Monday 11th August 2025

Well, we are getting nearer and nearer to the 2nd of September which is our Showcase Day. We are delighted that the Provost of Edinburgh will be with us along with other guests. If you live in Edinburgh why not come along and find out all the different things that Forget Me Notes have been doing and what we’re going to be doing in the future. The showcase will take place at the St. Bride’s Centre, 10 Orwell Terrace, between 10:45 and 2:15. We will serve refreshments at 12:15pm so no need to bring lunch.

In the evening of the Showcase, we will be holding a 50’s/60’s evening with a live band and live music both to sing and dance too. We start at 6:30 and finish at 9pm and the tickets are £10. You can buy the tickets on Eventbrite or get paper tickets at any of our events. I am not very good at Eventbrite so I will ask Libby to put the link on Facebook. This will mean you access your ticket there. We have a great band of musicians, so I think we are in for a great night.

If you are wondering how the new group went on Wednesday it was brilliant. We didn’t have many in the actual group but those that were there had a great time. We also got a chance to sing for those in the Café and the Library. This created interest that we hope will mean more people will come to see us next week.

On Thursday we were in Saughton Park, the great thing about these sessions is that people turn up and sing with us on a regular basis. I think we must have had nearly fifty people there on Thursday and it was great fun.

Friday saw us at Craighall. One of the residents who just a few months ago was confined to bed and unable to move without support was up dancing to Rock Around the Clock. It was wonderful to see, and we left with a spring in our step.

If you are not doing anything on Thursday between 5pm and 6pm, why not come to the Mound? We are singing as part of the Fringe, and your support would be most welcomed. We are going to be doing some great songs including Sweet Caroline, so why not come and lend your voice to what will be a great afternoon.

If you live in Edinburgh, then we will look out for you. Whatever you’re doing this week I hope you have a great week.

Monday 4th August 2025

It is good to be back at work with great sessions on Monday and Tuesday. St Brides on Monday was the first session back after three weeks of summer holidays. We had 25 people at the session which was great. In the afternoon it was Open Door and again the session was so good. When you see practice that deserves credit you must share that with managers. One of the volunteers helped to guide and empower one of the attendees who was initially quite agitated. Seeing this the volunteer gently enabled the person to dance and express herself to the music and it wasn’t long before smiles broke out.

Tuesday was Lauder Lodge and Marian House. New activity leaders at Lauder Lodge brought an injection of enthusiasm with people entering the spirit of the session. Marion House is a place we only go once every other month which is a bit difficult building relationships that can be forgotten because of time. It is great when we can make connections and see people flourish within the session.

Friday saw us at Ashbrook with a full room of people, and we had great fun sharing stories and singing together. Because we have lunch we can sit around a table and chat about things that are important to those who attend.

This coming week is an exciting one as on Wednesday we have a new project with North Edinburgh Arts starting. The session is an intergenerational Music and Movement group. You can never be quite sure how many people will come along but we have had a few notes of interest. If you fancy it we start at 11am and the session has a five-pound charge. I am sure you will have a great time.

I have been sending out invitations to our Showcase 25 event. We are always delighted to have the support of the Edinburgh Provost. He is a great supporter of The Forget Me Notes Project and I am delighted to say that he is coming to the Showcase on the 2nd of September.

I hope you have a good week, and we will chat again next Monday.

Monday 28th July 2025

I need to start by apologising that there was no post last week. I was on holiday and didn’t share that with you, so if you follow my posts and missed last week you will be glad to read this update.

I have some great news. Finding funding for charities now is getting increasingly difficult with more groups looking for support. We have been able to secure funding for the Choir project for the next two years which is wonderful news. We see the choirs as the core of what we do, it is the place where most people are introduced to The Forget Me Notes project. This is the place where friendships are made, where community is built and further support is found. Now we have five choirs all free at the point of delivery which is important to us. We also have discussions that are ongoing that we hope will increase the choir project by a further two Choirs. This would see us with Choirs at different parts of the city and will enable access for more people.

The 2nd of September is not far away and is an important day in the Forget Me Notes year. It is the day of our Showcase 25 event, and I have been sending out invitations to guests like MPs, MSP’s, Councillors and providers who we work with. Kenny will be glad to be able to give another badge to Nicola Sturgeon! The showcase will feature all the services we have and the new services we hope to provide during this next year. It will be an inspiring celebration of all that Forget Me Notes are able to offer. The showcase is open for everyone to attend and so if you live in Edinburgh, you will be more than welcome. It will take place at the St. Bride’s Centre in Dalry between 10:45am and 2:15pm (refreshments will be available).

In the evening, we will be doing a 50’s/60’s evening and the tickets will be available within the next few days.

It is good to know that the Choir project is secure for the next two years and that we will be able to continue to roll out our support to even more people. I am glad to be getting back to work and being a part of a front foot inspiring organisation.

Have a great week.

Monday 14th July 2025

On Monday we held our team meeting. When you work remotely the chance to meet up and hear about the different things people are doing and how they impact on the work of Forget Me Notes is essential. It is also a good chance to build relationships between us and support each other. We are privileged to have a great staff, and I grow to value them more when I hear of the commitment and dedication that they bring to their role.

One of our Forget Me Notes finds themselves in hospital after a fall. I always count it a privilege when I can visit people and support them through difficult times, so to be able to go into hospital and give my support is important to me and to Forget Me Notes. I know that many of our other members are concerned and are missing one of their stars.

This week has given me a chance to catch up with admin and funding applications. I know I speak for Paul when I say we cherish the opportunity to be practitioners and would not want to put our practice to one side and become “managers”. Having the chance to “stand with people” is an important part of our work. One way of doing that is being a part of delivering services.

A Labour MP who was present when we were working at Open Door put us in touch with a service in Gilmerton called Nana’s Café. They would like to work in partnership with us to provide a project within their centre. Before we can move ahead with a new project, we need to source the money that will underpin the project, or it becomes a short-lived experiment. We will work together to see if we can find the resources that will allow us to move forward. It is always good to meet like minded people and develop an opportunity to support those who need it.

Friday saw Alan and I at Strachan House and Craighall. It was good for various reasons. Both groups of residents responded well to the songs with stories shared. At Craighall we had more residents attend than we have ever had which was good, however it is those personal moments that are so important.

They are telling us that this week will be a little cooler, well I for one will appreciate a wee break. I don’t think this heat is good for my eyes or my hay fever. I am sure I will cope if the weather turns hotter again soon. (It is good for the golf!)

Have a good week and we will chat again soon.

Monday 7th July 2025

We started this week with the Volunteers’ summer outing to the Botanics. It was beautiful weather, and they seemed to enjoy their time together. I was able to go for an hour, and it was good to have the opportunity to say thank you for all the work that they do. There is no doubt that the Volunteer Project has added so much to the Forget Me Notes Project. The Volunteer Project started when we noticed that as people’s dementia deteriorated, they were no longer able to come to Choirs. It was still clear however that they benefitted from music sessions. Being able to offer sessions in peoples’ own homes is wonderfully empowering to those living with dementia and giving time for carers to have space for themselves.

North Edinburgh Arts were holding a session on building their new meeting centre for those living with dementia and their carers. What I love about the meeting centre concept is that they are there for those people who have yet to have a diagnosis of dementia as well as those in the early stages of their dementia, this is such a key time for people. Enabling and empowering people at this stage can set the tone for what comes later. This is a period which can be so difficult, not knowing what to expect, it can be more than a little scary. I am sure the meeting centre at NEA will be a great resource.

We were at Eagle Lodge on Tuesday, and it was a great time with the residents. I was able to sing the whole of “I’d like to get you on a slow boat to China” with one of the residents, she hasn’t been able to do that for months and it was such a special moment. We then had a moment with a resident who doesn’t always respond positively, clapping her hands and dancing to “When the Saints go Marching in”.  Moments like these are precious and makes all that we do so worthwhile.

You are likely to have seen the pictures of our Royal band who went to the King’s Garden party. It was great to see Forget Me Notes represented in this way. They all clearly had such a great time.

Thursday saw us at Saughton Park, and the children are now off school for the summer. The weather wasn’t great, so we went into the glasshouse for the session. My Granddaughter who has Down Syndrome marched in and with her hands on her hips said to me “Grandad Alan, Baby Shark”. The session was great with forty-five people present with at least four new people attending.

On Friday at Ashbrook we had our American friends back with us and others returning from holidays in Australia. We had another great session where people shared their stories, laughed and enjoyed each other’s company. What more can you ask for?

Was there something in the air this week because Together in Song was just great too. We took the theme of relationships and sang songs like “You’ve gotta friend in me” from Toy Story and “Son of a Preacher man”. The staff Choir at the Festival Theatre also sang “Stand by me”. We also took a bit of time to reflect on what we look for in a friend and wrote words on a flip chart. Words like “Loyalty, Reliable, Honest, Kind, Accepts you as you are”. We had several other words all meaningful to those who were there and all describing what we were looking for in a friend. I think for me a keyword when looking for a friend is Respect, we didn’t sing the song, but it was at the core of what we were thinking about and reflecting on.

Well, I hope you find respect in the week ahead and that you also give respect in the week ahead. As it says in the Toy Story song “it’s our destiny cos, You gotta friend in me”

Have a good week.

Monday 30th June 2025

This past week on Tuesday Alan and I were at Lauder Lodge where we had a great morning with residents and staff who came to join in with us. It is always good to have staff members as part of the group as I think the relationship that they often have with residents brings a confidence to the session which is helpful.

Tuesday afternoon and Kenny and I were at North Edinburgh Arts where we are about to launch a new service, we needed to do a sound check in the theatre. Sometimes you just need to have a sing to get the feel for a place, and this was time well spent.

The Post Code Lottery went live on Tuesday, so I needed to get cracking on the application. I ear marked Thursday afternoon to get on with it. This is usually my fortnightly meeting with Paul, but he is off to the Isle of Scilly on holiday. I think he has picked a good week with the lovely weather that we have been enjoying. The Lottery application is a pain because you can’t save and finish later. Once you start the form you need to finish it too. Anyway, that’s it away and we will find out in July as to whether we have been successful.

Thursday morning was great fun we were at Open Door which is on the main street in Morningside. The Open Door have been successful with the Big Give that means they can raise money within a week and whatever they raise the Big Give will match. Once we finished the session with those who use the service, we went upstairs which is on street level and with the portable PA we sang to those walking by. It was funny when we sang “Ye Cannae Shove Yer Grannie Aff A Bus” the bus driver at the bus stop closed his window. I can’t help wondering whether it was the singing or the song that upset him. Whatever it was it was perfect timing.

Hope you have a good week and we can chat next time.

Monday 23rd June 2025

Last year we did what was a very successful showcase day at St. Bride’s. We plan to do the same this year on the 2nd of September. This week we had the first of our planning meetings to make sure we are ready and raring to go. It will be different this year as we will be able to feature the All Singing and Dancing group which will be amazing. 

At last year’s showcase one of the highlights was Elizabeth’s volunteer presentation. It was when we first saw the map of the city and the various people that our volunteers visit. It was great to understand something of the impact Forget Me Notes makes and continues to make.

This year we are going to follow the Showcase with a 50’s /60’s evening on the same day. I think it will be a fun evening. John has suggested dressing up, I am not sure who I should go as so please feel free to send suggestions!

We continue to work with Open Door on Music for Health and Well-being and the theme this week was music to move to. On Friday they had a great time with people doing the twist, not only did they get down, but they got up again which is quite a feat.  The Monday and Tuesday group did Jailhouse Rock which was cheeky because I realised that Kenny and I had never done this before. (You try getting all the words in at that speed.)  It was all good fun, and some great stories were shared. 

At All Singing and Dancing one of the attendees likes to choose a lot of the songs that Kenny and Roddy do as she always loves to sign them too. It is wonderful to see the inclusivity displayed at what is the most amazing group. I wish I could transport you all there on a Tuesday morning. The lessons our politicians could learn from these amazing people would improve the world immensely.

This week saw us back in Saughton Park with approximately sixty people joining with us throughout the afternoon. Saughton Park is just a great place for raising the profile of Forget Me Notes. So many people use the park, and we can get our leaflets and newsletters far and wide.

We held the latest of our Trustee meetings on Friday. What I enjoy about the meetings is that people are not frightened to share their own opinions. This enables us to explore issues from different perspectives and then hopefully provide services that fulfil people’s different needs. 

When I sat down to do this week’s post, I wasn’t sure what reflections would flow from this past week. Reading it back I realise just how much has taken place. This next month is holiday month, and people are preparing for a break. So, to all our staff and volunteers who are going away, and if you are having a holiday, then I hope it’s a good one and you get the rest you need.

Speak soon.

Monday 16th June 2025

When you think you are going to get a week less busy after Dementia Awareness Week, Forget Me Notes makes sure that doesn’t happen.

On Monday I took a day to look at some admin work. I really needed to for my own sanity’s sake. I had so many bits that needed taking care of.  At the end of Monday, I felt a whole lot better, I had managed to put myself in a position where just a few things were left outstanding. I even managed to get our funding application away to the Paul Hamlyn Trust; this is a trust that funds educational opportunities using music for children with additional needs. It will take about six months before we hear anything from them, but it would be wonderful to work with Prospect Bank.

Tuesday was a great day. Paul and I were delivering a session at Prospect Bank School. I came away buzzing and it felt so good to meet again with some of the children we saw in December and to see just how school was helping them take on learning experiences.

Kenny and I, following a session at Royston Care Home, had a meeting at North Edinburgh Arts. We were looking at ways of how we might be able to work together, and by the end of our meeting we were able to work out a way in which we could launch a group at the beginning of August.

Wednesday brought with it the news that we had been successful with a grant from Awards for All. This award will mean that we can invest in the growth and development of some sessions that will hopefully be helpful to a lot of people, so this was great news.

Thursday and Friday saw us finish of the week with Music Memories at Life Care, Stenhouse, Strachan House and Craighall, along with indoor choir. 

At Forget Me Notes we sing a song that you will be all familiar with because Morecambe and Wise made it famous, Bring Me Sunshine. There are two versions with different lyrics. One of the lyrics which we don’t usually sing says “Life’s too short to have anything but fun”. It is a line that I am not keen on because it’s not true and we cannot be on top of things all the time. Life can change in an instant and I am aware that some of you may have had a very difficult week. We have friends who are great supporters of Forget Me Notes whose lives have changed this week, so Jean and I have been taking time to think of them. 

I remember the very first film we recorded for Forget Me Notes. Paul spoke about how we stood together, alongside one another.  At the most difficult times in life, we all need someone to stand with us. If you have had a good week that’s great, but always remember there will be someone who hasn’t, and may need a hand to hold, a chat or a hug. Whatever the situation we find ourselves, always remember the world is a better place because we are in it.

Speak to you soon.

Monday 9th June 2025

Just to let you know that I am still alive after last week which was so busy.

We celebrated Volunteers’ Week and raised awareness of Dementia in an even bigger way than usual. Monday saw us at the City Chambers just off the Royal Mile. (If you don’t know Edinburgh you would have seen the Royal Mile if you watched the Queens Funeral on the TV.) Edinburgh Council were holding an awards night, and we were singing in the nominees. We were singing in the courtyard which meant people on the Royal Mile could hear and came in and sang along. It was great to have the Provost coming to join us singing the song Consider Yourself. It was a fun evening with plenty of contacts which helped so much.

Thursday saw us singing in the Gyle shopping centre which was fun. There is no doubt that the song Sweet Caroline gets the best reaction with people joining in the actions and all the extra notes that go to make up the song. We had a volunteer from Alzheimer Scotland in Morrison’s too which meant we could enhance the opportunities for both of us and raise awareness of dementia. On Thursday afternoon we were in Saughton Park where around fifty people came and sang. We also had a tea party as it was Dementia Awareness week and thanks to our wonderful choir ladies we had the most amazing sandwiches, cake, shortbread and other nibbles. It was a great time and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. We were joined by a group of people from Garvald and our favourite percussionist joined the house band for the afternoon.

As if that wasn’t all enough, we were at the Festival Theatre doing Together in Song on Friday taking the theme of musicals. We sang songs from all the well-known musicals like Mary Poppins, Oliver, The Lion King and West Side Story. The energy in the room was brilliant. I am not sure if we surpassed the entertainment that Paul and Gus were going to see in the evening as they were going to see Kylie in Glasgow.

We already had all the other music memories sessions at St. Bride’s, St. Cuthbert’s, Eagle Lodge, Ashbrook and of course All Singing and Dancing. It is not always the big things that leave the biggest impression. Zoom Choir saw another new person and created opportunities for people to share their story in song. It is great to see one of those people with additional needs who joins us getting so much from the session.

This week holds further excitement, but I can tell you about that next week.

Monday 2nd June 2025

We have had another week of growth and reflection ahead of Dementia Awareness Week in Scotland that brings with it several different events.

This last week has seen me having discussions about a sixth open access group in another part of town. Our open access groups mean that anyone can attend without the need for referrals or waiting lists. It is a case of come along and enjoy singing, sharing and making new friends. These groups act as an introduction to Forget Me Notes and an introduction to an environment that offers support to those who feel for various reasons it is what they need.

We also visited the North Edinburgh Arts in Muirhouse - what a brilliant new building they have there. It was good to speak to staff and see how we can be of benefit to one another. North Edinburgh Arts are about to offer a meeting place for those in the early stages of dementia, and we are exploring the possibility of a group that will be an intergenerational music and movement group. It will be like All Singing and Dancing but for all and allow us to do all kinds of music and dance, from Ceilidh, to Rock and Roll, to chair dancing.

The one thing you realise when supporting people with a lived experience of dementia is that dementia never has a break so the need to find different and inclusive opportunities for support is on-going.

The week ahead is Dementia Awareness Week in Scotland and Volunteers’ Week which means a busy schedule. We are singing at the City Chambers tonight to welcome those people who have been nominated for an Inspiring Volunteers award. These are always exciting evenings and are a way of acknowledging the work of so many wonderful people. We are singing in the courtyard as people arrive. In the usual Forget Me Notes style we will be encouraging people to join in and sing along.

On Thursday we will be singing in the Gyle shopping centre for Dementia Awareness week, so if you are from Edinburgh and have some time between 10:30am and 12pm then why not drop in and see us. You could even sing a song or two with us. It will be an opportunity to highlight the issues faced by those with a lived experience of dementia and their carers. In the afternoon we are in Saughton Park for an extra special session that will include goodies. What goodies remain to be seen as they are being brought by some of the choir members themselves. I am sure we will be in for a great afternoon as long as the weather holds.

On Friday we are at the Festival Theatre for another Together in Song. These sessions are always great and this time it is musicals month. We are having a performance by the staff choir which is great.

Do you feel tired reading this? Well so do I now that I am writing it. What I do now is that after a busy week we will have had so many opportunities to share music and memory with those who need time and space to express themselves in song.

Monday 26th May 2025

I think it might be true to say that we have had an ordinary week of delivering services. Monday started with Morningside, St. Cuthbert’s and Zoom Choir. Tuesday was All Singing and Dancing, Open Door. Thursday Open Door, Indoor Choir and Stenhouse Wynd. Friday meant holding a phone-call with Tilly to speak about the possibility of our sixth choir and then Kenny and I did Eildon House.

While it may have been an ordinary week it was spent with extra ordinary people. I don’t get to go to St. Cuthbert’s that often but this week I had the chance to go and listen to their stories. Open Door both on Tuesday and on Thursday was just as it usually is, so good, with the warmth and the evidence of a staff team who really care even when things can be difficult is just wonderful.

Our Indoor Choir now has a new name - we are going to call our choirs community choirs and because it is in Gorgie it will be known as Gorgie Community Choir. Our other choirs will also carry their area name which is great. To be honest Indoor Choir was a bit of a naff name, so it is good to have another name. It is amazing to think that as we move into our eighth year that we are discussing having six choirs.

The thing that moved me the most this week was at the end of All Singing and Dancing one of the people who uses the service stepped forward and asked Kenny for a particular song. She proceeded to sign the song as Kenny sang, she was brilliant. What is it about seeing people who communicate in this way that makes it so moving? Could it be that it is a way of seeing people being included in a world where so much exclusion of diverse people takes place? One thing that Paul says about Zoom Choir is that each square is the same size. There is no one person more important or less important than the other. We work towards making this a reality at FMN.

This coming week we have a training session with staff. It is based on what we have learned from working with Forget Me Notes. If you are going to ask others to do something, then you really should do it yourself. One of the things that I have learned is to be prepared to be surprised by the people who attend. The ability to communicate and share a story, a memory, a smile or the tapping of a song sheet to share their joy at being a part of something special.

Have a good week.

Monday 19th May 2025

It is a debate for some people as to whether it’s good to return to work when coming back from holiday. I had a good holiday, it is always good to spend time with Jean and have a time to relax. It is also great to get back to Forget Me Notes because it really doesn’t feel like work. It is a privilege and an opportunity. A perfect example was on Thursday afternoon when we were in the bandstand at Saughton Park. The weather in the park was beautiful and warm with a light wind, but as it always is, when you are stood in the bandstand, it was cold with a strong gale force wind and clothes pegs were needed to keep the music on the stand. 

We had seventy people who came to sing on Thursday, some with a lived experience of dementia, others with additional needs, there were younger people, older people and those in the middle. I went to speak to a group of people after the event and a lady who has dementia said to me “this has changed my life”. 

On Friday we had three sessions, one at Open Door which Alan and Paul delivered, this was attended by Ian Murray MP the Secretary of State for Scotland. It was an opportunity for someone with responsibility to understand what people gain from music. 

We also had sessions at Ashbrook and Cramond Residence where people were joining in with stories, singing and sharing in the value of community through music.

I have taken some time to reflect on the comments of the lady in the bandstand “this has changed my life”. What did she mean by that and what do others feel as they find support and fulfilment at Forget Me Notes? Feeling accepted and finding a place of belonging is important to all of us. Loneliness and isolation affect us both emotionally and physically, as does finding a community where we can express ourselves. While I haven’t been able to speak to the lady about her comment, I can listen along with other evaluations and understand something about the impact we make. We have another week ahead of us to offer our support to others and continue to build a community available for all.

I hope that you find a place of inclusion and acceptance in the week ahead.

Monday 5th May 2025

I am on holiday in Majorca and the weather is lovely. Jean and I flew out on Monday, so I won’t do a post next week. This last week again has been one that has offered so much. As I said last week it is a privilege to be able to work with those who attend All Singing and Dancing. We have spoken about how we might integrate those with additional needs, those with dementia and those who use the service for other reasons. On Monday we were delighted that one of those who attend All Singing and Dancing attended Zoom choir for the first time. Yesterday’s Zoom session was all about ABBA with songs of our new attendee’s choice. The beginning of our integration has commenced, and it is exciting to think where it might lead.

Friday saw us back at the Festival Theatre for the next round of Together in Song. The theme for the concert was Music to Move to. We did songs like Rock Around the Clock, Blue Suede Shoes, Jailhouse Rock and Tina Charles “I Love to Love”. It was great to see so many people dancing and singing along. As part of our digital project Kenny came along to film the session so we will have something to show you on our website, and you can share in the energy created during the afternoon.

Well, I will sign off and get back to the sun, let’s speak soon. 

Have a great week.

Monday 28th April 2025

This week was another highlight in the life of The Forget Me Notes Project. On Tuesday we saw the first All Singing and Dancing session under the management of The Forget Me Notes Project. Now this might not seem that big an event but to us it is a huge step into an environment that is different. All Singing and Dancing is open to all but primarily aimed at those with additional needs. It is an amazing service, and it is a privilege to now be a part of what it delivers for those who attend. I really must pay tribute to Kenny and Roddy who have delivered the group for so long. Maintaining the enthusiasm and commitment when working on your own is not easy. You only need to spend a short time in Kenny’s company to realise his passion for making music a part of the lives of people who need support. What does this mean for us all?

Well, it means for Forget Me Notes we enter a period of learning and development. We will work alongside Kenny to understand the impact that movement, sound and rhythm can make to people with additional needs. I hope for the ASAD group that we will be able to supply the support that is required ensuring that back up is there when holidays and illness affect the sessions delivery. To provide the support to Kenny and Roddy that shows they are a part of something that can assist in those moments when support is needed. There is a lot of cross over between the skills required to support those with dementia and those with additional needs so we can learn from each other. What is very evident is that this is a time of growth and understanding both for The Forget Me Notes Project and All Singing and Dancing. (Exciting days.)

On Friday we held our Trustees meeting, it is a monthly meeting where we look at direction and development. The wonderful thing about our Trustees is that they all have a passion for what we are achieving together. We rejoice in the knowledge that we all have opinions that can be respectfully shared and that they are not all the same. This puts us in such a strong position when exploring future development and the experiences of those we work with and who live with those challenges day by day. We have carers, former support workers, social care managerial staff on our board. They each bring a wealth of experience which has been and continues to be an amazing support to Paul and myself. I am often banging on about the fact that we don’t say thank you enough and that we don’t openly value what is all around. Let me for a moment take a drop of my own medicine and say thank you to our trustees. You are so precious to us, as are all who read our posts and support us in so many ways.

Have a great week.

Monday 21st April 2025

On Monday evening I was at the Festival Theatre as I am part of a group looking at how the programme for the King’s Theatre will develop for those with a lived experience of dementia. The King’s Theatre is going through a restoration and development period. It was interesting to be together with other like-minded people to explore what might be possible. It took me back to Covid times when we were able to deliver some online sessions from the stage of the King’s Theatre. We all had to be socially distanced, but it enabled those who were listening to be a part of something that helped sustain them through a difficult period.

Kenny and I were at Open Door on Tuesday. It is like a breath of fresh air working alongside the staff there. On the wall were the beginnings of the group scrap books for the Monday and Friday groups. The theme was people and relationships, and Gill had written up the comments that people had made during the sessions.  It was good to read and understand the energy that this had created. We have been developing plans for a third year of our project together so it is important that we get the funds for what we believe is an exciting project and what could become something that changes the way we deliver support to people.

On Thursday we were back at Saughton Park. The weather was changeable so I wasn’t sure who would turn up. We had 45 people on Thursday which was another great turn out and a lovely session singing amongst the plants in the greenhouse. This is our last session in the greenhouse as we will be in the bandstand on our next visit on the 1st May. We laughed at the idea that this would be when the rain and the winds would arrive. It is often windy in the Bandstand but surprisingly still in the park itself (weird).

We are in rejoicing mode at Forget Me Notes because we have secured the money that we need for our five Choirs for this financial year. Thanks to the Weir Trust we can now plan with growth in mind knowing that the core of what we provide is secure for another year. 

The situation we find ourselves in within the charitable sector means that finding funding like this is more difficult to access, so the positive thing is that we are cooking on gas for this coming year. I don’t suppose that’s a very green comment perhaps we should be cooking on hydrogen!

Have a great week.

Monday 14th April 2025

I was delivering the session at St Brides this week with John and Alan as Kenny was on holiday. We have a gentleman who lives with dementia and plays the fiddle (violin). It is something that he loves to do, in fact I would say his whole identity is wrapped up in his love of the violin. It is brilliant hearing him play along to all the songs we sing and he also really enjoys is when he gets the chance to play a solo or two. Although the numbers at St Bride’s haven’t been as high the impact that it’s made for some people who may find a bigger group a struggle is clear to see.

We also had two new places to visit this week - one was Milford House. We had great fun with the group thoroughly enjoying the music together. It was a real party atmosphere as the activity organiser had arranged food and drink for everyone. I am not sure whether the drink improved the singing, but it was great fun. We were also at LifeCare this week and although we had been there once before the group is very new to us and we are new to them. It is always interesting to begin building new relationships and see how different people respond and interact. Winning the confidence of people is important when trying to build a truly authentic support group and that is really what we are trying to do. It is right that this should take time as expecting people to share their life story on the first or second session is not realistic, so we will continue to work hard and see where it takes us.

On Saturday evening John and I went to St John’s Church, where the Edinburgh City Community Brass Band were delivering their spring concert. This year the choir performing with them was a community choir called the Corstorphine singers. They had kindly said that Forget Me Notes could do a collection at the end of their concert. Both the Band and the Choir did great and the evening was a great success.  I am beginning to understand the reach that Forget Me Notes has within the Edinburgh community. As people put their donations into the box, some people commented on what great work we are doing and how they had sung with Forget Me Notes in Saughton Park. It is not always easy understanding how people are receiving what we are doing, but it was clear by the amount people were giving that they appreciated our work.

I must admit to having a late-night last night as a golf fan I was watching Rory McIlroy win the Masters. His determination to win and his emotional response to winning was immense. His message to his daughter after winning was “never give up on your dreams”. I was again reminded of the great speech of Martin Luther King “I have a Dream”. Martin Luther King had given that speech several times before and its impact was nothing like the one occasion when it left a footprint upon the world. Like Rory, Martin Luther King had to keep trying to deliver until such times as the way opened for the impact to be felt. Whether or not Forget Me Notes ever make a footprint upon the world I really don’t know but that’s not our aim. We aim to leave a footprint on the lives of those people we support, and we will keep trying and showing just how much worth the people we work with have.

Hope you have a good week, speak to you next week.

Monday 7th April 2025

The beginning of the week felt as though summer had arrived early, I was feeling optimistic about Saughton Park and how the session would go this week. Then the east wind came along, and it was chilly. I need not have been concerned because being in the glasshouse meant that it was very hot and fifty people gathered to sing and share stories. 

At Ashbrook on Friday, we had twenty-six people which is the biggest ever turnout to a session. 

Groups often move in cycles and when one group has a high attendance another has less at different times. 

St Brides in recent weeks has been a little lower in attendance as one or two people are on holiday and a few people unwell. 

We have a group at Stenhouse which never has any more than five people and it is such a meaningful group. 

Our volunteer project and music therapy project each are aimed at delivering sessions with one person. 

I suppose what I am trying to say is it is the quality of our relationships that matter. When the relationships are authentic then the interactive experience and the numbers take care of themselves. It is people that matter and not numbers.

At a session yesterday someone said to me “thank you for involving us”. It could have been seen as a throw away remark at the end of a session. However, I took that comment and reflected on the session to see where we had enabled participation, and active listening had taken place. This means that next time I am aware of what worked and what didn’t. 

Empathy is all about using our own experiences to understand the world of other people. Understanding our own emotional responses to situations and using them to identify with the world that others experience. I have never been given a diagnosis or lived with dementia, but I have been given news that has changed my life, turned my world upside down. I remember how it made me feel and what my responses were. 

This all means that without each one of us the world cannot reach its full potential and without each person being valued for who they are there will always be more to learn.

As Louis Armstrong once sang “What a Wonderful World” and I can hear my friend Peter singing “Oh Yeah”.

Have a wonderful week.

Monday 31st March 2025

I don’t know if you are religious or not but there are many songs that have been written over the years about heaven. 

The following are just a few of them:  

Would you know my name if I saw you in Heaven. 

I’m in Heaven when I’m dancing cheek to cheek. 

Heaven Must be Missing an Angel.

I have always seen heaven as much about a relationship as it is a place in the future. Let me tell you about my experience of heaven this week. 

On the 22nd April the Forget Me Notes will take over the management of the All Singing and Dancing Tuesday group. All Singing and Dancing is a group that works with people with additional needs and offers the opportunity for people to come with their carers to express themselves to music. The group has been co-ordinated by Kenny Vass who is also a music facilitator at Forget Me Notes. Bringing the two groups together will be a wonderful opportunity for all of us. The new Scottish dementia strategy offers an increased way of working with those with additional needs, and particularly those with Down’s who are at greater risk of getting dementia. We are taking advantage of this, and it feels a privilege and an honour to support Kenny to provide what is an outstanding service. 

On Friday I dropped in on the Friday session of All Singing and Dancing. There must have been between 70 and 80 people all singing and dancing together. Some in wheelchairs, some with guitars, some young, some old, some Scottish, some of other nationalities. All accepted, all sharing, no competition, it was what could only be witnessed as a wonderfully loving environment.

It felt like heaven!

We can often get concerned about what really is trivia. Whether or not we have two cars, earn the most money, have the biggest house. Being a part of All Singing and Dancing makes you realise what are the most precious things in life. Valuing each other, supporting each other and sharing experiences together are surely what is most important. Along with telling someone you love them. It really doesn’t get any better.

If you want to share in a great week then living by these values must surely be like heaven itself.

Have a great week.

Monday 24th March 2025

We were doing a session at Open Door on Tuesday and the theme was food. It was great coming up with songs that include food. I know you may think of the song from Oliver ‘Food Glorious Food’. The musical Oliver one that has been performed in many schools and many of you like me may have memories of playing a part or singing in the chorus. I was lucky to play a part at my school. I was the long song seller, I literally had three words to sing which said, “who will buy”. Hardly a role that would win me an Oscar, though I did have to sing the three words twice. The good thing about having a theme about food is that we all have an opinion on food. It was a session with enthusiasm. 

On Thursday we had a great day with a session at a new care home for us called Royston Care Home. It seemed to go well and there was much enthusiasm from the residents.  We then went to Saughton Park in the afternoon and for the second session in a row we had fifty-two people singing and having great fun together.

On Friday we had an excellent Trustee meeting. We were finished in under an hour and yet we discussed some important items. While we are in a good place just now, if we could be a bit more successful on the grant front this would be helpful. Later at our session at Cramond I was happy to meet with a staff member who I knew from my time at Broomhouse. It was good to see her and catch up.

Reading this back it sounds like a quiet week; don’t you believe it!

Hope you have a great week, speak to you next time.

Monday 17th March 2025

Funding applications have become a part of my life and this week it’s been Awards for All and One City Trust. As much as they can be long and laborious, I do find them a positive challenge. What do I mean? Writing about Forget Me Notes allows me a time of reflection and a time when I can be specific about what we offer and what we achieve. We don’t always get a “yes” but if we get enough yeses to continue to provide a positive service that is all that counts.

On Tuesday I was doing supervision for a project we deliver at Open Door in Morningside. It is a wonderful project made that way by those that take part in it. We want to develop a three-year project and so we spent some time looking at what a third year might look like. This would mean that we would have three years of work that could be built into a package that could be delivered in any centre. We will also have an evaluation that goes with our work in order that we can evidence the value of the project.

The highlight of our week was singing at the Parliament. We had great fun and we were able to share our message of how music is good for your health. If delivered in imaginative and creative ways, then we can save the health service a lot of money. Kenny did a video of the occasion, and I have attached it to this post for you to view. Kenny has done a great job, and I am sure you will love it. It just so happens that Forget Me Notes is seven years old this month. What a way to celebrate.

Friday was spent at Strachan House and Craighall. We had a good-sized group at Strachan House but one or two people being unwell meant not as many as usual. This allowed us the opportunity to work closely with those who did come. We discovered one resident was a pianist and had played at the recent service that was held in the home. We heard other snippets relating to the lives of the residents and through music we were able to celebrate what makes them unique with a story all their own. In the afternoon we were at Craighall for another session. One of the residents who we have met there is not well. He was a long-distance runner who won a lot of different titles for running. He is also a lovely warm human being, and we had the privilege of singing with him. However ill he is when we sang “Wonderful World”, he joined in singing the words with a faint movement of his lips. These privileged moments are ones that I value so much.

What a week and now we start another with new opportunities, new stories and people to value. Have a great week.