A musical step forward

Many years ago (aka before infertility) Andrew and I used to frequently break into song at the drop of a hat. If we heard a tune that we both liked blaring over the PA system we’d join in. As neither of us are particularly talented singers we did attempt to exert a little self-control if other people were in the vicinity, yet this was usually short-lived as we’d be singing as if no one was listening. Unfortunately, as our grief overwhelmed us this exuberance stopped: another sign that another little bit of sparkle in our lives had been extinguished. Excursions out reverted to their primary purpose of buying food or taking the pups to the “vee …. eee …. tee …. ess!” and we stopped having our impromptu karaoke sessions which terrified the “natives”. This was the status quo* until last Friday when our Canbace journey took an unexpected, and very welcome, musical step forward.

A musical step forward can happen anywhere

On Friday we decided that we needed a break. The last issue of the magazine had been a bit of a “what’s-it” to finish. The only time I had been outside the garden in a week was when I had to retrieve Duval from an unauthorised visit to the neighbours. We desperately needed to go food shopping as the hump we had been living on was severely depleted: “in the summertime” it was a stonkingly hot day and we had no ice cream! More to the point we’d used the last of the dog biscuit for their breakfast, so action was need quickly. Rather than simply going to the supermarket, chucking items into the trolley and returning to work ASAP we decided we’d have some down-time. We planned a half day of shopping: food, clothes, and six, yes SIX, isotherm bags (I’ll explain in another blog). Somewhere in the middle we’d take advantage of the “Moules a volonte” at a local restaurant. We might not be “sitting on the dock of the bay*”, however, we could still eat seafood!

A musical step forward can be triggered by anything

After a lovely lunch, not “Happy Hour*” so it was without alcohol, which may come as a surprise considering our later shenanigans, we ventured forth into the supermarket. First stop, dog food, to ensure that it didn’t get forgotten, then round the back to the bakery isle to see if there were any Beagles, sorry Bagels, in stock. (Mischief was a beagle so any word similar is “beagle” in the Fletcher household). Anyway, I digress, back to the matter in hand …. Yes, we were in luck. I picked up two packets and attempted to pass one of them to Andrew, so he could check the “used by” date. The beagles slipped through my fingers and we both attempted to stop them from hitting the floor. Imagine a strange game of “supermarket volleyball” and you will get the idea. “The Flying Beagles!” I managed to splutter between my laughter, “weren’t they a cappella group in the 1980s?”

“Yes” giggled Andrew, “They had a hit with …..”

At which our first impromptu karaoke session in years started.  We sang as we pushed our trolley down past the patisserie displays and out into the no mans land of “seasonal offers”. By the time we had reached the deli-counter we had started the song again, abandoned the trolley and were in each other’s arms giving Anton Du Beke and Natalie Lowe a run for their money. OK, we were more like Huge Grant and Anne Widdecombe: however, allow this girl a little indulgence as a musical step had become a musical extravaganza.

Yes, we did scare the locals at it was more “Thriller*” than “Putting on the Ritz”: however, we’d had fun. We’d allowed ourselves to enjoy ourselves and be silly which is something we all need to do occasionally. Perhaps it was Cattier’s excitement the afternoon before when we filled up her paddling pool again that inspired us. After all they say that you should dance like no one is watching, perhaps a musical step or 10 when in the middle of the supermarket isle is the way to become “shiny happy people*” again.

* Sorry I couldn’t resist the musical references ?. I’ve saved you the trouble of visiting YouTube by sharing clips of the music mentioned for your delectation. all in the name of research of course!

In CANBACE friendship!

If anything I have written resonates I’d love to hear from you in the comments. I appreciate that this can be a difficult subject to speak openly about so if you don’t want me to publish your comment on the website please let me know and I will keep your words private.