We’re now back in the south of France with Charlotte’s mum, Janet. Thankfully, Charlotte’s father, Geoffrey, has recovered a little, he is out of hospital and now back at the nursing home. It’s good that we’re close by and can visit him, he really enjoys seeing Emily and Oliver.
We’ve got back into routine with the children’s schooling and, for the moment, they are really enjoying it.
Robert Burns wrote “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft agley.” which translates as The best laid schemes of mice and men / Often go awry. Of course, this brings to mind The Partridge Family, a 1970s American television sitcom series about a mother and her five children who embark on a music career.
Christmas is coming and plans are underway here Vence. Helen and Nigel, our friends here, have kindly invited Team Mawle and Charlotte’s mum, Janet, to help them form a little choir to sing Carols at Christmas.
It’s a lovely idea and, to be honest, we were rather flattered. We Mawles really enjoy a good old sing song, on our drive around Australia we often belted out some classics: We Will Rock You, She Loves You Yeah Yeah Yeah, Doh A Deer, Sledgehammer, etc. We could be the next Partridge family!
So on Sunday, after a splendid Sunday lunch at Helen and Nigel’s, we had our first audition with Janet at the piano. But, as Mr Burns pointed out, and Helen and Nigel might now realise, some plans can go “Gang aft agley”.
We started with Away In A Manger, a simple enough tune with easy words. I thought it was going rather well. Janet was doing an excellent job at the piano, and the Mawle team were crooning with enthusiasm.
Then I looked up at Helen and Nigel and realised that all was not well. They were standing perfectly still, seemingly unable to move and staring at us with a look of pity and distress.
It was some moments after the last echoes of “till morning is nigh” faded away that Helen and Nigel managed to snap out of their trance-like state and gather their thoughts about the enormity of the task they have taken on. Nigel even managed a few words of encouragement. Helen quickly followed with a suggestion. “Youtube! To get to know the tunes you can listen to them on Youtube!”. Janet, keen to encourage us, quickly agreed.
So here we are in France, the new Partridge family, preparing for our World debut. The question is, is the World is ready for us?