I've somehow avoided going near a computer very much over the past week of holiday. We've been catching up with family and friends and it has been lovely avoiding technology- reading and talking has been the order of day and I've enjoyed it.
I'm not all that into New Year introspectives in terms of examining my life and things but I have been thinking of the past year and it has had some wonderful elements and some gloom and also.
I've played with a few new orchestras which has been wonderful, I've visited some grand places, I've worked at being eco-friendly, I've written and arranged some pieces of music successfully, worn some fun outfits, gained some new cosplay pieces but equally I've felt very gloomy at times and anxious too. I've worried about health and politics and the environment a lot- I think I've felt more anxious about things this year than for a while.
I want to work at being KIND. I want to be THANKFUL at all times for the good things and I want to go forward with those two words- being KIND and THANKFUL.
Happy New Year to you dear blog-friend.
xx
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Saturday, December 28, 2019
Eco-December
I haven't written many Eco-posts recently. I think perhaps because I felt I hadn't done anything particularly noteworthy or new but that's no reason not to get on and post so here's a few ways I have tried to be a bit more eco-friendly in December or seen this that have been more eco-friendly
At our School Christmas party last year, I was distressed by vast quantities of Caprisun cartons and juice cartons that went into bin bags. This year, I was super pleased to see that G, the person who was responsible for the parties was making up fruit squash into 90 plastic disposable tumblers which she was then rewashing after each party and reusing for the next one. Although it would be better to have 90 non-disposable ones (like borrowing them from the Canteen?), it is still an improvement on last year. I helped her when I saw her washing them up and then after the party which I was at, I made sure we washed them and dried them ready for her so she would be willing to do this again. I made sure to tell a teacher for the next party that they needed to wash the cups up. I then made sure the tumblers went into the cupboard to be used again.
At the same party, the children were given a packet of crisps each. My local library collects Crisp packets to send to Terracycle to recycle into something else so I made sure the children at my party flattened their crisp packets for me and put them into a bag. I made sure to ask the teachers at the remaining 3 parties to do the same. I'd already missed 3 parties the previous day but that is still 270 crisp packets that didn't go into Landfill and hopefully made some money for the library.
I have not purchased any wrapping paper. Not least because I have A MILLION gift bags from children at school. I've chosen to wrap my presents in old tissue paper, old wrapping saved from last year (in fact, my Eco-club colleague from school laughed when I handed her her Christmas present because I had used the exact parcel she wrapped my birthday present in and just crossed out our names on the label and wrote them in the other way round and then changed Birthday to Christmas Everything else is wrapped in 'Who gives a crap?' toilet paper external papers which didn't even come from my own toilet rolls!!!! I asked the loo ladies at my Music camp to save them for me when my did their jobs in the loo and came home with about 50 sheets of patterned paper! I then used sticky delivery labels from school which the eco-friendly caretaker at school gave me after saying, "Agrgh, what is the point of them sending this massive stack of sticky labels with addresses." I said, "I can use those for parcels." and have been for the last few months! Yes, my presents may look a bit scruffy and unconventional but frankly, I am not bothered and anyone who is, doesn't deserve a present from me with such a snobby attitude! ;-)
Our headteacher announced that there would be an afternoon tea provided on the last afternoon and so, in that meeting, I reminded people to bring along a container with them to take things home so that nothing would be wasted and lo and behold, people remembered and nothing was wasted! This made me happy! I think everyone who had a container was also happy!
We ran out of glasses so my head asked for some plastic cups so I went and got the aforementioned ones from the party and brought them in. I also made sure to wash them up so they could be used again. Oh, and the crisp packets were all saved too...
My work colleague came into the staff room and grabbed a box of open Shreddies from on top of the cupboard (presumably left by someone a long time ago!) which had a Best Before date of June 2019 because he wanted the box for whatever craft they were doing in class. He was just about to chuck the nearly full bag of Shreddies in the bin and I hastily stopped him and said I'd take them home for the Compost/food waste bin. I did, but actually, I've tried them and they taste good so free Shreddies for me for the holidays!
There were three 12 unopened packs of chocolate fairy cakes left on the table which were going out of date and were going to be chucked out so I grabbed them and took them to church for the carol service yesterday as an option for the mincepie haters!
I already mentioned my 'Secret Santa' gift at school was to buy 20 bamboo, plastic-free toothbrushes to be given out in hampers to school families- nice to include an eco-message.
I must say that one area CBC and I are struggling with is Toothpaste. We've been using glass jars or toothpaste and tooth tabs for the past few months but really aren't so keen on them. I caved and bought a tube of Colgate. I do miss proper toothpaste!
Went to the Refill room and filled our 3 Shower gel bottles- we haven't had to buy shower gel bottles for a year now as The Refill Room celebrated its 1st anniversary last week!
It's a small thing which is outside my control really but this year, whenever I have bought anything second-hand on eBay, I have always sent the seller a message asking them if they can reuse packaging rather than giving me something new and by and large, they have done that, a few saying what a good idea it was to actually ask!
I wanted to share an eco-message for Christmas presents and birthday. I bought my niece a bamboo hot drink cup for her birthday and have bought handbag rolls which contain a fork, spoon, knife, chopsticks, straw and straw cleaner made out of bamboo for a few people. Also bought shampoo bars for people from Lush for Christmas. For my Mum (STOP READING NOW MUM!)
I have sourced several items in the charity shop and filled them with food items that are plastic free. Herbs and spices and dried goods given in washed out jars. Same for my Dad! His chocolate cashews come in an old honey jar!
I'm quite pleased that with CBC's family, we all decided to give no Christmas presents this year but to just share food and joy together. It is quite a relief not to stress about presents and it is better to save resources.
This afternoon (written on 23rd December), I wanted to make some soup so I used the bag of carrots rescued from school which are about 2 months past their best before date. Of course, when peeled, these are perfectly good carrots, I also added in a lump of courgette that CBC would definitely have thrown away had he seen it plus using the small lump of Chorizo from CBC's party Paella and the plastic-free sundried tomatoes from Italy plus Tumeric, Paprika, lentils and herbs (plus a tin of butterbeans) from my beloved Refill room- proving it is stupid to live by Sell by dates and also that you can make things with a little of everything. We now have hearty-soup to eat on the 27th, 28th and some freezer portions.
Have you done anything particularly noteworthy with an eco-message recently?x
xx
At our School Christmas party last year, I was distressed by vast quantities of Caprisun cartons and juice cartons that went into bin bags. This year, I was super pleased to see that G, the person who was responsible for the parties was making up fruit squash into 90 plastic disposable tumblers which she was then rewashing after each party and reusing for the next one. Although it would be better to have 90 non-disposable ones (like borrowing them from the Canteen?), it is still an improvement on last year. I helped her when I saw her washing them up and then after the party which I was at, I made sure we washed them and dried them ready for her so she would be willing to do this again. I made sure to tell a teacher for the next party that they needed to wash the cups up. I then made sure the tumblers went into the cupboard to be used again.
At the same party, the children were given a packet of crisps each. My local library collects Crisp packets to send to Terracycle to recycle into something else so I made sure the children at my party flattened their crisp packets for me and put them into a bag. I made sure to ask the teachers at the remaining 3 parties to do the same. I'd already missed 3 parties the previous day but that is still 270 crisp packets that didn't go into Landfill and hopefully made some money for the library.
I have not purchased any wrapping paper. Not least because I have A MILLION gift bags from children at school. I've chosen to wrap my presents in old tissue paper, old wrapping saved from last year (in fact, my Eco-club colleague from school laughed when I handed her her Christmas present because I had used the exact parcel she wrapped my birthday present in and just crossed out our names on the label and wrote them in the other way round and then changed Birthday to Christmas Everything else is wrapped in 'Who gives a crap?' toilet paper external papers which didn't even come from my own toilet rolls!!!! I asked the loo ladies at my Music camp to save them for me when my did their jobs in the loo and came home with about 50 sheets of patterned paper! I then used sticky delivery labels from school which the eco-friendly caretaker at school gave me after saying, "Agrgh, what is the point of them sending this massive stack of sticky labels with addresses." I said, "I can use those for parcels." and have been for the last few months! Yes, my presents may look a bit scruffy and unconventional but frankly, I am not bothered and anyone who is, doesn't deserve a present from me with such a snobby attitude! ;-)
Our headteacher announced that there would be an afternoon tea provided on the last afternoon and so, in that meeting, I reminded people to bring along a container with them to take things home so that nothing would be wasted and lo and behold, people remembered and nothing was wasted! This made me happy! I think everyone who had a container was also happy!
We ran out of glasses so my head asked for some plastic cups so I went and got the aforementioned ones from the party and brought them in. I also made sure to wash them up so they could be used again. Oh, and the crisp packets were all saved too...
My work colleague came into the staff room and grabbed a box of open Shreddies from on top of the cupboard (presumably left by someone a long time ago!) which had a Best Before date of June 2019 because he wanted the box for whatever craft they were doing in class. He was just about to chuck the nearly full bag of Shreddies in the bin and I hastily stopped him and said I'd take them home for the Compost/food waste bin. I did, but actually, I've tried them and they taste good so free Shreddies for me for the holidays!
There were three 12 unopened packs of chocolate fairy cakes left on the table which were going out of date and were going to be chucked out so I grabbed them and took them to church for the carol service yesterday as an option for the mincepie haters!
I already mentioned my 'Secret Santa' gift at school was to buy 20 bamboo, plastic-free toothbrushes to be given out in hampers to school families- nice to include an eco-message.
I must say that one area CBC and I are struggling with is Toothpaste. We've been using glass jars or toothpaste and tooth tabs for the past few months but really aren't so keen on them. I caved and bought a tube of Colgate. I do miss proper toothpaste!
Went to the Refill room and filled our 3 Shower gel bottles- we haven't had to buy shower gel bottles for a year now as The Refill Room celebrated its 1st anniversary last week!
It's a small thing which is outside my control really but this year, whenever I have bought anything second-hand on eBay, I have always sent the seller a message asking them if they can reuse packaging rather than giving me something new and by and large, they have done that, a few saying what a good idea it was to actually ask!
I wanted to share an eco-message for Christmas presents and birthday. I bought my niece a bamboo hot drink cup for her birthday and have bought handbag rolls which contain a fork, spoon, knife, chopsticks, straw and straw cleaner made out of bamboo for a few people. Also bought shampoo bars for people from Lush for Christmas. For my Mum (STOP READING NOW MUM!)
I have sourced several items in the charity shop and filled them with food items that are plastic free. Herbs and spices and dried goods given in washed out jars. Same for my Dad! His chocolate cashews come in an old honey jar!
I'm quite pleased that with CBC's family, we all decided to give no Christmas presents this year but to just share food and joy together. It is quite a relief not to stress about presents and it is better to save resources.
This afternoon (written on 23rd December), I wanted to make some soup so I used the bag of carrots rescued from school which are about 2 months past their best before date. Of course, when peeled, these are perfectly good carrots, I also added in a lump of courgette that CBC would definitely have thrown away had he seen it plus using the small lump of Chorizo from CBC's party Paella and the plastic-free sundried tomatoes from Italy plus Tumeric, Paprika, lentils and herbs (plus a tin of butterbeans) from my beloved Refill room- proving it is stupid to live by Sell by dates and also that you can make things with a little of everything. We now have hearty-soup to eat on the 27th, 28th and some freezer portions.
Have you done anything particularly noteworthy with an eco-message recently?x
xx
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Festive outfit 4: The original Christmas jumper
I intended to share these outfits over the weeks but I somehow got busy, CBC wouldn't let me use his computer and so, despite having uploaded pictures, didn't actually get around to posting them! Since I took them, I might as well actually post them!
Here's my original Christmas jumper- this was bought by my little sister when she worked at Next - we both have it and I love it because it is a very thin, soft cotton sweatshirt material!
As I've mentioned, I always like to style my Christmas jumpers in a different way than just with jeans or plain trousers. I've pretty much ALWAYS wear it with a skirt or a dress.
Here's my original Christmas jumper- this was bought by my little sister when she worked at Next - we both have it and I love it because it is a very thin, soft cotton sweatshirt material!
As I've mentioned, I always like to style my Christmas jumpers in a different way than just with jeans or plain trousers. I've pretty much ALWAYS wear it with a skirt or a dress.
Here, I paired my jumper with my charity-shopped Tartan shirt dress and my charity-shopped Clarks red desert boots and navy leggings. To add a bit of additional sparkle, I added my green-mirrored Lorelai LQ earrings again.
Here, I thought I'd share my previous blog photos of how I have worn the Christmas jumper to prove I tell no lies!
With a Tartan skirt and boots
With polka dot shirt dress and bronze lace-ups
With an African print cotton dress, snowball headband and er...slippers!
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
TARDIS Tuesday- Clara in The Caretaker
The TARDIS Tuesday I am wearing this week is one I wore almost precisely a year ago (give or take 5 days) Here. In fact, I wrote last year, that I intended to wear it for my Christmas performance at school but didn't in the end. Well, I DID wear it for that same Christmas performance a year later.
It's such a famous Clara outfit- one, like last week's one, that most cosplayers attempt. It's actually my only completely screen-accurate Clara outfit.
The top and the skirt are from Topshop, the shoes (not visible) from Bertie and the collar clips from Ladybird Likes (which is an independent which is no more!)
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| Clara's outfit from The Caretaker |
The top and the skirt are from Topshop, the shoes (not visible) from Bertie and the collar clips from Ladybird Likes (which is an independent which is no more!)
And here's my version. It was quite a fun festive outfit to wear for my performance. I like the baggyness of the blouse- it is very comfortable. The skirt is less comfortable, mainly because the skirt has no give. Many compliments received - which always happens when I wear a screen-accurate Clara outfit!
Wishing you a restful, blessed and fulfilling Christmas eve!
xx
Monday, December 23, 2019
Festive outfit 3 - the charity-shopped Christmas t-shirt
My next feative outfit features a t-shirt I bought when in Ipswich with Sophie and Hazel. Hazel found it but she discarded it so I pounced on it after a suitable interval!!! Given that it is black and silver, it seemed a good idea to wear it with my grey and black checked trousers from Joanie Clothing and styled with my Lorelai Lq glitter star-earrings. I added my grey leather Clarks shoes which I recently got re-heeled as they were looking a bit old and worn out! We are very lucky to have a traditional shoe-mender in our town.
I wore this for school on a Friday and then repeated it on a Sunday!
What do you think?
xx
A pause for Advent 2019 #4
A pause for Advent is one of my favourite parts of preparing for Christmas, even though I stress a bit over what to write each time, hoping some inspiration will hit me.
Today, I am thinking of just the idea of a Pause. Taking the time to sit back and count the blessings. I am grateful for everything God does for me- I feel his presence with me and I know that I would be lost without his presence. Jesus didn't stay a baby- he grew up and shared his wise teachings, helped countless people and then died so that those who came after him might also have the opportunity to live life in abundance- a life without fear, a life without being totally lost, a life where the awful things we do don't have to define us and to be our future. He came to save Me and You (if you choose to accept that) and every time I do something I regret- I know that it is not the end- I am not condemned for ever- I have hope and a chance to live the future with Hope and freedom. I hope you do too!
Things I am blessed by today:
1. Beautiful sunshine,
2. A warm house
3. Peace and quiet
4. Silence and Solitude.
5. The knowledge of good things to come.
God bless you this Christmas.
xx
Today, I am thinking of just the idea of a Pause. Taking the time to sit back and count the blessings. I am grateful for everything God does for me- I feel his presence with me and I know that I would be lost without his presence. Jesus didn't stay a baby- he grew up and shared his wise teachings, helped countless people and then died so that those who came after him might also have the opportunity to live life in abundance- a life without fear, a life without being totally lost, a life where the awful things we do don't have to define us and to be our future. He came to save Me and You (if you choose to accept that) and every time I do something I regret- I know that it is not the end- I am not condemned for ever- I have hope and a chance to live the future with Hope and freedom. I hope you do too!
Things I am blessed by today:
1. Beautiful sunshine,
2. A warm house
3. Peace and quiet
4. Silence and Solitude.
5. The knowledge of good things to come.
God bless you this Christmas.
xx
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Christmas outfits 2009 #2- the charity-shopped velvet dress
In a week of outfits, I thought I'd share yet another one of my Christmas garments which are being let out for good behaviour!
I swear I only ran into the charity shop for a quick glance. I'd been to the library 2 weeks ago and I went to have a look in the Essex ambulance charity shop in the town square. In there, I found two beautiful brand-new velvet Christmas dresses from Hellbunny in my size. at £5 each, when these were still available at £30+ each, it seemed a temptation too good to ignore.
A dress doesn't need too much styling- it's most of the outfit but I thought I'd share how I wore it to a birthday party for our friends' 2-year old at their house.
The dress is a beautiful wine-red velvet with candy cane and foliage detailing on the collar.
I wore it with black leggings and my Clarks men's burgundy brogue boots.
It seemed a wonderful opportunity to wear my genuine 1930's red velvet cap to go with it and finally, some pretty mirrored green star earrings from Lorelai LQ
I swear I only ran into the charity shop for a quick glance. I'd been to the library 2 weeks ago and I went to have a look in the Essex ambulance charity shop in the town square. In there, I found two beautiful brand-new velvet Christmas dresses from Hellbunny in my size. at £5 each, when these were still available at £30+ each, it seemed a temptation too good to ignore.
A dress doesn't need too much styling- it's most of the outfit but I thought I'd share how I wore it to a birthday party for our friends' 2-year old at their house.
I wore it with black leggings and my Clarks men's burgundy brogue boots.
It seemed a wonderful opportunity to wear my genuine 1930's red velvet cap to go with it and finally, some pretty mirrored green star earrings from Lorelai LQ
A dark velvet dress reminds me greatly of childhood dresses. That's no reason not to wear one! I'm a great one for nostalgia!
xx
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
TARDIS Tuesday - Time of the Doctor Clara's Christmas day outfit
Hey there!
I'm sharing a most iconic Clara Oswald cosplay today and it is also a Christmas special outfit so therefore I deemed it appropriate for this season!
It comes from Matt Smith's Doctor's Swan Song episode- The Time of the Doctor. Clara's dressed for her Christmas dinner with her family.
She wears a crochet collar blouse (from Urban Outfitters), a pointelle Cardigan from Yumi, a red tartan wrap skirt from Karen Millen, black and gold leather boots from Topshop and a gold spike necklace and bracelet.
Today, I wore it for our orchestra concert at school. It went really well. I was super pleased with the children for their hard work and the audience were really appreciative!
I'm sharing a most iconic Clara Oswald cosplay today and it is also a Christmas special outfit so therefore I deemed it appropriate for this season!
It comes from Matt Smith's Doctor's Swan Song episode- The Time of the Doctor. Clara's dressed for her Christmas dinner with her family.
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| Image borrowed from Mariah's Cosplay site |
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| Image borrowed from Styles and Smarts |
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| Image borrowed from this Pinterest |
Last time I wore it was here (November 2018)
Today, I wore it for our orchestra concert at school. It went really well. I was super pleased with the children for their hard work and the audience were really appreciative!
It's pretty similar to the outfit I wore last time. Actually, apart from my boots, all of the garments I am wearing are all good alternatives to the actual original garments but quite good things I think.
The only different item I am wearing this time is a better version of the necklace which came from a friend Susie who is a fellow Clara fan and also a professional musician from Scotland- she managed to find some similar beads and made a few necklaces like Clara's and luckily, I was one of the chosen few to be allowed to have one of them as she had to order a certain number of beads. It looks really good and I am very pleased with it!
I was given many, many compliments from children, teachers and parents today! It often happens with a Clara outfit!
What do you think?
xx
Monday, December 16, 2019
Festive outfits 1- Styling a Christmas jumper
I have a work colleague who has enough Christmas jumpers to wear a different one every day in December that we are at school (that's probably about 20?). My collection is much more limited. I've somehow accrued several Christmas or winter-themed items of clothing over the years- most of these have come second-hand- I think only maybe three items were actually bought new (and one was handmade from an independent maker). I thought it would be fun to try and post about these this week to show how I like to style them.
We had a Christmas jumper day on Wednesday at school as it coincided with our Christmas dinner. I'll share that another day. Today, I am going to share what I wore on Saturday to a Christmas party we went to in Taplow. It was a wonderful party- it was so wonderfully me that I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was hosted by two friends from our music camp that actually, I don't know so well but got to know better this year as they were the organisers of our camp. We ate delicious homemade food (including amazing butternut squash chunky soup), we sang a myriad carols from the Carols for Choirs books in sometimes 8party harmony (for at least an hour and a half) and for me this was so special because I haven't been able to do that with a choir for a few years because the churches I went to didn't do that and also because I just keep losing my voice during this season due to overuse and fatigue. God gave me my voice today for me to enjoy singing! Also, the people at the party were all so nice and my type of people and finally- we played boardgames - Articulate and Snatch (a derivative of Bananagrams) as they are avid boardgame fans. Also, our team won Articulate! Hurrah!
When we have had Christmas jumper days at school, most people combine theirs with jeans. I never do this! I like to style mine differently.
My jumper was from M&S originally and I bought it in the January sales about 4 years ago and its best feature is the big sequinned Christmas bow. To compliment the colours of the bow, I added one of my Clara items- this woolen red Tartan skirt bought second-hand from eBay. With this, I wore M&S leggings and my Clarks originals red leather desert boots (charity shopped last year) and some Fairisle socks I received as a present a few years ago. Festive accessories came in the form of red and gold bell earrings and my Rosebud Casson robin necklace (a freebie!)
We had a Christmas jumper day on Wednesday at school as it coincided with our Christmas dinner. I'll share that another day. Today, I am going to share what I wore on Saturday to a Christmas party we went to in Taplow. It was a wonderful party- it was so wonderfully me that I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was hosted by two friends from our music camp that actually, I don't know so well but got to know better this year as they were the organisers of our camp. We ate delicious homemade food (including amazing butternut squash chunky soup), we sang a myriad carols from the Carols for Choirs books in sometimes 8party harmony (for at least an hour and a half) and for me this was so special because I haven't been able to do that with a choir for a few years because the churches I went to didn't do that and also because I just keep losing my voice during this season due to overuse and fatigue. God gave me my voice today for me to enjoy singing! Also, the people at the party were all so nice and my type of people and finally- we played boardgames - Articulate and Snatch (a derivative of Bananagrams) as they are avid boardgame fans. Also, our team won Articulate! Hurrah!
When we have had Christmas jumper days at school, most people combine theirs with jeans. I never do this! I like to style mine differently.
My jumper was from M&S originally and I bought it in the January sales about 4 years ago and its best feature is the big sequinned Christmas bow. To compliment the colours of the bow, I added one of my Clara items- this woolen red Tartan skirt bought second-hand from eBay. With this, I wore M&S leggings and my Clarks originals red leather desert boots (charity shopped last year) and some Fairisle socks I received as a present a few years ago. Festive accessories came in the form of red and gold bell earrings and my Rosebud Casson robin necklace (a freebie!)
I decided to share my outerwear like the wonderful Sheila does too. My F&F duffle coat is another Clara item (secondhand) and my red furry scarf comes from when I used to live in East London. The red beret was also charity shopped! I much prefer wearing my Christmas jumper like this rather than just slung over jeans. If you like wearing your Christmas jumper like that, that's brilliant, but I like the creative challenge of trying to combine mine with more varied items!
Comfy and cosy for a Christmas house party!
What do you think?
xx
Sunday, December 15, 2019
A Pause for Advent 2019 #3
I've mentioned on numerous occasions that I created a tradition at my school of writing a song for Christmas for my KS2 Christmas performance. Over the last decade, I have created songs for the various parts of the nativity. It's one of my absolute favourite Christmas traditions and I'm always really excited to do it. It is an act of worship, writing a song for parts of this story which is so important to my faith, an act of giving and love to my children; to write a song especially for them and an act of creativity; to continue to use my skills as a composer and an act of fun- I love composing! I would not say that these are great songs-they are very much aimed at my audience- the children and their parents but I hope that they are a different way of approaching each aspect of the Christmas story and you find something you enjoy in it or it speaks to you in some way. It's also become A Pause for Advent tradition that I share my song for one of the posts. I'm not sharing it for praise (or indeed censure- though you are welcome to your opinions) but that the act of writing is a pause to think about a particular aspect of birth of Jesus and to use the gifts, skills or interests, whichever way you wish to look at it, to offer back.
This time last year, I heard a song called Mary did you know? which was used for the dancers for our Advent carol service at my old church. This year we actually sang it for the carol service. I remember thinking, "I like this song- I haven't written a song about Mary for my nativity, I will do that next year." I even started writing some basic sketches for it in the Summer holidays this year, working out the first bit, the end and the basic accompaniment for the first bit. I recorded some of these improvisations and used these to begin typing up the notation for it into Sibelius, the music software I use. But then I got stuck on the middle bit and abandoned it.
It came to October and I knew I had to get the song finished as I needed to be teaching it the first week back to my choir (this year, my song was a choir solo rather than the whole key stage.).
It was strange because I'd been stuck on the middle section but when I looked at the direct words from Luke's gospel, all of a sudden, I became unstuck and able to work it out. Divine inspiration for sure!
My children learnt it really quickly and they really do sing out when singing it.
The last bit is sung as a solo by one child but alas, this recording was from when I hadn't chosen the soloist so it is all of them.
You can hear me singing it first and then you will hear my children singing it in the 2nd week of their learning it. They sing it much better now, 7 weeks on but I haven't had a chance to record them again.
This time last year, I heard a song called Mary did you know? which was used for the dancers for our Advent carol service at my old church. This year we actually sang it for the carol service. I remember thinking, "I like this song- I haven't written a song about Mary for my nativity, I will do that next year." I even started writing some basic sketches for it in the Summer holidays this year, working out the first bit, the end and the basic accompaniment for the first bit. I recorded some of these improvisations and used these to begin typing up the notation for it into Sibelius, the music software I use. But then I got stuck on the middle bit and abandoned it.
It came to October and I knew I had to get the song finished as I needed to be teaching it the first week back to my choir (this year, my song was a choir solo rather than the whole key stage.).
It was strange because I'd been stuck on the middle section but when I looked at the direct words from Luke's gospel, all of a sudden, I became unstuck and able to work it out. Divine inspiration for sure!
My children learnt it really quickly and they really do sing out when singing it.
The last bit is sung as a solo by one child but alas, this recording was from when I hadn't chosen the soloist so it is all of them.
You can hear me singing it first and then you will hear my children singing it in the 2nd week of their learning it. They sing it much better now, 7 weeks on but I haven't had a chance to record them again.
Mary, you are chosen,
Mary, highly favoured,
Mary, you're the one.
Mary, be not afraid,
Mary, God with you,
Mary, chosen one.
You will be with child and give birth
To a son and name him Jesus
The son of the most high.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David.
And he will reign, his kingdom ever more.
Mary, the holy spirit will come upon you.
Nothing is impossible with God upon your side.
Oooh,
Oooh,
I am the Lord's servant, let it be to me as you have said.
(Words by chosen and adapted by me based on Luke's gospel.
Melody and accompaniment by me.
Voices: Me and my children after.)
The words of this song are saying to me right now- Trust. Trust that there is something better, that the bleakness of the past few days aren't the end, they can't be. That God is with us even at the hardest times and he calls our name and it's our choice whether we choose to hear or not. I trust, hope and pray for something better than this earthly existence.
This is my 3rd pause for Advent with Ang and co.
If you want to hear some of my songs from a few previous years (and don't feel obliged!), you can click these links to the posts:
The innkeepers rant
Feel the Christmas beat
Join in our story
Ring out the bells
The innkeepers rant
Feel the Christmas beat
Join in our story
Ring out the bells
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Light one small candle
I have to share a beautiful post from the wonderful Brenda and her blog- It's a wonderful life!
https://beautiful.wordfromhome.com/2019/12/day-13-light-up-your-world.html?showComment=1576277463540#c5129080143786315889
She shared this quote:
"It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness." Eleanor Roosevelt
I am so grateful for her sharing that quote. Oh how apt that is after the disaster of the election last night. I have wanted to curse all indeed- indeed, I did mad lady routine on the train by frowning at pictures of Boris Johnson on the front of the Metro and drew on his face! But I don't want to curse the darkness. Instead, I want to try and see the light- to see the light of Advent and the small, beautiful things that aren't British politics. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts- luckily, my mortgage completion came through the next morning and I am quite sure that was due to all of that positive prayer!
Wishing you a lovely weekend.xx
https://beautiful.wordfromhome.com/2019/12/day-13-light-up-your-world.html?showComment=1576277463540#c5129080143786315889
She shared this quote:
"It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness." Eleanor Roosevelt
I am so grateful for her sharing that quote. Oh how apt that is after the disaster of the election last night. I have wanted to curse all indeed- indeed, I did mad lady routine on the train by frowning at pictures of Boris Johnson on the front of the Metro and drew on his face! But I don't want to curse the darkness. Instead, I want to try and see the light- to see the light of Advent and the small, beautiful things that aren't British politics. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts- luckily, my mortgage completion came through the next morning and I am quite sure that was due to all of that positive prayer!
Wishing you a lovely weekend.xx
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
TARDIS TUESDAY - Clara Oswald- Before the Flood/Under the Lake
Hi there,
I should start this post by saying that I would love your prayers and thoughts. We are trying to remortgage and our free legal care from Natwest are the biggest bunch of complete incompetent losers I have ever had the misfortune to have had to spend hours on the phone unsuccessfully trying to reach and have to send paperwork to. I've just read reviews of them online and everyone has really put the knife in and feels exactly the same as us. If you are offered legal care from Involegal Hugh James, based in Cardiff- AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are pure evil. We are now 2 weeks overdue on our remortgage and are currently on 5% interest which is costing us an additional £35 interest daily. If you are in the habit of praying, please, oh please, pray for a miracle that they will actually complete-we've already just paid them £400 to cover the now shortfall due to the interest and it will increase every day. Please pray that I can speak to a human and that human will do their job!!!!!!!!! I've actually got physical pains through the anxiety it is causing.
Anyway, onto something more pleasant:
Here is an outfit I've done for TARDIS Tuesday back in October 2018.
It is Clara's outfit from a 2 parter story set in an underwater base.
She wears a cute grid Pinafore from Miss Patina with a Topshop mustard ribbed turtle neck, black tights and Topshop black boots and socks.
Here's my version. It's very similar to last time except that I've obtained the screen accurate boots and I am wearing another alternative polo neck (charity shopped)
This is a very favourite dress of mine- I even found the brown tweed version of it because I loved the shape so much! It's a fun look for Clara and practical for work.
I should start this post by saying that I would love your prayers and thoughts. We are trying to remortgage and our free legal care from Natwest are the biggest bunch of complete incompetent losers I have ever had the misfortune to have had to spend hours on the phone unsuccessfully trying to reach and have to send paperwork to. I've just read reviews of them online and everyone has really put the knife in and feels exactly the same as us. If you are offered legal care from Involegal Hugh James, based in Cardiff- AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are pure evil. We are now 2 weeks overdue on our remortgage and are currently on 5% interest which is costing us an additional £35 interest daily. If you are in the habit of praying, please, oh please, pray for a miracle that they will actually complete-we've already just paid them £400 to cover the now shortfall due to the interest and it will increase every day. Please pray that I can speak to a human and that human will do their job!!!!!!!!! I've actually got physical pains through the anxiety it is causing.
Anyway, onto something more pleasant:
Here is an outfit I've done for TARDIS Tuesday back in October 2018.
It is Clara's outfit from a 2 parter story set in an underwater base.
 |
| Image borrowed from this pinterest |
 |
| Image borrowed from WornonTV.net |
Here's my version. It's very similar to last time except that I've obtained the screen accurate boots and I am wearing another alternative polo neck (charity shopped)
Please hope and pray that next time you read my blog, my remortgage is completed.
xx
Sunday, December 08, 2019
A pause for Advent #2 Charlie Brown's Christmas- A children's story
Last Sunday, a week ago, I went to play my flute for the Advent Carol service at my old church. Margaret Fowler, the minister there, gave a beautiful talk as part of the theme of the carol service: Once upon a time... She has kindly let me share her ideas and words.
She began by saying that all good fairy tales begin with that familiar phrase and have done since 1400 and end with, 'They all lived happily ever after.' Surely that is what all of us want in life- no one wants to hear that things end badly.
Charles Schulz was the creator, in the 1950's, of cartoons about Charlie Brown and his friends- they appeared in newspapers and were a huge success over the following decade. The success was so much so that Schulz was asked by that famous old company, Coca Cola, if he would entertain the possibillity of producing a full length cartoon as a Christmas show- it would be sponsored by the company.
Schlulz agreed to this but said he wished to centre the plot around producing a Christmas play where Charlie wanted to tell the story. He was insistent on the fact that the film had to reflect the TRUE meaning of Christmas. Coca Cola agreed to this.
The story begins with Charlie Brown and the blanket-carrying-friend Linus talking- Charlie feels unhappy despite it being Christmas. All the friends he tell this too don't seem to care and just share their glee about the exciting THINGS of Christmas they would be having and doing- food, decorations and presents rather than offering him support.
Charlie is given the role of Director for a Christmas play which all the aforementioned friends are in but they bicker and seem to miss the point of it all playing Christmas that is not really anything to do with Christmas- Fur Elise for the piano player for example.
Charlie still isn't happy and he and little Linus set off in search of a tree to use in the play thinking this will help. All the others demand a fancy dress with all the best over-the-top decorations. Amidst the bright pink fake and fluffy trees, Charlie finds and falls in love with a diminutive pine tree and takes it back in excitement.
Charlie's friends are scornful of its simplicity and the humble nature of the tree and mock him for messing up again- they desert him. Linus alone remains. Charlie, in despair asks plaintively, "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?"
Linus simply replies, "Sure, Charlie Brown. I can tell you what Christmas is all about."
He stands there in the spotlight and begins:
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields keeping watch over their flocks by night And lo,the angel of the lord came upon them and the glory of the lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear Not” for behold I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to all people for unto you has been born this day, in the City of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God saying, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth Peace and goodwill towards all men."
He relinquishes that much loved security blanket from the words, "Fear not," And he says to Charlie Brown- "that is what Christmas is all about."
It is a beautiful, humble moment.
Despite Coca Cola's acquiescence to Schulz's request, just before the screening of the cartoon for the first time in December 1965, the executives of the production company, who had come to watch it, were quietly aghast. "You can't quote from the Bible. It will be the end of Charlie Brown." It was too late to adapt though. It screened as per his wishes and despite the fears, it was a considerable success, much beloved by all and it won many acolades and awards. And this humble, central moment of scripture is acclaimed as to why the film was such a success- this tiny, usually nervous boy sharing with confidence, the true Christmas story.
Right at the end of the cartoon, we see Linus, who reclaimed his blanket after the speech gives up his blanket to wrap around that humble, mocked tree with all the other children who give decorations to adorn the little tree.
And the point she was making with her sermon was that sometimes, we are like Linus- we hold desperately onto things and do not want to let them go- this could be material possessions, wanting to be the best, past anger, resentment and even our belief that this couldn't possibly all be true- how could Jesus possibly have been real and been who he said he was- a Saviour. But he came to help us let go f all these. The Christmas story isn't just a fairy tale- it is a true story with hope, power and joy- that the Son of God came to earth and will be with us, should we choose to accept him, and despite the difficulty and despair of this life, he will be with us always. And our happy ending is that we will live in Heaven with Jesus forever.
My soul was uplifted by this wonderful sermon and I wanted to share it with you. I've included the full cartoon here from Youtube. If you don't have time to hear it all, listen from 20:06 and hear the message from Linus.
With thanks to Margaret for her wonderful sermon and thanks for letting me share it.
This is my Pause for Advent with Ang Almond and co.
Tuesday, December 03, 2019
TARDIS Tuesday- Clara in Face the Raven
Hello there,
Today's TARDIS Tuesday is a bit of a last minute one- one I haven't worn for ages and one that is really comfortable!! I need to wear it more.
The inspiration is from Clara's Swan song (or, rather, Raven song?) episode, Face the Raven. She also wears it for Hell Bent and in Twice upon a time (er- smelly?).
She wears a grey jumper from Topshop that has a built in lace shirt. She wears it with tight black jeans and some black suede wedged trainers from Ash.
And here's me:
Today's TARDIS Tuesday is a bit of a last minute one- one I haven't worn for ages and one that is really comfortable!! I need to wear it more.
The inspiration is from Clara's Swan song (or, rather, Raven song?) episode, Face the Raven. She also wears it for Hell Bent and in Twice upon a time (er- smelly?).
She wears a grey jumper from Topshop that has a built in lace shirt. She wears it with tight black jeans and some black suede wedged trainers from Ash.
 |
| Image borrowed from BlogtorWho |
And here's me:
I have the same sweater but mine's a bit big for me. That makes it more comfy! I wore it with my ubiquitous black trousers that make it into every Clara cosplay requring black jeans. My trainers are also from Ash as well but I didn't wear them for school- a) because we can't wear trainers and b) because I am worried it might rain!! And I look very haggard. Sleep needed methinks!
What do you think? Would this be your type of outfit?
xx
Sunday, December 01, 2019
A pause for Advent 2019 #1 Hope not fear
Advent is all about Hope. Hoping for something new, hoping for the future, hoping and trusting that salvation and change is coming. That's what came before the birth of baby Jesus. Hope after waiting. Hope after years of worry, Hope for freedom from fear, hope for wisdom and goodness.
I have felt very negative for a while. Moaning, worrying about everything- worrying about the future, worrying about the environment, worrying about Brexit, worrying about corruption, worrying about my children at school and in the world in general, worrying about decisions I make, worrying about my actions, how I've acted, behaved or treated people, worrying about so many things. And it's horrid and driven me crazy. I can completely and utterly attribute this to my lack of prayer, lack of regular church attendance, regular quiet time and seen where that has come from.
But fear can be reversed by hope and trust. Advent is a chance to see that Jesus's birth, coming again, remembering the gift of love, freely given and a chance to retrust in my God. Yes, lots of horrid things are still happening, but with God, I can be full of hope, not fear.
And I am hopeful- I am so excited for this Advent-tide!
This is Part 1 of my Pause for Advent with Ang!
I have felt very negative for a while. Moaning, worrying about everything- worrying about the future, worrying about the environment, worrying about Brexit, worrying about corruption, worrying about my children at school and in the world in general, worrying about decisions I make, worrying about my actions, how I've acted, behaved or treated people, worrying about so many things. And it's horrid and driven me crazy. I can completely and utterly attribute this to my lack of prayer, lack of regular church attendance, regular quiet time and seen where that has come from.
But fear can be reversed by hope and trust. Advent is a chance to see that Jesus's birth, coming again, remembering the gift of love, freely given and a chance to retrust in my God. Yes, lots of horrid things are still happening, but with God, I can be full of hope, not fear.
And I am hopeful- I am so excited for this Advent-tide!
This is Part 1 of my Pause for Advent with Ang!
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