My sisters and I have been waiting expectantly for the day Rogue One: A Star Wars Story released, of course we did not go during the middle of the night, we do kind of like sleep. But we went today. Naturally we decided that cosplay was necessary, Even my mum joined in, wearing my Jedi cloak that we made last year. 

Alice and I went full out though. 

I present to you Jyn and Rey. I was a bit disappointed that Jyn has such a boring hair style, but for once all my short fly away hair came in handy. The colours are off, but I thought I did pretty well.

Alice, AKA Rey had a much more interesting hair style I had not even noticed it much before I was wondering what to do with Alice's hair, but I watched a tutorial and then did it up for her.

 I could not find any finger less gloves, but I made some, it was quite hard.... to cut through that thick leather. They are not brown but the worked.

But onto the movie. I promise I won't spoil anything even though I kinda want to. Overall I loved it. I must say though that I was a bit disappointed that the movie did not begin with the scroll of words like every other Star Wars movie does, but I'll forgive that.  It also did not begin with Star Wars music. which was sad, just a big bang of sound and space, stars and a planet. 

I do think that this movie managed to add to the previous ones, mostly in how it gave a good reason for the Death Star, having the fault in it that could be exploited in a way to cause the whole thing to blow up. It made so much sense and was another whole new story.

K-2SO (the black droid) was actually funny, or at least more so, Then C-3PO, as much as I love C-3PO he is sometimes too stupid and too silly, like he is trying too hard to be the funny comic relief. K-2SO made some really good comments that were funny, and not forced, or added to what was going on in a good way. SO I really liked that.

There was lots of cool action, explosions, and fast moving things. My personal preference may have been to have a bit less of that, but it is Star WARS after all. The characters were pretty cool too and they were all quite different. Though there was one that did not seem to have much purpose other than in being there, and carrying a really big gun. Well he had purpose but he did not seem to have any goal other than to protect the blind dude, (who did not need much protecting) and to shoot things with his big gun.

The music did not quite have that same feel to it, because it was not the same composer, but it was still good, I don't actually remember thinking much about it while watching except for some parts missing the right music, like the very start and a Darth Vader scene.

But I enjoyed it quite a lot, and the cosplay made it even better.

Are you going to see Rogue One?

Have you even gone to a movie in cosplay?

I figured I really must do that tag because I have now been tagged for it twice, once by Jessica and once by Bonnie, thanks both of you. I am not a highly musical person but hopefully my answers will be of some interest. 

Anyway, the rules of the tag:

1. Thank the person who tagged you.
2. Answer the questions.
3. Tag others.
4. Add you own question to the tag for your nominees to answer.
5. Include the rules in your post.

Now, the questions:

Do you play any instruments?

Yes, it is called the Camera, and sounds like "Click" goes the shutter "Click, click, click," "hey every-one, look this way, quick" Which I hope you managed to sing to the tune of Click Go the Shears. If not go back and sing it again, if you don't know the tune, WHAT YOU HAVE GOT TO BE AMERICAN or at least not a true Aussie, so go look it up.

What is your favourite music genre?

As afore mentioned I don't count myself very knowledgeable about music, but I like worship music, hymns, and sound tracks, and though I don't listen to it much every time I do I like Christian rap, and of course good old Aussie songs that my parents knew when they were little, or other Aussie classics. 

Is there a music genre you absolutely cannot stand?

Contemporary mainstream anything, the lyrics.... just no.. do people even pay attention to what they are singing?

What is your favourite way to listen to music? (CD, vinyl, MP3, radio, etc)

I am not fussed on this one, but I really enjoy taking my sister to Band occasionally and listening to the town band practicing, though it can sometimes get overly loud in that closed room! But I also like to put music on on the computer and dance with my little sister, who is two (as long as no one else is watching). Otherwise I listen to it on my tablet usually with headphones so as not to disturb anyone.

What/who are your three favourite bands/singers?

Bel Thomson, she has such beautiful music and songs for personal worship. Our family also listens to a lot of Colin Buchanan. And since you mentioned bands, then I guess I am allowed to say the local Town Band, that my sister Jane is part of.

Now for the extra questions:

Jessica's question: What do you think is the purpose of music?

I think it should be for our enjoyment and to give glory to God with. I think it can also teach us things, because of how it connects with our soul at a deeper level, and sticks around in our minds, which is why lyrics are so important. 

Bonnie's question: What is one piece of music / song that has gotten you through a really tough time?

I don't know that I would ever say I had an overly long tough time in my life, but there are days, and on those days I find myself having to sing things like Matt Redman's 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) or Bel Thomson's Bird's Eye View. 

And as for those I shall bestow this tag upon, they shall be my lovely musical sister Jane and my musical friend Sarah. 

And your extra question is: Do you have a funny story to do with playing music or band, if so please share it?

If you would like to do this tag, please go ahead 

and let me know so I can read your answers.

Or just answer some of the questions in a comment below.

Since everyone seemed to enjoy my post about the Sydney Youth Orchestra I thought you may also enjoy a few photos of the Town Band performing at their annual concert. This year I was asked to be official photographer. And I did get a lot of nice shots. These ones are just group photos because of privacy and permission stuff. Other than the amazing music at the concert, I really liked the shiny floor.... It made for cool reflections in the photos.

Last week our town was visited by the very talented Sydney Youth Orchestra. They played in the chapel of the convent. Our family went to both daytime performances, but in two halves. My mum and brothers went to the first one. I then took my sisters to the next.
 

I have no photos of this event so you shall have to imagine it from my words, and really when it is as dark as the other night, even I can not take a really good photo. 

Motes of hay drift up, hay that has the slightest dampness to it. We leave our places, by the warm fire crackling behind us. We leave the orange glow and settle down on the hay and lean back against another bale. All along the trailer people talk, I am too far away to hear most of what is said. Wordless voices rise high and fall. 

Rumbles of the tractor engine drown out some of the voices. It lurches forward throwing us all sideways and against one another. Red taillights flash, the head lights cut a bright swathe through the grass as we turn and bounce on. We leave the flickering flames behind. Not a trace of their warmth is left. Chords, strummed on strings. Upon one of the topmost bales a shadow sits strumming her guitar. I reach out and touch her as she plays. 

Music wafts through the star spangled night. Overhead the Milky Way stretches, stars glow brighter as we leave other lights behind. The two pointers shine bright, I follow their pointing with my eyes and find the Southern Cross. It shines right overhead in the middle of the misty streak across the heavens, the  Milky Way. I wonder at the vastness of he who names the stars. His Glory is plain if we only but look. 

We rattle past round bales, fences, a dam. Six wallabies start up in surprise as we rumble towards them, fixing them in the tractors headlights. They flee in all directions, we give chase. "Kangaroos" comes the shout, "Look, there!" Voices exclaim, hands point. Some of the wallabies hop along a fence, trying desperately to get away. They bound through the grass and melt into the darkness.

The tractor and its heavy load rattle away to into the darkness. Back to the fire, back to warmth. As we go voices are raised in song from the rear of the trailer. As those in the middle can't make out the words we begin our own. Song, laughter, hay, starry skies, a beautiful memory, a beautiful world, a great God.

I actually enjoyed it. Well I enjoyed it once it was happening but not for the days before. Yesterday A few days ago our Bright Lights group went to a nursing home and sang for some of the residents. I was the eldest (of our group, not the old people) and responsible for the nine other young ladies, all but three of which were taller than me. I drove seven of the girls there (our car only holds eight people), that was slightly scary. Then we went into the nursing home. It was a little awkward because it took a while to actually find any of the staff. Then we were take to the dementia ward. Because we had forgotten So we could sing for the residents there. 

I had already worked out where everyone would stand and all the girls remembered so that went smoothly. Jane stood at one end and played the flute. After a few song one of the women asked if we could bow or something at the end of each song so they would know when to clap. So I curtsied since I had a long skirt on. I always knew it would come in handy to learn to curtsy properly back when for some reason I did.

I was moved while singing "Trust and Obey" as we got to the chorus I could hear a few quiet voices in other parts of the room and looking about I could see the many of the residents mouthing the words to the song. As we finished one woman said "It has been years since I heard that." We were thanked many times.

As we got to the sixth song I said "This is the last song" and whatever it was called. We were asked to sing again, we managed to sing all six songs again, I figured most of the residents would have forgotten we had just sung them before so it would be as though we were singing new songs each time. The only problem with singing them again was the breathing factor. Despite what you may think breathing is slightly  important. After the six songs I felt a little light headed, but when I curtsied for the second last song I stumbled and nearly fell right over because I was so dizzy. 

Still everyone enjoyed the experience and we were asked to come again next school holidays. One of the staff mentioned how amazing it was that a group of young people would give up their free time for others. It was just a wonderful feeling to be able to do that, young people can make a difference. And those that do really stand out because they are so different from other people their age.

No that photo has nothing to do with singing at the nursing home except it happened on the same day. Later that afternoon an epic sword fight raged from our front yard up to the neighbors a few houses away. And there a knife thrower joined in.

Swords got dented, scratched, chipped. They parried and whacked at other swords and shields. Watchers were randomly stabbed. Missing limbs, and how dead people were were debated. And after all that I was the only one who did not get shot... as it was me doing the shooting. People (like me) were pronounced dead two seconds after a minor slash in the leg, even though I had been "shooting" the knife wielder the entire time she was charging at me. The epic battle raged. 

 Until eventually one of the throwing knives got sorta smashed.  

Quite a fun afternoon really. If you are interested in the making of the swords, have a look at this post on the master craftsman's blog. For a more detailed account of the epic battle, and from one of the sword master's point of view check out this post on my sisters blog.