BIRTHDAY SINGALONG
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OLIVE’S FORTY FIRST POST
Mike
Hi everyone. It’s still Ollie’s birthday… for another two hours. My hope is to post you the day’s events before the clock strikes midnight.
Hopefully Ollies’ long a-bed. She must be truly exhausted by all the fun and games.
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…………………..Katya and I went over round about ten this morning, hoping to beat the rush of rellies. Katya had made a card.
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…………………..By the way, we want to print off for her all the cards you sent, many that Ronnie Bennett organized.
But bad news, we lost 100 messages. So, if you can’t find your message, can you send it again?
We found Ollie on the phone… “It’s ringing hot,” she asided to us as we cleared her bed for a place to sit.
Christina had arrived too, with a rose from her garden.
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You met Christina at the Oyster feast at the Old Woy Woy Pub, perhaps.
Christina simgs beautifully and is the only one who can persuade Ollie to sing a bit, the old girl’s so sure she’s awful.
First order of business, thanks from Ollie to all of you.
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………………………Christina has come to make music and here are all the songs we sang in the following hour. Some visitors, like Jack Morgan joined in.
Now, this is far too much amateur warbling to impose on you of course, but we do have an ulterior motive.
We want to start a singalong revolution. Enough of this TV!
Enough of these Ipods! Enough of those walkmans!Get togerther and sing, dear world!
And while you’re at it, rediscover the old songs, as we’ve done.
They’re songs which clearly were made for singalongs, being so tuneful and easy.
Find yourself a Christina, or at least a song book like the one she has, and off you go!
Ollie, not available for quotes right now, would say indeed, Here, here!
One other thing, if you’ve got someone who’s rather old, who’s scared of the computer, or just can’t see the point, get them to listen to Christina and Ollie and see if it doesn’t bring them around.
So here the first number, Grandfather’s clock
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The next is, I do like to be beside the seaside.
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Like that? Well, now try a silvery moon
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Remember, I’m forever blowing bubbles?
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Now something Australian. The road to Gundagai, no less!
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Wave me goodbye as you wish me good luck.
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They sang this one for me. Irene Goodnight. I love it for some reason
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And lucky last, Goodnight sweetheart.
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Did you like the birthday concert? Write and tell us if you listened to the lot, and name your favorite of course .
Write and tell us news of cumudgeons coverted to computers, (CCTC’s) and of the singalong revolution that has to come!.
Write not of setbacks, nor of tuneless uncles, but of success!
…………………………Well, Nan has written about loving the singing and suggested a song which is very much in the spirit of what we are talking about, I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony.
With the miracle of Youtube, I’ve found some Phillipino children singing the song. Here it is for you Nan, and us too.
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I was planning to put up some of the coloful greetings you’ve sent, but like Ollie, I’m exhausted. Bye!
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Sunday, October 21st, 2007 at 1:45 am
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49 Responses to “BIRTHDAY SINGALONG”
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October 21st, 2007 at 3:59 am
Happy belated birthday Ollie. Great blog!
October 21st, 2007 at 5:00 am
Happy Birthday, Ollie!
October 21st, 2007 at 5:47 am
Birthday greetings (hey, it’s still October 20 here)from Southern California. It looks like you have had quite a week of celebration, Ollie, and you earned it.
And salutations to all of your wonderful friends who are close to you downunder, they are obviously a component of what keeps you going, and are obviously the beneficiaries of your good karma.
Kudos to Mike for being the “engineer” who oils the wheels of this blog.
October 21st, 2007 at 6:08 am
Happy Birthday Olive! It is my birthday on Tuesday too - a great time of year to be born!
Love from one beautiful Libra to another :o)
xxx
October 21st, 2007 at 6:08 am
“Wave me, goodbye!”
I like that one.
October 21st, 2007 at 8:02 am
HAPPY BIRTHDAY dear Ollie…all the very best to you and may you forever stay young at heart:-)Here in Canada it’s still the 20th so it’s still your birthday!! xoxo
October 21st, 2007 at 8:12 am
Happy Birthday, Ollie! From us in Lexington, Virginia, USA!!!!
October 21st, 2007 at 8:48 am
Happy bithday to you Olive , from France,
For you, here is a link on “You Tube” vidéo with a young accordionist from Russia, playing Mendelson :
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=5V47VQHzWHc&mode=related&search=
Sylvie Jamet
Music and accordion blog
http://sylviejamet.over-blog.com
Thanks, Sylvie, just going out now. Will look when we get home. Mike the helper.
October 21st, 2007 at 8:53 am
Happy Birthday, Gracious Olive! I’m so, so glad you decided to sing for the world, and so pleased you’re still posting on your blob!
Of course, Robert, what do you think? Till our last breath, mike the helper.
October 21st, 2007 at 9:25 am
Hi Olive,
Happy Birthday!!! Wishing you the best you’ve ever had to date!
As a fellow blogger, I wrote about you today on my blog:
http://www.lifeinthefastlane.ca/worlds-oldest-blogger-turns-108-today/blogs-websites
I also wrote a little blurb for Mike to help him in his quest for the kids who auditioned for him in the 80’s. So nice that you have his help here
All the bests!!!
October 21st, 2007 at 9:48 am
I’ll vote for “The Road to Gundagai” and “Goodnight Irene.” I’d like to hear more Australian songs — one of my very favorites is “Waltzing Matilda.” When I first heard it as a young girl years ago, had to go to the library to find a description of what some of those words meant.
We share the same birthday, Olive, but you’re about 36 years older than me, so guess I’m still a “spring chicken” by your standards. (Did you ever hear that expression? My Mom who shared your birth year always used to say that.) It’s still the 20th over here in the U.S.A., so I’m still celebrating your birthday as well as my own — so-o-o, continued HAPPY BIRTHDAY in LA-LA Land!
Thanks, to Mike for the special poem.
Joared, if you search youtube by mike rubbo, I think you’ll find Ollie and Christina singing Waltzing matilda. Mike the helper
October 21st, 2007 at 10:01 am
It is still your birthday here in Alabama, USA too. Hope you had a wonderful day!
October 21st, 2007 at 10:30 am
Hi, Mrs. Riley!
Happy birthday!
I’m Brazilian and I’d like to say that you are a real inspiration!
Denise.
October 21st, 2007 at 10:49 am
Again, I wish you a happy birthday, Olive, and I love the singing. You did very well and I liked to see you playing the drum. My favorite song in the group is I’m forever blowing bubbles!
October 21st, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Dear Olive - How beautiful to be enabled to share your birthday with you in this special way - singing along with you and Christina, Katya and Mike, Jack, and other friends. It was lovely - I sang them all with you, except that for some reason the last one had no sound here.
Once, somewhere, I heard the song “I’d like to teach the world to sing - In perfect harmony…”
And you dear friends were doing just that today.
A big THANKYOU - and, dear Gracious Olive, with your permission, I here and now send you a birthday Hug.
My favourite of the songs, was, I think, “Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye” - an old wartime song that grabs the heart, remembering those days.
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And for your Royal Graciousness’ birthday message - thankyou, and God bless you too.
Love from Nan.
Nan, I remember the song you mention, teach the world to sing. It’s lovely. if I can find it, Ill put it on the blog.
I found the song you mention on youtube, and will post it on the blog. Mike the helper
October 21st, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Hi Olive,
and Big Thanks for an amazing concert!!!
I really enjoyed my time being here.
I can’t believe!
I am in Poland but I’m feeling as I am with You and with your great company and singing with you. One year ago it wasn’t possible.
I didn’t have and even didn’t dream about computer.
I wish you Happy Birthday again and Happy Every Day!
My Best Wishes to All your company.
Greetings from deep of my heart,
from my beautiful country - Poland!
Maria
Hi Maria, It is amazing. I feel like you, and am so happy to able to send short movis round the world. Mike the hekper
October 21st, 2007 at 1:48 pm
My Grandfather’s Clock has always been my favourite…..
you sing them all so well Olive…..
I have heard all of these songs many times (coming from a Welsh background)…and I have to say …you can’t beat the old songs….they were special…. and still are….
a sunny Sunday to you and Mike
Laketress, you blog is fun. Thanks fort all the attention you’ve given Oliver. it was nioce to see also that you featured th portrait of her by Vladimir Sobolev.
Did you go back in the blog and see what Jocelyn did in her studio at Patonga, the bakehouse gallery? It’s very nice photo essay of the whole process. Jocelyn di the picture in about an hour. She also did one fo me, featured earlier. Mike the helper
October 21st, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Happy Birthday Olive
You’re an inspiration.
I run a daily Web magazine Open Writing. Eric Shackle is one of its star writers - and some of his articles about you are featured in it.
I am also a University of the Third Age tutor in Huddersfield, Yorkshire. I run a writing and reminiscing class called Remember When. The 36 members in the class send you their very best wishes.
I raise a pint of good Yorkshire bitter to you and say again - happy birthday Olive.
I’d love to meet you, but please don’t ask me to eat oysters. Yorkshire pudding is all I can manage.
Cheers
Peter Hinchliffe
Nice to learn all that, Peter, about what you do. The networkinfg possibitlies of this medium, are so exciting. But it has been a frustation to us that the other Peter, Peter Olakley, has never commented on Olive’s blog. You’d think he’d be interested or has he been overwhelmed by all the attention? Eric did manage to get through at one point, and I gather Peter. planned to have a looK at Olive. But we heard nothing.
I was frustrated too because I had wanted to get in touch with another internet phenomenon, someone Peter Oakley knows, and that’s Hills88, the Queensland girl who is such a hit.
I thought it would nice if she, a very young star, had contact with our very old star. All our attempts to reach her failed, and I thought Peter O. might help. But then it emerged something bad happened as a result of their encounter. Nasty things were said by cruel readers, apparently.
So, if you are in touch with Peter Oakley, and if he’s still active, say that we’re waiting for a message. Cheers, Mike.
P.S. I dont like Oysters either.
October 21st, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Hello Nanny and Mike. I loved the concert. I watched all of them, but I had no sound for Goodnight Sweetheart. Today when Ross, Katie and I visited nanny she told us about her singing and drum playing, but she thinks she sounds bad singing. We told her that we thought she was good and sang in tune well, and now I have seen this, I want her to know that we think she is good and also that I am impressed she can remember almost all the words of the songs! Hope you enjoy the cherries! Lynne from Bulli.
She always says she sings badly, Lynne, but she sings, Pack up your Troubles solo on the blog, you can find it on youtube and she sounds pretty good to me. Also, it is the highest rating clip of her clips. I think the singing is good for her, that she secretly likes it, and I hope Christina continues. One thing is clear, Christina’s voice is delightful. She reminds us all how much fun it is to sing together. Mike the helper
October 21st, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Sending warm birthday wishes from the great state of Texas in the U.S.
October 21st, 2007 at 11:45 pm
Anyone wishing to view Olive’s ABC news video can see it at http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2007/10/17/2062390.htm
And AP in the U.S. has posted another version at http://www.livevideo.com/video/APnews/3FA7C044B0BE40A5BD4063582F09E424/world-s-oldest-blogger-turns-1.aspx
October 22nd, 2007 at 12:20 am
Wave me goodbye as you wish me good luck..my fav!! Ollie looked to enjoy this one so much! Lovely sing -a-long, thank you for bringing this Mike and to all who sang! I do hope that Ollie heard from her children, but in case not, we have all become her family. Best to you all!
Yes, Tami, Her daughter, Evelyn, was on the phone while I was there . Mike the helper.
October 22nd, 2007 at 2:31 am
happy happy day!
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:22 am
Happy Birthday Olive!!! How Wonderful!!!
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:50 am
A very Happy Birthday to you Ollie! You’re an inspiration to all of us!! May you continue to live a long and joyful life!
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:57 am
That was a great birthday sing-a-long. It’s hard to pick a favourite but I’d probably go for Goodnight Sweetheart. Keep enjoying life Olive, you’re a wonderful lady.
It strange, Sablonneuse, some people say they could not hear goodnight sweetheart. But it seems you heard it fine. Mike the helper
October 22nd, 2007 at 7:38 am
Oh Ollie–Happy, Happy Birthday!!!!! I truly love reading your “blob” and have read it all from start to now, as well as have watched all of your moviews. You are truly a dear, sweet lady. I wish I lived in Australia so that I could come and visit with you!! You remind me so much of my own sweet grandma who passed away last year at the age of 95. I truly miss her, but you have helped to fill that empty spot in my heart!! I’ve never met you in person, but I do love you!!
Cindy from Minnesot, USA
October 22nd, 2007 at 7:40 am
That was meant to be Minnesota, USA–Hugs to you!!
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:17 am
wow it’s a small world Mike !!!!
I went along to one of Jocelyn Maughan’s talks and a demonstration of her superb water colour techniques..at the Lake Macquarie Art Gallery a few years ago and I bought her wonderful book ..The Draughtsman’s Contract……great portrait of you Mike
The portrait of Olive is sensational….and I loved reading about your visit to the Bakehouse Gallery at Patonga…
have a lovely Monday
Kim (at The Entrance North)
Thanks, kim. Hopefully we can meet sometime. Mike the Helper
October 22nd, 2007 at 1:30 pm
happy belated birthday, ollie!
October 22nd, 2007 at 1:40 pm
All the best to your Ollie.
God bless….
October 22nd, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Oh well, I think it’s Oct. 22nd in Australia now, so I’ll wish you a happy 108th plus two days from West Virginia, USA! Keep going, Ollie!
October 22nd, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Happy Birthday !It’s a greeting from China:)
I’m a journalist of a newspaper “IT times”.I like your blog very much and want to interduce it to my readers.
so would you please answer me some questions about the blog?
Liu Shao in Shanghai,China
We’d be happy to help you Liu. Just send us the questions. if you need photos, you can take them from the blog or I can send larger ones. Mike the helper
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Dear Olive!
That God bless you today and always, I hope to have many health and peace!
Happy birthday before you!
See this simple tribute that you did before.
http://z003.ig.com.br/ig/51/52/904436/blig/gervablig/imagens/animation100.gif
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:27 am
Dear Olive, Happy Belated Birthday and Congratulations! I missed your actual birthday and the marvelous sing along, however I would celebrate all year if I were you. You are truly an inspiration having seen so many changes in your life time and keeping up with current ones…blogging at 108, I can only dream! Best Wishes from a Canadian Admirer. Love Heather, Quebec, Canada
Heather, we will be gearing up for our search in Quebec soon. Go back two posts and have a look in all about acting. We will especially be looking for a Heather in the Eastern Townships apropos of Vincent and Me. Mike the helper
October 23rd, 2007 at 4:57 am
Hello Mike, I’m surprised some people couldn’t hear Goodnight Sweetheart. They missed a treat. I’ve just tried it again and it worked fine.
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:04 am
Hi Olive…Oh you look like you had the best birthday ever! I loved watching all the videos and hearing you talk. I live in Massachusetts, in the United States and so glad to have found you. Have a lovely day. Blessings, Karen
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:05 am
Happy anniversary, delayed! I do not say English, I needed the aid of “Babel translating Fish, but I loved visiting its blog.God keeps to you, he kisses you and he every day blesses you of its life.
Kisses - Léo and Edmar - Brazil
October 23rd, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Happy Belated Birthday, Ollie!
October 23rd, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Sorry I’m a couple of days late but happy birthday from the heart of Texas Olive. May your life be filled with love, luck and happiness.
October 24th, 2007 at 12:10 am
Hello Ollie. What a wonderful singalong. My parents were very musical and we spent many hours as a family singing around the piano. We all took turns, kids and all, to play our favourite songs for everyone to sing. I am now doing this with my grandchildren. Unfortunately we didn’t have a piano when my own children were small, and my guitar playing was sooo bad! So they missed out on the singalongs. Except for long car drives, when I became heartily sick of “She’ll be coming round the mountain” for miles and miles AND MILES! But they all sang all the Sesame Street and Playschool songs too. I read somewhere that singing is the most natural way of using our voices, so we should all sing our hearts out. I remember my husband’s mother and aunt used to sing their old songs to our children too.
In your concert, my favourite songs were Goodnight Sweetheart and Goodnight Irene, the latter one being one of our favourites as kids - it’s a good belter of a song!
Rest well and I look forward to your next post.
Thanks, May, wouldn’t it be woderful if we could sing more? Mike the helper
October 24th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Olive,
You are a inspiration to me. I am new to bloogging. You are an awesome lady we great clearity of mind and wit. May god grace us all with such fortitude. Bless you. I am adding you to my blog role. Please visit my blog about my daughter Brenda. It is at http://www.brendasfiends.com/blog. Take good care
October 25th, 2007 at 6:21 am
Belated birthday wishes Olive. I love the idea of sing alongs. Thanks very much to you and Mike for sharing all these wonderful songs. I think my fave is Irene Goodnight. The harmonizing is wonderful.
I used to play on a chord organ about 35 years ago and my Mom and aunties would sing with me. Now I can occasionally talk our 16 year old daughter into singing with me. Every once in a while she asks to sing.
Great times.
Thanks so much for your inspiration, optimism and beautiful smiling face.
I’ll definitely be thinking of you when I celebrate my 50th this Sunday.
Angels be with you,
Wendy
October 25th, 2007 at 7:05 am
Belated Birthday greetings Olive,
Thanks sincerely Mike for sharing with us the beautiful optimism and energy of this wonderful being. I feel so inspired by you Olive. I love the idea of the singalongs. My fave is Irene goodnight. the harmonizing is wonderful.
I used to play the chord organ about 35 years ago and my Mom and aunties would join in song. Now I occasionally sing with my daughter and if my Mom is close by she may join in also.
Olive, may angels be with you and yours.
October 26th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Greetings from Regina, Saskatchewan Canada! Happy Belated Birthday! I hope you had a great day. You are a true inspiration, I have diffculty teaching my mom who is 59 how to use the computer!! I think you are absolutely wonderful.
October 28th, 2007 at 6:28 am
Wishing you a very happy belated birthday Olive! What a celebration you had! I hope you’ve recovered from all the festivities by now and are feeling well rested.
I enjoyed the singing so much!!! Mike is right, we should all sing more often. I’ve loved singing all my life. It’s a wonderful way to stay upbeat and positive. It’s a delight to hear you sing Olive. Do it every chance you get!
I hope you have a wonderful year Olive and continue to be blessed by all your many friends and admirers.
Our weather is turning colder here in NY as yours is warming up. Enjoy your spring and summer!
October 28th, 2007 at 7:46 am
hehehehe Ollie you are a great singer!!!
November 2nd, 2007 at 9:41 pm
A very Happy belated Birthday is sent to Miss Olive!! You are so beautiful and talented!! I am so happy I got the chance to view your page. You are one awesome lady!!! Blessings to ya, Miss Olive!!!
November 5th, 2007 at 5:10 am
Hi Olive,
Happy BELATED Birthday, so it’s late but I came across you via YouTube (as pointed by LostCousins). I will be adding this URL on my Genealogy Message Forum (so others will know about Olive) as I think Olive’s fantasic and showed us that you can still have fun at 108! I couldn’t watch all the videos as I’m partially deaf so couldn’t hear what people was saying, but enjoyed watching Olive.
Take care,
T, U.K
Tracey, so glad you liked the blog and passing it on. Olive will be pleased. Mike the helper.