sewing

Madi and I spent a wonderful day at an Easter sewing workshop run by Hope and Elvis at The Harley Gallery. It was really exciting to be surrounded by so many fabrics, threads and trimmings.

fundraising and heading for the playoffs

Although she hasn't played ice hockey for a long while now, Madi still wanted to join in with today's fundraising effort, selling tombola tickets in the Idlewells Shopping Centre in Sutton, where we raised £295.07 :o) Whilst JK and the Sutton U14s travelled up to Altrincham, where they beat Manchester Phoenix 8-1 to take second position in the league, and a place in the playoffs.

Tennis

This term Madi has been trying Tennis with a new HE group at the Nottingham Tennis Centre. Although she really likes the sport, the other children are all boys, and all younger than her, so she has decided not to carry on, but will look for other opportunities.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Last minute change of plan today, and off to Yorkshire Wildlife Park with Madi's friend Jem, who isn't as short as she looks in the picture! (Do check out the link- their photos are so much better than ours!)

The park opened two years ago now, and has a strong conservation focus. The star attraction are three prides of lions, rescued from a Romanian zoo; and Anne the circus elephant, of Facebook fame, has just arrived.

meerkat

lemur

wallaby

wallaby and joey

zebras

lioness

guanacos
(no I'd never heard of these either, but they are related to llamas!)

this is not actually a monkey in its natural habitat, but Madi in the Forest Play Area ;o)

And somehow the girls still found the energy to join the local HE group at indoor play afterwards!

Milly and Max 's Adventure in the Magic Land

Arriving in the Magic Land

Milly 10 year old girl. Very poor. Bit nervous.(would like Georgie if possible)

Max 8 year old boy. Milly’s little brother. Also poor. Curious and easily excited (would like Kai)

Queen Very bossy and a bit like Violet Elizabeth’s mother in Just William. And evil! (would like Grace or Lucy please)

‘Hubby’ a goody. Bossed about by the Queen. Small and quiet. (don’t mind who as long as they are small!)

(Milly and Max get up from the floor and start looking around. They are confused and don’t know where they are. It is a land a bit like Oz mixed up with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The magic coin that transported them there is on the floor.)

Milly: Wow!

Max: Wow!

Milly: Where are we?

Max: I don’t care, look at those chocolate fountains!

Milly: What happened?

Max: I don’t care; is that really marshmallow growing on that tree?

Milly: Max!

(They are still looking around in wonder and Max has a giant grin on his face.)

(from off stage) Queen: Yoohoo! Over here!

(The children jump round in surprise as the Queen enters with her ‘hubby’ who is much smaller than her)

Queen: Aha hello. You must be new here. I’ve never seen you before, I’m sure you haven’t escaped, I mean, I’m sure I haven’t seen you before.

Milly: No, erm..., well... erm... sorry, we erm.... like, just found erm...ourselves here. Erm... erm...

Queen: You found yourselves here?

Milly: Yes, erm... we were at the fair...

Max: And then we found ourselves here, in this FANTASTIC place!!!!!!!!!

Queen: Then welcome. This FANTASTIC place is my Queendom. Yes, dear, I am the Queen. What are your names, how old are you? Where have you come from and what are you doing here? Did you perhaps by any chance (looking around) bring a coin with you? HUBBY!!!!!!!!!!! (shouting him back as he is backing away)

Milly: Erm... no... erm... I’m afraid we are very poor. I’m M...

Queen: Then my darlings you simply just must stay.

Hubby (in a squeaky voice): I’m afraid all our houses are already taken so there is really nowhere for you to stay, so possibly you might be better off going home...isn’t it your bedtime?

Queen: Why don’t you come and stay with us?

(Then to Hubby, under her breath) You little... how many times have I told you not to do that?

Milly : Um...are you ok your royal highness?

Queen: Yes, I’m sure there is a spare room in the Palace. I have loads of sweeties, and I think one of our beds is made out of chocolate and I have all the food and toys and games and everything you would ever want .

Max: Oooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, please.

Milly: Well if you are sure? It would be good to have somewhere to stay until we can find our way home.

Queen: (impatient and distracted, looking around for the coin) Yes, yes, yes

Milly: Yes please then, we’ll go.

Queen: Off you go (pointing) that way...

(They head off to the Palace not noticing the magic coin, and the Queen picks it up)

Queen: Mwahaha, I’ve found it!

Hubby: he he he (nervous laugh) she’s found it! I know what is going to happen is bad.

n.b. the 'would like' bits refer to who from the group she would like to play the part

Even more performances!

On Saturday night, Madi played two clarinet solos- 'Lullaby on Broadway' and her own composition 'Kangaroo' at a concert of Keri Degg's students.

Update: Here is Keri's review, and the group picture taken by Paul Tombs of PTGraphics.

April 2nd 2011 saw our brave students once again taking to the stage to treat us to an evening of music on saxophones, flutes, Clarinets and indeed even on piano.

Although several students were unable to participate in the concert due to being unavailable, we still had 16 performers and for many it was their first time in front of an audience...

Maddi Smith (Clarinet) aged 7 performed a confident rendition of 'Lullaby on Broadway' (myself accompanying on piano), and also 'Kangaroo tale' a short composition she had written as part of her monthly targets. I explained the 'story' but really the music told it in its entirity as she captured the fun, panic, and eventual happy outcome of the tale.

...The interval then commenced with drinks and cakes (big thanks go to Denise Newbold for providing yummy cake, Ann Bedford for help preparing , and my daughter Lauren and friend Jess for selling tickets and serving refreshments, and Sadie for being expert page turner!)...

...I played one item to close; 'Saxophun' (Rudy Weidoft) on saxophone which (like Anthonys 'Grey cat') required lip bends in order to create the 'laugh' effect. The audience seemed to enjoy the shamelessly silly nature of the piece and after photographs (kindly taken by Paul Tombs of www.ptgraphics.co.uk) we were able to head home content in the fact that another concert had gone well and all had indeed survived!. Profit from ticket sales is to be donated to WWF (World wildlife federation)

And then on the Sunday we both took part in the Nottinghamshire and Nottingham City Family Orchestra and Choir's inaugural performance, as part of the BBC Philharmonic's 'Once Upon a Time' at the Royal Concert Hall. The programme, hosted by CBeebies' Chris Jarvis, included Prokofiev's Midnight and Waltz from Cinderella, Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter, and Star Wars, by John Williams, the Tchaikovsky Suite from The Nutcracker, as well as Dukas' The Sorceror's Apprentice, and our own mashup of the piece, 'The Apprentice's Sauce'

during rehearsals in the Royal Centre foyer

practicing with new friends Sophie and Natasha

Quite apart from the more obvious learning about orchestras and orchestral instruments, and the unique opportunity to play in such an amazing venue with professional musicians, the long days of rehearsals have led to definite improvements in our embouchure and breathing, and we have gained valuable experience in playing with others; listening to others and to instructions, keeping time and counting, watching the conductor at all times. Another project may be in the pipeline- I really hope so :o)

In the same week, we also met up with some of the cast of North Nottinghamshire Gang Show, to watch the Nottingham Gang Show. We all really enjoyed catching up with old friends and joining in with 'Crest of a Wave' and now can't wait for rehearsals for the next show to start.