a viola in the house

There is a viola in the house. It's been at least 12 years since I played a viola. And about five since I dragged out my violin for more than five minutes. I am extremely rusty. Extremely. My intonation makes me cringe. Still, let's start at the very beginning. Well with some Bach anyway. I love love love these Bach cello suites. This is one of the easier and more well known movements. I used to be able to play some of the others when I was playing regularly. I am determined to improve...and perhaps start going to the Bundaberg Symphony Orchestra (always known in my mind as the Bundaberg Sympathy Orchestra....a title it gained for me after a faux pas by a Mayor of long ago when I was younger). Here I am playing it this afternoon.....

here I sit in my jim jams

Way back in February I requested that I work from home every Friday. Yes, wonderful, that's fine Wendy. It's now the end of Week 11 of the term and I am having my first Friday working from home. The term has been hectic to say the least and there always seemed to be something that I had to go into campus for. Never mind. Here I sit in my jim jams, drinking my lovely cup of green vanilla tea and deciding what to do first. The birds are singing outside and it's a perfect autumn day here in Bundaberg. Blue skies, light breeze. You get the picture. So what will it be? Written case outlining why preparatory students should still have access to hard copy study material in 2013 rather than having only online access? Last lot of Moodle resources created and uploaded for the term? Third assignment for management unit? All of the above is what I'm hoping for. In between times I might do some washing and general household duties which are sorely neglected by this time of the week. Then this afternoon I shall go out to accompany a double bass student for their music exam. And that, my friends, will be Friday.

I didn't expect to cry......

I didn't expect to get home and start crying. It's okay I'm not wracked with gasping sobs. I am just a bit teary and sad. Emotional, I believe it's called. Tonight was probably one of my student's last performances at the Eisteddfod. I started teaching her when she was a little girl of 8 and now she is about to turn 17. She is completing Year 12 and working towards her AMusA on the piano. Together over the last few years we have travelled the ups and downs of public performance together. She gets nervous playing in front of audiences. Exams (where you play in front of one person) are not so scary. So each year we have prepared for the music eisteddfod. We have spent hour upon hour working our way through learning the notes of ever challenging pieces, mastering the technical difficulties, having lengthy discussions about style, tempo, mood and character. We have talked about Debussy and Chopin, Brahms and Grainger. She has challenged herself as a student and I have enjoyed every moment of the challenge as a teacher in helping her to mature as a musician and interpret quite difficult repertoire. This week she played Elena Kats-Chernin's Russian Rag and Debussy's La Soiree dans Grenade. And as I sat and listened to her finish her Debussy tonight, I was suddenly overcome with the fact that something was ending. Something that I have done for so many years has drawn to a close. I will miss it greatly. Every student is different and I have others who are just starting on their musical journey. They have all done very well this week placing in their sections. But this ending is something I was not ready for. I hadn't given it much thought. I wasn't prepared! And now, I'm sitting at my keyboard with a huge lump in my throat and a tear in my eye.

I don't have to.....

It's the day before the annual Bundaberg music eisteddfod. For the last ten years I have spent the day running about like a nitwit, organising things, getting keys to venues, writing lists, checking rosters, buying paper clips and pens, preparing information for adjudicators, reading the program a zillion times, making a list of what I am going to wear every day for the next week and so on and so forth. This year I am not doing any of those things because I am no longer the coordinator for this event. I have no responsibilities except for preparing my few students, turning up and accompanying a couple of competitors. You know what? It's delightful! I'm actually looking forward to going to the Eisteddfod tomorrow and being able to leave when I'm finished without waiting for the session to finish. I don't have to liaise with adjudicators about their responsibilities. I don't have to decide when the morning or afternoon tea break will be. I don't have to arrive at the spooky dark theatre to open up for the evening session. I don't have to get home and worry that I left some of the millions of lights on in the aforementioned theatre or that I didn't put the alarm on as I left. I don't have to deal with parents of competitors who have a many a question, want to change something in the program, want to give me advice about what we should have done here, there or everywhere. I don't have spend two days ushering choirs on and off the stage and Civic Centre or setting up 50 stands and chairs for concert bands or orchestras according to the exacting requirements of the group's teacher. In fact, I don't have to do very much at all. This is just as well because I actually have no idea how I would manage to fit all that in around my job and my study this year. Don't get me wrong! It's a great event but I decided I had done my bit and I wanted to be able to focus on other things. Other people are now taking a turn. That's the way it should be I believe.

Yo Yo Ma.......

It's ages since I posted any music to The Spiralling Shape but I've been inspired by a couple of things over the last few days. They both involve Yo Yo Ma - amazing cellist. Firstly, on Sunday night, I joined my parents for a viewing of an episode of the West Wing. They're on a reviewing marathon and currently in the second series where Josh Lyman is recovering from his gunshot. Yo Yo Ma features playing at a Christmas event which triggers Josh's post traumatic stress. He plays the beautiful Bach cello suite (Yo Yo Ma that is, not Josh Lyman). Then this evening while rehearsing with a cello student for the eisteddfod I asked if she had listened to any recordings of the Piazolla tango we are playing. Sure, the Yo Yo Ma version on youtube. Here it is: and here is the Bach G major... by way of a little contrast...

a new grey zip up cardigan thing

I have just arisen from the lounge after a three hour (give or take) nap. I was very tired and it was a lovely nap as well - the kind where you go to sleep properly and sometimes get confused when you open your eyes as to the day and time. This is the kind of Saturday I haven't had for ages. My Mum and I went for coffee this morning first up. I hadn't eaten breakfast so I had a cheese and tomato toasted sandwich. It was simple but yummy. I even had it made on White Bread. Yes! I know...very bad indeed. Then I came home and had a short rehearsal with a cello student who is playing a lovely Piazolla tango in the Eisteddfod in a few weeks. We both need some more practice so she is coming back on Tuesday evening. Then my Mum and I went shopping. I have been curbing my shopping habits this year much to the delight of my bank balance. But I let fly this morning and came home with three pairs of jeans, four tops and the kind of comfy grey zip up cardigan thing that is perfect for weekends and after work during what passes for winter here in Bundaberg. It will replace my previous grey zip up cardigan thing which is now years old and sometimes fails to zip. It might be time for a wardrobe clean out very soon I think. Then I had the nap. And now I am drinking a beautiful cup of lady grey tea. Somehow I have managed to run out of coffee. Aaack! I mean, I know I only drink decaf so it doesn't really count but I just don't understand how I could have let that happen. Once again, it's a domestic goddess fail from me.

Easter to dos

For some people, some very good and organised people, Easter is spending time with family, going camping, relaxing, eating lots chocolate etc etc you get the picture. For me this year, it's four days that I have been holding out for in the hope of getting a heap of things done that haven't fitted into the run of the mill two day weekend. Here is my list.
1. Finish assignment for Collections Management - due Friday - done
2. Start assignment for Management Issues - not done
3. Edit paper on Chris Lilley and change referencing from intext to endnotes - not done
4. Prepare Moodle video resources for Weeks 7, 8 ad 9 - not done
5. Finish performance review docs - not done
6. Dust the house - not done
7. Do all the washing, and then put all the washing away - not done
8. Vacuum and/or sweep the floors REALLY thoroughly - not done
9. Tidy up mountain of shoes in wardrobe - not done
10. Buy sister's birthday present for tomorrow - done
11. Nap - done some, more planned
12. Read - done some, more planned
13. Watch TV - done some, more planned
14. Eat chocolate - not done yet, planned

this is my life at the moment

I think it's time I stopped starting every blog post with an apology for my lack of regular posting. That's just how things are at the moment.

 Work is busy, full of restructure-induced change, angst, sadness at loss of quality staff, intermittent fury at what appears to be a lack of interest from senior management in assisting our unit into our "brave new world", beautiful students who bring great joy and enthusiasm into the classroom, and some amazing colleagues who inspire me on a daily basis. So you know, swings and roundabouts. I'm not going to write about it anymore here because (1) you wouldn't believe half the things I said because they are so ridiculous and (2) it just makes the stressing worse. It's time to accentuate the positive. (You can thank me later for the ear worm).

 I was devastated by the conclusion of Homeland last Sunday night. Claire Danes is simply amazing and I can't wait for Season 2. If you didn't watch it you missed out on one of the few quality dramas to come out of the US in the past little while. Yes I know, that's a big call, but it's my blog and I'll say what I like. Once again I was destroyed by the ending of the Donna Noble story on Doctor Who. I've continued to watch the repeats now that Matt Smith is in the Tardis but I'm really sorry everyone. I just prefer David Tennant and that's all there is to it.

 On the reading front, I finally finished Claire Tomalin's biography of Dickens. I thought it appropriate that I read something about Dickens given his birthday year and all. How would I sum him up? Contradictory. One word. That's all you need. Now I am reading 31 Songs by Nick Hornby. I'm only up to song 13 or 14 but it's really making me think about making my own list of songs that express my life, my values, my belief, how I see myself in the world. Music eh? Pretty amazing stuff.

 My piano students continue to visit me each week. These are hours of delight as I attempt to guide them to develop their skills, to think about music as a form of communication and expression, to build their confidence, to encourage them to enjoy playing the piano. If they go away happy, and are happy to return the following week then the basics of my job are done. Anything after that - exam results, eisteddfod performances, - are simply bonuses.

 And I'm studying. Studying. Writing assignments. Writing reports. Learning about libraries and information science. There is more about this on my other blog. I wish I had more time to devote to it. That would mean not working which is not really an option. Not if I want to eat, have clothes, and maintain a shelter. So, I work in bursts and plan ahead. This is my life at the moment. It's going to be a big year.

Wednesday questions

What's this Wendy? Two blog posts in one week? Surely that has happened since around 2010? I seem to have a moment of peace and solitude for the first time in weeks. I know I am at work so it is probably a little bit naughty that I am blogging. Call it community engagement. That seems to be the buzzword of the moment. Just exactly what it means no one is quite sure but for now let's call it blogging. I feel like I have had no time for coherent thoughts lately other than the ones I have had to have for either work or study. I remember those long lost days when I used to write every morning about television. I'm really starting to wonder if I've grown past that. Don't get me wrong. I still love television. And I am very happy to read good academic work by wonderful people writing about it. It's just that I have a minimal amount of motivation to do it myself. And by minimal I probably really mean "no motivation at all". I don't know where it went. I'm not sure why it disappeared. It's just that when it comes tv studies at the moment my brain feels dulled. It all seems very obvious. Why would I bother saying something in 5000 highly referenced words when I could just send a tweet about how awesome Homeland is? Or why the writers of Doctor Who with David Tennant have him bemoaning the lack of an override switch/button/lever/system in nearly every episode? Or why I have suddenly pretty much lost interest in Bones? Or why I continue to enjoy the Big Bang Theory even though it portrays a character who in real life would sit somewhere on the autism/asperger's disorder as the butt of many jokes? Or why I am able to still enjoy Graham Norton on Channel Ten even though I had grave reservations about the shift from the ABC? Or why I can't stand Jonathan Ross? Or why I can't be bothered watching those Phryne Fisher murders even though everyone says they're fabulous? Or why I have never watched an episode of My Kitchen Rules and actually believe cooking shows to be quite boring? Did twitter ruin my blogging mojo? Maybe. It doesn't really worry me except for the fact that I have become a little concerned that I am incapable of writing anything longer than 140 characters. I think that's a small part of the attraction of returning to study. It forces me to write and think and think and write. These are things that I like doing. Perhaps, now I'm just doing them in more places than this blog. I guess it's good to diversity.

nothing very interesting really

Nothing much of great consequence has been happening. Work is still slightly over the top although things are slowly settling down. It has been great to start actually teaching. I have a lovely bunch of students on campus and some great ones studying by distance as well. The week seemed to go by in a flash. I am definitely back into a routine. Monday work and choir. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday work and piano teaching. Friday work and collapsing in front of the telly. Saturday and Sunday a mixture of work, study and shopping. Then - whaddya know - it's Monday all over again. I am attempting to be more organised this year. I am diligently using my diary and writing daily to-do lists. I am also attempting to keep my desks under control - both at home and at work. So far so good. My biggest achievement is with my email inbox at work. Usually, it stretches on for miles but this year I set up a workable system of folders and every day I spend a few minutes filing the completed emails away so all that is left in front of me are the flagged ones that still need my attention. It's so much easier and lessens the usual looming magnitude of the email considerably. The other thing that I have managed to change is my diet. Less carbs by probably more than half (which breaks my heart as I love bread and pasta) and lots more fruit and veges. I make a salad nearly every day for work. Next step is to start doing some exercise but I am going to wait for the weather to cool down a bit. I am not fond of exercise and I have no idea where I am going to fit it in but it needs to be done. Gradually, I am getting my life in order. After last year it just had to be done.