Well, March 2020 certainly turned into a month that none of us were expecting! Staying in, staying safe. How has that affected progress on my list? Let’s see:
BEING CREATIVE
1. To document the year
Read on!
2. Write something
Early in month I had a dose of something suspiciously like ‘flu – or a really bad cold. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t THAT ‘flu as I didn’t suffer from a high temperature. It did mean that I missed a writing class, and then couldn’t contribute to the next class, so I’ve given up on it. However, I asked my friend Marcia if she would like to ‘write a novel’ with me. Rather grand that. A story maybe. One of us would write a bit and then send it to the other to write the next bit. Repeat. Well, we’ve started. Who knows how far we’ll get. Marcia is the writer, not me, but I’m hoping her efforts will be an inspiration for me.
3. Write letters to friends who live away This month’s letter went to a friend who doesn’t live very far from me, but she’s not in the best of health and I can’t visit. So I wrote a letter.
4. Paint a picture.
Not yet done but I did get out the easel and make it ready. It’s the perfect time for this ‘at home’ activity.
GIVING
5-16 Monthly donation to a worthy cause
This month to Peak Crickhowell for use by the lovely potter Martin Craddock who runs a class for people referred by Brecon and District Mind
17. Give blood has been changed to Give books
Instead of giving blood, I’ve been giving books this month. Quite a few books! My aim has been to connect with friends at the same time as supporting Crickhowell’s independent bookshop (book-ish.co.uk) during a difficult time for business. I’d like the bookshop to be there on the other side of the pandemic and this is a way to help.
MUSIC
18-29. Learn all the major and minor scales
E flat major and C minor for March. Not much else to say about that!
30 – 41. Study a new composer every month
March was Chopin. And I discovered that 1st March was his birthday, so a perfect choice! We were supposed to see Lucy Parham and Patricia Hodge give a performance of the story of Chopin’s life at the Hastings Piano Festival. Unfortunately the event was cancelled because Lucy was ill. On the train back to London I listened to the BBC Composer of the Week programme on Chopin.
We went to a live transmission from the Royal Opera House of the Royal Ballet performance of the story of Jacqueline de Pre. That was superb, but the surprise was the first half – a ballet called Gatherings. I knew nothing about it, and it turned out to be a collection of dances to Chopin’s music. The ROH music director played the piano live for the performance. Magic.
Pavel and I watched a YouTube documentary about Chopin and another where the American pianist Garrick Ohlson took part in an inspirational interview about the composer.
Gary, my piano teacher recommended a biography which I’ve read over the course of the month. So now I know a lot, and if anyone is interested I’d recommend the book.
Fiona knew that, as well as learning about Chopin the man, I’m also learning 3 of his Preludes. To help me on my way she sent this, which has brought a lot of pleasure:
So yes, I feel as if I’ve given Chopin my all this month.
42. Play a piano piece from memory
The piece I’ve chosen is (coincidentally) Chopin’s Waltz in A minor. I was trying to learn it from memory when Gary, my piano teacher gently suggested that I actually learn how to play it first! I always want to do things too quickly…. anyway, I listened and now I can play it, with the music. So from now on I’m launching my memory cells. Wish me luck! I think it will take several months.
43. Buy and listen to a CD recommended by Matt at Diverse vinyl
Just in time, this arrived:
bones you have thrown me and blood I’ve spilled by kathryn joseph
So very different from last month’s Lizzo and it hasn’t taken me quite so long to begin to find it familiar and to enjoy listening.
Being Active
All being active challenges (44-48) are on hold. We’re confined to barracks and I hope I’ll get to them later in the year.
FAMILY
49. Watch Hugo play football
On hold!
50. Meet up with Chris
We have a date which looks as if it will be postponed. It will be a busy autumn.
51. Lunch with at least one brother and sister in law every two months
We’ve already ticked this off for the first two months but I can’t help adding this meet up. There’ll be a few more I expect. The whole world is Zooming!
FRENCH
52 – 57. Listen to and read Bien Dire bi-monthly
I am doing this but without a lot of enthusiasm. It’s extraordinary how quickly the thought of travelling anywhere at all has been pushed to the recesses of my brain.
58. Travel North to visit Lesley, and Tim and Penny
Not for a while
59. Go to the Edinburgh Festival and see Marcia’s play
Joanna and I booked accommodation in Edinburgh but the festival will likely be cancelled. A discussion needs to be had. Edinburgh later in the year for fun?
60. Stay in one of Frankie and Stuart’s honeymoon hotels
Ditto 58
61. Leave 100% tip
I always knew this would be a problem!
62. Cook a new recipe every two weeks
There’s going to be no problem at all doing this. It’s virtually a new recipe every day! Here are this month’s which were attempted to fulfil activity No 62. Neither was 100% successful this time.
The first was because a non-dairy friend (now there’s a thought!) was coming to lunch. I made chestnut and sun-dried tomato casserole. I love chestnuts but I’m afraid the dish didn’t quite live up to expectations.
Then I tried biscuits. Oatmeal. They tasted lovely but were rather misshapen. Not a problem, but those who know me well will know that I wouldn’t have been happy with that!
63. Learn a poem
I think I’ve decided that it will be ‘I wandered lonely as a cloud’ but friends are still sending suggestions so I’ll wait a while.
64. Plant a herb garden
If the garden centre will deliver I may achieve this, or I may put out a call for spare plants, cuttings. It’s still a few weeks too early so fingers crossed I can get something (trans)planted!
65. Weigh 7lb less according to MJ Fitness scales
Well, who’s not doing Joe Wicks every day and going on an allowed brisk walk? I think this challenge may be easier than I thought. The problem is that I can’t get anywhere near the required scales.
66. Sort photos into albums
After a chat with Janice I’ve changed this into ‘organise photos into boxes’. That’s what Janice did, and I like the idea because it will take up less space and also avoid having to do all those fiddly sticky corners! I have the boxes ready and what better time to start on this Thank you IKEA. And Janice!
67. Go camping/glamping
Booked to go in May with Marcia – the friend most unlikely to go glamping ever. But she did book and we laughed rather a lot as she was doing so. Now it turns out we won’t be able to go in May, so another activity pushed to the autumn.
68. Read ALL bookclub books
The Library Bookclub has a month off because this month we have our ‘Christmas get together’. I’ll leave that there for you to ponder.
The Book-ish Bookclub is reading Nothing To Envy. I’ve read it and highly recommend it as an account of life in North Korea. A non-fiction book that is both fascinating and gripping.
69. Something with Emma
We can’t do that either in lockdown
70. Celebratory birthday dinner 2021
Let’s hope so!
7070 in 2020 