Ok I know I've already posted today, but the second thing that has made me happy (besides Maltesers) is seeing that my ex-stray cat has calmed down a lot since she arrived from the shelter. Even if she spends most of her time lying in a cardboard box in my living room, it makes me happy to know that she has all the food she wants and won't have to worry about being out in the cold again.

I am a soppy fool, I know, and I'm sure a valid response is "it's just a cat and there are bigger problems in the world". There are. But it made me happy.

Poor Bag. I had to escort my dental-phobic sister to have some work done today...having made enough noise to send the waiting room into a frenzy of fear, the drugs took effect and she has been in La La Land ever since .

Off with the cuckoos indeed (in fact it was very endearing !). When I went in the surgery to collect her and she was just coming round, she was smiling beatifically at the anaesthetist and saying, 'Can I have some more tomorrow? My flute pupes will all sound bl**dy good after that!'

Singing happy birthday to my 3 yr old grandaughter

Aw that's great news corenfa our last cat came from a rescue centre and I remember going through the same 'settling-in' period with her.


I'm just generally very happy, for quite a few reasons

Just ordered a digital piano, after being pianoless for 20 years

Just seen this, very pleased to hear that, Louise.

Makes sense to me - sometimes it is the little things that make us happiest.

Mine was about to be that my ex-stray cat curled up and purred on my chest to wake me up this morning....until she ruined the effect by extending 2 paws and claws onto my chin. Not hard enough to hurt but not the gentlest way to extract me from my snooze.

Not being on call this week!

Well done on your Maestro status, Solari!

Having practised fairly hard in the last 36 hours.... my lesson might not be quite soooo embarrassing....

I enjoyed the practice tho!


I am happy as I finally have a little time to practise!

OK second post today.....a 136 distinction in my G8 singing exam. Now I'm trying to not bounce my way around the office!!

Wow that is brilliant. Well done!

well done you.... that was quick! Amazing result!

I am... SITTING IN MY NEW FLAT!



It's such an immense relief.

Fabulous result by the way, Dawn! You must be over the moon.

Wonderful result!


Great news, Stephie. Well done for taking some action to improve things for yourself. It can seem easier to sit and suffer, but it's worth a little exertion to change things. I'm sure the rest of your first year will be a great deal happier than if you'd stayed put.

Glad to hear it Stephie

Me it was having a huge blitz ready for my family Christmas of 11 guests

Thanks Barry

Edit: spoke too soon.

Having been in this situation before though never as badly, I know what this feels like - congratulations!!!

FInding out we have free wifi access at the hotel I'm currently residing in.

How sad am I

Excellent news, Stephie. I'm glad it got sorted so quickly.

I found my keys!!

After a visit from a very efficient Polish aerial man, our little TV now gets 101 clear channels instead of four fuzzy ones.

Thanks for everyone's well-wishes! I haven't met my new flatmates yet... but at least they can't be worse than the last ones

Congrats on the new flat!!

Thanks everyone, I'm delighted, it's the highest mark I've ever got for a music exam!!

Mince pies.

Wouldn't too many of those give you gall stones ??

Im happy today 'cos were not going to mother in laws in Suffolk at Christmas.
Bad news is that 'fsharpmajor' is going to fetch her up to us ! Probably for about three weeks.

I bought a new flute (a Pearl) - it has made me very happy

The Dufay Collective at RNCM.

A few weeks ago I met up with a friend for coffee, and I mentioned that I could nearly get into some trousers that I last wore four years ago and which I hadn't been able to get into since. It was left that I would aim to be able to wear them the next time we met up. I've just tried them on again - and they're too big!

Amazing! Please share your secret

Oooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I saw them several times but this was quite a few years ago - loved them (and have their CDs).

I am SUCH a Stone Age Girl...

The fact that I had a fantastic piano lesson! My teacher is amazing!

I'm so exhausted, I was on a real downer this morning and was on the verge of cancelling it, but I'm so glad I went now - I actually managed to play quite decently and now have loads to work on. Had a few laughs with my teacher and things seem to be coming together now

That's good news - well done, Solari!



Edit: I was on the verge of cancelling my flute lesson too (joints so inflamed after too much violin and flute practice!) but went anyway. I didn't play a note, but my teacher sat me by the fire, made me coffee, and we discussed some of the finer points of G6 theory for an hour and a quarter. Quite a useful lesson, on the whole!

I had my Solfege exam today. I was pleased with my performance for most of the test, but very pleased when I heard that LL thought that one particular piece was "very musical".

Yeay!

YAY indeed!!!! Praise from The Lovely One is praise to be treasured!!!

Well done you

Lots of singing, and a free Christmas lunch

That's really good to hear!

That's good to hear.

Sounds like you made just the right decision to keep the momentum going forward in difficult circumstances. True commitment!


Sounds like you made just the right decision to keep the momentum going forward in difficult circumstances. True commitment!

Singing definitely - my instrumental playing is nowhere near public consumption! This will be my 4th show with this particular group and only ever 15 in the cast so very pleased to be asked to do this one.

In truth I thought about my last lesson where my teacher said that his best students are not necessarily the most talented - many give up, but the ones who stick at it long-term are always happy that they did and end up playing magnificently.

I had a massive breakthrough/boost today where the music was taken away and I was asked to play the best part of a page from memory - but only one hand. Managed it quite well and my teacher was quite surprised At least I *proved* that I was doing the sort of practice that was asked of me. I had a big, stupid grin of my face that said "told you so!"

I just hit a massive rut and was ready to throw in the towel. Now I know I'm getting somewhere, I'm actually quite happy. Also, despite the fact that I don't really like one of my pieces, I'm going to conquer it to show that I can do it.

My pedalling is awful though... I got told that I must get an acoustic piano ASAP as my digital is obviously getting me into bad habits... Roll on March, I'm going shopping...

Also ordered some Paderewski editions pre-empting future studies! Approval seems to be in place for my next nocturne!

Funny, I was just thinking about pedalling and how mine is awful... No clue what to do with it, kind of know when to smoosh the notes together for harmony changes, but never really learnt how to use the blasted thing.

The problem I have is that I keep forgetting to treat the pedal as if it has a clutch bite point instead of just letting it go all the way. When I stop listening to myself properly, I fail to hear the thunking noise of the mechanism...

You sound like you know how to use the pedal well enough to me btw!

OU course result

Expected grade

Essay I thought was brilliant was slightly-less-than.
Essay I thought was rubbish was not-quite-so.

So it all evened up in the end

Congratulations Maizie, a big well done.

Well done Maizie

Well done Maizie

Carols in the village pub, everyone singing with gusto washed down with mulled wine laced with much brandy and rum. Feeling a warm glow now despite the light dusting of snow hic