September 1st, 2010
Last week we took a group of Classical Partners to The Proms.
Before the concert we had a meal in the newly refurbished Elgar Room and I have to say they have done a great job. It is now a contempory and stylish place yet it is still comfortable. Quite a feet, as I find most “modern” dining spaces just too hard. Clean lines and sparse furnishings often make for an attractive but inhospitable environment. The menu was not too big but offered a good selection of meat and fish. I would recommend you check it out next time you are in the Albert Hall.
The concert was not bad either. The Prommers showed their delight with extended stomping and whistling. I agree wholeheartedly with them for Osmo Vanska and the Minnesota Orchestra’s rendition of Beethoven’s Ninth, but not the Berg Violin Concerto. It is not a piece I particularly like so that’s no real surprise.
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August 25th, 2010
The news that the guy who has been harassing New Statesman journalist, Katharine Quarmby, faces jail after posting a fantasy novel on his blog started me thinking about privacy and security.
Apparently, Katharine met this guy through an online dating site, and he admits harassing her with phone calls and emails after she said she did not want to see him. I thought it might be worthwhile restating some simple dos and don’ts to help you all to keep safe.
These are particularly relevant if you are using internet dating. If you choose to use a traditional Introduction Agency it should be safer as any reputable agency will check the people they introduce you to and will nearly always met them face to face. I suggest you try agencies that are members of ABIA.
Some normally sensible singles lose their head when it comes to affairs of the heart. So here are a few dating security tips:
1. Never reveal too many personal details about yourself.
2. Never invite someone you have not met before to your home.
3. Meet, perhaps, for a coffee at a mutually convenient neutral venue.
4. Never have too much alcohol.
5. Dress appropriately – nothing too revealing if you are female, it can give the wrong impression.
6. If you seem to click with a stranger in cyberspace and they ask you for money after telling you a hard luck story – usually, “I want to see you but I don’t have enough money to travel”, don’t be taken in. NEVER hand over any cash.
7. Watch out for serial daters. These are usually men (but not always) who use the internet for casual relationships and/or sex. You can usually spot them by checking out several different websites and if your date has been active on a few I can generally say he/she is a serial dater!
8. Lastly use your ‘gut feeling’, if something your date says doesn’t add up beware, it’s probably not true.
By following these simple 8 steps (especially if dating on-line) there should be no problem with safe dating.
Finally, if you use Facebook, I urge you to review your privacy settings. The default setting lets nearly anyone look at your page.
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April 30th, 2010
Last weekend we had what is now our fifth Classical Partners walking and music weekend. This time it was the beautiful Derbyshire peak district.
There should have been 30 of us but due to the volcanic ash some people had been stranded abroad and we ended up with 28, who arrived on Friday evening from various parts of the country. Dinner was fantastic, especially the fish! After the meal we settled down for my ‘name that tune’ quiz and to enjoy conversation and a glass or two.
Saturday morning was bright and warm and most of us did not even bother to take our waterproofs with us. The walk, it has to be said, was a little more severe than intended. From the hotel along the Tissington trail to picturesque Tissington then across the road past Thorpe Cloud, all of us glad we did not have to climb it and down into Dovedale. From there to Ilam for a quick look at the House and grounds before starting the climb back up. A climb of over 600 feet in just over a mile according to Keith’s GPS. Tough going! Then it was back down again to Milldale before the last climb back to the hotel. A total of 11 miles but in the glorious spring sunshine somehow it didn’t seem like it. However we were all glad of the tea and cakes that awaited us at the hotel.
We don't have to climb that!
After a glass of bubbly and dinner in the evening we were splendidly entertained by The Muskoka Wind Quintet who performed a varied programme that transported us from Elizabethan dance music through to Malcolm Arnold and Gershwin. Just right to enliven some weary limbs.
Despite the forecast for more summery weather Sunday was grey and damp which didn’t seem to matter as we set of for our homes after another slap up breakfast and hugely enjoyable weekend, with new friendships being made and we think one or two budding romances…. watch this space!
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March 30th, 2010
I should have known that there was something good going to happen last Sunday. From the moment the clocks changed I was already a little out of kilter. My drive to the Wigmore Hall that I have done dozens of times was going smoothly until I realised that I had taken a wrong turning somewhere and was about two miles off course. No problem, I still arrived with a few minutes to spare.
Diving downstairs for a coffee and to meet up with the group of Classical Partners I was a little surprised not to see anyone from the group but they soon started to arrive. A couple of calls on the mobile let me know that one person could not make it and that one was going to be late. I was now getting worried as I could not find the two new members whom I had not met before. Just as the concert was due to start one of them introduced themselves. I had to leave the other’s ticket on the door as I went in, not perfect but the best I could do.
The Gryphon Trio from Canada, made their Wigmore debut, performing Schumann’s Piano Trio No 2 in F followed by Beethoven’s Piano Trio in B flat “Archduke”. They were absolutely sublime, even the clouds scudding over the Wigmore’s skylight seemed to alter the hall’s lighting in perfect concert with the music. Even though I freely admit that my personal taste tends to be for more dramatic symphonic music, I loved every minute of their performance.
After the concert, I managed to find our missing member and our group enjoyed a lovely relaxed Sunday lunch in the Wigmore’s fine restaurant downstairs. What a great way to spend a Sunday. Truly Gold Standard.
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February 22nd, 2010
Lori Gottlieb caused a bit of a storm back in 2007 with her article suggesting that women should settle for a man who is ‘good enough’ rather than holding out for Mr Perfect who may never show up. Not content with this she is now publishing a book which she says will back up her ideas.
Whilst I sympathise to a certain extent with her views, I do have problems with some of the statistics she quotes. She claims that “less than half of women over 40 will ever marry.” Conveniently she makes no mention of how many of these women actually want to get married, she simply uses this statistic to scare women into thinking they are a lost cause. Incidentally, The Times, commenting on figures published by the Office for National Statistics for England and Wales, makes a similar error. Proudly proclaiming that women are going to be overwhelmed by offers as there are now more single men than women in every age group except the over 75’s. Again they do not consider how many actually want to get married. The definition of single as “never married, divorced or widowed” is also a problem. How many are in happy, stable long term relationships? The old adage ‘Lies, dammed Lies and Statistics’ springs to mind. Numbers are great when trying to understand trends but you have to be very careful how you use them.
Back to Lori Gottlieb, she puts forward the view that feminism has encouraged women to think that they can have it all – the perfect man, lifestyle, family and career. In some ways she is right about this. There is not really a whole lot wrong with setting yourself high goals and aspirations. However you do need to be able to be flexible whilst trying to attain them.
Remember to give yourself a good pat on the back when you land on the moon even if you were aiming for the stars.
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