Chris's Clog Archive

May 2008

April 2008

Christopher’s Clog - May 2008

Summer is here (almost) – I have reached a gentle shade of lobster-esque puce which marks the start of the warm weather and all the associated pastoral clichés (lashings of ginger beer with strawberry and cream-topped cucumber sandwiches, anyone?) May is the month of bank holidays, false-starting barbeques, and the inevitable first fight with the lawnmower (so far the annual score is Lawnmower - 6, Christopher - 0).

It is also the start of THE PROMS SEASON (I get worryingly excited about the concept of conducting Land of Hope and Glory). This season will be quite a treat, with our shiny new leader, Amanda, playing ‘The Lark Ascending’, a favourite of many, if the Classic FM chart is anything to go by, and most certainly a favourite of mine! It’s not to be missed: 12th July, pop it in your diaries now. It’s ok, I can wait. Don’t bother hunting for the pen, you left it on the kitchen table. Got it? It’s marked in? Excellent!

Last term we said goodbye to Brenda and Linda (with an ‘i’, not to be confused with Lynda with a ‘y’ principal ‘cellist, who told me that if I ever mis-spelled her name in my clog again, her ‘cello spike may end up lodged somewhere rather inaccessible and unfortunate!) After 10 years as librarian, my general lifeline, and extremely proficient bouncer (any local nightclubs would do well to get her contact details) Brenda has stepped down, and Linda thought it was a good departure date for her also. I have already expressed my thanks to them both, but an orchestra really cannot run without people like them, and it helps that they have both been remarkable (in the face of extreme adversity from the whirlwind of musical disorganisation that is yours truly).

As a pretend Londoner I have felt a little battered by democracy this week – in a city where racism is not only acceptable, but now has an elected seat, and a man incapable of adding up to 100 is now in charge of one of the most influential cities in the world, you may understand why I am a little bemused.

HOWEVER…

My faith was restored when Rushmoor Borough Council heard my cry and came to my aid. Well, in fact, it was Sue and Lynne (but clearly they were being sent subliminal instruction from the town hall!) On the occasion of my 25th birthday (yes, ladies and gentlemen, April saw me bat my quarter century) an industrial-sized box of 48 packets of pickled-onion flavour monster munch arrived at the Pelly Rehearsal. Dear, dear friends!

On the subject of my 25th Celebration/Pelly Rehearsal, I would just like to take this rather selfish opportunity to say thank you to everyone who made it so special. Cutting the head off a chocolate hedgehog cake was a little traumatic (and for any animal lovers reading this, no spiky little creatures were harmed in the creation of the cake) but other than that, I had a wonderful time. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make it an evening I will always remember with a smile.

To Recap:

· Come to the Pelly Concert on July 12th

· See Above

Until next time, kind regards,

Chris

Christopher’s Clog - April 2008

Dear Pelly Concert Orchestra Groupies,

You may well be familiar with the concept of web logging or ‘blogging’ as it has become known. Now, a great fan of gadgetry as I am (I was immensely excited in January when I purchased a robotic vacuum cleaner), I have decided that I should jump on the band-wagon and give a monthly account of life in the Pelly Concert Orchestra, as seen from the giddy heights atop of ‘Nelson’s Column’ (the conductor’s rostrum, very skilfully and kindly provided by Barry, our principal oboe). Never being one to toe the line, however, rather than a blog, I have decided on a conductor’s log, or ‘clog’.

We had an incredibly successful start to the 2008 season, and it is lovely to see some new faces in the orchestra. I can’t comment on whether the same can be said in reverse, but I’m enjoying myself! As well as musically, the Pelly is also improving its standing in the local community. Our outreach work is progressing well - the barman of the ‘Ham and Blackbird’ in Farnborough last week notably told Lynda, our principal ‘cellist (when she realised that she hadn’t asked me what I wanted to drink), ‘oh yes, my favourite conductor, he’s a great fan of the London Pride’. I’m not entirely sure quite how many conductors the hallowed porch way of the Ham and Blackbird has seen over the years, but doubtless I was up against some stiff competition!

With the arrival of new faces, we inevitably say a fond goodbye to some old ones. Indeed one ‘old’ face that has left us this term was Lara, our esteemed leader and chair. I will miss her greatly, especially her cheerful ‘hello chuck’ and the glee with which she leapt into the ‘square dance’ in my first concert, her cheer at the end almost upstaging the piece! We wish her every love and luck in her future.

Bearing in mind that the only way to successfully leave the orchestra is to leave the area, Mike Thomson’s feeble attempt to step down as chair was wilfully ignored as he was asked to step right back up again to become our Interim Chair for this season. I am so happy to be working with Mike, and we are planning some very exciting changes for the orchestra, so watch this space! A big welcome also to Amanda, who although you won’t meet until our Proms Concert on the 12th of July, will be taking over as Leader from our first rehearsal for the May concert.

I have grown to love the orchestra, and Farnborough, dearly in the very short space of time I have been at the helm; my only complaint, if there are any representatives of Rushmoor Borough Council clamouring to read this, is that the stock of Pickled Onion Monster Munch in the vending machine on platform 2 of Farnborough Main Station regularly runs out at about 11PM on a Tuesday. There is a demand for which you need to create supply.

Until next time, kind regards,

Chris