ANNUAL SUMMER PICNIC IN BEAUTIFUL STANHOPE PEI 2012



The Old Guys saying "Goodby and Thanks for coming"


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This was it, the annual trek to Stanhope for the jam/picnic. It was great. We`had two hours of great singing and playing just like we had last year when we entertained the director of the Yesterukes, Dianne Sutton and her daughter Jessica from Laurens, South Carolina. This year though we had sandwiches for the picnic and the girls brought great desserts. It was Allison's birthday next Tuesday and we forgot to sing "Happy Birthday" to the Grand Master. Forgive us Allison; it was the year past the big,big one so not as important anyway. You really don't look that old you know.


Just have to give a big thanks to those who brought along "stuff" and made the day so delightful.It would be great to find new venues to do this from time to time.

A SUMMER RETURN TO PARK ROYAL

Back Row Ready!

SMUG played at the Park Royal United Church Sunday morning service on July 8, 2012 for the 5th invitation since our first in July 2009. Les Hiscott, the now retired organist at Park Royal has been very supportive of our group since we first played with the Park Royal Men's Choir at the Prince Edward Home in May of 2009, our first public performance.We were joined this morning by Sharon Woods-Bryenton, our good friend from Andrews of Stratford, as well as Ann Brown, mother of our Leah Brown. Smug pulled off a wonderful performance in spite of our numbers being down. At least many came forward after the service and said so, and the director was "well pleased".

Practicing the hymns with Les

Leah Brown and her mother, Ann, who joined us this morning

Saturday Morning Rehearsal 1

Saturday Morning Rehearsal 2

Saturday Morning Rehearsal 3

NANAS AND PAPAS debut at The Garden Home


The Nanas and Papas, a new Ukulele Group from Whisperwood Villa made their debut today at The Garden Nursing Home, This was the first venture out of their own facility to play for another group and they were absolutely fabulous.  Leah Ziegler and Darlene Acorn , two members of the SMUG Ukulele Orchestra , have been working with the group since January and it is obvious they have honed The Nanas and Papas into star performers; all 15 of them. They played a variety of songs, some that are mentioned in the caption of the photos below, and continued to play for 40 minutes to an audience that not only filled the activity room, but spilled out to the dining room as well. Leah, in her final remarks to the audience, explained how easy it is to take up the ukulele which provided hours of enjoyment for the residents of Whisperwood Villa as well as many other community care homes in the area.


"Just Hang Loose"



"I'll Fly Away"



"Amazing Grace"

                           

"Jack Was Every Inch A Sailor"

Leah Leading the Nanas and Papas

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY PARTY AT ANDREWS





SMUG did another Father's Day Party today at Andrews of Stratford, where Sharon Woods-Bryenton, the activity director joined in with the group to play out our Spring Program to all those gathered for the party. We had nibbles,  ice cream and pop and the group sang along as we played a vartiety of old pieces from the 20's, 30's and    40's.

                                           The Residents

                                           More Residents

                                            Still More Residents

                                            Bob and Kendal having a snack

                                          Darlene our "Bass Ukulele Player"

Some Enchanted Evening

Our blog has been acting up and I have deleted the last entry to see if it might clear the problem. It didn't. So I am trying a new blog to see what might happen.

HUNTER RIVER LIONS' CLUB GOSPEL SING

Some of you have probably never been to a Gospel Sing before. I never was. But we were first on the program, sang a bit overtime, I'm afraid, and some of us had to leave right after our portion of the evening, which was in aid of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and was well attended. I saw a very long agenda before we started our program and guessed they might be there until midnight; especially if the others played as long as we did. I tried my best to move our program along, but some told me after they were having a good time and enjoying the ukulele music.It appeared that SMUG were certainly enjoying being there. I know that some members of SMUG left some very generous donations in aid of the hospital, and we hope the gospel sing, which was sort of like a ceilidh was a great success for the Hunter River Lions' Club.

IN THE CHAPEL IN THE SUNLIGHT

I was so proud of the group this morning I just had to do a short blog of our practice in the beautiful chapel at Andrews of Stratford . With many Smuggers still away on a winter vacation(when it's really spring here!), we had a small turn out of only 15, but well filled the little chapel with wonderful gospel music, accompanied by our Leah Brown on double bass. What a revelation that was to our gospel music. Having a gospel program coming up in another week we really needed a get-together,and it was the perfect location. Sharon Woods-Bryenton, the activity director at Andrews, allowed us to use the chapel and even supplied coffee for the morning break, not to mention joining us with her ukulele for the morning practice. During the break also, we walked down to the activity room to hear the "Definately Not The Symphony" group playing a rousing selection I did not know the name of, and a couple of their group came later in the morning to visit SMUG.After break we had a go at "Little Grass Shack" and began after a few attempts to get our tongues around the many Hawaiian words.....just a splendid morning and a good time had by all. After all this, SMUG has had to agree to play at Andrews for Father's Day and the group was more than happy to do so. Thanks for a great morning Sharon....perhaps pass it on to those in the office and kitchen as well.
Next week back to the Lodge room, pancake breakfast or not.....see you there.