Monday 29th April 2024

This week I have had the opportunity to meet up with folks who are either a part of our team or people who are in a related business, to chat about how we might grasp a vision for development and ways of moving forward.

On Monday I had a team meeting with Libby and Paul. It was good to meet up with Libby in person and gain an understanding of how being an Administrator at Forget Me Notes works when we all work in different spaces. Libby has been a great asset in the last six months. Looking at our website, our newsletter, a new leaflet and seeing how our stored information is so much more ordered is wonderful. When the two Co Chief Executives are also delivering services, it is difficult to always stay on top of all the administration. It is good to have someone who can not only do the role but also develop the role.

On Tuesday I met up with a friend who is also running her own charity and to see how she has progressed over the last seven years to be able to provide services that are meeting the needs of so many people. Chatting through various issues with her allowed me to understand where we are and what we can learn from other people.

We are preparing for the next Together in Song at the Festival Theatre. We are going to feature the work of the King’s Theatre and see how the renovations are getting along. We will also be able to chat to one of the staff who is part of the development strategy, this will be good to help us to understand what we can expect from The King’s when it opens.

At Indoor Choir on Thursday, those gathered were still buzzing from the concert on Saturday. What a great evening it was, and the feedback has been tremendous.

On Friday I got to chat with a couple of people who are looking to establish a music therapy business. In talking to them about how Forget Me Notes has found its feet along the development pathway was great. It enabled me to see more clearly just how far we have come over the last six years and just how much more development is possible.

In the afternoon we were at a brand-new care home called Eildon House. I had never been there before, it was great, it is a small care home which meant that we could take our time to make sure that each resident was listened to. I enjoy this part of my role, hearing the stories that people tell me. I found out about a resident born in the East end of London and how another resident used to get front row seats at the Usher Hall because she worked in the whisky industry. These snippets of information will help when we go back next month. We can now sing songs like “Campbeltown Loch, I wish you were whisky” or “Maybe It’s Because I’m a Londoner” and see if these songs inspire more memories. The hope is that this will allow people the chance to recall stories of their youth.

I wonder what songs would make their way into your playlist and why? You could always drop me a line and tell me if you like.

Have a good week.

Monday 22nd April 2024

It is very difficult not to start this post with last nights concert as it was such a success, however I am going to resist and look at some of the things we have done this week.

It started with Libby, Paul and I looking at the design of our new leaflet. I must admit I love it. It’s not entirely finished yet and we have to find another picture but overall, I think it is clear and to the point and will grab the attention of people quickly.

We were at Eagle Lodge on Tuesday, and it was great to share with some residents we have not met before. I think I can safely say it was a colourful session. It was brilliant but I don’t think I should go into detail!

Kenny and I were at Marian House, and we had more people than we have ever had with family and friends joining the session. Paul and I were at Open Door on Thursday morning. We are in the middle of a project called Music for Health and Well-being. The attendees have produced musical mosaics describing something of their lives and the music that has played an important part for them. This has led to us singing many of the songs represented in the mosaics. During our Thursday session we have recorded some of the stories and emotion shared. There was real energy and emotion in the room that was inspiring.

At Saughton Park we took our new evaluation tree and after what was another great session with a full house, we asked people to fill in labels to hang on the tree about what they thought of Choir in the Park. One person wrote “When your family are far away this is just what you need”. I am a man in my sixties, but it didn’t mean I didn’t have a tear in my eye when I read this. Beautiful.

On Friday I was at Ashbrook which was amazing with more than twenty people sharing what was a great morning, then I went to Cramond for a session with Kenny. They had some young students who were on placement from Edinburgh College. It felt like a real intergenerational session with several residents attending for the first time.

In the morning, we had our Trustee meeting, and it was good to welcome a new trustee. The wonderful thing about working with our trustees is that we know that all have The Forget Me Notes Project best interest at heart. Amongst all the good news I am sharing with you is some new that is not so good. The day care settings in Edinburgh are having further cutbacks to their budgets. This has meant that certain of the groups that we deliver have had to be suspended. We were chatting through just how we might be able to approach this and turn what is a negative situation into a positive.

Well now I must tell you about the concert last night. It was amazing! It was held in a premiere building on the corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road at the iconic St John’s Episcopalian Church. The audience were from everywhere. There were people from America, Europe, England and then there were people from the Forget Me Notes family. The Church was full and I am not sure they knew what to expect. We were a part of the concert at the invitation of The Edinburgh Brass Band and they were brilliant. Their playing was great and with the different styles of music they played there was something for everyone. The Forget Me Notes sang a variety of songs inviting the audience and the band to sing with us. I am not sure that some of those in the audience were prepared for this but when we got to Sweet Caroline then they got going. It was great to see so many people who support Forget Me Notes in the audience. There were people who come to St Bride’s, Ashbrook, Royston and it was just great to see them. The Band allowed us to take a bucket collection at the end of the concert which was so generous of them. You can hear that it has been a pretty amazing week, a week that will live in my memory for a long time.

I am sure there will be more to report next week but it’s not quite as busy as this last week. Have a great time and speak to you next week.

Monday 15th April 2024

I was reflecting on the different facilitators that I work alongside when delivering Music Memories sessions and the differences they bring to their role. I have worked with Paul for several years now and it’s like putting on a comfortable pair of slippers, we understand the way we work and can rely on each other for the skills we know we have. Don’t get me wrong, we always have to be prepared that every session will ask something different from us, so we must be on our toes. John has been a part of Forget Me Notes from its conception and working with him at Eagle Lodge has meant enabling people to participate in ways that have moved us all. I now also work with Alan and Kenny who both bring so much to the work they do, and I am so happy to have the chance to work with them. Alan began work with Forget Me Notes because he came as a participant who played the guitar at one of our sessions. He now delivers sessions with me at Ashbrook and Lauder Lodge. Alan has grown in confidence in his role and takes the lead chatting to participants and sharing in some truly awful jokes. It has become very clear just how much those who come to our sessions value Alan. Kenny brings with him a working knowledge of delivering music sessions for those with learning difficulties over many years. I enjoy working alongside him seeing his understanding of how music works for people. To see those skills being used with those who are living with dementia is brilliant. It is very easy to get carried away with the skills he has on the guitar and not acknowledge the gentle way in which he supports people to take part. We also have Tilly and Alice who work away at Seagrove - the Facebook posts and videos show just what a great job they do.

I hope what comes across in this post is that I work with music facilitators who I respect and have the chance to share in special relationships as we watch people open up and share their stories using the medium of music. I must make mention of Friday afternoon at Craighall. Craighall is a very small care home with just twelve residents so getting four residents and two staff is a good percentage of the home. Kenny and I did the song Rock Around the Clock. It was great to see one of the male residents who I think would be in his eighties rock and rolling with the young activities co-ordinator who would be in her early twenties. The joy that was expressed in their faces as they both danced was brilliant to see.

Saturday 20th of April at 7.30pm sees us in concert with the Edinburgh Brass Band. We had the privilege of working with them a few years ago at a Christmas Concert so it will be good to share this time with them. If you fancy coming along then you would be most welcome. The concert is free and there will be a bucket collection at the end of the concert. For those who might be reading these posts who I have never met before, if you plan to come to the concert why not come up, introduce yourself and say hello, it would be great to meet you. I am sure it will be a fun night.

You can book a ticket via Eventbrite. Here is the link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/music-for-spring-tickets-867702941857

Have a good week and speak to you next time.

Monday 8th April 2024

Our first Music Memories this week was at Eagle Lodge, the refurb appears to be going well. We were in the first-floor lounge and there weren’t a lot of people as some were going to a garden centre. It was, however, an interesting session with people interacting at various levels. For example, one resident who appeared to be sleeping was singing along, another resident whose capacity to sit in the room and sing was a challenge. He would get up and walk out of the room and then by attracting his attention as he walked in the corridor he would come back and sing again. It was a lesson in allowing people to access the session at a pace and level that they are able. As someone facilitating there were many lessons to learn about delivering for those with a lived experience of Dementia.

Saughton Park on Thursday was a welcome relief to the continuous rain we have had this last week. We were in the glasshouse and when I arrived, I thought we might have water everywhere but that was not the case, and so I could put out the chairs. When we began, I thought we were going to have a smaller number of people but five minutes after we started there was very nearly a full house.

We were at Ashbrook on Friday. We were back to pouring rain and wondered just how many people would arrive. We had a brilliant morning with two of the group who had spent the winter in America were back with us, it was great to see them. We also had new people and different people with us and the energy that was created was great. People always interact well at Ashbrook but on Friday it was particularly good.

Sharing your story means feeling confident with the environment and confident with the people you are sharing it with. It is important that all stories are respected as belonging to the person who is sharing. Understanding what emotional pain or strength lies behind the story of another person means being aware of how our own story impacts upon us. When this way of listening finds a home in the heart of the person telling the story and the person who is listening, it has the capacity to turn a music session from singing together and having fun into an experience that transforms the well-being of both parties.

Have a great week.

Monday 1st April 2024

I am reminded today of the great Norman Wisdom who in my view was one of the all time greats of comedy film in his era. Why today you may ask? Well, today is April Fool’s Day and Norman made the song “Don’t laugh at me cos I’m a fool” his own. His shy, awkward behaviour was characteristic of a man who knew his craft and delivered it well.

When building an organisation, the behind-the-scenes work needs to be in place, for without a strong team of people, it is likely to fall apart. With that in mind we are looking at how Forget Me Notes is supported by its Trustees. We have written a policy for Equality and Inclusion in management. On our team we want to have those with a lived experience of Dementia, those with learning difficulties, people with mental health issues all at the centre of Forget Me Notes and we are working to make this happen. We are not there yet, it is still a work in progress and those of us who are a part of the team now need to equip ourselves to welcome our team of the future.

While we have recently been able to tell you about new services becoming a part of Forget Me Notes, we have had to suspend services this week. This is hopefully temporary, but while the organisation has applied for money it hasn’t yet come through, so for April we are not able to do some sessions that we have been doing for just short of six years. It was sad to have to tell people who we have worked with for so long that we are having to take a break. However, we are optimistic that we will be back shortly.

We have fixed a date for the Showcase. You will be wondering what that is? We are all really excited about the 13th of August as we are going to present the work of The Forget Me Note Project using the people who attend. It will be held at St Bride’s in Dalry and we will feature the Music Memories Project, Volunteer Project and Choir Project. We want to share with people, including funders, what the values and the work of Forget Me Notes is all about. This will focus on the positivity (as John calls it) of working with people living with dementia and music. We are going to create a working group and see what we can achieve to tell our story in the best way possible.

Not only is it April Fool’s Day it’s also Easter Monday, so I hope you are enjoying your weekend. It is usually a time to get into the garden but it’s still a wee bit cold so getting up for painting the shed which is what I need to do, is a bit of a struggle. However, I think I will give it a go later. See you next week.

Monday 25th March 2024

What an amazing start to last week. I went to St Brides to share in the group with Kenny and John. It was brilliant with such a varied session. There were people of every race you could imagine Polish, Hong Kong, English, Scottish and some that I am not sure of. It was great to hear a lady getting up to sing in her own language. I really don’t know what she was singing about but the community created was the only language needed to understand that the whole room was supporting her as she sang. Two gentlemen with mental health issues and a lady with Down’s also sang through the mic. It was a real celebration of difference, and it was wonderful.

On Tuesday we were at Eagle Lodge, we are having to use the small lounge up the stairs as they are having a new roof in the main lounge and dining room. I was wondering just how the small lounge would work but to be honest it works very well. People being closer together has led to more interaction which has been great.

After our session at Eagle Lodge Paul and I shared lunch with Jess our Music Therapy student, this was her last week with us. We have never had a student on placement before so we took a risk when we said we could take someone. However, it has been a great experience for us, being able to contribute to Jess’s development has been a joy and one that I have learned from for my own practice. We are hoping that Jess will become a part of Forget Me Notes in a more formal way once she has completed her degree.

Jean and I went to purchase Hot Chocolate and cups from Costco on Wednesday morning from the donation that I referred to last week. We got some weird looks from the cashier when we paid for 25 tubs of Cadbury’s chocolate and three boxes of paper cups. I don’t think the cashier believed me when I told her that this was just for me and that it would take me just a week to drink it!

On Friday I was doing supervision at Open Door. It made my day to see the work done on personal mosaics showing each person’s attachment to music. The stories told within the pictures were just great and showed the different responses to music. We reflected on how these could now be used to help develop the relationship between those people that use Open Door for a service and the staff who work there.

It is a fun packed week working with The Forget Me Notes project that’s for sure, and there are all also many other things that I didn’t tell you about in this post.

Take care speak soon.

Monday 18th March 2024

This week saw us able to sign up two more service providers for Music Memories sessions. It is good to see that the work we are doing is needed and providing for people an opportunity to share their stories and share in the health benefit that music brings.

On Thursday morning I was writing my service and funding report for our trustee meeting on Friday. It was good to be able to reflect on both new and established services that are showing just how music works when used well. It is a joy to see at places like Open Door, Eagle Lodge, Seagrove, and Ashbrook just how people use the sessions for what they need.

We have also had a good month for funding with three successful applications. Two of them will secure our services for this financial year which gives us the chance to look at more long-term aspirations and explore funding to fulfil those dreams. What is the saying? “Look after the pennies and the pounds take care of themselves”. Thanks to a friend of mine we secured a grant to buy hot chocolate and cups for the Choir in the Park. It’s not the largest grant we have ever been given but it’s one that shows just how it is so often the small things that help when building community. I know that members will make biscuits, bring biscuits and maybe the occasional cake and it makes such a difference to the chat at the end of choir, and the impact it has upon those who attend is clear for all to see.

We had a great Trustee meeting on Friday morning. It was good to be in person and not on Zoom for a change. There is something about face-to-face meetings that Zoom can’t fulfil. It is thanks to our trustees that Forget Me Notes can reach the people we do. We receive amazing support and the full backing of people who have experience and understanding of all that we are trying to achieve. They work with us so that we can provide the quality of services that we all can be pleased with.

It’s as the song says “Forget me Notes, Forget me Notes, we all have fun at Forget me Notes”

Hope that you have a good week.

Monday 11th March 2024

Today has been very reflective as we shared the funeral service of a long-standing Forget Me Note. We shared stories and songs together that told the story of her life. We listened to a tribute from her husband who helped us to understand the unique person that she was and is. There was one song that stood out for me and that was the song:

‘Perhaps Love’ by John Denver.

If you haven’t heard it before, then I would suggest you have a listen on YouTube. The lyrics are inspired and could only be written by someone whose picture of love is so rounded and whole.

On Monday I was at the BOLD celebration. Bold is about leadership in dementia and for the last five years they have been empowering leaders within this remit. I met several new people and reconnected with some people who I hadn’t met for a while.

On Tuesday I had a meeting with our music therapy student. It is coming to the end of her placement, so we were talking about last things. Closing relationships that have been built and moving on is a particular skill and we were looking at how this might be done in the best way possible. It has been a great placement for The Forget Me Note Project, we have loved having a student and it has made me reflect on how I do my own learning.

Last Thursday we had some new people at Choir in the Park, which was good, this session was attended by some school children who are doing a project on The Forget Me Notes Project. While this was taking place, Paul was at Open Door doing a session there. They had a funder coming to see Open Door and she wanted to see the music project in action.

On Friday, Paul and I were at Strachan House while Tilly and Alice were at Seagrove. All this activity under the banner of The Forget Me Notes Project. It is a reminder for me that people move in and out of our lives, leaving an imprint all their own making.

It was like that for the lady whose funeral we took part in this morning. Her and her husband have made a mark in my heart that I will carry forever. John Denver’s song explores what love is like for different people and what it means in different contexts.

The second verse starts:

“Perhaps love is like a window, perhaps an open door, it invites you to come closer, It wants to show you more.”

What I have discovered about love and working with people is that I should always prepare to be surprised and always be prepared to learn more. The wonderful thing about being human and being loved is that when the environment is well supported, warm and inclusive we flourish. Thank you Forget Me Notes everywhere for all that you teach me every day and as the song says:

“My memories of love will be of you.”

Monday 4th March 2024

Why am I starting this post by telling you about Dave Myers the Hairy biker who died this week? It’s because I loved the programme Hairy Bikers, and I heard the news on Thursday while I was travelling to visit a Choir Member and volunteer who found herself in hospital. Why do I love the programme so much? It’s because of the relationship between Dave and Si King. They clearly loved each other, and the chat between them was wonderful to listen to. They were so relaxed with one another that they had the capacity to be relaxed with those other people they met on their programme, it was beautiful to see (the foods not bad either!)

On Monday I had to visit one of our members as I will be conducting his wife’s funeral. It is always difficult when we lose one of our members, however it will be a privilege to stand with the family in their time of need. The Forget Me Notes have been asked to help and support the singing at the funeral.

We have so many highlights this week while delivering sessions. At Lauder Lodge on my way to the lounge, I got to walk with one of the residents. I was able to listen to his quiet gentle voice and then watch and listen as he sang with us. We also got to listen to an impromptu duet from the ladies who sit on the settee there, which was just great.

Arriving at Open Door a bit early I had a chat with the participants. We chatted about what they had eaten for lunch and the usual subjects. I was so surprised when one of the folks who we have worked with for at least three years told me that she used to have a group in her house called the Choir for non-singers. She would invite people from the village where she lived for refreshments and a sing together. How good is that!

On Friday we shared in a Together in Song at the Festival Theatre. We were doing a Welsh and Irish theme given that in March we celebrate St David’s and St Patricks days, however, two songs were chosen by people from our last concert. They were Crazy by Patsy Kline and Secret Love by Doris Day. The lady who had chosen Secret Love I knew was comfortable singing by herself. Her grandfather had performed at the Hippodrome and other family members had also been performers. I asked her to come forward and sing Secret Love for us. One of the other attendees who has dementia thought that I was speaking to her and came forward too. What happened next was beautiful and brought a tear to my eye. The two of them sang together Secret Love and thanks to the inclusive nature of Forget Me Notes and Together in Song we were treated to such a precious moment.

Back to my friends the Hairy Bikers. It is often in the relationships we share that turn quite ordinary moments into something precious. To see people sing together and share memories of friendships and support is thrilling. The trust and respect that people find at Forget Me Notes means they can share together in a relaxed way. It is in moments like these that make life into a treasure beyond what we could imagine.

Have a good week. Find someone to love and support and turn your week into a treasure.

Monday 26th February 2024

This week has given new opportunities and exciting possibilities. We started on Monday with a team meeting. This is an example of how The Forget Me Notes Project has grown. Having a team of four paid staff means meeting together and building a team that will move us forward still further. After the team meeting, I went to a meeting related to a funding opportunity. We have placed a note of interest for the Community Mental Health and Welfare fund. The meeting enabled each of us who have made a note of interest to present comments around services and tell our stories. I really enjoyed finding out about the various services that are working within Edinburgh. It shows a desire from people to support those who are vulnerable and to do it in the most effective way possible.

On Tuesday I spent some time with our music therapy student. Hearing about the work she is doing and exploring with her the learning possibilities is something that I really enjoy. Study for study’s sake may lead to a more developed sense of self but study that leads to better practitioners means that those using services can be assured of the best services possible.

Ensuring that we have sufficient funds to continue our work means funding applications and writing reports on the money we have spent. I have had to do both during this week. It is a chore to be honest but when you turn those chores into positive responses then we can use the money gained to ensure we have the services for those who will benefit the most.

On Friday following a series of Music Memories on Thursday I was doing supervision for a project we are doing with Open Door. The aim to see music as a part of the way care and support are given in everyday situations is a passion of ours at Forget Me Notes. When I was told that one of the service users was struggling in an afternoon activity staff decide to use the wonderful new room, they have decked out with a 60’s style record player and use an LP of Fleetwood Mac. The service user moved through the difficult emotions she was feeling to then be able to re-enter the main room with the group in a more positive way. What a beautiful use of music for both the service user and the staff.

Somebody once said to me that the message we carry with regard music is not rocket science and in so many ways that is true. Building effective relationships using music however is beyond rocket science. It is unique to each person and requires a staff team who with empathy create a space and an environment where self-expression is not something to be feared but through trust is welcomed.

Good to know that what we have to say both verbally and emotionally has value and is worth listening to.

Have a good week!

Monday 19th February 2024

This week began with the supervision of our Volunteer Coordinator. I always enjoy reflecting and listening to the way in which people work. I enjoy it because it also gives me a chance to reflect on what I bring to my role at Forget Me Notes. The privilege of working with others comes with a responsibility for doing your best.

Monday also saw our Zoom Choir, which is held every week. Zoom Choir was originally a product of the Pandemic, and it would be easy to think that now we can all meet together face to face, there would be no need for choirs on Zoom. However, as far as we are concerned our Zoom Choir is still attended by around twenty people from all over the UK and so it has become a time that we all look forward to.

We had a good Trustee meeting on Tuesday with an agenda that helped us to consider the issues that will mean the continued development of The Forget Me Notes Project. We are lucky to have Trustees who are committed to the project and provide good support for Paul, myself, and the project overall. This means we are more able to achieve outcomes we have set ourselves.

On Tuesday afternoon we delivered a session at Camilla House. It was a good session seeing partners dancing together as well as singing with enthusiasm. I was able to take a bit of time to visit one of the residents there who along with her husband have been a part of The Forget Me Notes Project for a few years. She is not well so it was good to go and see her, to assure her of our support. While I was in the room with her and her husband, I began to sing the song Morning has Broken, a song they had at their wedding. It was lovely to see her response as she opened her eyes and smiled.

When we met at Saughton Park on Thursday it was wet. I know we are in the glasshouse, but it is definitely not watertight so before the session went ahead we needed to mop up some of the water with a towel! There were more than forty people present, it was half term so having some children in the room meant adapting the songs to enable them to take part. We were able to sing Baby Shark, Yellow Submarine and You are my Sunshine. You wouldn’t think of You are my Sunshine as being a modern song but the youngsters who were there on Thursday loved it.

My week closed with a music memory session at Ashbrook which went well. Not as many people came on Friday but those who were there really enjoyed the session. We did have one new person who came to see what happened at Forget Me Notes in order that she could encourage her father to come and join us.

I can’t remember the program where the phrase originated but “try before you buy” comes to mind. It feels to me that when you get a chance to sample something it’s a good thing. It’s like a visit to Costco when you get so many samples that by the time you have finished your visit you don’t need any lunch. I am sure I am not the only one!

Have a good week.

Monday 12th February 2024

Last Monday saw me attend the volunteers support meeting. It was a training session using the reflections of the volunteers around a film that we had watched, we then had to consider how we use language with those living with dementia. To say I was encouraged would be an understatement. Having a vision for a project can be the desire of one person but bringing that vision to fruition demands a team. I could not have been prouder of our team than when I left this session. I must commend our Volunteer Co-ordinator Elizabeth for her work with the volunteers because the capacity for people to use the time, reflect and learn could not take place without the appropriate environment. That environment has been built not just in this session but in the trust built throughout the lifetime of the volunteer project.

After such a positive morning it was onto a visit to a care home with regards to starting new work and that was good too, we will start sessions with them next week. I was also able to submit a note of interest to a funder which we hope to take forward. We have always seen ourselves as a bridge between music used for entertainment and music for therapy. So, we aim to build a music therapy project with a small group and individual sessions that will enable those people who find the structure of songs more demanding. The opportunity to explore sound and rhythm is still important and this project will allow for that.

Thursday was a long day, ending up at Stenhouse Wynd though is always special. The group at Stenhouse is not our biggest group but what it does allow for is the chance to move at a pace dictated by the group. We end up chatting about all sorts of things. We spoke about the importance of friendship and supporting one another. We also spoke about Valentine’s day and peoples experiences of loving relationships.

When I worked as a counsellor at Cruse, we would often explore those things we treasure and the impact of loss. We keep our treasures in different places, don’t we? Perhaps in the bank, even in a memory box, however, we always keep them in our hearts. We work mainly with older people, many of whom live alone. Either their partners are no longer alive or they are living with dementia and experiencing the loss that comes with the ongoing issues that dementia brings with it. The things we treasure the most is kept within our hearts, the people, the experiences, those things that mere words cannot describe.

Whether Valentine’s Day is one where you buy a card for someone or you celebrate the memory of someone the treasure will be found in your heart.

Hope you feel loved this week.

Monday 5th February 2024

The power of music to be a pathway to communication is something that never ceases to amaze me. I remember watching the video of Henry who when he first had his earphones being able to communicate in ways that without his music he can’t. The way in which Forget Me Notes started was because of someone who was non-verbal being able to sing songs. Well, it happened again this week. I was involved in a session at a new care home which we had never been to before where a resident who was non-verbal attended. While we were singing the man was able to mouth the words clearly and sing with us, what was so good is that he was smiling and interacting throughout the whole session. It was so clear just how positive this experience was to him. We can talk about things being beautiful and this was one of those moments.

On Friday we were back at the Festival Theatre. We hadn’t been there since early in December, so it really was good to be back. We took the theme of Valentines or perhaps it would be more accurate to say it was about reflecting on those we love. It was a great afternoon with as many as sixty people. I love the opportunity of engaging with the people who being able to help people feel that they are a part of something.

We are looking to place a note of interest for the Community Mental Health and Welfare fund. It’s not the biggest grant that we have applied for, but it is an important one. Our volunteer project was born from realising that some people due to their changing health condition were not able to attend face to face Forget Me Notes events. Establishing the volunteer project has proved to be an excellent move and one that has shown just how Forget Me Notes can respond quickly to the needs around us. We will place a note of interest to establish a project that will move us nearer to a music therapy model. This will involve a small group and give us the opportunity to employ a music therapist who will work individually to enhance people’s communication opportunities. Establishing vision and bringing those visions to a practical delivery of a service needs to be thought through. This is another dream that we hope to make a reality.

Thanks for all your support. and have a good week.

Monday 29th January 2024

I know it happens every year, but we have hardly got our Christmas decorations in the loft when it is February. The only bonus this year is that we get an extra day on the 29 February as it is a leap year. This month we have taken the theme of Scotland for January, and it has been great singing Bonnie Wee Jeannie McColl. I usually follow the song and ask people if they can remember their Co-op number. It really is amazing how many people can remember theirs, their mother’s, and some their grandmother’s. This dementia thing can be quite baffling, can’t it? When family members hear this and then realise that the person cannot remember their name it can be so distressing. There is one thing about Scottish songs, the melodies and lyrics unite people. They are like a rallying cry.

This week I spent time with a carer who is having to deal with the issue of finding a care home for the person she loves the most. Having been a care home manager and received people into care homes, I have seen just how devastating decisions like these really are. My head tells me that there comes a time when people living with dementia need a team of people to support them and while this is true you need time for your heart to catch up with your head.

Also, in this past week I spent time with one of our Choir members who lives alone, when I arrived to see him, he had no heating and was huddled around a fan heater. Along with his daughter I helped to get him two other heaters and arrange for his boiler to be repaired. I also found that his internet was not running. Now, those who know me know that while I can work my way round a computer, I am not the most technical of persons. I do know though when the plug is not fully in the socket then no Wi-Fi signal is possible! You and I might see this as trivial but if you are wanting to send emails to friends abroad and it is the only way of keeping in touch with people you care about, then it can be incredibly frustrating.

Standing alongside those who need us is a privilege and an honour and the thing is, at some point in our lives we will all need the support of others. I heard someone say that we are our best selves when we are in community with others. It’s a statement that is worthy of reflection.

I am reminded of the pop song with the words that say, “Love will keep us together whatever”. Words that are so easily sung but take immense physical and emotional strength for them to become a reality. If you need a friend, take courage, pick up the phone, send an email and reach out, as another song says, “reach out, reach out I’ll be there with the love to see you through”. Whether you are the one reaching out or the one being reached out to, then play your part with strength and respect.

Have a good week.

Monday 22nd January 2024

There is one thing that you can say about being a part of The Forget Me Notes Project you never have an ordinary week. We have had really good Music Memory sessions at Eagle Lodge, Quarries and Ashbrook. Our session at Ashbrook saw sixteen people attending which was great and the most we have ever had to this group. The sessions lead by Kenny and John at St Brides and the session led by Alan and Alice at Seagrove were also positive sessions.

We also had the most amazing session at Saughton Park in the glasshouse. The children from Broomhouse Primary school joined us and we enjoyed their Scottish highland dancing and the songs we sang together. We had the biggest turn out we have ever had. The enthusiasm that the children bring to the session is truly infectious. The singing of Ya Cannae Shuv Yer Grannie Off A Bus was just brilliant.

We have a had two new projects this week that have confirmed they would like to work with The Forget Me Notes Project and we will also be speaking to two other providers this coming week about future work.

We submitted two funding applications this week which is not bad going and we have one to send this week. If you are a member of the Co-op then you could be of help to us. We have been nominated for a grant and all we have to do is get members of the Co-op to nominate us as their preferred charity. The more people who nominate us the more money we will get, so if you are able to vote for us, we would be very grateful.

Monday 15th January 2024

It was an interesting week last week, a sort of first week back after the festivities and a challenging week for me. I had to attend a hospital appointment I am fine but needed a procedure completing. What was interesting was that throughout the procedure the consultant and nurses were using music as a way of ensuring that the situation was not as stressful as it might have been. Another example of how when music is used well in everyday situations it can be used as a therapeutic intervention.

Along with the usual music memory sessions we held our monthly trustee meeting. It was an interesting meeting, particularly the discussion around social prescribing and how we place ourselves in the best position for medical staff to prescribe The Forget Me Notes project as a form of support and treatment. We have always taken the view that everyone is welcome and that is still the case and I hope it always will be, however it is important that we enable professionals the chance to see our services as credible treatment spaces. We decided that we should begin to talk about professional referrals and self-referrals in order that we place ourselves in the best place to receive future participants.

I declared at Zoom Choir this week that Jam was not my favourite food, so when it came to indoor choir one of our members brought me some cherry jam that she made herself. I had to try it but not in a traditional way with toast, I got some vanilla ice-cream and used it as a topping. It was beautiful, the sharp taste of the jam alongside the ice cream. While music is therapeutic so is creating community and exchanging conversations around ordinary everyday things (like jam). Isolation is an awful thing it can make people seriously ill and so whatever we can do to make people feel a part of something that is what we must do. I have mentioned before that we have a saying “Once a Forget me Note always a Forget me Note”. The saying is all about belonging and whether you are a volunteer, a carer, a person with a lived experience of dementia, a member of staff or a supporter: if you want to you can belong.

They tell me that today is blue Monday - it is supposed to be the bluest day of the year. If this is how you feel maybe you could look up Forget me Notes if you live in Edinburgh, if not then there might be a choir for you in the place where you live. Singing together can be such a wonderful chance to build friendships and experience a sense of belonging. One of our members used to say, “I am more than myself when I sing in the choir”. Well for me that feels like being a part of something, it feels like community.

See you next week.

Monday 8th January 2024

At the beginning of a New Year, I was asked by someone “What do you hope for Forget Me Notes this year?” It is of course a very relevant question and one that deserves reflection. The broad response is that we must respond to the needs of those people living with dementia and their carers. The specific answer means looking at the issues surrounding what that means.

The 23rd January will see us delivering training to more music facilitators to enhance our Music Memory program. They are most definitely needed because we are getting new work regularly. Today will see two new facilitators working together at Seagrove and John and Kenny will be back at St Brides. The St Brides session is so interesting because it happens during a foodbank and reaches so many people from different cultures representing different needs. At the Christmas session we found out about Christmas in the Ukraine and in Poland, we also listened to songs sung in Chinese. This mosaic of community is a privilege to be a part of and I am certainly hoping that we can build on opportunities like these.

We have already set our vision for the Volunteer Project and that is to make our monitoring and evaluation more robust. This will enable us to hear the voices of those that use the service and respond to those things that people request of us. It will highlight what we do well and give us the opportunity to look at those areas that need improving.

Our three choirs are just a joy! On Thursday 4th January we were in Saughton Park where we had 35 people singing in the glasshouse which included people who came for the first time. Once again John graced us with a New Year’s joke, we were able to share together with stories of Christmas and the time we have spent in the last two weeks. Today will be Zoom Choir the first since New Year and it will be good to meet up with those who live in other parts of the UK.

All these services show that we are building community, using music, and challenging isolation: the aims of Forget Me Notes as a whole. Well, I suppose that remains the answer to my friend’s question, that we continue to use music to meet our aims in a way that is relevant to those who we meet.

Have a good week and see you next time.

Monday 1st January 2024

Happy New Year!

This will be a short post because we haven’t really been doing any face to face work this week. We will however start the year on Thursday at Saughton Park with a good old Scottish sing-a-long. Watching a bit of telly last night I saw the programme Get the Tunes On with Michelle McManus. It was good people reminiscing about their favourites at New Year. Runrig singing Loch Lomond, Lulu singing Shout, Paulo Nutini singing anything.

We had a few days away this week and John and I sat down to look at a Showcase we are planning for late March early April. We have decided that rather than wait for funders to fund us we will actively show them what we do and it’s impact by holding a cabaret evening. We aim to invite funders and let them see for themselves, hear the stories told by those living with dementia and their carers. Getting your message across on paper is not as easy as letting people see for themselves. The main issue will be getting them to come along but we have ways and means.

All this is for later, today we celebrate that we have the opportunity to make things happen. So to you and yours have a Guid New Year! ( as we say in Scotland)

Monday 25th December 2023

And so, this is Christmas and what have you done?

What a good question for Forget Me Notes. This is a time when we look back over the last year and think about all the amazing things that have taken place during the last year.

Zoom Choir remains an important part of the project. Something that was established during covid has become an important part of what we do. It has also helped us with what can be achieved when using Zoom and how we can keep in contact with people.

We have started new Music Memory sessions and found five wonderful sessional facilitators who now are such an important part of Forget Me Notes. We are delivering 27 sessions a month, which represents more and more people being given access to music from a therapeutic point of view.

We started a partnership with Open Door called Music for Health and well-being and we continue our partnership with Capital Theatre with Together In Song.

Our two face to face choirs continue to be meaningful and well attended. At Saughton Park on Thursday fifty people, including children from Broomhouse Primary school gathered to sing together. It was great hearing children sing, the older adults sing and then all singing together it was marvellous.

Our volunteer project with 23 volunteers continues to reach out to support those who cannot come to the community-based services we offer. It is good to realise that people can be supported at whatever the level of dementia.

We also welcomed a new administrator and look forward to the benefits this will bring in the New Year.

As Mariah Carey sings “All I want for Christmas is you”. Lets make this season about the people we love and value. While we may not be able to afford those presents that everyone may want, we can afford a hug and then tell people that we love them. Just think about how this may affect someone’s health the whole year round, not just for Christmas.

Have a good time and see you in the New Year!

Monday 18th December 2023

This week we held our first team meeting with four employees. We have another five freelance music facilitators but direct employees we now have four. It felt as though we were beginning to build a new team. Having a new person will always change the dynamics as they bring their experience and personality to their role. It is great to have Libby as our new administrator and it is good to see her skills already impacting upon the services we run. Having a face-to-face meeting was good, for while working without a base saves on costs it is not always easy being seen as a part of a team. I am looking forward in the New Year to build an effective team across all aspects of the project and this week was a good start.

Another opportunity for me this week was to attend the Cross-Party Music Group at the Parliament. They always have a live performer and in this session we had two. One playing accordion and the other guitar. They were both outstanding in their particular genre ( I think that’s the word I am looking for) and it gave a good foundation to consider the impact that music has upon us all. Imagine my disappointment when Education was spoken about and how the cuts that are imminent will mean music playing a lesser part in our children’s curriculum. I have never been known for sitting quiet when things are troubling me. I process things out loud which I know for some people can be irritating. We are all different, so I spoke out and asked my question. I referred to studies that show that those who are exposed to Music are likely to achieve more than those who are deprived of this opportunity. I know from my own experience of school life just how much music did for me. I struggled through school and found English to be a nightmare, however having the chance to excel in music gave me a sense of worth and the ability to survive when teachers really had no understanding of the issues I faced. It was good to hear that my first question was not considered as poor because the chairperson said “Thank you for a good question and something I must keep in mind”. I could settle down, listen to the meeting and realised what it must be like for a new MSP or MP to speak in such surroundings.

The rest of my week has been spent in delivering Music Memories and looking for funding opportunities. It was good to get into the chore of our work and realise that while discussions may take place in the corridors of power, the real corridors of power lie in the Care Homes, Day Centres, Bandstands and wherever else people are being supported to express themselves.

My daughter was wearing a T-shirt with the words “Be your best self”. My initial reaction was to think how good is that, I like that. I reflected further on the word best and who decides? We all share different thoughts and evaluations of what is best, it’s why I always smile when I hear people say, “We have to get this right”. I haven’t yet discovered what doing things right really means. We take the situation we are in, and we do our best with what we have at that time. The beauty is that for those who love us it is always good enough. My ambition is to enable those living with dementia to be a version of themselves that brings them and those who love them a living identity of the spirit they have always shown.

Don’t b Flat,

Don’t b Sharp,

B natural