Lizzy O

Back in the junior school days when girls still wore pinafores and the headmistress was a nun, me and my sister used to beg for piano lessons. (We were given a piano for free and mam paid the local coalman a fiver to deliver it on his truck.) ....Time went by, mam would occassionally play the 'indian snake dance' on demand and we coloured the keys with felt tip pens. My tenth birthday present was a note saying 'you're first piano lesson's on monday' ....by then I didnt want to learn any more but each monday for the next 8 years I faithfully attended and grew to love it. Meanwhile......Dad was always belting out some tune on the guitar and when my older brother decided to follow in his footsteps, then I, in turn followed in his... 'House of the Rising Sun' on board and we never looked back!After years of trying to lower my voice sufficiently to sing along through the goth, rock and Indie genres I took up an unusual love of traditional Irish music. (Much to my mother's delight!...goodbye 'Fields of the Nephilim' and hello 'Fields of Athenry') Perhaps I knew somewhere deep inside that this would rationalise much underage drinking as most performances revolved around sessions in Irish bars. Busking busily in the northern cities I earned enough insults and money for the ferry fare to Ireland. A strange fella stole us a bottle of whiskey from the ferry's duty free and the tone was set.....Three years later I woke up, and was told we'd toured around Italy, Belgium, Holland, Ireland and Scotland playing the music in competitions and in festivals for Irish dancers. Sounded like it was fun and the photographic evidence does suggest I WAS there. But I'd been asleep so long, how would I get better?.. I became a nurse.Back in full health and with a career to boot I put the music to one side, but I missed it and the patients soon became sick of my erratic warbling (although I secretly think they enjoyed playing 'name that tune', It certainly spurred them on up out the beds, and home ASAP!.....The NHS owes me big time!) Opportunity knocked with a band called Lyra Celtica in summer '05. I answered by leaving the day job and joining them to tour round England, Scotland and most memorably Russia. However, those dark days of broken accordians, Russian cigarettes and drinking neat vodka soon came to an end.Whey, what to do? I'd bought new sound gear but all I then used it for was the comical purposes of my sister and I imagining we were Doris Day or making up spanish raps over a latino beat! Cha cha cha!Back to nursing and I spent the odd day off (it was always odd) recording a song or two. Got a bit bored so went to India for 4 months, fell in love with the place and became even more intrigued by life.Back in the UK, restless and curious, wondering if I'd ever actually be transported back into the olden days where I'm sure I belong, I recently went to see the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain! (my sister actually called me in India to tell me I had to go with her to see them! I needed no persuading)...Oh what a night! The skill and fun they put into their music gave me an arse kick of enthusiasm.... after noseying into them on google, I ended up registering here on my space, with the sole purpose of sending a message of appreciation. Next thing you know Im pimping my profile and wittering on to you dear reader...Still singing to the patients, still recording odd songs, still keeping an eye out for my next adventure, you still reading this??????Acht well, ye never know if ye don't try... for what, Im not sure! But hey, this myspace contraption is free and ye cannae gan wrang for a poond!Beeeeee x