Abubilla Music

Mackinder, Sophie Mackinder: Licensed to be a bit miffed

Written by Sophie

OK, so I have been under pressure now from various abubilla big cheeses (I’m looking at YOU Jimbob Square Pants) and their heavies (*grinsweaklyatLouise*) to write a blog. My reluctance to do so thus far is two-fold. Firstly, my brain usually refuses to stick with me long enough to write down a full and coherent sentence, let alone a whole blog. I’m a natural editor (ahem), less of a writer – when creativity and imagination are required of me my eyes start to bulge, and steam comes out of my ears. And they want me to blog! They have no concern for my welfare, evidently.

The second reason is my complete and utter bafflement with regard to the website, and the internet (which I have images of as a magical land of pixies and fairies) in general. My esteemed Abubilla colleagues frequently assure me that writing blogs is really t’rrifically simple, and then proceed to bombard me with extensive instructions. Instructions that seem so complicated that I could, I believe, use them to hack into the Pentagon main computer, should I get a sudden hankering to blow up a small country. (Note to Magical Internet Pixies – will I get blacklisted by the FBI/CIA/A-Team for writing that?) My emails in reply to these instructions are filled with the cyber equivalent of a contrite and meek expression, complete with bambi eyes, and reassurances that I will, in fact, get to it this weekend.

But I never DO get to it that weekend. So we have now reached the stage where the emails from afore-mentioned esteemed colleagues have turned from fond bemusement and gentle teasing of my technical incapableness (a word? I think not, but am sticking with it), to stern reprimands and threats of a Papa-Johns-and-vodka imbargo. MAYDAY.

So here you find me, biting nails to the quick and whimpering softly as I frantically try to cobble together a contribution to the SMCC blogosphere, glancing furtively over my shoulder all the while to check the Abubilla equivalent of the Grim Reaper hasn’t come to claim what is rightfully his. What do I write about? The songs? Can’t say anything more than to tell you to listen to them, NOW. The Abubilla people? Jimmy has covered most of ’em, although for the record, don’t believe a word he says. Yeah, Jimmy, I said it. You’ve been BUSTED.

(Apart from what he says about Mike. That’s pretty accurate – he really is quite a doofus.)

Instead I will play to my strengths, which are righteous indignation and mis-directed outrage (hence the title of the blog – am finally getting back to the point). There is nothing I do better than slosh around in a trough of self-pity, so that is what I am going to do. Furthermore I have been inspired to do so by a genius YouTube clip, which will follow later.

Which leads me to tell you what a gosh-darn time us cellists have of it all. This isn’t strictly true, because the cello is a beautiful instrument and lots of amazing music has been written for it. But stick with me, I’m going to try and persuade you anyway. Cello life isn’t always as easy or
as glamorous (?!) as it may initially seem. At school it is hard to persuade the boys that cello playing IS in fact as cool as playing sports, or smoking behind the bike sheds (is that what the cool kids were doing? I dunno…). A cello case that is large and unweildly, and ever-so-occasionally knocks innocent pensioners under the wheels of buses, is not the most fashionable of accessories.

And worst of all for us poor cellists, we occasionally get stuck with, as Eddie Izzard once put it, the NOTES THAT ARE LEFT OVER. Which results in mind-numbing boredom and the weeping of tears of blood. To wit: Pachelbel’s Sodding Canon*.

Which brings me to the YouTube link – I have NO idea how to do this and fear that if I attempt it Lichtenstein will disappear under a mushroom cloud, so am going to leave it in the capable hands of Louise to do the honours. But enjoy, and next time you are listening to this beautiful
piece, spare a thought for the cellist…

(courtesy of Louise)

Phew, made it. Until next time!

*Not actual title

(editor’s note: having compiled and published this blog, the editor would like it to be known by the blogger that she reserves the right to comment on blog content. Comments as follows: blogging IS easy. You ARE a natural writer. It doesn’t HAVE to be funny or clever (although this one is both). And just LOOK at how EASY that was to put together! Also, yes, Jimmy you have been busted. LC)