Many, many, many, many, many years ago Ugg and Gok sat drinking what could have been a very early form of coffee.

It was early in the morning. They sat outside their cave, as they did most mornings, before going hunting and gathering.

"How would you describe that big orange ball?" asked Gok, as he often did.

"That is what gives us day." replied Ugg. "That makes our hunting and gathering possible. Some ignorant people call it 'the sun' but that is God!"

"God?" queried Gok.

"Yes, God." answered Ugg. "The sun, as people like to call it, is all powerful and knowledgeable. That orange ball, that you see up there, knows everything and created everything, including us. We must show adoration. We must worship the sun!"

* * *

Someone named The Robert with an itchy toe left this comment on my last post.

"If mankind made up God then who made up mankind?"

As he has searched for answers about how it all came to be, man has made up many gods. Here are a few: The Sun God, Brahma, Achelous, Apollo, Rama, Vishnu, Aker, Amun, Mars, Coeus, The Holy Trinity (three entities making up one god).

The list goes on and on.

It is quite obvious that someone made all or, at least, most of these gods (and other ones) up. I added the word 'most' because many people will argue that their god is the one true god. They'll have reasons for saying that. It seems that only one group of people can be right. No one seems to like the idea that there are a whole pile of gods. I guess that 'a whole pile of gods' sort of defeats the point. 

Could this be the one true god?
Possibly.

This god seems to have slid down the popularity
stakes since we've learnt more about our solar system.

So, let's look at Mr. Itchy Toe's comment again.

"If mankind made up God then who made up mankind?"

Maybe it should have read, "As mankind made up many gods, which one is the right one and did he, she or it make up mankind?"

Think back to the sun. Mankind actually found out enough about the sun to know that it isn't a god.

To say, "I don't know who made mankind, so it must be the one true god." really is jumping to conclusions. 

Some might say, "The Universe is God." 

This is probably more logical than giving all the credit to some guy from the Middle East (or whatever it's called). It's pretty safe to say that The Universe didn't write the Bible so we don't really know what The Universe's rules are for us, though we can use common sense. For example, looking after our planet sounds like a good idea. Being kind to other people is probably better than dropping bombs on them.

I don't really see the god that Catholics follow showing a lot of compassion. I know that a lot of their clergy missed the point about compassion too.

It's really a bit of a 'wait and see' situation at the moment.

• Will those suicide bombers get their 70 celestial virgins?
• Will there be a place called Heaven that is full of Catholics, including Mr. Linford?
• Are some people doomed to burn for eternity?
• Are the Muslims the ones who got it right?
•  Is there really a god who looks like an elephant?
• Do angels exist and really have no genitals?
• Did Brother Benedict make it into Heaven?
• Did Adam and Eve really have belly buttons and start the human race off?
• How did all the different types of animals survive on the ark?

Good luck with finding all that out.

Ciao tutti.

Is there a Christian god?

No.

I see Rob's blog is back, for a while. His latest post seems to have comments that are from an earlier post. I honestly don't know what is going on there.

I have been teaching violin this morning. It's nice to finish around lunchtime. It means that I can rattle off a quick blog post.

The trouble is that I can't think of anything to write about. I saw a quick video someone made of me playing last Sunday. I wasn't impressed. 

It's wet in Y-new-E-O-martyr. Probably is in Mow-error too. I don't know what it's like in Wrong-a-way. Peter hasn't been commenting on blogs, so it's probably sunny and he's probably outside planting a garden or digging a hole for a long drop.

Robert will probably be home from cleaning and, more likely than not, will be sawing away at his cello.

I'd better include a picture, or two.

Well, that's it for this afternoon.

Ciao tutti.

Mary is upset that Rob's blog has gone again. (see picture)

 

Poor old Joseph had to comfort his teenage wife.

It is possible that Rob may have upset an online cello club by telling them that they were all going to Hell (or something similar) - he had a post up briefly about this. 

I've had no comments on my previous post. Maybe Lynn came home to a messy house? Where are Phillip Edward Nis, Bin Hire and The The The Guy?

So, is it back to the very old guy (Peter) and me again?

For those who may not know, Peter is 12 (years, I think) older than me and Rob (the ex-blogger, again) is three years younger. 

Okay, let's make this post work in a positive sort of way.

I have sore feet after a rather long day at work. A bass player I taught last year has signed up with the other bass teacher. That hurts a bit. Is he saying that I'm no good? Well, he turned up for very few lessons. I saw him play, in the jazz band, at a school concert and he had no idea what to do. The other bass teacher doesn't play with a bow, so I don't know how that is going to help his orchestral playing. Ha, ha, I actually gave this student a German bow last year. That's right, I gave him a bow. 

German bow.

I'm at another school tomorrow, then Thursday is grandson time.

I'm not allowed to put up pictures of my grandson. There are quite a lot of things that I'm not allowed to do with my grandson. I guess I know very little about raising children, though I did raise his dad. I'm pretty good, if I do say so myself, at changing dirty nappies. Apart from that, I'm a bit of a know all, so I've been told.

Well, that's it from me for tonight. Good luck with finding something to read around here.

Ciao tutti.

Why fuck around?

 Oops, sorry, I'm actually talking about Waipukurau.

We passed through there on our way to Havelock North and I took a selfie.

Why were we staying in Havelock North? Only God knows.

No, it's because we go away about once a year with these old friends of Shelley's and stay in weird places, in big expensive old homes to see who is the 'champion know all'. I sometimes get to play a bit of backing violin music while dinner is being prepared. They asked me, at the last minute, to play last night. I was ready and they seemed to like my performance. Though, I can tell that they don't like some of my Jazz tunes. Never mind.

Change of topic.

You're all familiar with the Chicago Bulls.

Look at what happens if you put their bull upside down...

Look closely - someone is getting humped by someone else!

Can you see it?

I'm back to work tomorrow, so I'd better go and organize myself. Better get some music practice done - I'm planning to play a couple of Bluegrass tunes at an open mic night on Sunday and time is running out.

Ah well, as Itzhak Perlman says, "Practise slowly." Actually, he lives in America, so he'd say, "Practice slowly."

Thanks for the great advice, Itzhak.

Ciao tutti.

Ah!

 

Be ready.

Can you?

Don't be so sure you're right!

Every fish has its day.

Fish are entitled to days.

Gulls are too.

Happiness comes to all creatures.

Including atheists.

Jolly good.

Keep going.

Leave no doors shut.

Mention a month.

November.

One blogger.

Peter.

Queues form when he does a blog on windows.

Robert always comments on these posts.

Someone needs to thank...

The Curmudgeon.

Underrated, he is.

Very much so.

When he played the...

Xylophone.

Yesterday.

Zzzzzzzzz.

* * *

This is a new thing that I've just invented - using the alphabet to put together sentences, one starting with each letter.

Seven letters were chosen to represent the alphabet. 'a' was used twice. Why? Speaking of 'y', it didn't make the cut. In my opinion, alphabex would have worked quite well. So would abecidofu. That one uses all the vowels.

Sorry but using 'Zzzzzzzzz' for the last letter may seem like a bit of a cop out.* Most people would have probably used Zebra or Zoo. The story could have been crafted so that Peter's window posts ended up in the zoo. 

Okay, I'm going to make a prediction. If I'm wrong, I'll give all the bloggers around here a bottle of Cleanskin.

Here goes.

Robert will write a comment using my alphabet sentences invention. Then he'll go and play in the church band where they'll play the alphabet song.

Flute lady: "But ABC is a little kids' song. What's
it got to do with worship?"
Guitarist: "Next thing we'll be playing Death Metal.
Has Rob gone to the toilet?"
Rob [out of picture]: "Sorry, nature called. Remember
that the job's not over until the paperwork is done. I
think that Mary will like my song. It'll remind her of
when Jesus was little."
Flute lady: "Fucking hell! I doubt that Jesus spoke
English!"
Rob [still out of picture]: "Have fun but don't swear
because that's a sin."

Well, there you go, this was a novel post, and I know you all enjoyed it.

No thanks necessary.

Ciao tutti.

* A policeman heads out to the supermarket.

Monday Morning.

Overcast.

No, I'm not over the cast of any show. I just mean that it's cloudy in Wainuiomata.*

These guys are fine. I don't even know what their show is.

The washing machine is going and shortly it'll be time for violin practice. Then double bass practice in E A D G - no more silly tunings. Then I'll put normal strings on the Bob. After that I'll fix the door in the spare bedroom and vacuum the house.

Robert will be at work listening to podcasts. Peter will not be long up. The same height, actually.

"Richard is doing some
good jokes this morning.
Maybe he should do a quiz?"

Okay TC, I hear you. Following on from that new Curmudgeon who eats the prizes, here's a quiz. Remember, NO CHEATING.

Question 1: What is the first string on a guitar called?

a) G  b) Peter  c) E  d) God

Question 2: Who invented The Moaning Lisa?

a) Albert Einstein  b) Pope Francis  c) Walt Disney  d) Spike Milligan

Question 3: How do you spell a painting on a wall?

a) murral b) mural  c) The Holy Trinity  d) pontifore

Question 4: Which place is furthest north?

a) Whangarei  b) Dunedin  c) Wellington   d) The South Pole

Question 5:  What is the answer to this sum? 2 + 33 x 0 - 2 = 

a) 0  b) 33  c) 7  d) God made the world

How did you go?

Leave your answers in the comments.

First prize is a cup of coffee which I'm going to drink shortly.

Ciao tutti.

* Where the girls are smarter. Peter likes that joke.

Later, that same day. E A D G

Yesterday was a negative musical experience for me. 

And do you know whose fault it was?

MINE!

Why mine?

Because I let my feelings be controlled by idiots.

But how do you know they were idiots?

Well, I bet that I know more about playing the violin than almost anyone else who was there.

Why do I say 'almost'?

Well, because you can't account for every single person who was there.

Still, I can be pretty sure that I play the violin better than 99% of people who were present.

There's an old saying that I really like.

"When you die, people are upset, but you don't know that you are dead. It's the same when you are stupid."*

I practise the violin almost every day. I make a big effort to do thoughtful, constructive practice. I think it's fair to say that I know I'm pretty good. I have a pretty big repertoire. 

When I'm asked to do something, like play at a funeral, I come very prepared. My gear is all checked out and my repertoire is well prepared. The one thing I have no control over is the minds of the people who turn up.

And my biggest mistake?

I forgot what I try to teach my students.

Okay, enough of that.

Let's talk about proofreading.

Rob needs to check out how to spell 'mural'.

Peter needs to have a read through his posts before he posts them.

Have fun boys but proofread.

I was thinking about the Christian god the other day. Why does he feel the need to be adored? Is he acting like Donald Trump? Why does anyone need to be adored? 

Okay, I'm tired, so I'm going to leave it there for today.

Tomorrow morning the Bob goes back into standard tuning.

E A D G

Ciao tutti.

* Robert will disagree with this.