Monday 13 February 2017

Gente de Minha Terra - Mariza

Our first experience with the sensational Mariza was back in 2008
(not physically we unfortunately hasten to add)
since when we have remained a dedicated follower.
A heady mix of vibrant talent and 22 carat sophistication which we are sure you will agree are multilingual.

Mariza
born Marisa dos Reis Nunes (16 December 1973, Lorenzo Marques, Portuguese Mozambique, is a popular 'fado' singer. She was born to a Portuguese father and a mother of partial African heritage.  At age three, her family moved to Metropolitan Portugal, and she was raised in Lisbon's historic quarters of Mouraria and Alfama. While very young she began singing in a wide variety of musical styles, including gospel, soul and jazz. Her father strongly encouraged her to adopt fado; as he felt that participating in the traditional music would grant her greater acceptance in the Portuguese community. Mariza has sold over 1,000,000 records worldwide.
(People of My Land)
However, earlier this week it was the company of another very special lady that was enjoyed after the long awaited receipt of an e-mail inviting me to lunch with her. Back-along Lorraine was my partner and travelling companion, covering who knows how many countries, but her greatest attribute was making me, and all others around her LAUGH, - you remember LAUGHTER! Unfortunately the weather wasn't as nice as we would have liked but that had never hampered us in the past and with the sprinting blocks having been hammered in days before the event, we met at the appointed time on
HAYLING ISLAND BRIDGE, HAMPSHIRE

where the state of the tide could not have been more perfect, first hour of the flood.
 She is well aware, from past experiences that Bird Watching would be
obligatory, but then she had her dog so we both had to give a little
 as we set off along the south western shore of Langstone Harbour.
New additions to the Year List and Memories of our past came thick and fast in equal amounts
starting with
 CURLEW

Megève, France as
Captain of the Royal Navy Ski Team
 DUNLIN
 Chobe National Park
BOTSWANA
 
 GREY PLOVER
 occasionally showing the distinctive 'black patch'
 of the under-wing.
The Forbidden City
and
Great Wall
CHINA
 REDSHANK
The Pitons, St Lucia
no, you ain't seeing double!
 just a lone
 BAR-TAILED GODWIT
The Colosseum A LA ROMANA  
and just to make up the numbers, but of no 'list' significance, lots of
 SHELDUCK
(which unusually, we still haven't seen on on our own Recording Area yet this year)
 Saint Catherine's Chapel 
(which includes the Burning Bush now extinguished due to Health and Safety Regulations)
Mount Moses,
 The Rose Red City of
PETRA
and
 The Seven Pillars of Wisdom
(8 if you count the lumpy looking white one on the left)

 Wadi Rum, Valley of the Moon
 all in
JORDAN
 Stacks of
 BRENT GEESE
BARBADOS
LITTLE EGRET
 Victoria Falls
ZIMBABWE
 Saladin's Castle and Diving
THE GULF of AQABA
 As they say in that part of the World

    Nuweiba for the Continent
Aqaba for the Incontinent    
TO NAME BUT A FEW
and
TEAL
During the very short periods we did stay in England
it was either
Posh Frocks
 House Guests at Slight Return I
such as Lorraine's equally vivacious, beautiful and happy-go-luckysister Vivienne,

 Cream Teas 
in
LYME REGIS
 or a combination of all three. What a Life!

There is a choice of 2 Public Houses on Langstone Wharf, both of
which we viewed before making our final choice, opting for the finer decor of the

 ROYAL OAK
where the welcome and service were to match.
Unfortunately, that is where the value ended as it can be stated with mutual confidence
that the Moules were the 'WORST' either of us had ever experience - stand advised!
It is also a fact that the gay (have to be careful with that 'hijacked' word these days)
repartee and airy badinage completely blocked the thought of taking a photograph,
so like some of those above we again reach for the archive!
 The Same Song
Different Version but Dedicated to Lorraine,
if this don't raise a tear, then you just ain't here!
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