My latest post. Sorry, I can't think of a good title this morning.

 

Peter beat me to 'Toe Knee Hand Cock'. 

Hey, that's a hard title to upstage!

* * *

It's nearly 8am!

I'm up quite a lot through the night with my bell condition, so I often tend to sleep in until about 7am. I'm all showered and dressed now, and ready to post.

I read Bob's latest post and, besides the lecture on narcissism, I now know what Catholic churches are available through the holiday period. Peter posted yesterday, so his next post will be a little way off. 

I've done double bass practice for the last four days, getting my shit together for a rehearsal with two of my siblings on Friday. I'm using the Atomic Habits method, in that I'm only doing 15 minutes a day on the bass, but it is concentrated time. I also did plenty of violin practice yesterday. I'm working through my 30 piece violin repertoire; the one I play with a backing track. That's about 2 1/2 hours of continuous music. Easily enough to do a three hour gig, with a couple of short breaks.

Life has been pretty quiet for us who live in the Nui. My bell disease certainly slows things down a bit.

Tomorrow I get to spend the morning in hospital for my second fusion of a new drug they're trying. It evidently takes about 8 weeks to show results. Fun (and lots more trips to the bathroom to come). 

Shelley and I cut our large front lawn yesterday. Really what we were cutting were very tall yellow daisies. 

Well, I assume they are called daisies. At the moment they are everywhere in the Nui - many lawns are covered with them. From one point of view, it is a shame to cut them down, but we try to keep our property looking tidy. 

We attacked them with our two smallish weedeaters. When the batteries ran out, I finished the job with our lawn mower, sans catcher.

It is supposed to rain today so we thought we might go to Mass at St. Mary of the Angels. we'll probably take a ride over the hill and visit a supermarket.

I wonder why Robert decided to write a post about narcissism? (I don't think it needs a capital 'N')

"A self-centered personality style characterized as having an excessive preoccupation with oneself and one's own needs, often at the expense of others."

Well, I guess we could all name someone like that. 

What do you call people who always are correct and never let you get a word in? Are they narcissists? Probably close. Some people believe in something and simply can't afford to be proven wrong about their belief. That is probably brought about by fear of the unknown or fear of discomfort and confusion.

Well, time to get that double bass practice done.

[bathroom visit - that special treat of a coffee was not a good idea]

On the double bass you spend quite a bit of time playing root notes and this is maybe something you need to avoid a bit when you are soloing. Here's a good idea - say the chord is Dm7, play Am7 instead. Whereas you would probably have played the Dm7 as a Dorian minor, use the natural minor (Aeolian mode) for Am7. It gives you the same notes but gets you away from starting on the root. Say you're playing G7, play the rising form of D melodic minor - D E F G A B C# D. C#? Yes, this #4 sound adds a lovely colour.

There you go.

Ciao tutti.

1/1/26

 I've decided that today is New Year's Day.

Happy New Year!

Why have I done this?

Well, why not? It's just a date.

These four dates represent the four
days I got rid of.

So, this year, 27/12/25 was New Year's Eve.

Am I really allowed to do this?

Well, Catholics are allowed to make stuff up all the time.

By biting an apple Eve effectively created sin. Original Sin.

Eve's the one on the right.
This is before clothes were invented.

God decided that all the rest of us should be born with Original Sin.

"Well hello sweety, I'm 
God the Son. He's talking 
about my daddy dear."

Because of God the Father's decision, the only way he, an all knowing god, could find to get out of it was to have his son crucified. Weird. He could have just snapped his fingers and said, "Original Sin is gone!"

Okay, moving right along.

I did quite a bit of practice yesterday, on both double bass and violin. I lost four days, so I didn't quite get to 365 hours for 2025. Never mind, I start my new practice diary today. I will endeavour to make 2026 a very good year for practice. Yesterday I started running through the 30 pieces in my repertoire. I got halfway through - up to number 15. Not too bad.

Pretty damn good, actually.

Peter wrote a new post on New Year's Eve. He titled it, "IT SMELLS LIKE CHRISTMAS."

The post contains five sentences.

FIVE SENTENCES!

There is one picture and,

as usual, a video tune.

An even shorter version of this very short post could have said, "I bought some flowers for my partner."

There was no post from Robert this morning. He was probably too busy welcoming the new year in by saying the Rosary. Maybe he decided to say it 26 times? I'm sure he wouldn't attempt to say it 2026 times.

Well, that's it for this New Year's Day. I hope you've all got New Year's Resolutions - they normally last for 2 1/2 weeks and contain things like:

• I'll go for a half hour walk every morning.
• I'll become fluent in Vietnamese.
• I'll only eat vegetables and fruit, definitely no ice cream.
• When I pee on the floor, I'll wipe it up.
• I'll listen to other people when they're talking.
• I'll proofread my blog posts.
• I'll practise my cello for 45 minutes every day.
• Goodbye tummy!
• I won't go on about having been in 3P in 1966.
• I won't quote Matthew or Luke in my blog posts.
• I'll practise my violin in my shed, as my neighbour requested.
• I won't keep going on about sin.
• I'll attempt to use the toilet less frequently.
• I'll keep my phone away from the bath.
• I'll try to enjoy Peter's posts.
• I won't put a music video on every post.

Buon anno.

December 27th. Get Rid of the Bottles Day.

 

Boxing Day sails

 

I can never understand why Boxing Day always has to be about bloody yachts and sailing ships

It's very wet in the Nui and I would have thought, if you had to do something today, you'd be better off going shopping.

Ah well. I certainly won't be out on the water. 

Actually, I think it all relates back to Jesus. 

He seems to have had a thing about water.

In reality, to walk on water, you'd have to be very light or have very wide feet that could function like a couple of boats.

Peter probably learnt about all this in 3P, while I was learning to sew in 3G. In 3P they spent most of their time learning how to be priests and talking in Latin. 

I didn't do any practice yesterday. I think that, instead of going out to watch the boats, I'd be better off doing some violin and double bass practice today. Obviously, I'll kick off with some long notes. 

This note is called a breve and
it is twice as long as a semibreve.

You don't see breves in modern Western music. I don't think that students were introduced to them in 3P. Peter could verify that, either way.

Well, that's it from me on this box sing day. There actually are a few boxes singing at our place as I write. That makes the day feel quite special.

Enjoy your day and remember that sinning was created by silly religions and is not worth worrying about.

Ciao tutti.

Ricorda che l'italiano è più utile del vecchio e sciocco latino.

Boxing Day.

 

Tomorrow is Boxing Day. Not to be confused with that special Chinese day, Bok Sing Dai.

When Jesus was born, on December 25th., those close to him who were contemplating writing a Bible decided that they needed more time to plan and prepare their literary idea. It didn't help that just about all of them were illiterate and couldn't even write their own name. Even the apostle Paul often signed his name with an 'x'. Years passed with no real solution. Then, years later, they decided to consult Catholic priests who had been set up a little while earlier. They knew that Jesus was now old enough and asked him to talk to the priests. Jesus talked to the Pope, the boss of all priests.

Jesus didn't come out on their side.

 So, there they were, stuck for a name of the day directly after Christmas Day. It had become a bit of a thing to give friends and family presents on, or near, Christmas Day. In those days presents generally came in boxes. So, what would people probably be doing on the 26th.? 

Opening boxes!

So, there you have it! Boxing Day.

Ciao.

Christmas Eve.

 You know what that means!

Yes, I'll be playing violin at a dinner party this evening.

It'll be nothing like this!

The majority of people there will be around Peter's age (pretty old). Most will probably have different tastes in music than me. They'll want to hear Ed Sheeran or Neil Diamond. I'll be playing some jazz numbers that will probably go down like a lead balloon.

Though, I do have an Irish medley and a Bluegrass classic. Ah well, I know what to expect.

Poor old Peter is not that well. My son and his family have all been sick too. They're supposed to be coming here tomorrow. They have little ones, so will come very early and will be gone by midday. My daughter in law's parents are popping in too. I'll be on food preparation - nothing fancy like Peter would make. Just a bit of chicken and roast veges, with some pizza and savouries. There will also be salads and cheese and dips. It'll really be too early to drink wine, but I do have some Cleanskins standing by for later.

Well, that's it from me.

Buon Natale.

Cloud day.

 

Yesterday, on Sit around day, 

Shelley and I helped our daughter move into her new flat. Fortunately, we had two young men to do the heavy lifting. I drove a rather big van and took charge of loading and unloading it. Once you get comfortable, big vans and trucks are pretty easy to drive. 

Today I guess we'll do a bit of Christmas shopping. That'll include stocking up on a few Cleanskins.

Cleanskins are Peter's first choice for vino bianco and he's the wine expert, so I just follow him.

Robert has his friend down from Bowling, so there have been no posts from him this weekend. 

Christmas is very close now - three days to go after today! 

Christmas trees originally came from a Pagan tradition and, from what I read this morning, Jesus probably wasn't born on December 25th. Ah, but who really cares. Anyway, it's all that bird's fault for getting young Mary pregnant.

For those who didn't read my last post, that bird is the Holy Spirit.

I hurt my left hand playing the violin yesterday. It's possible that lifting stuff in yesterday's house move set it off. Anyway, I'll have to be very careful with it today. Remember that I've got that solo gig on the 24th. Ah well, I think quite a few people may not like my solo violin tunes, so here's to nothing. Still, I do want to get those pieces right AND there will be one guy there who really enjoys my playing.

I have a double bass rehearsal on January 2nd. and I've done VERY LITTLE double practice this year, so I'd better get into that too!

It's good to see a new post from TC, and I enjoyed his joke about chick flicks. The cartoon shows a man named Roger in bed with his attractive wife. 

She asks, "Fancy a bit?"

Roger, after too many chick flicks, replies, "Couldn't we just cuddle and talk about my feelings?"

Ha, ha, ha!

99.9% of the films I get to see with Shelley are chick flicks. She's not into action movies.

Fortunately, I call the shots in our marriage and decide what we do and what we watch.

Okay, that's about it from me. 

I just found out that my old friend Chris M reads my blog. Welcome Chris. I hope that leg gets better soon. xxx

Ciao tutti.

Fly day.

 

I've just been out vacuuming the back seats in my car. I used the plural of 'seat' because 'HP sauce' has his own seat attached to the original back seat. Yesterday we gave him some things to eat on the way home from childcare (Shelley was sitting on the other back seat and gave him too much food to play with) and he left a mess behind. It has been tidied now.

Peter is walking to Johnsonville today. I hope the top of his water bottle is on firmly.

Robert's blog has a new post. He left a message, on Peter's latest post, telling us both off. We had wondered about the immaculate conception, an event where the Holy Spirit got young Mary pregnant. Hell, I thought the Holy Spirit was just a bird!

Not much to report about my practice. The nine unaccompanied pieces for December 24th. are coming along nicely despite less practice being done. I did an hour yesterday and only half an hour the day before. I really need to get some double bass practice done too. I have a quieter day today (no HP to pick up) so I should be able to do more practice.

Peter's best route to Johnsonville could be up the Ngauranga Gorge. He could then catch a bus home. 

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

Fate attenzione quando usate le parole eiaculazione ed erezione nei commenti sul blog di Bob.

Ciao.

Furs day.

 

This Thursday is cloudy but slightly sunny. 

Nothing else to tell you today.

Ciao.

Hey, this is a bit like a TC post.

* * *

Later that same morning...

Okay, it's now 9.24am and I've done a few essential jobs. 

Peter may be out walking by now. Will he walk up to Wadestown? Maybe he'll walk along the Old Hutt Road? Let's just hope that he doesn't get soaked again. 

Robert might be cleaning that Presbyterian guy's hall. 

Well, I still can't think of anything to tell you. Maybe I'll need to go to the bathroom (read toilet) again? Well, I do have a bowel disease and I visit the bathroom quite frequently. Very frequently, actually.

Yes, I think I'd better go.

Ciao ancora.

When's day?

 Well, in the Nui, it starts to lighten up at 5.30am. This morning it led us into Wednesday.

Heavy rain welcomed today in.

Hey, but there is a bit of blue sky now. Just a bit.

On Saturday I get to drive a furniture van for my daughter who is moving residence.

However, today is just for normal little jobs. Though I do have to pick up HP sauce (Peter's 3/10 joke) at 4pm. Then I normally help with the two boys until dad gets home. 

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

Ciao.

Later that same day...

It is now coming up to midday. 11.47am, to be precise. I see that Robert is back reading and commenting on my posts.  He has also reestablished a link to his blog. Why does he keep coming and going? Maybe he's getting advice from the BVM? 

"If you're not nice to your brother, you're going to finish up in Purgatory!" 

"But, but, he says silly things about you." 

"Never mind all that, some of the things he says are correct. I was very young when I married Joseph. God the Father really should not have interfered by making me pregnant."

"But he made you the mother of God."

"Hey, don't forget there are three of them. I'm not God the Father's mother and I certainly don't want to be mother to that bloody bird!"

Practice time is coming up. I should really do a bit of double bass too. Firstly, though, I need to run through those nine tunes for the 24th. Practice may not make perfect, but it does make better.

I wonder if Peter will write a post today? I won't hold my breath, but I will pop across and have a look.

Non costa nulla dare un'occhiata veloce.

Ciao for now.

NOTHING.

A jam can be a good thing.

 

The door to one of our bedrooms in our house needs a bit of fixing because it tends to jam. This has turned out to be a good thing because, when our elder grandson comes visiting, like he did yesterday, we can put valuable or dangerous items in the room and he can't get his hands on those things. I'm talking about things like:

• a violin or two,
• a little glass prism with sharp edges,
• amplifiers with knobs that are fun to turn,
• two vases,
• a plant with long leaves,
• a music stand with my music on it,
• a clock that looks like a motorcycle,
• you get the idea.

I went to a different type of jam yesterday. A music jam. 

I took my violin and Shelley came too. It was the first time at a different venue, in Moera, for the old-time music and Bluegrass jams. No other jammers had arrived, and no one arrived until well after 2pm. Shelley and I had a lovely chat with the guy who runs the jam and who we both know well. Two blokes arrived and the first tune was played at about 2.45pm. One had brought a banjo and a guitar and the other a violin. The guy who runs the jam plays an acoustic bass guitar. The guy who had the banjo tuned it to a C chord and informed us that he could play in C and G. Pretty limiting. The violinist got out his violin and he and the banjo player started to play. It was obvious that both of them needed to do much more practice. They played two very repetitive 'tunes' that seemed to use one and a half chords. How do you play half a chord? You'd have to ask the banjo player. The violinist sounded very scratchy. He obviously doesn't do long bow practice. I decided not to join in because I'm sure I would have drowned him out and I didn't want to be a showoff. 

Instead I thought of how I could be home and practising. Doing something useful. I put my violin in its case and made an excuse to leave. Maybe they thought I was scared off by their wonderful playing? I really don't care what they thought, I just wanted to get out of Moera and return home. Actually, the facilities in Moera were very nice - a community house, a smaller house-like structure, a hall and a library. The library was closed but all the other facilities were being well used. I wouldn't mind betting that there could have been a performance of Handel's Messiah later in the afternoon.

I was hoping to get the back lawn tidied up today but the weather forecast predicts rain. I'll keep an eye on the weather over the next few hours. 

I heard that it is supposed to be wet on Christmas day. No big deal really.

Though we do have our son's in-laws coming around now. Ah well, all good.

I guess that's about all from me for today.

Non dimenticare di esercitarti con il violino. Ricordati di fare quegli archi lunghi.

Ciao.