Half Way

Final day of June.  Half way through the year.  Thought you might like an update on how ye great composing challenge is going.  Remember?  I set myself the task of composing a new piece of music every week this year.

Well…..I am super proud to say that I've stuck to it.  (I reckon that's worth a fanfare or two!)  There are now more than twenty pieces in the repertoire…..which is pretty amazing to me given that, prior to beginning the challenge, I'd only ever composed one tune!

Only sorry to say that I can't share them with you, 'cause I still don't have a means of recording.  So they're swimming about my brain and lingering in my fingers and I'm doing my damnest not to forget them.  If you ever visit Dixon Hill, however, I shall be more than happy to b̶o̶r̶e̶ regale you with a medley of said tunes.

Now….on to the next twenty odd….

New Stuff

At my birthday gathering in April, my friend, Claire, urged me to do something new every day for the rest of my life. Phew!  Tall order or what?

I immediately dispensed with the 'every day' part of the injunction.  Way too much like hard work.  And who has the time for that?  But I did take on the spirit of the challenge.  

Here, then, is a round-up of new stuff I've tried over the last two or three weeks:

Long distance swimming.  Okay, a mile probably doesn't constitute 'long distance'…..and, strictly speaking, it's not new either 'cause I have done it once before.  But I was eleven then….which is so far back in the mists of time that it hardly counts any more.  Besides, back then, I had the incentive of missing double physics in order to complete the swim.  This time the motivation was all mine!

Sound Healing.  Kath Reade runs her Deepsong workshops once a month at Calderdale Yoga Centre in Hebden Bridge.  I spent a blissful day, (mostly) lying on my back with my eyes closed.  There was singing, chanting, toning, chakra balancing with singing bowls, a shamanic drumming journey (my favourite) and a full-on gong bath to finish with.  Fabulous, relaxing day.  I recommend it.

Pilates.  My friend, Dawn, has roped me into a small, local class with a lovely teacher.  Getting aligned is great.  Should have tried this years ago.

Qi Gong.  Been meaning to give this a go for such a long time.  Soothing and powerful.

Peppersmith Lemon Mints.  My new addiction.  These are SO good.  Particularly for a raw, pollen-ravaged, sore throat.

SweetLeaf English Toffee flavoured stevia.  I've been using the Vanilla Creme version of this for years in everything from shakes to salad dressings.  Can't think why I've never tried the toffee version before now.  What have I been missing!  A few drops of this in ice cold water taste like liquid ice cream.  Summer in a glass!