And I have to reiterate, KJ is excellent at helping out for forum concerts, she's done so much which is very much appreciated

Don't worry, we'll make sure you aren't made conspicuous and visible as a result. People's names and faces only go into publicity and outside information if they give their permission, and I'm sure Sbhoa will echo me in understanding that you prefer that not to happen.

Hello Everyone!

I have received the 2 accompanients.

Due to child minding arrangements et al,I'm hoping to get to Stalybridge ( after probably getting lost ! ) hopefully around 11ish.

I know one person whom I'm accompanying,but not the other.

Can they now reveal themselves?

Apologies - but I haven't been keeping up with threads.

( Not happy about the idea of keeping spiders inside the piano. But with older pianos it's a good idea to keep water inside....but not in cartons. Big glass jars ie coffee / gerkins are the best...empty,of course )

Don't think I'm one of yours, Semele, but looking forward to seeing you again there.

(I quite agree about spiders in pianos. I hadn't thought of that, and it's taken me twenty five years to summon the courage to play a piano anyway.......)

The Tameside Reporter may send a photographer but anyone can refuse to be photographed if they wish.
The printed programme will only be given to those attending... if you are still worried about real names in the programme you can PM, email or text me and I will either use only forum user names (for all forum users) or first names only in the printed programme.

If anyone else has thoughts on this do please let me know either on this thread or privately, there is no way that I want to stress anyone out as this is meant to be a (relatively) relaxed performance oprotunity.

The programme can now be found on the concert site.

Any problems or errors please let me know as soon as possible.

I wish I could come to this and have a listen, but I have a gig in Bath that night. It's a shame as it's only down the road from where I live and I could have met so many of you. Oh well. Good luck all of you xx

Too bad.... maybe next year.

The programme looks good.

Sorry I can't be there to watch, I'll be going on a sunshine break that day (though how much sunshine there'll be as it's in the UK is debatable......)

Hope you all enjoy the concert, I'll look forward to reading about it/seeing the pictures when I'm back in mid-August.

Have a wonderful time everyone - looks like a great lineup.

Better say it now just in case I won't be on later this week, but good luck everyone!

Car Expert

I wish I could be there with you. Hope it goes well, and good luck to all the performers. Hope you enjoy the recorder piece, katyjay and sbhoa.

Eeeeek. Not long to go now. I see I'm first up with Sarah

Busy practising and still trying to get that trill on the G#-A with 4th finger sorted (ermm... for the pianists amongst you 4th finger violin = 5th in piano terms as we don't use our thumbs, well not to hold strings down with.* Didn't want you to think I was a wimp). My fingers don't always do what I tell 'em, (I should have started all this music lark when I was younger, oh dear starting to sound permanently like my alter ego in OLTVA).

Nerves aside, greatly looking forward to meeting you all again (and some new faces I hope) on Saturday.

*Ending sentences on a preposition is something I'm trying to make a habit of

Allen go to the first message in this thread and click on the link there

Well with the weather and my general health I wasn't sure I would make it, and now I have a bug so barring miraculous recovery I shan't make it

Will be thinking of you all though, hope it goes well, very sorry indeed that I am unlikely to make it...

Sorry to hear that you're poorly, Sarah. Take care of yourself and get well soon.

Poor you...look after yourself and drink plenty of fluids (though how you might drink solids is beyond me!).

I have asked Sam if he will step into your duet shoes for our opening number if you can't make it. (Of course Sam in those dainty red high heels will be a sight worth seeing!)

Get well real quick, and fingers crossed for for that miracle!

:huggy smilie:

Phew, at least you haven't asked me to do it .



Here you go:



I haven't had time to put the Sarah smilie hair on it though ().

Might have done, but then who would play the piano???

If anyone wants to do a short extra to fill out the programme if Sarah is not well enough to come please PM me....first come first served...

Just hit me - it's the day after tomorrow and I'm starting to feel nervous. I find playing the piano with sweaty hands very difficult and my hands will almost certainly be sweating in this weather!!!

Still - there's always the nice pub on Stalybridge station to think about!

Thanks folks... still waiting on the miracle... all else failing, I shall be thinking of you guys on Saturday. If I get my backside in gear, maybe I will do a Nicki and call


Hehehe, thanks Jane, needed a giggle

Thanks again folks - will be thinking of you!

Yes, do a me and call It's really nice to speak to everyone. Hope you feel better soon Sarah.

To all the performers, good luck, and enjoy it, wish I could be there!

Thanks to Sbhoa for all the organising!

Em, and me as well, at Leicester. Sorry you won't be there.

Just got the train tickets so I'll be there, if I don't sleep in.

Good luck to everyone for the concert tomorrow - I hope it goes really well, and that the weather's not too hot! I'll look forward to reading all the reports, and seeing any photos which are posted up, when I get back from holiday. Sarah, I hope you'll be well enough to go after all.....

Sarah - hope you make it after all.

I'll be there but not promising what state my playing will be in...... all my practicing this week has been atrocious!! Heard someone somwhere say that's a good omen, but I'm not sure I beleive that - more likely I'll show myself up something shocking!!! Oh well.... it'll be a learning curve. I better go find a giant net to catch the bats flying round my belly.

I didn't make it though by how I feel today, that is probably a good thing

I hope it went well!

I managed to not have anyone's phone numbers with me which was not very bright, or I would have tried to call... I am not sure about timings, was planning to ring before it started. Ho hum. Was thinking of you all!!

Back home now, concert was good .

I'll upload the pic I said I'd take for you Sarah .

Edit: here we go:

Now THAT was fast!

Sarah, we were thinking of you too.
Sorry you didn't make it and hope you are soon felling much better.

I didn't make it either. And yes I did set the alarm and slept right through it. I'm sleeping really badly just now. Bodes well for Woodford, not!

Hope it was good. Sorry I missed you all.

Thanks, great pic!


thank you on both counts.


Oh no, how gutting

I don't remember the walls being so orange!!

There were a few empty chairs saved...such a pity you couldn't make it.

Neil...what are you?? You must have been spitting pins!

We had the, now traditional, mass phone call from Nicki!

And everyone played very well...a wonderful day and great to see everyone again.

Just got home and realised I've been to Tesco with my Janexxx sticker on !!!

I'm safely home too.


Thanks everyone for a really wonderful concert. There were many lovely performances and it was great to see old friends again and to meet new people.

And, of course, a huuuuuge THANK YOU to Sbhoa, for all the hard work she put in to set the concert up.

I second that!!!

Sarah...for the Shosti Sam wore your "Sarah" sticker!!!

So I heard! Brilliant

I didn't notice him wear that sticker .

Nat's back home and says she's had a good day, and it was good to meet up with people .

Pleased to hear that people got safely home.

I don't think I'll stick around long now I'm totally exhausted.
Good day though .

Yes it was good to see Nat again. She played really well in her accompany-ing role too.

She certainly did....kept up with my slips extremely well......

Slips???? I didn't notice any slips!!!

That's how well they were covered.....

Also shows that if you carry on as though nothing happened you can quite often get away with it...

Having had some time to read all your fantastic comments properly now, I just want to say thanks to everyone for being so supportive, both on the day and in your remarks.

Also Sam (AKA Sarah ) wanted to add something about the day itself so I said I would post on here for him. It was his first encounter with Adult Learners concerts and he had a great time too.

These are Sam's comments:

"The whole idea is terrific, I enjoyed myself even when not myself . I thought all the participants did really well particularly when there had to be a restart.

Well organised - very friendly group - the whole thing is very worthwhile.

My especial thanks to the organiser and her help. Thanks sbhoa.

(We will have to try to organise an event over the Pennines)"*

*Sam is from Sheffield

Thanks for posting that Jane, and thanke to Sam for the lovely comments.
Just the sort of thing I need to add to the web site to try to encourage people to take part.

It sounds as if it all went really well (apart from neil and sarah missing out ).

Well done to sbhoa for the organisation! Are there any more photos???

Glad it all went well! I was thinking of you when I was climbing a mountain...

Hehe, well done.

Jane, will you tell Sam thanks from me?