saw 2 kingfishers when out walking the dog.... in the beautiful sunshine.... amazing!

I've done this before! It actually works really well

Catching up still : congratulations in order all round here!

*high five*

As for me... well, not much, to be honest. I've been too tired to actually notice anything! That'll teach me...

Excellent news! glad all is well, and what a relief for you.

Hear, hear!

My teacher has lol. Picked two really hard pieces for grade, more touching on the grade above. But he said I could have the easier one for my B piece to give me a break as he doesn't want me to lose enjoyment. So for my B piece I'm doing the Enigma Theme by Elgar

Glad the outcome was good for you, cambiata.

Found a copy of the original recording of the Benny Goodman's jazz concert, 1938, in Carnegie Hall.
Most important track for me is "Sing, Sing, Sing,"

Once had the amazing "Sing, Sing, Sing" on an EP and then lost it. It's a masterpiece and still has the original recording crackles - utterly authentic and magic.

Drummer was Gene Krupa and, as a rock drummer of the 60s, and a clarinet player now, I am lovin' it. This is jazz heaven for me.

Chris

[EP - Extended Play record : for those who don't know, it was the size of the old vinyl singles but produced to play longer and this piece is so long : 12minutes : we had to flip the record over half way through]

The braces are off! I can now truly do this:

Oh oh oh! Question! Do your teeth feel weirdly sharp now that you have your braces off? Because mine did when I got them off four years ago and I don't know why

My brothers just had his off, and thats exactly what he said when he came out-"Have my teeth ALWAYS been this sharp?!"

I've played the clari solo on that before. It's...tricky...and it ends on an altissimo B

It's the weirdest thing! I kept getting worried that I'd cut my lips with them!

Would love to hear it sometime, barry.
Perhaps I should resurrect some drums - - no, perhaps not.

I think I kept a copy of it when we did it at band...I'll have a look...

sunshine

a cub who used to be a pain in the neck becoming a great sixer..... being responsible, helpful and a good leader....

To balance out my scream on the scream thread, I just had an awesome first choir rehearsal - more people arrived than ever before, it was efficient and fun, and just generally amazing. Then I found that my friend had moved house and I had someone to walk home with, so that was great too.

Spending a great afternoon piano-ing with Moley and Panthera Oh, and a great concert afterwards too!

I stopped at a stall on Oxford Road and bought a gorgeous old 1924-copy of Victorian ghost stories

Lucky you - it sounds great and I bet all three of you made wonderful piano music .

They didn't feel sharp, but they felt massive - much bigger than 'normal' - and also really clean and polished. Probably won't last that long though!

I changed my sheets and duvet and now I can wallow in bed in clean bedding. Zzz

A visit to the mother-in-law's house. Opportunity for a shower (our heating is not working) and a couple of glasses of red wine.

Yes yes I got that too! It's so weird, isn't it?

Lots of lovely messages from friends and playing a sax solo in a concert. Tired but can't sleep now!

Yesterday, but still.
My husband said that my playing sounds a lot better than it did when I first started

I was asking the cat nicely if she could cuddle up to my recorders before I get home, as they were cold yesterday and so flat when I started playing, despite warming them up myself. And I said "That doesn't really matter when I'm playing on my own" and husband said "well it doesn't matter if I'm here since I don't know what I'm listening to anyway" and then I explained that on my own meant unaccompanied rather than alone in the house

And then he said that all he knew, in his musically unaware mind, was that I sounded better than when I started. He doesn't 'do' compliments so that makes it extra nice.

Bright sunshine.

Even though the roof outside the window was white over.

chatting, more sunshine and a good band practice

Dancing in the school talent show tonight

The pump in the boiler has been repaired (and at no cost) - we have hot water and heating again. I feel a great big coming on.

My patient said I was a lovely nurse.

Just got back from the Halesworth Arts Festival where we saw Opera Babes in concert. Absolutely fabulous! Everything theny sang was good but I was really made up when they sang "Mira o Norma" through to "Si, Fin al ore".

Brilliant!

Even got to speak to them in the foyer afterwards

Tart.

May.

Someone sent me the nicest PM ever created on the forum

Seeing my daughter perform in assembly

Well it hasn't happened yet, but both children have been away on school trips this week and they are both due back today. Have missed them dreadfully - can't wait!!

I've been offered my dream job

Which is..?

I'm still waiting for the call from Beck's Brewery for the post of head beer tester!

It's half term!

That's my happy too today!! That and the fact I'm off to New York tomorrow

The thought of a Blessed Saturday Off tomorrow...

I got my hair done and I actually feel pretty for once in my life

actually it was yesterday, but getting a couple of notes out of my flute made me even happier yep, a flute has somehow managed to move into my flat and needs looking after.......

The fact that's finally half term- all 3 kids now on holiday..... not too much driving this week (just gym runs for youngest- gym never stops and panto rehearsals for middle child).
Phew- have got exam candidates coming around to practice with pianist tho and am going instrument shopping with a pupil...... but that's ok- as I have no school runs!

The thought of going home later

a good clari practice

some nice sounding notes from my flute

and something that will make me happy, a 'bun fight' at my parents house this afternoon (lots of cuddling nieces and nephew )

- have fun, Louise!

Thank you Barry