Bassoons and other 'b's

How exciting!  I'm just listening to the latest version of Catherine's song 'Differently' and it sounds fabulous. It features the bassoon! Now this is the first time we've ever used bassoon on a song and it's truly wicked.  Comically appealing.  My creative juices are now in full flow and I'm feeling all inspired to write a flute part for it.

And the bassoon fits neatly into the theme of the week. You see, my youngest daughter is doing the letter 'b' at school and we've got to think of loads of words beginning with that letter.  She's also got to draw pictures of things beginning with 'b'.  Though I'm not sure her artistic skills are up to drawing a bassoon, mine certainly aren't.    I think we'll go with...er... 'banana', yeah - much easier.  I did fail my GCSE art exam after all!

And for my sins I'm helping out on a school trip tomorrow.  'Why?' I hear you cry.  Why indeed.  Probably because I am slightly mad - indeed I know this to be the case as I will be forfeiting a nice cuppa and a brand new episode of 'Homes under the Hammer'.  Life is hard.

But on the plus side, I am really looking forward to a wedding this weekend which will see the Key Largo Trio girls (O.K - 'ladies'.  I guess since I'll be forty next year I can no longer even vaguely be called a 'girl'. (Am in denial!)) reunited  for the first time since Rachel's wedding.  She's back from a rather exotic honeymoon in Cuba and Catherine is also about to go exploring, embarking on a visit to Nepal where she'll be living and working in the local communities .  And me?  Well there'll be the school run and visits to Sainsburys.  And if I'm lucky a trip to 'Pets at Home' to re-stock on guinea pig supplies.   Mmmm - not got quite the same ring to it, has it???

Still - on the plus side, that thought leaves me with lots more 'b' words:  bland; boring;  banal.


Ha!  Every cloud...

New songs, Melodica Moments and a Very Special Wedding.

Musically, times are exciting for the Key Largo Trio.  We’ve performed a few concerts, wedding season is upon us and we’re writing original songs again.  Woohoo!  And our very own Rachel (cellist) is getting married this very month. Woohoo with bells on!  And what a beautiful occasion it’s going to be.  Picture this: a barn; wild flowers in jam jars on the tables; daisy hair garlands; maxi dresses galore; live music throughout and you’ve got a pretty good idea of the style of the wedding. Oh and the bride is wearing flip flops! (Glamorous ones though, of course!)

On the less than fabulous side, school has already broken up and the ensuing eight weeks with my two little darlings are looming ahead like an expedition up Everest.  However, I am determined to put at least some of this lengthy period to artistic use.  It’s been a long time since I wrote a song but Catherine (pianist) has been hard at it, two new songs already in the bag and on the way to being recorded too.  I managed to write a harmonica (ha - love it!) part for one of these so I have had some success.   I’m hopeful that the time is nigh. It’s not that my two divas have sucked me dry of creativity (and energy for that matter) but as they grow older I can kind of feel it creeping back in. Slowly.  Very slowly.  But there’s definite movement.  

One way in which I hope to reawaken the songwriter in me is to INVOLVE the kids.  Last Sunday the sun was shining, the sky was azure blue and we walked the dog en famille.  Get this - we went out armed with (not tissues, wipes, snacks, drinks, toys etc) but notepad and pen!  Our mission was to write a song about butterflies. I’d even painted glittery butterflies on the girls faces to set the mood. The Von Trapps have got nothing on us.  Only slight snag is we didn’t actually write a single word, but surely it’s the thought that counts?

And on the little holiday we’re taking to the coast I have a vision of myself sitting on a sun drenched beach (unlikely, it’s England! ) holding a notebook and writing song after song as inspiration flows as copiously as elderflower champagne at Rachel’s wedding. Here’s hoping.  On both points. 

In an unrelated and completely irrelevant matter, I had an unexpected high today.  Got childcare courtesy of the parents and decided to have an innocent wander into the Gap outlet store.  Fancied getting myself a pair of shorts.  The sale was on and there was an extra 30% off too.  Well, I may have gone in for shorts but came out with a trolley load of  kids clothing.  Nothing for me.  Mothers out there will understand.  These things happen.  

Happy hols folks and may the sun shine on us all!