Email 2005

Louise Thompson / Salmomd-Smith

From: A&L Salmond Smith
Date: Sunday, April 17, 2005 4:56 AM

Mr. M, my sweet potato,

This week I have been sorting through some "old" sheet music of mine, Grade 6 piano stuff and that kind of thing. It made me get all misty eyed about the delightful Mr. Purseglove. I have not heard any news on him in years and was wondering if you had any details? The poor fellow was always being walloped by one illness or another. My current sinus infection, of the blood-sneezing variety, seems somewhat pathetic by comparison.

Things in the world of Louise are going rather swimmingly. We are into year four of our South American posting, this year seems to be the easiest so far in many ways but we do miss being "British" and this year it seems harder being away from it all. Six years will be our limit I expect, we want to go when it is still fun.

Both of the girls are in the school now. Izzy is in yr2, the blonde kid in a sea of black hair and eyebrows. Penny, who is in reception, is often mistaken for a boy, as she is the only girl in her class without pierced ears.

As for me, I am still dealing with the struggle of making music a valid subject in a country where it's just not important. Even my minions don’t think it is important. However, we did just get a shiny new department built for our instrumental teachers so I promise not to whinge!

Hasta luego, baby!

Looby-loo (Louise Thompson / Salmond Smith) (89-94)

P.S. Have you heard rumours of a 15 -year concert band reunion?

P.P.S. Dinosaurs have lost favour somewhat in this house, do you perchance have instructions for a Tutankhamun birthday cake?

(In brief: good news about Ian Purseglove. A few years ago he was given a liver transplant and within ten days he was no longer a haemophiliac! Life is still not always easy but he derived great pleasure from being an examiner for the Ass. Board of the RSM - he lives very close to the racecourse at Wincanton! Ed.)