It is very difficult not to start this post with last nights concert as it was such a success, however I am going to resist and look at some of the things we have done this week.
It started with Libby, Paul and I looking at the design of our new leaflet. I must admit I love it. It’s not entirely finished yet and we have to find another picture but overall, I think it is clear and to the point and will grab the attention of people quickly.
We were at Eagle Lodge on Tuesday, and it was great to share with some residents we have not met before. I think I can safely say it was a colourful session. It was brilliant but I don’t think I should go into detail!
Kenny and I were at Marian House, and we had more people than we have ever had with family and friends joining the session. Paul and I were at Open Door on Thursday morning. We are in the middle of a project called Music for Health and Well-being. The attendees have produced musical mosaics describing something of their lives and the music that has played an important part for them. This has led to us singing many of the songs represented in the mosaics. During our Thursday session we have recorded some of the stories and emotion shared. There was real energy and emotion in the room that was inspiring.
At Saughton Park we took our new evaluation tree and after what was another great session with a full house, we asked people to fill in labels to hang on the tree about what they thought of Choir in the Park. One person wrote “When your family are far away this is just what you need”. I am a man in my sixties, but it didn’t mean I didn’t have a tear in my eye when I read this. Beautiful.
On Friday I was at Ashbrook which was amazing with more than twenty people sharing what was a great morning, then I went to Cramond for a session with Kenny. They had some young students who were on placement from Edinburgh College. It felt like a real intergenerational session with several residents attending for the first time.
In the morning, we had our Trustee meeting, and it was good to welcome a new trustee. The wonderful thing about working with our trustees is that we know that all have The Forget Me Notes Project best interest at heart. Amongst all the good news I am sharing with you is some new that is not so good. The day care settings in Edinburgh are having further cutbacks to their budgets. This has meant that certain of the groups that we deliver have had to be suspended. We were chatting through just how we might be able to approach this and turn what is a negative situation into a positive.
Well now I must tell you about the concert last night. It was amazing! It was held in a premiere building on the corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road at the iconic St John’s Episcopalian Church. The audience were from everywhere. There were people from America, Europe, England and then there were people from the Forget Me Notes family. The Church was full and I am not sure they knew what to expect. We were a part of the concert at the invitation of The Edinburgh Brass Band and they were brilliant. Their playing was great and with the different styles of music they played there was something for everyone. The Forget Me Notes sang a variety of songs inviting the audience and the band to sing with us. I am not sure that some of those in the audience were prepared for this but when we got to Sweet Caroline then they got going. It was great to see so many people who support Forget Me Notes in the audience. There were people who come to St Bride’s, Ashbrook, Royston and it was just great to see them. The Band allowed us to take a bucket collection at the end of the concert which was so generous of them. You can hear that it has been a pretty amazing week, a week that will live in my memory for a long time.
I am sure there will be more to report next week but it’s not quite as busy as this last week. Have a great time and speak to you next week.