I love the theme and variations genre as a whole, but I could never get into Beethoven op. 26 or Eroica for piano. I guess I'm ambivalent about K. 331... but what about the last movement of Beethoven op. 109? Goldberg variations? Mendelssohn Variations Serieuses? Rachmaninoff "Corelli" variations or Paganini Rhapsody? Brahms Handel and/or Paganini sets? Various examples from Mozart that I won't mention because people don't seem to like Mozart much here

I like most Bach and Brahms so that supersedes my "dislike" of theme and variations - never heard the Mendelssohn, or Beethoven Op. 109 - don't like Paganini Rhapsody. I like Mozart better than I used to but there are still some things by him that I can't stand. Can't speak for anyone else.

am I brave enough to play oboe at band tonight?????

A few points I would consider:

Can you swap instruments mid-rehearsal and go back to the clarinet? You haven't been playing for that long and your embouchure might not hold out for a whole rehearsal.

Have you already seen the oboe parts? Lots of band parts are in flat keys and you need to be happy using both E flat fingerings (left and right).

How reliably can you play in tune? It is very easy to play very out of tune on an oboe if you are feeling a bit nervous and/or your embouchure is tired because you have been playing for too long. Linked to this is how well do the flutes play in tune? Very often band parts have flutes and oboes playing either in unison or the same thing an octave apart. A slightly-out-of-tune oboist playing with a slightly-out-of-tune flautist results in a very-out-of-tune part.

Worth a go if you feel confident enough, but take the clarinet with you just in case.

Well I dont aspire to play the Op109 variations, but its a fine Sonata (I prefer Op 110). Nor can I expect ever to play the 'Goldbergs' though yes I do love listening to them (or any Bach really)

Was only planning on playing for a little while, because of the points you mentioned above it's easy to change to clari mid-rehearsal yes As for flutes, well, we only have one flute and she doesn't always turn up but she is a good player and holds part 1 easily.




Clari is in the car too Might be needed to play clari anyway depending on how many of the others show up.

Why does radio 3 feel the need to play the awful arrangement of Mozart K545 for two pianos so often? It's appeared on Through The Night at least 3 times in the last 3 months. It might have been arranged by Grieg but that doesn't make it great. The original sonata stood on its own without having to add all sorts of frippery to it.

I completely agree !

A Which? survey has rated Southeastern Trains the worst in the country.

I can't really disagree...

I saw that too, couldn't find the full results though, would like to know how East Coast did

Never had a problem with East Coast Louise.

Can't find a full list, but Virgin came top with c2c second.

The big problem with Southeastern is when they run well, they are very good, and the trains are generally in good condition. But they don't deal with delays/problems at all well compared to others, and their customer relations are utterly deplorable when compared to others like London Overground, South West Trains and Southern (and Southern are owned by the same people as Southeastern!)

Neither have I, very happy with the service so far

Not First Capital Connect?

First Capital Connect are pretty dire too. This is a train company that appears to have a severe shortage of graffiti remover, amongst other things...

At least Southeastern Trains are clean...

One of SouthEastern's big problems is the bottle neck at London Bridge - it means that once something's gone wrong it takes ages to recover from it.

My bugbear is when they put on short trains - I suppose it means they avoid a cancellation penalty, but where I get on there isn't a hope of actually getting on the train. There are always people running up and down the platform desperately searching for a door that they might be able to elbow their way through.

And take note : to us, short trains are four carriages. Those two carriage trains you have elsewhere in the UK are just crazy

I get the 07:26 Southern train to work which always has 4 carridges. I only get a seat about half the time and it is not even peak rush hour.

GNER was even better, but that was in the 'good old days'.

I must admit I do like the new complimentary food and drinks service on East Coast, but I miss the proper Restaurant Car when leaving London in the evening. The food was good and for some reason the atmosphere was always very pleasant.

SB

I am hoping the hedgehog moves

I've found the file!!! Phew.

What's up with the hedgehog?

We have hedgehogs which come into our conservatory. The cats don't care. But, I found one in there yesterday, and even when I walked up to it, it didn't run away. So was hoping it wasn't injured/dead. But it had gone when I got up.

I'd never realised how far south Liverpool is.

the norm

You'd have fun with the "local" train that shunts between Shrewsbury and Crewe then. Runs every 2 hours, often just ONE carriage.

Until fairly recently, the last train was 8pm, which makes using public transport to go to say a concert in Manchester or Liverpool slightly impossible (last trains from Liverpool or Manchester to Crewe are about 11 pm).




Depends on your locus If you're form Wick or Skye it probably is a fair way south. It's roughly half-way between London and Glasgow...

Oh, I never get a seat - it's the difference between getting on the train or not!

This is about the smallest train I've seen : it runs in Stourbridge in the West Midlands...

Aw, cute

I'm looking at you, Northern Rail....

You're looking at Northern Rail! I am too. And probably looking at the same line as you...

Probably

Are you looking at that line 'n' all, Louise?...

It's the last ever TV Burp tonight

1 G&T midafternoon at a party and 7pm feels like midnight. What on earth has happened to my alcohol tolerance.

Age

Is there a (scientific) explanation for that, I wonder?

one of the best shows currently on tv, will be missed

but I'm thinking of a different line.

Are you sure you're thinking of a different line?

I'm thinking about a line near me.

OK - you win

Just been out family visiting...and on the way, totally unprovoked, a drunk man hit me Luckily he wasn't very good at hitting, so I'm fine...

...and he won't remember it now, let alone tomorrow!!!

Glad to hear that you are OK.

I'm fine, thanks Takes a lot more than a silly drunken fool to wipe the smile from my face!

You must have been shocked, though. What are people doing that drunk by Sunday lunchtime?! I hope he didn't carry on swinging punches at innocent passers-by.

Yes : it's not something that happens every day (thank goodness!). I'm pretty resilient though : and there were police with full blue lights appearing soon after I left on the bus...

So glad you're ok Barry

Ditto!

Your powers of recouperation degrade with age unfortunately

I've just had to put sun cream on. It's still March...