What's a stylus?

What's happened to yout account Barry? You're confusing me........

A plastic pen-shaped thingy, for want of a better description! (still b-c! )

So it's a mouth organ with keys that you play with a pen?

You see what I mean when I said it was hard to describe

Have a look on youtube

You know when someone comes to read your meter or sometimes when you have to sign for a parcel or you're on a train and someone buys a ticket from the ticket-collector, you sign your name or put in information using an electronic pen?

Well, imagine having one of those electronic pens to prod the keys of a miniature keyboard, so completing a connection that results in a synthesised sound emerging when you play a key.

That's a Stylophone!

I'm back home from jojo's now, Flossie . Back on my own account...

And back on topic : a visit to jojo's is what made me happy today!

Graeme Dott is through to the final!

So Graeme Dott is why you're suddenly interested in snooker then...

I'm not suddenly interested in snooker. I've been supporting him for a number of years

I see...

So are his fans referred to as being Dotty?

It's true! Since 2004, in fact

Since 2004? Wow! That's nearly three hours ago, four minutes past eight in the evening...

I'm going to bed, night!

Goodnight Claudia : let's hope your finalist wins in the snooker

I wanted Selby to win as he is from Leicester...!

It would've been nice to see Steve Davis win the whole thing, as he was born in SE London...

Here's a video of Little Boots on Later with Jules demonstrating 2 generations of electronica. The ultra modern Yamaha Tenori (with the flashing lights, rhythm and percussion) and the good old Stylophone (goes beep - impressive in the 70s though). Oh and a great big keyboard instrument from years earlier which you can't get in your pocket.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cHX-znop8Q

Oh and here's a little film about the Stylophone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWS2QxIdUIU

What made me happy today?

I heard the first cuckoo
I watched a stork stalking in my field (until the daft dog chased it away)
I will hear nightingales singing outside my bedroom (probably while I vengefully hunt down night-raiding mosquitoes)
I came across Rampal accompanying Miss Piggy on Youtube (Lo Here the Gentle La-ha-haaark)

Oh, and I posted for the first time in the cafe! Good-night!

I successfully mended my piano stool.

That could inspire you to write a piece of music!

Wonderful! Is that 3 octaves?

WOW congrats that no simple task i was practiceing that earlier today am far off commiting it to memory, i'm forever checking my fingering chart. if it got lost i wouldnt be able to play twinkle twinkle lol

It's still impressive though, noodle! Well done!

Breakfast with old friends who'd stayed over last night.

Followed by a family lunch at the local Toby Carvery after we waved them off

then whiling away a couple of hours on a Scarecrow trail in Haxby, York.

It WAS freezing though!!!!

so nice! What a lot of lovely simple things..... your post has made me think..... i have Cherry blossom on the cherry tree by the hot tub and in the garden.... I saw a squirrel on the lawn...
Thank you dorfmouse you have made me think about good things that have happened today!

Today I had my assessed recital for last term's module. It went really really well, I am so pleased! The girl I was accompanying sang really well too - good times!

Playing Backgammon and Backgammoning twice which takes some doing!

York City 1 - Luton Town 0 (2-0 on aggregate). Wembley and, I hope, the football league again, here we come.

Have to admit, I didn't see that result coming. Good luck against Oxford!

Cool It's amazing how much difference a different mouthpiece can make to a clarinet

Going for a lovely walk with my family along the canals by Fradley Junction, lunch at the pub, and only 1 short shower. Bliss.
Bev

Life in general!!

Yay, a good feeling

Me it's a great day out with the family. Don't get to spend enough time with them so was lovely

Going to Alton Towers tomorrow The only downside is that both my mum and my stepdad are working tomorrow, so Shan and I have to somehow make our way there using public transport - which, knowing my sister and I, will get us lost.

We have to get up early, catch the bus to Piccadilly in Manchester city centre (which takes about an hour from where we live), then get the train from there to Stoke-on-Trent (which takes about 33 minutes, apparently), and then get the bus from Stoke to Alton Towers. I don't know how long the bus takes, but I do know that I do not want to do this journey. It'd be great if I could just zap myself there.

The birds in my garden. Ive got sparrows, goldfinches and pidgeons; and a pair of bluetits came round earlier on too. I can't honestly say the pidgeons make me happy but all the others do.

Catching the very last bus to get son to school just ahead of the bell!

The sun is shining

Half a day at Sewerby Hall, practising on the big Bluthner for Sunday's recital with DawnF. after which lunch in the tearooms and an hour or so in the beautiful gardens - warm, sunny and not a cloud in the sky or a breath of wind. A very useful day, just got back.

Managed to play for about 30 mins before my arm started hurting 1st time since my bike accident Ive managed more than 10 mins in a stretch......I might make some of this week's rehearsals after all

Giving my cousin a piano "lesson"-she's been learning a little bit of violin in school, and has been absolutely clamouring to get at the piano lately. I did some clapping rhythms with her and I was amazed how quickly she caught on (she's been wandering around the house singing "Crotchet crochet crochet crochet, minim, minim, semibreveeeeeeeee ) and a C major scale, which she thought was hilarious as she thought her hands looked like a spider when I told her to keep her fingers curved I got her to do some playing around on the notes, keeping in time with a metronome, and described and demonstrated the differences between legato and staccato ("fairy" scales and "tiger" scales, apparently ). I think she learnt something today, but even if she didn't, I'm fairly sure she's just starting to fall in love with music, and it was lovely to see her enjoying herself so much!

You wouldn't believe it... I even saw this result out here in Costa Rica - sitting in a bar having a beer with colleagues and they had it on the telly. Amazing.

caramel choux pastry cream cake mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Lovely to hear that you're recovering well, CJB.

make that two mmmmmmmmmm

My first seminar. They are so terrifying, but it seems like a good group, and it was interesting - though I ALWAYS make myself seem very stupid for the first few weeks. Hope I'll hit my stride soon.

Watching Hairspray

Love that film!

My little sister has just got herself a little part time job, after months of rejection. I had better clarify that my little sister is in fact 44 years old in a couple of weeks, but she has always been my little sister and always will be.