I've been extremely remiss in updating the Grateful We're Not Dead blog. Unfortunately, this was the result illness and death amongst senior members of the family. My mother (Eleanor White) and mother-in-law (Edna Ireton) both passed away in February and we lost Gord's mother-in-law (Helga Voigt) in March. However, that is all behind us now and it's time to get back to business.
Grateful We're Not Dead have been reasonably busy over the last nine months. In September 2009 we played for the Annual Ariel Court End of Summer Party at the home of John and Barb Reid. We managed to do this without a repeat visit from an Ottawa By-Law officer. Then in mid-September we performed a few peace songs during presentations at a Civilian Peace Service Canada meeting at St. Paul's University.
October found us entertaining the Ranch Sorters at the Annual Rahane Cowboy Classic sorting competition at Little Rahane Farm near Franktown, Ontario. In November we provided background music for the Canadian Future Achievers Awards Dinner and at month's end we were back entertaining the residents of Park Lane in Ottawa.
In December we headed out to Perth to entertain the seniors at Lanark Lodge. For the last half of that show we did a quick costume change into Christmas hats and ties and performed a number of country Christmas classics such as Christmas In The Valley, Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy, Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer, Blue Christmas, etc. We ended the Christmas season with the Annual Christmas Party hosted by Gord Breedyk and Evelyn Voigt.
At the beginning of January we entertained at a fund raiser for AIDS Orphans in Mufindi, Tanzania. Geoff Knight, who represents the FOX Foundation in Tanzania, made a presentation concerning community outreach activities in the Mufindi district. You can view videos related to the activities on Youtube. At latest count the evening had raised $3,135 for the programme.
In early February, Grateful We're Not Dead joined forces with the comedy troupe Something's Missing to present another Comedy Night at the Perth Civitan Club. This was a fund raising dinner for local charities. Late March found us back at Lanark Lodge for another enjoyable evening with the seniors.
April turned out to be a busy month. Mid-April we entertained at St. Brigid's Church for their annual Spring Fling. The following Saturday evening we performed for the Annual Ottawa Valley Aid for Chernobyl Children Spaghetti Supper. The next morning saw us set up and playing at 8AM in a chilly, stiff breeze beside the Rideau Canal in front of the Canal Ritz for the participants in the Minto Run For REACH. Finally, in late May we provided the music for a sing-along at a reception following a memorial service for the late Helga Voigt.
I think that brings you up to date on what Grateful We're Not Dead have been up to over the last few months and the calendar is starting to fill up with events for 2010. If the fates co-operate I should be able to keep this blog updated more frequently than has been possible in the last year.
So here's looking forward to a busy, comical, peaceful and happy year. And just be Grateful We're Not Dead!
Don
P.S. If anyone has digital photos of the band from any of the above events, we'd appreciate if you would forward copies to the email address you'll find in the column on the right.
