March 23rd 2020. Suddenly the entire country was in Lockdown. No-one knew what was going to happen. We wanted to be busy but we had nothing to do! We were ‘Busy Doing Nothing’. So we decided to play our recorders! The realisation that we had to stay indoors had kicked in. Gardens were full of Spring flowers. We played ‘Tulips from Amsterdam’. It was April 10th. Good Friday. We needed Hot Cross Buns. It was too difficult to buy Hot Cross Buns. So we played it instead! Easter was going to be different from any that we had ever known. We needed cheering up! This one was going to be fun to play: ‘Chick, chick, chick, chick chicken’. Easter arrived. Churches were closed. We couldn’t see friends or family. We played ‘Easter Parade’. At least the sun was shining. Rainbows were everywhere. A joyous sight. Everyone was very keen to support the NHS and Key Workers. The nation clapped every Thursday evening and we played ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’. Captain Tom Moore, now Sir Tom, raised over £37million for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden. He celebrated his 100th birthday at the end of April. He sang ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ with Michael Ball and it reached No. 1. We played it on our recorders. Everywhere you could see beautiful blossom trees Many of the ‘old’ songs are the best! We played ‘Apple Blossom Time’. On 23rd April ‘Children in Need’ and ‘Comic Relief’ joined forces to present the ‘Big Night In’ on BBC to raise money to support those affected by COVID-19. Peter Kay performed a lockdown edition of ‘Amarillo’. So, of course, we had to play it too! On Friday 8th May we all celebrated the 75th anniversary of VE day. We still had to ‘STAY AT HOME’ but many households put up bunting and had a picnic in their front gardens. Everyone sang ‘We’ll Meet Again’ and we played it on our recorders. We stayed in the same era with a song from ‘Me and My Gal’. ‘The Lambeth Walk’ was a good one to play on recorders. We were suddenly promised some very warm days with blue skies. We played another song from the same era – this time from ‘Oklahoma’. ‘Oh, what a beautiful morning’ seemed very appropriate. Hooray! After ten long weeks of restrictions we have reached JUNE! We can now meet up to 6 people outside. We played ‘June is Busting out all Over’ and it certainly seemed like that!! Many of us have been in touch with friends and neighbours more frequently over the past weeks. So we played it!! Remember Dominic Cummings?! He drove to Barnard Castle with his family. They sat ‘Down By The Riverside’ while he decided whether he was safe to drive back to London. A very different Trooping the Colour with much social distancing was watched by the Queen at Windsor Castle. We saw it all on the TV and then played ‘The British Grenadiers’ on our recorders. These teddies insisted on ignoring Government guidelines! We played their song! ‘Summertime’ has arrived! Warm days - cool drinks - and a perfect song to play! ‘I do like to be beside the seaside’………. ……… as long as it’s not Bournemouth! To all those who have had a virtual Birthday, Anniversary, Wedding, Graduation Ceremony or a Knighthood………….. Congratulations! Ann cheered us up by sending this poem Try a smile when you're down in the dumps And the world seems a dull shade of grey. Laugh at the clouds when the sky's in a mood And you'll frighten the raindrops away. Look on the bright side of life when you can For surely it goes to show By thinking that way you'll be finding each day The bright side's the best side to know. Elizabeth Gosney So we played the song to go with it. Will we be able to go on a Summer holiday this year? We can always dream of somewhere exotic ……. ………… and imagine we are there if we play it! All the way from France! For us to play! 60 years ago this song soared to number one - worldwide! How about a longer air flight? . We all know the song – but can we play it? ‘Land of no hope and Glory’?? But there has been a ‘U’ turn. Now we CAN join in with the Last Night of the Proms! What would we have done without friends during lockdown? Many artists have recorded September Song’. We played it. Very appropriate for this time of the year! ‘Strictly’ is back!! So ‘Shall we Dance’?! Maybe not, but at least we can play it! The song ‘Westering Home’ apparently speaks to “all wanderers the world over who dream of returning home”. It seemed appropriate to play it after the Scottish politician returned home having been diagnosed with Coronavirus. Summer seems to have come to an end. So we played ‘Autumn Leaves’ Perfect to play on 31st October! The Addams Family signature theme! Handel’s Royal Firework Music was written and performed in 1749. Remembrance Sunday 8th November . We played ‘I Vow to Thee, My Country’ I’m fed up with lockdown! I want to go out! Please ‘Fly me to the moon! The Queen and Prince Philip celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary on 20th November 2020 December 2020. We heard the momentous news that a vaccine for Covid-19 had been approved. This news has given us ‘High Hopes’ that things will get better in 2021. Christmas is coming! We played ‘When Santa got stuck up the chimney’. But we were worried that Santa might have the virus! “ACHOO! ACHOO! ACHOO!” The wonderful New Year’s Day Concert from Vienna went ahead, sadly with no audience. Riccado Muti Snow fell. Not a lot, but enough to build a snowman. And enough for us . to play ‘Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow’. Ann might go to Buck Palace to have tea with the Queen and collect her ‘Dameship’….! The recorder group might be invited as well to serenade them with ‘Tea for Two’ ....... ! We need to practice just in case! .