Keeping Calm and namaste greetings to you all from London, if you see me in person and wonder what the heck I’m doing I’ve adopted the new hands together bow of the head respectful gesture 🙏 – it’s called Añjali Mudrā. I figured everyone has been told to cough and sneeze into their elbow if they don’t have a tissue rather than their hand so elbow bumping isn’t such a good idea. My profession is very huggy and we often kiss on both cheeks but I’d hate the thought I’d passed on this flu virus to someone with a weak immune system, I’ve been boosting mine as singers often do whether there is a pandemic or not hehe. If we get a bad cold with a sore throat we can’t work. It is fun to use this an opportunity to experiment with different greetings such as curtsying and saluting. Do you have any fun ways to say hello?
I’ve had two competitions canceled and a couple of bookings at risk so fingers crossed we get on top of this especially before our wedding in June! I’ve taken on some other work to pay the bills so for that I’m grateful! In my usual day today, I’m practicing and trying to maintain my coachings and lessons as usual.
I had a lovely weekend back up North staying with my family, whilst I performed in a concert in Skipton. I performed alongside Ben Crick as he conducted the Skipton Camerata. This orchestra was a great bunch, they knew how to create a relaxed atmosphere yet maintain a high level of quality and artistry. The theme of the concert centered around ancient stories and myths, which was well received by a friendly audience. My Dad, who was on camera duty at the back of the church, was particularly thrilled when people approached him just to say how much they’d enjoyed our performance, he was preening like a proud peacock all the way home.
Here are a few excerpts from the performance to give you a flavour of the concert.
Excerpt – Ebben si vada, (Szene und Rondo) by J.C. Bach
Excerpt – Cavatina “Deh, non varcar” – Mozart
I’m also celebrating this week as it’s my 7th WordPress blog anniversary. Thanks to WordPress for the reminder and to my blogger friends that have stayed the course with me over the years and to new joiners, welcome!
Have you learned any new tricks this past year on your blog or widgets that you think could be useful to me?
To close tonight I want to send you all my fondest wishes and hope that you all stay well, with coronavirus now running rampant all over the world remember don’t be scared be prepared and if you have to stay in keep in touch online 😊
Good for you! I’ve been encouraging people here in the states to do the Thai “Wai”—hands together and slight bow of the head—in place of either handshakes or elbow bumps. It doesn’t seem to be catching on but it should! In the meantime, stay safe, Charlotte.
Hello Peter, so glad to hear you are trying out Thai “Wai” hands greeting. It is sometimes good to be outside the box and doing something different to the majority. Keep being creative – I am sure this will be key over the next few weeks.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Bravo, dear Charlotte! What a wonderful performance! Thanks for the encouraging message for those who is afraid of this illness. Keep the spirit firm & take preventive measures! Best wishes, Maria!
PS: Looking forwards to your new photos.
I am so glad that you enjoyed the excepts from my performance. It can be overwhelming at the moment as the news coverage is very heavy and full of gloom. My friends and I are using it as an opportunity to try out new ways to communicate. Leaving little videos/voice messages and encouraging each other with productivity challenges. Drop me a message if you ever need a little positive boost!
Best Wishes
Charlotte
It was a fantastic concert Charlotte and I was so pleased I could attend to see you perform. Well done👏👏👏😘
Thank you Gill! It was really glorious to see you in the audience. You have a great spectator face and it always fills me with joy and encourages me to sing and share the story with you.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Charlotte, your performance sounded amazing as always.
You have to be so careful, with this horrible virus, and the advice on greeting people
Is very good , so stay safe…xx
It is a treat to hear that you enjoyed it. I am glad that I can share it with you online. Since my blogpost the situation in the UK has worsened and I have felt different effects daily. But I am lucky as I have family I can call and I know that will always cheer me up. Sending you some extra love at this tough time.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Stay safe.
Dear Jovina, thank you for your kind thoughts. Keep positive and send love out to others.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte for the excerpts. Lovely. Yes stay well. I don’t have any ways to say hello other than a nod of the head. Stay healthy.
A nod of the head is friendly and cheeky – I am not sure I am cool enough to pull it off but maybe I will try it over the next few days. Happy writing during this time – I hope your creativity is flooded with new ideas.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Thank you (and your dad) for the treat of these recordings. I have been thinking of you as our Theatre director daughter has had work cancelled and the theatres close in Chicago. I knew your work would be affected too. Re greetings, I am planning to revert to a raised palm with a solemn ‘How!’ a greeting we always used a children because we thought that was how First Nation (American Indians) greeted each other.
Indeed, my Dad is a superstar! I am really grateful he was able to record this concert. Especially since it will probably be my last live performance for a while! I hope you daughter is ok. How is she creatively using her time? It is quite a scary time for artists and small businesses, we are not sure how the theatres will survive but soon we will need live performance to lighten our hearts.
I love the ‘How!’ greeting, it has the added charm of encouraging to speak at a lower more resonant pitch than normal, which I am sure will bring a smile to anyone’s face.
Do you have any creative writing ideas to experiment with our new
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Congratulations on year 7 with WP, Charlotte! And I loved those clips from your performances!
I know of some here who are looking at ways of performing via Podcast as a way around the venue cancellations. Stay healthy – you both will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Thank you Lavinia for your congratulations! I can’t believe how time has flown. I love my blog and that it has brought wonderful people, such as yourself, into my life. Thank you for coming on this crazy journey with me.
I like the idea of Podcast performances. I am going to begin experimenting with what technical equipment we have at home. Watch this space 😉
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Congratulations on the upcoming nuptials! Your voice is beautiful Charlotte. Take good care of yourself. (｡♥‿♥｡)
Dear Cindy, Thank you for your sweet message, I am so glad you enjoyed the performance. I hope that you and your family are well. I am excited for my wedding this coming June. Fingers crossed it will go to plan – if not we will find a solution.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
A good sensible approach to life right now. Añjali Mudrā is a nice respectful way to acknowledge people. Wonderful clips from your concert. Kudos to your dad on the camera work.
Hello Timothy, thank you for your kind words. I think it is always nice to say hello to people … it is very strange for me not to be able to cuddle my friends and family. But I am enjoying experimenting with different greetings. I am glad you enjoyed the clips!
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Are you on lock down?
It’s very strange Timothy, we aren’t completely locked down but that is coming I feel, we have been told to limit social contact and don’t get within 6 feet or 2m from other people, especially with over 70 year olds and people with existing health conditions. All of our pubs, clubs, theatres, nightclubs, gyms, restaurants and cafes are now closed and shops other than food shops are closing too. Next week the elderly and those with certain health conditions will be told to completely socially isolate themselves for 12 weeks! My Nana will be crawling the walls. Are you on lockdown?
We have limited lockdowns at the moment. Puvlic schools are closed as well as univeristies. The universities kicked students out of the dorms. I installed 350 evacuation plans in all the Dorms at St. John’s College last week. Monday was chaos, and then things quieted down. The only students left in the dorms were Japanese and Chinese, which I assume have to wait until flight restrictions are lifted before they can leave. All our pubs, clubs, theatres, nightclubs, gyms, restaurants and cafes are closed as well. Drive throughs are open and contactless take out and deliveries are available. Groceries stores and pharmacies are open.
I didn’t realise students would not be able to stay in their halls of residence. I hope that they were able to find suitable accommodation with family and friends. That is good that some amenities have been closed, hopefully it will help slow the spread of the virus. I feel for small business – we will have to support each other on the other side of this when we can.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Namaste is the best way. You are doing beautifully in your career. It is a joy to hear about it. Stay safe.
I love the rhyme there! I think we may have a catchphrase there. Thank you for your support, I love my job and it is a gift to be able to work on my passion and perform. I feel very lucky. Trying to find new ways to put my skills to use during this strange time, but I know I will. I hope you are your family are well.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Thank you for sharing your lovely performances! Stay well.
Dear Annette, I hope that you are well and that these strange times bring your new opportunity for creativity. Stay Healthy.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Wow, Very nice !!! To say hello, i just bow head with a big smile. I hope everything will be back to normal by the end of April, if not, we will postpone for the photos and videos. And impatient to meet you at the wedding :-)! As you say, don’t panic, just be cautious and logical :-). Best thoughts for You, George and the family !!!
J’aime que tu t’inclines. Peut-être que cela encouragera une renaissance des salutations. Comme c’est opératique ! En ce moment, nous sommes très paitent et espérons que la situation va s’arranger. Restons en contact.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Oui, j’espère cette “guerre sanitaire” va faire grandir les gens et qu’ils garderont les bons gestes, les bonnes attitudes quand la crise sera fini ! A bientôt mon amie !
Je suis d’accord avec ton. Il y a beaucoup de choses positives à gagner de cette expérience. Je ressens pour ceux qui ont perdu des êtres chers. Mais j’apprécie ta positivité pendant cette « guerre de la santé ». Restez en bonne santé !
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Very nice good morning Hoather have a nice day
Dear Amrit, Thank you for your warm wishes. I hope that you are having a nice day too. Stay Healthy.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Well that was just a remarkable post, Charlotte. I was hoping I could pick a favorite video, but I’m afraid that’s impossible. You and the orchestra blended into an incredible entity carrying us into the performance. Your father had every reason to glow with pride!!
Stay safe, my friend.
I am over the moon that you enjoyed the videos! I sometimes get a little nervous to share them, but this year I am embracing it and it thrills me to read that you really enjoyed it. I had such a wonderful time at that concert and I hope it isn’t too long until another live performance! I will just have to get crafty from home.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
You could sing us an aria while you cook dinner – or better yet – plan your wedding!!
Here, some people are fond of this gesture:
https://giphy.com/gifs/rip-leonard-nimoy-gif-IL4iTvQH0MjS
Wonderful clips! Stunning.
Star Trek is wonderful! This greeting brings a smile to my face and I am so glad you shared it. Thank you for enjoying the music and letting me know, it’s very sweet of you.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
What a wonderful post, Charlotte! All those excerpts from the concert were such joy to listen to and watch. I hope you will be able to find enough work to do and that things are better by June. We had our last church service on Sunday for some time and instead of hugging and shaking hands we all waved at each other, bowed and curtseyed!
Look after yourself, my dear!
Hello Clare, thank you for watching the clips – I am so glad that you enjoyed them. It is a challenging time. Most of my planned work has been cancelled but George and I being proactive and have set new goals for this time. Our home is full of music!
I love the mixture of greetings from your church service, it made me think of a piece of art! Like a where’s wally book of greetings.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Such a great message,Charlotte! You are really one of the most positive people I know. I always feel happier after reading one of your posts whatever you are writing about; it’s such a great quality to possess. Best of luck on all your wedding planning, and here’s hoping the virus runs its course and gets out of here without causing too much further inconvenience! Just praying they don’t close the schools, else I’m out of a job . . .
Keep well! (that salutation has certainly taken on a new lease of life these days, hasn’t it? :-}}
Best regards,
Cate
Hello Cate, thank you for your lovely comment. I try to find a positive spin on life and the current situation is really giving my muscles a workout! I have taken charge of my new found freedom of time and I am trying to be creative and set myself mini challenges. One of them being that I want to learn how to Viennese Waltz!
Thank you for your wishes towards our wedding – fingers and toes are crossed! I hope you will be able to find a solution and that methods are in place for your stability. Be kind to yourself.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
We’re in almost total lockdown here in Canada. Schools and universities are closed. All public events cancelled. I know how hard it is for you as a performer during a time like this. But all for the purpose of staying safe and keeping everyone healthy. What about recording work? Just wondering…
Dear Arti, thank you for your thought-provoking message. I shall begin looking into recording work. I have the microphone on my phone and perhaps a couple of pieces of equipment I could use this time to improve my knowledge about their use!
Sorry to hear Canada is in a lock down. If you need some company please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. I love a chat and I am reaching out to my friends.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Yet again I missed you in Skipton; I’m confined to the house and car although I can walk in the park etc if I get nowhere near anyone. So Petronela has to do all the shopping while I stay in the car (she doesn’t drive).
Lovely video clips, thank you.
Best wishes for your wedding; I look forward to reading all about it when we can welcome another Anglo-Romanian couple. It works perfectly!! 🙂 .
I am glad to hear you are taking the necessary precautions to stay fit and healthy. You and Petronela sound like a wonderful team and I hope George and I will take some inspiration from your loving support of one another.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Sending you cyberhugs from across the pond… stay safe! 🙂
Dear Stephanie, thank you for your cyberhugs! They are so sweet and comforting. Thank goodness for our blogging community – you can never feel alone.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Indeed! I have never been more grateful for my Internet friends. 🙂
It is such a treat to know we can talk on our blogs. Take care my friend.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Stay safe and don’t kiss on the cheek……All my best wishes to you and George!!!!!
Thank you Darlene, I’m beginning to think I’m going to have to try to postpone the wedding but I don’t know till when? Weddings now are only 5 people; the minister or registra, bride and groom and 2 witnesses, and lots of my guests are in the category of those being told to isolate for 12 weeks.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Bill just called to me from the other room, ‘Is that Charlotte?’ mmmhmmmm I answered. “Gee, good, isn’t she?’ he said. And you are. You’ve come such a way over the years, and sing these pieces seemingly effortlessly. We were on a road trip so I haven’t been reading anyone’s posts for weeks. Just catching up now.
My favourite voice ever!!! You have opened the doors to my music loving ears, and mind!
Thank you, and you and George stay well!
Resa
❦🎼❦