Monday, April 03, 2006

Three visitors and a violin

Jeremy, Ruth and Temo arrived in one piece this morning, with a small avalanche of luggage. Temo was wide-eyed and alert and kept up a running commentary all the way in on the train, mainly 'truck', which seemed reasonable given the view out the window. His parents were a little more subdued, not having had the benefit of a 10-hour kip between Auckland and Los Angeles.

When we arrived at Paddington, Jeremy slung his big backpack on his back, a smaller one on his front and then picked up the buggy in its case to try and carry that over one shoulder. Temo thought that was pretty funny - was completely overcome by giggles just watching!

Now they've all retreated for their afternoon nap. I'm supposed to wake them up in an hour or so, but I feel like the Wicked Witch of the West even thinking about it so we'll see.

In other news, we have a violin in the house again. My friend Matt had been talking for ages about how he had his father's old violin sitting at home doing nothing and I'd be welcome to borrow it etc and then one day a couple of weeks ago he remembered to bring it in to work and we went up to Foote's at lunchtime to have it restrung. Turns out to be a really nice violin - the guy in the shop thought it was about 1880 vintage.

Meanwhile, Matt's summer project is setting up a "non-guitar-based" band, which so far consists of Rachel (vocals), Matt (piano) and me (violin). We had our first rehearsal yesterday, and it actually went really well. Mostly what we play is Natalie Merchant and Ben Folds, but there's a bit of other stuff thrown in like Feeder's 'Just the Way I'm Feeling' and 'Lilac Wine'. There is also possibly a cellist called Becky, who is coming along for the first time next week.

I only got the sheetmusic on Wednesday so I spent the next few days frantically practising and having nightmares about the horror of playing in front of people after so long, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought - I even had a good time.

Well, I think someone might be surfacing next door so I'd best go. Promise adorable photos contrasting one-year-old and Big Ben or other major monuments soon.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Wonderful to hear that you are on the violin again, can you post a sound track on your Blog!? Jeremy could join your group on guitar but he only seems to know "Burning Ring of Fire" but Temo just loves it. Play the violin to Mo he appreciates all kinds of music!