Roses, roses - everywhere roses - and Redoubtable Ronnie !

Yes, it's flaming June and the proliferation of roses here is more magnificent than ever...and oh, the heady fragrances, quite intoxicating without the unpleasant after effects of alcohol....in my little garden there is a simple single briar rose, and several other varieties, progressing to a magnificent hybrid - which I bought unlabelled at a charity garden sale. In our local garden centre it has been identified as "The Spirit of Freedom", (very apt for me) a triple petalled beauty with very attractive perfume...mmm. The blooms keep bursting forth, almost like a fountain of rich dusty pink froth !! Wild flowers are overtaking all the grass verges alongside our highways; dandelions, then buttercups, cowslips and now, Michaelmas daisies - never a dull moment - what's next I wonder, can't remember the annual sequence - and it happens every year...tut,tut, ancient brain grinding to a halt! Te hee hee...Recently I made a lovely new friend, a charming and very special gentleman who has been inspiring singers Internationally for some years as a repetiteur, coach and accompanist - the inimitable Herr Ronald Schneider, affectionately known as Ronnie by all his talented devotees. 'Redoubtable' in reference to Ronnie = "Inspiring, or worthy of awe, or reverence", and yes, he really is he exactly that, such spirituality, and an absolute darling. We have been orbiting the earth on opposite sides for yonks, and Heavenly Hillevi (Martinpelto), has been trying to introduce us for years. At last the momentous meeting has been achieved - at a luncheon date in The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London - and we had some fun with dear Richard Hetherington - repetiteur, coach and conductor with The Royal Opera Company - he and Ronnie go back to meeting as collaborating colleagues at The Aix en Provence Festival, with Peter Mattei, Melanie Diener and several other distinguished singers I've breathed with. Ronnie has been associated with opera in Vienna and worldwide - I'm still learning about his distinguished career on a daily basis - staggering ! One of the most fascinating aspects of this new alliance, is that Ronnie has a house which is only about 20 miles (English) from my birthplace in Hampshire - incredible don't ya think....The circle is growing and becoming more exciting by the minute...lucky, lucky meeee..sorry I've been globetrotting frantically all spring and not in Stockholm for a while.. credit crunch is still crunching..! I miss you all, but am resting awhile and enjoying being at home...until then, k..p b.......g and be happy....see you anon...