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Sound the Trumpets - A New Blog for the Older Brigade has Arrived!

Tis The Season of Goodwill!

The season of goodwill is upon us!  The shops online and in the High Streets are buzzing with Christmas fare.  There are 3 for 2 and 50% off, etc, enticing us to spend our hard-earned cash.  But I have become more savvy over the years.  I now make a list and stick to it with self-inflicted discipline to keep myself from going overboard.  I learned my lesson the hard way years ago, and now I am one step ahead of the crafty retailers’ advertising. Seriously, write a list. I do mine around the beginning of August (yes, as early as that).  And, bit by bit, I find out what the grandkids have their little hearts set on, except George, who is 7 and will chop and change from one week to the next and start putting money aside when I price things up.  The older grandkids all want money, so that is easy, and I begin to put money away for them from the beginning of the year; believe me, you don't notice it so much. Around October, I look at my Christmas decoration...
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🎶 Tuesday Tunes & Italian Dreams 🇮🇹



So it's Tuesday—just your average, nothing-special kind of day… until I fell down a magical YouTube rabbit hole and stumbled upon a musical short that stopped me in my tracks! 🎻✨

There was this incredible young talented Italian musician playing his instrument, and next to him an equally amazing vocalist singing “Time to Say Goodbye.” Yes, that “Time to Say Goodbye”—the goosebump-inducing classic made famous by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman. I first heard their version years ago and it’s still one of my all-time favourite classics. 

Here is the link to the young man and the vocalist. 

Now, I wasn’t expecting to find this gem in a random YouTube short, but there it was—like a little unexpected gift from the internet gods. And let me tell you, that young guy is pure talent. I could listen to him all day (and I just might… 😄).

Naturally, I got curious and looked up the lyric. Of course, it was in Italian.  It took me back to when I was 16 and made a friend at work who was Italian. I used to love listening to her talk and when she was with her family it was all Italian, they were lovely people.   At that time I never thought to learn the language. Well, guess what? Today’s the day, people! 🎉 I’ve officially decided to give Italian a go.

I signed up with Duolingo  and I’ve started practicing. So far, I’m loving it! Who knows? Maybe I’ll stick with it, maybe I won’t—but like they say:

"You’re never too old to learn something new."


11 June 2025

Just an update on how my Italian lessons are going.  I have surprised my expectations, I can now order a coffee or tea with or without milk or sugar in Italian without any prompts.   I have digested some more phrases.  Once more, I can actually write some Italian words without looking at my notes, well I never!  

My efforts have taken me to the section 'getting to know the family' which is more involved, but my thoughts are you can do this!

Yep,  I am truly enjoying this challenge!  So, I will leave you all with a sweet  'arrivederci!' Umm I still get slightly tongue twisted trying to pronounce this correctly!  

I will keep you informed on this page as time goes on. 

If anyone wants to give it a go or learn another language other than Italian here is the website link: https://www.duolingo.com

The lessons are free and you can see how it works if you decide to give it a try.  I am not an affiliate for this website.  


22 June 2025

Salve!  Here I am with another update on how my Italian lessons are going - very well...to a point!  I am just getting to realise that there is a female voice and a male voice in this language so this sometimes gets me confused (but getting there).  Also a sentence may read in order and be pronounced in the correct order but they are not always written in the same order (but persevering).  At least this is challenging my brain even though sometimes it cries out for a break!  I am carrying on, because I so love learning this, I will stop when I feel I have mastered what I want to learn but a long way to go!  Arrivederci!  


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