zbd1960

Yes, I have. I think the tally is two ski trips to Jasper, three to Banff, and 1 to Panorama. The only summer trip was to the Yukon as part of an Alaskan trip - and that was 30 years ago... Last trip to Banff was about 20 years ago. As a solo traveller, ski trips are expensive anyway, but Canada gets very expensive because the hotel rooms are family rooms and so the single supplements are large. I have never skied in the US (and won't now at all) as the price gouging for single travellers is even worse. Also, it's generally more expensive as Canadian ski pass costs are more than 50% more than say French ones, equipment hire is also more expensive than in Europe. I'll have to wait to getting signed-off from the injury before committing to booking, but I'd expect to make it to Banff around January 2027.

Yes, I booked the trip in January to Banff - two week ski trip. I enjoy visiting Canada and I've not been for ages. Next winter is the earliest it will be feasible

Ummm... yesterday was a bit if a disaster. I was washing a car on teh drive and I hadn't spotted some of the snow foam concentrate had dripped onto the drive. It is VERY slippery. Over I go, my left foot is at an unnatural angle, there's a sharp pain and I've broken my leg just below the knee. Local urgent treatment centre saw me. Took 4 x-rays to show the real issue was at the knee not ankle. I now have a plaster cast up to the knee and two crutches. A consultant will do a telephone update/review probably today. I was supposed to be going to Canada in 4 weeks for skiing. That's off and I will have to claim on insurance. Hope it goes better than my NZ Covid trip did. I'm also hosting Christmas... It is extremely difficult to just make coffee let alone anything more complex. Tidying the house - impossible without paying for someone to come in and do it.

OK, this is about as non-rock'n'roll as you can get... I've been trying a new instrument of a type I have never played before. As you know, I play cello as my main instrument and I also play sax (mostly tenor and baritone). Well, I've never played a brass instrument... I started looking because of my challenge in trying to find groups where I could play sax. After a certain amount of looking around and assorted e-mail trails, I landed at Kirkby Stephen's beginners' group with their brass band... The culture of brass bands is interesting. They are very keen to recruit people of all ages from young children to much older people. They will lend you instruments. They have stocks of good quality - but older - instruments to lend. The provide free tuition. There is a strong focus on community. So, I end up with a 1970s Boosey & Hawkes Imperial silver euphonium. My recent Fridays has been a 6pm session with the beginners' group in a back rom whilst the 'training band' rehearses in the next room. On Friday, the main band gave its community Christmas concert. The training band plus beginner me played three items as part of the concert. I have the advantage of being able to read music and I've played in groups before. Just the slight matter of getting the right note out when you blow... Someone caught me not doing much... And yes, GAS attack, I've bought a second-hand Besson Sovereign (B&H were bought out). In case you're wondering - the range of a euphonium is similar to cello and baritone sax.

Last night was my first concert with Keswick Choral Society. Main Christmas concert. Full house. Went well, no obvious disasters! The biggest piece we did was by Cecilia McDowall: Christus Natus Est which is a working of various Medieval tunes including Personent Hodie, Entre le boeuf, Gaudete, etc. This is a contemporary work written in 2007.

Just had the final rehearsal for tomorrow's concert in Keswick.

Just to set expectations.... the beginner parts are simple and I'll be involved in three pieces on the gig. And it's much harder than learning the sax, which I started in my early 50s

It's a busy time at the moment - as usual at this time of year - with various concerts etc. Tuesday will be main choir concert in Keswick. Next Saturday I've got my first public outing with euphonium and brass band (I'm with the beginners and contributing a few notes to pieces performed by the training band and the main band). Following week the community choir is providing three sets to entertain the guests at a well-known hotel by Ullswater. I've had to decline various events due to either diary clashes, or in the case of the brass band I can't justify the distance for a short session in a café etc., especially given my novice status.

So, a secondhand Besson Sovereign euphonium

A large box was delivered today... and yes it contains a musical instrument. And yes, it is at the low end of the spectrum, but it's not a bass (I have plenty of those already). I started a new instrument in September (because I don't have enough already...). I already play tenor viol (and bass but I sold mine a while ago); cello; sax (mostly tenor and baritone, but I have sop and alto as well); electric bass; and organ. Until now, I have not attempted to play a brass instrument. So, I started on euphonium with a local brass band. Brass bands are really good and they generally have instruments you can borrow on a long term basis. The range of a euphonium is similar to cello and baritone sax. I've been playing on a Boosey & Hawkes Imperial, which dates to 1974 according to its serial number.

Hadn't realised there'd been such a long hiatus... We've arrived at that time of year when if you're in various types of music groups you end up running around like an idiot. Back when I sang with my first singing teacher's choir, I'd have about six gigs just with his choir, on top of whatever I was doing with other groups. When I played with the big wind band, they'd do about six as well. During that time, I sang with two other choirs, to which you coudl add about another four or five events, making about ten or eleven in total. It's not quite that bad now. The local community choir I sing in has three gigs lined up but I can only do two of them as I'm in London for the first one, which is this week. The choral society has one main concert plus a couple of charity events, the latter requiring some volunteers for carol singing. I'm only doing the main concert for that group, which is next week. The brass band has lots of little gigs - at least half a dozen - which vary in requirements from a handful of players to larger groups, plus a main concert. Due to the travel involved, I've limited myself to just the main concert. There is various news to report, so I will write some more posts shortly.

Since I live on my own and have always done so since leaving home forty-odd years ago, I have often bought myself something 'significant' for the solstitial festivities. Back in 1982 it was Linn Sondek, which is still here sitting in the lounge.

Unless Santa has a spare gold brick or two, I suspect the tree will be unadorned > C18th English cello and bow > A shiny Besson compensating 4 valve euphonium...

Most of the rep that needs 7 strings with the low A is the French solo repertoire. I mostly play tenor. I got rather frustrated at the lack of people to play with for consort playing. I'd only get o play on weekend workshops etc which gets very expensive.

I have enough of a challenge trying to play a standard 6 string bass viol without trying the 7 string French type bass