Off on tour

After a hectic few weeks ensuring that everything would be done at work in time to meet the deadlines it's finally time to go off on tour with the band again.

This years tours to Reims should be fantastic, plus we have the advantage of being guided round Moet & Chandon champagne house as well as all the traditional meals in local restaurants and rearranging the local pubs to suit our seating arrangements better.

There will no doubt be a longer post once we're back and I've suitable recovered. But until then we're off for some fun and games :)

Rights and wrongs of protesting

Before we go too far into this post I want to make one thing very clear: I am not suggesting that people shouldn't be able to protest.

But reading this article on the BBC Website makes me question whether most people have a understanding of what makes a good protest. Why this guy thinks that wasting a disgustingly large amount of water, when we are already being warned of drought conditions this summer is a good idea is beyond me.

Protesting when done in the right way can do some good, I took part in the 'Make Poverty History' campaign last year, and marched round Edinburgh which was peaceful, well organized and supported by a great deal of the general public.

This has already caused derision from the same general public and hopefully the legal action that the water companies almost have to pursue will be successful.

The worst part of this in my humble opinion is the way this guy tries to dress it up as art, this is quite clearly a way for this guy to get his name in the press (which is why I'm refraining from mentioning it) and ought to be seen for the sham it is.

While our system of water isn't perfect, there also needs to be a greater understanding (in this and a lot of other things) that having clean water delivered straight to our home, and then (for some) not having to pay for exactly what is used is such a priviledge compared to some areas of the world that still don't have access to clean water.

Perhaps when everyone has a greater understanding of how lucky we are in this country then some of the things we take for granted will be better respected.

Ice Skating

Another week, and another concert band social, this time to the ice skating rink in Basingstoke. Not having gone ice skating for many years I was a bit nervy when I first set out on the ice, but after a bit of time and some almost bullying from Nicke I was just about getting around the rink under my own steam.

The only fall I had was very embarrasing, not actually skating, just getting back on the ice when my feet went out from out from under me. Wasn't that bad, but there's more than likely to be a bruise in the morning.

Now if I could just get rid of this irritating cold all would be good, well just so long as it's gone by tour.

Concert Time

So after 2 and a bit months practice it was time to sit in the Turner Sims and put on the Concert Bands Easter Concert. The line up was varied, and suitably challenging in places but I think we managed to pull them all off.

Opening with Pirates of the Carribean and then closing with Hollywood Milestones meant there were plenty of recognisable tunes. It was also great to play Global Variations again, I have mixed memories of this piece from when I first started in the band and the cafe style solo halfway through. This time I really think I nailed it and obviously there's the fun of being stood up to recognise the solo being played.

Afterwards there was the trip to the Mitre for a well deserved drink and all that remains for this term is a couple of socials, a pre-tour rehearsal and of course tour itself. Can't wait :)

The simple things in life

Given that it's a Friday that should be enough to keep the day happy and full of the promise of good things. But there were also a couple of things that on there own seem silly but really help improve that sense of inner well being.

1) The lunch time pint.
Now I'll admit, not a rare occurance during the working week/day but after 3 hours straight of meetings this morning being able to take some time out and chill out at the clubhouse was very, very welcome.

2) Wearing sun glasses on the way home
Again, this seems a silly thing to feel good about, but after months of leaving work or getting home in the dark, it still being light enough to require shades and still being light while I'm sat here typing this makes the outlook decidely bright for the weekend.

Resurrecting old hardware

Part of the reason I started this blog, was the previous one sat on my home server became unavailable due to some major hardware failure. Around the same time my other PC stopped working forcing the buying of a new one (I really needed it) and leaving me with a small PC graveyard forming in my house.

Well today I brought one of them back from the brink with several new components and after some searching, hacking and swearing hooked it up to my TV ready to watch any videos or listen to my music collection from the living room rather than using the laptop or sitting in my office all the time.

I might do some more with it and join the home PVR craze but that will need to wait until I can a) be bothered and b) find the time amongst everything else I should be doing...