A couple of days ago I was looking at some photos in social media of a publicity shoot of the choir that I used to be in. I had gone back a few times in its current version after the pandemic but being in Edinburgh so infrequently and a change in rehearsal location meant I gradually attended less and less often and the last time I went to a performance, it was to be in the audience, not to sing. I noticed the leader had started to get the choir to do a bit more in the way of actions into their performance. The shoot had a nautical theme and everyone in the photos was dressed as sailors or pirates in blue and white with striped tops and posing by the sea. I felt a bit jealous. I definitely have suitable stripey tops and actually drive a boat and haul ropes. Alongside the photos of maritime singers, was a video clip of the choir leader in a mermaid outfit, hopping sideways over the shingle on the tail, splashing into the sea and somehow managing to swim by undulating her legs together, flapping the fish tail up and down. Is there no end to her abilities? She didn’t actually combine the mermaids outfit with singing, but she does sing, play guitar and writes songs – in her non native language. Also in her non native language, she did a PhD in biochemistry. She teaches during the science festival in Edinburgh. Actually she speaks a few languages. She teaches our choir singing and while we have trouble learning our parts and the words, she knows all the words and parts and never needs to check. She teaches drama to Bulgarian children and does puppet shows in Bulgarian. She I full of energy, good humour, patience and enthusiasm. And now I find she can swim like a fish! I am in awe of that woman.