It’s been a while, hasn’t it? And not entirely through choice. Thanks to some Tl;dr behind-the-scenes machinations to do with WordPress and Jetpack and Mailchimp, I think, my blog is no longer being distributed via email to its previous subscribers, who will not have seen my November post. I’m sorry about that. I know so little about the arcane world of blogs and website development that I’ve found it all quite bewildering. If there’s anyone out there who can help me sort this blog out, please could you come forward? Also, if you’re reading this and have read and enjoyed (or appreciated, or reacted to) my previous posts, might I ask you to sign up again using that widget in the sidebar on the right of this page to receive them directly into your inbox. New Year seems as good a time as any to try and set off on the right foot, doesn’t it?

Looking back over the last month, the last year, so much has happened that I never anticipated. In mid-December I sang “out front” as the Soprano soloist in Schubert’s Mass No2, thereby achieving a long-held personal goal. I know I did a Vivaldi duet and solo in April but this one was with the frock and all, albeit black because it was a Mass in church. I was most nervous the previous week, the first time I sang the solo parts along with my choir. It’s so much more nerve-wracking when you imagine that you’re facing the judgment of friends rather than strangers. I thought I was a bit rubbish, though not too many people seemed to notice, and had to be given a strict talking-to on managing my nerves. During the afternoon rehearsal in St George’s, the bass soloist, whom I’d never met before, told me that my tonality was affected by singing too loud, directly contradicting the advice of my music director and teacher. In the end I was pleased with my performance, though I think my first note was sharp and I took too many breaths. Nerves. But I’m getting there and people seemed pleased. My turn now to be reabsorbed into the body of the choir for Bach’s Magnificat at Easter, though I’m considering entering the Bromley Festival for a bit more solo singing experience before I go ahead and tackle my LTCL, which I’d finally like to get over and done with in 2024.

At the very beginning of December, we completed the purchase of our second home in Norfolk and we’ve spent the Christmas period here unpacking boxes, settling in, accustoming ourselves to the quirks and foibles of a new place. This is NOT a barn converted into a house, rather it’s a house built to look like a barn, which is a little disconcerting. It comes with an old 2-oven oil-fired Aga, which terrified me at first but which has produced the best Christmas lunch I have cooked in a long time, perhaps ever. I can now see how people never want to cook on anything else, though their fuel-profligacy may be problematic and they are costly to maintain. Ours is oil-fired and I baulk at this. It is possible to convert them to electricity-powered but apparently each Aga has its own personality and, like people, they are never the same again after conversion. Still, it IS really cosy in this kitchen and it does heat much of the house when we leave the doors open.

My third piece of news is that I have qualified as a Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Liberal Democrats. I found the process rather gruelling and found myself wondering whether characters such as the Conservatives’ 30p Lee or that Gullis chap had had to undergo such a demanding online policy exam and assessment day. My lack of campaigning experience showed. In truth just six months ago I never imagined that I’d be doing this but I have had such kind and staunch support from my local party that it seemed ungrateful not to go ahead and join the pool of suitably-qualified applicants. I have had qualms about whether I’ve taken on too much but perhaps it just all came to a head at the same time, with Fergus’s Good Citizen Tests (Puppy and Bronze); completion of the Norfolk house; the Schubert concert and the LibDem assessment day all coming in the space of two weeks. Shortly after the Schubert performance I came down with the most awful chest cold and two weeks later I’m still struggling to breathe, let alone sing and I’m post-virally exhausted. I hope this lifts soon.

So there, you go. A little recap. There is much to write about but this is where I am now. Wishing you the most peaceful of new years. Let us try and spread a little kindness and compassion wherever we can.