Fish!

It's not often that a directorate meeting at work inspires me but we were shown a film this week which really got me to thinking. In our cynical, been-in-this-job-too-long kind of way, we all sat back to watch a film that appeared, on the face of it, to be about a mad set of fishmongers in Seattle who throw fish about the market and shout stupid things to each other.

It actually turns out that it's inspired a whole training philosophy about having fun at work and how that can improve your customer service as well as productivity. All very training-speak, as Mike would say, but I really enjoyed it!

It made me think - if I choose to be fed up and grumpy, whatever I'm doing, I'll only ever be fed up and grumpy and so will everyone else around me. If I make a conscious decision to be a bit more positive (not something I do amazingly often) then, chances are, I'll have a pretty good day and so will 0thers.

Not rocket science, I agree, but something I'm going to try a bit more often....

I couldn't find the whole film but there's a trailer for the "Philosophy" which includes some bits from the fish market but also (and don't say I didn't warn you) a scary looking bloke who obviously wrote the training stuff. Ignore him and enjoy the fish madness!!

Love and Marriage

Very exciting news this week, as my sister-in-law's boyfriend proposed at the top of the London Eye. I'm relieved to say that she said yes and so we are all completely delighted! Another fab and even more special wedding to look forward to....

It ain't over til the....

...much-less-fat-than-she-used-to-be lady sings! Or at least, that's what I'm currently telling myself.

Having toyed quietly with the idea of trying to turn the singing "career" up a notch for quite a while now, I'm beginning to get the sense that it might all be a bit late. I watched the Cardiff Singer of the World last weekend and was really pleased to see a great Russian soprano win. Interestingly, she sang much of the repertoire that I had done for a Fellowship diploma a couple of years ago. This got me to thinking.... Am I good enough to do this full-time? Or would I only ever be a pale imitation of someone like that?

I think that I could stand a chance (as much as the next soprano, anyway) but age appears to be working against me. The Cardiff Singer of the World website gives the rules on age that I would have been 6 months too old to enter this competition and therefore will be 2 and a half years too old next time around. Other competitions and opportunities remain open to me and I'll go for these but it's all starting to feel like it might be now or never.

The irony is that, had I gone for it a few years ago, I genuinely don't think that I'd have been good enough. My voice is constantly changing and developing but is in the best shape it has been ever at the moment. But as the voice matures, so do I and that might be enough to stick a spanner in the works....

Triple Trouble

Two posers and a poser-in-training. Thursday nights with the family are about to get even more raucous!

Momentous occasions

Lots more momentous occasions happening recently. Ian and Jill, good friends from band, got married last Saturday. Even the torrential rain couldn't dampen spirits and we all (and especially them) had a fantastic time. Even the boys scrubbed up pretty well, I reckon!

Then the newest member of the extended Rhodes clan was born late last night. A little boy - weighing in at a mighty 10lb 15oz. I always thought that my youngest was heavy at birth (around 9lb 5oz) but seems as nothing compared to this Goliath!

Now we can all hardly wait to meet him! More photos to follow, I'm sure....

Catching up - again

I've been wholeheartedly rubbish at keeping this up to date recently. Everything's been a bit busy. However, great excitement last weekend as Number 2 Son turned three. Can't quite believe that he isn't even classed as a toddler any more! Needless to say, great celebration was had by all, including great friends who came to stay for the weekend.

By the way, please note the two - count 'em! - birthday cakes produced over the weekend. Was asked for a "D9 cake" by small person and to the uninitiated amongst you, this is a bus. Don't know how it differs from others but knew enough to make it red, because that's the colour of the one that my boys are aware of. Don't think any other aspect was correct, apart from it being a double decker, but when asked, my little 3-year-old creep said that it was definitely a D9. That counts as a success in my book.....