Today marks 100 days of working from home! It actually doesn’t seem that long, but what have I learned in those 100 days? I’m not necessarily feeling up-beat today, but the connection that I have been able to maintain over the last 3 plus months has been really positive. It has been wonderful to see singers engage with technology and get online to see each other; to hear each others tales of lockdown and perhaps for my choirs; to sing. It isn’t the same as being together and I know that there have been the odd moments where the online participants just wanted to hear another voice. However, we have managed to stay together and continue to support our communities. There has been considerable concern about how and when singing could resume, but there is a glimmer of hope thanks to the tremendous work of several organisations who have been able to speak to Government about the value of singing and choirs. Like many in my position I have had financial losses and it will take time to bounce back, but there has been tremendous support and understanding along the way. It has not been the same, sadly for many other freelance artists. I have been able to maintain a reasoned approach to most things, but like those who like a bit of social media, it hasn’t always been positive reading.

I really do understand that there are opposing views, but as the late MP Jo Cox commented in her maiden speech “We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us.” This is so true, but it doesn’t always feel like it!

It has been really positive to talk, and to actually listen to what people have to say, to find time to find out how they are feeling! We had entered a fast-paced life and out of necessity we have all slowed down and it feels good. None of us really know what the next few weeks hold for us, but I want to hope for good things; for the outcomes to be positive ones and to grasp onto that word hope. Is it so wrong to want to hope for a safe return to a semblance of normality? To have no more loss as a result of this situation?

I am reminded of the final movement of The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins (Revelation 24.1) and I think it sums up my feelings very well!

“God shall wipe away all tears and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.”