Forum Discussion
Doing what you LOVE to do - before, during & after BC! What's YOUR favourite?
Hi guys
I am really lucky in that I have 2 BIG passions that consume a lot of my time ..... and (no surprise to some of you ....)
Ukulele Playing - this was a library gig we did last year .... (I am 4th from left, front row.) Our ages range from the 50s - 80s. Every 4-6 weeks we play 'gigs' at 4 Nursing Homes - and we practise weekly at another nursing home ... so I guess you can call us 'volunteers'?? Some of our members are older than the people we are playing for! LOL
and
Kayak Fishing - I love nothing more than hitting the lake with a bunch of buddies.
Yesterday, I was getting cabin fever from lack of fishing (wet & windy here for the last week), so I grabbed a warm jacket
& walked the edge of the Boat Ramp .... I was busted off on the first fish :( (a good sized Flattie from the power of it's head shakes!) then dropped the next few that spat the hook .... then finally landed another nice one, that came home for dinner!!
So WHAT IS IT that puts that 'gleam in YOUR eye' - is it Golf (I play it badly), Playing Bridge (never tried it - I think you have to be 'serious' to play Bridge), Singing (that goes hand in hand with Uke Playing), Community Groups/Volunteering, Tapestry, Running (I couldn't run round the block to save my life!), ..... that gets you out of bed quicker in the morning if you know you are going to 'do it' ........
How has your surgery/treatment impacted on you doing 'YOUR TIME" stuff? Have you had to stop doing it or can't do it as often due to your treatment? Do you find you find you are still expected to do EVERYTHING ELSE at the expense of 'Your Time'?
Prior to my surgery, my uke group were amongst my greatest allies - I had to tell them straight away as we were gearing up for a big performance at the Blue Mountains Uke Festival - and I didn't know if I would be there for them!! After my surgery, I was back playing again 2 weeks later - but was very mindful of where my uke sat - as it was right across the affected boob!! The Blue Mountains gig was 3 weeks after my surgery - and luckily, I made it!! 4 of my Uke group have had BC & were able to offer info & support.
My Fishing Buddies were also an immense support to me as well (as indeed they were when Hubby was going thru his cancer in 2010) - I've caught up with a fair few of them since I was diagnosed & it has just been terrific. A bunch of my kayak fishing ladies had also had BC and were a wonderful source of info & advice!
Part of my philosophy to recovery is to try & keep 'busy' with 'stuff' so that your mind is kept active & is a 'happy thing' compared to what we are going thru daily just now (Hmmmm - tho I REALLY should be decluttering our home - but that doesn't excite me as much! LOL)
SO, let's get a list going of all your favourite pastimes ..... then, if anyone on the forum is living near you or passing thru - you may be able to share your passion with them to help them 'while away' the time!!
I am really lucky in that I have 2 BIG passions that consume a lot of my time ..... and (no surprise to some of you ....)
Ukulele Playing - this was a library gig we did last year .... (I am 4th from left, front row.) Our ages range from the 50s - 80s. Every 4-6 weeks we play 'gigs' at 4 Nursing Homes - and we practise weekly at another nursing home ... so I guess you can call us 'volunteers'?? Some of our members are older than the people we are playing for! LOL
and
Kayak Fishing - I love nothing more than hitting the lake with a bunch of buddies.
Yesterday, I was getting cabin fever from lack of fishing (wet & windy here for the last week), so I grabbed a warm jacket
& walked the edge of the Boat Ramp .... I was busted off on the first fish :( (a good sized Flattie from the power of it's head shakes!) then dropped the next few that spat the hook .... then finally landed another nice one, that came home for dinner!!
So WHAT IS IT that puts that 'gleam in YOUR eye' - is it Golf (I play it badly), Playing Bridge (never tried it - I think you have to be 'serious' to play Bridge), Singing (that goes hand in hand with Uke Playing), Community Groups/Volunteering, Tapestry, Running (I couldn't run round the block to save my life!), ..... that gets you out of bed quicker in the morning if you know you are going to 'do it' ........
How has your surgery/treatment impacted on you doing 'YOUR TIME" stuff? Have you had to stop doing it or can't do it as often due to your treatment? Do you find you find you are still expected to do EVERYTHING ELSE at the expense of 'Your Time'?
Prior to my surgery, my uke group were amongst my greatest allies - I had to tell them straight away as we were gearing up for a big performance at the Blue Mountains Uke Festival - and I didn't know if I would be there for them!! After my surgery, I was back playing again 2 weeks later - but was very mindful of where my uke sat - as it was right across the affected boob!! The Blue Mountains gig was 3 weeks after my surgery - and luckily, I made it!! 4 of my Uke group have had BC & were able to offer info & support.
My Fishing Buddies were also an immense support to me as well (as indeed they were when Hubby was going thru his cancer in 2010) - I've caught up with a fair few of them since I was diagnosed & it has just been terrific. A bunch of my kayak fishing ladies had also had BC and were a wonderful source of info & advice!
Part of my philosophy to recovery is to try & keep 'busy' with 'stuff' so that your mind is kept active & is a 'happy thing' compared to what we are going thru daily just now (Hmmmm - tho I REALLY should be decluttering our home - but that doesn't excite me as much! LOL)
SO, let's get a list going of all your favourite pastimes ..... then, if anyone on the forum is living near you or passing thru - you may be able to share your passion with them to help them 'while away' the time!!
184 Replies
- @arpie My daughter, who is a teacher at the school, video taped it but as there are other kids in it she is not allowed to show it unless she smudges out everyones faces.
- That is AWESOME, @Blossom1961 ..... it is NOT a toy - it is an instrument that (if she had the desire and practical 'hard work') can make a career out of it, travelling all round the world!! The Langley Ukulele Ensemble - all made up of school kids, aged 12 & up
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=langley+ukulele+ensemble ;
Their 'old' musical director is hilarious!! He built all sorts of stuff into his kids' performances, to make them funny as well as 'musical'!! His son has since taken over
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtrbeTG73WkDid anyone get a video of her performance? It couldn't be any worse than our early efforts! LOL
Get her to check out these guys ...... Canada has Uke as their 'major instrument' for students to use. James Hill is arguably the best uke player in the world - cos he plays AND sings - AND writes his own songs. Many (like Jake Shimabukuro) only play instrumentals/melodies. Which is all good - but being able to SING & PLAY in a way that others want to follow you ..... THAT is awesome!
I hope she continues to play Uke - I started off with Piano - got to 7th Grade & was supposed to do it as a subject in Year 12 ...... (another story!!) I dabbled in uke back in 1970 - then found a nice banjo uke in a junk shop in 2010 .... I tuned it up (never forgot how!) played a few chords & bought it! Haven't looked back since!!!
There is a massive uke festival up the Blue Mountains in Feb (all free, apart from your accommodation!) Over 150 uke groups (including us) will be performing there!! It is a real buzz!! There are great Uke Festivals in Melbourne, too & other parts of the state, I am sure! Take her along to one - she'll be hooked for life!! ;) It is the one instrument you CAN take with you when you travel!!! :) - @arpie My very confident nine year old granddaughter volunteered to play the uke for her end of year school production. She only had one week to learn it. She usually plays the keyboard. She was very happy with her attempt but I don't think she will get any prizes for the performance!
- @Zoffiel , Arkie explained and we're all sorted, thanks
- The only @ the forum will allow is related to our user names. You will probably find the same issue if you try to exchange email addresses via PM, you will have to break the address down into little pieces. Bit like some dating apps, from what I can remember
- Sending you a Private Message, @Blondy
- Oh dear I don't know why my email addy gets doctored I don't know hie else we can communicate and organise something
- @Arkie,
- @Arkie, You gave me an idea and I've been working on it all day I spoke to my BFF who is an ex teacher and musically more knowledgeable than me and between the 2 of us we are up for coming to your uke group and helping you with harmonising, performance and anything else you'd like addressed. Please message men to organise something..
- SO much fun when you see the fish attack the bait or lure! I've watched 2 flatties hoon up from the bottom, both trying to grab my Squidgies Soft Plastic that I was jigging up & down! The quicker one 'won'! ;) Some people reckon that flatties don't move fast ..... WRONG!!
