Various posts are popping up in blogland featuring coffee cake and chats. Entitled ‘If we were having coffee together’ they are imaginary (virtual) chatty conversations where the blogger often reveals what’s going on in their world. With that in mind all I can say is if we were having coffee together I’d be saying ‘Oh what a week it has been’.
After my rejoicing in the sunny hot day we had last week the weather sort of went downhill from there. Two scorchers turned up – higher temps than even I enjoy. Heat humidity pouring rain and an evening event in the city don’t go together. As we arrived at the Tennis Centre early Monday evening the heavens opened up again, oh, the squeals and cries from the ‘girls’ leaving the car park, trying to handle umbrellas with posh long frocks lifted high so they didn’t trail in the puddles. Yes, it was year 12 graduation night for a granddaughter’s school- another one is now out into the big wide world. The years are going by so quickly and of the eleven grandchildren we now only have two youngsters at school.
BTW – I’m not that short – A had enormously high heeled shoes on lol
That last set of thunderstorms brought a strange phenomenon to Melbourne – all over the city people were suffering asthma attacks, so severe in some cases it caused several deaths, I wondered why I felt wheezy all that evening when I’d had no symptoms for a couple of years or more and then the next day learned it was called thunderstorm asthma – you can read about it http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/11/what-is-thunderstorm-asthma-and-why-is-it-worst-in-melbourne/ here. and http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/thunderstorm-asthma-three-people-critical-8500-treated-in-melbourne-hospitals-20161124-gswkdb.html here
If we were having coffee I could tell you the weather changed again – back to winter! cold and wet – cold enough to turn the heater on early in the day and return a wool blanket, back on to the bed. One night I woke and wondered why I felt so cold – 5c/41f had me cuddled up to The Golfer, who thought his luck had changed 🙂
Mind you that hasn’t taken the fun out of this week.
If we were having coffee I’d let you know I have read no books, done no knitting nor visited any blogs but The Golfer did take me out to the pictures the other day – we went to see The Founder. The ‘story’ of how Ray Kroc developed an initial idea from two Mcdonald brothers and turned it into the world wide chain McDonald’s or Macca’s as it is known here in Australia. I’m not usually one to read reviews – I like something I see or I don’t – but this film had left a ‘bad taste’ in my mouth so I did look at some yesterday to see if anyone else felt the same way as me and surprisingly the person who wrote this one did – The Founder review by Jason Di Rosso
You’d also find out that two choir gigs in one day gives the lungs and the voice box a much needed workout. It’s fun singing for (and with) much older seniors – so many of them might be incapacitated in one way or another but most seem to love music… It’s not unusual for ones who say little to be singing along and knowing all the words. Not just the WW1 stuff but varied songs and styles. They can get quite emotional as well – one gent sat and crooned along to ‘Unchained Melody‘ then promptly dissolved in tears at the end.
Then, there are groups labelled as ‘over 50s’ who ask us to sing for them. Often they ask for a song list containing more modern songs but this is always the final number. Stirring and rousing and so so good to sing – ‘The Holy City’ ‘My’ Sing Australia choir (which I don’t think I’ve mentioned before) isn’t quite as large in numbers as this one but we strive to be just as good.
Find out about Coffee Share here – or Join in here https://parttimemonsterblog.com/2016/11/26/weekendcoffeeshare-recovery/
Still Waters 
You are right. I didn’t know you were in a choir. I think they are great thing for any age and if I wasn’t limited by work and I had any sort of decent voice, I would be in one. The thunderstorm asthma was very frightening, as was the lack of capability to deal with such an event. I have had asthma only once, about twenty years ago. It was horrible although obviously not life threatening, but I wonder if it was a thunderstorm asthma. I can’t remember the weather now.
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The thing about ‘Sing Australia’ choirs Andrew is that there are no auditions and you don’t need to have a ‘decent’ voice. Enjoying singing is the name of the game.
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So much interesting stuff! I read the article on ‘The Founder’—says so much about the ruthlessness of business. I guess the nastiest guy wins…so unfortunate! I listened to Sam Cook. I’d forgotten what a beautiful, haunting song it as. And the fact that you are in a choir—icing on the cake!
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I do so look forward to Wednesday evening choir rehearsal Diane. Makes me forget any problems I may have. And yes.- we who are not in ‘the business’ are often shocked and maybe dismayed at what does go on.
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Such a busy week. It’s amazing how fast the time goes with our grandchildren. I believe I only have one left in grade school. Our real roller coaster weather is over now. Now, it’s just chilly most of the time. Thunderstorm asthma, never heard of it, I thought tougher breathing came from the extra humidity in the air and the barometer being low. Hmm.
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Written that way Sharon it does sound like a busy week but at the time I felt as though I was doing nothing at all each day. The youngest grandson is yet to go to high school so I’ve at least another six years before I feel really old 🙂
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This constantly varying weather is very tiring, I’ve slept more this past week than I did all winter I think.
I didn’t know you were in a choir. I used to imagine I could sing, but a primary school teacher put an end to that during one singing class, when all those who were really bad (me included) were sent outside until the ones left were chosen as the choir to sing at school open days.
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Oh that’s awful River- I don’t think some teachers realise the damage they do to children with those sorts of practices. Anyone can sing – and with a bit of help sing in tune lol
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I heard a radio programme about the MP Dennis Skinner – who found that he could ‘reach’ his mother who had Alzheimers, by singing the songs she had known before the illness struck and from there went on to visit old peoples’ homes in his constituency to try the same thing…which worked.
I love singing – but with a voice like a crow no one else likes the results.
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There is something about music and the brain that is quite mysterious Helen. Music in one form or another is commonplace in all aged care facilities here Helen as it rightly should be. It’s so satisfying to see ‘the lights go on’ when residents recognise a tune.
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I used to love singing in choirs. Unfortunately as I have become older my voice has turned into a croak much of the time, and singing is sporadic. Enjoy all your activities and let’s hope the weather behaves itself.
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Well now Freda – it comes to us all. The alto section in our choir is becoming larger as many of the ‘older’ women are finding the high notes just a fraction too high. Count me in that group. Singing gladdens the heart doesn’t it 🙂
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I’ve always wanted to be in a choir but just never found the chance. I will work on that when things get settled next year. Thanks for coffee and congratulations on the graduation of your granddaughter.
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Thanks for dropping in Claire – nice to meet you. Here’s hoping things get settled quickly next year and your hunt for a music in the form of a choir happens sooner rather than later.
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Love choir though I haven’t joined one here. Great newsy post. Congrats to your sweet young woman!
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Thanks for that Marie – she’s a bit down in the dumps at the moment because her first career choice hasn’t eventuated and she can’t accept the fact that there is more than one way to skin a cat. Hopefully by the time her exam results come out she will understand.
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Hi Cathy, you look very proud of your beautiful granddaughter – congratulations on her graduation, they work so hard to get to that point don’t they. Shame the weather wasn’t a bit more amenable.
On the night of the asthma thunderstorm we didn’t get the same conditions, however, we had an incredible infestation of those night insects and they’ve been stuck in our fly screens for days. Strange!
I enjoyed your post very much and it’s nice to have re-connected :D)
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Yes Sue she’s a bit of a cutie- as are all the other eight granddaughters lol. Lovely to see you writing again, here’s hoping you can surprise us with more of your stunning paintings
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Love the idea of the coffee share and will read more about it. This is a neat post. I have a picture of one of my grandsons standing by another and the oldest is standing on a curb. It looks like a giant and a midget. So funny.
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And that’s the way it felt Annie – yes she’s a bit taller (well they all seem to be these days) but with those heels on she made me look like a midget lol
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The thunderstrom sounds frightful 😱. Since my hearing decrease music 🎶 would not help me. Have pleasant 🙌 week.
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Hello there Betty. Oh what a shame your hearing is going down- I’m hoping to solve that problem early next year when I get hearing aids.
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I had hope for at least one hearing but I want my ears clean and to know what is causing the lost. All I can find is hearings aid at $2,000 each and my husband needs them also. Just out of financial ability.
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What a beautiful photo of you and your granddaughter (even if you do look very short). The thunderstorm asthma came as a big shock. I think they’ll end up doing predictions for when it is likely to happen like they used to with the pollution level – and warn asthmatics to stay indoors. I was in Melbourne last November and had to buy some warm clothes – so I believe you when you say it is like winter. We are the opposite – just started in on the muggy heat. How great that you are in the choir. I go to one that sings at my mother’s retirement village. It certainly brightens everyone up. Loved listening to Sam Cooke. He is a definite favourite of mine. Thanks for coffee and thanks for letting me know about that film although it is probably one I wouldn’t have chosen to go to.
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I would say that anyone who has eleven grandchildren is a lucky woman with a lot of great memories. 🙂 Your header shot is beautiful but then again you live in a big, beautiful country.
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a bit behind on blog reading – and yes weather changeable across the ditch…one night last week, I wearing a summer nightie, the next back to winter PJ’s with another blanket on the bed…
and now I’ve got a head cold – which apparently a lot of my pals have been having…
the Asthma Storm sounded very scary, being a reformed Asthmatic (apparently I’m better according to my current doctor) and what i’ve acquired is the milder hayfever…so mix with a head cold, interesting 😦
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You certainly have had extremely hot weather and cold weather. Here in Hawaii, it’s been raining a lot.
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