty mornings are wonder and especially so when walking a dog - why didn't anyone ever tell me?  We'd have had him much sooner :)

My Christmas pressy buying is not going too badly (for once) although I always seem to make a good start and then my enthusiasm dwindles, leaving me with 26 presents still to buy come Christmas eve!  How are you all getting on?  You're all going to tell me now that you started in July and they're already wrapped aren't you?

Got a busy week this week.  Monday started off with Dancing and Guides for 'A' as normal with an extra rehearsal thrown in ready for her Preliminary Modern exam this coming Sunday.  Yesterday (Tuesday) was our very last school choir rehearsal for the 'Young Voices' concert taking place tomorrow at the NEC in Birmingham.  The kids are really hyped (as am I!) about the whole thing although I think some of the younger members are a little nervous.  They're really in for a great day though if last year was anything to go by.

Tonight I'm off to see my lovely friend Jo playing 'Edith' in 'Allo 'Allo which is being performed by Mayhem Theatre Group.  From the little tit-bits I've heard so far, I can't wait! (More to come on this tomorrow :) )

As I've already mentioned tomorrow I'll be off to the NEC with the school choir.  It's going to be a long but very enjoyable day.  We leave school around 1pm and won't be returning till around half ten.  As much as I love the snow and frosty weather, let's hope it at least holds off to allow us a safe and swift journey there and back.

Friday is a quieter day, although it is the School's Christmas fayre which I no doubt will be attending to test my luck on the old tombola :).  'S' also has a friend sleeping over Friday night as a treat for his 14th Birthday.  Gone are the days of keeping them entertained though, luckily they'll be quite happy with a pizza and an evening of Xbox!

After such a busy week I'm relieved to say the weekend is a quiet one.  'A' has her dance exam Sunday morning but other than that I'm looking forward to a nice relaxing time with a morsel of Christmas cooking and cardmaking thrown in for good measure.

Tuesday's Treasures - No to nailbiting!

Week 3 of Tuesday's Treasures is a a rather random picture of..............

My Nails!

This may seem a bit of a strange choice for my treasure but I am extremely proud of these little beauties.  I have been an addicted nail biter for 33 years and then suddenly last year I finally managed to break the habit!

I tried so many different methods including that horrible 'nail biting solver' but nothing seemed to work - eventually it just came down to sheer willpower.  After buying many, many packs of 'Broadway Artifical Nails' I thought the time had come to stop spending my money and just grow my own.

I started using Sally Hansen's Maximum Growth which was great and really helped to strengthen my nails.  I found that once I'd got past the 'end of finger' stage I wasn't even tempted to bite them.  I think the temptation was more so a jagged bit of nail or dry skin but once I started looking after them this disappeared.

Looking after my nails is now something I find quite therapeutic.  I love cutting and shaping them and also trying different colours of nail enamel.  Obviously, they still break from time to time like everyone elses but I've never been tempted to bite them even when they do.  Due to the fact that I'd bitten my nails for such a long time and also that I used to bite them so low the nail bed areas are now quite short, but even these have improved as time's gone on though.

I often get compliments now on my 'lovely' nails and I'm so proud as I know the willpower it took to get them like this.  My nails are actually quite short on this photo as they were getting too long for playing the piano. I never thought I'd see the day when I'd actually have to 'cut' my nails with scissors......I thought my teeth would forever do the job!

'The Gallery' - Before & After Nickelodeon

Week 35 of 'The Gallery' is the theme 'Before and After'.  Tara Cain's outline was to find a picture you've taken before and re-stage it in some way.  I've actually had to pull out all the stops for this one and take a 'new' picture! *Shock!!

I call this 'Before and After the Nickelodeon Channel!'

This photo of 'A' was taken in 2004 when she was just 4 years old, it's always been a favourite of mine.

Here she is again aged 10 after many viewings of iCarly, Hannah Montana, HSM etc etc.  Can you see the influence?