At almost one year ....

Mike and Cat sing together, and make another wedding memory. Enjoy!

A Fish Supper with Ed and Elton

Yesterday I had a really enjoyable night out, Talking, giggling, dancing and eating fish and chips, down in the hall at Wey Valley School...It was probably the tail end of my 40th Birthday celebrations, but what a lovely ending it was too!

The school hall has a really good stage, and at just the right moment Ed's son Jack tugged on the curtains to reveal Mr Hintze in his signature red jacket and straw hat. All held their breath at the curtains momentarily paused, then squeaked the rest of the way open. Ed played the grand piano, alongside his trusty TYROS3, perched on top,and did what he always does so well, entertained his varied audience with top performing and a smattering of tasteful jokes ...Ed chose real audience pleasers from his HUGE repertoire of Elton songs and the atmosphere was brilliant.

Then the awesome school dinner lady brought out chip-suppers for all, you could have a sausage or a veggie burger, if you wanted, and some tartare sauce was dug out for the birthday girl too. With lights up, there was an opportunity to chat with friends and family, and some thing nice and comforting to soak up the rosé drank by members of Dorset for Singing.

In the second half, fuelled with fishies and encouraged by Ed's lovely wife Jenny, the dancing began, as Ed appeared on stage in Gold Lamé and rocked the school hall. I simply cant say enough how impressed I am with the size of Mr Hinze's repertoire, although his enthusiasm for playing got the better of him when his G-string snapped, mid song! After that he let it hang out so it wouldn't make funny noises.

Ed thanked his supporters, and us for being fab fans, and we knew he really meant it. And we really were happy we came, especially some of us! The last encore was an Elton track, to dance to, and so we did! And I got my poster signed at half time, too!

Seagull-On-A-Stick....

a foam and softly-sculpted sea-bird ...

feedback ... written by the choir blogger for the dorset echo ...

Dorset for Singing’s big Christmas Concert, number two
Review by Cat Coombes, AKA the choir blogger …

Weymouth’s biggest community choir does exactly what is says on the tin. The choir gives its members the opportunity to perform, and if any want to, to stand up there and sing alone. And last night again we brought good people of Weymouth and further affield together for an evening of song, and as more than one person said to me afterwards, there was something for everyone, in our audience of 180 people!

If you enjoy singing all kinds of songs, then this is the choir for you, and the concert is an option of course, but to make sure everyone is welcome we have our words on a screen at the back, and often some seating. We even have a naughty corner, but this year they redeemed themselves just in time for Santa’s visit by handing out refreshments in the interval! Having the words on a screen can be interesting when they are half hidden by the All Saints school hall Christmas tree, but members of the audience laughed along with Director Ed Hintze when he pointed out some mistakes, and some said they loved how friendly and informal the evening was.

We sang a bit of everything, from Abba to snow patrol, show tunes, and old favourites, with a handful of Christmas ditties this year too! There were solos from familiar faces and a new choir member too, some of them beautifully and spontaneously backed by the rest of choir seated on stage. When I joined Dorset for Singing I had no idea it would take me to centre stage for solos, but what a great opportunity that is, all ears upon you, bright lights and your own pianist, nerves and wobbly notes, and all! And the applause! Oh yes, and the mince pies at half time.

Of course we also worked together to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society, voted as this years charity to benefit from our termly concerts, and Malcolm Cumber from the south Dorset branch, came on stage to talk to us about ‘singing for the brain’, therapy for people suffering from Alzheimer’s. The concert raised a fantastic £462.83! Go Dorset for Singing! To find out more about our lovely choir, and catch up with the choir’s blog, go to www.dorsetforsinging.co.uk, and have a lovely Christmas, from all of us!

it's that time of year again ....

Dorset for Singing Christmas Concert

An evening of musical entertainment from one of Dorset’s largest choirs!!
Featuring well known popular songs and much more!

7:00pm on Thursday 3rd December
All Saints School Hall, Wyke Regis

Adults £2.50, Under 14’s £1
(Cash bar available throughout the evening)

Proceeds to be donated to
“South Dorset Alzheimer’s Society”

Musical Director - Ed Hintze
Produced by Michael Anders

Tickets available from Christopher Robin Party Shop,
70 The Esplanade, Weymouth, DT4 7AA

Phone Jenny on 01305 759644 | email info@dorsetforsinging.co.uk

snippings ....

i recently managed to slip myself into the dorset echo magazine - i thought that a 6 foot mouse made in a weymouth home would be a good story!



i like this picture tho, that didnt make it into the magazine, they seem to go for the super-uber-wide angle pictures in their layouts ... Ruch Meech makes a lovely mouse doesn't she?



and here's a peep at the second issue of rat and mouse magazine, where i show you how to make a finger puppet mouse step by step ... i took all the photos while making at the same time :-)



here i am with Dorset For Singing, on the front row making mental notes for choir-blogging and generally giving cheek to Ed ...



and the choir performing at Preston Garden Party, i am inthe middle with my mouth open ... no comments please!



now, who is coming to hear us tonight? i am going to do two solos and have given my father-in-law permission to bring his camcorder ... usually i tell him to put it away!

Something for the weekend ....

This weekend, i will be invloved in two projects, which are part of the Spirit Of The Sea, Weymouth & Portland Maritime Festival



"ARTWEY is an expanding group of artists from Weymouth and Portland who have come together to run an open studios event throughout the borough every weekend in September plus a group show at Brewers Quay daily.

"We will be launching ARTWEY at the annual Spirit of the Sea Festival on 11-12th July, holding a mixed exhibition in Hope Square and on the harbourside. In addition we have created a website and will be producting an art trail map giving details of all participating artists and a film of our artists in action or at local inspirational landmarks.

"This is a great opportunity for local people and visitors to discover our thriving but sometimes hidden art community and enjoy an exciting and we hope annual event. Any artists, sponsors or members of the public wanting more information about ARTWEY can find details on our website or pop into
Jezebels Jewels, 55 St Mary St, Weymouth, telephone 01305 839702."

I am looking forward to meeting my puppets, the tompot blenny and cuttle-fish again, as they come along to help promote Artwey ... and amuse visitors, of course!

and on saturday evening i will be singing again ... :-)

the best of dorset !

despite lack of sleep, and feeling full of cold still, i have steamed myself ready to take to the stage again today, the pavillion here in weymouth no less, as Dorset for singing are counted among the best of Dorset!

here is an advert i spotted in the Dorset Echo, and Ed Hinze our choir master is performing his own slot too. have you ever read my other blog? potter over to http://www.dorsetforsinging.co.uk and have a read. or maybe join us?

sorry the blog has been a bit quiet. as well as working towards thursdays choir concert i have also had a poorly baby at home, twin runny noses,and picked up some foth ebugs myself. poor mary has ended up on antibiotics, which she hates.

i am still a cheeky blogger !

these images are dorset for singing's concert for seb's odyssey ...
visit the offical choir site to see lots of new changes and photos appearing!
i am also the official choir blogger, and i started off well getting my blog to the web master before lunch on friday, at home with three under three!
(i got a lot done while they watched "sing and sign")

http://www.dorsetforsinging.co.uk/index.htm

you can see my sligtly edited work under NEW BLOG
(i must get a word count for next time)

hoping for an even bigger concert next time!
what shall i chose for a solo?

wasn't it good? (oh so gooooood!)

wow
didn't we do well ... well i thought so anyway!

last nights concert to raise money for sebs odyssey played to a full school hall, and i think we even ran out of wine. there were songs from the choir and lots of solos performances too, including mine ... i did fantasise about sneaking out of the back door just before it! we heared some more about the starlight foundation, and more about seb green, who is nearly home! We raised a fantastic £793.17 for Seb's two charities.

i followed Maggie singing 2 songs, and didn't look at Steve before i went onto the stage. i can feel the nerves again writing about it! anyway - i opened my mouth and out came my song, and i thought it sounded ok too! it was worth trying to keep my solo secret for the huge grin on Steve's face as i left the stage again ... at last he understood why i wouldn't eat any dinner!

co-director Michael amazed us by leaving his place at the computer and taking the stage for a solo of his own. He got lots of cheers! He also sang most of the choir songs with us, but if you come along to our practices, Michael is there playing videos of new songs to sing, and making sure the words are correct. if you cant see the screen you can also have an instant print out, all with a few clicks of Michael's mouse...

Ed treated us to a few songs, even if he is quite famous and has performed live on the BBC!

next choir meeting is not until January the 15th ... would anyone like to come to my house and sing? i don't know if i can wait that long!!!