Hi,

Today I've been spending time copying solo violin music not exactly solo because most are accompanied but I've got what I wanted so far; Amazing Grace; Ode To Joy; Hallelujah; Lara's Theme etc; I've used my Rode mic and Tascam pocket studio; saved then exported to my desktop; I now need to use "Audacity" for a bit of editing then finally copy to memory stick.

In the studio I have a 12V car radio powered by a mains adapter connected to stereo Sony speakers; I've done this because this car radio plays memory sticks and has repeat function.

I'm shortly in for violin Karaoke; I'm unsure how it'll turn out but I'll soon know. It's nice to have spare time at last; I'm as determined as ever to play my violins; it's very rare to get clear days; tomorrow we're driving over to Leeds it's going to be at least four hours at the hospital which will occupy much of the day; Thursday?

Nicely set up for copying; computer monitors located under desk; works a treat and costs nothing other than time; I've already got a number of the music scores but I need to find more; at last I'm making progress without hassle.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Many thanks @Mouse I've a great deal of catching up to do; I've now downloaded a selection of the music scores kindly supplied by Fiddlerman but need to resize them they are printing too large; not a major problem just taking a bit of time; I'll enjoy having a go at these possibly tomorrow if I can get into the studio; today as usual was taken up by 8 hours at Leeds St James Hospital (UK) it being an appointment; I wonder what's in store tomorrow when I get out of bed; if I live long enough I plan to have studio time.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Many thanks Fiddlerman not only for the free scores but also for your advice.

As usual I've been very busy but this morning I set about resizing the scores; Scarborough Fair; Sound of Silence; Bridge Over Troubled Water and Time To Say Goodbye; these will keep me occupied for a while but this afternoon I popped into the studio and had no trouble playing half the first line of Scarborough Fair until I ran into notes I'm unfamiliar with; lots more practice needed but what a good start and I'm now feeling more confident tackling new scores which I find very interesting indeed.

I'm about to head into the studio to have another go at Scarborough Fair before yet another day disappears at an alarming pace.

Tomorrow same as ever can't spend much time in the studio but amazingly so far the weekend is clear. Fingers crossed.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

stringy said
Mouse think you got the people mixed up.

Colin Dont like saying it with the subsidence but I did warn you about digging up those trees, the moisture they were taking out of the earth is now flowing down the hillside, and causing landslip.

  

Thanks stringy for your assessment of our subsidence. With respect you couldn't be more wrong in fact you're totally wrong; removing the trees had nothing at all to do with the subsidence; living here in the wilds of Yorkshire we enjoy a great deal of rain most of the year but a miracle occurred last year; we had a very very rare long hot summer.

Our detached stone built bungalow is built on clay and given the usual rain it never dries out but last August the clay did dry hence the problem so it was just the opposite to your kind suggestion.

Yes we do get a huge amount of water flowing down which still occurred even with all the trees standing; so much water in fact I installed flood defences years ago

A course of fully bedded engineering bricks to fully seal the wall foundation joint; a new channel to divert any run off water from the rear garden and whilst at it installing new drains; under the bungalow is very watertight however much water comes down the garden. Thanks anyway stringy I understand you meant well.

Here's the result; I'm a mechanical engineer and this kind of work comes naturally to me; pity I'm not yet as good at violin playing but I'm working on it.

Back to the plot though I've enjoyed two short violin practices today having a go at Scarborough Fair but not getting much further due to lack of concentration other work on my mind; once again I now think I'm clear so intend to spend time in the studio over the weekend and indeed next week too; I'm sure we're now in for Armageddon I can't possible be allowed studio time without have to fight for it.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

How kind of you stringy many thanks.

Our bungalow is 60 years old and in excellent condition; as I explained last year we enjoyed an exceptional summer with incredibly high temperatures; everything is now back to normal and I'm not worried about any future subsidence; it's only the two roomed rear extension which was affected and if it does become much worse I'm capable of entirely replacing it.

Regarding modern builders with a good rep; what I see of builders employed along the street by neighbours sadly most appear to be disabled only having one usable hand their other hand fully occupied holding a mobile phone; the only work I don't carry out is anything to do with gas.

I truly appreciate you trying to help; thank you.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Thanks stringy. I've just enjoyed over an hour in the studio which is rare learning to play Fiddlerman's free download music score "Scarborough Fair" Lovely tune and not too difficult.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Thanks so much @Fiddlerman it's very kind of you.

It's ages since I last posted but I'm still practicing playing my violins as often as possible but as usual with time constraints which have become a great deal worse.

Since last posting I've done a lot more heavy work including felling and disposing of a mature oak tree which was towering over our bungalow and patio; the pigeons used every branch as often as they could as toilet seats meaning the thankless task every morning cleaning up after them; no more toilet seats in the oak tree now it's gone but it was an incredibly heavy job on my own.

I'm currently rustproofing our Skoda Yeti car already having removed the wheels and wing liners so all four under wings and suspension components now rustproofed but still lots to do before winter sets in. Yesterday evening I strimmed the top meadow; this evening I've baked oat cookies.

All this constant work means very little to me; my wonderful wife Bron (Bronwyn) has serious health issues the latest has already been MRI & Cat scans; four more hospital scan & X ray appointments and a doctors appointment lined up so it's taking a great deal of time but Bron will always come first; it's possible she now has Parkinson's on top of her other health problems but she won't give up; Bron keeps doing household jobs but needs to sit down often; I'm doing more and more to help hence I seldom seem to have spare time.

I've just enjoyed twenty minutes violin practice playing sections from Somewhere My Love; Ode To Joy; Amazing Grace; Scarborough Fair and Fools rush in; I am improving with these as I start to memorize but I'm playing from the music scores sight reading which is also improving. I'd like to learn more but find it difficult concentrating.

Simplest things are difficult for me; yesterday I wanted to wash & polish the car in the morning; I'd just about finished washing when a police officer visited; there had been trouble at a neighbour's along the street; they had requested a roofer to visit to give them a quote for a roof leak; £850 was quoted but they said they would need another two quotes so he dropped to £650 but again they wanted two more independent quotes so he departed not happy at all; a minute later they received a threatening phone call from this roofer demanding £250 or he would send someone round hence the police were called.

Good news though we have expensive high end CCTV and the outcome was the police now not only have pictures of the van but also it's reg number. I resumed polishing the car in the afternoon but failed once again due to interruptions so I completed it this morning. My life is a big corkscrew; 47 years married and still no peace but it's pointless getting upset or stressed I just have to roll with it.

There just aren't enough hours in a day to get on top and remain on top.

The pictures show progress rustproofing.

I do love my time playing the violins though in spite of everything. If only my lovely wife was healthy I'd be on top of the world.

After another full day I'll now settle down to a YouTube movie before bedtime with Bron.

Kind regards, Colin.