(no subject)
Nov. 12th, 2006 02:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ewtGood afternoon!
I'm very, very tired today, but at least (for once) this can be explained by being busy and staying up late. Oops. Zombiepianoteacher. Oh well.
The public loos in Hendon Park have been locked for the winter, it seems. This is annoying. I've just paid £1.35 for a hot chocolate in order to be able to use the loo in a smoky caf (there is no other sort along here for some reason; there is a Subway which is non-smoking but has no loo). At least someone sensible has opened the door. Yay for traffic fumes mixed with cigarette smoke... or not. Never mind, I'll finish writing this and then go back and sit in the park where I can breathe and get free wifi.
Academic
Realised today I'm meant to write a couple of counter-melodies for arrangement class tomorrow and haven't done it yet. I have the work with me, so I'll probably do it on the train on the way home, or perhaps in the park later if it isn't too windy.
Employment
Ninety minutes' worth of my Sunday teaching has crept away due to a house being extensively renovated... to the point that the piano is going to be in storage until January. On the one hand it's hard to be too upset about this as I clearly can't teach the kids on air and they're having difficulty just coping with ordinary schoolwork in the midst of such upheaval, but on the other hand it represents at pay cut of £41.25/week. It also means I have a much longer lunch break on Sundays. I may be able to move the 08.30-09.30 family to a later time on some Sundays, but for the most part I'll be finishing at 11.40am-ish and then not having to teach again until 16.45.
I'm rapidly approaching the time of year when I need to think about doing some busking again. Seasonal Festive Tunes work quite well on the horn, see, and although it's a bit early to be playing them yet I have no qualms once Advent has started.
Busking to consider:
-go to Bath for a week or so once classes are out of the way and do lots of busking outside in the cold there. With addition of shiny lights this is nearly always worth the effort. Places to stay are probably still free as I know enough people there I'd be able to crash with, although I'll have to check specific cases nearer the time as one can never be certain which country![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
shevek will be in. Advantage: get to see Bath and lots of people I haven't seen in far too long. Disadvantages: very weather-dependent, if it's pissing it down with rain nobody will be out; charity Santas take up best pitch for most of the day until about 23rd December.
-get in touch with the manager of Grennitch Market and do some busking there withstortoise. This went well when it was done as a brass trio last year but the person organising it didn't organise much; I'm sure I can do better, but I need to phone. It's not a great location for solo busking. Need to get or write some carolbooks, probably. Advantage: very local, fairly laid-back, not lots of other buskers around. Disadvantages: VERY crowded, no good solo pitches so I have to have at least one other player, who probably needs music stand and other associated clobber.
-busking on the Choob. Stick to known-to-be-worthwhile pitches for a bit, methinks. Advantages: I know mostly which pitches work well for me and what times, I already have the license, I can book online. Disadvantage: Always a commute, noisy, tiring, and I end up absolutely FILTHY afterward.
Spam
1) Concert Thursday night at Blackheath Halls. Do come along, it'll be fun, or something.
2) If any of you lot live near London and are willing to put me up and know you have a local busking scheme that's easy to slip into and out of (such as the one in Bath, which is a set of voluntary regulations to keep buskers and shopkeepers reasonably happy, NOT like the on for the Underground where you have to apply and then wait several months for an audition and then wait several months for a licence...), let me know. I like visiting people! I just don't get to do it much because of my schedule.
3) If you live within sane commuting distance of Hendon and you would like to try voice/theory lessons for a special reduced price of £25/hour from now until January, do let me know. Timing would have to be SUnday afternoon; I can't leave Hendon before 11.45am, or get back later than 16.45, but between those times I am flexible. Also willing to barter for services in kind, shiny things, and so on.
4) I'm interested in making all sorts of stuff - hairfalls, wings, simple clothing, slippers, socks, mittens, scarves, and so on. I don't want to make a huge business out of it - it's just something I enjoy doing. Name your item preferences and how much you're willing to pay and I'll say whether I can do it, or what I can do for that price.
5) Brighton Below this Saturday is looking for extra people for their Floating Market - traders and buyers, in character and out. More details from the website or talk toflannelcat who has been far more involved than I have. I'm considering making up a quick batch of hairfalls to take down, along with some of my random crap from around the house.
Jeez that's a lot of spam.
Creative
I'd love to have a little blue LED that travels around my room at night silently, on some sort of 3D track mounted on the ceiling. Maybe a network of fine silver thread and wire and a spider-like robot that can navigate them? I don't know. I don't know how it would work. It'd be pretty, though. I think I'll stick to glowing stars for the time being.
Links
Theme: Pretty Lights. I could go on for ever about this. But see battery LED fairy lights which are lovely. Krill lamps are a favourite old standby of mine and they come in size "huge" now too. Keychains with tritium in them are a joy as well, go go gadget gratuitous radiation! Since I was very young I've loved flashlights, candles, fairly lights (especially portable ones), anything that glows in the dark.
Wishing
-that the loos in Hendon Park would stay open in winter, at least in the daytime!
-that there were a local caf with no music and no smoke. The caf in John Lewis in Brent Cross isn't too bad, but it's expensive-ish to buy food there, and going to Brent Cross is in and of itself a financial hazard when I have time to kill. No idea if there's wifi there, will have to find out. Marine Ices is good, close to a wifi network or two, and when the Northern Line runs normally is within fairly easy reach; it's non-smoking and has no muzac. But I feel a bit awkward sitting there all afternoon and only getting a cup of tea or something, in a way I don't in a caf or a pub.
-actually what I'm wishing for is some way to transplant The Pembury to Hendon, or to wherever else I am. It is my local in everything but location. Oops. Sadly, moving to Hackney is unlikely to be convenient for me unless that East London Line extension is really something spectacular and somehow joins up with the ever-cursed Northern Line, or unless I decide to give up all of my Hendon teaching at some point.
-for a wifi detector so I could walk around the park and find the good spots without having to get the computer out every time
Thankful for
-good friends
-a housemate who actually got out of bed before I did, even though he is on vacation and it is his weekend. His attempts at being an early riser mean I do not have to worry so much about my own early alarms.
-dry weather today so I'm not stuck indoors, especially as I missed out on lightbox this morning through oversleep and yesterday morning through not packing sensibly
-the mostest deliciousest blueberry muffin EVAR this morning, bought from a shop in Hampstead whilst I waited for the rail replacement bus
-being able to earn a semi-decent living at things I love, even if I struggle with cash flow sometimes; it's so wonderful that I don't have to consider working in a pub or waitressing 20 hours/week as serious options for gaining income.
Planning
-to pay for my hot chonklit and get out of this place into the park which is much nicer
-write some music
-a bit of a wander around junk shops to look for wing materials
-more teaching
-a much-deserved early night
Wondering
-whether I ought to leave at 7am every morning anyway, giving myself the luxury of a walk around the mini-park near my first students, or a brief excursion from Hampstead to acquire muffins or other delights (the shop opens at 8am Sundays, so I could stroll around enough to clear my head and then acquire a treat). Probably better for me to do some baking at home, really.
I'm very, very tired today, but at least (for once) this can be explained by being busy and staying up late. Oops. Zombiepianoteacher. Oh well.
The public loos in Hendon Park have been locked for the winter, it seems. This is annoying. I've just paid £1.35 for a hot chocolate in order to be able to use the loo in a smoky caf (there is no other sort along here for some reason; there is a Subway which is non-smoking but has no loo). At least someone sensible has opened the door. Yay for traffic fumes mixed with cigarette smoke... or not. Never mind, I'll finish writing this and then go back and sit in the park where I can breathe and get free wifi.
Academic
Realised today I'm meant to write a couple of counter-melodies for arrangement class tomorrow and haven't done it yet. I have the work with me, so I'll probably do it on the train on the way home, or perhaps in the park later if it isn't too windy.
Employment
Ninety minutes' worth of my Sunday teaching has crept away due to a house being extensively renovated... to the point that the piano is going to be in storage until January. On the one hand it's hard to be too upset about this as I clearly can't teach the kids on air and they're having difficulty just coping with ordinary schoolwork in the midst of such upheaval, but on the other hand it represents at pay cut of £41.25/week. It also means I have a much longer lunch break on Sundays. I may be able to move the 08.30-09.30 family to a later time on some Sundays, but for the most part I'll be finishing at 11.40am-ish and then not having to teach again until 16.45.
I'm rapidly approaching the time of year when I need to think about doing some busking again. Seasonal Festive Tunes work quite well on the horn, see, and although it's a bit early to be playing them yet I have no qualms once Advent has started.
Busking to consider:
-go to Bath for a week or so once classes are out of the way and do lots of busking outside in the cold there. With addition of shiny lights this is nearly always worth the effort. Places to stay are probably still free as I know enough people there I'd be able to crash with, although I'll have to check specific cases nearer the time as one can never be certain which country
shevek will be in. Advantage: get to see Bath and lots of people I haven't seen in far too long. Disadvantages: very weather-dependent, if it's pissing it down with rain nobody will be out; charity Santas take up best pitch for most of the day until about 23rd December.-get in touch with the manager of Grennitch Market and do some busking there with
stortoise. This went well when it was done as a brass trio last year but the person organising it didn't organise much; I'm sure I can do better, but I need to phone. It's not a great location for solo busking. Need to get or write some carolbooks, probably. Advantage: very local, fairly laid-back, not lots of other buskers around. Disadvantages: VERY crowded, no good solo pitches so I have to have at least one other player, who probably needs music stand and other associated clobber.-busking on the Choob. Stick to known-to-be-worthwhile pitches for a bit, methinks. Advantages: I know mostly which pitches work well for me and what times, I already have the license, I can book online. Disadvantage: Always a commute, noisy, tiring, and I end up absolutely FILTHY afterward.
Spam
1) Concert Thursday night at Blackheath Halls. Do come along, it'll be fun, or something.
2) If any of you lot live near London and are willing to put me up and know you have a local busking scheme that's easy to slip into and out of (such as the one in Bath, which is a set of voluntary regulations to keep buskers and shopkeepers reasonably happy, NOT like the on for the Underground where you have to apply and then wait several months for an audition and then wait several months for a licence...), let me know. I like visiting people! I just don't get to do it much because of my schedule.
3) If you live within sane commuting distance of Hendon and you would like to try voice/theory lessons for a special reduced price of £25/hour from now until January, do let me know. Timing would have to be SUnday afternoon; I can't leave Hendon before 11.45am, or get back later than 16.45, but between those times I am flexible. Also willing to barter for services in kind, shiny things, and so on.
4) I'm interested in making all sorts of stuff - hairfalls, wings, simple clothing, slippers, socks, mittens, scarves, and so on. I don't want to make a huge business out of it - it's just something I enjoy doing. Name your item preferences and how much you're willing to pay and I'll say whether I can do it, or what I can do for that price.
5) Brighton Below this Saturday is looking for extra people for their Floating Market - traders and buyers, in character and out. More details from the website or talk to
flannelcat who has been far more involved than I have. I'm considering making up a quick batch of hairfalls to take down, along with some of my random crap from around the house.Jeez that's a lot of spam.
Creative
I'd love to have a little blue LED that travels around my room at night silently, on some sort of 3D track mounted on the ceiling. Maybe a network of fine silver thread and wire and a spider-like robot that can navigate them? I don't know. I don't know how it would work. It'd be pretty, though. I think I'll stick to glowing stars for the time being.
Links
Theme: Pretty Lights. I could go on for ever about this. But see battery LED fairy lights which are lovely. Krill lamps are a favourite old standby of mine and they come in size "huge" now too. Keychains with tritium in them are a joy as well, go go gadget gratuitous radiation! Since I was very young I've loved flashlights, candles, fairly lights (especially portable ones), anything that glows in the dark.
Wishing
-that the loos in Hendon Park would stay open in winter, at least in the daytime!
-that there were a local caf with no music and no smoke. The caf in John Lewis in Brent Cross isn't too bad, but it's expensive-ish to buy food there, and going to Brent Cross is in and of itself a financial hazard when I have time to kill. No idea if there's wifi there, will have to find out. Marine Ices is good, close to a wifi network or two, and when the Northern Line runs normally is within fairly easy reach; it's non-smoking and has no muzac. But I feel a bit awkward sitting there all afternoon and only getting a cup of tea or something, in a way I don't in a caf or a pub.
-actually what I'm wishing for is some way to transplant The Pembury to Hendon, or to wherever else I am. It is my local in everything but location. Oops. Sadly, moving to Hackney is unlikely to be convenient for me unless that East London Line extension is really something spectacular and somehow joins up with the ever-cursed Northern Line, or unless I decide to give up all of my Hendon teaching at some point.
-for a wifi detector so I could walk around the park and find the good spots without having to get the computer out every time
Thankful for
-good friends
-a housemate who actually got out of bed before I did, even though he is on vacation and it is his weekend. His attempts at being an early riser mean I do not have to worry so much about my own early alarms.
-dry weather today so I'm not stuck indoors, especially as I missed out on lightbox this morning through oversleep and yesterday morning through not packing sensibly
-the mostest deliciousest blueberry muffin EVAR this morning, bought from a shop in Hampstead whilst I waited for the rail replacement bus
-being able to earn a semi-decent living at things I love, even if I struggle with cash flow sometimes; it's so wonderful that I don't have to consider working in a pub or waitressing 20 hours/week as serious options for gaining income.
Planning
-to pay for my hot chonklit and get out of this place into the park which is much nicer
-write some music
-a bit of a wander around junk shops to look for wing materials
-more teaching
-a much-deserved early night
Wondering
-whether I ought to leave at 7am every morning anyway, giving myself the luxury of a walk around the mini-park near my first students, or a brief excursion from Hampstead to acquire muffins or other delights (the shop opens at 8am Sundays, so I could stroll around enough to clear my head and then acquire a treat). Probably better for me to do some baking at home, really.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-11-12 08:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 07:17 am (UTC)Hi Sweetie, Oooh loved the lights, wish they'd work here with our elextricity. So pretty. I'm thinking, trade off between getting up early one day, and going for baked goods another, then baking your own and taking them with you early another day, yep. And...park bathrooms should never close, never, it's not fair especially when you have a bad bladder like mine.
I just wanted to come by to wish you a super Happy Belated Birthday! I'm so sorry I fell behind and missed it.
We've all had the flu and some kind of virus here for weeks, been busy with Halloween, and I'm still working on getting back on my feet after a pretty bad car accident I had all the way back in July. It's been pretty rough, but I'm slowly improving, and I'm sorry I missed wishing you a Happy Birthday on your birthday. I hope it was fun, happy, wonderful, joyous and full of love!
I took these two pictures on our beloved Maui, in Hawaii, on our last trip. I was thinking that I'm so happy when I'm there; all my problems disappear and all I do is smile all the time. So if I could give you anything for your birthday, this is what I would give you, I would give you Hawaii, (without the earthquakes,) and this feeling of joy and eternal optimism that I feel when I'm there.
Here's to your having the best, happiest, and brightest new birth year ever!
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Ewtkins
Happy Birthday to you
Great big loving hugs from your LJ pal,
Jacqui
XOXOXOX
A special Maui sunset just for my birthday pals.
PS: Here's your horoscope for this week from Rob Brezny's Free Will Astrology; (http://www.freewillastrology.com/horoscopes/allsigns.html)
SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)
"Talent hits a target no one else can hit," said German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer. "Genius hits a target no one else can see." That could and should apply to you, Scorpio, at least during the month of November. I believe that you have a heightened ability to access special talents that have been partially dormant up till now. If you summon the gall to be almost crazily confident, you'll soon be scoring bull's-eyes on targets that no one else can see, let alone hit."
no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 09:16 am (UTC)It's good to hear from you. I haven't been commenting so much either; I hurt my elbow in September and have also had a rotten cold (hard to tell if it was a mild 'flu or a bad cold, really), on top of some ongoing health problems I haven't sorted out. So I can totally relate to not keeping up. Life happens.
The pictures are beautiful - thanks!
no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 08:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 09:14 am (UTC)And it's hardly a "they" problem, it's a "we" problem... if governments won't work out some sort of sane externality pricing to bring the cost of carbon use into economic transactions, we as consumers have to think about it ourselves. Ditto heavy metal pollution, particulate pollution, contamination of aquifers with waste products, landfill use, the whole lot.
To give you an example of the numbers on carbon, since 1990 the lowest per capita emissions of carbon have been 15.4 metric tonnes and the measurement for 2003 is 18.0. Yes, 18 tonnes of carbon per person, per year. Canada has consistently remained a tonne or two below that despite similar population density and widespread heating of homes in winter (because when it's -30C outside, you don't really have much choice).
The UK has not been above 11.3 metric tonnes per capita per year (that was 1991), and the 2003 measurement is 9.4.
Perhaps we could all learn a lot from Sweden, at 5.9 tonnes per capita in 2003 despite being sparsely populated and fucking freezing.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions_per_capita
no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 02:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 04:13 pm (UTC)I know that I noticed a difference between pre-CC and post-CC traffic in central London. I also know that when I lived in Islington, road traffic was much worse at weekends than during the week, because of people moving their journeys to the weekend rather than paying the congestion charge.
I also know that my perceptions are fallible, though.
Much fuss was made of the success of getting people to abandon cars and take buses, which is a relatively rare accomplishment. I approve but still wish there were far better provision for bicycles. I know it's difficult to tear up existing roads to make physically separate cycle lanes (no, not lanes that are shared with buses and taxis!), but I would use these far more readily than roads.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-13 05:01 pm (UTC)And yes, more cycle lanes please! Ones where you don't get mown down by buses and taxis! Though, those are better then nothing - the cycle lanes that are just a painted on line and maybe some thin green road surface are so often ignored by other motorists; they now don't use bus lanes for all the cameras and £100 fines...
Evening (sub)standard has axe to grind
Date: 2006-11-13 07:43 pm (UTC)Learn from Sweden?
Date: 2006-11-13 08:08 pm (UTC)Smoking is very much a "we" problem, and yet "they" are attacking it. (The thing I find oddest about the smoking-in-pubs ban is how many smokers seem to be in favour of it).
when it's -30C outside, you don't really have much choice
Concerning how you heat and insulate, you have all the choice in the world. In space heating, to paraphrase Robert & Brenda Vale (http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Autonomous-House-Planning-Sustainability/dp/0500282870/sr=8-1/qid=1163447839/ref=sr_1_1/026-0758948-5823625?ie=UTF8&s=books) via Bananarama, 'tain't what you do, it's the way that you do it, that's what gets results.
(I wish there were such handy technofixes available for air travel; ho hum)
Re: Learn from Sweden?
Date: 2006-11-13 09:39 pm (UTC)It may be that insulation in Sweden is even better than that in Canada, either through stricter legislation or greater distribution of sense. It may be that there are other reasons their carbon outputs are so low - hydro would be one big one. I suspect transport is a major factor as well, but I don't know.