Where to start? Well, my twin sister beat me to learning the cornet when she was 7 (I wasn’t “musical” enough apparently!), so was chuffed when I got the tenor horn at 8. After a couple of years on that, my Primary School acquired a lovely shiny Euphonium and I was hooked! I played in the Livingston Brass Band and the Deans High Wind Band where we won a number of competitions, and I even went to Germany, Chicago and bizarrely, Wisconsin with the band! I loved playing and one of my proudest achievements was passing Grade 8.
When I went to Edinburgh Uni, I was living at home and couldn’t carry my Euph into town, so stopped playing. I went to the Windband for a couple of months, but didn’t really commit to it even when I moved out. With too many other fun things happening at Uni, I fell out of playing properly.
In August 2008, I decided that after 9 years of intermittent playing, it was time to get back to it – hence the out of time toots that I sometimes do in band! I love Music, I love being in a band, but I hate being rubbish, so am practising as much as my hubby and neighbours will allow to get back to standard! I also really love singing so my next plan is to find a choir after winning lots of competitions when I was younger and experiencing my Mum’s enjoyment of being a cabaret singer! So, that’s me in a nut-shell – I could be better, but could be worse as well, and the important thing is that I love it!
1. What is your occupation? Schools Outreach Officer for the University of Edinburgh. Basically means that I work with school students across Edinburgh and the Lothians to encourage them to consider University as an option.
2. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be? Red
3. Favorite drink? Red wine or a half-pint of Deuchars IPA (a pint and I’m under the table!)
4. What do you do to vent anger? Slam doors and have a bit of a cry!
5. What is on the floor of your wardrobe? Shoes and golf clubs!
6. What inspires you most? The knowledge that we only get one shot at life and some people don’t get very long at it.
7. What are you afraid of? Flying. I thought I was going to die in a wee plane in Hawaii on honeymoon!
8. Favorite car? Any car is fine! As long as it does what it’s supposed to do, I’m happy!
