Sorry for the lack of posting. I've had the lurgy. I've even been off work for a week, something that I've NEVER done before! I've slept lots and drunk lots of tea and I'm finally ready to take some photo's! See you soon. a little link for you...
this lady has been to one of Chartwell's mbira camps and recorded some songs, so thanks Briony and the lovely stars of your videos!
Ahhh Wednesday, the middle of the week, you are an underrated day
Reading: Nothing - can anyone recommend anything?
Listening: Nick Drake, Madeleine Peyroux, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Arcade Fire
Making: Compromises
Wishing: For a little bit of courage!
Looking forward to: A lovely weekend
here.... some photo's at last, John the first one, and the other two are mbira playing inspired, a lion (shumba) and a spirit. Sophie and Ma and Pa have got their fill of weird sculptures now, I'll have to start finding someone else to palm them off on!
I had mean't this to be a different post than it is, but to be honest, I thought I'd better show you what I'm looking at whilst trying to do this post
Cute, ain't he... he keeps on coming round for a cuddle, I've had to abandon the first attempt at posting because he walked over the keyboard - nutter that he is. Bless Dougal - you really are taking after your namesake at the moment, what with the rollerblading, thickness and fear of nuns....!!!(only joking about the nuns bit - he is like Father Dougal his namesake in the stupid stakes though...!) these are small.... those are far away...
Anyhow, I digress!!!
I hope everyone had a marvellous weekend. Sophers and I went to Wales, a lovely little place between Capel Curig and Bedgellert. We sat round a campfire (well two really - v cold!) watched Sopher's friend firebreathing and I had a go at a didgeridoo!
Thanks to the lovely Sarah (yes another one - we get everywhere!) for the photo's - I forgotted my camera
We took our mbira's and we played for the gathered throng, although it was very cold and gloves soon were put back on!!! It was a beautiful place though and I can't wait to go back for a proper trip when it's a tad warmer!!!!
The weather might be cold, but it has its advantages, like fab sunsets! On my return home from work yesterday I took this from my front step - even in the most urban of environments, it's easy to appreciate the fabulous colours this sky paints for us don't you think? Have a Happy Wednesday....!
When Sophers, Bertie and I were nippers and mum used to bake, we used to call whatever came out as mummy's makings, can't remember why, you'll have to ask her! Well she has been making although not baking for me. She has made me an mbira bag so that I can cart it around in style!!! I made one for Sopher's and hadn't thought about making one for me and she surprised me with it on Wednesday evening! So without further ado.... here it is!!!
Isn't it fab!! complete with vintage buttons and everything!!! My mbira seems to love it too, its exactly the right size and here it is all snuggled in its padded protector!!!!
I must admit I did know about LSM's dislike for HP, but I still cannot control myself... only 1 more week and I shall be glued and unable to speak rationally for weeks afterwards (I'd better warn my colleagues... or do I need a week off....??!!!!!)
Well its off to bed for me soon.... Car boot in the morning.....
What a weekend we had!!! The Annual Africa Oye music festival on Sefton Park was on this last weekend. Always a brilliant event with lots of visitors from far and wide!
It was amazing, the company of friends and mbira players as well as the thousands of other people celebrating the fab weather and brilliant music from bands like Culture and Ska Cubano
Lots of dancing in Muddy Sefton park and fabulous Morrocan Food. There were great stalls where you could get anything from Jewelry to bags to African and South American art and clothes of all types.
This band had the oldest person on stage I think he was nearly 80 !!!
We played mbira in the park, I learned a new piece (which I now have to practice!!)Legs, hands and mbira courtesy of Eve!!! I really love the shells on hers!!
We all ended up very tired, mostly subburned and with very muddy feet!!!! 
I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend! Wasn't the weather brilliant (more on that story later!) I'm so grateful to the lovely bloggers who participated in the swap we've just had. I feel terribly guilty that I only sent one out as everyone else has sent me one (lovely people!) I do have to beg extreme circumstances what with Mum's party and all, however you should look out for little surprises dropping through your front doors soon! Here they are in all their glory! What a talented lot you all are!
Wasn't it a gorgeous weekend (pity about the grey today - well in Liverpool anyhow)
We got my Mother's presents, which she is just going to have to wait for (she's like a four year old when it comes to presents!!!) Then as all good plans have a way of doing, the rest of the days plans evaporated into lying on the grass in mum and dads garden, singing "what shall we do with the drunken sailor", "in my liverpool home" and "the black hills of dakota" with mum and sophers and then mbira and hosho playing (I think we worry the neighbours ever so slightly!!), drinking coffee and munching on Eccles Cakes. So the charity shops of Liverpool were safe for one more weekend! Then Sunday was spent cleaning and much more enjoyably having a fab dinner in a friends house (thankyou!) and drinking too much wine..... and now.... back to the working week!
I'm afraid this is going to be a photoless post as well... (I forgot the camera lead.....) So I'll have to post extra ones tomorrow.
Sorry.... I'm in a singing mood today. I do sing quite often. As far as Sophers and myself are concerned EVERYTHING is a cue for a song. I'm really looking forward to the weekend now. We are birthday present shopping, doing a little bit of charity shop trawling and then going to have a picnic, play mbira and take photo's in the park as the forecast is for 24 degrees tomorrow! won't that be nice!
I'm leaving you today with a very unsuccessful photo of one of my fave things (I still can't quite get the settings right on the camera....I'll have a better play tomorrow!) I bought it on a visit to my Aunt and Uncles house in the Loire Valley, at a little brocante market along the river bank. It was a steamy hot day and after we had spent our Euros on vintage buttons, ribbons and pressed glass we sat in dappled shade and drank coffee and ice cold water outside a cafe in the town square watching the birds chase crumbs dropped by the other patrons..... mmmmm I wish I was back there (although in slightly cooler weather!) bliss
I'd like for you all to meet Doris! Doris is my Librarian action figure (with realistic shushing action!) who sits and looks over me whilst I work. Doris was given to me by my cousin who picked her up on a trip to the states. Isn't she great! She's even based on a real life Librarian by the name of Nancy Pearl.
Here it is, my first post with pics!!
It finally happened. I've got myself a camera. I'm going to remember to bring the camera with me to take some photo's soon! I have a few action shots of Sophie playing mbira as requested by Jem! They aren't bad for a first go, but its going to be a good long while before I'm David Bailey!
I'm all excited and I'm seeing things everywhere that I want to photograph now, even more than I did... is that normal or will it wear off?????
I also had an exciting shopping trip at lunchtime. I bought some gorgeous pie dishes in pink and blue in the marvelous lunchtime destination of TJ Hughes! For only 3 and 4 pounds respectively they are a bargain too! I'm going to have to make some pies now!! - mmm Apple and Blackberry...... Okay... hungry now....
Here's to tomorrow and hopefully my first picture posting!!!!!
I am in denial no more... it has hit... as of 7.30 this morning 30 years ago today I decided to show my face (my mother tells me... after 30+ hours of agony... I'm not sure if she has decided it was worth it yet ;-)!!! I'm now officially, well in my terms anyhow, an adult. I'm hoping that this does not mean I'll start wearing beige and become obsessed with Cliff... still its a new era of possibilities, I'm lucky to be here and be healthy and here's to the next thirty!
I've had a wonderful break. Mbira camp was AMAZING! I met lots of lovely people and revisited some others I've met before. I learned so much it was untrue and I've come back with three new songs to irritate my neighbours with! (not to mention the gourd shakers I'm planning on getting to practice hosho!!! - I think I'm the neighbour from hell... I'll be featured on one of those programmes I'm sure!.... the phantom shaker player from old Liverpool town!) I'm hoping that I'll be able to post some piccies when I get some e-mailed to me from the people with cameras. Thanks again to the lovely Eve and James who picked me up and dropped me off and put up with me in the car for a total of 14 hours (you will get your rewards in a better place lads!)
I suppose I'd better get on with it then, lots to catch up on, nearly 150 e-mails to do something with, birthday or no birthday!
TTFN
Sarah
Isn't it a lovely new week. Don't weekends seem to accelerate the older you get!!!
Well just three work get ups for me this week, then I'm off on Mbira leave! I'm even more excited today than I was when I first posted about it! Then I'm off to Carnforth to visit family, after that, then the big time hits......The big 30....
All activities in the next few weeks will be to distract me from the date that I'm convinced will be the clock signalling my speedy decline into senility. I don't know why I'm being so daft about it. People keep telling me 30 is the new 21, well you know what, 21 seems like a much nicer number to me! Although, as most people will probably tell you, I'd like to be 21 again and I know what I know now! Still as far as I'm concerned it is an excuse to break out the whisky and have a little commiseration!
I have, since last May been TRYING to learn how to play the mbira. The mbira is a Zimbabwean musical instrument, that sounds amazing. Again I'm sorry no photo's yet but see this link for an idea of what it looks like.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mbira
Well... why excited... because by this time next month, I will have had another lovely few days in Scotland with lots of other like-minded people and hopefully with some patience, (on my behalf as well as everyone else) I'll have learned a bit more. So thanks to Catherine for introducing me to it.
My favourite parts of these camps, is (apart from the learning) listening to the people who have been playing for years. There is nothing like hearing a group of fantastic musicians playing and singing. I really cannot describe how it sounds and feels, even now, months on from the last time I heard people all playing and singing together, it is still as fresh in my mind. Now, you can't say that about many things can you?
