Ring Out The Old, Ring In The New

The end of the year is such a busy season, with the celebrations of Christmas and New Year tripping over each other. Traditionally for me, Christmas was about family and New Year's was about friends, but since my exile both occasions are a great excuse to get together with mates for feasting and general merry-making. Family is so very far away, but the magic of broadband and internet phone calls means I can still listen to my parents rant on for hours on end, but with the advantage of being dressed in my pyjamas while folding and putting away the laundry. Multitasking for you!

My other extended family is, of course, the Pink Singers and although we have officially 'broken up' for the holidays, I have continued to see the likes of Mladen, Paul, Michael and Liang for a variety of different reasons. We even had a small group performance on the 28th at the commitment ceremony of Rebecca and Fiona, two former members of the Pinkies. Mutual recognition only occurred between the couple and Philip R and Michael, both of whom have been in the choir longer than anyone else, but there was warmth and affection for all from the shared experience of being in the Pink Singers. "Edifying" is perhaps overstating the relationship between old and current Pinkies a little, but singing Happy Together and Hand In Hand with Fiona and Rebecca joining in certainly gave me a fuzzy feeling inside!

Looking back on the 2007 we've had our usual run of concerts, U.K. and international performances, Prides and small group gigs. Every year is different though, and this year my highlights have included events outside our official calendar like Lynne and Annie's and Nathalina and Jackie's weddings, watching Something Fishy's debut at Bar Wotever and their runaway success at our summer concert, and boogie-ing down at the Soho Revue bar and Dingwalls with "I can't dance by myself!" Paleday.

Best of all is the old friendships which have been strengthened, the faded friendships with returning Pinkies which have been renewed, and the new friendships with the newbies which have been formed. Life is a tangled skein, and the Pinkies are a microcosm of that. 2008 brings the 25th birthday of the Pink Singers, and the first birthday of In The Pink(ies). Here's looking forward to even more memories!

P.S. It is New Year's Day! I am allowed a little soppiness!