An uke in the woods

I had an interesting assignment of work sent to me last year. I had a call from a Maid of Honour who was planning the joint Hen/Stage/Bachelor/Bachelorette party.  She had the idea of having an early morning Ukulele party (especially as there were young children away with everyone).

I said 'Yes!', feeling kind of excited by it. All I had to bring with all of my ukuleles (all ten of them), some percussion instruments, and writing materials. I had the idea of encouraging the ladies and gentlemen to not only learn and play around with the ukulele but to write a song for the bride or groom. This was one of my best and most dangerous ideas. I have no idea of anyone's creative capabilities, and I am now asking twenty people in two teams to express their love to the happy couple.

The journey there was fine, though one part was troubling. I was following Google Maps like it's a holy book revealing the path to paradise. All looks good... then I see something that even GPS didn't warn us about: A ford going across the river Tone with no gauge of how deep it was. It took a few minutes to find a measuring pole nearby, reassuring us it only inches deep. It was disconcerting that it went as high as six feet. It was a relatively dry day, it was going to be fine today.

I found the venue, by chance really. Then I spent five minutes speaking to an older lady who wanted to chat and chat, with me trying to get a word in edgewise to say 'Is this where the wedding party are?'. The host came out (who I had no idea what they looked like!) and reassured me I was where I was suppose to be

I got to work with the ladies of the party teaching them how to play and then writing a song for the groom; I did the same with the men for the bride. Within a morning they had some more confidence with music and a song for the soon-to-be-married couple. One of the songs alluded to their first date which ended with the bride-to-be becoming seasick on the groom-to-be's house boat... when it was static in moorings. From humble beginnings came a beautiful loving couple with wonderful friends and family; a marvellous foundation to a life-long union.

I was welcomed so warmly, the party had a lot of fun, and as I left everyone was getting ready to go home with huge smiles from a weekend well spent. Someone said that morning was 'memory making event'. That is a beautiful review of what I do.

For more of what I do - www.UkuleleWithBen.com