Two old men were chatting.

 Jim met up with Phil.

Jim told Phil about his sore foot that had been diagnosed as gout. Then Phil spoke. "My father had gout. I remember him going to the doctor around 1973. We were living in Napier at the time. I think I might have had something similar too, a few years back."

Richard's Bass Bag* has been around for nineteen years. I read an AI appraisal of the site on my phone this morning - it just popped up, I wasn't looking for it. It stated that this blogging site was built around the bass guitar. That killed any faith I might have had (but didn't) in AI.

Something that this blog should be famous for is the invention of the phrase 'parallel universe' to cover the situation where someone is telling someone else something that is important to them and the other person immediately replies with a tremendously similar story that proves they weren't really paying much attention, or sympathy, but were thinking of a similar situation that they knew about.

* * *

This site is named after double basses (I have two) but I probably spend more time talking about my violin. Well, the violin has taken over the role of my main gigging instrument. Well, it is easier for an old guy to carry around. I've also done much more practice on my violin lately. I also practise the guitar, perhaps a bit too much at times, and consider it my 'hobby' instrument. I'll try and put in a good amount of violin practice today, with maybe a bit of double bass. Ah, it's so easy to sit on the couch and practise the guitar!

* * *

So, I see that The Curmudgeon is getting ready to celebrate his 20 years of posting.

I'm sure there will be lots of references to old posts of his. We'll probably also get reminders of all his seldom seen blogs by 'different people' like The Violin Playing Curmudgeon and The Catholic Bishop Curmudgeon. 

Obviously we won't be hearing from Robert because his blog has gone. All shut up. I think he's busy trying to make friends on Facebook. Sheesh! (to quote TC)

Well, violin practice calls. Obviously I'll start off with long bows, scales and listening to my intonation and tuning. Then I've got some repertoire tunes to work on. 

Ciao tutti.

* the original bass bagging site

315

 

315

That's how many hours of practice I've done so far this year.

Today was a pretty quiet practice day, I only did one hour.

Tomorrow I am not working, so maybe I should push that violin and double bass practice along a bit?

* * *

Hey, I got a friendship request from ex-blogger Rob on Facebook yesterday. That's not going to happen. 

I'm still having a bit of trouble with some things on my (our) new computer. I can't download pictures and videos at the moment. 

Good to see that Peter made it up north to see his sister on her birthday. What a good brother!

* * *

Yes, I'm giving you little snippets of information on this evening's post. 

I'm a bit tired and information is short.

I've decided to retire from teaching at the end of this year. That's 50 years of teaching done. I have worked at a lot of schools. I guess I'll have more time to donate to my music practice. Provided, of course, that my hands hold out. I'm feeling my age quite a bit lately. I guess that's why I'm finally retiring. 

Well, I guess I'll wrap it up there. Hey, next year this blog will have been going for twenty years. That's quite a long time.

Enjoy your evening.

Ciao tutti.

Not the case.

 

Is Peter correct when he accuses this blog of coming from the right?

This is a purse. It is not the case.

This is the case.

Actually, I don't know what the silly old guy is going on about. 

In my last post I said, "Prepare to move forward, in a VERY POSITIVE WAY!"

I think this statement is what got the old fellow excited. I was actually talking about personal ambitions, in my case music. At the present time I have done 311 hours of practice this year. This amount will be increased today. Remember that I showed you this video.

This is me practising very quick picking on the guitar. Believe me, it has nothing to do with politics. You won't hear a lot of guitarists play this quickly because it is something that requires concentrated practice. Quite a lot of concentrated practice.

Okay, I don't get many music gigs these days, but does that really matter? I have been practising some very interesting things on the violin and double bass as well. I have a whole way of approaching scales that I use for improvising on the violin. I show these to my students but I don't think they really see the value in what I am showing them. Hopefully the penny will drop one day.

Ah well, you can only share and hope.

This is Peter. He also goes by the name
The Curmudgeon.

Evidently his lady is not keen on him wearing hats. I wonder why?

Peter has decided that I have turned right wing in my political thinking. Maybe a guy who chooses to wear a raccoon hat processes things differently from the rest of us? Anyway, I can assure you that I will be voting Labour at the next election, which is early next month. Hopefully that statement will shut racoon boy old man up.

Well, I'd better get back to my practice. 

Ciao for now.

Out with the old, in with a preferred part of the old.

 

Okay, there have been some changes around here lately.

• I have a new computer that I'm still trying to get comfortable with.
• One blogger, Robert, has closed down his blog and buggered off, leaving behind two old chaps whom he has told many times, "I love you." He obviously didn't really.
• Our little blogging community now has a different link to the Catholic church - Angry Jesus. A good move. A very good move indeed!
• TC (aka Peter) is no longer selling communion hosts. I don't think he's going to confession either. However, he is residing in Thorndon.
• Maybe now there will be more room to talk about music theory?

Let's move forward.

A bright new sky.

Think about your passions. Are you exceptionally good at your chosen activities? Or do you really see yourself as a bit of a dreamer? Do you really have the ability to succeed with these passions? 

Well, I believe that you do, if you can close out all the shit that a lot of people will throw at you. 

You have to look at how things really work.

If you want to move forward, you've come to the right place! This blog has been in existence for nineteen years. Prepare to move into the twentieth year! 

Prepare to move forward in a VERY POSITIVE WAY!

Onward and forward!

Ciao tutti.

A wet Sunday morning.

 

Good morning. Angry Jesus left a message early this morning that said, "Hi Richard (of RBB). It's a wet morning so don't bother coming to mass."

HEY, THE COMPUTER IS WORKING AGAIN!

What's going on?

It is now about 40 minutes since the computer packed up!

I don't feel like writing a post now.

I hope you're happy with this effort.

Ciao.

Looks like I'm back!!!

 This is Peter.

He is pleased because I'm managing to post again, but I don't know why he's wearing a helmet.

Everything is a bit different on this new computer but I'm sure I'll get used to in.

Eventually.

Maybe in a few months?

Anyway, I'll have Angry Jesus watching over me.

Akish The Philistine says that he will be popping in too.

You certainly won't miss that catholic ex-blogger with Akish around to give advice. TC says that he would like to see more essays from this blog. Well, TC, Akish will be taking care of that, along with help from Mr. Nis, Mr. Hire, Mr. The The Guy and a few more of our trusty mates.

So, get prepared to sit back and enjoy!

See you soon,

Ciao tutti.

Okay, let's get on with it.

I plan to replace my computer today. It is time for an update.

I posted this video yesterday.

Peter didn't like my haircut. I'm not crazy about it either, but the hair will grow back.

EVENTUALLY.

I lay awake thinking of my four octave violin scales last night. Major, dorian, natural minor, and dominant 7th. I don't think you'd quite fit a four octave scale on the violin, though you could probably do it for G scales - just. But that's not really the point of them. the point is that you are covering all possible fingerings. It really pays off when you have practised them and you come to play improvised solos. 

As I said, I'm replacing our computer today. We've had it for a very long time. You do need to replace them once in a while. Our time has come.

I see we're down to two bloggers in our little community now as one has totally left. Well, it's great that the best two are still here! Anyway, we still have The Wine Guy, The Curmudgeon's Agony Aunt, Bin Hire, The The The Guy, Phillip Edward Nis and Angry Jesus, and there are more! Life goes on.

Well, it's guitar practice time, so I'd better go.

Ciao tutti.