Journal Entries
Liverpool Oratorio
Posted Oct 1, 2017
We went to a performance of this last night.
It is not much of an oratorio really, except that it is sung by a choir and soloists, but it's not based on a biblical text.
It was written by Paul McCartney, and is a story of a boy of about the same generation as him, born in 1942, a drop-out and general good-for-nothing, who has a few spiritual experiences and marries a girl who seems to have connections with the "other side". He drinks, she gets pregnant, they argue, she runs off, nearly gets run over and when she does recover (thanks to the spirits from the "other side") they pull themselves together and head into the sunset for a happy end.
It would make a nice ballet, but I can't see it performed as an opera (although they make operas of anything these days). Anything would be better than men in suits and ties singing the words of these down-to-earth people.
Can't fault the performance, but I've never heard the work before, so nothing to compare it with. The part of the boy's choir was taken by the chamber choir of a local girls school - they were the best when it came to understanding what they were saying.
The music didn't sound very English - more American, with touches of Gershwin and Copland, if anything, especially the use of brass and percussion.
When the project started back in the Spring, I would have joined the choir to sing along, but 30 September was marked in my diary as a date for the choir I sing in, so I couldn't. As it turned out, the date was then cancelled (long story, no need to go into that here) and I could have sung with them all along. However, the choir didn't have all that much to do, and so I didn't miss much.
This was a one-off performance, and when I asked if there were programmes, I was told, sorry, no, and given a sheet of paper with a synopsis and a commentary on.
Apparently, they had prepared a 40-page programme which included the whole libretto and much more information, but the printers didn't have it ready on time. So much for German efficiency.
At least my father went to his grave still under the impression that the Germans were hard-working and efficient.
And, as usual, there seemed to be people there who had spent an awful lot of money to sit and cough and sneeze. Can't understand why they don't stay at home and do that. It would be much cheaper for them and not spoil the evening for others who had spent equally great amounts of money. Behind us there was a woman (from her conversation, she seemed to be an experienced concert-goer, possibly even a critic for some local publication) with a bevy of young girls who had obviously never been to a concert before. They spent much of the time talking and giggling, and she had to explain a lot of things to them "They're only tuning up - it hasn't started yet".
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Latest reply: Oct 1, 2017
New time of life
Posted Sep 30, 2017
The company I work for is rapidly going downhill but because of the advantages of only having a 10 minute bike ride to the office and no need of a car, I had always thought I would stay there until the Government decided it was time I retired (at the moment, they say that is August 2020).
Because of the upheavals and tribulations, they are trying to save their bacon by re-forming with a new company and we should all be getting new contracts at the beginning of next year. However, it was suggested to me (entirely in confidence) that I opt out and negotiate for a deal (which could be quite generous) and not start again under the new company - early retirement but with a bonus and unemployment pay till I officially retire.
I said yes immediately, as work is like banging your head against the wall these days, and I'll be delighted if it stops sooner than planned. So I asked them to make me an offer.
But now I'm wondering if they're just trying to get rid of me.
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Latest reply: Sep 30, 2017
That was worth the effort
Posted Sep 24, 2017
We went for a guided walk in the woods this afternoon. It was a beautiful September afternoon and we met up with the group at half past one. The guide took us around the Roman and Celtic remains scattered between the trees and interspersed the walking with a mini-wine-tasting (bring your own glass 
)
Although the event lasted 3 1/2 hours, we only walked about 3-4 km and stopped at many interesting sights - plants (imported and indigenous), funghi, the Celtic burial mounds, and the Roman road that went through the area. We talked about the way the Celts made their own wine at first, then the Romans introduced superior wine and wine-making technologies, having decided that it was quite a bother to bring their own wine all the way over the Alps. The Celts who had loads of forests and were good at coopering (?) provided the barrels..
We also heard that the Romans were pretty scared of the forests, as they didn't have many down their end of Italy - partly because of the climate, partly because they had all been chopped down for shipbuilding and burning.
But today there was nothing scary as the sun shone through the leaves (this area of woodland has quite a high proportion of deciduous trees) and the flowers and butterflies made it all quite idyllic.
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Latest reply: Sep 24, 2017
Surfeit of apples
Posted Sep 1, 2017
I haven't written a journal for a while, so here's a few odd bits that have happened, in case anyone's interested.
Went to visit my mother last weekend. She is well, if a little forgetful. I did loads of washing for her and we went shopping together - something she rarely gets to do because my sister lives on the other side of Newmarket and comes over at least once a week bringing the shopping with her. Mother is eating less and less - sis has given up buying vegetables and nice ready meals for her, because it is still always in the fridge the following week and she has to chuck so much away.
So when my sister or I are there, we cook proper meals and use up stuff in the freezer.
There are a few fruit trees in the garden which my cousin gave my parents when my father was still alive. My cousin has also since died - he was everyone's favourite - a huge man, ex-policeman and always cheerful. Anyway, the fruit trees: three different apples and a couple of pears and plums. This year's yield was enormous - I picked all I could reach off of 2 of the trees and the garage was full of baskets of apples. No idea who is going to eat them all! It's no good stewing them and freezing them because our Mum still has loads in the freezer from previous years.
In other news - Son No 2 got married a couple of weeks ago. They originally didn't want to make anything of it, but his girlfriend's family soon invited themselves and there were about 13 of us. No witnesses, no frills. We all went for a meal in the evening. Our little granddaughter behaved beautifully.
Can't think of anything else for the minute.
As you were.
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Latest reply: Sep 1, 2017
This year's holiday
Posted May 28, 2017
We're off soon. As usual, I've left a lot of stuff till the last minute. Well, if I want to leave the house in some semblance of order, that is.
Leaving for California on 7 June. Ten days to go.
Glad I'm not passing through the UK, what with baggage chaos in Gatwick earlier this week and the BA problems yesterday at Heathrow causing huge waits for people leaving.
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Latest reply: May 28, 2017
You can call me TC
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