Catch-up

[blamebrampton]

This is a very annoying time of year, as I am hideously overworked and underslept. The work is being knocked over one task at a time (today I have been translating French craft instructions* and designing a pattern for a toy dog. Oh the diversity!) but I am missing my free Wednesdays. The next three are going to be taken up with work, and the last two have been mostly taken up with medical stuff. Having had everything from my eyes to my right foot tested of late, I am happy to report that I am in exemplary health, save for wholly unfair gallstones and a right foot that has 'significant remodelling', but not in the bit that actually hurts. Typical.

However, all this work means that I am considerably behind in good news and ramblings. Most of the latter will have to wait, but I am bringing on the good news. The first and best bit is that the Linwood College Orchestra is going to Europe! A couple of large donors came on board, but all the small donations have meant that the two players who had to drop out because their families could not afford to cover more of the bill are now going, plus the kids will have food money, rather than a month of chips and pommes frites! Thank you all for the coffees and teas that have been sacrificed for music!

Here is a copy of the thank you note that came out from the orchestra's conductor:

Linwood Orchestra trip still on

In view of the large earthquake in Christchurch recently, and the imminent departure date of the Linwood College Orchestra on its European tour we thought we should send a message to all of our supporters.

After the earthquake we felt that the tour would be impossible, but thanks to the spirit of determination of the students, families, the school and its Board of Trustees, our spirits have risen from the ashes, so-to-speak, and we feel that it is very important to take this opportunity to get our lives back on track. Music and the arts are the soul of a people and continuing with the trip will play a large part in getting beyond the “coping” stage; towards building our future.

Your contribution has played a very important part in enabling the trip to happen in the first place and, in thanking you very sincerely for that, we would like to make a few further points:
1 The tour is definitely still going ahead. A highlight will undoubtedly be playing at Westminster Abbey as part of the ANZAC Day commemoration service.
2 If you wish to read more information go here: http://webcentre.co.nz/linwoodcollegeorchestratour/
3 If you wish to see the orchestra while they are touring, the itinerary is also available at the above link. Unfortunately some concerts that were originally planned have had to be changed or cancelled due to various logistical issues.
4 We have had to cancel our original pre-trip Gala concert. However we are giving a free concert at the Aurora Centre, Greers Rd (Burnside High) on Monday 4 April at 7.30pm to thank the community for its support and as a dress rehearsal for our performances in Europe. If you would like to reserve tickets for this free concert, please phone or email Susan Gill, gill.susan@gmail.com, 359 3537. We would be delighted if you could attend.

Thanks most sincerely for your support – we have valued every donation or other kind of support particularly as we have struggled over the past weeks. It has encouraged and inspired us to continue to work towards making this long-held dream a reality.

Tony Ryan
Orchestra Conductor and Tour Leader

We have a new State government, conservative, but the small c type and led by a good old-fashioned cardigan politician who I personally quite like, despite not being a conservative myself. Sadly, not enough of their policy platform has been released for me to make any sort of statement of expectation about the next few years, but they would have to work very hard to be worse than the government they replaced. Though some of the new cabinet are a bit on the lupin side. Still, no difference there!

The weather has finally cooled enough to allow a blanky at nights. BLISS.

And finally, it is not good news that Diana Wynne Jones has died, though it is peace for her after a long battle with cancer. But it is excellent news for us that she lived, and wrote. Her stories have always been remarkable for their imaginative vision and for their deep humanity. People are real people and do things for real reasons, even when they are also evil witches or cranky older sisters. Her Black Maria is genius in that the evil aunt within is actually evil. Generations of children have breathed a sigh of relief at the knowledge that sometimes, your older relatives are complete and utter witches, or, you know, the obvious.

If you have not had the joy of reading her books, now would be an excellent time. You can start almost anywhere, and she has multiple good series, as well as some hilarious non fiction. If you have ever liked any of my stories, you will love hers, as they are better -- richer and deeper. If there is an afterlife, she and Joan Aiken are probably having a lovely cup of tea even as we speak and cheerfully reflecting on the fact that a whole generation of English-speaking readers (and writers) praise their names with regular devotion.


* This is in itself a recipe for hilarity as I can only speak or read one language at a time, and so the afternoon has been spent with me having moments of intelligence -- 'Piquer, yes, that can be stitch as well as sting, and endroit contre endroit is right sides facing. HA! I AM BRILLIANT!' -- then being interrupted by Mr B, then returning to the work to find myself going 'Er ... something, something by hand?'

terachan , for this reason I will be replying to your lovely comment AFTER my magazine deadline, as I wanted to reply in (tragically not very good on my part) Italian, but have not had any brain space to compose it. Sorry! I fully understand if you think I am appalling -- appallingly tardy at least!

Comments

[lisbet.livejournal.com]

I love your image of Joan Aiken and Diana Wynne Jones having tea in the afterlife!