Bring Back My Mother!

Hi CHUMs,

I found this on "The Liver Birds" site. I think this is going to describe us well, lol.

Now some food for thought .................. "nicknames" ... to be or not to be !?!

There are some interesting ones out there, that Ive seen.

Bring back my mother!
Air: My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
I've been a good son to my mother
To me she has been a good Mum
But since she has joined that Society
Oh, listen to what she's become.

Chorus: Bring back, bring back, oh bring back my mother to me, to me
              Bring back, bring back, oh bring back my mother to me!

She used to wear beige woolly cardies
And spend her life caring for me
But now she goes prinked out in purple
In giggling great gangs to take take.

Chorus ...
She used to have one hat in navy
But now she's got dozens in red
She's got crimson and scarlet and ruby
And my train set's been moved to the shed.

Chorus ...
She used to spend hours doing housework
Her tea-towels arranged in neat rows
But now she wears fluffy red boas
And leaves feathers wherever she goes.

Chorus ...
She used to like watching Eastenders
Sometimes for excitement she'd knit
But now she runs sticks along railings
And I think she is learning to spit.

Chorus ...
She used to be happy at ChristmasWith an iron, or a nice of pans
But now she wants sparkly tiaras
And twenty-two rings for each hand.

Chorus ...
Her friends were called Brenda and HildaAnd Barbara, Betty and Joan
But now we get Zsa Zsa and Twinkle
And Baroness Bling on the phone.

Chorus ...
She used to wear sensible brassieres
Her knickers were baggy and grey
Now her bras are of lace and red satin
And I hope it's not true what they say! (Gasp!)

Chorus ...
Well, if you can't beat them, then join them
You might as well follow the crowd
But when I turned up at the tea-shop
They all shouted "NO BOYS ARE ALLOWED!"

(c) Jenny Howard 2006

Lady Jingle Bells Jenny Howard

Members of the Red Hat Society are welcome to reproduce this for non-profit purposes without further permission. 

Please include this note if you do.

http://liverbirdsredhatters.weebly.com/an-anthem-for-red-hatters.html

                                                         



CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Photos from Fountaindale, Robertson

Christmas In July

We all went to Christmas in July up at Fountaindale Lodge in Robertson.
The red and purple clothing was commented on quite a few times, along with the hats and we were asked if we were in the Red Hats. Positive all the way !!
The fog set in, the rain came down and the mud came up but that didnt upset our happy group with the usual laughter and a fair amount of chatter........as usual also. 
The food with the High Tea looked fabulous and was very tasty. Very filling but well worth the drive. Not much left on the plates to feed the local cat, "Mouse" who decided to come into the dining room for a nap next to the heater. At 22 yrs young she looks like a teenager and is Fountaindale's mascot I would think.
Fountaindale was beautifully decorated for Christmas with something in every room to see as well as lovely gifts, jams and clothing of all sorts to buy. From the minute you stepped on the grounds you could see lights and baubles.
The staff were very nice, attentive including a beautifully dressed  girl (in the Fountaindale era clothing) who sang christmas carols during the High Tea. Gorgeous voice !!
All in all, a wonderful day out with our girls.
Looking forward to the next instalment in the lives of the CHUMs.
Cheryle.

Pippin

This was a small Red Hat Theatre Event with only two of the CHUMs in attendance,  Delia & I  in our new red hats.  The event was Pippin, a Musical.  It is about a young Prince’s quest to find personal significance and it is narrated by a magician.  The audience follows Pippin through the trials of war, love and politics until he finds himself alone and far away from the wealth and privilege of his royal life. 

A widow, Catherine, finds him and takes him in.  She uses all her charms on him and Pippin falls in love with the widow.  However he finds that this is not enough and Pippin leaves to continue his quest for fulfillment and to find a reason for “being”. 

In the end the Magician tries to convince Pippin to commit suicide but Pippin resists and decides to spend the rest of his life with Catherin and her young son.  However there is a twist, as at the end of the last scene we are left with the impression that Catherine’s young son is drawn into the Magician's power and the whole quest for “being” starts again.

The actors were enthusiastic and put their heart and soul into the performance which made the whole evening a very enjoyable and funny experience.  There were some technical problems at the start of the evening but they soldiered on and made the best of it when the sound system let them down.

All in all it was a great evening filled with humour and lots of belly laughs at the antics of some of the men in very tight tights..  If Delia had her way she would have taken one of the young men home with her.  Or to put it another way; “He can share some toast with me in the morning.”  And this lad did not have camel eyes but at the risk of sound sexist, he did have a lovely body along with very sexy eyes.   The evening left these two CHUMs very animated and excited about seeing future events at this theatre.

A Great Evening Out!

Tonight Mary and I went to the Phoenix theatre in Coniston to see the show PIPPIN. It was SO GOOD!!!Excellent show, excellent company. Lots of little men in (very tight) tights prancing around....I wanted to bring one of them home with me, I would've looked after him....but Mary wouldn't let me.Oh well, maybe next time, lol. It was a great night out, thank you Mary for your company.  xxx

Botanic Gardens

Hi CHUMs

Does anyone fancy a day out to The Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens, Mount Tomah as the following events are on together until the 12^th August.

First of all there is:

Mel Jones final exhibition:- “Tomah in Pochoir” – Entry Free

The last 12 months of Mel Jones artist in residency at the Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens culminates with this Pochoir exhibition.  View Mel’s unique vibrant landscapes, characterised by crisp lines and brilliant colours using the old world technique of hand cut stencilling.

Further information: follow Mel's her blog atwww.journeymoonart.com/meljonesartblogmttomah.html

Next we have:

Daffodil Day from 9:00am to 5pm – Entry Free

Here we support the Cancer Council on Daffodil Day.  With optimum growing conditions, the gardens are transformed by a sea of golden hues as additional plantings of daffodils erupt in bloom. 

Then to top it all:

The World Heritage Exhibition Centre has opened.  Entry Fee Unknown at this time

And I quote, “ The awe inspiring vista from the Centre creates a transcendental aura transporting the visitor into another realm where the area’s history, flora, rare plants, geography and animals rule”.

On display at the Centre

• An Aussie icon - the outstanding diversity of the eucalypts
• History in the markings - markings on eucalypts tell us about life in the past
• Home sweet hollow - eucalypts provide hollows for wildlife
• Sugar glider - the 'short headed ropedancer'
• Fire - friend or foe? - bushfires in the World Heritage Area
• The plant hunter - George Caley's botanical discoveries
• 'Got by Dan' - George Caley's Aboriginal guide
• Rare plants - the Area protects a significant amount of Australia’s plant biodiversity
• Animal habitats - the Area provides habitats for a wide variety of animals
• Forest protectors - an area worth protecting
• People power - saving the Blue Gum forest
• The Wollemi Pine - a living dinosaur
• Ensuring the Pine's survival - managing threats to the wild population
• Experience a slot canyon - these abound in the Area
• Mt Yengo's story - from the mountain top
• Rock legend - basalt capped mountain tops
• Mt Tomah - remnant of an ancient lava sheet
• Jenolan Caves - striking example of a 'karst' landscape
• Cage age? - a question that is difficult to answer
• Nature's art in sandstone - Gardens of Stone National Park
• Aging slowly - Thirlmere Lakes National Park
• Valley of shining waterfalls - the Jamison valley

We could make a day out of it with a picnic etc and I was going to suggest we car share as I believe that the gardens is a fair bit away from the nearest railway station.  I will be more than happy to pinch Adam’s car for the day – which means I can take four passengers (at a push), three would be more comfortable. 

It will mean an early start but I think it would make a great day out.  Suggested dates:  I would prefer going during the week, as I believe that it would be quieter (less school children).  So would like to put the following dates forward for your consideration:

Thursday 26^th July (maybe a bit too soon?)

Tuesday 31^st July

Thursday 2^nd Aug

Tuesday 7^th Aug to Friday 10^th Aug

And finally we have Sunday 12^th August.

If we want to go after the 12^th we can still see the daffodils and the heritage centre.

Low Cost/Free Things to See & Do

Just a quick note to let you know that I have added a new page to the blog.  It is titled "Talks Sydney".  Now I know you are all wondering why oh why Sydney - why not something nearer?  Honest I have tried to find something like these at local venues but so far I have had no such luck.  Maybe I am looking in the wrong places.  So if you know where I should look then please let me know.

But I digress, I thought that some of the talks sounded interesting and dare I say they may even be educational.  But the biggest thing I noticed was that they were mostly free.  And then I got to thinking that maybe we could make a day out of it -  should we decide to attend any of the talks.

The ones held in the city would require us to use public transport - which is not so bad as I believe that most of my CHUMs have a concession card or the much coveted "rail pass".  I get neither and covet them both!!!  Anyway as I was saying; a day in the city with a talk either during the day or early evening, followed by a train ride home discussing the issues raised during the talk or just having a "wet my pants" laughing trip home. Either of these sounds great to me.

Please let me know if I am on the right track with these talks and I am more than happy to undertake any research into anything else that you can think we could do.

Photoshop Course

My fellow CHUMs, I just had to write to tell you all about the two day Photoshop Course that Cheryle and I have undertaken.  It has left us more than a little stunned, but hopefully a little less confused about Photoshop.

Christine, our tutor, certainly earned her money and the number of times she uttered, "Look at Me" in a very officious voice  - well it was too numerous to count.  It was not that we were a disruptive group but Cheryle and I were in consultation about the next step or trying to figure out where that command button was on the screen.  Our biggest problem was that we were both trying to apply what we were being taught onto a different version of CS and I was working with Elements, which I was once told was the same as CS.  Let me tell you it is not!!  Two days later and a headache confirm this.

However despite the confusion with the difference in software; Cheryle and I have left the course with a thirst to learn more and to put into practice some of the things we have been taught.  So we are now armed with our notes, which we are no doubt made sense when we wrote them, but we expect they will cause serious head scratching when we come to do the exercises on our own or with some of our own material.

Christine did give us her phone number and told us to call her at any time should we have a problem - boy I bet she doesn't know what she is letting herself in for!

I know this course may not be everyone's cup of tea but believe me you are all going to see the benefits of it when we start to post some of our work on this blog.

As I was saying you will start to see some of our work.  I did not take the photo; it was supplied by the tutor and we had to improve it.  I have altered the colour of the buildings using Gradient Map and added Clouds to the previously washed out sky.

July Update

Since our Lunch/High Tea at Massey's we have all been very busy at work and or home.  However rest assured the CHUMs have still been beavering away in the background to try  and get the blog organised and to look at outings/ plays etc that we would like to attend/see in the up and coming months.

As we are a smallish group, a CHUMs event only needs as little as two to attend.  So with that in mind July has a couple of events organised.  The first gathering will be at Fountaindale Manor Grand Manor, Robertson for our Christmas in July with all the CHUMs in attendance.   We are all looking forward to our High Tea and I am especially excited, as they are holding a miniature rail display and there will be plenty of opportunity for some retail therapy.

Later in the month a couple of the CHUMs have opted to see PIPPIN a musical play at the Phoenix Theatre. As neither of these CHUMs have seen or even heard of the musical before, it should prove to be an interesting evening.  We will of course post a more detailed blog on how each of the events unfolded.

I also want to report that a few CHUMs are really getting into the spirit of Red Hatters and doing a fair bit of research on the many different types of hats and other things red that is out there just waiting to be bought.  I expect as we grow as a group so will our wardrobes.

What we are about.

Hi everyone,

Dont you think this signifies what we are about.

FRIENDSHIP is essential to life.

I'm just so thankful for all my friends.

Looks like a good website for our needs/wants, lol.

http://www.redmadness.com/hikashop-menu-for-module-52/category/36-hats-red-apurple.html

Red Hat Song

The Official Red Hat Society Song (Written by Mike Harline to reflect the philosophy of the Red Hat Society.)
		Well, I heard that they were comin'; I heard they were on the move. I heard that they were stunning, With nothing left to prove. And when I asked about them And how they came to be, They all laughed and they all smiled And said these words to me. Chorus: "Red Hat, Red Hat, Red Hat Society All my life I've done for you Now it's my turn to do for me. Red Hat, Red Hat, I'm just as proud as I can be With my purple dress and my red, red hat The Red Hat Society." Sue Ellen's little whimsy Suddenly caught fire. Now the purple dress and the red, red hat   are a national attire. You'll see them in the work place, You'll find them in the mall But you'd better believe all around the world,   they have heard the call. They don't want to change the world; They just like being together. They just like being girls. They like good conversations. They just like havin' fun With a purple dress and a red, red hat For each and everyone! I've seen them come together  With a smile on every face. I've heard the sound of laughter Filling up the place. They've found an understanding, They've found a brighter day. And wouldn't the world be a better place If we all felt that way?

Love this.

                              The CHUMs
Don't you think this is a great photo for us, lol.



Delia ......well done.

                                      

                                         Congratulations to one of our CHUMs members

                                      for her high exam results in her Bible Study Course

                                                                  Well done Delia !!



Massey's Lunch

What a lovely day for a lunch.  The winter sun was just right, it warmed us up as we made our way to Massey's, Forest Grove for our CHUMs lunch.   Some of us had a lunch and others had a high tea.  The portions were generous and the high tea very more-ish.  But I digress.

CHUMs & Friends

We CHUMs and our friends (making a total of nine hungry ladies all dressed in various colours of Red and Purple) arrived at Massey's around noon; all eager to taste the delights on offer. 

High Tea - Cups

High Tea Platter

Those that were having High Tea had the most dainty cups and saucers along with a nice selection of sandwiches, quiche, scones with jam and cream and finally little mud cakes with fresh strawberries.




The choices from the Lunch menu ranged from Soup, Wedges,Fish & Chips and Pasta.  All the lunch portions claimed to be on the small side but the large plates were overflowing with food.  Needless to say we all reckoned that we got value for money.

Delia & Jean 

Diana & Cheryle

Kim, Kerry & Mary

Vanessa, Sandra & Diana

This being our first gathering of the CHUMs, it gave us the opportunity to wear our red hats etc.  Cheryle's red hats that she got from China turned out to be "small" versions of what I would have termed to be full size dress hats.  They were very pretty and we all agreed that a larger version of these hats would be perfect for just about any occasion.  Sandra and I wore our knitted red hats - which was more a sixties style of  hat rather than a formal dress hat.



After our respective meals we took a wander around the estate and discovered some goodies just lying on the side of the pavement.  We picked up a Dyson Cleaner and a Heater. 

These we took back to my house to check if they were working.  It was also the excuse we needed to have some more tea and a chat about future events.


Back at Little Grove, we were met individually by Clancy (a visiting small good natured dog) who rushed to smell each person that came through the door and to get her ears tickled.  Next we checked out the goodies and discovered that the heater worked but the Dyson did not. 

Showing off the "goodies"

What a find!

 Due to the cost of these machines we thought that if it could be fixed for say $100 it would be worth keeping.  So we are all keeping our fingers crossed that we can get it work.
Between sipping our tea we agreed to a walk at the end of the August and to celebrate our Birthday's with the Birthday Girl getting to choose something they would like to do.  As three of us has a birthday in November; that is going to be a very busy month for us CHUMs.  Just how we like it.

What is on in the Theatres.

As promised I have looked around to see what is on at our local theatres and have the following to report:

ROO THEATRE

• 27th July - 11th August 2012 - The Odd Couple.  Adults $20.00,  Conces $15.00
• 7th Sep - 22nd Sep 2012 - Calendar Girls. Adults TBA, Concess TBA (Tickets on sale soon)
• Nov 2012 - Les Miserables.

THE ARCADIANS THEATRE GROUP

• 23rd Nov - 8 Dec 2012 - Into The Woods.  Adults $25.00 (I think), Concess $22.00 (I think)
• Tickets on sale 28 Sep 2012.

THE PHOENIX THEATRE - CONISTON

• 7 & 8 July 2012 - Opera at the Phoenix.  Adults $25.00 Concess $15.00, plus booking fee
• Show Times: Saturday July 7 at 8pm Sunday July 8 at 2pm.
• Favourite arias sung by Sydney’s rising opera talents! Works by Messrs Bizet, Mozart, Puccini, Delibes, and others, along with a brilliant new performance of some of Händel’s hidden opera gems.  Two performances only!

oo0oo

• 13th to 28th July 2012 - Pippin.  Adults $30.00 Concess $25.00
• Show Times: Wednesday July 18 & 25 at 8pm, Friday July 13, 20 & 27 at 8pm, 
• Saturday July 14, 21 & 28 at 8pm, Saturday July 28 at 3pm, 
• Sunday July 15 & 22 at 3pm
• Pippin is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell and Wicked) and a book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto. The musical uses the premise of a mysterious acting troupe, led by a Leading Player, to tell the story of Pippin, a young prince on his search for meaning and significance. They offer a young actor fame, glory and a spectacular finale. Pippin tries various paths to fulfillment and to live an extraordinary life but nothing satisfies him ultimately he must choose to play out the troupes Faustian Game or live an ordinary life with no music, colour or pretty masks to hide behind.

oo0oo

• 25th August 2012 - The Dancing Mice and the Giants of Flanders.  Adults $15.00, Concess $10.00 
• Show Time - at 8pm
• A new opera by Houston Dunleavy and Laura E. Goodin.  A concert performance of a new opera in development - your chance to give feedback and participate in the creation of this exciting and enchanting work!

June Update

June has been a month that has flown by.  The main things we have to mention is that some of us are now the proud owners of Red Hats and a few purple tops.  From the description you would believe that these would be easy things to procure but actually trying to buy them has been something of a logistic nightmare.

For example, Cheryle's hat is coming all the way over from China and mine came from a little shop in Koggrah (but I am sure it originally came from China).  Then there has been the purchasing of purple clothing; here there is a little comfort, as purple seems to be the in colour for this winter.  So I can now say that I am the owner of a few purple tops and one red hat.

I am expecting the number of my hats to grow as  I shall need a different type of hat for different types of occasions.  So it looks as if I shall have lots of excuses to indulge in my hobby of "Retail Therapy"

From this entry; you would think that we have not done much this month but I can honestly say that the e-mails have been flying back and forth between us.  Hopefully we will see the fruits of our labours soon and the CHUMs diary will start to fill up.