THE TEN DAYS OF NEW YEAR... ...DAY EIGHT

Most readers will know that at the end of July 1969, Apollo 11 made the first manned landing upon the Moon.  Just like the writer, many readers of a certain age would have been ushered into their school halls to watch the very first moon walk (sorry, Michael Jackson...) on the school ‘black and white' TV.  It must have been a special occasion, because they were the only times the school TV would have been revealed in all of its contemporary glory, long before the age of videos, DVDs, today's streaming and other hi-tech.  And no, it doesn't snow on the Moon – that was what satellite-driven telly was like then!!!

But our focus is not Apollo 11.  It is Day Eight, so as exciting as reliving that memory was, today's focus is on its predecessor, Apollo 8.  Launched just before Christmas 1968, it was the proverbial 'figure of eight' return trip around the Moon and back again; looking out of the window was the nearest Jim Lovell got to the Moon...   ...he was the Apollo 13 Commander, so never actually made the landing planned for him then.

Nowhere near as dramatic as the Apollo missions, but hopefully just as exciting (OK, well, let's say exciting in its own right without the Apollo comparison...!) are our plans for the Summer when we take the trips 'south-east' and 'mid-west' to Loddon and Thompson respectively in July to fulfil our guest performances promises.

Loddon is a welcome return, having last visited there for a concert in 2016, but Thompson is a new venue for us and it will give an opportunity to view the fine work which has recently been undertaken in the Church there.  We will also be able to listen to the talents of our colleague guests performing that evening, so there is plenty to look forward to.  And there's the chance to see if we can find out how our Thompson Twitter Friend #BriantheAlpaca is getting on!!!

So having been all round there, it's back to Thorpe St Andrew, east of Norwich, Apollo 8-like, for the early-September joint concert with our Millhouse Green guests.

Keep singing...!   (and if you haven't started singing yet, join a choir!!!)