southern42

In my case to stop me going mad when I keep failing to keep time. Well, it seems to have done the trick as, apart from the need to come up for air every so often, I kept going for 20 mins on the beat box's tabla accompaniment. I had another session yesterday evening with the metronome (volume turned as low as possible!) to sort out a couple of details on the first line of the song and some encouraging progress was made. So, this morning's session with the beatbox, I just played the one line over and over, with extra time out focussing on one of the short phrases that was upsetting the balance of things. Although not 100% happy, the 5 note twiddly bit now fits within its allotted 1/2 beat and the following phrase starts on its beat, if a bit wobbly - some more repetition with the metronome should cure that. Nice and sunny so thinking of taking a walk...or I could just sit here and watch the little fellas on the bird feeder. I will catch up on here later. Take care. Be good. Be persistent.

' morning all from red dragon land. Sun and blue sky. Shame it was chuckinitdarn not long ago because everything is saturated. To top it all, showers all afternoon are prescribed by the pinecone pundits. Garden temp. 7.2C warmer in the sunny part, of course. EN (earlier news) So much for getting the Jobbies done before the groceries arrived, yesterday. When I went to put the dishwasher on, there was a problem. (One for Mr S.) So I spent the rest of the morning washing and drying its contents by hand. A new machine job, maybe? Doh! Mr S will be investigating/fixing it this afternoon.Even a temporary fix will suffice for now. In the meantime, there is some washing up to be done! ION Thereafter, a toot on the flute session in the warmth from the fireplace - trying to make the most of it as time for the stove's winter use is fast running out. Yesterday evening I spent half an hour just on the first line of the song with a videoed metronome set at 36bpm* . It will be interesting to see how I get on this morning at that speed with my own beatbox setting which has a different rhythm. *Giving the beat of the basic notes before additional notes (ornamentation aka my "twiddly bits") are added. Be good. Take care. Enjoy the sun/other offering of your choice while it lasts. Polly

' morning all from red dragon land. Some white stuff everywhere this morning. Where did that come from? And down beyond the bottom of the village too. Supposedly, it was only destined for higher places. Melting by the time I got up. Garden temp. 1.7C by then. 4.8C 6.2C now. Sun arrived at the end of the garden. 08:15 Melting fast even in the shade. C&C groceries shifted to this afternoon instead of tomorrow so better get crackin' and get the place sorted before they arrive. Take care. Be good. Be ready. Polly

' afternoon all from red dragon land. Yay! Sun has popped out! Lots of cloud around though. A few toot on the flute exercises this morning were not brilliant but do suggest some progress. Another bash, shortly, may pave the way for a better session, tomorrow but no guarantee but I live in hope. I was thinking of putting on my nice newly cleaned up and polished boots and going off for a walk until I opened the front door... Nor'easterlies...Brrrrrrrr. Hmmm.... Decided on a mugadecaf instead. Take care. Be good. When in doubt, put kettle on! Polly

Delighted you chose to reveal this as I saw a muddle of it at AlyPaly some years ago and fell in love with it! Already had a sneak preview on the mac! Will try and catch up with the first part on the beeb at 1:30 - biggggggggger screeeeeeeen!

Laugh rating given as I was at that minute imagining His Sphinxship in a CC reconstruction.

Sh! I know. I hang them* up for *C*mas.🤶 *commonly known as something else beginning with the *s* word.

Nice collection* - I wish... Don't worry about my good looks,** though long fingers like those would be most useful. *Update on origin of present collection : Japan, India, USA, England and Ireland. Put it that way, it does sound exotic! **er...I did have them once, I guess! 🤣 Oh, and thanks for giving me the credit for being talented. Maybe one day, after completing all the tutor's exercises (in 3 speeds), I might start to believe it.

I kinda fancy these ;) https://www.heat-treats.co.uk/polar-bear-fluffy-novelty-slipper-socks/

' morning all from red dragon land. Sunny -ish. A lot of white cloud around. Hopefully a bit warmer than the out of sun reading of 7.2C. Off to do some Jobbies and maybe a quick toot on the flute - Not got a lot of time before collecting and stowing C&C groceries as we had to change our pick up time as our usual slot time was fully booked. I decided to go for an earlier slot rather than the later one so that it leaves me plenty of time to worry about getting dinner, afterwards. Take care. Be good. Be adaptable. Polly.

Stuff? Surely, you mean coal?

' Me, too, as we always seem to end up driving into the low sun, whether during the winter months or when the sun is going down in the evening during the summer months. Being short, even pulling the sunshade down does not always help keep the sun off. Toot on the flute was a bit late today as, when I went to put the dustpan and brush round the sitting room, I noticed a trail of mucky stuff leading from the front door to the fireplace - and on the bottom of Mr Suvvern's slippers! After cleaning up, more was discovered in the porch so a bit heavier cleanup there. I am surprised I actually got set up to play after that lot but there we are, the heart rules sometimes. Still struggling with Line 2 of the song but using a lot of repetition and playing with the beat turned off for a bit to focus on what is actually going on in the tune is helping me to make at least some progress. Though as I have said before, I never did do fast before! Guess I never really had the time before nor the resolve and it is certainly taking a lot of both. I think I shall have to have a new motto - Don't give up! Time for some shut-eye, methinks. Take care. Be good. Watch the time. ' night all and nos da.

Back in my day, I do not remember there being an obligatory, or otherwise, screaming child on the train.

Dandelions here!

"At some point," I will be collecting some see-better-glasses from the optician's. My estimate is also between 2 and 3 Deltics depending if I go for a second pair for reading...erm...muddling, or not - second lens half price and my own supplied frames: just got to decide which one, if at all! At that price, it makes me wonder if I should wear glasses 24/7 to get best financial benefit! <<OooooH! I saw my dream much clearer last night....>> Or, maybe, I should have gone for the very best quality lenses. I was informed that the varifocal lenses they provide were better than from the chain opticians I had previously frequented but came in three standards. I went for the middle option thinking I might want a second pair and, with the price difference, I could get quite a few of those new little Great Wooden Runabout boxes that run on parallel bits of metal! Guess what I will might be ordering later.....

' night all and nos da.

' morning all from red dragon land. 🕶️ Sunglasses at the kitchen sink, again, this morning, sun brighter than ever through the window. Garden temp. 10.3C and the sun, now higher in the sky, is shining into the garden.😎 Short diversion this morning to the toplink (top of page where it says, "Click here";). Delighted to see most of the unmentionable stuff I voted for has done really well especially my two favourite buys of the year. I also found the results, RMwebbers views and comments enlightening in several ways. Work to up the tempo on the flute song is finally getting somewhere. Yesterday, after another tough session, I managed to play the first two lines with their repeats all in one go. Now, I need to work on it until I can just toss it off without thinking and the only way I will be able to do that is by being confident enough to be completely relaxed while playing at the prescribed speed and dead** on the beat...er...not so easy! <<Shake head!>> Mugadecaf and some Jobbies* to do first. Take care. Be good. Persevere. Polly *Capital letter was accidental but, conveniently, having a Capital letter has stopped the text gremlin from reverting it to an unmentionable word beginning with "H". Something to remember! **I might be d**d on the beat if I am not careful with the words I use!

Mr Suvvern is on his way home - the sheepies came back for a second helping of lunch while my back was turned, leaving more announcements round the back, and had to be directed off the Not Farm, again. I think Mr S is not going to be too pleased. The place is a mess! I have never seen it anywhere near this bad. That was more than a rant. Sorry....

' morning all from red dragon land. Overcast but dry and double figures again. 11.3C. Caught a glimpse of two sheepies in the garden. Went out the front door and down the side of the house where was a trail of sheepies's announcements along the path and then all over the lawn. I manage to persuade them their time was up and they sped back from whence they came. Mr Suvvern will not be too pleased when he comes home this evening... ION. I had an email at 9.30 yesterday evening from the Reykjavik Grapevine announcing the latest volcanic eruption. Capturing the start Live Must get on. Take care. Be good. Keep watch. And just as I was thinking about checking the path passing our next-door neighbour to make sure it is safe for her, I see it is now raining.....<<arrrrgghhh>> Guess I had better get suitably attired! Edit: Checked. All clear, at least on the side of the (shared) drive she uses.

Father Brown - repeat of earlier series. Not seen the "new" series so no spoilers, please! 😜

You mean the S word? 😩

We watched Father Brown and a couple of utoob videos via the TV from recent Things that run on parallel bits of metal Shows (Preston and Liverpool - which we consider "our locals" and have both exhibited at and visited in the past). Nuts. Love 'em. Big thing in my early years - a handful of Brazils, walnuts, almonds and hazel nuts at the bottom of the annual festive stocking. Not all nuts by any means, my main ones being walnut halves and flaked almonds scattered on <<the squeamish may like to look away, now>> marmite on toast and eaten as a sarnie. I'll do oven roast chestnuts in December - also nice chopped up in bubble n squeak. I also get palm oil free crunchy peanut butter which I spread on toast and eat as a sarnie. Done that, too! Just watch yer fingers don't get trapped down between the walls and the boat! Not much room... Fantastic trip, mind, especially with a fabulous scone based afternoon tea onboard thrown in. <<Words carefully chosen!>>

' morning all from red dragon land. Dry. 9.0C. <<Let's leave it at that!>> C&C groceries this afternoon and jobs to do in the meantime. Peas. Love garden peas fresh or frozen. Grew up on peas fresh from the garden in the summer, tinned garden peas at other times. I was not one for tinned processed peas. In later years, when mushy peas became the norm at the chippy they were instantly banned by my taste buds. Onward with the jobbies. Take care. Be good. Stay on top of it. Polly

' morning all from red dragon land. Dry for a couple of hours then more of the wet stuff. The odd glimpse of the yellow ball out there. Temp. in double figures 10.3C but breezy out so I doubt it will feel it. Psyching myself up for a toot on the flute - in other words, it is time to let Henry loose and do a few hobbies jobbies before I start. Take care. Be good. You can do it. Polly

<<Quote>> Only a small fraction of about 150 species of molluscs in the UK pose problems* for gardeners, with the majority contributing positively to the ecosystem, the trust said. <<End Quote>> Yeah! They gobble up my plants!