Your legs are fine darling

I think that is disputable, mon cheri.

But I am right.

I know I mean...

See

I wish

Lunch out with Pa and Bagpuss.

Visiting a potato crisp factory (for those of you in Scotland - Mackies-same people who make ice cream)

Picking up an Evanescence piece for the piano that absolutely defeated me just under two years ago-once I sorted the rhythm, it was almost easy

Ooo which one? I like them (Amy Lee has an amazing voice)

Is it merely one long fade-out?

Breathe No More-it's pretty, but a bit depressing, I certainly couldn't play a lot of Evanescence!



Oh dearie me

Riding my bicycle!


It's only the third time I've cycled in to work this year
The cold and snow I didn't cycle in, and then when it warmed up I think because I'd had so long a break I was a bit scared of doing it...not of the traffic, or anything like that, but probably more of not being able to actually do it.

Last week we were on holiday in the Lake District. We were out somewhere and my husband said 'Shall we just walk up there?' and I thought about it and said no, so we didn't. And the next day, we went on a fairly gentle low-ish level walk, which then had a 'hill' in it (a hill in Hertfordshire terms; not so much in Lake District terms, though it produced a very nice view of Coniston Water all the same!)
And I got to the top and it was marvellous. And he gave me a big cuddle and I said I'd declined the walk yesterday because I was scared of it, just like I have been of cycling [which he knows about]. And he said he thought I might have been, but look, I'd done it, so enjoy the view and let's do some more walking, because I am capable

So after that, I thought I'd b brave and get the bike out again. I set out to pootle in this morning, no looking at the clock or the speedometer (in fact I had to stop at Tesco as I'd forgotten to bring my water bottle, so I took the cycle computer off then and probably won't put it back on). And I really really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to the ride home. So hurrah for being back on my bike!

Getting a day off going to hospital tomorrow!! After 12 days of continuous injections and blood tests I AM SO EXCITED!!!!

Managing to fit in two hours' piano practice (Schubert and Liszt) on the school Grand, inbetween bouts of exam invigilation.

Well done, Maizie! Hope you continue to enjoy riding your bike in the lovely summer weather.

muzicalbadger, you must be so fed up of hospitals! Hope they can sort you out soon.

Painting my little cousin's fingernails!!!! She kept on saying how she wanted her nails the same as mine, so I painted them for her in the same colour and she was just sooooo exicted!

Mine and my pupil's exam results

Acquiring a new pupil, in May (not a traditionally good time to get new pupils), that fits in my timetable...

Awwwh, how cute!

Congrats Katyjay!!!

Surviving my A Level Statistics exam today
1 down, 3 to go!

Nothing Am feeling a bit of a down-whiskered, lonely, unloved Old Bag at the moment...

Bx

Hug for Bag...you are a recorderist and thus inhernetly not unloved As well as being the super-special Bag who answered helpfully my first tentative proper recorder question for me

Today I am happy because two problems that have been reported in to me have turned out to be transient errors, and not on our end, so they have magically fixed themselves and if it breaks again they have to complain to someone else;

and it's Thursday so it's music lesson in a bit;

and there has been nobody in the office today (well, of the 8 of us, 3 are in, but we are spread out and sat pretty much as far apart as possible), so I have been able to catch up on lots of podcasts from when I was on holiday last week on my iPod (it's a bit rude to sit here plugged in when you have people sat next to you, but when alone and barely within shouting distance of another person, it's the only way to get through the day!)

I read this as 'in hair-net-ly', like Ena Sharples or Les Dawson in drag!

Well I'm happy because I have had my music lesson this morning. The good bit about being on late shift is I get to play first and I find it a nice way to start the day.

Then when I got to work, the virus outbreak we have been battling is all cleaned up now.

Seeing son's name in the ABRSM 2009 Annual Review !

Very little ... found a litter picker and it was quite easy to use. Perhaps I've found my forte at last!

Was able to play a Steinway today- printed out Bach-Busoni Toccata & Fugue in D minor. I can't play it but the Steinway sounds gorgeous

The Steinway B at uni has been fully restored and I played it today. New strings, hammers, dampers, tuning pegs, sounds AMAZING.

I bet it does!!!

Haha I am going to leave it like that, I'm going to use in-hair-net-ly from now on

Today, what has made me happy, well, nothing yet but I can add to yesterday because:
1) I got my G5 certificate at my music lesson last night
2) I got what I decided to take as a great compliment at my lesson last night as well (my teacher said 'You're a very different player to when I first met you. You've been listening. It's gratifying to have someone listen for a change!' so I am going to take that as meaning I'm better )

The blinds I ordered yesterday just arrived !!! Can't wait to have them installed I bought myself just yesterday some wood blinds to match existing furniture and flooring...be back in a couple of hours with inputs on how they look when installed

I'm going to cornwall - camping - until Thursday! I go every year, and have since I was born, but it's still really exciting! Pray for no rain!

I went to bed at 6 last night... Matthew woke me at 8 to have something to eat and I was back asleep by 9. And just woke up.

It's very lovely here at the moment so will keep my fingers crossed it stays that way Unless it's the reason you're coming down I would avoid Newquay as it's Run to the Sun weekend and heavingly busy!

Looking back over the half term just ending, and realising that one little 9 year old has turned the corner.

A school move at the start of this term away from a group where she was apparently bullied - and she is like a different child.

The salad we had with our tea was nearly all home grown and picked:
raddish, herbs, mixed baby salad leaves, rocket .... Kind of satisfying and the kids ate more than they usually would too (as they'd grown it!!) - a bonus!!

Oh, so you have a copy? I have asked my teacher to email the Board, as my name should be there with his (it was Grade 6, wasn't it?), but he hasn't had a reply yet.

What's made me happy - no school now for a week!

beautiful higher physics paper

Clearly no Uncertainty Principle at work here!

No more physics lessons ever!

Having my thumb rest base finally fixed properly!! And tehre are no scars on the clari. Another

But physics is fun! At least I used to love it when I was at school..

Getting rid of the evil Trojan virus on my computer.

Why do people devise these things?

W

Physics is cool

Managed to play through my complete forthcoming Diploma programme for the first time, now that I've overcome the tricky bits in the Liszt!

Time: 37 minutes. And that's incorporating the repeats that I have in mind, so I could ditch the repeat of the first section of the first movement of the Schubert and still be within the time limit available.

A surprise (two day early) birthday party organised secretly by my wife and family . Most of my family and lots of friends were there. The nicest surprises were (a) finding when I got home this afternoon from a so-called shopping trip, (to get me out of the house really ), Bev and her two daughters had come, and (b) my flute teacher and her family arriving a little later. Mind you, they have both been in on the secret for ages, and both told fibs like Anna on Wednesday - "see you in a fortnight, don't forget there is no lesson next week it is half-term", and Bev last night after orchestra - "here are your cards for Monday as I won't see you again until after your birthday!"

Bev and Kate each made me a cake, and they were both delicious . Thank you both for that kindness, and thank you Rosemary (Mrs G) for all the hard work in organising it.

Well done! It sounds as if your recital is well on the way. Have you started the programme notes yet?


How lovely! Happy Birthday for two days hence!

Oh yes, indeed. In fact my first attempts were written maybe 5 months ago, revised since and needing a further revision, in the light of now having the music far more embedded.

A few little things to re-jig, with a little more on the Sonata than I had initially, to reflect it's standing within the recital.

It's now the last movement of the Schubert Sonata that I have to hone, although major surgery is not required! With this half-term, planning to do a few long practice sessions on the grand in school, I'm now on course to play the whole thing in front of an invited audience in a couple of weeks' time; that'll give me another month for maybe a repeat performance, after a complete mock diploma with my teacher.

Nice feeling, I must say, now that it's coming together. The hurdle of nerves will be the next stage!