A Message on our 1st Anniversary

It's been a year since I wrote a blog. So what do I write about? I went through all my old blogs a little while back and realised that they trace my development as a human being over the last couple of years. This blog is also an account of the end of one part of my life, and the start of a whole different part. So it feels to me that the blog about our wedding might be a good end to my life as a blogger? After all, it is the ultimate climax...

So what to write about now?

When people started reading my blog and commenting on it, the one comment that kept me writing was "you say what I think but am afraid to say". My mom once told me that I was very brave to write down my feelings so freely (I have gotten into plenty of trouble because of this). So the question I need to ask myself is "what have I not spoken about yet?"


It was our first wedding anniversary on Sunday. I can hardly believe we have been married for a year already! When I was twenty-something I once asked somebody to marry me. I got an emphatic NO, and was convinced it would never happen. Fortunately, the universe had other plans...

Our anniversary started like any other Sunday: we woke up at 6 to prepare for church. I played for the 7:30, 9:15 and 11am services that morning. The gospel reading this past Sunday was Mark 6. It's when Jesus went to his hometown, and his own people did not take Him seriously. He was thus unable to perform as many miracles as He had in other towns. It felt like Donald Stewart was speaking directly to me during the sermon. I realised that our ministry does not necessarily lie with the people we love the most. Jesus had to go away from His family in order to fulfil his role in the world...

There are many people in my past who want nothing to do with me anymore. I have been holding onto the hope that one day we would reconcile. The sermon on Sunday made me realise that it is okay to let them go. This does not mean that I do not love them! It is my love for them that has kept me holding onto the pain. My definition of love might differ from yours: love (to me) is being available when people need you - and I am! So I let go. I spoke to my parents about this on Sunday night. Pappa understood and agreed. Mamma has a different definition of love, and we debated for a bit, but she agreed that what I decided was best for me.

It was during the 9:15 service that the floodgates opened: Shaun and I never go up for communion together (because I am the organist), but because it was our anniversary we celebrated the sacrament of communion as a unit. While waiting at the communion rail, Connie came and prayed for us: giving thanks to God for us and our union, and asking Him to bless us in our marriage. This token of love and acceptance is not something that homosexual couples are used to - especially not in the church - and I was moved to tears. In this state of heightened emotion, I went to the piano and started playing and singing the next hymn: "Amazing Grace". I did not get very far. While singing "I once was lost but now am found", I remembered that it was Lester's (my deceased brother's) 41st birthday too. This worsened when I realised that I had chosen one of his favourite choruses "Give Thanks" to follow "Amazing Grace". When the sacrament ended, I had to dry my face and calm down before I could get up and walk back to the organ. I spent the rest of the morning (and the drive to lunch) grieving for my brother.

We went to the restaurant where we had our wedding reception for lunch - and ate way too much - and spent the rest of the afternoon with my mom and dad. We just had a lekker gesels about whatever came up, and it was beautiful. We spent the evening together at home.

My mom is always on my case about having children. I've told her many times that if the world wants us to have children, it will send them our way - and it did. Our daughter Robyn was the first person to wish us on our anniversary, and our daughter Cindy the last... Shaun's parents, brothers and cousins all wished us for our anniversary, the people from church wished us, our friends wished us. It was a beautiful day!

I guess the timing of the sermon message was just perfect! I was told to let go on our anniversary. The only people who wished us from my side of the family was my mommy and daddy. I thought for a second I would end my blog with the previous sentence, but that would just have been for dramatic purposes. I am not sad about it at all. My entire childhood was spent in the church, and I am so happy that the answer to one of my most difficult questions was answered there.

I once was lost, but now am found

Was blind, but now I see

Our Wedding Day

Shaun gave me a surprise wedding!

On Saturday 5th July, my brother Lester celebrated his 40th birthday in heaven. It's his 9th birthday without us already. It gets more and more difficult each year. But this was a big one, and I wanted to do something special on the day. I was booked for a gig, and took a few mins in my set to play a tribute to him. I made sure my parents attended the gig: I was going to ensure that we did not forget. Little did I know.....

It all started about a month or two ago, when my mom was admitted to hospital. We went to see her, and I was torn apart when I saw the condition she was in. The reality of our mortality REALLY affected me that day. That night I just fell apart emotionally. I couldn't stop thinking about how helpless she looked in hospital. Among many other things, I told Shaun that I wanted us to consider having a smaller wedding sooner. We had spoken to our parents about the possibility of a December 2015 wedding, and Shaun's mom had already started choosing the table settings. I told him that if something happened to my parents before we got married, I would never forgive myself. My mom got worse in hospital, and by the end of the week I was sick with worry.

That was when Shaun phoned his mother. He told her his wishes, and they started to make it happen. First thing was to ask for my parents' permission. He went to them, asked for permission to marry, and asked my dad to preside at the ceremony. My dad is a retired priest. He got their blessing, and my dad agreed. He also asked them if they thought it would be okay for us to get married on Lester's 40th birthday (I'm in tears again). They thought it would be an excellent idea.

Over the next month and a half, rings were made, restaurants and hotels were visited, a guesthouse function venue was booked, our brothers and their families were invited, decor was planned, co-conspirators were found....

The story (according to Shaun) on the 5th was that his mom had booked dinner at a fancy restaurant for us. He bought me shoes and a jacket, because I 'needed new clothes' which he insisted I wear to this dinner......that we were having at 3:30 in the afternoon. We showered at the guesthouse and got dressed - both of us in new clothes. I wore the jacket and shoes, and Shaun wore a new waistcoat I had bought him for his birthday. His parents were picking us up.

When I was ready, I wanted to go to my mom's room (she was staying at the same guesthouse) because Shaun was taking forever to get done. He begged me not to go and said he wanted to ask me something. Eventually he put on his shirt and waistcoat, went down on one knee, produced a ring, and asked me to marry him.....

I didn't say yes, I just (stubbornly) held back the tears and hugged him. He asked again. I didn't respond. Then he asked if I was sure I wanted to marry him. I responded (rather irritably) that he knew what the answer was. Again he asked, and I gave the answer he wanted. His response was 'come with me'.

As we left to go to my mom's room I mumbled that I was not gonna tell them straight away that we were engaged. While walking down the passage, I saw that Shaun's dad's car was in the parking lot. I knew then...

When we walked up the stairs to mom's room, Shaun stamped his feet LOUDLY! 'They heard you Shaun' I said. We passed mom's room and went up some more stairs. As we approached the closed (frosted glass) doors of the function venue, I noticed a faint glow inside. Shaun opened the doors. "So Close" from the movie "Enchanted" played softly. I entered a candlelit room:

My dad and Tamlyn were in the room. That was not the first thing I saw though. The first thing I noticed upon entering was this:

I immediately left the room in tears. Instead of a wedding cake, there were 20 (Charly's Bakery) cupcakes in honour of Lester's birthday. 

Shaun dragged me back inside. We stood close to my dad. Our families entered the room in procession: each member with a small bunch of flowers that they presented to us. The flowers created 2 beautiful bouquets that were placed on each side of our "altar". One to represent each family perhaps?

Shaun opened with song. He sang - with the help of Cindy-Ann (on guitar) and Robyn and Cindy-Ann (on backing vocals) - "God Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts. By this time I was crying more than when I went to watch the movie "Ghost" at the bioscope at Town Centre.

My very nervous dad did the ceremony beautifully and reverently. A traditional Anglican wedding - including the exchanging of the rings ceremony and ending with the lighting of our unity candle (and of course a kiss).

I love that Shaun had matching rings made!

Our first dance ("I Finally Found Someone" Barbra Streisand and Bryan Adams - sung by Cindy-Ann and Robyn)

Thereafter we had cupcakes and champagne, pics with the family, and then pics in the garden.

Dinner was an intimate affair (there were 16 of us). We went to an award-winning restaurant on the beachfront - they deserve every award they have won, the food was exquisite! Mammie (Shaun's mom) saw to the decor.

At one stage, Shaun told our guests that we would do this all on a larger scale again. We spoke about that when we went to bed that night and decided that our day was perfect. Neither of us wanted to do it again. At some stage, there will be a movie-se party though!

"I've waited 36 years, I want a BIG wedding". Yor, we say stupid things sometimes hey. 

I still cannot believe he did all of this for me. It's almost 1am. I'm sitting in bed next to my husband (he's been asleep for hours already) just looking at him. I wish I could wake him now so he could read what I wrote. It will have to wait. Only one of us needs to go to work tomorrow morning. 

A surprise wedding? Do you love someone enough to give them a surprise wedding? 

Shaun loves me so much that he always saves his last rolo for me - even if he has the rolos somewhere else, he brings the last one home for me!

Only one more thing left to say: if I had known I was getting married, I would have worn a shirt...

You finished it?

Thanks Tamlyn for the awesome pics

I Can Hear The Bells

....well, don't you hear them chime, can't you feel my heartbeat keeping perfect time...

I just read a blog a friend of mine wrote on marriage. He spoke about how little girls dream of getting married, how they cut out wedding dresses, match colours, choose decor from the time that they are toddlers...

If this is true, I am a little girl. I looked at the wedding pics of my mom and dad week after week admiring my mom's flawless style and PERFECT dress and my dad's unusually good looks. I used to secretly take wedding pics out of their album to show the kids at school not only how beautiful my parents are, but how perfect my mommy's dress was. Before I knew what being gay was, I used to imagine myself as a girl. I knew in my heart that I wanted to marry a boy, so the only way to do that was to become a girl right? I used to drape my duvet over me (especially at the time where ball gowns had duvet type skirts) imagining the best possible dress design. In high school I had a girlfriend for a brief period (and for those who want to know - we never even kissed) and I started planning our wedding straight away. Designing her dress, looking at celebrity wedding pics in the huisgenoot.... I used to get so excited for the Miss SA and Miss World pageants (because of the beautiful ball gowns) that my entire family would watch them with me.

I remember (as a child) the excitement when I was told a cousin would get married, and I would plan my outfit for the wedding weeks in advance. I never missed a single wedding I was invited to, and was very upset when as a family we couldn't attend Alison's wedding! I love weddings so much, that I even  attended a wedding the other day I was not invited to. I am SO HAPPY that I went!

So I think I have now sufficiently made you understand how I feel about them...

In my previous relationship I ONCE brought up the possibility of marriage. The response? Who would we invite? I tried to justify my feelings but to no avail. He was not budging. Come to think of it, same thing happened when I was thirty. I didn't have a 21st birthday party, was never gonna have a wedding, so I wanted to have a big saal party for all my family, friends and students! Let's just say it didn't happen...

I don't know if it is because so many people around me are planning weddings, or if I'm just getting old; but my greatest desire at this moment is to marry the love of my life Shaun! I am 35 (not for much longer), have attended and performed at all my brothers weddings, have dreamed about this day for at least 30 years....

The question then is why do I want to get married? Shaun and I are living together already, sharing all the expenses, supporting each other, going to church together, getting to know the in-laws, planning our life together.... What difference will a wedding make?

I just want that ONE day that's all about US! Our love blossomed under the most horrible circumstances. We were both on destructive paths that would have had terrible consequences. Even though I have told my family and friends how I feel about him, I still wanna stand with Shaun, everyone who is special to me assembled with us, and pledge my love to him forever. My life has become a fairytale with him. I am happy every day. When I wake up in the morning I am excited because I'm gonna open my eyes and see him. On the mornings where I'm up first, the excitement builds in my core as I wait for him to wake.

Despite living this fairytale, I want our fairytale wedding too! I want to sing at the ceremony, I want to have the first dance as his husband with him, I want to thank his parents for creating the most wonderful man in the world, I want my mommy to stand there right next to me (both of us weeping) when I say my vows, I want to see Shaun's face when his dream wedding (that he's been planning since he was a child too) becomes a reality.....

I know that I pretend to be cynical and hardcore, but I'm not! When I was at high school I had two nicknames: Maestro and Gentle Giant. That's exactly what I am. I am this big, rugged looking man with a beard, grey hair, a boep! I have the heart of a little girl though, and a Winnie the Pooh and Tigger tattoo on my back to match that heart. I just want to get married already!!!!!!!!!!!

The best Christmas Ever

Sitting on our bed in the flat - quite an untidy recovering-from-Xmas flat I must add - reflecting on 25 December 2013.

I told Shaun sometime this year that I am always disappointed after Christmas. I told him that I feel dissatisfied with the day, the presents, everything. So my love set out to make this my best Christmas ever...

It started more than a month ago when he came home one day saying that he bought me my Christmas gift already, and asked me if I wanted it then or whether I would wait till Christmas. He was so excited that I decided waiting was not an option. He bought me the only box set I had ever wanted: "Keeping Up Appearances" and he watched EVERY SINGLE EPISODE with me. I was so happy. Shaun had listened and given me something I had desired for over TEN years.

But he wasn't finished!

Since I have started becoming a responsible adult, I have not really allowed myself to indulge in things like shopping unnecessarily. Whenever we go out, I will look at something and decide that it is not necessary. Shaun remembered EVERYTHING I had not bought for myself.

We don't drink instant coffee at all. I have a grinder, a mocha, a frother, an old-fashioned big coffee pot for guests and a plunger. So the morning ritual is usually wash the mocha, grind the beans, put the mocha on the stove, boil water - voila --- Americanos! Our grinder was the cheapest I could find at the time, and little bits of it has broken off over the last two years. It works perfectly, but frustrates me nonetheless. I have been eyeing a KRUPS coffee grinder forever!!!! Shaun's mom's Xmas gift to me was the EXACT grinder I wanted...

If you have ever been invited to our home (flat) for a meal, you will know that I cook and bake EVERYTHING from scratch. Everybody has at some stage had warm bread at our home. So things like mixing bowls are very important to me. My mom bought me a mixing bowl two Christmases ago. I used that bowl for EVERYTHING!!! And so it broke. I was heartbroken and went out to get a new one. He went with and I eyed a glass one, but decided it was too expensive. So I bought a really cheap plastic one - which broke the first time I used it!!!!! With Christmas upon us I couldn't justify buying another, so if I cooked or baked anything for you this Christmas, it was mixed in our salad bowl!!!! I got TWO very nice mixing bowls for Christmas. The exact same glass one I wouldn't buy myself, and a beautiful stone coloured one his mom chose!

My siblings and our wives/partners did the Secret Santa thing for the first time ever this year. Shaun drew my name!!! We went coat/jacket shopping a few days before Xmas. There was one I liked but wouldn't buy. Thank goodness for Secret Santa!

He gave me another gift, but we'll get there later....

On Christmas morning (after playing my FOURTH service) we came home and changed clothes to go to our families. I wanted to wear a shorts and realised I had no flip flops. Guess what mom bought me! Havaianas! She's bought me flip flops before - but the leather kind. So when I felt the package I was like "oh well"! Then I opened it. I have wanted to buy a pair for a LONG time! But R300 for flip flops??? No way. YAY!!! MY MOMMY!!!!

I went to Shaun's aunt's home for Christmas tea and saw the most beautiful bread bin. I opened it up and saw she was using it to store plastic bags. I told her I really liked it and she gave it to me. Another YAY!!!

Shaun's parents drove 800km with two display cabinets on the back of their bakkie for us, and sent us a couch about 3 weeks ago. So I still need to go and redo the lounge. Another YAY YAY!

And finally! My biggest worry this Christmas was "how am I gonna pay the taxman?" Someone forgot to pay the taxman when they paid me, and I forgot to check. I will be checking in the future! My beautiful husband-to-be came to the rescue AGAIN!

I can't stop smiling!

He has taught me the most valuable lesson ever, and I want to share it with you. We are all too selfish in our relationships. We look at our partners who we love and adore, but we are always thinking of what it is we can get out of the relationship. Shaun taught me this Christmas that love (and ultimately marriage) is not about ourselves, it's about our partners. He is so happy because I told him that this was the first time that I felt happy about Christmas. He had sacrificed everything he wanted for Christmas so that I could have everything I wanted. He acted completely selflessly and gave me a day that I will never EVER forget - which has made him so happy...

 We are selfish in our relationships! All of us! But I learned something this festive season: our love is not about me, it's about Shaun. And dammit I'm gonna start living it!

I really am BLESSED!!!

Family?

Now here is a question that has been haunting me for a while. Who is my family? Of course I know who my family is by blood - but is the blood that runs through our veins enough to make us family....

My immediate family (parents, brothers) and I have grown much closer in the last three years. They have been such a blessing. On the day that my life fell apart, they welcomed me into their hearts and homes like the father in the parable of the prodigal son.

Come to think of it, I was the prodigal son: I pushed my family away in favour of a life where there was more opportunity - or so I thought. I thought I had found my soulmate. When the person you think is your soulmate makes you choose between him and your mother (however subtle), he definitely is NOT your soulmate. Yet, I justified my decision by carefully choosing parts of what my parents had taught me and sowing the chosen bits together to create a justification that came straight from their mouths. Just like the father in the parable, my beautiful family (in-laws included) welcomed me back, created an invisible protective shield around me, and built me up again. That is what family does I think.

My new family (Shaun's family). I have known Shaun's family for a little over two years now. I am his first boyfriend, I am a wee bit older than him - okay a bit more than a wee bit, and him introducing me to his family was also his coming out. They had every reason to hate me.

Funny thing about family though. A family is born of love. I met Shaun's mom and dad first. He took me to their home. It was a little bit uncomfortable at first. They could see that I adored their son though. I also loved his parents before I met them - they are his parents. The two of them are responsible for creating and nurturing the most beautiful soul I have ever met. I love Shaun's parents. They make me feel like I belong...

On the day that I met the first of his aunts, I went armed with my best weapon: a pot of love! I LOVE cooking and baking almost as much as I love Shaun. I took homemade roti and curry to Auntie Yvonne and Uncle Japie's home on the day I met them. We all gathered around a meal. They welcomed me into their home and into their lives; as did the rest of his aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. I have no blood ties to Shaun or his family. I believe that I am a part of this family!

My dad was the youngest of 8 children. He was a lot younger than his siblings. Because of the age difference, I have one cousin who is my age: Odette. Odette is the most beautiful woman (after my mother) that I know. She has the kindest and most gentle heart. When I was a teenager, I spent every school holiday at her home with her. We do not see each other often anymore, but whenever I am in her presence I feel her love and affection so strongly that I need to distance myself from my emotions so as to not break down and cry. We have such a strong bond that there has never even been a threat that has been able to shake it. Family.

For all of my life I have felt a deep love for all my aunts, uncles and cousins - there are MANY of them!!! I remember looking forward to family parties: a time where we could all be happy together and celebrate the beauty that is the Quickfall family. I then became an adult, and started moving within the family circle. Everywhere I went, I received love and acceptance. This was new to me. I was a fat teenager, so love and acceptance were not things I had gotten used to. The people outside my family circle just ridiculed me.

I loved bumping into cousins when I was on holiday, enjoyed visiting my aunts (all the uncles except my dad had passed away by the time I reached my late twenties), loved getting to know my cousins' children, and I especially loved being the unofficial entertainment wherever we went. As in any large family, there has always been fighting causing rifts between various members at various times.

I was, unfortunately, at the centre of one of the biggest divisions caused in my family. I wasn't alone - there were two of us. After the event, I distanced myself from them - giving no explanation and no details of what my role was in the afore-mentioned event. I figured that if I took myself out of the equation, the rest of them could continue being the loving and beautiful bunch they were before. This did not work. One of my cousins phoned me once and told me that I need to talk about what happened - state what my involvement was. I didn't. I figured that every intelligent person knows that there are two sides to every story, so it made sense that if you had only heard one side of the story you obviously did not know the truth. My mom and dad are paying for my mistake. Family?

I have very good friends. Sadly, some of them are scattered all over the world. There was a time in my early twenties where I cut all my friends out of my life - for a period of two years. After two years I realised my mistake. I approached them all individually. They forgave me and continued loving me as if nothing had happened. Family!

I have a big loving family. We have great times together. My family knows I am not perfect and they love me regardless. I have hurt my family, and have been hurt by them many times; but every time we have hurt each other, we forgave and our love grew. I am smiling now, thinking of all these faces that wish nothing but the best for ME! I am blessed.

Inside my head at 1 in the morning....

The thing I love about teaching music is that I form a very special bond with almost all of my students. We spend so much time alone together, that it is difficult not to. We know so much about each other - my students and I. Not silly things like their ages, children's names, spouses names, favourite colour, favourite food, hobbies...... No - the really important things like their hopes and fears, insecurities, secrets.... I once had a mother call me to ask if I would speak to her daughter (my student) because she had had a bad day. On another occasion I was having a heart to heart with a student. Her dad called. She said: "Pappa, ek gesels met Mr Q". He put down the phone so quickly, as not to disturb us.

The more I think about it, the more I realise how privileged I am. They open their hearts up to me so much that I can tell (the moment I see them) when something bad has happened and they just need a second of my time to let it out, or sometimes just a smile. 

Maybe this is why I have never desired children of my own. Well, it could be just the thought of making them that puts me off....... I love children. I love the way they see life, and find that often I identify with them more than with the grown ups. 

My mind is all over the place and I'm tangenting from one thought to another.

Next thought - should I try to adopt a child? This is a question that has haunted me for a long time. My students often tell me I will be a good dad. My mother says so too. I just don't know if my child will be bullied at school because he is from a gay family. I am so scared of being a father. What if I am solely responsible (with all my good intentions) for raising an unhappy child? I don't know the answer yet.

Back to why I have never desired children. I think many people have children because they feel they are incomplete. I lied - I wanted a child once in my old life. My ex refused. I then stopped thinking about it. But maybe I was trying to fill a void? I don't know. My students treat me like a daddy. They look to me for answers, and they trust what I say without question. Isn't that an important part of parenthood? Helping them find answers? I haven't felt a void in years.

I am all over the place. Back to where I started.....

I love teaching music. People respond to me as a teacher. I asked a student today how one created an environment of respect in the classroom. She gave me many answers. I came up with one: LOVE. It seems to me, more and more, that everything I do is somehow connected to love. My love for music is probably the most obvious (and easy) kind of love to mention. I really do love music, and I try to share my love and passion for music with everybody. 

I don't believe, though, that this is all they respond to. My students often tell me that I have a really rough/tough exterior, but that they can see my heart. My ex told me that if it wasn't for my great love for all people, I would have been a horrible person. I really do LOVE people - even the ones that I hate. I get angry, and say horrible things, but I really love quite intensely. 

This blog is getting quite uncomfortable to write now...

We love sharing things with those we love. I love my students. I love my choristers! 

Gonna stop now. That's enough of that hug the trees and arty farty s#!+!

Good night all! 

Life Is Good

Life most certainly is GOOD!

Two years ago, I was a mess. I had just walked out of my old life (the only one I had known as an adult) after 12 years. I was living with my mom and brothers. I drove an old beat up bakkie. I was counting pennies for the first time in YEARS. There were many family members angry with me - that has only changed somewhat...

Here I am, 2 years later, living in my FAVOURITE suburb in Cape Town. My family lived here for a short time when I was a child, and I lived here as a student. It was always my desire to come back and live here again! My bakkie is no more. I drive my loving partner's MERCEDES BENZ, and he drives my Renault. We don't have cash lying around, but we certainly eat away from home often, go to the movies very often, theatre occasionally, and never worry about money. I lost the respect of some dear family members when I left my old life. My relationships with them are still strained, and I believe it will stay so - but in exchange for that, I have gotten my immediate family back. My Mom, Dad, brothers, sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces are finally part of my daily life again. They are pillars of strength and love. I also have a new family: Shaun's family has welcomed me into their homes and their hearts. I already have a reputation as a great cooker of foods and baker of fine breads and cakes. His mother especially has found a place in my heart. LIFE IS GOOD!

That is it. I will not write about my past in this blog anymore. I am letting go. Finally!

The present. As most of you know, I resigned from my job last year. Resigned, even though I had NO IDEA what my future held financially. That is the past!

I promised myself I would never again work so hard that I am constantly sick, and I haven't. My biggest responsibility work-wise has become the church (again). I am (very proudly) the Musical Director at Christ (Anglican) Church, Constantia. I grew up in the Anglican Church, and I LOVE the Anglican Church. I play for Sunday services and I teach the choir. My church choir has mostly retired people singing in it, and they are a lovely bunch. We have so much fun on a Thursday night: preparing for Sunday, learning anthems and talking K@K! The best part of being in a choir is getting to know the people - and I have a varied bunch! Shaun sings in the choir too - he has brought down the average age of the choir significantly (innocent smile). Their love and commitment inspires me!

Responsibility no 2: Groote Schuur High. I teach at the afore-mentioned school 2 days a week with my dear friend Ronel. We have a beautiful relationship. Whenever either of us has faced difficulty, we would get together and LAUGH at our unfortunate situations. When I wrote off a car for the first time, Ronel laughed (and made me laugh) at the moment when I thought my life could get no worse! I am the piano teacher for senior students. I really love teaching, and seeing so many students over 2 days is really special. These kids are so talented - one of them started playing the piano last year, and is playing at Grade 7 level now!

Responsibility no 3: My Private Students. I put out word that I had time to take on private students again. I was flooded with interested people. On Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays I teach singing and piano privately. From beginners to performing professionals, singers recording their first CD's, others trying to get that single out and heard, university students needing help and inspiration and housewives needing a release - I have them all. They all trust ME! Isn't that amazing???

Responsibility no 4: The Magnificats..... I LOVE this choir. They have individually and as a group crept into my heart. It's a privilege....

It sounds like a lot, but it really is not half as time consuming as before....

In addition to this, I am going to perform again this year. MY GRAND (ma se) PIANO is back. Slightly different. I am doing the Grahamstown festival again, and when I get back this time, I must sell the show. The response I have had as a performer has always been positive - although I fear it greatly! Watch this space...

Life is Good! I have purpose and I have (most importantly) Shaun....