Its good to force yourself to do things sometimes especialy Music

I've just taken up Tai Chi once a week. It was a horrible day yesterday weatherwise but I did go and felt wonderful afterwards!

I force myself to go to a Pilates class every week. I no longer enjoy it as I have a lot of aches and pains. Hey ho, it's better to keep going than to stiffen up for good.

In September 2016 I had a health incident which left me firstly using a Zimmer frame and then walking sticks. Diagnosis a dead area in my brain and brain shrinkage. I had no balance and kept falling over. Fast forward to March 2017 when my daughter insisted on taking me to ladies only kickboxing as she would get an Easter Egg for bringing a friend. Ridiculous I thought as I’m weak and the most unsporty person. It was the best thing ever. I have lots of new friends. We go out socially for our birthdays etc. I feel energised, my strength is great and I get a buzz from every class which is twice a week. Ages range from early twenties to me, the granny of the group, at 68. I have progressed to my fourth belt and have taken part in four hour mixed martial arts sessions. It doesn’t matter whether you sing, knit or punch and kick people, it’s the getting out and doing it ever when you feel rubbish and it’s pouring hard. Once you’ve been to a class, you feel on top of the world.

sorry wrong thread - back to M&S clothes!!

Once they have got rid of those hideous shocking pink dresses that festooned all their sale racks last year, the racks will be full of "floral print 3/4 sleeve wrap dress". Have you ever seen anything quite so like a dressing gown to actually be supposed to venture out in?

I agree that its good to challenge yourself. When I read in the paper yesterday that only 10% of 60-70 year old do more than a 10 minute walk per month I was horrified.
I wanted to try Walking Netball but there wasn't a group in my area so I got in touch with the netball Association and started one. We quickly got to 15 of us playing regularly and its great to hear all the laughter. You don't have to be sporty to do this and you don't have to have ever played netball. The other thing that important is cost. We don't have any special clothes just some supportive shoes/trainers and its only £2 per session which all helps to make it accessible.

I do know what you mean Seacliff, my DH and I are members of our local community choir and I always feel so much better after our practice sessions. We run our own small business & work full time and can't get out in the day so I'm grateful that we meet of an evening - and also that there are no auditions or I'd never have got in! DH takes it more seriously than me and has a good voice. It's physically good for you and learning new songs is supposed to be good for helping keep your brain working. We've made some lovely new friends too, which has to be a good thing. Our oldest member is in his 90s and drives himself to our sessions each week, that's something to aim for

Me too, just about to take early retirement. I’m already in a natural voice choir, great fun, and started Pilates too after not exercising for many years. So far it’s great fun, though challenging. Everyone seems very friendly although I had to force and cajole myself to go the first time, then I found I already knew someone there. On to my next challenge.

My local U3A, has a Ukulele and singing group, but I have been hesitant to go as I have never played a musical instrument!

Your experience seacliff has spurred me on to go along!

Not music for me but I have started Pilates, a big step for me as I'm unfit, not co-ordinated, few mobility issues & walking into a new group of people. It's good to do something new.

Isn't it amazing how it's sometimes so difficult to get over the door. Even though I know the joys that may await me I find myself procrastinating. Never have understood this about myself. I persevere and invariably enjoy the result no matter what. Crazy!@

When practicing the uke, I have found some easy "play along" videos on youtube. They show all the chords and words, and I can keep rewinding and having another go. Very useful.

I love a sing along, how lovely to be able to play the piano. The South Pacific songs sound great.

I absolutely love watching Morris dancing, but it looks far too complicated to take part in. We used to go square dancing years ago - that was complicated enough for me! As for music, we have choirs in the city but they are either audition choirs (they would throw me out bodily as soon as I opened my mouth!) or they are too far away for me to get to. So I play my piano and sing to myself - and sometimes DH joins in (selections from South Pacific, anyone?).

I’ve googled the quotation and it’s attributed to several different people. I don’t think anyone knows who said it first.

I’ve never done Morris dancing, but I love watching it. It’s a wonderful old tradition. I think the quotation just said ‘folk dancing’. Was it Lord Berners? Somebody trying to be clever.

Ha ha, I have to admit to Morris Dancing in the dim and distant past. When I first moved to Suffolk I knew hardly anyone. An old friend persuaded me to join. My OH and children thought I was mad, some of the members are a bit weird I admit, but harmless. A lot of old hippies lol.

The good things about it - a good work out, quite good mentally too learning all those steps. When dancing out on a summers evening, I found so many pretty country pubs in remote parts of Suffolk I never knew existed. It was a very sociable and fun thing to do. Eventually knees stopped play. Dancing in wooden clogs on hard surfaces isn't good for the joints.

It is almost always better to do something than nothing. Making music is very uplifting.

Who was it who said "you should try everything once - except incest and morris dancing"?

"Welcome to the Rabble Chorus Website. We are East Anglia's biggest community choir of around 300 singers split into four Suffolk groups, one based in Easton, near Framlingham, one in Woodbridge, one in Saxmundham and one in Needham market."

www.therabblechorus.co.uk/

Another list of choirs of all sorts here: www.suffolkmusic.co.uk/choirs

lovetosing.onesuffolk.net/love-to-sing-suffolk-choirs/

suffolksoulsinge.onesuffolk.net/

www.vivavoices.com/

activlives.org.uk/activsinging/

The Rabble Chorus is on your doorstep.

I am not good on Suffolk geography, and some of the other links may be too far away - but do take a look!

Good luck!

A Gransnet Choir - now why not!? - Eric Whitacre created a world wide choir all out in the ether. ericwhitacre.com/the-virtual-choir
Mind you he has got the dosh to have the technicians sync the individual videos.

Yes. I had only lived in the village for 3 months, not a natural 'joiner' and the only thing that appealed to me was the village choir. First meeting after Christmas was a wet,chilly night in early Jan. Forced myself to shower(bathroom was freezing) and then had to force myself to walk down a dark road to the village hall and even worse... to actually walk through the door knowing no-one. Looking back. I don't know how I did it after 50 odd years of going nearly everywhere with DH, but am I ever glad I did! I love it... love the challenge of new music, and the concerts we give. And when I come home after rehearsals I'm on a real high and treat the dog to an impromptu concert... which she ignores! She's not in the least musical!

I also couldn't find a Suffolk choir on that link. I know of one near me, I think they may be too good for me !! I'm near Saxmundham, if you know of any please Luckygirl.

Shame we can't have a Gransnet choir.

I'm hoping to join a choir too, when we eventually get back to the UK and get settled.
I used to enjoy playing piano to get my music 'fix', but those days have gone - arthritis.

A suitable non-auditioned one of course.

pm me and tell me where you live and I will find a choir near you!

Seacliffe Sounds fun. I am also looking for activities which will lift my mood. I wish you lived near me luckygirl have just looked through your link and can't find anything in my area. There are a couple of choirs near me but you need to read music and audition. Not good for someone who does not read music and can' t sing but would love to.

naturalvoice.net/choirs

seacliff - try link above or just google community choirs - there are several directories that tell you what is in your area. Do it!!! - and please let me know how it goes.