A very surprising event!

 Some things happen that you just do not expect!

I woke around 6.30am this morning. Really no big surprise there. I took a while to get my thoughts together. I made my usual quick visit to the bathroom for a pee. That all went according to plan. Fortunately I didn't take my phone with me, so there was really no chance of a phone mishap, like often happens to Peter. 

I lay in bed for a while and then I got up. I guess I should have spotted that something was different. I guess I was still in the process of waking up and didn't spot anything to worry about. I revisited the toilet, cleaned my teeth and had a quick shower. I forgot to mention that I also had a shave with my electric razor.

I then took my meds and put some cream on my arms and legs. I went downstairs.* I turned on the heater and prepared to write a blog post. What should I write about? McDonald Trump? Ed Sheeran and his problems? The Catholic church? The Warriors getting beaten? Yesterday's jazz jam? I thought for a little while.

Then I noticed our front door.

I quickly went and checked the back door! Both doors were locked. On thinking about it, this was probably because we always lock both of these doors a little while before we go to bed. We're not usually expecting anyone to break in, it's just a safety precaution. Having them locked probably makes us sleep feeling more secure.

Okay, so far this was really a pretty normal Monday morning, but then everything changed! 

I realised that I had nothing to write about. How was I going to hold my readers' interest? I really needed some sort of catastrophe to report, but I had nothing! 

This is when 'normal' can really hurt.

I guess I'll just have to get on with my day.

Hey, I'm really sorry about that.

Bye.

* There really are only two stairs. Still, it involves going down stairs.

Domenica.

 Would you believe it? I'm going to mass this morning!

No, I'm not.

I'm just trying to warm up a bit, by the heater. I'll probably go to the Aro Jazz Jam this afternoon. I'll give my ears a bit of a workout. I don't use written music at these jams, though nearly everyone else does. I like to use my ears, to listen and play like a singer. 

I'll spend some time this morning playing the four scale shapes for major, dorian, natural minor and dominant 7th scales around the violin. That's sixteen shapes, each scale starting on fingers 1, 4, 3 & 2, in that order. I'll play the scales with completely long bows. I'll play different amounts of notes with my long bows. 

Of this AI says, "Think about what you're doing and don't listen to me."

Peter will be up by now. I hope his phone is dry. Robert will be dressing up for mass and maybe a quick confession. "Bless me Father for I have sinned..."

I'm enjoying the heater.

To quote Spike Milligan, when he saw and heard small things on his floor reciting numbers, "It's the little things that count."

Okay, I'm off to play some scales with long bows.

Bye.

Huge, exciting news!

 This is going to make your day!

Okay, I know he looks a bit serious in his raccoon hat,

but I know that this news is going to make Peter, also known as The Curmudgeon, also known as 3P Boy, very happy!

Very, very happy!

Wait for it!!!!!!

Ah, nothing really.

Not my cup of tea.

 

This is not mine.

I went to a practice for a 'band' last night. Again, not my cuppa tea. One of today's jobs will be messaging the guy in charge to say I don't want to be involved. What was wrong? I really don't know where to start. It just didn't work for me.

Well, I have to get back into my practice mode today. Funnily, I feel a bit put off playing after last night. I'd better get over that fast!!!

Hey, the rain has stopped! It pissed down last night. Fortunately I decided to leave my double bass at home. A good decision.

Oh well, I'd better go.

Ciao tutti.

Giovedì

 You won't find anything new around the blogs this morning, so I thought I'd better write something.

My plan, after I've finished this post, is to change my guitar strings. I have a practice with three other guys tonight in a band called Art Ghetto. I'll be the double bass player, but they also want me to play some violin and a bit of guitar. I've noticed that my guitar seems to have lost a bit of its tone lately and then I realised that it has been a few years since I have changed its strings. I thought about seeing if Rob had some used strings he could give me, but then I found a brand new set in my guitar case that has been sitting there for a few years. I'll put them on this morning.

Talking about Rob, he needs to get his violin bow rehaired. If he gets in touch with Alistair's Music, Alistair can give him the number of an NZSO player who is replacing bow hair as a sideline. He's evidently very good at it.

Well, that's my little effort for Giovedì. Time to get those strings changed.

Probabilmente Peter si lamenterà del fatto che il mio blog è troppo breve o poco interessante. Cazzi suoi, Peter.

Ciao tutti.

The Loan Arranger.

 Need a loan?

You could try this guy.

No.

This guy probably won't be able to help either.

He's often referred to in Thorndon
as The Lone Raccoon.

 

Though, probably best to search Thorndon for the real guy.

Here is all about The Loan Arranger...

He was never employed by banks or loan sharks.
He always offered low interest rates and precise speech devoid of slang and colloquialisms.
Whenever he was forced to use lawyers, he never took customers to court, but instead tried to make their repayments as easy as possible.
He was never put in a hopeless situation; e.g., he was never seen as a bit of a crook.
He rarely referred to himself as the Loan Arranger. If someone's suspicions were aroused, the Loan Arranger would present his credentials to confirm his identity. Usually someone would ask, "Who was that generous man?" as the Loan Arranger was going about his business. His decision to adopt the moniker of Loan Arranger was inspired by Brent; following the ambush at Westpac Bank, the Loan Arranger was able to win people over with his sincerity—in other words, he was the "loan" ranger. Brent noted this.
Though the Loan Arranger offered his aid to individuals or small groups facing powerful adversaries, the ultimate objective of his story always implied that their benefit was only a byproduct of the development of Thorndon.
The Loan Arranger enjoyed Cleanskin wine, and always kept a few bottles at home, he kept his wine glasses very clean.
Customers were never shown in enviable positions of wealth or power, and they were never successful or glamorous. They were just regular people. Some were even Catholics.

By the way, Italian is quite different from Filipino.

L'italiano è piuttosto diverso dal filippino.

Ciao tutti.

Good morning world.

 

I know, I know. I only have two fairly regular readers and to claim I'm writing to the world is a bit over the top.

I'll start again.

Good morning, two fairly regular readers and anyone else who has popped in for a look.

Well, I didn't expect to see Brother Benedict this morning. Good thing I'm wearing long pyjama pants!

My practice currently stands at 269 hours for 2026. I'll probably start with some double bass practice today. Today is number 257, so I'm currently 12 days ahead and will be adding more before the day is over.

I haven't read my bible today. That's really no big surprise. We have a bible, somewhere on our bookshelf, that came from Uncle Steve's place. It is somewhere up there. I don't remember when I last looked at it. Probably a few years ago. I prefer to read Jack Reacher. I'm sure that Robert feels the same.

It'll be sunny in Thorndon today, so Peter probably won't write a post. No big deal there. That could even be quite a good thing.

 I think I'll head off now and have a shave and a shower. Don't worry Peter, I'll leave my phone in the living room. Then I've got a little bit of schoolwork to do.

Non ho nulla da dire in italiano stamattina.

Ciao.

Robert did something he doesn't usually do on a Saturday morning...

 He rang Peter!

"Hi Rob, this is an early call. What are you up to?"

"Richard has just written a new post! I'm so excited! I haven't read it yet!"

Peter let out a grump.

"It'll be the normal stuff. You know, me in a silly hat. Then he'll take a shot at religion. Then we'll get to hear all about his practice."

* * *

Hi all. Lynn doesn't think that hats work for Peter. Is she wrong?

Maybe there's a mention about hats in the bible?

Brent 16:22   Jesus walked down the road towards the local church. Some people stared at him. What was he wearing?

Most of the locals didn't understand English, but the few who did didn't understand what was written on his hat. "Make America Great Again?" What the Hell was Jesus on about?

A man approached him and asked what it meant. 

"Well," said Jesus, "In years to come I am sending a special saviour to a country that doesn't exist yet. This man will become its president and will carry on my good work. It'll be like my second coming."

The man who had approached Jesus was confused.

Okay, let's move onto my practice. I did some violin and some double bass practice yesterday. On violin I worked on the four octave shapes for playing major, natural minor, dorian minor and dominant 7th. scales. Yes, that's right, there are just four scale shapes but, to get the chosen scale form, you just start in a different place.

I mainly concentrated on 'warmups' on the double bass. I have a gig coming up in November and the first practice for that gig in about a week's time. If you want to know how I'll get the double bass to the practice, read my last post.

I'll certainly make time for some guitar practice today.

Okay, that's it for this morning.

Don't forget to get your practice done and don't just play away while watching the clock. Make sure that long bows and intonation checks are included in your warmup.

Ciao tutti.

It's not every day that you get to chat with a nursery rhyme character.

 

Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater,
Had a wife and couldn't keep her;
He put her in a pumpkin shell,
And there he kept her very well.

Okay, I was left this comment on my last post.

"You should do a post on moving your double bass. That'd be more interesting."

Okay Peter, Peter pumpkin eater, just for you.

I have to take my double bass to a practice for a gig. It has been a while since I've put a double bass in my car. In fact, I have never put a double bass into my Missan Note.

Remember that I also have a seat for my 
three year old grandson in the back. That
seat takes up bass space.

Actually, I believe it would be easier to move a prefab classroom out of a school!

Looks easy!

I'm not kidding you! 

Firstly, I've got to put the bass into its bag AND put one of my bows in its container that also fits into the bag.

Secondly, I've got to go out to the car, unlock it and drop down the front passenger seat. 

Thirdly, I've got to carry the bass through doors and out of the house. Hey, don't trip on those steps!

Then I have random trees, and Shelley's car, to avoid.

Next comes putting it into the car. I open the front passenger door. Will it fit in front of Harrison's seat? I will put the bass in fat (bottom) end first. The scroll (the bit at the top of the bass) will finish up down where a front passenger's feet would go.

When the gig, that this practice is for, comes along, I'll have to put an amp and other equipment in the car too. Phew! 

Now, doesn't that make moving a prefab classroom in a quiet little street in Thorndon sound rather easy?

While I'm doing all this, Peter will just be sitting at home chewing on a piece of pumpkin and looking out for blog post ideas, in his little street, that might be slightly interesting. Sheesh!

Ciao tutti.

The rain went away.

 It seems that the little poem at the start of my last post helped.

It looks like I might have stopped this happening again?

I asked Angry Jesus what he thought.

"Yes, Richard (of RBB), it appears that you are right. I even heard dad say the 'F' word! Who knows how many lives you saved!"

Wow! I'm up there with God the Farter now!

Maybe it's time to start my own church (and religion) now!

I guess I'll need my own version of the bible too.

Let's see, I'll call it The Nui.

In the beginning there was just The Nui. Richard looked down from Willis Grove. There were no churches, so he built one and called it Bass Bag. He then looked to round up some apostles. He couldn't find any in The Nui, but then he remembered Peter in Thorndon and Robert in Moera. Peter was keen, but Robert wouldn't move away from the catholic thing (no capital needed now for 'catholic'), so Richard made him into the closest thing he could find to a devil. He made him a guitarist who used a capo to play the few chords he knew and sang out of tune. "Go be a folkie!" Richard told him. Peter was put in charge of standing at the bottom of the Nui hill (Nui side) and welcoming people in. The Nui was underway.

Richard created 5 commandments:

1) Adore and follow Richard.

2) Do not follow Robert or his silly religion.

3) Be kind, where appropriate.

4) Rugby is the only sport you should follow.

5) Learn to play a musical instrument like a singer sings.

Richard thought that he could always add a few more commandments later.

Rain, rain, go away...

...Come again another day.

All the children want to play, so

Rain, rain, go away.

Yes, it's a wet day in the Nui and it will also be wet in Thorndon. Maybe God is planning another big flood to get rid of those damn atheists. He won't mind about losing a few Christians along the way. He didn't care last time.

Yesterday's jam was a good practice session for playing by ear. I spent the best part of two hours playing over tunes, some I knew well and some I didn't. Good practice for playing like a singer. Gosh, there was some out of tune playing by some people, hey but that's life.

I'll get some more violin practice done this morning. Activities like playing at a jam do not count as recorded practice for me. Still, I have passed 260 hours of 'proper practice'. The new strings are sounding good. I wonder if Peter is practising his accordion? He seemed keen to take it to Cuba Mall when his foot is feeling a bit better. He has a friend there who plays the harmonica.

Well, that's it from me for this morning. Just a little post, but better than nothing. Nothing? That's what you get this morning from the two old guys.

Ciao tutti.

No comment.

That's not the case anymore!

Not the case.

Comments are back in action!

This makes up for the All Blacks losing this morning. AND I read that Robert is confident about getting into Heaven. Things are looking up, for some of us.

I think that I might go to a jazz jam this afternoon. It's good to have a blow and it beats going to mass. The jam is on this afternoon at the Aro Street hall. It can be a bit of a letdown at times, but it is a chance to 'have a blow'. I know, I know, you don't blow a violin. It's just an old jazz saying.  

"Blowing this doesn't seem to work."

It's raining in the Nui. Spring rain, I guess. I hope this is not the beginning of an almighty world flood, like God created in the Old Testament. God killed lots of potentially innocent people with that flood. Think about it. I wonder if they all were sent to Hell? A lot of children would have died too. On a slightly different note, I heard that 18,000 children have been killed in Gaza. Netanyahu has a lot to answer for. He is obviously following in the footsteps of God. God almighty!

I'm off to do some violin practice now. Or very soon. I changed my strings a couple of days ago. I took off my Evah Pirazzi Gold ones and put on a set of Evah Pirazzi (without the Gold). They sound great. They also have the same colour binding as the strings on my double bass (The Gloria). I thought that Peter would be interested in hearing about my strings. I hope his gout is settling down. Poor bugger, I know what gout is like.

Well, that's it from me.

Ciao tutti.

Has God done this to me?

 

Yeah, he probably did.

Well, I guess Angry Jesus should know what his dad is up to!

The problem? I am unable to comment on blogs in our little community. I decided to check out The Bible for answers.

Second reading: 2 Corinthians 1:6-3

Paul warns of questioning his word. He thinks God has put bloggers at the end of the parade with the men sentenced to death... fools for the sake of Christ...we have no power. He says they go without the ability to post comments on blogs and some will have to work for a living with their own hands. We are treated as the offal and scum of the earth. "It was I that begot you in Christ by preaching the good news".

* * *

Well, I guess that God told us there. This little disruption probably won't warrant a flood that basically wipes out all of mankind. Probably Trump and Putin are going to take care of that anyway. I wonder if the three of them compare notes? 

Rob tells us, in a comment, that it is okay for Cain and Abel to bonk any sisters they might have had. Rob evidently studied this at university before he studied toilet cleaning. Well, God's problem was starting the human race with just two people. He should have used four - two men and two women. Maybe he should have even used about ten - five of each sex. Anyway, Adam and Eve must have had some girls, otherwise we wouldn't be here. Hey, you've got to wonder about God's planning on this one. Still, Rob says it's all okay and above board.

Well, that's me for this morning. Obviously, I won't expect any comments. Though Rob should still be able to comment after he has been to mass.

Ciao.

I can't comment on posts.

What is going on?

Has God done this to me?

The Holy Gospel, Accordion to Peter.

 

Peter had a post to finish. He'd started it the other day but had now run out of ideas. He'd started by taking pot shots at the Old Testament.

* If God had really loved his creations, why did he decide to drown almost all of them?

* Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel. Who did they breed with to get the human race going? A snake?

* Why couldn't God, he of superpowers, fix the world without having to stick his son on a cross?

Then he thought of Richard's blog. Maybe he should get involved with and talk about a musical instrument? Hey, it worked for Richard! First he thought of a bugle. Then an oboe. No, those two just didn't feel right. Then he decided to go with the piano accordion. Well, why not? After all, he knew a guy who played in Cuba Mall who had already presented the harmonica but he hadn't spotted anyone playing an accordion.

Peter knew that he could use AI to find heaps of information on this instrument. He set to work.

"The accordion has a small keyboard and a pile of buttons. You have to move the instrument in and out to make a sound. That's good exercise, especially if you're a bit older, as I am. I'm keen to spend some time doing some accordion practice and then I'll hit the Cuba Mall. I'm sure that I can drown out an harmonica. I'll have to find some popular songs. Riot In Cellblock No 9? Probably not. The Girl From Ipanema? No, too old. That's the sort of tune old jazz musicians play at weddings. I Got Plenty Of Nothin? No. I want songs that will attract tips. I guess I'd better practise some scales. The guy in the Thorndon fish shop has some scales. Maybe I should ask him for some advice on that one? I know that there is one scale named after a guy who works in mines. There is also one named after a high ranking soldier. Colonel? General? No, it's something else. Maybe the fish guy will know? I guess I could ask Robert. No, he'll just keep quoting the bible.

Well, that's about enough for today's post.

Expect another post soon."

Thanks Peter.

Warm Thursday.

It's a warm Thursday and I'm up early.

Rob is already at work, with no post this morning, and Peter, with no post either, is probably in the bath with his phone. 

It seems that Spring has arrived!

I think I'll take a walk down Cuba Street today, to the Rockshop, to get some guitar strings for my son for Father's Day. I'll also pop into Alistair's Music and pick up some violin strings. I think I'll go for Pirastro Violino strings. That'll make a bit of a change and they're a bit cheaper. If the shop doesn't have them, I'll get some other ones at the Rockshop.

No work today. YES! 

I guess I could have slept in, but I have had enough sleep AND this blogging community needs someone to post.

I'll certainly get some instrument practice done today (as usual). My practice currently stands at 256 hours for the year so far. I'll kick off today with some double bass practice. Then it'll be back on the violin. My violin practice currently stands at 178 hours. I'm really pleased with how my violin practice is going. 

Oops, did I just hear Peter drop his phone into the bath? At least he hasn't got Rob's job. Rob has probably dropped his phone a few times into random toilets. I just hope it is after he has cleaned them.

Well, that's me for this morning. The bass is patiently waiting.

Enjoy your day and be careful when handling your phone.

Ciao tutti.

Violin and big front lawn day.

 Yes, that's right, two things to get done today. 

I'd like to get a couple of hours done on my violin today. Both my double bass and guitar practice are up to date.

I started tidying up our section yesterday. I did quite a bit of weed eating. There is still a lot of work to be done on the back of the section but today I hope to mow the big front lawn. Che va piano va sano e va lontano. One thing at a time.

Guess whose blog has gone again.

Ah well, I guess it will be a quiet day around the blogs. Unless Peter gets his A into G and comes up with something.

As usual I'll pick up my little friend around 4pm and bring him home to see Grandma. We'll no doubt do some jigsaw puzzles together. 

Well, that's it from me. 

It is good to see the sun out for a while. Hey, Spring starts tomorrow!

Ciao.