Music Day 2

Another 10 minutes practice completed, just scales and finger exercises.

Embouchure still finding it tough which is understandable.

Thumb a bit sore and started to feel it in the wrist, but otherwise all okay.

No discernible after effects from yesterday I am pleased to report.

A bit of fun:  Today's photo from the 365 Toy Project (A photo a day)

The book I started reading last night...A Hidden Affair.  Will report back once I have read it.

Enough is enough!

This was me performing in 2007

The one below is my last performance I played in pre-TOS decompression surgery, December 2008.  I had thought the pain was bad then, hence the surgery, little did I know that nearly four years later I still wouldn't be playing.  Not only that look how slim I was!  Now I feel dumpy and frumpy!

I was so sure I would be playing again that I had a couple of concerts booked for the April 2009.  I had to cancel.  I also got offered a permanent position in an orchestra which I had to turn down.  I had been working towards getting one since coming to the UK in 1995!

Well enough is enough!  No more!

First 10 minutes practice done this evening.

Embouchure ached - will need a lot of practice to get that in shape again.

Surprisingly I didn't think my sound was too bad.

Right thumb felt the weight a bit.

Time will tell what other effects these 10 minutes will have, but I will do the same tomorrow, and next day and the next.  I am determined to fight.

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I picked up a couple of books on the 50p stall at Sainsburys Supermarket this afternoon.

The one below slipped into my grocery basket by accident ;-) the other day.

Now which one shall I start reading tonight I wonder?

An update

So how am I doing at reducing my debt and selling my dolls you may be wondering?

(Part of this post is a direct copy from my Sewing For Sasha Blog)

I have managed to sell 7 of my beloved Sasha/Gregor dolls, but am happy to report they have gone to some really lovely homes.  It has been really hard and a couple of dolls in particular I really miss.  I have sold almost all of my Tressy collection as well as various other dolls, amounting to about 45 dolls in total, (oh I wish they brought in the sort of prices Sasha dolls do!)  including the Sasha dolls.  Sadly some I made the mistake of starting the listing at 99p thinking that I would get more than one bid, only to have to sell a gorgeous Crissy family member in her original clothes at that price - heartbreaking!  On a whole most buyers have been really lovely, but I did strike one pretty horrible buyer unfortunately.  Then of course there are the dreaded evilbay and paypal fees, that seems to reduce the amount brought in significantly as well!

I have managed to reduce a significant part of my debt, (will feel so much better when the dreaded credit card has been cleared) but do have a bit further to go so will have to do some more hard thinking and reducing.  I am finding it easier to resist, although it is still difficult at times!  Especially hard was going to the Sasha fun day and looking at all the wonderful items available and having to say no.  I am learning what I really like and making do with things I already have.

I have started doing a 'Doll Inventory' going through all the dolls I have collected and gathered over the years and accessing the what, whys and wherefores...  quite an interesting process.

I am making reasonable progress at the sorting and tidying, but it has to be done in stages, depending on how I feel physically.  I have volunteered to do the Christmas dinner this year, so I have a deadline to get things really sorted and cleared for now.  Usually my MIL has Christmas round her place, but she found it really difficult coping with it all last year, so I said come round here instead.  I better start planning!

As usual I have fallen behind on some things and need to catch up, but I am hopeful I will get those things done this week.  I have so many things and ideas I want to do and put into action, but just don't seem to get to do many of them, is it time?  Is it organisational problems?  Or quite what?  I really don't know.


Latest health update:

I went to see a different person today who has a completely different approach to the general medical profession and he came up with a completely different reason for many of my problems and as such I received a treatment for the problem today.  I go back and see him again on Thursday to see if there are any changes.  I am hopeful, but then I always am!

We had a lovely weekend with our older son who came home for a couple of days.  It was so nice to see him again and we all went out for a meal on Saturday night which was good.  All is quiet again now.

Oops, forgot I've put the dinner on...must dash!

Coil Pot Making

Something a little different at Thursday Girls quilting group today. Coil pot making, which was great fun.

Almost finished the base

Working round the sides

Finished!

Very pleased with this, it was fun to make and relatively easy.  Have a few more project ideas to work on now.

A wonderful recital

I went to a fabulous recital last night.  My friend from Uni took me, we haven't seen each other for such a long time...since the Martin Frost concert if I am remembering rightly.

My clarinet teacher from Uni was playing.  It was the first time I had had the opportunity to see him perform, and he was fantastic!

The concert opened with the clarinet and 'cello playing a Duo in C WoO27 by Beethoven

This was followed by a piano and 'cello duo 'Variations on a theme of Rossini (1942) by Bohuslav Martinu.

The first half ended with a Trio by Nino Rota which was good fun.  

The only criticism I really have is that the piano drowned out the other instruments in places, which they always insist on having a grand open at full stick in such a situation is beyond me.  I also felt the 'cello could have put a bit more into it which would have helped the blance.

As usual the amount of people attending this live concert was disappointing and something that seems to plague a lot of live classical concerts nowadays, which is such a shame as they really are missing out.

The concert finished with them playing one of my favourite composers; Brahms, his Trio in A minor Op 114

It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and we all popped into the local pub after the concert (I had an orange juice) and spent some time chatting.

I came home all inspired and enthusiastic about things and even thought I would try giving the playing a go again.

Unfortunately payback time hit during the night with the worst headache ever and I have had to spend all day in bed, tried getting up twice, but it was just too bad.  Headache eased slightly now, but pain in the right side has hit with a vengeance. So nothing got done today, still there is always tomorrow.

A letter to the Head.

I have to admire my just turned 16 year old son who wrote this letter to the head after being suspended from his afternoon lessons.  He wrote while sitting outside the Head teachers office, with just pen and paper, nothing else!

Dear Head,

Since you have informed me that I am not to talk to you until "I do so properly" which you define as giving you optional honorific, regardless of my opinions on them, I am resorting to written form to present my case.

Firstly, although it is the usual thing to do, it is not a rule, or law, and you are neither an NCO or above, nor have you been Knighted, meaning said honorific IS voluntary.

I am not opposed to calling you sir, and I have many times, so this is not a personal slight, but a matter of principles. My opposition stems from being told/ordered to call you sir

I am a great believer in freedom of expression in all its forms, one of which is speech. Attempting to control and limit others speech through demanding titles, which skews a whole conversation in your favour is a restriction of my freedom of speech.

If, for expressing myself in a way which isn't even rude, I am to be suspended, the system we function in needs to be changed. For example, I "have to" refer to male teachers as sir, but no such equivalent exists for female teachers, who I must refer to by their marital status, as opposed to the female version of sir, which is Dame. This shows our school is patriarchal and even the rules on student-teacher relations are sexist.

I propose a middle ground. I will, if you deem it an acceptable alternative instead refer to you as Headmaster, in place of sir.


The head agreed, and lifted the suspension.

Autumn colours

Our maple is starting to loose its leaves - fabulous colours!