40 before 40 - Reading, writing and Music

 

Three important things in my life have always been reading, writing and music. My Mum told me that I used to take a reading book into the playground at primary school! I don't remember this at all but I doubt it gave me much street cred! From the age of 7 I began to learn the piano, although this could have been in my life much earlier as there is a photo of me as a baby playing my Grandpa's piano! The flute must have been around 10 I think. I always remember enjoying writing stories and I remember a time at secondary school when I was congratulated on writing a good poem about the summer. So these three things I have now realised are probably always going to play a part in my life and therefore seem apt to be part of any list on things I'd like to do.

Up until 18 music was a very big part of my life, I passed grade 4 on the flute and grade 6 on the piano as well as a brief attempt at the drums and the pan pipes. After not doing as well as I wanted at A-level music I more or less gave it up. As most musicians know music is not well forgotten and tends to creep back into your life sometimes without you realising! I began playing the flute again about a year ago after missing being able to play the piano, strangely enough after my parents electric piano stopped working! I couldn't really justify buying a piano at the time so the flute was the next best thing. As part of my A-level I played in an orchestra and remember quite enjoying it. I never really liked performing on my own but with the orchestra I felt more at home. This is why 17, Join an orchestra was added to my list.

Last Thursday I started at Marchwood Prelude, which is like their pre-orchestra, I was nervous but also excited, I wasn't sure if I'd be good enough. I didn't have anything to worry about though the rest of the orchestra were really friendly the conductor introduced himself and gave me my music as a 2nd flute. As we got on with the practise it al
most felt like being back in the college orchestra! It was certainly a very quick hour and I left looking forward to the next practise. Obviously this does not tick the box for 17, this is just the start, to join is much more than one visit!

No 1 on the list, Keep my Blog up to date! This Blog I did start a few years back but wasn't very good at writing regularly. I think to become a good writer you need to write regularly and I have always wanted to see if I can write a book, maybe this will give me the answer and what better way to keep a Blog up to date by keeping you all posted about my 40 before 40!

No 29, learn about the history of my local area. We have just moved to Hythe right by the New Forest so I thought this would be an excellent idea to find out about our new surroundings and the history behind it. Being October and the month of Halloween I have started this one by reading about Haunted Inns of Hampshire. I think I may have to visit a few of these, the only ones I have visited so far are the four listed in Winchester. I am thinking a visit to The Old Mill at Holbury maybe a good start see if I can see the monk with a bushy red beard!

Before I go I think I need to say why I decided to do a 40 before 40? Well there are a few reasons; there are lots of things I want to do in my life time and now after my 35th birthday I do feel that its time to try and do these things. After losing a family friend recently, I have realised that life is too short and now is the time to do things before its too late. This also gives me something interesting to focus on, I think we all tend to get stuck in our daily work routines and sometimes need something else, something enjoyable.