Music

Sound of People. And Music

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Had the day off work today so I was expecting to sleep in and lounge about the house today. Managed only one of those as around 8:30 the housing cooperation started drilling into the wall that separates my house from the neighbours’. And let that wall be my bedroom wall, where my head is… Suffice it say I was not pleased >:

I’m thinking I can expect more shenanigans like this in the next week or so. New neighbour is about to move in (that’s why the housing guys were here, I think, fixing up stuff so he can move in. It seemed like they were doing rather a lot though) so I expect more noise as his stuff gets placed.

I did the rest of my waking up on the sofa with the trusty laptop and some Facebook games, then went to play Warcraft. It’s Midsummer Festival in the game so lots of special, temporary, things to do. Then the housing cooperation called me to make an appointment for someone to come by and look at the garden door. I’ve mentioned it before, Neighbour Nienke and I closed off our backyard with a door to stop neighbourhood kids from using it as a short cut to a play field; and now another neighbour is complaining about it because he is convinced it actually is a path and not our yard. HC guy let through on the phone he doesn’t really buy that, but feels he should see it with his own eyes rather than from the pics behind his desk 😀 I don’t blame him, and it will finally settle this mess so Nienke and I, hopefully, won’t be forced to keep the door locked just to stop the kids from using it still. We set an appointment for coming Wednesday so we’ll see what he has to say.

Shortly after this Nienke came home from work and we decided to take a trip to the supermarket where I still forgot half I wanted to buy :S Eva mailed me this great recipe for a low-carb chocolate mousse thing and I wanted to get the stuff for it. The only thing I came home with from that list was the whipped cream… I did buy carrots and chicken and new eggs. I’ve been doing a no/low carb and high(er) protein diet thing since two weeks or so to help me loose weight. So far it’s going well, it’s a kind of thing that still let’s me eat a lot of stuff I like (chicken!) However I use a lot more eggs now (they’re full of protein and as such an excellent way to make you feel full) so need new ones regularly 😀
Cooked 8 eggs this morning, and there’s only one left. To be fair, Nienke and Eva had some too.

Eva, who’s doing the same diet thing, came by today. Of course we first had to discuss the finer points of our respective journeys along the dietary path. Then it was time for dinner. Eva had brought hers along, and with a few minutes at Nienke’s stove to prepare her meat, she was all set. I needed some more time since I still had to make my salad. It turned out great: lettuce, egg, french cheese, a bit of dressing and grilled chicken. Nom, nom, nom 😀 I stole the idea of an eat-book from Eva. Not just a book to list your daily food in (I tried that before and I never manage to keep that up for more than two or three days) but also for numbers, notes and ideas/comments about the food as well as inspirational things and stuff. Kinda like a cross between food diary and regular diary. I found an empty book and wrote the first page today. It does need decorating though, otherwise it’ll be boring and I’ll still forget it after a few days. I’m hoping I keep this up.

In the evening we ended up making music. Eva on guitar, me vocals and Nienke as the silent companion and occasional moviemaker 😀 At the end of the evening we did manage to FINALLY! get Nienke to actually sing!!! This after she figured out that when she has notes with the lyrics, she has a much easier time singing. With just the lyrics she can’t get the melody and with a melody she can’t remember the lyrics. It turns out she has a really pretty voice! After Eva was gone Nienke went on to say she would sing You Raise Me Up at Christmas 😀 I wrote it down into my book and am so keeping her to it 😀

And now I need to crash.

Cloud 9

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As usual, tonight was music night so a little before 5pm I made my way to the bus station to begin the first part of my journey to bagpipe practice. And yes, the trip qualifies for the journey moniker since, after I ride the bus for 10 minute I end up at the train station where I take the train to Groningen (aka The City).
The Tuesday 5pm bus is always early though (not many people take it) so I ended up there a good ten minutes early. Fortunately the weather was nice so I resigned myself to waiting and pulled Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince from my bag. I read the book when it just came out but recent news about the coming publication of the 7th made me want to re-read.

Five minutes into my wait, the speaker crackled to life and announced that the train to Groningen would show up five minutes late. That’s a message I hear regularly there so I barely bothered to take out my mp3-player’s earplug to listen. When finally the train did show, it was one of the new ones that are extra silent and all roomy and sleek. The train company will, in time, replace all their trains with ones like this. So far they only two or so I think and they don’t normally ride that route so I was pleasantly surprised and immediately forgot about it being late.

During the trip, the train made good on its short delay and arrived in Groningen exactly on time. With a good twenty minutes to spare before my bus to Hoogkerk, a suburb of Groningen where practice is, left, I took a quick look in the book shop and then made my way to the food counter with a brief stop at the record store where I picked up the dvd-box of a Dutch highschool series I used to watch when I was younger (for the Dutchies: Fort Alpha).

After visiting the food counter I headed for the bus stops armed with some fries, a chickenburger and a bottle of iced tea. Sitting myself down on a thingy not meant to be sat on I began to eat, watching the bus stop. Good thing I did because, not really paying attention to my food and the time, I wasn’t done when the bus arrived. Ferociously chewing the burger I tossed the remainder of my fries and hurried over to the bus. Standing in front of the door I finished the burger and, still chewing that last bite, entered the bus for the ten minute ride or so to Hoogkerk.

Once there it’s just a five minute walk to the practice building and not long after the Pipe Major showed up. I’d already taken my practice chanter out of my bag and was silently practicing my Heavy Throw (which is a bitch to learn) when Benne said: “You won’t need those tonight.”

He put a familiar type of bag on the table and began taking out a set of pipes. As my insides started to dance I made my way over to the table and got the confirmation I wanted. Yes, the pipes were for me, it was time, finally. Benne talked me through the names of the different parts and how it all fit together. How to lift the thing, carry it and then told me to ‘fill her up’ and see if I could get some sound out of it.

So I huffed and puffed and filled her up and pushed and I’ll be damned, sound came out. Not too steady or too well toned but I got sound out of it. The next 45 minutes was spent trying to steady the sound output and control my breathing. That proved difficult because with the practice chanter when you stop blowing the sound stops. With the pipes however, when you stop blowing, you’re supposed to apply pressure with your one arm so the sound continues. And to learn to apply the pressure correctly and not wear yourself out with trying to do it all just by blowing into it…. well, it’s tricky. But oh my do I love my pipes . I’ve been walking around with a huge smile on my face ever since I left there.

This week I have to practice steadying my tone and controlling my breathing and pushing. Next week I’ll lose the pipes for a week though as Benne has not had time to give the entire set a once over which he wants to do before I get to use it for real. Benne said I did well tonight and that it would all go okay. Go me.

*wanders off in a daze*

Ever and ever the Rowan Tree goes

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Tuesday is Bagpipe day. It is when I travel to the city for another pipe lesson so that someday I can be really, really good. I’ve been doing it for a little over a year now (last December a year) and, while I’m definitely making good progress and proceeding right on track, it invariably goes too slow for me. I want to actually get a set of pipes (I’m stuck with the chanter still) and be able to play that and just be really frakking good at it. But that’ll be a while longer.

So far, I’m practicing my doublings (which are going well save for some minor issues with C & B doublings), tachums (they go well although the CA one goes better than the BG) and grips (which I do right half of the time). I’ve recently begun learning the heavy thrown and Benne (the pipemajor) has added Taorluath to it tonight while my throw isn’t even good yet…

All in all, it’s not bad (frak no, I love it except for those times when I practice and nothing will go right) but I just wish I would learn a new tune. I’ve been playing the frakking Rowan Tree for I think close to a year and I really want some variation. Just have to get that throw right first…

Feel good

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As you know I went to Castlefest the first weekend of this month. Just before we left, I handed in the first version of my Bachelor paper to the marker. I heard back from him last week saying there were some things I needed to fix and add but that I would pass. Yay!

Yesterday I went to the library to get some books and I will work on the thing the rest of the week with the goal of handing it in again on Thursday (preferably) or Friday.

I also updated some site stuff. I added a page to the Personal section with my Pandora radio stations. Pandora.com is a very cool website where you can create your own radiostations (max. 100 per user). The cool thing about Pandora then is that, you create the radio station based upon one artist or song, and then Pandora adds more artists and songs to it based upon a detailed analysis of the artist or song you added. This is the perfect way to get to know different kinds of music you otherwise might never hear.

You can also add more artists or songs to radio stations you already created to expand the scope of the station. So far, I have a handful of stations made. One for folk music which I created with Kate Rusby as initial artist. One for celtica created with Enya and Gary Stadler as base. One for country with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Keith Urban as base. One for singer-songwriter music with Gary Jules and Chantal Kreviazuk as initial artist and finally a Female Power Songs that has Sheryl Crow and Meredith Brooks as base artists.

Back to site business, I also added a questions page should someone have a question for me…
Besides that, I’m researching gallery scripts to ease the job of getting photos and stuff up here. So far, I’ve seen a few promising things but they require the installation of some other stuff first and since I’m no expert, it might take a bit. This means no new photo pages until I know for sure whether or not I am capable of installing a gallery package.

Bring Me Home

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Ronan Keating has a new album out and it’s called Bring Me Home. Being the fan that I am, I got it a few days ago and I love it. Some of the songs took a bit of getting used to like a cover of the Goo Goo Doll’s Iris, and the song To Be Loved, which was previously done by Westlife, but that happened soon enough. These two songs remain the ones I like least of the album but the other songs more than make up for it, most notably the title song Bring Me Home and All Over Again, a duet with UK folk singer Kate Rusby. Other favourites include Superman and the up tempo Back in the Backseat.

Rapalje, Friends & Family

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The Rapalje gig saturday was great! Check my gallery for a bunch of photos. Eva also put some video bits on Google, see: Rapalje playing, Rapalje & Annemarie doing Caledonia & fans playing music on the field

Ingrid picked me up from my parent’s place at around 2:45 and we went on our way to pick up Eva, Judith and Mellien before going back to Ingrid’s place to get some stuff she forgot.
After that, we were finally ready to head to Nieuweschans where we arrived roughly 3:30.

We took a stroll across the fantasy market they were having and it was fun, I was tempted to buy some mead but decided against it. We lounged about for a bit until we met up with Renate, a colleague of Eva. We had just gotten comfortable on the grass when all of a sudden, the fenced of part of the terrain (reserved for the concert) needed to be enlarged. As we were sitting right were they were going to pass with the fences, we hastily made way.

After that had happened, the market soon drew to a close and the concert was near. Everyone had to get out and come back in so it could be checked that everyone had their ticket and the complimentary Rapalje beakers could be handed out. Fortunately, we already had ours so we were back in pretty soon with a shiny new Rapalje beaker.

We found ourselves a spot on the grass behind a bench so some of us who wanted to sit on the bench could while the rest lounged on the grass. Ingrid went to get Fyndlings, the coins used to pay for the food and drinks on Rapalje fests and we all went lazy and gave her money to get us some coins as well. 😀

Cooking Highlander was there to cater, as usual, with their kick-ass three tier barbeque and soon we we’re standing in line to get some food. I had a very tasty chicken leg, yummy! My first drink of the night was a simple coke but later I decided to get some mead and, while I usually don’t like alcohol, I’d found out during an earlier event do like mead. And this night I found out I really like mead so I had another.

Shortly after we’d gotten food, the concert started and it was great as usual. David Myles was there to accompany them. He’s an amazing bagpiper and I adore his playing. I hope to one day be as good as he is.

As this was a fest to celebrate their 10 year jubilee, they’d invited musicians that played with them in their first years and played with them again. There was also some dueting with a very good singer called Annemarie whom they apparantly sometimes play with. Her voice and Williams’ mixed wonderfully!

Rapalje played three sets spread over the evening and in between there was a jam session opportunity for the public. Annemarie and some of her friends played and some others as well.

The evening ended around midnight and then we still had to get back home and drop all of us off at where we belonged. All in all, I was in my bed at 1:30, not a good time if you have to get up at 7:30-8:00 (on Sunday morning…).

That was since my folks would be at my door at 9:00 to pick me up to go to the birthday party of my aunt and uncle, two hours away. I was quite sleepy in the car and may have dozed off even. We arrived safely and the day was lots of fun as the party was at the special needs daycare centre my cousin works. It completely took care of the kids who loved all the play opportunities as well as the snuggle room that had a waterbed and moodlights and stuff like that. I had great fun as well, playing a bit with the kids, taking photos (and some movies as well) of them.

We had brought the dog with us as well as we had no sitter for her and she enjoyed herself as well, the terrain was fenced in so she could walk around freely and me, my mom and an aunt of mine went for a walk with her that afternoon.

She did nick a cheese sandwich when we got back 😀 They had been placed on a low shelf, right at dog mouth height and we got back in from walking her and she just went straight for it and grabbed one.

At first I didn’t quite see what she was doing and went like “Tessa? What’re you doing?” She glanced back guiltily with the sandwich in her mouth and I couldn’t help but laugh. I sent her outside and quickly put the sandwiches up higher. Funnest thing was, she did it again later… Only this time she nicked a sandwich from someone’s bag…

Ah well, she didn’t end up with any nasty side effects and neither did the person she nicked it from so, all’s well, end’s well.

Went home with the parental units and slept there for ease. Was glad to be back in bed that evening, two busy days had me pretty beat.

Bagpipe

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So, I had my first lesson last night and it was great! When I arrived at the pipemajor’s house a practice chanter was waiting for me and in the next hour I learned how to play 5 of the 9 notes a bagpipe can play. It’s a bit tricky because the fingerplacement in playing each note is different than I’m used to with either my regular wooden flute or my tin whistles so that will take some practice. This also because you do not cover the holes with your fingertips but rather with the finger itself. And as these are less sensitive then the tips of the fingers, you can’t always feel immediately if you’re fingers are in the right spot.

Stuff

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I called the housing cooperation and they said that, although I won’t get the official paperwork and all until the girl now living there has handed in her key and they’ve inspected the place, the house is mine. So I’m moving out, yay. 😀
This afternoon I’m going to a second hand store to see if they have some nice furniture and such as I still need a coffee table, a dresser and a fridge. And possibly a simple nightstand or so would be nice as well. I have a little thingy here I could use, but something new, or at least something new to me and something I really like would be nicer.

Tonight I will also have my first bagpipe lesson. I’m really looking forward to it ever since I joined the pipeband a few weeks ago. I can’t wait till I get the practice chanter and can get practicing.

Then, a little while later, on December 18 I’m going to the taping of “De Lama’s”, a comedy show/game program on tv, together with one of my friends. It’ll be so much fun!

Enkele Dagen

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Zondag lui geweest en niks uitgevoerd. Maandag bottencollege en daarvoor nog geïnternet. Na college snel terug naar mijn kamer om even een broodje te eten enzo want ‘s avonds van 6 tot 7 aerobics met Nika en Claire. Veronika was er goed in en vond het ook leuk om te doen maar Claire en ik vonden het minder geslaagd, te snel, te intensief en te ingewikkeld. Vandaag practicum in de ochtend maar niet veel gedaan. Vorige donderdag tijdens college had Morgan ons slak laten zien en daar konden we dan vandaag wel naar kijken. Het was alleen wel jammer dat het dezelfde samples waren als die hij in het college had gebruikt. We waren uberhaupt maar met ons drieën (allemaal exchange; Josh uit Australië en een meisje (wiens naam ik vergeten ben) uit Ohio) omdat alle Engelse derdejaars volgende week hun dissertation ingeleverd moeten hebben en daar allemaal mee bezig zijn. Dus we hebben met ons drieën weinig anders gedaan dan rond de doos met slak staan en kletsen en wat labels schrijven voor Morgan omdat de slak in de doos grotendeels ongelabeld was.
Hierna een krant gekocht en een geboortekaartje en een lekker broodje en naar mijn kamer terug gegaan in plaats van eten omdat we ‘s avonds bij Claire gingen eten voor Pilates. Een uurtje op mijn kamer geweest, gegeten, beetje krant gelezen en kaartje geschreven. Even snel mama gebeld want wist het huisnummer van Arjan & Carina niet meer. Daarna weer naar Uni gegaan en kaartje op de bus gedaan en twee uurtjes ongeveer geïnternet. Daarna maar weer terug naar FC want Veronika zou me hier oppikken om naar Claire te gaan en Mama zou waarschijnlijk ook nog even bellen. En ja, rond kwart over vier ofzo belde mama dus nog een twintig minuten ofzo gekletst en rond een uur of half vijf kwam Veronika en een uurtje later vertrokken we richting Claire.
Daar eerst nog beetje tv gekeken en gekletst met Claire en huisgenoot Rachel terwijl Claire aan het koken was. Ze ging iets typisch Engels maken en het werd Shepherd’s Pie gemaakt, een soort ovenschotel met gehakt en ui enzo bedekt met aardappelpuree. Dit ging vergezeld met salade en een klodder mayonaise en was erg lekker. Toen dit eenmaal op was moest Rachel gauw weg (ze is beginnend dokter en had nachtdienst) en wij moesten ook opschieten dus nog geen tien minuten later zaten we in de auto op weg naar Manor Road en Pilates. Uiteindelijk waren maar ietsjes te laat, de rest was al binnen en had al matjes enzo maar de les was nog niet echt begonnen.
Na afloop even een snelle stop bij ASDA waar ik eindelijk de Ronan cd heb gekocht die ik al drie weken op het oog had. Eenmaal weer hier me maar omgekleed in mijn nachtkleding en wat gaan lezen (Scientific American). Nu typ ik dit en ik denk dat ik zo in bed nog even een beetje ga lezen in de Silmarillion waar ik al een week mee bezig ben ofzo. Niet dat het geen leuk boek is maar de bloemige taal van Tolkien is best irritant om te lezen. Dit heb ik ook als ik LOTR lees, ik kan dat niet heel lang achter elkaar lezen, vaak niet meer dan een uur of twee op z’n best.

Valentijn en bijna een maand hier

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‘t Is nu heel vroeg in de ochtend, half zes ongeveer en ik heb net een “all-nighter gepulled” om het Engels maar eens gruwelijk te mishandelen. ‘k Was echt totaal niet slaperig enzo en ben dus maar een beetje op de computer bezig met allerlei verschillende dingen (spelletjes, schrijven etc…). Hiervoor een half boek gelezen en misschien dat ik daar straks nog even mee verder ga. Voor ik ‘t wist was het half 6.
Later overdag ga ik naar de Uni om naar mijn skelet te kijken. Colleges heb (bijna) niet deze week omdat het Reading Week is. Alleen Landscape Archaeology van donderdag gaat door omdat Jeremy en Mark vergeten waren dat er Reading Week was.

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Weer niet naar mijn skelet gekeken. Het lab was weer vol, deze keer omdat de burgemeester zou komen kijken en die moet natuurlijk wel een tafel vol met artefacten te zien krijgen. Leuk was dan wel weer dat je bij de krant (20 pence) een boek (The Trial van Franz Kafka) en een promo-cdtje kado kreeg. Daarnaast was er verkoop van kleding, sieraden en cd’s in de hal van de students union en heb ik Gotta Get Thru This van Daniel Bedingfield gekocht en Believe van Disturbed.