Yup…and it’s raining, it keeps on raining. Thanks goodness it is not raining in my heart. It really is a rum do when I start taking photos of puddles. It is grey and dull and the rain does not stop for any length of time…and the old weatherman says it could continue for some time. I still have the heating on, a steaming cold and there is not even a sneaking sign of impending summer. That is what happens when you have a hosepipe ban  – a bit like lighting a cigarette at the bus stop…the rain or the bus will come -if you are lucky that is. It just gives me an opportunity to post ( yawn yawn ) again “Raining in China” 1987 . Our only attempt at a real pop video on a budget of no pence..thousands of hours of filming and editing…pre-imovies and final cut. So all together now  “we must have needed it”.

SONG OF THE DAY -RAINING IN CHINA -Gitika and Mickey B. Goode

There are some who will quote that ‘love is what love does’. It is possibly one way of looking at it I suppose. Today is my birthday ( shh don’t tell anyone) and the first session of choir for the summer term, so I thought I would bake a cake. A gluten, dairy free cake. A lemon, almond polenta cake made with olive oil. The problem is, I reallly am not a cake maker and when the cake was finished it looked decidedly rough! Dippy in the middle and a different colour. I was a bit worried as I replaced several of the ingredients.

I did not have almond milk, so I chucked in coconut milk, and I did not have almond essence, so I used vanilla, and I used dark brown sugar, and something spooky happened, when I liquidised the lemon, all this wierd  scientist experiemental vapour came wafting out of the blender.

Well the cake is out now, I left it in for 20 minutes longer than allotted and we tried the middle slice and darn me, if it is not the moistest most delicious cake I have ever tasted

This week, I got it together.  I seemed to spend most of yesterday pointing my camera at the sky.  For some reason every picture that should have had the sun in, did not. Here is a picture that Mr P. took of me photographing the sun, somewhere on the Camden Islington borders (dahhhlink), on our way home from Hampstead Heath. Although it looks cloudy, the sun was peeping out in the direction I was pointing my camera. So the theme is covered !

SONG OF THE DAY –

You are my Sunshine -Norman Blake

From the soundtrack of one of my favourite movies

‘Oh Brother Where Art Thou’

Stop Press…. I am running 2 more  courses for Sound Connections on how to run a community choir….1st May and 19th June…pass it on to anyone you know who might be tempted to dust off  or learn some new skills

Course Title: Leading a Choir –  Tuesday 1st May or Tuesday 19th June

Training Leader: Gitika Partington

Description: This course will look at core skills involved in leading and directing choirs. It is intended for anyone who leads any form of community singing, whether it be in primary and secondary schools, youth, adult and cross-generational singing groups and choirs. The day will explore physical and vocal warm up activities, developing skills in directing and conducting and tips on effective song teaching without the use of written music.

Audience: All teachers and vocal leaders

Venue: ISTD2 Dance Studios, 346 Old Street, London EC1V 9NQ

Cost: £75 + booking fee to include refreshments and lunch