The Big Singalong, 'Aporkalypse' and A Book A Day Challenge

Last Tuesday, a choir composed of 850 kids from eleven local junior schools held a concert. The son was in the choir so I was one of the adoring crowd. The performance was excellent - the kids, all decked out in blue, sang (tunefully) with gusto and verve - as well as clapping and dancing in perfect synchrony.

All quite amazing considering that they'd rehearsed as a single entity for the first time that day. We were all impressed...

It's a shame the stadium staff weren't as impressive. In the middle of one song, a cleaner suddenly appeared, stage left, holding a mop. Seemingly unaware of the hundreds of singing children around her, she wandered through the middle of the choir. It was like a scene out of a Monty Python sketch. Reaching the centre of the 'stage', she stopped and looked around in wonderment, before putting her head down and plodding on. Eventually, she disappeared into the exit, stage right, dragging her mop behind her.

To the choir's credit, they didn't miss a note!

Actually, it's lucky that the concert took place when it did, as if it had been next Tuesday, the chances are it might have been postponed or cancelled. Since the confirmation that a Mexican  visitor has been diagnosed with swine flu, Hong Kong has gone into hypersafe mode, and rumours are swirling about that schools may be closed again.

Strangely, both my children are praying that the rumours remain just that. The daughter, who is currently on study leave pending her GCSE exams, doesn't want schools to close because, "That would be, like, so unfair, since we're having our study leave and it doesn't help us!" whilst the son is really looking forward to his P6 summer production, the graduation parties and all the fun events lined up this term and would hate to miss any.

Apart from nagging everyone to wash their hands, I'm keeping fairly calm about the potential 'Aporkalypse' (as the situation has been brilliantly named by Maggie Koerth-Barker) - even though the fact that there are people walking around town in masks, and all antiseptic wipes have sold out, are a horrible echo of the 2003 SARS ordeal.

As the patient himself is said to be recovering, I've reserved my pity for the poor guests staying at the Wanchai Metropark Hotel - the hotel in which the Mexican invalid had been staying. According to local news, as soon as swine flu was confirmed, the government sent men dressed in white biohazard suits, masks and hats to quarantine the hotel, sealing all the staff and the hotel guests inside for seven days. 

The government has also put out an appeal for the Metropark guests (rumoured to number fifty or so) who are AWOL, to identify themselves. Presumably, they were out when the men in white arrived, and decided that going back was probably not a good idea. I'd be curious to find out how many do put their hands up, in light of the fact that their honesty will result in them being incarcerated in a potentially disease ridden hotel for a week.

In the meantime, we've been warned to avoid crowded areas. This has proved difficult - as everyone, including ourselves, has out and about enjoying the sunshine and the public holidays. Even the country parks have been packed with people. Tomorrow, we've planned another walk and a lunch out, but what we're most eagerly anticipating, is a trip to the cinema to watch the movie adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Coraline. 

A friend of mine has already started avoiding cinemas for fear of disease, but as the husband, in a fit of enthusiasm, has booked seats for the 9.40 am show, I'm guessing that it won't be too crowded anyway. I'm looking forward to it.

Anyhow, I haven't really got time to worry about swine flu, as I've been too busy panicking about falling behind on my writing... I'm taking part in the inaugural NaPiBoWriWee this week - which is short for National Picture Book Writing Week. This event challenges writers around the world to write seven complete picture books in seven days (read more about it on the blog of author Paula Yoo.)

I managed to complete the NaNoWriMo last year (where you have to write a 50,000 word novel in a month) so I thought it would be easy, but it's been tough thinking up seven engaging story ideas - as every idea that comes to mind seems to feature a pig... 

I'm going to bed now, with a notebook by my bedside, in the hopes that some inspired non-porcine idea will come to me in my dreams. Wish me luck!

Comments

[tammy]

So much information in one post, Mio!

How could they only have the rehearsal on the same day of the performance and do such a good job? Incredible! I liked how they were unperturbed by the woman with the mop! I also liked the picture you posted -- we can really see the overpowering blue. Did your son receive the uniform in advance or on the day?

I remember the days of SARS when I had to teach wearing a mask. It was terrible. I liked your daughter's response -- it is totally understandable.

Did you like Coraline? I read the book and liked it -- I also liked Wolves in the Walls. Another film associated with Gaiman is MirrorMask; it has a similar theme with Coraline but the story is much darker. It is like a darker version of Alice's Adventures in the Wonderland.

I liked the coining of "Aporkalypse" -- quite clever.

Did any inspiring ideas come to you in your dreams?

[mio]

Hi Tammy, thanks for visiting (and sorry for my late reply - so many pic books to write... and yes, thank you, I did find enough ideas to explore, with a little help from my friends and family!)

The kids rehearsed in their individual schools before the big day, then spent 6 hours rehearsing together on the day, so it was quite an undertaking! They got all the choreography instructions and the t-shirts issued on the day!

I did like Coraline the movie, though I thought the book was much creepier. I like Wolves in the Walls too, but my all time favourite Gaiman pic book is called 'The Day I swapped my Dad for a Goldfish' - it's really funny. I have an edition with a CD of Neil reading it very drolly - excellent! You have to read it!

[tammy]

Oh thank you for your suggestion! I'll try to read The Day I Swapped my Dad for a Goldfish. The title is already quite fun!

[Jessica]

hi Mio,
This is Jessica, I saw that you have a new book about Hong Kong for children coming up soon and am wondering if you're interested in covering our hostel.

Our hostel’s mission: By providing affordable accommodation, especially to young people of limited means, YHA promotes the education of all young people and enables young people of differing nationalities, cultures and social background to meet informally, share experiences and learn about themselves.
We’re under-going renovation and would be completely brand new by July next year. Please let me know if you need more info.

http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostel024003.cn.htm