southern42

How? 🤣

Love the way the flute plays itself!

' night all and nos da from red dragon land. 😴

You can have it in camouflage colours, too!

' morning all from red dragon land. An email arrived in my inbox 23:10 last night from the Reykjavik Grapevine magazine. https://grapevine.is/news/2023/12/18/eruption-has-begun-at-sundhnukagigar/ At the same time utoob was filling up with Icelandic eruption videos. Close up view of the eruption near Grindavik in Iceland. Back later, loadsastuff to geronwiv

Have a look at these two videos. The second is a bit more wordy, but demonstrates it in more detail. Don't give up on it. It is a lovely flute to play especially when you can play in a variety of different keys: Theme to Judge John Deed in F minor for instance, as well as C and F major and A minor. There are quite a few Yamaha fife videos out there but most of the ones I came across were pretty awful but don't let that put you off. It will be as good as you want it to be. 10 minutes a day. Play it 4 times, 2 times, 1 time - repeat as necessary (this process keeps me learning and achieving). Tip - Keep the flute firm against the chin though, not loose, and keep working at it. Find a good flute player as I did (the one I posted) and it helps no end. Hope this helps. Using the head of a keyed flute - but the principal is the same. Using a fife.

I love this time of year but I must say I am struggling this year. The days are going faster than I can manage and things lurking in the background are trying to pull me down! But I have enjoyed making my own - <<ahem>> time consuming! - gift tags revamping last year's template mostly using: https://clipart-library.com. Last year's design Gift Card Christmas 2023 Template.pdf This year's design triggered by someone going off to the far north! Gift Card Christmas 2023 Template 1.pdf Wrapping the presents has been a bit beyond - wrapping paper too easy to tear (bought last year but I'll still use it up) and the sellotape sticking to itself before it is anywhere near the paper are just a couple of things that have been winding me up! And, the constant drumming of the wet stuff outside and having to work in artificial light...need I go on. What happened to the dry December sunshine? Also, albeit less time on it, together with me being less demanding, my daily toot on the flute helps cheer me up. A bit of TV at the end of the day enables me to relax and...er...more often than not...doze off! So MrPolybear let's turn it around and have a bit of fun. So...something to cheer us up - how my little plastic fife sounds in greater hands... and something really beautiful to comfort the darkness.

' morning all from red dragon land. Sunny, breezy, 9.1C. Running a bit late, today, having got a couple of small parcels ready for posting. The battery in the newish scales had gone so I got my old balance type out and googled the ounces into grams on the 'phone. A pile of *C* cards to start writing out, now. Maybe, I shall put the box on and listen to some TV / video music at the same time, depending on what I can find. It will be a mugadecaf and early lunch, first, then I should not need to be interrupted. Take care. Be good. Don't panic! Polly

You noticed, then! But don't complain - itzafreeby carpark! It looks like a waste disposal thing: <<Gotta bitta tar left? Go filla pot hole!>> This happened frequently on our "High Street", with the consequence of even more and deeper pot holes appearing showing multiple layers of variable tar, until we got onto the council having found out that they had not done a programmed resurfacing 10 years earlier - it had never been resurfaced in our lifetime here (over 45 years) - and, way hay, it got done. After a few years it is still OK. So, not all bad.

' evening all from red dragon land. I recollect it was sunny this morning, turning to rain when Mr Suvvern went to collect the C&C groceries this afternoon. Yesterday afternoon, we went for a mugadecaf down at the beach pavilion cafe, upstairs at the table by the window in Llanfairfechan to check out their *C* decorations. I spent awhile gazing out at the tide creeping its way in, then out at the turn of the tide. I am always amazed at how fast those waves come in. Looking West down the Menai Strait, Ynys Môn (Isle of Anglesey) in the distance. The kitchen is now in the extension below the window. About face towards the East. It was quite full downstairs being lunchtime. Views out of the windows to the horizon (left) and towards the mountains (right) can be seen from the high tables. These days we usually sit outside! A day of getting things ready for posting tomorrow so early to bed tonight. Take care. Be good. Find time to enjoy something. Polly

' morning all from red dragon land. Lots of drumming of the wet stuff on the windows. Maybe I should toot on the flute tuit and try and keep rhythm!* *See below. I have only managed a wee bit of catching up one here over the last few days and it may remain so for a few more as I progress with the *C* word. I eventually got the online photo projects finished and ordered - fingers crossed they print off alright. I bought a load of non-*C* greetings cards at the garden centre, yesterday and, today, will be spent getting other things ready for the postman to collect. While Ray was waiting for me, ready to pick me up at the garden centre, he had a look round at the *C* garden lighting on display and gawped at the prices! Just as well we do not face a road and be subject to "competing" with other front gardens and the like. Needless to say, I do, usually, put up a wee tree (small artificial pot plant) in the porch and drape a string of lights around it and continue the string around the adjacent window. At least it brightens it up for the postman! Toot on the flute was short yesterday having spent a great couple of hours at a local garden centre putting the world to right over a mugadecaf and a snack. We even discussed the latest appearance of the TV doctor discovering we were both fans - of the better series, anyway. https://www.doctorwho.tv However, my toot on the flute threw up a problem on Sunday when I progressed to Line 4 of the song. It did not fit the beat! So, just having 20 minutes to spare yesterday evening, I managed to get it sorted by going back to the basic tune and rebuilding the twiddly bits. Whatever I did seemed to have worked...I just wonder if I will get it right, later today! Mugadecaf calling. Take care. Be good. Plod on and keep it going. Polly

'afternoon all from red dragon land. Windy. 8.8C I had another dose of winterinfrontoft'fireonthematwiththebeatbox for my toot on the flute, this afternoon. A few days ago, Line 1 of the song was doing alright and was good to warm up on. After several attempts, I eventually got to the point where I could continuously repeat line 2 in time with the beat, so it was beginning to look good. Another session, yesterday and this afternoon with beatbox still set at 29 beats per minute and 8 (slow) beats to the line, I managed to keep going with both lines continuously 7 times, each line played twice equalling 4 lines a go. So that is 32 slow beats x 7. That length of play should get me towards the end of the song in stamina at least so it was quite reassuring. On this basis, if (a big IF, possibly) I keep this up, I should be able to get the first 6 lines up to speed by the end of the month - I won't say, 'year' cos that sounds so far away! 🤞 ION I mentioned, a little while ago, about going round in circles, on the phone, between different parties. The outcome, at last, looks to be to my advantage and should be finalised shortly. So well done to all the ppl on the end of the phone lines getting to the bottom of it and getting the relevant parties to respond. I have been wotzapped by li'l sis which reminded me I had forgotten about one of her presies she wanted me to order online! It will be done later... together with another item she now wants. She was pleased with the last lot so that is good. On my count, I have completed this year's family calendar which is ready to check through and order. *C* cards next on the list and a few birthdays to sort out. It feels I am just about coming up for some air...but a mugadecaf will suffice before getting dinner. Take care. Be good. Don't let life runaway with you! Polly

One place I worked in, our tea room drink ingredients (milk, tea bags, instant coffee, sugar) were bought by a volunteer who collected a small amount of cash from us once a month (£1 iirc) to pay for it, keeping a list of our names. We were left to make our own preferred drinks. In another, by the time you got to the tearoom down several flights of stairs and/or via long corridors, and allowed enough time to get back to the office, you barely had enough time to make your drink let alone drink it, especially if someone had just emptied the kettle and you had to wait for the next lot of water to boil. Happy days.

You can bury and glue the bottom 0.7mm in/below the grass.

' morning all from red dragon land. Cold 3C. Wet. Yesterday's online jobbie for lil sis done with one minute on keyboard, another on wotsapp exchanging information. I had two square-but-not-quite-square photos to put on two square items with a warning that the image going over the inside dotted lines may not print. So I messed around with a smaller non square image on top of the same image zoomed out to the edges of the placement square thus giving a border. It took awhile but I got them done. It meant messing around using a 2-photo image option rather than a 1-photo option but being used to using multi images helped immensely. This morning was my third winter's-sit-on-the-floor-in-front-of-the-fire toot on the flute session. Beginning with a drag-Henry-around-the-floor routine, and getting things into place before I start, plus the warmth from the fire, helps get me in the mood - so far, anyway. The key to these sessions is the beat box. One intention - be able to play along with it! Not as fast as on the tutor's video, I started at 27 beats per minute on Saturday but have settled more comfortably at 29 bpm (4 notes to a beat). I was quite very pleased to play the first line in three rounds of continuously playing it 7 times. After a while of trying to get it right, I finished playing the second line when I completed one continuous round of playing 7 times. At that point, confirming I am on the right track, at last, and making me feel optimistic about the next four lines, and on a high after I had done it, I decided to stop and put everything away. This afternoon, I shall be working on my own online project... but mugadecaf first, eh? Take care. Be good. Keep nice and warm/cool (select appropriate option). Polly

You mean these:

' morning all from red dragon land. Sun shining, bit of a breeze. 2.1C. I have not been on for a few days due to the advancing season. It seems I have become PA to Li'l Sis to do her online shopping for *C* presies, and more of that will be fitted in, today, with my bit of shopping - I spotted a woolly jumper I fancy which can be picked up in store - and the annual family Calendar I am making online. I have not even thought about doing the *C* cards, yet. Well, ...I have now, I suppose! I have already had one mugadecaf but I shall settle for another before getting stuck into things. Take care. Be good. Watch out for the unexpected! Polly

That should carry a PG / Adult Only cert. as our very young fairies family members would be most upset. ... don't know about @Ian Abel but I sure did. Long, long ago before many memories were formed, I worked in a bookshop. I was due to finish at 5 o'clock. Mr Suvvern rushed in 5 minutes before the bus was due out - at 1 o'clock! It had just started snowing and the bus company decided to call it a day! The boss was none too pleased - he was from Scotland "where the roads never close." More recently, we were helping out with an exhibit at Ally Pally and went down with nationwide white stuff falling, the A55 expressway already closed, and the A5 being closed, a section at a time, just as we were driving through! There was a sprinkling of very slippy snow outside the exhibition hall so great care needed to be taken getting from the van to the entrance but no falls from me, for a change! The layout? Covered in deep frost! For real! The hills are alive...

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' morning all from red dragon land. Woke to rain drumming down on the windows. Eased off a bit now. Not warm, 6.3C. Meeting a friend for lunch to set the world straight. So best get moving. Things to do first. Take care. Be good. Enjoy your day. Polly

When life was fun playing tr***ns at West Shore (before the C word, not been there much since), we had jackdaws that lay in wait until you approached, then jump on the track and fly off justintime, a couple of times only when I almost came to a standstill to let it do its quickgetaway. When I joined the Conwy Museum, there were only a few jackdaws but they had clearly learnt the game. With larger driving vehicles, especially steam (much, much longer to stop than the lawnmower engine), you have to keep vigilant. Rabbits will run right across in front of you rather than run out of the way and, once, I had to stop completely to let a squirrel "wake up", get up off the rails and run off. Even bigger is one of the local cats that takes a nap between the rails - like when you already have the brake on, going downhill, approaching a steep enough tight curve. Fun and games.

Conwy Valley Railway Museum July 2022 before the buffet car cafe was closed for refurbishment. Taken on my iPhone a couple of feet away. This one would quite happily fly down onto one of the outdoor tables further along off to the left while people were eating. Cake crumbs seemed to be the most popular menu item. Obviously a budding ERs member ;)

I do both, depending on my mood <<rant>> or <<despair>> 🤣

' morning all from red dragon land. Cold -0.1C at 2am, a bit warmer now at 3.5C. The odd bit of blue sky visible behind light cloud. A bright shiny round thing lit my exit out to the recycle bin last night. It seems my 'phone's eyesight is worse than mine. At least I could see the object's craters through the hole in the cloud! Main jobbie, today, is dragging Henry around the place. I started yesterday, not that you can tell, so it will be a rerun in some areas. That will, no doubt trigger, other little jobbies. There will be time cast aside for mugadecafs and a toot on the flute or two. Thinking of those at Warley, only sorry I will not be there, too. Hope all goes well. Take care. Be good. Be a star. ⭐ Polly

' morning all from red dragon land. Wow! Dry. A bit of blue sky. Double figures, too, all of 10.0C. Nice and warm indoors, that is the main thing. Trying to find some mojo to do a few of those get-rid-of-stuff jobbies but woke far too early this morning and feeling a bit bleary eyed 🥱 so it may have to wait a bit. A mugadecaf ☕* sounds a good idea so I think I will go along with that - for now. * <<that might not be large enough...try this for size ☕ >> Take care. Be good. Keep going. Polly