Never too old for a challenge...by Sheila Claydon

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I've just been given a musical challenge by my 7 year old granddaughter! She is 7 years old and lives in Hong Kong. Coronavirus restrictions mean that we haven't seen her in person for a very long time. Two much anticipated long visits have had to be cancelled and we can't yet be sure when we will meet up again. This is not quite as bad as it seems, however, because she is in contact frequently, sometimes multiple times a day, via her parents' smart phones or iPads or her own child's smart watch with its iMoo app. Technology is truly wonderful.

This morning, for example, I watched her play tennis. Then she watched me feed my dog and we discussed the medication the visiting dog which is holidaying with us at the moment has to take. She also sent me a video of what looked like a very scary cliff walk, telling me that because her Dad's friend had put it on YouTube she is now as famous as a film star! With this sort of regular contact we certainly don't feel we are missing out on too much of her life although the lack of hugs is an entirely different thing.

Nor does she let only being able to talk on screen curtail her activities in any way. Instead, she sets challenges. For example she will draw something and I have to copy it. Or we read to one another, page and page about. Or we might play UNO or Chess. I've learned to watch her very closely when we do this, however, because she is very good at somehow miscounting the moves I ask her to make on my behalf:) Her latest challenge, however, is in a whole new ball park. 

She is learning to play the piano and in addition to her lessons uses the SimplyPiano App. She enjoys it so much that she has now decided it would be a good thing if I did the same. We bought a piano when our children were young, something that led to our daughter having a musical career, but which I've never tried to learn. Apparently I am going to now, however. And it will be a competition between my little granddaughter, me and her mother. I'm not entirely sure what form the competition will take - I think it's more about how often we practice than how well we play. It's a clever way of keeping her practicing but now I've been challenged as well. According to my daughter-in-law, 10 minutes a day is enough. Granddaughter is more exacting though. She says I will need to practice all day if I want to catch up!

From my perspective, although it's just meant to be a bit of fun, I've decided it is also a really positive thing. As the years advance I insist that writing and crosswords are the two things that keep my brain sharp. Now I've completed my first piano lesson, however, I can see how much more it will be exercised by learning to do something completely new. There is another benefit too and it is the same that writing my books on the computer helps with. Using a keyboard. Both activities will keep my arthritic fingers moving and therefore pain free and reasonably supple. 

Having grandchildren is a blessing at any age and we do have equally loved older ones. But to have such a fearless and extrovert little one is a double blessing as the years swiftly mount up behind us, because she keeps us young. Goodness knows what her next challenge will be. Learning to play the piano is enough to be going on with!

In the meantime, if you enjoy music then take a peek at my book Cabin Fever. It is the only one I have written where music features. Ellie, the heroine, is a professional singer and a dancer, and the hero, Andy Smith, is a very good amateur pianist. It was fun to write but by the time I finished I was a bit jealous of their talent. Yes, that can happen even with imaginary characters. They were right, too, in saying we all need music in our lives, and my little granddaughter is now making sure I have more of it in mine. 

The Osprey cruise ship is in trouble. Can Ellie Masters and Andy Smith solve the problem? When they join the ship in New Zealand they soon discover that it’s going to be hard work all the way to Australia. Not that either of them intend to let long hours get in the way of their blossoming love affair...until Ellie develops feet of clay..or is it Andy who is the problem? Is he really who he says he is? They joined the ship to help the crew, but now it’s Ellie and Andy who need help. Will they get it or is it already too late?