Look at the concentration!
The finished sculpture!
And another more impressive one.
Happy birthday Andy!
Friday, January 20, 2006
Birthday boy
It was Andy's birthday yesterday, so seeing as he lives just round the corner we invited him over to dinner. We'd bought him a 'bobile' when we were in the States - a sort of balancing-mobile thingy. Much fun was had after dinner trying to create some sculptures with it.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Muchos Yayness
I quote:
"414696
Timothy James Mosedale
Level 1: Pass"
The global pass rate was 34%, so I'm quite chuffed.
"414696
Timothy James Mosedale
Level 1: Pass"
The global pass rate was 34%, so I'm quite chuffed.
Weekend news
All our friends seem to have gone very quiet on their blogs recently... maybe, like us, life has settled down after Christmas and there's not much to report!
We had a very nice weekend away, visiting Rachel, David and Samuel in Bristol then on to Marion in Exeter. It was good to catch up with Marion again and see her very nice flat - it's spurred us on to sort out the final odds and ends that need doing in our house! On Sunday we met up with Stuart, ben and Christine for a pub lunch and exchanged news about all our meteorology friends. I find it slightly bizarre that through my PhD there's this extended network of friends and contacts all over the world, and I'm still sort-of part of it, even though I'm no longer involved in meteorology. I haven't built up an equivalent network in aerodynamics yet, though I'm working on it!
This weekend is already starting to look rather full, though we're staying in Bedford. One of our new year's resolutions is to do more walking so we need to fit that in at some stage, along with some shopping for the house, Church and a trip to the garden centre/fish shop. I'm sure we'll tell you all about it afterwards!
We had a very nice weekend away, visiting Rachel, David and Samuel in Bristol then on to Marion in Exeter. It was good to catch up with Marion again and see her very nice flat - it's spurred us on to sort out the final odds and ends that need doing in our house! On Sunday we met up with Stuart, ben and Christine for a pub lunch and exchanged news about all our meteorology friends. I find it slightly bizarre that through my PhD there's this extended network of friends and contacts all over the world, and I'm still sort-of part of it, even though I'm no longer involved in meteorology. I haven't built up an equivalent network in aerodynamics yet, though I'm working on it!
This weekend is already starting to look rather full, though we're staying in Bedford. One of our new year's resolutions is to do more walking so we need to fit that in at some stage, along with some shopping for the house, Church and a trip to the garden centre/fish shop. I'm sure we'll tell you all about it afterwards!
Band events
Monday saw my first rehearsal of the new year. The band is now gearing up for the regionals contest in March, competing in the 2nd section for the first time in years (this will be the first time I've competed in the 2nd section) after being promoted following our dazzling 2nd place in the 3rd section last year.
The test piece is a suite from Images of the Millennium, by Howard Snell. It's been cut down from its original form which was considerably longer and was arranged for 2 full brass bands. I'd love to hear it! The result is, in my opinion, a good test piece - certainly a stern challenge, but with a wealth of interest for the players. Of course, this view is built entirely on a only a few rehearsals: whether it keeps my interest for the next 2 months is another question. The piece is certainly difficult, and will require some really good playing, and I think it will really improve the band while we work on it, which should be the point. There have been grumblings about it being too difficult for the 2nd section, so it should sort the brass from the, um, lesser brass.
Last year, I found the Gallimaufry Suite and, to a lesser extent, Tam O'Shanter's ride (the 3rd section nationals and regionals pieces), to be a bit disappointing in terms of providing a test to my personal playing. There was some interest in melding my part into the whole, but little to challenge me technically. The same definitely can't be said of Images of the Millenium... The top Eb bass part is particularly tricky, with some very very high notes (I've never even seen a top D in a band part before...), some tricky fingering, and some unusual intervals, particularly in the upper register. There are a few fun passages with little duets beween the Eb bass and, variously, the soprano cornet, flugel, and solo horn in the Scherzo. I've not really looked at the other 2 movements, but they look a bit lower and less technically difficult. I definitely need to work at it!
Also, it's kind of been decided now (in a show of typical ill grace by the other Eb player) that I'm the lead Eb bass. That'll hopefully reduce some of the tension and stress that accompanies rehearsals, although it will increase due to the responsibility of being #1!
Wish me luck!
The test piece is a suite from Images of the Millennium, by Howard Snell. It's been cut down from its original form which was considerably longer and was arranged for 2 full brass bands. I'd love to hear it! The result is, in my opinion, a good test piece - certainly a stern challenge, but with a wealth of interest for the players. Of course, this view is built entirely on a only a few rehearsals: whether it keeps my interest for the next 2 months is another question. The piece is certainly difficult, and will require some really good playing, and I think it will really improve the band while we work on it, which should be the point. There have been grumblings about it being too difficult for the 2nd section, so it should sort the brass from the, um, lesser brass.
Last year, I found the Gallimaufry Suite and, to a lesser extent, Tam O'Shanter's ride (the 3rd section nationals and regionals pieces), to be a bit disappointing in terms of providing a test to my personal playing. There was some interest in melding my part into the whole, but little to challenge me technically. The same definitely can't be said of Images of the Millenium... The top Eb bass part is particularly tricky, with some very very high notes (I've never even seen a top D in a band part before...), some tricky fingering, and some unusual intervals, particularly in the upper register. There are a few fun passages with little duets beween the Eb bass and, variously, the soprano cornet, flugel, and solo horn in the Scherzo. I've not really looked at the other 2 movements, but they look a bit lower and less technically difficult. I definitely need to work at it!
Also, it's kind of been decided now (in a show of typical ill grace by the other Eb player) that I'm the lead Eb bass. That'll hopefully reduce some of the tension and stress that accompanies rehearsals, although it will increase due to the responsibility of being #1!
Wish me luck!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Feeling a bit naive
Well we had a lovely Christmas and New year, and have lots of pictures of snowy Colorado and videos of our friends doing silly things in the snow. We may put them all up on our webspace, if we work out how to use it...
Tim is now back into the swing of things at work, but also seems to be spending his time MSN messaging Hannah and Chris. I, on the other hand, have only had one day at work - then I went into hospital and had all my wisdom teeth extracted. I spent the first day sleeping off the general anaesthetic they gave me, then the last couple of days dozing because of the strong painkillers I'm on. So my week is going rather quickly, but I'm very confused as to what day it is!
Tim is now back into the swing of things at work, but also seems to be spending his time MSN messaging Hannah and Chris. I, on the other hand, have only had one day at work - then I went into hospital and had all my wisdom teeth extracted. I spent the first day sleeping off the general anaesthetic they gave me, then the last couple of days dozing because of the strong painkillers I'm on. So my week is going rather quickly, but I'm very confused as to what day it is!
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