How many blogs around these parts have an original theme tune? There is a link to ours on the blog, but here is... HERE.
Hey, it's worth a listen!
AND it contains NO TRITONES.
Ciao tutti.
* the original bass bagging site
How many blogs around these parts have an original theme tune? There is a link to ours on the blog, but here is... HERE.
Hey, it's worth a listen!
AND it contains NO TRITONES.
Ciao tutti.
* the original bass bagging site
Is Peter really planning to wear that hat in Wellington? I thought that I could help by offering some other choices.
![]() |
There you go. Plenty to choose from. |
![]() |
Note the Catholic one. |
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?" |
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. |
![]() |
Peter's Dutch oven. |
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.
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. |
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. |
Ciao tutti.
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.
... 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.Though I did have eight hours of good sleep. This is my fourth day at home and the body still seems to be adjusting to the meds and slowly recovering from eight days in hospital. All good.
Yesterday I bought some rather expensive violin strings (Piastro Obligatos) as the music shop didn't have the strings I normally buy. The set contained a very expensive golden E string. I broke it while trying to put it on. Fuck! Fortunately, I found a new Pirastro Tonica E string in my music equipment drawer. The new strings are sounding good.
![]() |
The violin is pleased with the result. |
![]() |
Here you can see the wrappings. The Tonica E string colour blends in very well. |
I'm looking forward to playing them today. They'll need a tune up first.
![]() |
I see he has added his real name. |
![]() |
I mentioned this book in my last post. |
![]() |
Is this Peter's doing? |
But I'd like to get by without this machine for a while!
Eight days in hospital and I literally spent hours on this machine, which normally runs for six hours before it needs topping up. Then it gets topped up and turned back on.
It's on a six-wheel stand and it has to go everywhere with you while you're topping up. Often the wheels jam when the little locking devices fall down. I had a sixteen hour top up yesterday, followed by a shorter one until when they decided to let me go home. One hand also had a heart monitor thing on it. So, if you go to the toilet, there are wires everywhere, plus this big device on wheels to lug along. Fun.
But now I'm home. Tired but home.
Now I guess there are the other bloggers to sort out.
I don't think you can comment on Robert's blog at present, though I could be wrong.
Peter is crying out for some help with his jokes.
![]() |
A typical Peter style joke. |
Well, there is certainly work to do around the blogs.
Ciao tutti.
Why does Rob keep saying this?
Is it a Catholic thing?
Okay, I know that both Brother Leon and Brother Benedict showed their 'love' for me, in the 1960s, by attempting to touch my cock. What is Rob's motive? Okay, I know we're brothers and I have attempted to help Rob out in times of need too. That's called brotherly love. But what does he achieve by his fairly constant saying of, "I love you Richard."? Does doing this get him out of Purgatory quicker?
Damn, these Catholics are weird, and they're going to be very disappointed if they die and find out that none of their fairytales are true.
When this happens, will they all be saying, "Fuck!"?
I guess that only time will tell.
Ciao tutti.
It's cold, but the day will warm up. The sky is clear.
It's lawns day for me today. Hopefully they'll start growing slower, now that Autumn is underway.
![]() |
"The Autumn leaves drift past my window, The Autumn leaves in red and gold." |
Cm7 F7 Bbmaj7 Ebmaj7 Am7b5 D7b9 Gm6*
It's nearly time to get the trumpet out, because ANZAC Day is in April. I like to do at least two weeks of daily warmups before I play The Last Post.
![]() |
The Last Post. |
Okay, okay, I know that's a well-used, silly joke, but I thought it might calm everybody down after Peter's risqué last couple of posts. It is Lent after all. I've lent a few books in my time. You often don't get them back.
I went to an Old Time / Bluegrass jam yesterday. The Old Time music part goes for an hour and a half, then it's Bluegrass time. What they call Old Time is VERY simple music, normally played in D or G because that's supposed to be good for the banjo and the violin.
The tunes have weird names, like 'Bake that sausage well boy', and seldom seem to have more than two chords. There was a guy there who took control of this part of the jam, sort of making it more like a lesson; except that he had very basic skills. He also tried to give us all a bit of a theory lesson, but he didn't really know what he was talking about. I sort of told him so. Well, someone had to put him straight.
The Bluegrass part consisted of lots of three chord songs in G. I know the guy who sort of took charge of this jam. He's a nice guy and complimented me on my playing when I left half an hour early. Hey, you can only take so many tunes in G.
Well, I'm off soon to do a few jobs.
Ciao tutti.
* You won't see chords like this at an Old Time / Bluegrass jam.
![]() |
![]() |
No, this is not me. I'm considerably older and no longer sleep with my teddy. |
Though, that wasn't always the case. I remember, in primary school days, being sick and spending the day in bed. There was a knock at the door - a couple of my friends had come to see me. Shamefully, I had to hide my teddy under the blankets.
Anyway, I slept in until after eight.
I've got quite a few things to do today, including violin practice. I've cut my second finger on my right hand, so I'll probably have to leave double bass practice for a little while.
I'm planning to go to a Bluegrass jam later in the afternoon tomorrow. I've been practising Bluegrass techniques. I won't give you details. I know no one is very interested. That's fine. Anyway, Rob will be too busy writing a list of people he knows who have gone to Hell.
![]() |
"Now, let me see, it's a good guess that Gregory Watson is there, and, and..." |
Relax Rob and play your cello - there is no hell! How could you possibly know who is there?
I don't know what Peter is up to today. He's probably planning dinner.
![]() |
"I'll use the air fryer tonight. Maybe I'll make noodles with Gregorian sauce and a cucumber salad. I'll dig out a bottle of Peaupropre* Champagne from France." |
Peter won't be driving to the tip today - that means all the other people backing trailers there can relax.
Well, I'd better get moving.
see more
Ciao tutti.
* Don't forget to use Google Translate to check this name
||:4/4 Am / / / | Am / / / | F / / / | F / / / :||
[Background voices to one pitch] "We're not going well, ring the bell for hell. We're not going well, ring the bell for hell."
| C / / / | C / / /|
We march forward,
| Fmaj7 / / / | Fmaj7 / / / |
Looking at the sky.
![]() |
"Welcome. This way to Hell," |
I got a comment, on my last post, from Rob, and he wrote something in French.
We wrote, "Menthe poivrée recouverte de carottes râpées."
Actually, Rob doesn't speak French, so he used Google Translate. His message was, "Peppermint topped with grated carrots." Actually, it was the second statement in his comment, written in English, that was more 'interesting'.
"Did you know that most people in hell didn't believe it existed."
That was actually a question, so it should have read,
"Did you know that most people in hell didn't believe it existed?"
Can you spot the difference?<----------- A question mark.
If Rob's question was correct, he'd have a list of quite a few people who are actually in Hell.
I can promise you that he doesn't.
Okay, he might say that Adolf Hitler is there.
![]() |
A guess, again. |
Here's a good riddle that will have you laughing when you get the answer...