I'm very scared about Saturday now as I'm so underprepared. My flute playing is nothing like my clarinet/sax playing -eek! I'm arriving at Manchester Piccadilly at 10am and I'm sorry I haven't read the thread in ages and didn't realise we had to say we'd like to come to the meal afterwards.

I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone

Please don't be scared, Appassionata. None of us bite.

And the day isn't about being an expert playing to other experts, it's about being a learner trying out new skills in supportive company. No-one is demanding or expecting perfection.

If you can get yourself from Piccadilly to Stalybridge, I can give you a lift to the venue. PM me for my contact details.

Don't worry, Appassionata. You can't be any more underprepared than I am.

I've only had two lessons this term (my teacher hasn't been able to teach for most of the term) and one of the lasses on my corridor has started to object to my practicing. So, my flute has barely been out of its case the past two weeks and I've had maybe 30 minutes in total with my teacher working on the piece I'm playing in the concert. This wasn't what I'd planned...

I'd second that.

My first Forum concert was in Leeds back in May. I'll never be totally comfortable performing in public (which is why I've chosen short, straightforward pieces - I get very nervous and hold my breath! Almost fainted in my last exam) but, if Stalybridge is anything like Leeds, you'll know that everyone in the audience is rooting for you and will try their best to make you feel at ease.

Great to see that some of the Leeds crowd will be there but looking forward to meeting you too, Appassionata, along with many other new faces

Nobody would have known at Leeds if you were nervous about performing - it sounded great! Hope you have a good time and everyone else too

Are you coming, Skylark?

No not to this one, but I'll be wishing you well

Oh.

Thanks for the good wishes though.

Trains from Manchester Piccadilly to Stalybridge leave at 11 minutes past the hour (arr. 26 minutes past)

Your flute playing is fine - and I'm looking forward to seeing you again. I think I mentioned something to sbhoa relating to the station buffet bar and you, so you're on the meal list!

Looking forward to seeing you for the first time, LT!

It's not essential to have let me know in advance for the meal.
So long as I have a rough idea of numbers that's fine.

*must remember to call in Wetherspoons tomorrow*

I've been *ahem* editing my signature as the 'dog' had gone wonky so have missed these last few posts! Like it?!


That's very kind of you to say so. It was a lovely day - everyone made me feel so welcome. Yes, I felt nervous, but we were all in it together and the amount of positive energy in the room, with everyone being so supportive, was fabulous. Hope to see you again soon!


Same here! I'll see whether my daughter will allow me to 'borrow' her recorder for the day


I'm up with the family and another set of friends at school (chess tournament) so will have to pass on the meal this time unless you fancy a few kids along for the ride?!

- I'll bring a recordery book or two

I'll bring some spare recorders

No worries. I'm at the Ribble Valley piano festival all week and hadn't expected to get any practice before Saturday. But, our hotel has an upright Bentley piano in one of the function rooms which the Manager said I could use. So, after ruining a perfectly good handkerchief cleaning the disgustingly sticky keys of dried wine, etc., (I hope it was only wine ), I managed a couple of hours yesterday and hope for a couple of hours tomorrow. In spite of some non-standard noises, sticking keys and being slightly out of tune - and the hotel's muzak system in the background - I am pleased to get some practice in. I'm sure Saturday will be enjoyable for everyone. See you there.

I'm really sorry but I am not going to be able to make it to the Stalybridge concert after all. I was really looking forward to playing with LoonyTunes and with oldnotes - I hope we will still be able to play at a later date...

So sorry to let you all down...

W

Aww, that's a shame ...hopefully we'll see you at another event soon willobie.

Sorry you won't be able to go, willobie. I'm feeling really sad i won't be there either.

Sorry to hear that you won't be with us, Willobie. Hope you're ok

Ditto. Hope all is well with you - these things happen (as we all know). I'm sure there'll be other playing opportunities.

Take care now. xxx

You have


Hope things are okay, Willobie. Shame you can't come but I'm sure we'll meet again at future events.

I am really sorry, but I too will not be able to come. I had a desperate phonecall yesterday from the manager of a charity that I volunteer for, saying that they need another health professional for their holiday in Wales starting tomorrow and if they couldn't find one, may have to cancel the holiday, so I've said I'll volunteer. I'll be in Chester though. Have a great day everyone

Barry said you weren't coming Hope you have a good weekend, and see you next week

So sorry you can't make it.
Hope the holiday goes well.
see you at another event.

I'm not entirely sure if I can make it now. I'm going to have to check the trains and weather forcast in the morning and then decide.

We have had serious amounts of rain and most of the roads out of the town are closed. The roundabout round the corner from where I live has two cars submerged up to their bonnets. I saw the second one drive in after the first was was very obviously stuck.

The railway line is currently flooded near Darlo, and they are saying that the water hasn't peaked yet (there's still an awful lot to come down of the top of the Pennines and there's more heavy rain forcast overnight).

I'll come if I think I can get to Stalybridge and get home again, but it's looking a bit uncertain at the moment.

Oh dear, Flossie. That sounds serious. I hope the weather clears up an you can get there after all.

They ought to lay on a ferry.

It's actually quite impressive in a bizzare sort of way.

I'm still quite shocked about the second car though - he'd watched other people turning round, there was clearly a car already stuck, and he looked at my friend and I who were trying to signal for him to turn round and then he just drove straight into it. He had two children in the back of the car as well.

I was trying to walk home from work (which normaly takes about 10 minutes) and we turned back because we weren't happy to wade above our knees when we weren't sure what was underneath the water or whether there were any drag currents.

Sorry I missed your phone call last night

Hope you can make it...

I had hoped to come to this as an audience member but King Rat needs me at home today. Have a wonderful time and I am sorry that I won't be there after all.

Hope everyone who made it has had a great time and that it's been a huge success!

I had a fab day - thanks sbhoa

Many many thanks to all involved today. I had a great time.

You were right sbhoa - the feedback envelopes were great

Looking forward to Chester now

Lois

Glad it went well. Well done to all who took part, and well done to sbhoa.

I'm home now.

Thanks to everyone involved (both organisers and attendees). It was one of the loveliest days I've ever had.

Particular thanks also to Oldnotes for accompanying me, and for not being phased by my never having played the piece with accompaniment before. You did very well.

Andante - it's a shame you couldn't come. I was wanting to thank you for the help you've given me on here with the Goddard Idylle, it went a lot better than I feared it might - and with my teacher having been unable to teach for a while your input made a big difference, and stopped it from sounding like I'd only had two partial lessons on the piece.

Thank you everyone.

Glad to have been of service. And very glad that you managed to get there, Flossie.

A really, really good Stalybridge event again : thanks sbhoa, and thank you to everyone who came, including my accompanist and sbhoa and Flossie, my two duet partners. And the people in the impromptu recorder ensemble!

Did everyone like my 'Unchained Melody'?....

Glad to hear you all had a good time. I thought about you , but was working.
Bev

errrr yes Barry - it was very............... unchained??

Lois

Great day once again - thanks sbhoa.

Thanks to my playing partners, Flossie and LT - I thought both pieces went very well.

I really like that Steinway piano, in that setting. Makes a lovely sound and is a real pleasure to play.

Well done to everyone who played and for the constant supply of buns, cakes, tea, etc., especially the 'drizzle cake'.

I really enjoyed the day! Many thanks to sbhoa for organising another wonderful event!
Great to see so many clari players
It was fun to play recorder in public again after 10 years or so!

Photos to follow shortly...

Not sure what I 'enjoyed' more - your singing or your *ahem* actions! Seriously though it was a great way to break the ice - let's do it again and I'll bring MY sax next time

It was lovely to meet you - see you in Taunton!


Thanks for the accompaniment, oldnotes - I'd love to play with you again. Perhaps I'll brave a piano duet next time?! Your pieces were fantastic!

Thanks again to sbhoa for a wonderful day - I had a great time. The generous feedback comments gave me a warm afterglow - fab idea.

Lovely to meet the rest of you (old and new) - and special thanks to katyjay for stepping in at the last minute for the violin duet. I had fun 'jamming' with you as well! And I now know what a Garklein looks like

Enjoy the next event in Chester! Must get something going locally - you Northerners can't have all the fun!

Yes, you must!

I heard the word 'pictures'. This could be...er...interesting...

Profile picture duly changed...

That's a good technique you have there.