Seasonal Music, Leaks and Family

It's started! It was the band's first Christmas commitment yesterday, playing in church for the annual Shopper's Carol Service. We played carols before the service, accompanied the singing of Silent Night during the service, and then played again after the service as people were leaving. It's always good fun and as usual, I enjoyed myself.

We now have two commitments every week until we break for Christmas. All of these are busking, either outside of supermarkets or in town centres, so we are hoping for dry weather. We can cope with the cold but if it rains we won't play, so finger crossed! This is our main fund raising for the year and the money raised will be used to purchase new instruments and/or new sheet music so it's an important time for the band.

I also have a couple of sessions with a local orchestra, playing the flute, but I don't have as many commitments as in previous years. It's the lack of all the school performances that has made it easier this year. The only one I'll be attending is the local school carol service, when I'll help escort some of the younger children on the walk through town to the church and then back to school after the service. I will be going to the Nine Lessons and Carols service in December - it's my favourite of all the Christmas services.

An update on the leak ... they eventually located the problem and have resolved it. I was debating whether to discuss asking for both ceilings to be repainted at their expense but they beat me to it and have offered to sort it all out for me which I've accepted. We've agreed that the seal will be applied straight away but  the painting will wait until the family bathroom is finished as the bathroom is the priority and I want the really messy work over and done with before Christmas. 

I had a flying visit from Little Misses C and H together with their parents to collect the recorder, case and music bag I'd ordered for Little Miss H. She has started learning at school so I've bought her the kit in her chosen colour - purple! -, something I did for her sister when she started (although her chosen colour was pink). Apparently it's important to have the correct colour recorder and I was reliably informed that 'purple' makes it sound better! I had to get all of my recorders out for them so they could show their dad all the different sizes (from garklein to bass) and also play them. I had to rush out to play at the carol service so sometime today I need to get them all out again and give them a good clean ... to remove all the kid's spit! 

And on that note, I'll finish! Hope you all have a lovely Sunday, whatever you are doing.