singing & playing guitar again! 🎸🎵🎤

I've taken my guitar out of its case and started practising playing and singing, and plan to do this daily for up to an hour, to toughen up left hand fingers and get into shape for any volunteering opportunities taking part in or leading music groups or singsongs.  I used to do this in the past, in communities, churches and places like schools, day centres and the like.

guitar and stand out 9Jan20 🎸

I think playing and listening to music is very therapeutic as is dancing to it!  So I've started attending a Zumba class at the Olympia, Dundee, where I swim 6 days a week in the training pool.  Here's a favourite Zumba video I recently found:




And here are some recordings I made of songs practised so far:

Wild Mountain Thyme

 Leaving of Liverpool:

Killiecrankie:

Welcome Home:

I'm just printing out lyrics and playing chords by ear or memory although I do have a pile of music books and sheets:

 

rebuilding life after psychiatric treatment/whistleblowing

after swim at Olympia Dundee 4Jan20

On waking I was thinking of the similarities between recovering from psychiatric treatment (coercive drugging with neurotoxins, space invasion, human rights abuses, in my life experience) and rebuilding your life after whistleblowing about the same.  Having to do it yourself with the support of a few, resisting various pulls or pulleys which would keep a person from moving on.

I'm glad to have the experience of the former, having recovered from, survived, psychiatric treatment for "psychosis" in 1978, 1984 and 2002.  This has stood me in good stead in recovering from being a mental health human rights campaigner and whistleblower after the February 2012 locked seclusion room abuses.  That was the biggest battle yet that I've had to face as a mother and carer.

I am very much looking forward to the new year, new beginnings, having left mental health matters behind.  It feels in some ways like the times I had to rebuild my life after psychiatric treatment although I'm not on any drugs or medication which makes it much easier.  However I'm a lot older at 67yrs even if I feel about 17 in the head!  It will be a matter of getting fitter to counteract the effects of age, in mind and body.  I look forward to the challenge.

on Discovery ship Dundee with son Daniel 4Jan20 😃

Yesterday in Dundee hearing the bells ringing at Steeple Church:

 

More photos from yesterday's walk in Dundee, by Dudhope Park:
 

I did the New Year's Dook at Broughty Ferry, Dundee, as Granny Tarzan!

in the Evening Telegraph 2Jan20

It was great fun taking part in the Big Dook organised by Ye Amphibious Ancients Bathing Association (YEAABA) yesterday, raising funds for Royal Voluntary Service via JustGiving, and added bonus winning a £25 voucher in the Fancy Dress competition!

#BigDook Dundee Broughty Ferry #YEAABA preparations for 3.30pm plunge 😊

I'm doing it for @RoyalVolService Dundee Home from Hospital & Fife Community Transport.

(I used to work wi WRVS 20yrs ago Kirkcaldy Fife, Youth Project Manager 🌻) pic.twitter.com/M8OJeg9gds

— Chrys Muirhead (@ChrysMuirhead) January 1, 2020

Did it!
Big Dook for @RoyalVolService 😊🌻 pic.twitter.com/oXwrgihrRB

— Chrys Muirhead (@ChrysMuirhead) January 1, 2020

 
Thanks to my youngest son Daniel for supporting me throughout the day, taking photos and video:

before Dook

 

after Dook with YEAABA towel, also got Tshirt!

Daniel and I after the Dook!

Huge congratulations to @ChrysMuirhead for braving the cold and taking the plunge at the New Year's Day Dook at Broughty Ferry #Dundee, raising vital funds for Royal Voluntary Service! Thank you Chrys & happy New Year🎉 https://t.co/80GKOQze8I

— Royal Voluntary Service (@RoyalVolService) January 2, 2020

Braver woman than I will ever be! Well done, Chrys, and #HappyNewYear 🏊‍♀️ https://t.co/xsCaf6HJ0A

— Ali White (@Leahurst66) January 2, 2020

Dundee "Dook" – New Year's Day 2020

A NIGHT LIKE THIS - Zumba Tango / Rumba / Cha cha cha

the journey fae Dundee United stands tae Arbroath home seats Gayfield Park ⚽ 14Dec19

Yesterday I attended for the first time a Dundee United away game, against Arbroath at Gayfield Park, had a ticket for the stands, hadn't stood before at a fitba game so decided to arrive early to get a place.  Had to park a bit away as there weren't any spaces left on Queen's Drive along the sea front by 2pm.

Standin! ⚽️ Arbroath v #dufc pic.twitter.com/3DqQnhILsl

— Chrys Muirhead (@ChrysMuirhead) December 14, 2019

So I got a place to stand 30mins before game started, took some photos, videos and panoramas.

I saw the first goal scored by Dundee United.

However soon after 2 older men, younger than me, maybe in their 50's came and stood right in front of me, blocking my view.  I complained about this but their response was that I should move and other men standing nearby didn't support me.  Rather one older man said that I was just being grumpy or suchlike and offered me a sweetie.  I refused, he then said something rude (a young lassie in front of him looked around at me) so I moved back a bit, but couldn't see the game plus there were other guys at the back shouting and swearing which was offputting.  It all felt very disrespectful to women.  Female fans of Dundee United deserve far better treatment.

And so I moved left along to the open area, it was much colder, sea at the back.

and decided to join the queue for the Pie Shed to warm up with some food:

I was still in good fettle despite having been bullied out of my place in the United stands although I did complain to others in the passing about how I'd been treated.  Not being one to keep quiet if my space has been invaded.  It was a long queue and eventually I got a braw sausage roll!

After enjoying the sausage roll I decided to head back down to the entrance to ask if I could stand at the other side from where I'd been blocked.  However the Gayfield Park staff suggested I could get a seat on the home side since I wasn't wearing any "colours".  So I headed on up to look for a spare seat and was welcomed by 2 older gentlemen Arbroath supporters who told me to take a seat and one of them even offered me his seat if need be.  That was more like it.

Very much appreciated @ArbroathFC staff & supporters who listened & gave me seat for 2nd half #cmonthelichties v #dufc even though I had @dundeeunitedfc stands ticket.
I had expected fair play when spectating, having stood for 30mins, not to be blocked by men right in front. https://t.co/89fmHCMx6c

— Chrys Muirhead (@ChrysMuirhead) December 14, 2019

There were no more goals after that first one from United and in the second half it seemed that Arbroath played better from where I was sitting.  I left about 10mins before the end to avoid the rush plus I was freezin!

Football isn't just a man's game these days, watching or playing, and there are also children in the mix, spectating, seeing the action, hearing the voices.  Yesterday I wouldn't have wanted my bairns and grandbairns to be in the stands witnessing how their Mother and Granny was treated by Dundee United supporters, hearing the foul-mouthed swearing, seeing men urinating against the back of Arbroath stands in full view of passers-by. 

Tom Walker & Red Hot Chilli Pipers - Leave A Light On (The Quay Sessions)