How lovely! I did that too a couple of days ago with the new rector in our parish - she is absolutely lovely, and I think will be wonderful for the congregation here.

Blossom and the sun.... always makes you feel better.........oh and an exam candidate this term coming to his lesson having practised hard and having made so much progress.... phew..... off my 'to worry about list" now!!!!

it's the weekend and I've just finished playing clari

I was feeling rubbish about my flute playing tonight, because I didn't think I was getting anywhere, but a comment by my friend has made me smile and feel a bit better about it.

I have decided there is a lot to be happy about.... it's been a lovely sunny day.... I survived my first little sojourn with my daughter driving (gosh, that was scary... my mum never showed any fear when she took me out- she must have been good at hiding emotions), blossom, little rabbits, the fact that I've opened wine and don't have to go out again tonight.....

Actually it was yesterday but I'm nearly late on this thread.

I hung out the washing for the first time this year and it dried!!!Then I saw a yellow butterfly. Then I saw a litlle lizard on the garden wall. Then I noticed my primroses are starting to bloom. Then I went shopping, met the mother of a delightful pupil and told her about my latest accidental aquisition - an elderly apricot poodle. Mother roared with laughter, saying "But you are not the poodle type!" That made me happy as it reassured me about my image!Then I got home and the poodle jumped all over me and told me in doggy language that she loves me. Then it was warm enough to have tea outside on the patio - complete with poodle and cats.

A lot of little happinesses go a long way!

What a blissful day Aquarelle (especially the poodle part )


I'm reading this thread because I just feel good this morning and think it's going to be a lovely day... before the madness of next week

I was in a very nice part of Wales yesterday (the Ceiriog valley) playing C17th music in a C17th inn. Lovely scenery, but it was cold and you had to dodge the showers between the sunny spells

EDIT Learn to spell "Ceiriog"

Sounds lovely Tenor Viol, Wales is fab

I'm looking forward to a lazy day today, clari, oboe, help mum with sax and generally chill out

William Byrd

Sunday afternoon and maltesers....

The diet starts tomorrow....

Well, after a heft day of viol playng yesterday I spent 2pm - 8pm at the RNCM in Manchesterplaying cello at the play day - first one I've ever been to for cello.

I think we were something 45562.

Given that I'm probably G4 ish, Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings is a bit of shocker Lots of high position work (inlcuding thumb postion), a harmonic (another eek - not played one fo those in anger before either), and lots and lots of tenor clef.

Fortunately I was sat next to a lady who was a very good cellist so I was able to busk my way through and even contribute the odd note here and there.

Good day but I'm totally discombobulated

Very impressed that you've taken your daughter out driving. I took mine a handful of times and then decided the risk of a heart attack was too great, and left the job to her Dad! Funny, I was fine taking out my son, but he is a much steadier sort of person and was happy to drive at a slowish speed to begin with.

I think I'm probably the calmer of the two of us..... I do sometimes hold on to my seat with nerves! Today, I've had a lovely morning in Lyme Regis with OH, and I'm loving the blossom and the sun! And I've finished teaching for the day, and my lessons went well!

Finding a whole shelf ful of rolls at Morrisons for NINE PENCE a pack. And with tomorrow's date on them too!

Did you buy the whole shelf-ful?

No. I bought just the two packs of Tiger Rolls. We were laden down with fresh fruit and veg anyway. The bags of apples and pears were a quid each too!

Have you tried to get daughter to talk about what is going on, potential hazards and how to deal with them? It's a fairly well known advanced driving technique and also used when someone firsts starts competition driving (albeit in a different manner).

Could possibly aid concentration? And help your nerves to perhaps realise daughter is concentrating on the road ahead? Ahead being the key point.

Tis not the driving I worry about, its the parking. I cannot park a car for a million quid. My neighbour (old showoff that he is) has parking sensors on his 11 reg toy, which would actually be a boon for me...however the garage courtesy car is in his driveway almost as often as his machine and so he tells me it's always the electrics that are malfunctioning. Then again his car can do anything, with 'getting from A destination to B destination safely and economically' near the bottom of the list...as I've been in his car a few times.

I think our MD at the chamber choir is trying to scare us! We're rehearsing for a (shortened) performance of the Bach St. John Passion on Passion Sunday.

Last night we rehearsed in the church with our organist (it's the only chance we've got before the concert itself).

The challenge is that our MD is going to sing the Evangelist's role. This means that all of the choir interjections will be unconducted and we need to pick up the tempo by listening to the last bar of recitative....

Croissants for breakfast in the sunshine and students piano exams all done!! (and finding a piano smiley!)

I couldn't agree more with this, commentary driving is a very useful tool in the assessors armoury, and you being the assessor at the time need to know what is going on in the head of the driver


The glorious sunshine is making me very happy today

Hmm. I don't agree, unless she's already been learning for a while and is fairly proficient. I think people are forgetting just how much concentration the driving can take for a learner who isn't a natural at it (or else if you are people who learnt very easily you may never have experienced the same demands on concentration with driving). As a learner, I wouldn't have been able to think about both the driving and the talking at the same time. Advanced driving techniques are what their name suggests - techniques developed by established drivers who already have experience and a basic competency in driving. I don't think that advanced driving techniques or those used in competitions are generally the most appropriate approaches for someone in the early stages of learning.

Having a long lie-in after an exhausting day yesterday...having a quiet day at home, resting and catching up with lots of e-mails/lesson planning/admin etc...and knowing that tomorrow I can leave school at 12.15pm (parents' consultations afternoon) - so I am going to treat myself to a haircut and highlights instead of battling with Y5, Y6, choir and Hymn Practice!

indeed

my happy - only two days at work then a long weekend

A nice cup of Irish Cream Roast Coffee, roasted locally. All you Southerners and Northerners might have AB adult learners events but you can't get hold of assorted flavour Meyart roasted coffee like we can!!!!

A fairly quite day at work today. Only had 92 calls in total today and not too many emails either.

I can see both points of view here. On the one hand driving requires (or should require) total concentration on the job in hand. It is very demanding having to think not only about the road ahead, but also looking out for hazards, not just in your own path, but 360 degrees around the car, whilst also thinking about gear changes, mirrors, indicating and predicting what other road users are about to do. (Oh, and I nearly forgot, watching the speedometer at all times is far more important than any of the above. )

On the other hand, it is very useful to know what the learner driver is seeing and thinking, (and what they are not seeing and thinking), even if they are not up to giving a full running commentary.

I think most young learners are surprised by just how demanding and tiring it is to drive properly, and they soon realise why they might have been told to shut up in the car whilst mum or dad was negotiating a tricky roundabout!

Now that our eldest is learning to drive I often make a point of giving a running commentary myself when I am driving, so that he can see what I am seeing, and can learn to identify potential hazards himself. That way he can understand why I might slow down or take some precautionary action that he might not otherwise have noticed.

One point which I feel is particularly important, (and which doesn't seem to be taught by driving instructors) is to position the car correctly on the road. Good road positioning is essential for safe driving, and actually provides a faster and smoother line through bends. It also allows the driver to see hazards, or to be seen by others when they would not otherwise have been seen.

As an example, I was surprised by how closely our son drove to cars parked along a fairly street. When I asked him why he told me that his driving instructor had instructed him to stay on the left-hand side of the white line at al times if possible, even if there was nothing coming the other way, (and that he would fail his test if he drove down the middle of the road). But that is exactly what I would do; because if nothing was coming the other way I would want to be well clear of opening doors, and would want to be able to see children or pedestrians standing between parked cars. I don't think white lines are hurt by driving over them, but pedestrians certainly are!

SB

After I passed my test, I didn't drive again for four years. The good thing about me having so many lessons before I passed - I'd driven in all sorts of weather, and had started to develop some of the automatic things which you have to think so much about at first.
When I restarted driving, I found it really helpful to talk to myself, yes, out loud. Basically, I'd talk myself through stuff just like my driving instructor had during lessons, 'approaching the roundabout, want to turn left, mirror, slowing down, indicate, brake some more, look around, pop it to second, still all clear, off we go'.
I found it really helpful but doubtless anyone in the car with me would have considered me insane

Ah...Friday evening!!



(guess what those smilies are meant to represent )

Chavving it up in the Vee Eight's with my mum .... who is not the "mumsy" type at all, haha!

My wife sitting in on my piano practise, she never does but having her in the room criticising me is actually good....like having your own personal AB examiner!!!

My clari practice didn't all go to plan but I really enjoyed it

I had some lovely pupils today....and my 5 year old pupil is making some discernible progress at last and I don't have to go out to get my son at 9pm from scouts as someone else is! Whoop whoop.....

A Y1 child who has been the bane of my life for quite a while announced today that he was going to try to be good - and WAS *faints*.

Five others in the class gave me hugs at the end of the lesson and one whispered in my ear, 'I love you. You're the best music teacher in the universe' .

And then two others came up and said they wanted to sing me songs that they'd learned - one about Charlie Chaplin, learned from his grandad, and one the most beautiful lullaby (sung very high and beautifully, perfectly in tune) taught by her mum.

Most of these children are only five..

Aww, that's lovely

I'm happy because I've one day left at work this week , it's band tonight , I have a fabby weekend planned , and the sun is shining

That's really lovely! I had a smashing lesson with a 7 year old yesterday...who had worked AHEAD on her theory book all by herself....is there something in the air??

Nice to see all the s, Louise!

Ah...maybe it's spring that's in the air, Sunrise!

Sun shining, a stray pheasant in the garden, and my son playing the piano before he goes to school for the first time in about five years!

Being given an unexpected bar of chocolate from one colleague, and hugs and "Auguri"s from others because it's International Women's Day. Apparently we (women) get free dessert in the canteen today too!

Spring doesn't officially start until next week.

Getting my new car this afternoon I'll have two cars until my retirement at end if month, when my trusty Volvo S80 goes (Ive had three over 12 years). It'll seem odd driving a little Yaris, though we do have wife's Volvo S40 for longer journeys.

Haven't had any auguris here! Mind you I haven't been at work...

That's lovely Cyrilla!

Mine is finding out that I have been paid about 200 euros extra this month....not sure why....will probably be posting on the scream thread later when they take it away!

A 'little' Toyota Yaris parked next to my MGB GT V8. Actually loving the fact the MG looks sooooooo tiny, no wonder it goes well with a 3.5litre V8 under the bonnet

I'd never get into your V8 Pix. I have enough of a job getting into my Mitsubishi Colt. I feel if I did manage to squeeze into it, my B.T.M would be about a school ruler's length from the road surface!

But it looks nice and I like the blue.

I had forgotten just how small the MGB was!

A friend of mine in Plymouth still has an MGB V8, and had a lift in it recently. It was fun on the Devon roads, and very quick, but somehow the word 'comfort' didn't come to mind.

A school friend had a Triumph Vitesse in Wedgewood Blue with a straight six engine, which went like stink, and could overtake almost anything on a hill in top gear with the 'Overdrive' engaged! The Guildford Bypass was always fun, as a lot of cars in those days would struggle a bit on the climb up to the Hoggs Back, but the Vitesse would just stomp past them.

However, I had rather more refined tastes, and drove a black MG Magnette ZA, which looked like a baby Bently.

SB

Oooh lovely!! Great taste!!

I have violin insurance!!

Yes surprising isnt it. A friend of mine here on the Wirral is still running a red MGB, and well as a Jag X. He is 75. My Yaris is a T spirit (all the toys!) in Deep Aqua - 3hrs before I get it !

I think a B is quite a comfortable car Or is it that I've not had many really comfortable cars? LOL

I had a Vitesse convertible for a bit last year, it was a laugh I also fancy a GT6 and an MGC GT this year

I do like the MG Magnette ZA , funily enough I was looking at one on ebay the other day I do rather like large cars as well as sports cars and as many know on here I have a bit of a thing for Jaguars ... ironic really as I know I look like a child driving a Jag saloon but no one who drives a classic really cares what they "look like" to the rest of the motoring public ... 'cos we know old cars are the best!



Post up some pictures when you get it

Even quite large old cars seem to look small against moderns! My Stag is longer than just about anything in a modern carpark today BUT it is narrower than a Yaris for instance.