One of the reasons for moving somewhere new is the longing for a fresh start. The desire to feel reinvigorated and enthusiastic. Long-time residents know this and move quickly to recruit newcomers to join Neighbourhood Watch, make cakes for the school fair and weed the community garden. The people who’ve lived there forever have long since run out of steam and they fall on new arrivals with welcoming smiles and a steely determination to hand over the reins of every community activity quickly before their new neighbours have even managed to unpack the cat.
Some new arrivals are happy to get involved in community life and meet their neighbours. Others just want to be left in peace. I decided, after living in the same place for 30 years, that I would cast my net wide. With mixed success. I joined a choir, but have now decided that it’s not for me. I concluded that rehearsals involved far too much time waiting while the altos or tenors learnt their part and not nearly enough belting out songs in my croaky voice. That was another problem – the voice hasn’t weathered any better than the rest of me and even though I used to have a reasonably inoffensive voice, I now sound like I smoke a pack of cigarettes a day and hit the gin bottle as soon as my morning coffee is done. Which seems unfair because I don’t smoke and the gin bottle never comes out before lunch.
I then volunteered to take part in a Halloween flash mob. It isn’t strictly a flash mob because they do it every year and the local people all gather in expectation. Still, after weeks of rehearsal we were ready to perform our vampirish dance routine to Abba’s Gimme Gimme Gimme, which was great fun despite my aversion to Abba music. It was far more of a physical and mental workout than I’d been expecting and I was so nervous on the night you’d think I was making my West End début. But it was exciting and I was glad I did it.
Next I joined a tai chi class and although the teacher was very good and the people friendly, I realised that atmosphere is everything. The classes took place in a large community centre gym with basketball nets on the walls and windows so high it reminded me of a Victorian classroom. My previous tai chi classes were in a lovely old Friends’ Meeting House that had a warm, welcoming feel and views over beautiful gardens. It gradually dawned on me that I wasn’t particularly enjoying it and quietly stopped going. I don’t think anyone noticed. Too Zen.
Then there was the creative writing group where I walked into the room and knew immediately that I didn’t belong. My instincts were right. It was mostly people reading poems they had written, many about long-forgotten battles. I’m not a fan of poetry or war and fled with relief once it was over. But I really enjoy making a lantern for the Festival of Light and then walking through town with hundreds of other people holding their lanterns high and thousands lining the streets to watch. It brightens up a dark December night, gets us ready for Christmas and I plan to keep doing it every year.
I’m not sure whether I’ll be helping in the community garden because it’s all I can do to look after my own small patch. Much as I love gardens, I don’t like gardening. It just feels like a chore to me – a bit like housework, only outside. I don’t think I’ll be joining the Friends of Newtown Road Cemetery either. I quite like old cemeteries, but not enough to befriend one. Still, I haven’t turned into a jaded long-time resident yet and I’m sure there are all sorts of interesting activities just waiting to be discovered. And then quietly dropped.
You really need to join a Tuneless Choir “sing as if no-one’s listening” – no rehearsals, no waiting around, just singing, usually out of tune. Unfortunately, don’t think there’s one near you – perhaps your opportunity to start one! 🤣 You could join ‘Virtually Tuneless’ on Zoom but not as much fun.
That would be a real admission of defeat!
🤣🤣🤣
You do not sound like you smoke a packet of fags a day!!
(Surely no more than 2-3 cigarettes a day 😜)
So kind!