Story of the Week:
Do you remember this time last year? The early days of lockdown when the weather was great, it was still a bit of a novelty, and we were all enjoying the break from regular life.
People were enjoying and noticing the natural world around them. Maybe hearing the birdsong more clearly now that there wasn’t any traffic on the road, or noticing the gradual changes in their garden in a way that they hadn’t time to previously.
My version of this was the cherry blossom tree in our front garden.
It’s been here so long that it’s thick roots are beginning to bulge out from the ground, so although I was well aware of it every time I went to cut the grass, I hadn’t really noticed it until last year. I hadn’t taken the time to appreciate just how beautiful it is when in full bloom. And the blossoms only stay for a few weeks. A decent gust of wind and they’ll be gone. But they’re here now, and I’m reminded of last year, and guess what, I’m taking some time to appreciate them again.
I’m sharing this story today because in the next few months it looks like we’re going to be able once again to do many of the things we were accustomed to doing before we ever heard of the word COVID.
But if we think about it, there are probably a few things in that category that we don’t want part of our lives any more. And most likely there are also a few things we have learned and experienced in the past year that we won’t want to let go of, even though we will be able to shortly.
And it’s worth thinking about that properly, or the metaphorical blossoms in all our lives may once again go unnoticed. And that would be a shame.
What’s New this week?
Announcing Teenage Theme Night #22 - ‘Nature’. Will take place on Saturday April 24, premiering on Facebook at 8pm. More details next week.
Back to Black is now the featured song on pianowithkieran.com.
Find a FREE tuition video on how to play the melody here, the story of the song here, and a 6-question ear training challenge on the song here.
Season 2 of In The Lamplight begins with a bang next Wednesday 21st April. In the meantime take a look at this highlights reel from Season 1.5 and catch up on any episodes you missed at lamplightpod.com/podcast or wherever you get your podcasts…
Highlight of the Week:
It has to be the trip I took to Donegal last Tuesday. Like most of you, I hadn’t moved too far from my house in 2021, and much and all as I love my county (!), it’s no harm to see another part of the world every so often.
And so when I was kindly asked by the good people in Donegal Libraries to record a short set for their Bealtaine festival, I jumped at the chance. As much to get to take a decent drive up the road as to do the gig! And it was great to see that sweeping view coming into Letterkenny again, to hear the Donegal accent, and to see that despite it being sunny almost everywhere else, it was still snowing in the Barnesmore Gap.
I was looked after thoughtfully and safely by Jeremy and the gang in the Regional Cultural Centre, and it was such a welcome reminder of a world many of us have missed for so long.