A Lovely Day

Ooooh - what an exciting day I had yesterday. Birthday cards and e-greetings, e-mails and phone calls and texts from all over the place. Normally the postman goes straight past but yesterday - loads of envelopes and a large jiffy bag containing all sort of lovely bits and pieces. Then when I had a look on my computer greetings from many blogging friends. People have often said to me that you can't call someone you've never met 'friend'. You jolly well can you know! Thank you to all my friends, wherever you live, for casting a magical spell on an otherwise mundane day.

And special thanks to our own Motherhen for the lovely 'Simple Rhyme'. I loved it! Now then Kath, when are you going to tellme when your birthday is? I've asked you a few times but you always manage to skirt round the issue. There, I've asked you publicly now!

You know, when I was little I could not imagine me not being famous when I grew up. I don't know that I had any firm idea of what I would be famous for though I do remember thinking when I was about 10 that I might be a singer! Ha! I know what brought that on: my friend's mum heard me singing one day and I overheard her saying to my mum that "...you ought to have her voice trained..." and "....you ought to get her joined in the Co-op choir, she could be a mezzo.....". That all sounded quite reasonable to me. I wasn't too sure how one went about training a voice but if they could train dogs...........! Despairing of the Co-op choir I decided to try, in the first year at Grammar School, to get in the school choir; not quite the dizzy heights of the Co-op but a start. They held a proper audition where the school's one and only music mistress put you through your paces. This scale, that scale, can you read music, here's a middle C - sing it a-n-d HOLD IT. Well, a puffed and red faced few seconds later and I was told I wouldn't do. Wouldn't do!!! I could have been back row! I could have been a mezzo!

I fancied myself as an actor as well but the best I ever managed was understudy to the role of museum curator in a sketch which lasted about 3 minutes. I can't remember why but whoever was to do the part couldn't so I was promoted. I had no lines to speak but my big moment was to be a dramatic and blood-curdling scream right at the end as the curtain fell. I practised and practised privately at home - well, as privately as a full blast blood-curdling scream can be. Nobody thought much of my 'rehearsals' least of all mimuther who had to explain to neighbours and sundry passers by that they were not, in fact, doing child sacrifices or pig sticking. Anyway, at the one and only performance never was a more bloody or curdling scream executed than mine. I was going for the element of surprise you see. Trying for Gothic horror and by golly..........the audience rolled about laughing! Even the teacher / director was helpless. I was never asked again though. Their loss.