47 Days Left.

 As of yesterday my practice done stands at 365 hours. That's one hour for every day of the year and there are still 47 days left!

Sorry, a mistake there, I don't practise drums and
the neighbours are pleased about that.

I will easily get over 400 hours for 2026.

Yesterday I replaced Nature Boy with a tune of mine called Romance. I play it on the violin in G minor but I moved it to D minor for the guitar. It just feels nice in that key on the guitar. I'm keeping both my guitar and double bass repertoires at seven tunes each for the time being. As you may know, I've devoted every day in November to one of my violin repertoire tunes. I give that tune half an hour, but I am practising other things on the violin too.

It was nice to see Peter yesterday. He didn't bother any cyclists or scooter drivers while he was with me. We had a coffee in Petone. Outside the cafe there was a guy rapping. He had no backing, he was just punching out the words solo. Peter seemed to enjoy him. Maybe, when he goes away in January, Peter could rap to his lady friend instead of playing the guitar? Yes, I can see that working.

I got my huge front lawn cut yesterday.

The day before I tidied up our drive. That leaves only the back lawn, and a space behind the house, to do. Getting there!

Well it's shower time, then guitar practice time, so I must go.

Hey, I might get to see my grandies today!

Ciao tutti.

Black Friday.

 

I don't know why people get excited about Friday 13th., what makes it more exciting or sinister than say Wednesday 13th.? Personally, I'm more concerned about whether or not it's going to rain today because I have lawns to cut. I started a big section tidy up yesterday and have it planned out over three days. Ah well, the lawn will still be there tomorrow.

More importantly, my practice presently stands at 363 hours. I'll start the day with an hour of guitar. I'm presently concentrating on Stella By Starlight and Billie's Bounce. I'm also concentrating on my pick work. On the violin I'm working my way through my 30 tune repertoire. The poor old double bass doesn't get a look in every day, but I'll try to fit it in today, if it rains and the lawn cutting gets postponed. 

Gosh, I see that Peter is writing a lot of posts! Well done!

There's nothing from Rob this morning, which really isn't a bad thing, because he's big time into AI and making shit up.

This is him in a made up story about a cruise ship.

Ah well, I suppose it keeps him busy. I wouldn't mind betting that his blog will disappear again soon. 

Well, that's it from me for this Black Friday.

Time to get that pick moving.

Ciao tutti.

 361

That's how many hours of practice I have done this year. Yes, it is very close to 365 - the number of days in a year. I should easily get past 400 hours this year! A record for me!

Well done, me!

I have added Robert back into the list on 'A cough in the distance', the link service on RBB (short for Richard's Bass Bag*). 

Yes, I'm a bit like God (the Christian one) and have forgiven Robert his sins. Unlike that god though I didn't have to nail my son to a cross to pull it off. Aren't I smart!

Well, practice calls AND I do need to read TC's latest post.

Enjoy your Thursday.

Ciao.

* the original bass bagging site

Just the two of us.

Yes, I know, there's a song with the
same name as this blog post's title.

What I'm talking about is that there are only two bloggers left here once again. Yes, you guessed it, Robert's blog has buggered off once again.

Personally, I've had enough of him. I think Peter has too, after Robert copied his blog.

Anyway, I've removed the link to his 'gone blog' from Richard's Bass Bag.* I won't be putting the link back if (and when) he shows up again. 

I've already done an hour of guitar practice this morning. I'll get onto some violin practice next. Hopefully I'll get a bit of double bass practice done too.

I've set up a new repertoire for the guitar, consisting of six tunes.

The Accordion Lady, Autumn Leaves, Billie's Bounce, The Girl From Ipanema, Stella By Starlight and Sweet Georgia Brown.

Those are six very good tunes to concentrate on.

I'm also doing a lot of work on scales and my pick.

I've already mentioned that I turned up at the Aro Valley Jazz Jam yesterday to find out that it wasn't happening. This is the second time this has happened to me. Ah well, I won't be going back. You'd think that they'd advertise if it wasn't happening. It's supposed to happen on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. 

So, why am I doing so much practice when I have nothing on the horizon?

As the old saying goes, "Funk is its own reward."

Ciao uno.

* the original bass bagging site

Weekend Catchup.

 

1) Saturday: I spent a bit of time organising my double bass and guitar schedules. It's good to have a practice plan.

2) Saturday: My mother turned 105 posthumously.

3) Saturday: Had a lovely catchup with Lynn and Peter. Thanks to you both.

4) Saturday: Robert took his fixed up bike for a ride. 

5) Sunday: The All Blacks beat Scotland. Yes!

6) Sunday: The result of the NZ election looks very close. It might just favour National and the silly  worrying little parites they work with.

7) Sunday: The spouting on the back of our house was gushing water yesterday as it rained heavily. I'll need to get the ladder out some time soon and check out what is blocking it.

8) Sunday: I'm off to the Aro Valley Jazz Jam this afternoon. I know that I sometimes moan about it afterwards but it is good to have a play. As usual I'll be taking my violin. 

Well, there you go. 

Ciao.

Jesus Christ!

 

AJ

BJ

Which one? The angry one or the pretty one?

I got threatened in a comment on my last post for using this guy's name with an exclamation mark. I was threatened with hell and/or a stoning. (As a place, shouldn't hell have a capital letter?)

Should I have said, "Angry Jesus!" or "Beautiful Jesus!"?

Normally, when someone threatens me with violence, I can call the police. Does this still count if someone is religious?

Robert, a blogger who comes and goes, said, "Do you want stoning or hell for irreverent blasphemy?"

Now, I bet that if I replied, "I'm going to run you over with my car next time I see you." I could be in serious trouble. How do people like Catholics get away Scott free when making similar threats? Ah, the power of religion! A bit scary really.

Well, I'm off to get some practice done. I'll watch out for people carrying stones.

Ciao.

Guy Fox Day.

 No, I HAVE spelt that correctly.

I'm talking about the day that celebrates male foxes, not the silly cracker thing.

It is a little weird how both days fall on the 5th of November, but that's life.

Okay, okay, I know that you'll want to hear about my music practice.

I probably told you that this month I want to devote each day to practising one of my 30 tune repertoire pieces. My original intention was to do this on both violin and guitar, but I have decided to turn my main concentration back onto violin. 

Let's take a look at how my practice is going this year.

Double Bass.

42 1/2 hours of practice. I haven't been pushing the double bass too hard this year, and it's a very long time since I've had a bass gig, but I want to keep my chops up. I'll put in as much time on it as I can.

Guitar.

83 1/2 hours of practice. I often refer to this instrument as my hobby instrument. I've played it for a long time and want to keep improving my technique, but I play it mainly for fun.

Violin.

220 hours of practice. This is my main instrument these days and I want to get out and play it. This month I am putting in a concentrated effort to tidy up my 30 tune repertoire so that I might be able to get out and play some gigs. The violin comes first.

Total Practice for the year so far - 346 hours. This has probably been my most productive practice year ever!

* * *

Well, today and tomorrow I need to track down a butternut pie to take to Peter's on Saturday. They're evidently pretty hard to come by, but I have discovered a couple of places that might have them. I yearn for the good old days when he ate sausage rolls. Ah well, gotta move with the times.

Okay, that's it for this morning. Enjoy Guy Fox Day, though there are no foxes in the wild in this country. Before you complain, remember that Guy Fawkes's adventures happened in England.

Ciao tutti.