Monday Music

Monday, which means a fast day for me, and is really something of a necessity after yesterday's apple crumble+trifle+ fresh cream fest. Which came after the roast dinner and before the Thonton's chocolates.... and yes, it WAS worth it. Anyway, this morning, in the pre nursery pickup window, I decided to go for a bracing three mile constitutional - I've completely ditched any pretense of running at this point- so I donned my hat and my headphones and off I went.

Scrolling through my music library, and unable to face  'Em's Country Hits' yet again, (note to self- get some new music downloaded ASAP ), I decided to opt for one of my Desert Island Discs podcasts instead. Which always makes me feel ever so slightly worthy, I'm not quite sure why.There were plenty of choices but no one I was particularly interested in (tranlation - no one I actually recognized, having already heard Ant and Dec and Claire Balding last week), so I took a chance and opted for Nicola Benedetti.

I'm utterly ashamed that I'd never even heard of this amazingly talented violinist who is still only twenty six years of age. What struck me most when I listened to her, apart from her maturity and intellect, was her almost spiritual love for music. One of two daughters of Italian immigrants, she grew up in Scotland where her dad owned a dry cleaners, and both herself and her older sister started learning the violin at the ages of 4 and 8. (I'm afraid that I couldn't help but wonder what her sister's doing now- it can't have been easy to have your wee sister go on to study with Yehudi Menuhin and become the Young Musiscian of the Year, especially, for the sake of argument, if you didn't make it past your Grade 2).

The truth is, her parents did a great job because she came across as a lovely, articulate, grounded girl who puts her outstanding achievements down to talent and a huge amount of work.
Here's a little taste of her in action and just in case you're interested, she's dating quite a dishy world famous cellist called Leonard Elschenbroich - I hadn't heard of him either obvs, but apparently they make beautiful music together, boom boom!

Hope this improves this dreary wet Monday for you- it certainly raises the bar around here. (If only you knew what little musical gem I HAD planned on putting on here today....but you'll have to wait for tomorrow for that little treat.)
Enjoy my lovelies xx
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Friday Quicktakes

1. So it's all over for another year, and if I'm honest, I'm kind of relieved. The Christmas decorations are down, all except for the crib anyway- I like to give the Three Kings a victory lap-but come Sunday, their five minutes are up and they AND their camel are off to the attic.
 I'd also forgotten how busy this first week in January inevitably is-if  I wasn't making appointments (doctors, orthodontist, dentist, optician), I was driving small people to and from them. I've also been planning our January parties - two boys have birthdays this month -which in hindsight, was exceptionally bad financial planning on our part.

2. January's depressing, non? The darkness, the shitty weather, the credit card bills, the diet and fitness ads...Unless of course  you're a celeb in which case right about now, you're en route first class to Barbados. I don't like to toot my own horn, but I'm pretty certain that I'd make a wonderful celebrity. I've given it a lot of thought and I'd go for uber glam obvs (think a post modern Mrs H), effortlessly mixing designer with high street, while clearly still in touch with my roots and more than happy tochat to my fans. I'd be involved in lots of worthy charity work, to offset all the free designer shoes and handbags, and I'd definitely make a point of popping on to Desert Island Discs  to chat with my bestie Kirsty. (Girl crush, anyone?) Hmmmm, possibly toooo much thought has gone into this.


3. Back in the real world, I can't complain really, because after a super busy December the New Year started, rather fabulously, with a few rose- mantic nights away just Himself and Myself. And in case you're wondering, I'm very pleased to report that, we still got it going on, baby!

It's a joy to realise that you're not  too old for silliness-like getting your face painted with shamrocks and glitter-and that you haven't completely forgotten what's it's like to just enjoy each other's company, without being distracted about what to leave out from the freezer for tomorrow's dinner,  or whose homework needs checked, or which bin needs putting out.

 To have time to look back and reflect, and look forward and dream, and to make each other laugh or just be in the silence. I'm really glad we didn't make too many plans - it meant that we lived in the moment- one day all we did was walk hand in hand by the river after staying in bed till lunchtime! A decadently lovely, deliciously sexy few days..........I'll savour the memories while I'm peeling the spuds later!



4. Despite January's shortcomings, it does somewhat redeem itself  with the sales. During our little trip a deux,  I managed to twist his arm and drag him off to the outlets in Kildare.Which actually meant that while I lusted after various handbags, he went elsewhere to wash the car and check the tyre pressure! I DID get a few bits and pieces, including a gorgeous weekender bag by Cath Kidston for the Caravilla, but overall I showed admirable restraint.
Online was a different matter -once Johnny had thoughtfully emailed me to let me know that the Boden sale had just hit 70% discount, I was feverish with  excitement. I instantly snapped up this leopard  print bag (£149 to £44) and these velvet boot slippers (£45 to £11.40). Two key purchases that'll take me anywhere...and very possibly together.

5. Finally, this week's car seat boogie is a little piece of nostalgia. I was reminded of it when both Miranda Hart AND Ant and Dec chose it as one of their tracks on Desert Island Discs. Morecambe and Wise- you s bring me back to my childhood and make me smile.... January, you  can do one.
http://youtu.be/ZedhoqYdfTM


Enjoy and Happy Friday lovelies. Xx

My Not So Guilty Pleaure

I'm completely and utterly addicted to Desert Island Discs. (Now there's a sentence I never thought I'd write!) In case you don't know, it's that programme on Radio 4 that my Ma listens to. The one where someone outstanding in their field has to choose the 8 records they would take with them if they were to be cast away on a desert island, and the reasons for their choices. Along with Women's Hour and The Archers, she's been urging me to tune in for years.
 Now, I'll be honest with you- I've kinda always resisted, desperately clinging to the fantasy that Radio 4 was too old for me. Oh yes, I may have quietly left Radio 1 years ago, sidestepping seamlessly into Radio 2, but Radio 4? Surely not.
I've been known to turn it on occasionally. Usually in response to a pinging text message from Herself, brusquely ordering me to 'Turn on Women's Hour right now!'. Then afterwards, she inevitably follows up with a phonecall to see what I thought/check that I was listening. Winging it is not an option. Recently she rang me saying 'Put on Desert island Discs, she's that gay one on you like, that one who tells you what to wear naked!' Turns out it was it was Gok Wan. (and I  DO so so love him)
But then recently, my good friend Jennifer, who used to live in Glenavy, but now lives in sunny California (I simply can't understand why!),confided that SHE  loves D I D and downloads the lot as podcasts. Well, I could deny it no longer- she's actually a few years younger than me, terribly smart and generally all round cool- so wasting no more time, I popped onto the Radio 4 website and downloaded my first ever podcasts....and I'm absolutely LOVING them.
Usually on my morning walks, or on the rare occasions I'm in the car alone,  I listen to my iPod playlists (such as the imaginatively named like 'Emma's Music to weep quietly to' and 'PMT Songbook' )whereas now, I'm  hearing all sorts of interesting people talk about their lives and listening to their (much better!) music choices. This week alone I've heard Alfie Boe, Martin Clunes, Craig Brown, Mary Berry, Martina Navratilova, John Bishop, Tim Minchin, Sir David Attenborough, Brian Cox, Bear Grylis, Tom Jones and Cath Kidson. And whether I'm a fan or not, I take something inspirational away from every single one.
And just between you and me, I think I may have developed a bit of a girl crush on the show's presenter Kirsty Young- that deep voice, her calm way of drawing someone out, the way she's clearly done her homework on each and every one, that deep voice....
So it looks like I'm a born again Radio 4 convert, doesn't it? Next thing you know I'll be extolling how the Archers is much more sizzling than the new Dallas. (Erm, on second thoughts, possibly not...) But now I'm afraid it's time to love you and leave you... Martin Sheen and our Kirsty are waiting, you know!