Hi,

I'm grounded feeling totally helpless. After doing the chores this morning I finally had a bit of spare time so having got Bron comfortable I headed into the workshop to tidy up putting tools and materials away. 10 minutes into this I could hear our landline phone ringing so returned up to the bungalow.

Checking the last caller it was the surgery; Bron has lots of difficulties using a phone also by the time she reaches the phone it stops ringing. We don't trust mobile phones not wanting all our personal information stored on one so rely on our landline.

I pressed the recall and found I was #15 in the queue but I could request ring back and was advised to remain near the phone. 50 minutes later a lovely lady phoned us asking if we would be home later this afternoon because it was Bron's medication review time and the doctor wanted to talk to her also Bron had a number of recent test results due.

I daren't wander off so here I am with nothing to do other than await the doctor to phone Bron. This isn't in any way a complaint or moan because we're delighted to receive such top service from our NHS. I have however just taken the new transmitter and receiver into the studio having had this on my desk for about a week.

Yesterday afternoon I was at the pharmacy once again but this time not for Bron; I had my Covid jab. This coming Saturday morning we both are having our flu jabs at the surgery which will be highly painful for Bron just visiting the surgery; I'm also expecting a phone call with an appointment for my jab against pneumonia; I won't bother with a shingles jab because I'm feeling like a pin cushion and living at constant appointments; I'll do whatever I have to do but Bron is much worse off than I am with her constant pain.

Perhaps this evening I'll actually be able to try the new transmitter/receiver pair on my violin but I'm not holding my breath.

Removed by Mouse. See rules 2 and 4. 

It's now dark by 6:30pm each day and at the end of the month it will be dark an hour earlier; the depths of winter here in Yorkshire UK are very depressing indeed for those without an hobby to interest them and winter drags on forever.

I'm thankful for Bron so my life isn't really so bad; I have a good reason to get out of bed every day.

Kind regards, Col.

Hi,

Sorry & apologies @Mouse I slipped up but will be more careful in future.

Thanks Andrew; ever since I was 11 I've worked hard but now with Bron being so ill I'm having to do a lot more to support her but fingers crossed by Christmas things should ease a bit.

Having had the call back from the surgery and requested to remain near the phone for a doctors call this afternoon the call arrived at 4:50 so by the time I'd made the tea and done the dishes there is little enthusiasm left to do anything else. Tomorrow is another day; I wonder what awaits us.

Kind regards, Col.

Hi,

Thanks @Mouse  It appears @stringy has joined in too?

Today is a typical English Yorkshire weather day; very dark and pouring with rain during the night and forecast for all day. In an hour I'll be putting the dinner in the oven then after dinner doing the dishes; I'm making the most of a rare spare hour typing this and replying to emails; whoopee a bit of spare time but not in the studio; I plan to get into the studio this evening keen to try out the fully charged transmitter/receivers.

The washing machine is loaded and running then will come the tumble drier followed by ironing tonight; I'm always kept busy.

Last night I decided to try the new transmitter/receivers out so at around 9:50 I wandered into the cold studio whilst the rain drummed on the roof just above my head. Plugging these into the Yamaha YEV-104 and Yamaha amp nothing happened; both LED's were lit?

I've just been reading the instructions; oh dear I should have read these first; both units need charging before use so the transmitter is now on charge and when charged I'll charge the receiver.

The studio is very pleasant indeed; it's heated with a choice of fan heater or central heating radiator; it's well lit with three LED strip lights making it like daylight; thick carpet on the floor and lots of 13A sockets; all it needs is me which is the problem.

I've wanted to play a violin for 48 years having seen one in a secondhand shop just after marrying Bron but it was a waste of time asking how much it cost; we couldn't afford it. Now I've got four violins and a genuine Russian balalaika and dreaming of studio time; I think I'm obsessed with violins.

Got to go; the washing machine is quiet.

Kind regards, Col.

Hi,

Well said Andrew and oh so true.

I popped into the studio yesterday armed with fully charged and paired transmitter/receivers; still without success. It was too cold to hang around but today I'll put the heating on in the studio and this time try the pair out on one of Bron's electric guitars. I need to make appointments to get into the studio. 

Tomorrow I'm at the pharmacy again collecting prescriptions and Sat morning Bron and I are at the surgery having our flu jabs; there's no end to it.

Time now to make breakfast; Bron's Parkinson's medication takes 30 minutes before she can have food hence I'm pinching a few minutes. I had more time whilst working full time?

Kind regards, Col.

Hi,

Thanks Andrew for your amusing reply.

For the first ten years of my retirement I adopted restoring vintage valve (tube) radios and set up a radio shack in one of the rear extension rooms which I now use as my studio; I've worked at the bench with just a fan heater switched on low heat setting and with windows iced up on the inside; as I've aged the cold weather is a lot more noticeable.

I too recently had my hair cut but now by a barber; I used to have it shoulder length and Bron would cut it using the kitchen scissors but Bron's now too unwell to do it any longer; the first cut at the barber's was £10 but this recent cut was £13 perhaps short hair costs more to cut? I have a #5 cut it now being short.

Your new hat looks a corker Andrew; it should keep your solar panel warm now you've got shorter hair. I've never heard of a microfiber cloth being used as a head covering but why not if it works; it wouldn't surprise me in the least if the judge's black caps are on sale through eBay. Years ago I bought a police riot helmet from a company for use whilst roughing down large blanks of wood in my woodturning lathe; just about anything is for sale through eBay; I use eBay a lot but I only ever sell through "Gumtree" because there are no fees and I've sold machines through Gumtree at over £1,200 each with zero fees and no hassle.

I've just had to break off to put the dinner in the oven; I'm like a Yo-Yo constantly up and down.

After so much doom and gloom in my blog WOW things are picking up at last. I've been in the studio for half an hour and thoroughly enjoyed playing with my kit. I tried using the new transmitter/receiver with the Yamaha violin and amp but nothing happened even with the amp turned to maximum?

Out of curiosity I then inserted the transmitter into one of Bron's guitars and Fender guitar amp; now it all worked. Back to the violin and Yamaha amp I had been playing with the amp set to "Crunch" but it wasn't amplifying so I played around and found there was lots of amplification on other settings; it's now set on "Brit HI" which sounds a lot different to what I'm used to hearing but now I know it's all working it's down to me to get used to it with lots of practice; it's cheered me up no end this morning to have something going my way which has been so rare for so long.

Can any member please advise as to best Yamaha amp setting to use; I've been using "Crunch" but there are Modern; Brit HI; Lead; Crunch & Clean to choose from; I have a great deal to learn and it all takes so much time. This morning I've just played to enjoy myself not worrying about being in tune; it sounded good to me and I'm the only person usually hearing my playing; eventually I'll get spare time when I can settle down in the studio and relax allowing me to concentrate on scales and correct notes; I'll never be a proficient violin player and it doesn't bother me; I became so good at restoring vintage radios I had over ten articles published and was also honoured with an award for best restoration in 2009; I then became bored because I'd restored over 100 radios and also a vintage TV; I lost interest the challenges were no longer there; this will never happen with violins for me because I'll never reach the high standard I did restoring the radios so I won't become bored; what a wonderful hobby learning to play a violin is; I'm fully set up with the studio and more than enough kit to play around with; it's something to look forward to once Bron is back on her feet pain free.

Rain is forecast for this afternoon but if it doesn't rain then I'm busy outdoors; it gets dark by 6:30pm so I'm looking to more studio time this evening; I'm just about caught up with the chores even the trash is out. I'm feeling much happier.

Please don't scorch your head Andrew with your new headgear.

Kind regards, Col.

Hi,

Nice one Andrew; you'd go down well at a kids party.

Sentence accepted but could you please reduce it to 15 minutes for good behaviour?

Yesterday afternoon the Met office forecast showers for us; the sun was shining so I did some work on the petrol rotavator refitting the tines; the forecast stated an high of 10C (50F). I'd been crouched down for about an hour not realizing how cold I'd become; I had my body warmer on but should have worn my heavy "site" coat; the prevailing breeze dropped the temperature way down; having put the rotavator away I headed down to the workshop and felt very strange indeed; I was feeling dizzy and each step not as it should be. I suddenly felt frozen. Returning to our warm bungalow I gradually heated up and by evening I was fine again; I never want to experience such a thing again it was weird.

I did the shopping early this morning having cleared the car of frost; 2.5C (36.5F) it sure was chilly but I was well wrapped up.

I'll put the heating on in the studio and allow it to warm up before wandering in; I'm looking forward to a nice violin practice session before 11:00 o'clock when I start making dinner; this afternoon I'm out again this time to the pharmacy and tomorrow morning Bron and I are at the surgery; I'm struggling to cope with so much fun and pleasure in my life.

I'd better leave the keyboard and put the heating on otherwise I'll miss my violin practice slot.

Kind regards, Col.

Hi,

Yesterday evening I thought at last I can now settle down to a violin practice each evening; it gets dark at around 16:38pm with daylight hours shortening further until mid December so I've no outside work to do after this time. I ensured Bron was settled comfortably and enjoyed a 30 minute violin practice thinking this is now the way to go each evening?

As usual this afternoon I made the tea then later as I was doing the dishes I heard a loud bang from the bathroom thinking Bron had dropped her walking stick again. Bron was OK but told me the toilet was broken; I've just done the repair; the entire top unit of the syphon (why do I keep correcting the spelling checker) had become free which I've never seen happen before.

I've now repaired the syphon and for good measure replaced the ball cock valve rubber washer. Will all this bad luck ever leave me; if I tried to shoot myself I'd miss.

I was so looking forward to wandering into the studio but now can't be bothered. I'll settle down to a YouTube movie with Bron and hope the roof doesn't fall in.

Tomorrow is another day and I'll try again; I want to practice playing my violins without this constant hassle in my life. I never thought violin playing could be so frustrating.

Kind regards, Col.

Quick update. I thought I'd had enough yesterday but not so; settling down to a movie we then had a short power cut; I reset the TV and the electric clocks and settled down again only for a second short power cut knocking it all off again; I really could scream. Another busy day today.

Kind regards, Col.

Hi,

I'm still struggling for violin practice time but this morning popped into the studio for a short practice and to have a go at making a recording;

Progress is excruciatingly slow but I keep practicing whenever possible; winter is upon us so the studio becomes very cold indeed needing time to warm up a bit. I'm now playing for my own pleasure & enjoyment just happy to play the violin making a noise so please don't expect too much by way of accuracy; I'm doing my best with age; weather; poor memory and health problems being unhelpful.

Happy new year.

Kind regards, Col.