One thing that is certain in my mind, is that we have all had to change or at least adapt. For some that has been easy, but for others not so! We are all different and we all cope in different ways, but quite often we don’t see the struggles that people are having and it is the unseen, unspoken consequences that sometimes go unnoticed. So much of the current situation is played out on social media, which in one way brings it so much more quickly to the public eye and I have certainly witnessed the positive benefits of this medium of communication. But what about those, for whom social media is not an option? Perhaps, their ignorance is a blessing! Many of us have become ‘specialists’ on the subject or rather ‘very interested’ parties who have followed guidance because we have a duty to support others. But the constant change in position that we have witnessed from politicians and commentators over the past few months at times has been exasperating. Of course, there are those who know best, those who should know best and those who think they know best. But when they all have a platform, confusion reigns. I still, on a daily basis hear people say ‘I am not sure’, ‘I don’t know’, ‘it’s all so confusing’, and one statement that even I have used ‘I’m fed up with it now!’. But as I say in my opening sentence, we have all had to adapt and we will need to continue to do so.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have watched two films that made me sit up and take note! The first was to revisit the 1982, Attenborough produced and directed ‘Ghandi’, the multi- Oscar winning film. What shocked me most was the manner of his death. I had forgotten that aged 78 he was assassinated and for a moment I sat in shock. How could this happen after a life of peaceful activism? It did make me reflect on some of the angry scenes we have witnessed on our screens recently.

The second film was the much more recent ‘Hidden Figures’ (2016) loosely based on the book by Margot Lee Shetterly, about African American female mathematicians working at NASA in the 1960’s. Shetterly commented “For better or for worse, there is history, there is the book and then there’s the movie”. But the story has been told and it is a powerful one!

History is a powerful tool to remind us of the mistakes we have made and how we have adapted or in some ways changed to improve a situation. I am sure we will look back on the current situation and for decades to come ponder on the mistakes made and the decisions taken!

On a lighter note, I have bought Pumpkins, and yes I shall be carving, so if you are on social media and we are connected – watch out!

And finally, I finished reading this weekend Philip Gwynne Jones book ‘Venetian Gothic’. It is no surprise to know the author lives in Venice as his description of the city and its many features are first class. I have mentioned him before, but he is certainly an author worth checking out!

And very finally ‘Strictly’ is back!

So, a rather enigmatic title for today’s blog! From the very first week of lockdown in March I decided that it was important to connect with my choirs and on a weekly basis. Whether it be Monday, Tuesday or Thursday (our normal rehearsal nights) it was important that I continued to have ‘choir’ time and so ‘The Corona Chronicles’ were born. Each week for the last 30 weeks I have written to each of my choirs in Altrincham, Honley and Chesterfield. It hasn’t always been musical, although I have included a musical YouTube clip to listen too. But more about what I have been up to and what has made me smile during the week, or perhaps what has annoyed me.

I included tales of my newly purchased bike and my inaugural bike rides, my attempts at baking, what I had watched on TV and of course my commentary on the media and Government.

Whatever the subject matter it felt right to communicate with my singers every week as I would be doing in rehearsal. But what I hadn’t expected is just how much this helped me. After suddenly being told you were not allowed out of the house and all work effectively stopped. I needed to find a routine and this was it. I know, also for many of our singers the weekly lifeline has been important too. But, as I am now back teaching on a regular basis I needed to ensure that I didn’t take on too much, so the weekly Chronicles have now stopped! I am sure there are those out there who are breathing a sigh of relief….but you can’t escape that easily. I will now be writing a weekly blog! This has taken several forms since 2014, but for the time being it will be my way of continuing to communicate with my choirs.

It might be that the subjects covered range more widely as it also has a public presence too, but lets see where it takes us. Writing didn’t always come easy to me as a child as I spent almost a year away from formal schooling due to asthma, but the support that I received in a special class on a Friday afternoon gave me tremendous confidence and built my vocabulary immensely. It also meant I missed PE, but there again I was very good, so I didn’t mind. I have always believed that one method of education, of teaching and learning doesn’t suit everyone and I think that this resonates from the 1 to 1 support I received at Junior school which helped me overcome my lack of skill with words and reading! It certainly doesn’t hold me back now.

As the country reels from yet more restrictions and at times can’t see a way forward, it is important that we do not let this period define us. We must not live in fear! By all means, be safe, be considerate, be careful. But it is important we don’t lose our humanity.

What has been so refreshing over the past seven months is how much I have spoken to people, how much I have got to know them and how much we have been understanding of the situation we all face. I hope that we will continue to come together and that those who have differences will put them aside and move forward ‘singing the same song’.