Hazel Ricketts's Avatar

Hazel Ricketts

@ricketts.bsky.social

Church Musician, Peripatetic music teacher, choral conductor, owned by 3 cats, a dog, & teenage children!

978 Followers  |  90 Following  |  82 Posts  |  Joined: 12.11.2023  |  1.6604

Latest posts by ricketts.bsky.social on Bluesky

Oh I read that when I had an elderly dog... I sobbed!! Heartbreaking & beautiful in equal measure I remember!

02.10.2025 07:43 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Not a bad view from my usual seat for evensong at Salisbury Cathedral. This is the south case of the Father Willis organ which dates from 1876 & is basically unaltered. A privilege to hear it so often especially when in the hands of @johnorganist.bsky.social who knows it so well.

19.09.2025 06:45 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
When a parrot wanted to connect with a distant friend, a touchscreen showed a selection of other birds available online. The parrots learned to activate the screen, designed specially for them, by touching it gently with their tongues rather than pecking aggressively with their beaks.
"We had 26 birds involved," said Hirskyj-Douglas. "They would use the system up to three hours a day, with each call lasting up to five minutes." The interactions ranged from preening and playing with toys to loud vocal exchanges.
"When we went through the data, we found that most of these parrots had favourite friends," said Hirskyj-Douglas.

When a parrot wanted to connect with a distant friend, a touchscreen showed a selection of other birds available online. The parrots learned to activate the screen, designed specially for them, by touching it gently with their tongues rather than pecking aggressively with their beaks. "We had 26 birds involved," said Hirskyj-Douglas. "They would use the system up to three hours a day, with each call lasting up to five minutes." The interactions ranged from preening and playing with toys to loud vocal exchanges. "When we went through the data, we found that most of these parrots had favourite friends," said Hirskyj-Douglas.

Pet parrots which typically live alone (whilst those in the wild live in large flocks) were given the technology to call each other. They would use it for up to three hours a day, and developed favourite friends πŸ’”
on.ft.com/3K05vhS

12.09.2025 06:00 β€” πŸ‘ 6650    πŸ” 2102    πŸ’¬ 130    πŸ“Œ 409

Oh I have read that... it pretty much destroyed me too - especially with an aging dog of my own at the time...

12.09.2025 11:03 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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When off work, feeling lousy thanks to a stomach bug cats can be great company. Keep one warm too! This was Piccolo & Duo's self appointed nursing job earlier in the week...

12.09.2025 10:02 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Photos of @salisburycathedral.bsky.social from Tuesday. My dog walk, just outside, and inside when suddenly there was nobody in sight for a moment!

28.08.2025 11:11 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Duo hasn't been allowed out for 10 days following a minor injury. He isn't impressed, but has finally settled in the sun. Cats manage to look like they are relaxing every single muscle and may just "pour" off the chair by mistake don't they?!

24.07.2025 10:34 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The mist was rising from the water meadows which gives it that vibe, and of course the colouring thanks to dawn. It was a magical time to be out.

11.07.2025 22:10 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Out around 5.30am this morning before it was too hot for the dog. Salisbury Cathedral looked like this...

10.07.2025 18:08 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Indeed! She had a couple of days with mainly music experience but also with vestry team & things like helping catalogue music. All "behind the scenes" which makes a place like this what it is. So grateful to those who accommodated her.

20.06.2025 08:03 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Quick photo yesterday when dropping my lucky 16yr old off for work experience. Yes this is Salisbury Cathedral! Thanks to @johnorganist.bsky.social & colleagues for giving her a fascinating couple of days "behind the scenes".

20.06.2025 06:26 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Free world class music performances every single day in our cathedrals - it is called "Evensong" and even for those who are not Christians the music and a quiet service where congregation only join in with one prayer (& sometimes a hymn) can be a time of music & reflection in a busy world.

17.06.2025 09:25 β€” πŸ‘ 19    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Having chased off the pigeon that had the audacity to land in HER garden, and drink from... "oh! I had forgotten this water bowl!" aka the birdbath, Solo sat on guard to make sure no other creatures were going to make the same mistake!

17.06.2025 09:08 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Two photos of Salisbury Cathedral at dawn at 4.30am a couple of days ago. This view is from my house!

13.06.2025 07:04 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Quick photo of Salisbury Cathedral after evensong last night.

04.06.2025 09:28 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Looking forward to Salisbury!

21.05.2025 11:44 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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When Piccolo turned up as a tiny scared feral kitten I was worried Solo & Duo wouldn't accept her. Solo cuddles & mother's her & Duo plays with her (piccolo is under that blanket!)... I hadn't been intending to get a 3rd cat but I'm so glad she found us.

21.05.2025 10:47 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Sending love.

19.05.2025 13:49 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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The bride has her heart set on this. The organ is notoriously unreliable, esp the pedals. What is your answer? Mine was my 16yr old (organist) daughter page turning, stop pulling, & playing the pedal part on the manuals!

And yes, I paid her for her contribution - much to her delight!

17.05.2025 15:35 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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At this time of the year, the last rays of the setting sun reflect off the tower windows of Salisbury Cathedral. This makes it look like the tower is on fire! Rest assured it isn't!

12.05.2025 10:02 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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I live in a city. But that city is Salisbury which has 5 rivers, water meadows, and a cathedral. Therefore views like this are pretty normal! Salisbury is not your average city!

01.05.2025 15:47 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Menopause is starting to be a more open subject generally, and hopefully the impact of this change on the voice will become as mainstream and as well understood as that which happens in teenage years.

24.04.2025 20:28 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I find one amateur choir I direct chatters a lot especially before rehearsal. We started doing some breathing exercises to start, and it just brings quiet and focus. They have to watch me too, to know how long I want the exhale to be. Changes their mindset from "social" to "work".

24.04.2025 20:24 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Salisbury cathedral a few days ago.

24.04.2025 07:48 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

They are lovely. I quite understand why you'd use them for this.

18.04.2025 18:19 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Also beautiful.

18.04.2025 15:43 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

That is beautiful. Please don't think me rude when I say I'm tired & without my glasses on at a quick glance & a small photo my brain saw "something round and orange with candle" and assumed Christingle! A quick zoom in allowed eyes to put brain right, and me to appreciate how lovely it is.

18.04.2025 15:42 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I'm not surprised you wept. That is stunning, and finding it and "hearing" it (even if only in your head) must have been impossibly moving

18.04.2025 15:33 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Brave little Piccolo cat in the garden! No beetle or spider is safe!

11.04.2025 15:00 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Many years ago there was a cartoon of a person in a wheelchair, and a door up a flight of steep steps. The sign beside the door read "incapacity benefit assessment centre" (or similar)...

I make no comment on whether that felt accurate at the time or now!

31.03.2025 08:19 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

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