Hi,

It's quite a while since I posted. Bron and I are much the same; we've now settled down to a routine allowing me a bit of free time.

I'm still practicing playing my violins which I very much enjoy mostly in about half hour sessions because longer than this my concentration tends to wander. It's bitterly cold here in Yorkshire; UK it being winter with snow on the ground so it takes a while to warm the studio before I can start playing. I'm trying a number of tunes;

Scarborough fair.

Amazing grace.

Lara's theme.

Fools rush in.

Ode to joy.

Sound of silence.

I'm enjoying struggling and won't give up practicing playing my violins. I still have lots of household and garden maintenance to keep on top of and although it's taken over a year I've kept having a go time permitting to restore a vintage Howard Bulldog petrol rotavator; this is now in use and a great help in rotavating the meadows; I'm on top of all the heavy work so 2024 is looking pretty good and once the weather picks up I'll spend more time in the studio.

Bron isn't at all well so she comes first every time; anything else can wait; I'm now doing more baking to help out; buns; cakes and even pancakes are now easy; I've done the dishes; ironing and supermarket shopping for years in fact early this morning I visited three local supermarkets; Bron's settled and comfortable watching an an old movie so I thought I'd update my blog before dinner time.

I thought I'd never complete this restoration; this Howard Bulldog rotavator is at least 60 years old.

I'm pleased now its finished and with Bron being so ill I think this will be my last machine restoration

I've converted most of our rear garden into three wildflower meadows; here I'm trying out the rotavator for the first time; it's still hard work but easier than digging by spade on the steep slope.

My first apple pie it's 10" diameter; we enjoyed scoffing it. I made it from scratch using a Be-Ro recipe and bramley apples.

My plan for this year is to look after Bron as much as I can and spend more time in her company; carry on with bungalow and garden maintenance and also spend time in the studio practicing violin playing whilst learning to use my recording gear; if only Bron was well but she's been ill for around 40 years; life is so unfair at times she deserves so much better; we are virtually on our own; being detached we see little of neighbours; friends live a long way away and no family; in spite of this we're happy and content looking out for each other. I'm now 76.

Good job this is a blog or I'd be in trouble for rambling on. Time now to make a mug of tea and spend some time with Bron before dinner then this afternoon I'll heat the studio and enjoy a violin practice.

Kind regards, Colin

Hi,

Thanks so much for your kindness @Mouse Things are improving; Bron's Parkinson's medication is now helping; the dosage was increased from three tablets daily to six tablets daily taken two at a time 30 minutes before a meal; her hand no longer shakes much to our delight. I feel more relaxed and settling into a new routine allowing violin practice for around 30 minutes daily; I've just enjoyed a practice.

Our snow amounted to very little indeed in fact it was more like dandruff from the sky but we've had a great deal of rain and terrific winds; lots of storms keep sweeping through with lots of flooding. The most snow we usually get is up to 6" deep but tends to linger well into April. The wind chill really drags the temperature down.

It's nice to spend time in the studio again. With summer to look forward to I hope to spend more time practicing; violin's are just an extremely interesting hobby to me and addictive.

Kind regards, Colin.