Awake and up all night

Hey Ray.

Although a funny tale, you shouldn't put down your knowledge of music - most won't know about transposition or indeed, how to play an instrument at all.  You were lucky that the music teacher didn't twig about the miming though, as a euphonium's one of the big boys.

How are you doing my friend, and is life treating you fairly?  No near misses with olive stones hopefully.  Ooh, a question - do you speak more than rudimentary German, or was the school English speaking for service families?  xxx

Hi Eddie, for if you look in.  Have a brilliant time in Ayr and I hope you get to do everything you've planned.  Look after yourself, or will your ladies be doing that for you?  We tend to fuss over blokes!  Enjoy xxx

The school, a comprehensive with about 500 pupils, was English speaking and for service families (BFES). The large military bases had been present since the mid 50s - I was there from 66-69 - and the surrounding German population plus the nearby Dutch people all spoke reasonable English. I did learn a few basic phrases in German so that, as a budding 6th former, I could successfully try the local brews outside the camps. I think I got away with miming because the music teacher's finely tuned ears were picking up minor errors by my fellow musicians, whereas I did not make any in my near total silence . I did actually chirp in with a correct note now and then as I got to know the tune.

In other respects I'm ok. Only catheter blocking keeping me on my toes every 3 weeks or so. Thanks for asking.  I hope you are keeping well (within the scope of being on a cancer forum).  Ray x 

Thanks Ray.  I'm well, I hope, as it's my fella who's the poorly one.  Nothing like as poorly as he was, and is doing a lot better now. It seems you're doing ok, too and I'm hoping your trips to A&E have got less frequent.

That's interesting about your school days, but I wonder why ale-related phrases always top the list in a foreign lingo? Hmmm.  One that I learnt, and still remember to this day and also in German, was to ask for chocolate and bubble gum.  Mind, I was only ten so swilling in bierkellers wasn't a priority - then.

Anyway I enjoyed our chat, and hope to take it up again, but duty calls as it's time for the last care routine of the day, then my OH will probably go to bed.  I'm still wide awake and not looking for any snooze for a good while yet.  I'm awful with sleep patterns and it's a flipping pain - a few on here will attest to that.  Cheers xxx

Thanks Gilly, I've read through today's posts, and my 3 years learning the trombone look a little lame now, though my"talents", probably laid with my singing in the church choir, doing most of the solo's, before my voice broke, but who knows being on hormone therapy for 3 1/2 years, and getting less manly by the day lol, maybe I'll be singing soprano again soon, my ladies are all cancer patients themselves, which as you know, brings out the best in people, as is the case with my friends, I'm sure they will look after me, it's a long walk home if they don't LOL, we haven't planned anything my friend, other than meeting up with one of our friends from the forum. How are you and LOH doing, I hope all the talk of holidays is a motivation to you both, and not disheartening, though being the strong willed Yorkshire lass, we're all so very fond off, I  know where I'd put my 5p.

love Eddie and Sheila xx 

Evening Eddie, and if you've got an early start don't stay up too long.  Another musician - that's four in one day!  Your talents know no bounds my friend, and at this rate we could be looking at forming the Awake Swing Band.  I'm not bad on triangle...

LOH and myself are fine thanks, but we've got the appointment at Jimmy's tomorrow, so we'll be glad when that's done with.  And no, not disheartened at all about friends getting off for their holidays, as it's brilliant, after everything you've all been through.  Grab every opportunity you can I say.

So, have a fabulous time with the girls but a request... take a couple of photos so you can post them on here please, especially ones involving water.  Hugs xxx

Thank you Gilly, and best wishes with your appointment tomorrow, will you be popping into Maggies?, I've been a few times, it's such a nice place to visit for an hour or so. No problem my friend I'll post a couple of photos of me in bath lol, seascapes coming up, with a friends request, PMs, your allowed a little more leeway, if you accept it. love Eddie and Sheila xx 

Aw thanks Eddie.  We might just pop into Maggie's, dependant on the outcome of the appointment.  But we remain hopeful it won't be too bad.

Ooh, seascapes, lovely stuff, and of course I'll accept your request when I find it, as I'm quite hopeless with things like that till I get used to them.  Oh, before I forget; my dad was also a solo soprano, at Bradford cathedral, no less.  He was also the eldest of nine and a little bugger in his youth.  Wish I'd known him then, as he was my hero.

Lots of love to you and  Sheila and sleep tight till tomorrow xxx

Morning Gilly, I'll have everything crossed for you both today, my friend. If it's easier for you to make the friend request we can do it that way, and wow, soloist at a cathedral. It was our local St Peters for me, and I wish I'd known my dad, I was 5yo when we lost him, I did have a handful of memories of him but this disease that keeps on taking, has taken them. Well Gilly while your waiting heresa couple of snaps from our cottage in the Scilly's 

love Eddie and Sheila xx 

What an amazing place - stunning.  It must be like being in paradise, and if you took the photos, that's another of your talents revealed xx

Thank you for sharing Eddie, and I'm sure they'll be enjoyed by us all.  Happy holidays my friend xxx