Something interesting for a Wednesday morning.

Good morning. I woke up at 5am again. I flicked through my phone before I got up, as you do, and read this on a blog.

John 3:16-27 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Begotten? I thought that this god was three entities who have always been there, wherever 'there' is. I looked for a definition of 'begotten'.

Begotten: To generate or produce offspring through procreation. Begotten is the past participle of the verb 'beget', which means to generate or produce offspring through procreation. It refers to something that has been brought into existence by a parent.

There is no mention of a Mrs. God anywhere that I can find. I hope that God the Father didn't bonk that bird! Actually, that's unlikely because, as I understand it, the three entities have been around forever. All three of them.

The story goes that God the Father got a lady called Mary pregnant without actually performing the routine that usually happens. It is called an immaculate conception - well, they do say that this god CAN do anything. Suddenly, after this god has been around for eternity, one part of 'him' becomes 'the son'. Suddenly 1/3 of 'him' is a dad. Okay, one could argue that the son was brought into existence by his parent Mary. But God the Son was evidently around for an eternity before this happened. 

Sounds like a story of convenience to me. If you don't believe this weird story, you're in trouble. I'd like to talk to this John guy.

If this was TC's blog, there would now be a discussion between him and John.

The Curmudgeon: Hi John. I hope you don't mind me calling you John. I don't know your surname. Call me TC.

John: No, that's fine, TC. How can I help you?

The Curmudgeon: Well, the question is, when did God the Son become God the Son? Was it when God the Father plonked him in Mary's tummy?

John: You are too tangled up with terminology. It's the end result of the story that matters. Those who choose not to believe are going to Hell for eternity.

The Curmudgeon: But you can't just make up a story to support that!

John: Well, I got chosen to write in the Bible. I've searched the book and haven't come across your name as a co-author.

The Curmudgeon: Parli merda! I learnt that from another blogger around here.

John: I'm guessing that's Italian. Us bible guys used different languages.

The Curmudgeon: Perhaps a lot was lost in translation?

John: I wasn't in on that part. I just wrote what God told me to write.

The Curmudgeon: How did he tell you?

John: God works in mysterious ways.

The Curmudgeon: Okay, okay, I don't need this shit so early in the morning. This is not even my blog! I'm going back to sleep. Let Richard write his own bloody blog!

John: Okay. Nice to chat.

* * *

That's it for this morning.

Ciao tutti.

It's just after 5 and I'm up.

 I just read TC's latest post. It sounds like he is bored out of his tree.

Keep your pants on TC!

He's evidently watching old films in French. Ah well, that's what happens way up north. He's probably sleeping now but I thought a post from the bass bag might cheer him up.

It's good having Rick Tim Bagno around because you can't rely on comments from people like Robert, and I'm sure that Peter will sleep until about 9am.

Henry, my grandson, is two weeks old today. He is still not really up to watching films in French. I might be looking after the boys on Wednesday afternoon. It all depends on me passing a fitness test with the parents - I've had a bit of a cold and that's not good if you're around a newborn child. I'm off to work today and Wednesday morning, so no time for French films. I've got my big little gig on Saturday morning, where I certainly won't be playing any Led Zeppelin or singing in French. 

Sorry boys but you won't be needed on this gig.

Hey, I'm glad that I'm a Jazz musician. I'll always remember the first time I really listened to Jazz and listened carefully to a walking bass line. Special! I guess I was a Classical musician before that. I also remember hearing a very young Rodger Fox and his band playing at Victoria University - they were obviously having fun! Classical musicians can spend their playing lives playing other people's music. In Jazz, improvisation gives you a lot of room to express yourself, even if you're playing someone else's tune. That's what I love to do. Jazz musicians also love to 'play out'. This is not about playing outside, it's about seeing how far you can push the harmonies and then bring them back. Now, that's more fun than sightreading a cello concerto or playing Bach's double violin concerto for the 400th. time. Hey, don't get me wrong, those Classical pieces are great music, but you are spending all your time playing other people's note choices. Robert will probably write a comment now because he'll disagree with that.

Well, there you go.

Have fun boys but don't get too hung up on French language films.

Ciao tutti.

I woke in the middle of the night and for over an hour I couldn't sleep.

No problem.

I thought about playing over dominant 7th. chords.

Often, in Jazz, a dominant 7th. chord will come after a minor 7th. chord and often is followed by a major 7th. chord. These are called II - V7 and II - V7 - I progressions. There are a few variations, like the like the m7b5 - dom7b9. This normally resolves on a Im+7 or a Im6.

The V7 chord is a great place to create tension - usually done by adding notes that are not in the dom7 scale. There's a little trick where you can play the ascending form of the melodic minor scale starting on the 5th of the dom7, or the minor second. The first adds a #4 and the 2nd adds a lot of 'out' notes. Both scales also get you away from starting on the root.

When you think about it, the first melodic minor scale is just adding that wonderful #4 note, but the second is giving you a whole new scale - the Diminished Whole Tone Scale. 

Starting on C = C Db D# E F# G# A#(Bb) C. The first four notes are from one of the two diminished scales and the next four are from the whole tone scale. If you remember that there are also popular dom7 licks that start with C B Bb etc., you'll see that a dom7 lick can be made up out of all the 12 notes found in Western music.

I thought that my readers might find that interesting.

* * *

So, what's happening around the blogs?

Not a lot. Robert is taking cello lessons online and got called a 'badass musician' by the teacher. That's an American compliment, I believe. Peter is keeping us informed about Donald Chump. We're presently waiting on another post from Bagno Plumber. Don't forget that our LINKS service will take you to all these places, and more.

It's just to the right-hand side on Richard's Bass Bag.*

No need for thanks.

My gig at the Tawa library is getting close. Remember that's with my duo Sii Gentile. There is only time for about six tunes as the gig lasts for half an hour. Daryl is on piano and I'm on violin. The tunes I intend to play are Besame Mucho, Oh Lady Be Good, Manha De Carnaval, Sweet Georgia Brown, The Immigrants and The Accordion Lady. I wrote The Accordion Lady in 2001 to be played on the double bass, but I have never played it in public. I have practised it quite a lot and, when I go somewhere like to a supermarket, I often whistle it as I walk around. It does amuse me that I know the tune very well but nobody else has ever heard it. 

Well, that's it from me for this morning. Please keep an eye on Bagno Plumber's blog because he mentioned to me that he has a new post coming up.

Ciao tutti.

* the original bass bagging site

I visited Bob, Gloria and Aunty Maureen today.

 

As I often do, I had a chat with Bob. I asked him if he knew anything about the existence of Hell.

He replied, "Hi, Big Cheen. Honestly, I can't tell you much, except that there IS NO Hell."

My dad has never lied to me in the past. So, there you go.

Any questions, Rob? 

Lamentarsi del brodo grasso.

Due cose sono infinite: l'universo e stupidità umana; ma riguardo l'universo ho ancora qualche dubbio!

Ciao tutti.

Better Latin never.

 Peter wrote in Italian in a comment on my last post.

"Un uomo con gli occhiali ha un asino di nome Nod che si masturba ed è felice. Questo è bello."

As you probably know, in 1966, the boys in 3P, of which Peter was one, were taught Latin. 

"Mea culpa."

'Mea culpa' is a phrase he still uses often. You don't normally find him using Italian, so I suspect that we must give some credit to Google Translate. If you look through what he has written, one word stands out because it is very similar in English.

'Masturba'. In Latin it would be 'masturbat' in this form of the verb (when someone, or something, is doing it). So that immediately gives you a clue to what he might be talking about. There is masturbation happening. Next we look for nouns. A lot of you may know that 'uomo' means 'man'. 'Occhiali' is quite a common word, so some of you may know it. If not, there's always Google Translate. 'Un asino' must be a noun because it has 'a' in front of it. 'Nod' is obviously some sort of name. I'm sure we could all have a good guess at the meaning of 'bello'.

Peter boasts after his little Italian adventure, "I think that I'd do quite well as a linguist." Well, we all know that he had a talent for selling things, even if they didn't belong to him, in about 1967, when he started stealing communion hosts. I think that the purpose of 3P was to turn out priests, doctors, lawyers and governor generals. I don't think that nicking stuff was on the original agenda. That occupation was left for the more desperate members of 3R (later to be renamed 3M). 

Sorry, I didn't finish translating Peter's Italian for you. Ah, you've probably already done it using Google Translate. Fair enough, I'll leave it there.

* * *

The good news is that the little cut on my little left hand finger, near the nail, is getting better and is not interfering with violin practice. Though, I have put double bass practice on hold for a few days so that it doesn't get bashed around too much. 

I'm doing a lot of work on those 3rd / 7th chords because I want them to be automatic in all keys - so they pop out when needed. It's going well. 

* * *

It's Sunday today. A lot of Christians, including both Protestants and Catholics, will be off to church. It's the best day for church shop profits.

Don't forget what Robert told us on his blog, "More souls are going to hell now than ever before. Sexual perversion, adultery and fornification are rampant." I know that Rob probably blames the Protestants for misinterpreting the Bible, or something. I suspect that fornication (I assume that Rob meant to use this word) has been around, and heavily in demand, throughout history.

Fornication: "Voluntary sexual intercourse between unmarried persons or outside of marriage." I read that definition on a Christian site.

Do you believe that Hell (a nightmare idea for young children) exists? Rob obviously knows enough about it to be able to say that more souls are going there. How would he know this? Did Mary tell him? "Thanks for saying the Rosary, Robert. By the way, here's something that might interest you. More souls are going to Hell now than ever before. Perhaps it's time for another flood?"

So, god keeps turning out people and doesn't seem that worried that a lot of them are finishing up suffering for eternity. Surely he can do better than that? Does he like to see his creations suffer? 

Here's something I read about - Many years ago the Catholic Church assumed that women gathering herbs were witches. When they were rounded up, a long spike was placed up their vagina and it slowly worked its way through their bodies. It took many days to kill them and was a very, very painful way to go. As the old blues song said, "Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself."

* * *

Hey, I just read Robert's latest post and learnt two things.

1) I was right about Mary talking about Hell.

Robert tells us, "Mary showed the
three children at Fatima a vision of hell."

It looks like it is Mary who is going on about Hell.

2) Jesus might be gay.

Well, that's me for today.

Ciao tutti.

A memory from 25/4/2016.

 I think that this was my second year of being the Last Post guy on ANZAC Day in the Nui.

25/4/2016
It's just before 6.25am and I've just done my second Last Post for the day. One to go. I think it has gone pretty well - it's pretty easy to crack a note or two in the cold of the morning; standing outside on damp grass. I'm putting the trumpet in the car when a volunteer fireman approaches.

"It's on YouTube." he says excitedly.

No need to answer because he's got a story to tell.

"Mark Knopfler playing the last post on guitar, would you believe it? Fantastic! So moving. He's the best guitarist in the world!"

I can't really answer; he'll just think I'm bitter.

So I think it.

"Who says he's the best guitarist in the world? How did you decide that? Have you listened to everyone else? How did you tally up the marks? No pun intended.

Do you know that there are only five different notes in the Last Post? A bit of overdrive and sitting in a warm studio, and doing as many takes as you need. I don't really think you'd have to be the best guitarist in the world to pull that off. Hey, trumpet is my fourth best instrument. It's early in the morning and I'm playing in the cold morning air. I'm not getting paid, but that's fine because this is what you call community service and I like doing that. I practised the trumpet for three weeks to do this gig. Before that I hadn't even touched a trumpet for months. I'd like to see Mark out here with a bloody trumpet; now that would impress me!"

Okay, okay. He's a volunteer fireman; doing community service too, bless him. Maybe he puts in kitchens through the week? Probably listens to classic hits radio. He's probably had very little musical experience other than that. He probably just got excited when he heard that tune that Mark Knopfler played and just had to share it. Maybe I should have told him that I know a guy who is a real fireman? Bitter ol' me!

ANZAC Day done and the trumpet is back in the cupboard until November.

 At the start and end of our main (11.15am) ceremony in Wainuiomata the Christian god was thanked.

What the fuck? 

Besides wearing makeup,
what did he do to help?

A real god could have stopped it all.

I also read this when I woke up this morning. (Guess where?)

"Cardinal Muller, from Germany, says we must avoid a popularist/media orientated Pope. Modernism wants change and novelty in the Papacy. Catholics should desire the upholding of tradition and adhere to scripture. We must avoid the insidious temptation to fit Christ's teachings with what we might prefer. More souls are going to hell now than ever before. Sexual perversion, adultery and fortification are rampant."

More souls are going to hell now than ever before? I think that Mully is having a guess. 

Fortification is rampant? I think it always has been. Isn't that why god made penises and vaginas? I mean, he didn't have to. Okay, okay, I know, he's just a made up guy - from a set of three.

I've done ANZAC Day for ten years (or more). Lately they've added my name to the programme, but they spell it incorrectly. I really don't want to do it anymore. Why can't god appear and play the last post? Actually, one of the organisers told me he was quite excited because, evidently, they've made a trumpet that you play like a juke box. You hold it up and select 'The Last Post' and it plays itself. Maybe I'll be replaced because he seemed keen to buy one. 

I have a little cut on my left hand finger. I don't know how it got there but I hope I can still finger the violin because I have practice to do. 

Maybe I could put a bit of glad wrap around it, or something? Or maybe they're making violins like that juke box trumpet?

Here's an earlier model that could be more affordable.

Ah well, that's it from me this morning.

Ciao tutti.

Welcome aboard Signor Bagno!

 Bagno Plumber is very excited to be 'officially' in our blogging community. See HERE.

Two down, one to go.

 

Firstly, apologies to Rob, who came to both the dawn services. We spoke briefly beforehand, but I should have invited him around for a coffee. After the second 'blow', there was an old guy dressed as a boy scout who kept talking and I didn't get to say, "Come for a coffee, Rob."

He didn't really look like this.

Boy, it was freezing out there this morning!

This is just to give you
an idea, but it was also
dark.

The next 'blow' happens at 11.15am. All the local big shots come to this one. Hopefully it'll warm up by then.

Ciao tutti.

What would you say to a man who had three heads?

 

"Hello, hello, hello."

Gsus. Christ!

 Gsus walked into a barbeque where his friends saw him and approached. 

"Is that really you?" asked D7b9. "There's something peculiar going on."

"Oh, that's probably because a lot of people refer to me as Gsus4, but the only difference that makes it that my C is exposed."

"Well, we could have mistaken you for Gsus2.' said Am7b5. "Come and have something to eat. 

Gsus chose a piece of fish, a slice of bread, a small baked potato and a sausage roll. At this point his friends were relieved to know that it was in fact Gsus4. They really had it sussed now.

* * *

Gsus was back among them, after having been 'murdered' by a group of rock musicians who like to just shove chords anywhere. Gsus liked to resolve onto a G chord. 

* * *

Gsus knew that some Classical musicians had been praying for guidance and believed that the answers existed in what they called four part harmony. This was just a system that existed at a certain point in time and rules, like having no consecutive fifths, did not matter anymore.

* * *

Everyone at the barbeque knew that there was no chord called Dvine nor Evine, for that matter.

* * *

Gsus chatted to a minor chord about resolutions, but the minor chord was disinterested. Gsus even tried to talk about voicings with just a 3rd and a 7th. "Poor old minor chords." thought Gsus, "They are far too interested in heading towards a dominant 7th chord. Why won't they try a tritone substitution?"

* * *

Today is the day we remember Non-Saint Graham.

 

"What is a Non-Saint?" I hear you say. Well, Catholics have their saints, Atheists like to celebrate their non-saints and today just happens to be Graham's day, 24th. of April. Graham was born in Invercargill and attended Aurora College from 1966 until 1969. He never stayed around for the Upper Sixth. Graham is still alive because non-saints don't get martyred. He worked most of his life as a forklift driver and storeman, but is now retired and likes to play cards and belongs to a ukelele club. 

Graham took the picture.

So, how can an atheist become a non-saint? Easy, you just fill out a form and, if you get picked, you are given a day. You really don't need to do anything else. As long as you stay away from churches and don't buy into too much bullshit. Really, not much is known about Graham's life, except that he lied about going to Aurora College because it opened in 2005. Maybe Graham has good reasons for not wanting to tell you where he really went to school. Ah well, this little lie adds a bit of mystery to Graham's life. We atheists can live with that. Have a great day, Graham!

3P, did they always pee in threes?

This is a true story: 1966. When I arrived at St. Patrick's College (town), we were divided into four groups and put into four classrooms. I didn't know that the classroom I was put into would become the 3P room. I was sent to the staffroom, with our room number, to pick up some things for the teacher who was with us. I gave a note, from our teacher, to a teacher who answered the door. He looked at it and said, "Ah, the brain boxes of the future!"

That's the closest I got to being in 3P. I also never got to be a sacristan and steal communion hosts. There were four third form classes. The students were all graded and the 'dumbest' ones went to 3R, which everyone called '3 Retarded'. The other three classes were called 3P, 3G and 3M. Eventually, that year, the class names were changed to 3P (professional), 3G (general), 3 Com (3 commercial) and 3M. I'm not sure what 3M was supposed to stand for. I think it was '3 moderate', but everyone called it '3 Moron'. 

Peter, as you know, was in 3P. They learnt Latin, probably because it was hoped that a lot of them would become priests or doctors - evidently, in those days, doctors used to write their prescriptions in Latin. Well, that's what I was told. There was one thing that was not taught in 3P or 3G - how to get a girlfriend. One boy in 3P, named Tony, told us (well, actually a few years later) that girls liked boys who were pissed. Latin didn't help with everything. We learnt French in 3G, a language that was still spoken as a form of communication, if you wanted to say anything other than Mea Culpa.

3P 1966

3G 1966

Can you find Peter and Richard in these photos? 

Gallicum utilius est quam Latinum.

Okay, I'm off to help with Harrison and Henry. My starting time is 6.30am.

Ciao tutti.

How many posts can you write in one day?

 I suppose you can write a lot if you keep them very short.

"Hi, I hope you like my post!" would be an example of a very short post.

Maybe with a picture?

What's missing from his face?
Nobody nose.

See how I used a Peter style joke there.

I made a bread roll for lunch and then I sat on it.

"See how I roll?"

Another Peter style joke.

I had a run through with Daryl today, it's always good to catch up with her. We've been playing music together for a very long time. I don't think that this gig on May 3rd. is going to be a problem. Actually, I know it isn't.

That's it for today's post number three.

Ciao tutti.

Wednesday, one more day before ANZAC Day.

 

I got up this morning, at about 5.45am, and listened to a recording of a composition that Robert had sent me. Well done! You can read my comments in the post just below this. Creating things is good for the soul. Playing at ANZAC Day is more like going to work. The main thing is to not crack lots of notes. Hence the Atomic Habit that I have been working on all month. You'll notice that my trumpet is green and black. If you didn't know, these are the colours of Wainuiomata. Enough about that.

Thanks, Peter, for warning me what I'd have to go through if I became a Roman Catholic Cardinal and had to be involved in electing the new pope.

He said, "Do you know why Richard of RBB would not like to be locked up in the Sistine Chapel with over a hundred other cardinals for days, weeks or even months? Here's a clue:"

Yep, count me out!

I have a practice with Daryl at some point today. So far I'm not needed for Grandad duty, but I expect to be back on duty tomorrow. I'll try to get some thoughtful practice done this morning. Of course, that will include my short but concentrated trumpet practice.

The sun has not risen yet, but it won't be far away. Time for me to get organised and get that washing machine on. I have already put the dishwasher through. My short hair means that I will not have to waste time trying to get my hair to stay in place. 

Ciao tutti.

Well done, Robert!

 Rob just sent me a composition he has been working on to have a listen to.

My first reaction was, "Well done."

He evidently used ideas from a composer named Saint-Saëns.

I wrote to Rob, 

"Well done Rob, it sounds fine. I don’t know how much is Saint-Saëns and how much is you. It’d be good to hear a totally original piece by you. Keep up the good work!

Rich"

Good on Rob for getting into composition. As with any form of artistic creation, you leave yourself open to criticism, often by people who have never had a go themselves. I'll be looking forward to hearing more of Rob's compositions. Keep it up, Rob!

Later that same morning.

 

Okay, I had a haircut.

Long to short.

But easier to manage.

Time to get some practice done. I'll start with a careful warmup. Then it is into double stops and then that 3 & 7 thing.

I hear that Robert is writing a violin concerto. I'd love to hear it!

Come on Rob, give us a listen.

Ciao tutti.

Off duty today.

 I have a day off from babysitting, so I stayed in bed until nearly 6am. My plan is to pick up a prescription for some meds and get a haircut. My hair is getting quite long and a bit hard to manage, so I'll go for a regular bloke haircut. 

Nothing like this.

Anzac Day is getting close - three more practice days. Good, deep breathing and hitting those notes right in the centre. Thank you, Atomic Habits.

It is also good to get some violin practice done in the morning, when one is fresh. I have a small gig (no Peter, the people there will be of a normal size) on May 3rd with Daryl on piano. It's only half an hour long, so it'll virtually be over before it starts. I'll probably play four jazz standards and two originals. Yes, I'm playing violin. 

I'd better get a bit of double bass practice done today too.

I'd better squeeze in some practice on the Bach violin concerto. I have an ex-student who wants to play it with me but, to be honest, it is way down my list of things to practise. Still, I'd better put in some time on it. 

As you know, part of my violin 'habits' is to practise 3rds & 7ths as chords without a root or a fifth. These sound really good in jazz when you don't need another person banging out roots. Yes Peter, I know you have to get roots out when you are tidying up your section. (Gosh, sometimes I can hear those Peter jokes coming at me!)

My daughter is coming around today to borrow my weed eater and pick up a suitcase of hers. I had to reload the weed eater with more line and I'm hoping that I've put it in correctly. I'll try to find time to do a check. I'll lend her my two batteries and chargers because she has quite a big space to clear. I've found that a battery lasts for about 20 minutes to half an hour, so using two is the way to go when there is quite a bit of cutting to do. I hope she looks after my stuff and returns it in the near future. You can never count of this happening with children.

Yesterday I held Henry, my tiny grandson, for about 3 1/2 to 4 hours. I managed to keep him from crying by moving around and singing to him. I don't know if mum was impressed. I later got into trouble by telling Harrison that one of his toys was mine. That went against her rules. As a grandad you have to be very careful. I offered to work today, but I wasn't needed. Read into that what you will.

Well, it's nearly time for a shower and putting on the washing machine and dishwasher. Then I'll deliver a paper to our elderly neighbour's front door. Robert should be at work by now. I hope that Peter isn't laying around in bed. Lazy bugger.

Ciao tutti.

Not much time to post this morning.

 

I'm heading off just after 6 to babysit. Poor old mum has had a hard time after her Caesar and young Henry wakes a lot through the night. This is where Grandad comes in. I've slept and can handle both boys, though poor old tired dad will be there to help. My aim is to give mum and dad as much sleep time as possible.

I remember when dad was born. Like his younger son, he wasn't a great sleeper. I had taken up a job at Databank (To get away from teaching, because I thought I might be becoming a grammar Nazi - a joke for Peter there!) to become a computer programmer. The problem was that I slept through all the classes on how to program computers. When redundancies happened to start, I was one of the first two to go. 

Not much time for violin and bass practice either. Though trumpet practice is easy to fit in because (in the spirit of Atomic Habits) I only do 5 minutes, but it is concentrated on correct deep breathing and hitting the notes in the centre. I always stop practising after ANZAC Day but, who knowns, I might carry on this year because I'm making good progress.

In any quiet times, like when Henry is cuddled into me and Harrison is occupied, I might do some violin practice in my head, like I did when I was in hospital. At the moment I'm concentrating on really getting on top of 3, 7 double stops - that's when you just play the 3rd and the 7th of a chord. It sounds really good in jazz, but it takes a bit of practice to get fluent through all the keys. I practise them playing the II- V7- I progression.

It was great to see Lynn yesterday. She is keen to move to Wellington. We didn't really talk much about Peter.  Well, what is there to say? It'll be nice to have them back in Wellington. 

That's it, time to go and get ready.

Ciao tutti.

 "Brett, come on, wakey, wakey, it's nearly six. Don't you start at 7?"

"No mum, no work today. It's Easter Sunday. Any trolleys that haven't been returned properly can stay where they are until tomorrow. I'm going back to sleep."

"Well, why don't you come to Mass with me?"

"No point. Jesus has risen from the dead, so he's all fine. Now let me bloody sleep!" 

"Don't you want to celebrate Jesus and his good news?"

"No. He never helps with the trolleys. Now shut up and go to Mass if you want."

* * *

Buongiorno.

I'm meeting Lynn for lunch today, so I've written down what Peter wants me to say.

"Don't forget to tell Lynn that I was advocating the benefits of house maintenance, domestic cleaning, personal hygiene, moderate drinking, healthy diet and exercise, being early to bed, and the importance of remembering our anniversary." (I tidied up the grammar.)

How it will unfold.

"Hi Shelley, hi Richard."

"Hi Lynn. I read Peter's latest blog this morning. He was, hang on, [takes out a piece of paper] he was advocating the benefits of house maintenance, domestic cleaning, personal hygiene, moderate drinking, healthy diet and exercise, being early to bed, and the importance of remembering our anniversary."

Just a minute, I think I need to be more subtle.

I'll wait until we're sitting in a restaurant.

"Good day, ladies and sir, here are some menus and the wine list."

"Thanks. We certainly won't need the wine list. Three lemonades should do the trick. I hope you've washed your hands before serving us. [looks at a menu] Is this food healthy?"

"Yes, I think so, sir."

"Do you have heath ratings? Will we have to do extra exercise after eating here?"

"I wouldn't imagine so, sir."

"By the way, we're going to use this meal to celebrate this lady's, and her partner's anniversary."

"That's nice sir. Where is the partner?"

"Oh, he'll be busy, at home, doing maintenance and cleaning. He's that kind of a guy."

"Very good, sir. Are you ready to order?"

"Yes, ladies, can you order now? It's getting close to bedtime. You know how Peter likes to get early to bed."

* * *

Peter said this about music practice in one of his recent posts, "Wellington doesn't want regressive posts like violin and double bass practices, Sunday Mass sermon reports, 'what I had for dinner' diatribe, how many times someone used the toilet in the morning and the benefits of posting on Whatsapp and dodgy dating websites."

Oops, I've just had a call to come and help with the grandchildren. Better go.

Ciao tutti.

Supermarkets Open Saturday.

 Noel 33:27 Jesus was in his tomb and the apostles should have felt a bit lost, but then they noticed something. Many people were up and on the move. "What is going on?" asked Mark. It was Matthew who told them the good news, "The supermarkets are open!" What should have been a sad day was a joyous day as the apostles and a rather large crowd gathered to buy potatoes, bread, wine and onions. They would eat well that day. As John said, "Ah well, I wouldn't be too surprised if Jesus rises from the dead tomorrow. Bugger! That'll close the supermarkets for another day!"

And it did.

I slept in this morning, until 6.20am. Am I getting lazy? Actually, I was worried about whether or not TC managed to get that old wooden chair off his roof.

I'm having lunch with Lynn tomorrow, but I won't mention the chair. Hell, Peter would never see the inside of the office again! Us boys have to stick together. Why? I don't know. I guess that's what boys do in the Nui. 

Well, like the apostles, I'm off to the supermarket.

Have fun and don't get hung up on stupid concepts like sin, just be kind and considerate.

Ciao tutti.

Rick chats with Rich.

 It's nice to see The Curmudgeon showing a bit of concern about Rick Tim Bagno. I thought it would be nice to have a chat, on blog, with Rick.

Rich: Hi Rick, how's it all going?

Rick: Good thanks, Richard. Sorry, it has been a busy few weeks at work but it's great to get today off. 

Rich: Yes, good old Good Friday. I have been around looking after my first grandson and I did get to meet number two today.

Rick: Lovely! What's his name?

Rich: Henry Victor Prowse. The Victor bit is to honour his mum's 'adopted' grandad. He's a really nice guy of 90 years who really deserves the honour.

Rick: Ah, that's nice. 

Rich: Did you see that The Curmudgeon was asking after you?

Rick: Yes. Did he really throw that old outside chair up onto the roof?

Rich: It appears so. He has done stranger things in the past. When he was at secondary school, he started pinching communion hosts and selling them to other students.

Rick: Really? So, he was a Catholic?

Rich: Yes, but obviously not a good one. Though I have heard of a Catholic who is getting a divorce lately. Maybe Robert is right and some of them need to pull their socks up. 

Rick: Pull their socks up? What does that mean? 

Rich: It's an old saying from Geon's school days, when you were supposed to wear your socks pulled up almost to your knees. Prefects reported you if your socks were down around your ankles. You could get a detention for that.

Rick: Holy Moly! Hey, today is Good Friday. Isn't that the day when Jesus got nailed up? I thought I'd see it mentioned on the blogs.

Rich: Yeah, me too. Robert hasn't posted for a couple of days. Maybe he'll post something about it soon? Here's a little background from me. Good Friday, also known as Black Friday, Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday, or Friday of the Passion of the Lord, is a solemn Christian holy day commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is also a day when most supermarkets in our country are closed, along with wine shops. Hey, don't worry, it all turns out well because Jesus comes back to life on Sunday, unfortunately another day of no wine sales. Remember when, at a wedding, Jesus turned water into wine? It seems to me that a better commemoration would be to have wine flowing freely everywhere. 

Rick: Yeah, good point, Richard. It's interesting to see Aotearoa giving special wine free holidays for Christian beliefs. At least I got the day off from fixing toilets. 

Rich: You're on a royal flush!

Rick: What do you mean?

Rich: It was a bit of a pun built on a card game and plumbing.

Rick: Is it something that Geon could use when he visits your town? Wainewo...?

Rich: Wainuiomata. No, probably not, but who really knows what he will say or joke about?

Rick: Yeah, at first I liked his jokes, but they wore off with his attitude rather quickly. Do you think he ever looked at my blog?

Rich: No, but since then I've stopped reading his Agony Aunt and characters like The Wine Curmudgeon. You reap what you sow. 

Rick: Well, I'll get another post done real soon.

Rich: Great! I'll be watching out for it. I'd better leave it there. It has been a busy week for me. Enjoy your day off and away from toilets.

Rick: Thanks, my friend.

* * *

I've done my double bass and trumpet practice for today, but now it's time to turn my attention to the violin.

Ciao tutti.

Good Friday is a good Friday for atheists who remembered to get extra wine supplies in.

I'm back on Harrison duty today - I did a 24 hour shift that ended late yesterday. I did, however, find time to stock up on supplies because supermarkets are closed today. The supermarket employees I spoke to yesterday were pleased.

Another slightly older Harrison.

They are looking forward to a good Friday. So, why are the supermarkets closed today and Sunday? It's evidently because Christians believe that some guy got nailed to a cross on this day many years ago. Then Catholics celebrate on Sunday because he comes back to life. Sì, e io sono il papa.

Robert is writing things in Filipino a lot lately. I think it's because he has a Filipino friend. Fair enough, I suppose. I think that Peter survived the big storm up north. I'm meeting Lynn for lunch on Sunday, so I'll fill her in on the details.

Peter: PLEASE don't mention me being up on the roof!

Richard: Okay, if you promise not to wear that silly hat when you come to the Nui. Did that chair blow over again?

Peter: No, I got rid of that chair. It was something rattling on the roof this time.

Richard: I hope you didn't just throw that unwanted chair up onto the roof!

Peter: Well, yes, I did. Thanks for reminding me. That was probably what was rattling. That chair has been a pain!

Richard: Your roof shouldn't be a storage area for unwanted chairs.

Peter: Well, I had to put it somewhere. The trailer was full with other stuff.

Richard: No wonder Lynn won't allow you into the office when she is home and trying to work!

Peter: Just don't tell her. Okay?

Richard: My lips are sealed.

Okay, I've got instrumental practice to do - trumpet, double bass and violin. 

Ciao tutti.