Ding dong!!

[pensnest]

My little cat has just seen off a quite large ginger moggie who had the cheek to come into HER garden and, er, introduce himself. I was impressed by Sable's ferocity, and quite surprised, but I also provided backup in case it was needed.

*

As for the post title, I've just spent about an hour on the phone with my ex-step-aunt, to whom I have not spoken in *years*. She was always a decent human being, though, unlike her sister, my ex-stepmother, who apparently died in February. Aunt prudently did not advise me of funeral arrangements. But I wouldn't have worn my dancing shoes, truly!

*

Prior to that I spent a day in London in a very boring way, being assessed for (more) new hair. I have female pattern baldness, ie a very considerable forehead, which is embarrassing and tiresome, so if I want to present as a Person With Hair, I have a couple of quite nice wigs and a couple of very expensive hairpieces which are not as heavy and hot (and unlike my natural hair) as the wigs. It's time to get a new hairpiece. I do have a collection of scarves, but there are times when I want to have hair.

I was very happy to discover that just opposite the hair place is a *fabulous* Italian... delicatessen, I guess. I had very nice coffee there, and a delicious cannoli, and after the hair appointment purchased some intriguing jars of sauce and jam and some buffalo cheese. Then spent quite a lot of the rest of the afternoon at Liverpool Street Station waiting for my return train.

*

And before *that*, I have been on a Retreat with my chorus! All weekend, at a collection of holiday cottages in the general area of The Broads: there was a collection of boats strung along the far end of the fields behind the place, and at one point a boat sailed majestically along behind the sheep.

We had a bring-and-share meal/birthday party/quiz night on Friday, spent most of Saturday singing and getting a sore back, and most of the rest of Saturday playing (!!!) my clarinet. Yes, someone in the chorus had the ambition to present a chorus Band to the assembled group in our informal concert on Saturday night. She presented me with a loaner clarinet on Thursday evening—at which point, having been looking for it for three weeks, I found my own clarinet. It was about a foot to the left of where I had expected it to be. Why I could not see it I am not sure, but I darkly suspect that I was afraid of playing it very badly and therefore had decided to cop out of the band.

In the event, it went all right. After I had clarified with our esteemed band leader which notes on the clarinet corresponded with which notes on the page, which I could not at all remember. She had done a good job of providing people with easy stuff to play, and it went well. Phew.

I think I will be trying to play my clarinet again. ALthough I have been biting myself on the inside of the lower lip for the past couple of days — very unpleasant — possibly because my poor lower lip was numbed by the exercise.

So. Hello again.

Comments

[turps]

Go Sable!

I did think you'd been watching Glow Up when I saw your subject title, but it's very apt when I read what it actually relates to.

Finding an excellent deli so close to the hair place is excellent. Hope you enjoyed your goodies, and your new hairpiece when it's finally done.

[pensnest]

I am not precisely rejoicing about the death, but I cannot summon up an iota of sorrow. I felt quite restrained, not using the entire phrase!

I will be returning to the deli next time I visit the hair place, and possibly will take a larger bag....

[minoanmiss]

cheers for your epic day

[pensnest]

It has been *so* long since I was last in London.

[watervole]

Definitely get some time with the clarinet. Sometimes, it can help if you have a friend to play along with, even if you're using different instruments.

I have a friend who plays melodeon and we practice the same music with me on my concertina.

[pensnest]

There is now talk of us playing at our regular Christmas engagement, so I shall definitely have to keep in trim. But I'm getting the clarinet cleaned and serviced first! I wonder if I have any accompaniment CDs. Hmm.

[watervole]

Now, that's an idea.

I get regular chances to play with the morris band, and sometimes for the sword dancers when I'm not too busy teaching.

[turlough]

Sable can obviously be a very fierce cat when she wants too! Lancecat was also quite ferocious at chasing off strange cats from HIS territory. No matter what size they were!

I hope you will be happy with your new hair!

The retreat sounds like great fun and very useful too. You should totally continue to play your clarinet! The clarinet has such a lovely sound!

[pensnest]

I was surprised at Sable's aggressive stance! I remember her following Fluffy's lead a while back, when the two of them plus *three* visiting cats sat in a careful geometric arrangement and stared at one another until someone got bored and wandered away....

I do intend to keep playing, now I have rediscovered how fun it is.

[rikes]

I had no idea you were a Person With A Clarinet! How cool!

Fingers crossed your new hairpiece is to your liking! How long does it take to have one made?

[pensnest]

You can tell the clarinet has not been out and about for a long time! I first learned to play just after I left college, when a friend rented me an instrument for my birthday and I had lessons for a few months. Then I took it up seriously after the Boy was born, got my own instrument, and even passed the Grade V exam. But suddenly I was producing a show and didn't have time to practise any more so I stopped having lessons.

If I get an off-the-peg one which works, I could have it within a fortnight. If I get one custom-made for my head, it could be up to eight months!

[ephemera]

I did not know that you had clarinet-playing in your secret abilities drawer! A person of many talents! The retreat sounds fabulous, and I hope your new hairpiece brings you much pleasure when it arrives.