Pavanotti.

One of the things we have recently taken up, now we have the time, are singing lessons. The Magnificent M had had some in the past but I have always relied on my natural talent, which was probably my first mistake. 

So last spring we met up with someone who was starting a local Folk night. Folk isn't really our thing but we went along. After two meets we went into lockdown and there hasn't been another since.

As part of his social media posts around the folk nights he mentioned that him and his partner were putting a concert on at a restaurant relatively nearby. And in fact not only did we go to that one but another two subsequently. The programme for those are a mix of classical, particularly Italian song, and opera. This meant, having appeared on stage in the chorus of a local opera group, we had something to chat about. They are way out of our league as they were both soloists with Scottish National Opera. But we chatted a lot when we saw them and get on well.

And then before Christmas, well, October time I reckon, we started wondering whether they might give us singing lessons. And then a bit later we plucked up the courage to ask and they said yes.

So we are a few lessons in and enjoying ourselves. They have helped with our technique and they have us singing songs we wouldn't normally choose, which is good, including some operatic duets! We actually are improving and we will keep going, as particularly at the moment, it is the one positive thing in the week that we look forward to.

However, as of now, The Royal Opera House has not called!