How do you solve a problem like a Kezzie?

Hello!  Disaster- I've lost my camera lead in the big tidy up (strange, I can find it when house is a tip.  When tidied up, everything is unfindable!)  I spend soooo much of my life searching for things I have mislaid, how on EARTH will I cope when I am old!!!!!!  Anyway, I was in The sound of Music a long time ago and I wrote this post absolutely ages ago but forgot about it.  Long overdue but needing to clear up the drafts folder!

Anyway, I am a bad blog host! I think gratefully of all the lovely comments you leave me and then never actually voice my thanks which is shamefully remiss of me- so I am sorry but thank you for the loveliness you leave. It really does make my day to see another friendly comment and I hope that is reciprocated when I visit back.

Anyway, ages ago, I bemoaned to all of you about the dress I wanted to wear for my 'party' outfit for the Sound of Music- the fact I had found the perfect dress in the Sunday times magazine from Asos's salon range and it was sold out. What I shamefully didn't tell you was that it then came back into stock and I bought it. You will also remember my sharing the vintage dirndl skirt and 1920's shift night dress I bought for it.

Well, here are just a few photos of my time playing Maria Von Trapp during the Royal Wedding weekend for you to laugh at! Here is the first moment of meeting Captain Von Trapp- here the dirndl skirt made it's first outfit- hideosly paired with high-necked black blouse bought vintage some years ago which I wear when I have to dress up as a Victorian school marm. Notice hat in hand- the outfit looked even more hideous with the hat on!

Here is the ASOS salon dress in action- so floaty. Dancing the laendler- I cannot tell you how long we had to rehearse this because I could NOT stand close to Nick, staring into his eyes under his arm in the moment we were supposed to realise we loved each other, without giggling. Mother Superior who taught us the dance got really cross with me. Somehow I managed it in performance! I look really awfully serious here! Sans makeup!
Lonely goat herd shot- the 1920's night shift made its appearance. It was soooo stiff and uncomfortable!!!!

Singing Edelweis.

;
Curtain call at the end- the relief but sadness of it being over (that's me on the right)

Lonely goat-herd- my favourite song! I was told I had a great yodel! Ooops, I can see my dress poking out underneath it- I had to wear it thus as I had a quick change for the next scene!
Looking very holy, this IS indeed my Victorian School marm outfit!

Don't you love the curtain dresses!!!!? Saddo that I am, getting into the role, I found myself crying in between the leaving scene and this one!

So, tell me- do you frequently lose things?  

You must remember this! I mean to read!

20. Maria Von Trapp The Sound of Music- the story of the Trapp family singers

I ordered this book because I had just been in the musical acting the part of Maria. Whenever I am in a musical, I always feel an affinity to whatever part I play, so since this character was based on a real person and a true story I decided to find out more!

Right away from the beginning of this book, I was struck by the sincerity, warmth, down-to-earth and godliness of this lady. Every opportunity, dilemma, joy, difficulty, danger and pain was responded to with God’s help. The story begins as it does in the musical, Maria is an unruly young lady in a convent, a postulant, although the reason she is sent to the Trapp family is because she is delicate of health and it seemed that they wanted her to get well before she became a fully fledged nun. Right away, she is aware that there is an inherent sadness and distance between the Captain, Geog and his brood of 7 children. Maria, as in the film teaches them folk songs which they learn to love and Geog ends up accompanying on his violin eventually. The innocence of this author is beautiful and when the complication of Princess Yvonne (The Baroness in the film) comes in, she tells Maria straight away that Captain Von Trapp has TOLD her he is in love with her- that’s a difference to the film! Anyway, things come right and they marry!

Maria refers to her relationship with God throughout and trusts in the will of God, all her decisions are led by him, in a beautiful, knowledgeable simplicity. She has a personal relationship with God and He responds to her prayers. The family Von Trapp become professional singers when they lose their fortune and tour Europe and even gain invitations to America. You gain a real sense of how it felt when Austria was taken over by the Nazis- it is horrifying and dreadful. The family escape to Italy the day before the borders close, another example of God’s work at hand.

The story moves on to the family Von Trapp going to America with a friend, Catholic priest and musician, their accompanist, Father Wasner (with only their possessions), their humorous adaptation to non-Austrian language and culture. They meet time and time again with answered prayers, astounding good fortune and generosity when things could easily leave them destitute.

I love the fact they founded a Trapp family Music camp, they play recorders, teach folk music to Americans, make friends, learn new crafts and skills and always manage to survive. They truly love everyone they meet. They give, they rejoice. God provides all the way and teaches them difficult lessons, but they remain faithful.

This is an account of family sticking together, loving each other, enduring struggles, triumphing, going through the desert of life and rejoicing in God’s abundance, staying together. Right at the end, there is a sad event which caused me to cry as I read it, and it follows with a quote from Job and the difficulties like Job which follow the sad event. I read this book knowing and feeling that God was and is at work in this text, providing for his faithful children.

Their house, finally named at the end, reflects this family COR UNUM ET ANIMA UNA- “They were one heart and one soul”.

I usually dislike biography, but I fell for this account- so beautifully, warmly written. What an amazing author!

Read it, whatever your beliefs, persuasion, even if you are an atheist, it just might make you realise how amazing life can be and you will feel that the world is an amazing place and how inspiring people can be!

When the work bites, when the plans sting, when I'm feeling sad...

I write this in the middle of planning for maths this week! I've had an incredible weekend of Rodgers and Hammerstein. I feel extraordinarily bereft at our production of The Sound of Music being finished! It was amazing fun!!!

A man called Bruce Tuckman (1965 and 1977) introduced the idea of stages of Group development, forming, he added and named the last one as adjourning/grieving, when the object of your group has finished. I can certainly identify with this. As I have to return to the mundane, my head is somewhere back on a beautiful hill, falling in love with my navy captain and a plethora of children! Wistful, reflective, how can I make myself return to the every day tasks I must complete? (doesn't help watching Sound of Music in the background!). Please tell me if you can!

Thank you for all the lovely comments, really lovely to come back, especially when slightly sad, to return to kindness and consideration!

Thanks for lovely image of the beautiful Julie Andrews from www.news.bbc.co.uk