The day after April Fools' Day.

 March 2026. Traffic is held up heading south down Happy Valley Road. Drivers are becoming impatient as there are seldom traffic hold ups around lunchtime. The drivers at the front of the queue spot the problem. It is a trailer that looks like it is headed for the tip.

An old man is strapped to it, sort of like a horse, and is trying to cross into the tip road. He can be heard mumbling, "Sheesh!"

Well, I guess you don't need a car if you're living in an apartment. I guess he should have got rid of the trailer too.

***

So, how is everyone this morning? I hope you're all practising your Atomic Habits. 

The Prowse Bros are all busy sending emails about Saturday's jam. That's where I read about Robert's tune 'Siting on the Toilet' which was meant to feature a certain cello sound. One could only guess that it was a fart sound. 

Yes, I'm up early again and will head off to teach at about 7.30am. It'll just be violin today. I get there early so that I can get some of my violin habits done. I really enjoy practising my violin. 

Robert hasn't posted for a while and his comments on other blogs are sparse. Hey, Peter got one comment on his last post and that was from me! I think that Catholics are into Lent. They're supposed to give up eating something. It's really not that hard when there are lots of things that you can eat. I'd give up mushrooms because I don't like them.

Yuck!

The Prowse Bros seem to have calmed down about tritones. If I was going to get excited about something, I think it would be a Coltrane diminished lick that I have worked on. It sounds great over Dom7b9 chords and, of course, diminished chords. I won't show it here because I know that no one will be interested. 

I just checked and there is still no new post from Robert. Maybe he's busy perfecting the toilet tune?

What else can I tell you?

I'll be looking after my two year old mate tomorrow. His mum is going to produce a brother for him really soon. Busy times for them, and I suppose for Shelley and I. All good though. Two little Prowses.

My new car is running well.

I managed to get the clock set right (one minute slow but I can live with that) and I've got the radio tuned into the National Programme. No mean feat, considering that all the instructions are in Japanese. Yes, it's a Japanese import. A good little car. I bought a smallish car so that Shelley would be comfortable driving it, but she finds it a little too big. What? It's just a little bit longer than her Vitz. I find both cars almost identical to drive. Ah well, she's happy driving the Vitz. 

I guess I'd better leave it there for this morning. I'll empty the dishwasher and put the washing through. I might have a shower too. I've been to the toilet, but I didn't use the time to practise Robert's song. I know, I know, too much information.

Ciao tutti.

Damn, I slept in!

Didn't wake until 5.30am!

Maybe it was too much talk of tritones? Hey, but that was a good night's sleep.

I'm off to golf today. No, sorry, that's probably Peter. I'm off to teach violin, viola and double bass. I'm teaching the kids about Atomic Habits but I won't mention tritones - diabolus in musica.

Actually, the #4 (#11) is one of my favourite sounds in Jazz. I remember when I first became aware of it. I was thinking, "I've got to find that sound!" An easy way to get it into a major chord setting is to use the Lydian mode - F  G  A  B  C  D  E  F. Can you spot it? 

My sister Daryl knows all about this stuff. We're playing a short gig together, at the Tawa library, on May 3rd. at 11am. Her on piano and me on violin. I'm looking forward to it.

I did a little bit of trumpet practice yesterday to start getting ready for ANZAC Day.

You can see my gold
mouthpiece in this old photo.

Today is May 1st. - April Fool's Day. Actually, I'm not sure whether it's 'April Fool's Day' or 'April Fools' Day'. I remember that, as a kid, we used to tease each other...

"Hey, you just played a tritone!"

"What! But I played A, B, C?"

"April Fool!"

We certainly knew how to have fun back then!

I found this on the net...

"April Fools' Day, celebrated on April 1st., is a global tradition involving pranks and practical jokes aimed at creating laughter. The origins of the day are debated, with references dating back to medieval Europe and Chaucer's tales. On this day, people typically play tricks on each other, concluding with the trickster revealing their deception by shouting, "April Fool!""

At primary school we were frequently told that it was about Jesus being taunted by Roman guards and the like. I think he had been arrested, or something.

Well, there you go, that's it for this morning.

Ciao tutti.

The Theme from Richard's Bass Bag.*

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

That hat and the tritone.

 

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.

And here is something that Robert might like.

Note the Catholic one.

The Catholic god created Original Sin to punish people and then he needed his 'son' to die on a cross to save everyone. Those Catholics are weird!

Okay, let's move on to the tritone.

The Prowse Bros are getting together for a jam on Saturday. I briefly saw an email where Chris and Robert are both very excited about a piece of music Chris wrote that contains tritones. The devils! Robert would like to play it on his cello. In my brief look I saw that the first two notes in the melody are C and F# (actually the order is F# to C). This is a tritone because it contains three tones... C  D  E  F#. The distance between each of these notes is called a tone. A tone is like going from C, skipping C# and going to D (I put that explanation in for Peter). 

However, there is one little problem - the piece is in C minor. That means that the notes would be C  D  Ed  F#. One could argue that is not really the foundation for a tritone and that the interval might be better called Cm#4 or Cm#11. Ah well, who really cares? Those boys will probably dispute this. They really need to brush up on their music theory.

My Atomic Habits are going well. I'm working on habits for violin, double bass and Italian language. Tomorrow I will also have to add the trumpet because ANZAC Day is approaching. Hey, but I only usually practise the trumpet in April, so I guess it doesn't really count as a regular habit.

I guess that if those two bros got into Atomic Habits, they'd be practising tritones.

If they're after a real range of 'out' sounds, there are a lot of other things they should be practising regularly. I have 12 that I practise (but these also include major, minor and dominant 7th. scales and their arpeggios (3 things that are not really 'out there')). They include things like a Coltrane diminished lick, the augmented scale, using the ascending form of the melodic minor up a fifth from the root to play over a dominant 7th. chord and using the same melodic minor up a minor third to play over a m7b5 chord - notice that this gives you a #2. 

Ah well, each to his own.

I wonder what Peter practised on the bagpipes?

A young lady I know, a good violinist, is about to get lessons on Irish fiddle playing. I refrained from saying, "All you have to do is play the tune over and over again." Well, I could have saved her money.

What else can I tell you?

I was up at 5am again this morning. Well, it does give me a lot of time to post on my blog - Richard's Bass Bag.* Peter really needs a tag line for his blog.

Here are some suggestions:

1) The Curmudgeon*

* Gardens and American politics here.

2) The Curmudgeon*

* I do jokes, if you can call them that.

3) The Curmudgeon*

* Fighting at tennis and playing golf on my own.

4) The Curmudgeon*

* A carless Wellington guy in a silly hat who can be grumpy.

That last one is for his possible future.

Well, I guess I'll leave it there for this morning.

Ciao tutti.

* the original bass bagging site

Post started at 5.03am.

 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?"

No.

I'm off to a birthday party this morning. The birthday boy is turning two. I managed to get his present assembled yesterday.

They are holding the party in Wellington at Capital E. I don't know why it's called Capital E but it's a place designed for kids.

If you recognise the building, you'll know that it's on Queen's Wharf. The party runs for two hours, then it's sleep time for the little guy. Maybe Grandad will need a sleep by then too?

It's back to the hospital (just visiting) on Monday. They have a procedure that I have to attend four times over the next few months. They are certainly thorough. I have had more blood tests than the tests most All Blacks get to play.

Hey, it's getting close to 6am!

Peter won't be up yet, but Robert is probably up saying The Rosary. I hope he fits in some cello habits. It's too early for me to practise here. I'll have to wait until about 8am. Maybe I could get away with it at about 7.30am? Let's just see how it goes. Maybe I'll work on some of my Italian language habits. Yes, that's a good idea.

5.57am.

The new car seems to be running well.

A good number plate, eh!

The instructions in the handbook and on the dashboard are all in Japanese. Evidently you can replace the little 'screen' thing with an English version. I'll have to find out about that.

My violin practice is going very well.

The new strings are sounding good and the replacement E string is okay - remember that I broke the expensive one that I bought. Silly me. I think that the Prowse Bros are having a jam next Saturday. I'll try them on Blue Moon of Kentucky. It is in C and only has three chords. C, F and G. How easy is that boys?

Well, that's it from me. Have a good Sunday.

Ciao tutti.

Sabato.

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.

It looks easy enough, but it's not.

Harrison turns two on Monday - we're celebrating tomorrow.

Thanks to 'Atomic Habits' I have developed three types of habits.

1) I've already told you all about my violin practice.

2) I'm doing two 5 minute spots on the double bass, just to keep in touch with it. 5 minutes arco and 5 minutes pizzicato with a metronome.

3) I'm back practising my Italian language - reading my old notes, reading a book and listening.

The meds I'm on seem to make sleeping a bit of a challenge and I'm up frequently throughout the night. I aim to make sure that I get eight hours of sleep. Before 6am I have achieved that goal, so I get up, have a coffee, have some cereal, use the bathroom and write a post. It's now 6.41am in the Nui and I'm surprised how dark it is outside! I wonder if it is light enough now in Wrong-a-way to play tennis? Probably not. Peter will still be in his Dutch oven. 

Peter's Dutch oven.

Rob is up. I don't know if he has to work on Saturday morning. Maybe he's cleaning a Presbyterian church? Maybe he's cleaning his cello or fixing it with sellotape? Maybe he is working on his habits?

He is certainly not blogging.

I'm pleased to see that Richard's Bass Bag* is getting plenty of comments. It seems that we are attracting friends and family members of some of our regular readers.

Paarth Ernie Nis, Paul Hire, The A A guy, Chris Ock and Tui Balls, to name a few. I wouldn't mind betting that we hear from Paul Emery Nis soon too. Like myself he's a Nissan Note driver.

It is great that the blog is so popular!

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

Ciao tutti.

* the original bass bagging site

Up early again.

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.

A prayer to Robert.

 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.

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

Ciao tutti.

I give up.

 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.

  That's it for tonight. If your life is a bit slow, write a post.

Ciao tutti.

6.03am.

 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.

Good morning...

 ... 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.

Bad puns? It's how eye roll.

Did you know the first French fries weren't actually cooked in France? They were cooked in grease.

What do you call someone with no body and no nose? Nobody knows.

Okay, TC, I think these jokes could work very well for you in the Nui. You can just drop one in occasionally when you're talking to a local.

Hey, no need for thanks!

Ciao tutti.

I'm up early.

 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.

Enough about violins!

At the time of writing Rob's blog is still gone.

I see that he has been active on Facebook, under the name Roberto Testore.

I see he has added his real name.

So, why does this annoy me?

For years I used Riccardo Testore as my Facebook 'nom de plum'. All my friends knew it was me - the name came from my love of the Italian language and Signor Testore was a very famous double bass maker in Italy many years ago.

Then Roberto Testore shows up.

Is this a bonding thing? I felt like he had stolen my identity and reverted to my real name on my Facebook account. I didn't take up his 'friendship' request because he has a tendency to write Christian shit in comments all over my posts. (We were friends for a short time once.)

For many years Peter, Rob and I have co-existed in this little blogging community. Rob's blog did have a tendency to sometimes (often?) disappear, but now it has totally gone. Strange that he went, considering how many times he told me that he loves me!

It seems that the love of Catholics is conditional, and that Rob has given up on trying to save Peter and I.

I guess that this means both Peter and I avoid Hell because it doesn't exist. What is the Catholic sin level for stealing someone else's identity? It may pay to check that Roberto because the possibility of Hell is still on your agenda.

* * *

I mentioned this book in my last post.

I'm going to be using the ideas from this book in my teaching, I already use it in my violin practice.

Quite a few of my students tell me that they don't have much time to practise. Maybe a worthy reply would be, "Then don't try to learn the violin." However, this book solves their problem. It's all about little and often. I will help my 'busy' students identify the things that will improve their playing - bowing, intonation, getting comfortable in first position, a simple A major scale and reading the notes it contains.

The thing about small habits is that they have to be practised regularly but in very little time- say 5 to 10 minutes. This short practice method can have huge effects on your playing because you are concentrating on the important things and really getting comfortable with them, over a period of time.

Well, that's it from me this morning.

Ciao tutti.

What did I come home to?

 

But, Rob, your blog has gone!

One minute you can comment on it, the next minute you can't, the next minute it has gone.

It has been going like this for a while.

Looks like my dry wit is going to be wasted.

Is this Peter's doing?

I know he posted some clips of a women taking the piss out of Jesus, which he is totally allowed to do.

Hey, it was on Peter's blog. Robert, after all, is allowed to post bullshit about Hell.

Ah well. 

Let's carry on. 

While I was in hell hospital, I read quite a bit of a book called Atomic Habits. It was all about a 'method' I had already started using in my violin practice. Please stay with me Peter, this book is not about playing the violin. 

People like to talk about goals, but how many actually achieve them?

This book is about creating, and changing, short little habits. My wife, for example, sometimes gets stressed when driving on busy roads. Here's a new habit that will help her - "I avoid stress. If something stresses me, I don't go there." Hey, there's always the bus or the train, or me to drive her.

She must make this little habit part of her life by saying it most days. Over time, say a year, this little habit can make a huge difference to her life.

So, instead of constantly thinking of an overall goal, you set up little habits that will give you little skills that will help your long-term goal to be achievable. 

Trust me, it really works. It has already helped my violin playing and my approach to practising. I've isolated little things that are very important to practise. Doing an hour's practice, while watching the clock to see when you can finish is not concentrated practice. Spending ten minutes, or less, really analyzing major and minor chords and double stops is. However, you need to do it nearly every day. That's the trick. You're making it part of your approach to the instrument.

Who knows, maybe Rob reduced his stress by removing his blog? "Atheists are stressing me. I'll stay away from them and their wrong and sinful ideas."

To Peter:

Carry on. I like your blog, and you are a very thoughtful and well-read person. You certainly deserved that seat in 3P in 1966. Now we just need to work on your jokes.

Ciao tutti.

The original bass bagging site is now back in action!

 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 do I keep saying...

 see more

?

Well, this expression can be seen in three ways:

1) When I use it...  see more    Much like saying, "I love you Richard."

2) When you are reading something, and you want to 'see more'.

3) When you are thinking of the leader of the Act party... Seymour.

* * *

There you go. That wasn't as hard as mooring a boat.

"I love you Richard."

 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.

Monday.

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.

Nice one!

 

Nice one.

NOT!

I'm thinking about comments where a blogger drops into a language that they don't REALLY know to make a 'witty', or piercing, remark like...

Okay, maybe Rob says a few prayers in Latin, BUT there is only on place he would have found a phrase like that. On Google Translate.

The message he wants to give is that RBB is one of many fools who think there is no hell.

Rob told me recently that he knows people who are in hell, or something to that effect. I asked him to give me a few names and he obviously couldn't. One can only assume that Rob is a liar. For Christ's sake, the avatar he uses isn't even him.

Rob has a catch phrase, "Have fun boys, but don't sin."

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive." Walter Scott.*

Copying out another language off Google Translate doesn't really give you the upper hand. For example, I could say, "नरक नामक किसी स्थान का कोई प्रमाण नहीं है।"

Once you guessed that it was in Hindi, you could just copy it into Google Translate. 

You'd get, "There is no proof of a place called hell." There you go, I did it for you.

Am I a genius, someone you might be scared to argue with, because I did that?

I'm off. I have a busy day.

Ciao tutti.

* I changed 'practice' to 'practise'. At least I'm being honest.