Post started at 5.03am.

 Why?

Well, I got my sleeping done, 7+ hours and then I woke up. I lay in bed thinking of a respectable time to get up. I normally aim for 6am, but I thought, "What the hell!" and got up at 5.

I got out my small playing cards so that people wouldn't think it was a big deal.

Now there's a good joke for Peter!

Did you know that, the other day, Peter walked into the tennis club and said, "Ouch!"?

A new Lego shop just opened up in Wrong-a-way. Peter was keen to have a look, but he didn't because people were lined up for blocks.

Hey, the world tongue-twister champion just got arrested. I heard they're going to give him a really tough sentence.

"Knock, knock." "Who's there?"  "Icing."  "Icing who?"  "Icing 'Bad Habits' very loudly and I printed the words on one of my blog posts." said Peter.

Talking about habits, it's good to see Robert getting into that book 'Atomic Habits'. When I say 'getting into it', I really mean that he's reading it.

Is Peter making a habit of cooking linguine in a tomato pasta sauce with home-made lamb meatballs? Breakfast, dinner and lunch?

A little man walked up and down,

To find an eating place in town.

He read the menu through and through,

To see what 50 cents could do.

One meatball, one meatball.

He could afford just one meatball.

I wonder what Peter's meatballs cost?

It's good to see Robert back around the blogs. Robert has probably made a meatball or two in his time. He just doesn't brag about them.

He told the waiter near at hand,

The simple menu he had planned.

The guests were startled, one and all,

To hear the waiter loudly call,

"You get no bread with one meatball!"

Hey, I really don't know if you get bread with Peter's meatballs.

"Hey, can you stop showing
this picture of me in a silly hat?"

No.

I'm off to a birthday party this morning. The birthday boy is turning two. I managed to get his present assembled yesterday.

They are holding the party in Wellington at Capital E. I don't know why it's called Capital E but it's a place designed for kids.

If you recognise the building, you'll know that it's on Queen's Wharf. The party runs for two hours, then it's sleep time for the little guy. Maybe Grandad will need a sleep by then too?

It's back to the hospital (just visiting) on Monday. They have a procedure that I have to attend four times over the next few months. They are certainly thorough. I have had more blood tests than the tests most All Blacks get to play.

Hey, it's getting close to 6am!

Peter won't be up yet, but Robert is probably up saying The Rosary. I hope he fits in some cello habits. It's too early for me to practise here. I'll have to wait until about 8am. Maybe I could get away with it at about 7.30am? Let's just see how it goes. Maybe I'll work on some of my Italian language habits. Yes, that's a good idea.

5.57am.

The new car seems to be running well.

A good number plate, eh!

The instructions in the handbook and on the dashboard are all in Japanese. Evidently you can replace the little 'screen' thing with an English version. I'll have to find out about that.

My violin practice is going very well.

The new strings are sounding good and the replacement E string is okay - remember that I broke the expensive one that I bought. Silly me. I think that the Prowse Bros are having a jam next Saturday. I'll try them on Blue Moon of Kentucky. It is in C and only has three chords. C, F and G. How easy is that boys?

Well, that's it from me. Have a good Sunday.

Ciao tutti.

Sabato.

I'm up early again.

I see that Robert has dropped by. He said something about deleting his blog because the dark web is after him.

Today's priority is to try to finish 
assembling this.

It looks easy enough, but it's not.

Harrison turns two on Monday - we're celebrating tomorrow.

Thanks to 'Atomic Habits' I have developed three types of habits.

1) I've already told you all about my violin practice.

2) I'm doing two 5 minute spots on the double bass, just to keep in touch with it. 5 minutes arco and 5 minutes pizzicato with a metronome.

3) I'm back practising my Italian language - reading my old notes, reading a book and listening.

The meds I'm on seem to make sleeping a bit of a challenge and I'm up frequently throughout the night. I aim to make sure that I get eight hours of sleep. Before 6am I have achieved that goal, so I get up, have a coffee, have some cereal, use the bathroom and write a post. It's now 6.41am in the Nui and I'm surprised how dark it is outside! I wonder if it is light enough now in Wrong-a-way to play tennis? Probably not. Peter will still be in his Dutch oven. 

Peter's Dutch oven.

Rob is up. I don't know if he has to work on Saturday morning. Maybe he's cleaning a Presbyterian church? Maybe he's cleaning his cello or fixing it with sellotape? Maybe he is working on his habits?

He is certainly not blogging.

I'm pleased to see that Richard's Bass Bag* is getting plenty of comments. It seems that we are attracting friends and family members of some of our regular readers.

Paarth Ernie Nis, Paul Hire, The A A guy, Chris Ock and Tui Balls, to name a few. I wouldn't mind betting that we hear from Paul Emery Nis soon too. Like myself he's a Nissan Note driver.

It is great that the blog is so popular!

Well, that's it from me for this morning. 

Ciao tutti.

* the original bass bagging site

Up early again.

I don't think that Robert is reading these blogs anymore.

Last night I received lots of messages from him on What's App. He obviously set up a link with me. He's telling me about every step of the book he is reading.

Personally, I'd be happy if he just read the book. 

Thanks for the email, Peter. I definitely think I'm on the mend, but it will take a little while. It'd be great to see Lynn.

By the way, Robert got up to page 32 last night.

I wonder if carrying a rainbow flag will become one of his habits?

I was hoping that the book would inspire him to get the most out of his life. Maybe he is doing that by reading the book to me? Sheesh!*

I'm popping into the hospital early this morning for a chest Xray and another blood test. As I said, everything seems to be going okay - my potassium level is way up - and then I have an old friend, Saty, coming for lunch. It'll be good to catch up with him and his lady. 

I also need to get my violin practice (habits) done and I should really do a bit on the double bass. It is also nearly time to start practising for ANZAC Day. Think trumpet here. It's important to work up those lips and the breathing.

Nui colours.

As you know, I have a green and black plastic trumpet. I use a Dennis Wick gold mouthpiece. Surprisingly, the plastic trumpet does a good job. The mouthpiece isn't made of gold, it's just that colour.

That's it for this morning.

Ciao tutti.

* A word borrowed from The Curmudgeon.

A prayer to Robert.

 Time: 6.10am.

I'm having a coffee after a fairly restless night's sleep. Hey, today will be my 7th. day back home! I'm mending slowly, I think.

I know that Robert's blog is back, and it has a place for comments, except that the friendly ones I've left have never materialized. I wonder if he looks at this blog? I bought him a book yesterday and left it at his door (he was not home) with a message inside the front cover.

I thought that this book might help with things like his cello playing. I hoped it might inspire him. But how do I try to give him this message? Then I remembered that he likes to pray. Okay, I thought I'd might as well try to pray to him. Here goes.

"Oh, Robert who farts about Heaven. It is your sinful brother here. I thought that the book that I dropped off might help you to make your life more happy and fulfilling. Changing, or making little habits can give us great results. I've already experienced this with my violin playing and it gives me a real purpose in life as I try to recover from not being well. With regards to your cello playing, the idea is to create little habits that don't take much time, but that can make important parts of your playing automatic. Let me give you an example from my violin practice. 

1st. violin habit: How do I sound? Am I playing in tune? I play some long bows and think about my bow grip. I play a simple scale to check my tuning. I might go on and bow notes all over the violin - this is just a personal decision of mine. If you want, performing this habit can be kept really short, say one or two minutes. Or even less. The important thing is to try to do it EVERY DAY.

2nd. violin habit: I've decided to play some Bluegrass, a type of music that has lots of double stops. There are only really three three note major chords (and three minor chords) on the violin. From the D string to the E string these would be:

D A F# (D major)

D B G (G major)

E C G (C major)

If you are playing major double stops (say in G major), you can play up the A and E strings with:

B/G    D/B    G/D  This pattern just keeps repeating.

Making these patterns (and three note chords) automatic in every key is the job of this daily habit.

I have three more habits that I do. I practice 12 'jazz' scale and chord things (just a few each day). I play through a chosen jazz style piece. I practise some Bluegrass things, like Hokem bowing.

So, how long does all this take me? I could do it in about 15 minutes, but I usually spend between 25 to 50 minutes on it. My personal choice there.

I'm also working on habits to get me back into improving my Italian language. If I'm sitting around with some spare time, I'm better off doing some Italian practice than simply playing on my phone. I'm changing a habit there!

Changing habits can really change your life for the better. Imagine someone who gets really anxious about certain things. They could change this 'bad' habit simply by saying, "If something makes me anxious, I'll stay away from it."

I hope you hear my prayer, Robert. If you don't, just read this post. Ah women!"

* * *

Here is my new (second hand) car.

It's a Nissan Note (A=440. A little musical joke there.) and is almost the exact same colour as our Toyota Vitz. My old car went to the wreckers. They gave me $350 for it. I was pleased. I don't think Peter likes this make of car, but it's too late now. I needed to get a car quickly so that Shelley and I are both mobile. The idea was to get a small car that we both felt comfortable driving but, for some reason, Shelley seems a bit scared of driving this car. I guess she'll soon get used to it. Anyway, we now have two cars again.

While I was in hospital I had left my old car parked in our grove and not up our drive. I didn't mean to do this. Someone spotted that its WOF had run out and informed the authorities. See, there are self centered cunts out there. Our mechanic died recently. Normally his company would have reminded us that it was warrant time. I only found out about it when I got home. Anyway, it inspired me into action and we now have a new car. I must fill it up with petrol today. 

We're going over to look after Harrison today while his very pregnant mum visits her doctor. Harrison turns two next Monday. We've bought him a little bike thing that his parents suggested. I've got it half assembled, but the instructions are hopeless. I think I've damaged one of the wheel-holding-on parts. I'll need to finish the assembly on Saturday. Wish me luck!

Peter's dad probably didn't have
to assemble this bike.

Well, that's it from me for this morning.

Ciao tutti.

I give up.

 Fuck him!

Who am I talking about?

Non lo so.

I bought a new car today. A Nissan Note that evidently was imported from Japan. All the instructions inside seem to be in Japanese, though I did manage to get the National Programme working on the radio.

I dropped a book around to Robert that I thought might help him rejuvenate his life a bit. After all my recent dramas, I find that time on the violin certainly helps.

Well, Robert certainly did look happy here.

  That's it for tonight. If your life is a bit slow, write a post.

Ciao tutti.

6.03am.

 Yes, I'm up early.

Well, I think I've had enough sleep.

Hey, Rob's blog is back!

Welcome back Rob! I tried to leave a comment, but it didn't seem to work.

I've put Robert back on my LINKS list.

* * *

My plan is to take my car to the wreckers this afternoon (I'm working this morning). It failed its last warrant, and it is time to replace it. I'm looking for a small car because Shelley doesn't feel comfortable driving bigger ones - that way we won't have to juggle cars in our drive - first one out takes the car nearest the road.

This car is too small.

There you go, 6.43am and all finished - I've been doing jobs while writing this post. That's why it took so long.

Ciao tutti.

Good morning...

 ... reader(s) of the original bass bagging site.

I'm up early again - I am showered and dressed, and it is 6.28am as I begin to write.

I'm still in recovery mode and each night (sleep) is a bit of an unknown experience. However, I'm going into work today with Signora Violina.

And her new strings.

My intention is to teach my students about the huge potential of practising with Atomic Habits.

I'm very pleased that my Potassium levels are now normal.

Okay, I promised to help Peter with some jokes. Here are a few to start him off.

A horse goes into a bar. The barman asks, "Why the long face?"

The best was to communicate with a fish is to drop them a line.

Why can't you hear a pterodactyl go to the toilet? Because the 'p' is silent.

Bad puns? It's how eye roll.

Did you know the first French fries weren't actually cooked in France? They were cooked in grease.

What do you call someone with no body and no nose? Nobody knows.

Okay, TC, I think these jokes could work very well for you in the Nui. You can just drop one in occasionally when you're talking to a local.

Hey, no need for thanks!

Ciao tutti.