A lovely concert held in Marlborough College chapel, which is a fantastic setting. It was mostly works for string orchestra, but I particularly enjoyed the Rossini Introduction & Variations for clarinet which was presumably included as light relief.

Even nicer that BerkshireDaughter came with us. As an ex-violinist, she was interested in the strings. I wish she would get her violin out again - it must be about 5 years since she's played it.

A good night's sleep last night, the first for weeks.

My mum just announced that we're having a chicken dinner tonight I've missed my mum's chicken dinners whilst at university!

My army cadets weekend was better than expected, and I think I've passed two if not all three of my subjects. I'll find out on Thursday

The prospect of sleep...

That Peter Shilton has finally left Strictly

band tonight

having time to do some violin practice before going to band tonight

maybe having time to do some flute practice before doing some violin practice before going band

Eh... the fact that I didn't fall asleep in my lectures this morning? Not that I find them boring, because I don't. I actually really enjoy them. I'm just exhausted.

I take it you're just happy in general today?

(Even if I did put that in the wrong thread and intend it for the one smiley thread (which I didn't! ), I'd never admit it.) Nah, I've just come across so many funny things today

What are you still doing here if you're exhausted... go to bed!

Hahahahaha! I do that sometimes too

And I can't, I've got too much work to do! Aha, and I bet you're wondering what I'm doing on the forums when I've got so much work to do... eh... the truth is I don't know

I tend to be here when I have things to do too! I think it's called procrastination...

I'm a procrastination professional Not too good when you have four - possibly five - assignments due in over the next three weeks though

Join the club. When I was at uni, I tended to do things the night before (or several nights and just stopped sleeping in between). Actually, that's not strictly true; it wasn't only when I was at uni...I still do that all the time now.

When I was five my Dad bought me a piano. It's a beautiful instrument made of gorgeous flamed wood and has a huge sound for an upright - it has been admired by many professionals! I adored this piano and dreamed and dreamed about being a concert pianist while practicing up to 8 hours a day when I was a teenager. But it wasn't to be

I left home a long time ago and sadly could never take the piano with me and don't have one now at all. Now my parents are moving to a smaller house and I still can't have the piano because my cottage is just too small. My poor beautiful instrument was going to be SOLD!!!!

However! I'm Very Happy Today because my brother is now taking the piano to his house for his children to play (maybe ) so once it has been re-tuned and restored it may play beautifully again

And I can keep dreaming about winning the lottery so I can buy a house big enough to have it back.....

I imagine I'll be the same when I leave uni I don't leave things entirely last minute though. I'd be too scared to!

My business sells Afro-Carribbean products online - yesterday was a record sales day - beat the economic gloom!!!!

Lovely weather yesterday when we went out as a family (and didn't quite kill each other- 3 teenage children- almost- so quite an achievement)

Today I am excited as I am off with a pupil and mother to clarinet shop Whoop whoop!

Yesterday's was: doing some flute playing with a friend accompanying me on piano

headache and general unwell feeling almost gone

two evenings free to do as much practice as I want (or can manage)

pay day soon

glad you're feeling better!

..... and my daughter is no longer wonky

Walked to university this morning and got there before the bus did!

EDIT: I am now happy because I am a virtuoso! Not in real life, unfortunately. But on the forums I am

I just SLEPT for three hours! After having only slept about 20 hours in the past week, it actually feels pretty good to have finally conked out. You could tell I was exhausted because I just fell asleep at my desk! My back's killing me now but it was totally worth it. Here's to hoping that I manage to sleep tonight

thank you b-c, still not 100% but better than I was.

Glad you've managed to get some sleep Stephie

Thanks Louise

Met up with an old friend and went for a walk in the beautiful autumnal sunshine, with kids in tow and had a lovely time!
As your kids get older, you don't tend to go out with them socialising, so it was nice to meet up like we did when the kids were little.... with kids in tow and just chilling out- with friends.....

and we made the kids walk and they didn't moan too much!

A long lie-in (half term ) and a good session of clarinet playing!

band tonight having missed Monday's practice with York I'm really looking forward to tonight.

Enjoy band, Louise

The cat is at the vet!

This does not make me happy directly. But when she comes home she will have nice clean and healthy teeth. She will be able to eat again (had to be starved for the general anaesthetic), and after 24 hours she will have her cat-flap re-opened and be able to go out in the outside world.

Basically, since the cat-flap got closed last night, she's been wary. This morning she's wanted breakfast and I've ignored her, much to her annoyance. The Basket Of Travelling put in an appearance, which nearly led to her disappearance under the bed.

But now it's done and she's handed over to my lovely veterinary hospital. From this point one (well, excepting the operation, perhaps), it only gets better for her. The worst is over for us all

Good news! I feel with you and your cat. Last time our cat had to have cleaned his teeth the vet pulled 3 of them out. Afterwords the cat acted like a young world exploring one.
Soon I will have to get him to the vet and he will loose all his teeth. The vet said it will be better to do it now then do it when he is old and maybe not as healthy then now.

Beside that I am absolutly happy today, because yesterday my former piano teacher told me that she has got time to accompaign for my exam. YEAH!!!!!!!

The lecture that I was so nervous about this morning was actually a lot of fun!

Technically it was yesterday, but getting three lovely new piano books from a music store in New York

That's right, you're in New York! Are you still over there?

A nice 3 night break in Exmoor with my lovely Basil and daughters.

Potting a rat with neighbour's air rifle, then disposing of the body. I knew my 20 years in her Majesty's Territorial Army would come in use one day.

A few weeks ago a friend gave my grandson (who is now ONE year old and walking quite well!) a pull-along toy. It was clear this evening that he really had no idea what to do with the string, so I sat on the floor with him for about 15 minutes pulling the toy away from him while he pulled it back with the string. He started to chuckle and then laugh when it began to hit his foot and that was great.

Then quite suddenly he got up and walked along pulling the toy behind him. He walked into the kitchen, then back again, then round our hall, then into the kitchen. This lasted at least half and hour and he was so proud of himself. He even started to realise for himself that it worked better if the wheels were on the floor. Mrs G came to see what all the fun was about and asked me if he had just learned how to do that. I was so happy to say "Yes, I have just taught him!"

pay day can get some new reeds now

...... Starbucks house blend ..

My mad cat!
She came home a bit woooooozy last night from her general anaesthetic, was very please to see my husband (slightly less pleased to see me, but that's OK).
This morning she was definitely back to her usual self. Well, except for the teeth, since she now has no molars (she apparently only had two left anyway), and only two of her four canines (should they be called that in a cat?!) Cats survive fine without teeth so that's not a worry. She is scoffing down wet food no problem, I hesitantly gave her some biscuits and she was straight in to them as well.

But, the main thing seems to be that during the procedure, the vet has massively turned up the volume control on her purr box! She was so loudly purring this morning!

Thank you, you brought a big smile on my face with this.
And good to read, the cat is back to normal.

Finally getting my new glasses

Handing in my assignment and knowing it's DONE! Now onto my next assignment...

Getting the lawn mowed. You just can't beat a nice, neat lawn with stripes!

Spending time with my beloved Alpha Male Jazz Cat

We are beginning to suss that a 120-mile round trip is getting very, very silly indeed....

Early-to-Bed-with-Wine-Bag x

my grass tennis court was my pride and joy at the first place I worked

Being back at dancing

My midterm exams are over and fall break has begun!