October 2017

Justine's friend Kate, who is lucky to be alive and knows how to make good use of the time she has left, celebrated her life with 'Instead of a Wake', for which Justine had the privilege of being part of the organisational team. In contrast to the usual events that Justine organises, in which there is always, usually necessarily, a little bit of hoping for the best, this was planned with military precision. A year before the event the idea was hatched. Months before, 8 cellists, a soprano and a small baroque orchestra were booked for a programme of Villa Lobos and Bach; flowers, furniture, venues and menus were agreed; the elusive music for David Bedford's beautiful 'The Grace of Love' was found and the choir met for their first rehearsal. Weeks before, Kate's gin was distilled; the font for the projected subtitles was decided upon; the programmes were printed; the tenors mastered the tricky bits in Purcell's Evening Hymn, and the playlist for the after concert party was drawn up. Days before, the marquee company sourced extra long stakes to keep the marquee from flying away in the anticipated gale force winds. One day before, a water main was punctured with aforementioned extra long stakes, and 4 hours before the event the last emergency port-a-loo was removed. There is no planning for the unexpected, we totally carpe'd the diem and it was the best party ever.