Tag: christmas

359/365 Science!

359/365 Science!
359/365 Science! by rutty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

It is Christmas Day. Our presents are open and the turkey is currently turning the requisite shade of brown in the oven. What to do?

Obviously, the answer is to have a go at some sciencing! Ruby received some thoughtful gifts from friends and family, and my sister gave her a ‘Water Science’ kit. This contains a number of aqua-based activities aimed at the junior schooler, chief amongst them are a few that require the making of bubbles using some solution and gelatin.

Her she is with one of her proud experiments.

A lovely day has been had by all. Merry Christmas!

339/365 Baubles

339/365 Baubles
339/365 Baubles by rutty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

I am a reluctant participant in Christmas. I’m not religious – so there’s always way too much little baby Jesus for me – but I’m also resistant to all the gaudy nonsense that happens at this time of year.

I like the tradition of it of course, but I do not like the forced jollity of tinsel, baubles and flashing bloody christmas lights. I have certainly enjoyed Christmas way more since Ruby was born, but I could live without all the decorations.

Obviously the day when the office decorations go up always fills me with joy and happiness (and goodwill to all men).

The best bit about this day is that I am often called upon to reach those high parts with decorations in hand. Being tall means that I am needed to hang the baubles, so hang the baubles I did.

Baubles, indeed.

335/365 Three Kings Swing

335/365 Three Kings Swing
335/365 Three Kings Swing by rutty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

It’s that time of year again; our first Christmas concert of the 2017 festive season. We’ve been rehearsing various Yuletide ditties since late October, so we are well prepared for the oncoming barrage of Santa-related tuneage.

One piece we play is the one visible on the right of my stand here; Three Kings Swing. It’s a fantastic jazzy variation of a famous tradition theme, one often associated with Christmas. It has an utterly terrifying solo in the middle for Repiano cornet, one certain to stretch the abilities and nerve of even the most competent cornet player.

Today, I am that Repiano. That solo is mine. I will stand up a few bars before and play some of the correct notes in a generally jazzy style, while being partially blinded by my varifocal lenses – it’s really hard to see music when standing up. I will attempt to play at the correct speed, with an easy style, while avoiding the terror taking over my fingers.

I love it.

327/365 Still too soon

327/365 Still too soon
327/365 Still too soon by rutty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

We are not even at the end of November and I’m already three weeks into Christmas music rehearsals.

I do like to get into the Christmas spirit – despite my repeated irritation at some of the over-commercial nonsense and forced jolity that goes on – but the fact that I start playing Chrimble music while October is a recent memory does erk me somewhat.

Still, we have some amazing music for our concert programme this year, including Three Kings Swing – which has a testing but fabulour repiano cornet solo in it. I’m really looking forward to playing that!

I’m not especially looking forward to playing Carols for hours on end in the cold, although it’s nice to provide music to Christmas shoppers.

I do try to get into the swing of it, even though I’m a complete heathen. Happy to go with the traditions of Christmas, if not the actual worship.