Two Faced

New Trombone now on order. I am glad I cancelled the one from China as I would probably play even more 'wong' notes' Get it?

You may remember I left Face book because a numpty at work had got into my account and accepted some people as friends who i did not want to really get in contact with again. I closed the account, as i thought that was the only thing to do. it was therefore so nice that an old Army buddy rang me from Germany to ask why I had left and when i explained, he told me how I could rectify the situation. Sincere thanks to him and it's good to be in contact with the guys who I respected as friends in the Army. The photo above has turned up. They say every picture tells a story, but you would never guess that I was going through horrific turmoil at this time.

A chap at work was watching a magic trip on his phone via You Tube. I love film music and the track behind the trick really caught my attention. I asked him for the link and watched it myself when I got home. I managed to track down the poster of the video to the USA and asked him about the music. He had composed it himself and kindly sent me some of the tracks. I can’t believe this guy has not pushed his work as he has a fantastic talent. I hope my e mail spurs him on to greater things.

I have been to the job center to apply for a job . They asked me what I fancied. I replied that I would love to work in a Bowling Alley. They asked ‘Ten-Pin’? I said no permanent if possible??

Wok the heck

I have got so frustrated with the wait for my new bone, that I have chucked my rather over used teddy in the corner and cancelled the order!!!

The bone is still in China ,then has to be shipped to France and then to the UK??? I don't get why they had it on their web site, if it was not in stock??

However, I still have a cunning plan. When I was a lad (about 5 years ago) I started on a medium bore bone. then I went onto Large Bore in the Army. I am now playing Medium/Large. So am going to buy myself a medium bore next. It's cost me £7 pound more so I will need to go and have a lay down for a while.

See. Full circle.

Went shopping last night. I lost my partner in the massive hyper market. I went over to this attractive lady and asked if I could talk to her for a few moments. She said yes, but did I have any idea where my partner was' I replied 'No, but as soon as I start talking to a woman with superb breasts like yours, she always turns up!!!!

Jam

Those people who say, that little things don't bother them, have never slept in a room with a Mosquito.!!

Something little bothered me today. We were on a massive Funeral. The church has it's own car park, but shoppers and parents use it willy nilly (strange saying). So when they got back from the shops etc ,they all found there cars blocked in. Now this was a Catholic Funeral, so a long long service. Most took it in there stride. However one woman went ballistic and wanted to call the Police and have the Church evacuated. I politely told her where she could go and she went?
However another polite lady ,was very distraught because she had to pick her children up. So I let her use my phone to contact her husband, then me and my mate negotiated her through the parked cars. You see there is a way of going through life. If you rant and rave and sulk you will get nothing. But if you are polite and communicate, there is a good chance you will be helped. Here endeth the first lesson.

One of my work mates Mum passed away last night. We have her with us in the Chapel of rest. Always difficult when you know the person.

The old tooth is starting to hum again. No where near as bad,but it does need looking at. I would rather jump out of a plane again though, than go to the Dentist!!!

A great improvement in my Tinnitus (that ringing in ears) since using the audio stands. A couple of months down the line and they are worth all that money. We are still experimenting with the angle and height and when we have got it right they will not have to be altered.
It's took a bit of give and take with everyone, but a vast improvement and I think these stands will become more popular as the word spreads. It's amusing that the Council make there employees wear ear protectors whilst mowing the lawn at the Crem!!!! I was talking to a trombone player the other day and asked if the decibels bothered him.
He replied 'Not at all, as I am going deaf'!!!!!!!!!!

18th night

One word describes why this world has not reached it's full potential.
That word is 'Meetings'

I have had to change the font of this Blog so my poor mate can read it. I think it is the shadow from his wads of cash that are obscuring his view.

I keep seeing Xmas trees in folks windows still? I am assuming, as everyone seemed to have been ill over Chrimbo, that they are celebrating it now.

I was touched just before the Festive Holiday as a local church had asked for prayers to be tied to the Xmas tree. There were all sorts of pleas, asking for health and peace of mind. So today whilst sitting in the same church, I was rather disillusioned to find the prayer cards stuffed into an old tesco bag under a seat? Not much hope there then?

Good night last night at Band and a full house. I wimped out and went back to my old mouthpiece, but know I have got to give the other more time.

I have been trying to sell an old Trombone on e bay. despite 8 people watching it, no one bid?? I wonder what they were watching for???? Anyway, it is back on again as my new bone is still in China!!!

A bit of the old marching above. I actually enjoyed this sometimes although it was bloody hard work, especially when doing the displays.

Mush

I figure, that life, is a little like being in a Dog Sled team. If you are not the lead dog, then the view is going to be pretty much the same?

Talking of Huskies. Our poor vocalist is down with the Flu and bad chest which is not very helpful when you need your lungs throat and clacker to produce songs. Get well soon C.

We have done a Buddhist Funeral in the last few days. Extremely interesting (and a few very pretty Thai ladies as well) and different from our services.
As my friend said 'I can't believe it's not Buddha'??

I have taken another show on this year? For saying I am not very happy with my playing I must be a glutton for punishment. But as John Miles, sang in the coffin shop today (on the radio, not stood beside me) Music was my first love and it will be my last....How very true, no matter if it hurts sometimes.

Oxo

There is an old saying.
'The older you get. The better you get. (unless you are a banana!)

Well in my book that's a load of old tosh.
New mouthpiece. Bad light. Setting the mic in wrong position. But most of all, duff notes. All this made it a frustrating night for me last night, and all my fault.
Ok I got 2 out of 3 solo's almost right! But I did not allow for practising at home with new mouthpiece (in Trombone it's not made for) using my practice mute.
Of course when you take the said mute out to blow normally in a room, it is an entirely different ball game. The majority of musicians will understand this (apart from the real good ones, who could blow on any mouthpiece and it would sound fine) but some of the audience(not all, J and L) just think you blow and the notes come out all on their own!!! To cap it all, the new bone wont be delivered to the warehouse in France for another week!!!!!
Having said all that, it did not particularly stress me, as I knew the causes of the fluffs and will try and put them right and find some entirely new ones next time.

The boss is back from abroad and as always has brought some nasty disease back with him. They had me stock taking today (no not the bodies) and counting coffin handles and shrouds. Oh joy!!!!!. Just wondering if their will ever be light at the end of the proverbial tunnel???

Strange sign in the Cemetery.
Visitors are prohibited from picking flowers from any graves except their own!!!!

Found

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and we will eat for the rest of his life. Give a man a fire and he will be warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life!!
(old glenn saying)

It would seem that the location the Band were playing in last night was extremely hard to find. In the space of 10 minutes I had a call from 3 different members of the Band. It was like a human Sat Nav as I sat at my PC trying to guide them in??? I take it they all made it as I have heard nothing since.

If you could change places with 1 person, who would it be? A millionaire? an Athlete?? A super Model???
Me, it would have to be Derren Brown the magician. Just to find out how, he does his unbelievable tricks. How can you make a perfectly ordinary person walk down a street and try and rob a security van????? They say we only use a third of our brains? i wonder what happens to the other third????