just chugging along

It's been a while since I've written - but really, nothing much has been happening, so what's there to write about? My big-big project for the last couple of weeks had been to learn those three French songs, and I did, and I recorded them on my phone, and now I can tick that box and move on.

What I have learnt is that although my voice is so rough, and gruff, and so hard to push through my voice-box, I have found that singing helps to ease that somewhat. If I have some time in the evenings, I'll sit in front of YouTube and find some karaoke tunes. When I start singing, it's usually a song that I know I can do - but most times, it will be a barely-there voice that croaks along. I have learnt to not get discouraged, and to bash on. I laugh as my voice breaks, as I fail to hit the right notes, when to my own ears I sound like an eighty-year-old granny! But eventually, my voice will return and I can sing the songs, hit the right notes, and be comfortable in the keys that I used to sing in.

For me, that's a big deal. Always, I have found comfort in song, and to be able to still do this brings me joy. I tell myself that this is good for my soul, and that I am nourishing myself on a spiritual level. It is true for me, so it is true! But, I also tell myself that I'm exercising my lungs, and making them stronger, and that my lungs are happy, too. I don't know if that's true or not, but does it really matter?

I've also been fiddling a bit with my paints, and did some squiggly bits on a bottle that made me feel good.

Chuan and I went out to the Seremban 2 mall and had a bit of a walkabout, on his birthday, and bought some cake which we enjoyed for tea when we got home. For some reason, that was a tad exhausting for me, even though we didn't spend long there, and my Fitbit said that I had a lot less steps than usual. How is that possible? I do not know, and I do not care. Hahahah. I know I was up and about, and walking here and there, and if Fitbit doesn't like it that I didn't do my usual walk-in-circles, then it's its problem, not mine.

Yes, I'm fighting with my Fitbit.

Medicine wise, I've upped by quarter-dose of Lipantyl (fenofibrate) to half, and so far no issues.

But the ache in my shoulder, hip and knee - on my right side - is there, and sometimes quite bad. Is it the Lipantyl? It was the Ezeterol (ezitibe) that caused that, I know. Then, I had a break and things eased. Now, on Lipantyl, they're back again.

If things get too bad, I'll stop the medication. If they don't, or if I can bear the pain, I'll carry on - and see what my blood work shows, in January, when my next doctor-visit is due.

Our house-renovation is coming along nicely, though a glance at the photos of the work-in-progress is enough to scare the bejesus outta me!

a view from the outside of my sad, sad house

But, it's actually in the final stages, and by early-early next month, it should be all done.

So, overall, this is a boring-dot-com post, but that means that all's well with me.

... en français

Aujourd'hui, j'ai uploadé trois chansons sur YouTube - toutes en français. 

It is in my continuing quest to keep the French I learnt, about ten years or so ago, alive and kicking. It is not an easy task for this old brain, but it is fun trying!

To start with, I'd look for the lyrics, and set about trying to make sense of them. Google Translate is of immense help when I'm stuck with new words, or new combinations of words in a sentence. For one song, Perce les nuages, I asked the help of my friend who is a translator - Maryam - after I'd tried translating it on my own but was quite confused, and unsure, about the result. I'm so grateful to Yam - she was able to fine-tune the meaning in my head. It is easier to sing something when you know what it means.

C'est ma chanson

This is an old, old song - from 1967! Originally by Petula Clark, with the words in English written by Charlie Chaplin. This is the French version.

Perce les nuages

This beautiful song, was made famous by Isabelle Boulay, in 1988. I only just discovered it, and so had a double learning curve: To learn the melody; and, to learn the words in French. Then, I had to put them both together without getting my tongue in a knot, as well. I really enjoyed singing this one, and I wish I had my old voice back again, to do it real justice.

Je me sens bien

This is a fun song, and from wayyyy back in 1963 - when I was just starting school, at the age of 7!! I didn't know it then, and only discovered it on YouTube, a couple of weeks ago. This version is not the 60s-pop version of Petula Clark, but a more recent version, from 2011, I gather. Its lyrics are simple, and I didn't really need Google Translate, except to confirm that I'd gotten it all correct 😊

just chilling

Isn't that lovely? One day, I'll do something similar, but don't hold your breath!! 

Nothing much has been happening, but like it says above: I've chosen to be happy about it! Life ambles on, and I've got no complaints.

I've had to wind-down my exuberant attempt at increasing the time I spend at my walking-in-circles, but that's working out. I've now split it up, and do twenty-minutes in the morning, and try to squeeze another 10, in the evening. Also, I try to not rest if I can - so I find something to do, that will keep me busy, and keep my mind off my heart rate, and my breathing, and how tired I am. Distraction rules!!!

Some of the things I do: working at my art - either doodling, or making mandalas, and walking around my watercolour supplies and wondering when the spirit will move me! Also, as we're planning to move by the end of November, I'm packing and sorting the few things that I want to take to the new house.

Something that I have done is print out the lyrics to a song, en Francais! It is called C'est ma chanson, and it is Petula Clark's This is my song from 1967, when I was 11 years old!! The words are simple enough, and I can understand the French lyrics. But, actually stringing them all together to the melody is quite a feat!! So, every evening, I twist my tongue into knots while I practise putting the words to the melody. When I am convinced that I don't sound like a clown, I'll make a little recording of it. However, not only will my tongue need to comply, but also my voice - on not-so-good days, it refuses to make an appearance!

Always, I find some time to sit and read. It is my best therapy, and I can't imagine a life without books!