Violin; raw novice.

HiColin

Oh dear there's always something to do, but at least it keeps active.

Have to keep putting mulch on because it rots down eventually.

Have you any idea as to why there was a path up there?

I'm sure that you'll do a great job in restoring the rotavator.

Have a good day
Logan.

 

Hi,

Thanks @Logan; yes always something to do and it would make a refreshing change to be away from active if only for a full day

It's lots of heavy work spreading large loads of mulch; I think I'll just let the wildflowers take over all along the very top of the garden making a continuation of the top meadow; I can then strim the lot once the first frosts arrive.

Yes the path was there I believe for the farmer who originally owned the land possibly put there as hard standing for a tractor or trailer.

That's so kind of you; I do like restoring very old machinery; what I like about the old rotavator I've just bought is its simplicity and that it has powered drive so I won't need to drag it up the mountain.

I worked myself to a standstill yesterday and this morning I've suffered for it; I could hardly move when I got out of bed and I felt awful until after dinner when I started to come round a bit; feeling better I was then busy once again the jobs never letting up; I secured a large cotoneaster which had pulled away from the bungalow end wall breaking its rubber strap; this time I've used a short length of plastic strong hosepipe as a strap costing nothing. then I did a bit of welding to check my very expensive welding helmet still works because I'm selling this and a guy is collecting tomorrow morning it costing him £175 which is a bargain; next I did a small job on the car paintwork; quite a while ago I removed two large pigeon droppings but used a wet kitchen paper towel unaware this would cause deep swirl marks; now it's perfect once again then I set about fighting roses that had grown up through the honeysuckle a job I didn't like but yet another job ticked off. I'm feeling much better now and no doubt I'll have other jobs to do tomorrow.

I'm too tired and weary to wander into the studio for a violin practice and couldn't play a violin anyway with stiff fingers and aching arms after all the hard work I carried out yesterday; I think this is a wake up call to back off a bit and take it easier.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi Colin

Oh dear and yes you should take it a bit more easy and that's interesting about the path up there.
Logan.

 

Hi,

Thanks @Logan I wasn't pleased at all to find the buried pathway but at least it's now history and I can move on to new problems although a recent old problem has just bitten me.

I spent hours helping the guy who bought the Graduate lathe from me sorting out his VFD parameters; having spent three hours checking the parameters on my VFD and letting him have the details I now find out my Lorch lathe is no longer working; this is my reward for being so helpful; fortunately having recorded the parameters I have the information but with around 200 parameters to adjust I could do without all these problems; all I want to do is to spend a bit of quality time in the studio but over the last few days at the end of the day I've been too tired to even lift a violin. Will I ever be clear of these jobs.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi Colin

Oh dear I hope that you can sort your lathe out soon. It's strange how things happen like that.
Try to have some rest for a while,do you need your lathe working now for something? Perhaps you could leave it for a while.
Logan

 

Hi,

Thanks @Logan; I find it strange that for so many years as I complete one job another job awaits me. I'm not in a panic to use the lathe but I can't settle knowing something needs my attention. In order to break the cycle of one job after another I decided enough is enough and don't intend to be messed around repairing the faulty VFD so I've bought a new VFD at £117 through ebay; it's a clone of the VFD it's replacing.



Anyone wondering what I'm talking about regarding a VFD above is the VFD just bought; it converts single phase electric to 3 phase electric to power industrial type electric motors. Not on topic with gardening but one of my many assorted hobbies and it might be remotely connected to gardening because the lathe could be used to turn needed parts for things like gardening machinery.

Deciding not to mess around with the faulty VFD it appears to have worked; yesterday I got out of bed without a problem/job hanging over me; it felt very strange indeed but I made the most of it and enjoyed a number of violin practices finally getting into the studio in peace; it was wonderful and I'm now making more progress learning to play "Lara's Theme" playing Lara's Theme has become an obssession with me; I've tried so many times over the last year to practice but each time been diverted; I'll never give up until I succeed; failure isn't an option and fingers well and truly crossed I can spend many happy hours in the new studio over the coming winter.

Yesterday i recorded a violin practice using my Tascam Pocket Studio; I now need to learn how to transfer this onto my computer then if it sounds decent copy it further onto YouTube to encourage others of my age to have a go at playing a violin or indeed adopt a new hobby.

I'm grounded at the moment expecting delivery of a new sofa and also the Howard rotavator is listed as today's delivery but I'm sure I can practice a bit more in the studio so my time won't be wasted.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi Colin

Good for you to decide not to mess around with the VFD and get a new one.

Enjoy your violin practice and i'll look forward to seeing or hearing it on YouTube.

Have a good day
Logan

 

Hi,

Thanks @Logan please don't hold your breath regarding seeing my violin practice on YouTube; I'm back to normal again; I managed to get into the studio this morning at 10:50; heating on; Yamaha violin and Yamaha amp switched on; Tascam set up for recording; Rode mic with it's phantom power on; rosin on the bow and just nicely seated starting to play and 11:00 called out to answer the phone (can't even type this in peace; delivery of a parcel now at the door) the phone call was to arrange delivery of the rotavator I bought it being on a pallet so this will arrive tomorrow taking care of another day. Normally deliveries are arranged via email but how strange the timing is always perfect to drag me out of the studio.

It's burst my bubble and my concentration this morning so I've closed the studio down; perhaps after dinner I might have better luck in the studio.

Violin playing is extremely difficult; more so for a novice and it commands deep concentration without interruption but I don't give up easily; one full year since my wife bought me my first violin and still I'm struggling to practice playing through lack of time; I thought retirement would be considerably different to what I'm finding it to be. I wonder what will drag me out of the studio this afternoon?

Thanks for your good wishes @Logan I hope you too are having a good day.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi,

I could scream; three times today I've just got settled in the studio and started to play my violin three times I've been called away; seated at the computer I've also received two parcels; I wonder what it takes to get a bit of spare time? It wouldn't be so bad if the timing wasn't so perfect each time for these interruptions. Will I ever be calm enough to record a decent violin practice; I'm on edge everytime I enter the studio.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi Colin

Oh dear there's always something to distract you from playing.
Hope that you get some practice soon.

Logan

 

Hi,

Many thanks @Logan

It's just unbelievable the hassle I have in trying to get a bit of studio time.

I'm at the keyboard this morning knowing if I dare wander into the studio I'll only be called away again and I'm just so fed up of it. I'm expecting delivery of the rotavator this morning or early afternoon; if I go into the studio as soon as I'm comfortable it will arrive if I sit here then it will arrive this afternoon; I'm also expecting a call from the hospital; by the time I reached the phone and picked up yesterday afternoon I just heard Calderdale hospital will contact me again in the next 24 hours then it died and I couldn't call back not even knowing what it's about; I don't have a mobile phone welded to my ear and the landline is some distance from the studio; we have main phone in the front room with extension here in my office/hallway.

The rotavator is of my own doing in buying it so no complaint; because of neighbour problems a few years ago we finally involved the police due to harrassment from them and the police were brilliant warning them off otherwise an arrest would be made but the police advised us to install CCTV so we paid £1,800 for high end CCTV to be professionally installed; we now pay a yearly fee regarding the CCTV and this week I realized it seemed ages since we paid the fee so I emailed; it's two years since we last paid unknown to us that we had to contact them each year which is strange; I thought we'd receive an automatic reminder but are told this isn't allowed?

This was the second call and no problem just pay the fee over the phone so I gave the card details but twice the card was rejected? I then accepted the CCTV company banking details but when I tried to pay directly I was informed I'd have to wait ten minutes so I wandered back into the studio and now for the third time yesterday I was called to the phone; it was the bank checking the CCTV company request of a withdrawal. I then phoned the CCTV company because two attempts had been made for payment; the payment hadn't gone through so at the third attempt it was finally paid; Complicated? no just what I endure each time I want studio time.

Thoroughly fed up of trying to get studio time yesterday during the day I thought I'd try for the fourth time and wandered into the studio at 7 pm. It was hopeless; I couldn't relax expecting to be called away again so I quit for the day.

Today is another day with just the same old problems; what is strange is that whilst I've ever been doing free work for neighbours not one single interruption even when I erected a fence for a neighbour the job taking a full week; I've spent hours helping the guy out who bought the lathe with his constant emails asking for help but when I emailed him to say messing around so much recording parameters on my own VFD for him my VFD has now failed; he's not replied since now he's got what he wanted and his lathe is running.?

A friend's advice is what I'm adopting in future; "DIY = Don't involve yourself" no more favours from me because for the last 45 years the help has always been one way; I'm determined as ever to learn to play "Lara's Theme" on my violins and in spite of all the hassle and frustraion I'll not quit.

It's now 9:38 and I've been relaxed at the keyboard so far this morning with no interruption but if I wander into the studio the fun will start. What a wonderful retirement when I can't get a bit of peace to call my own; fingers crossed as winter bites I'll the left alone.

Whilst in the studio which is rare I have everything switched on so to be called out I have to switch everything off putting the violin and bow down safely because I don't know when I'll return. Punishment not enjoyment.

Just passing studio time on whilst not in the studio.

Have a great day @Logan

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi Colin

Oh dear, it's never ending for you and you're right not to help people who don't help you.

Thanks and hope that you have a good day @Retired

Logan

 

Hi,

Many thanks once again @Logan for your continuing sympathy; my posts must read like a long playing miserable record which they are and still the hassles won't let up.

I've managed a few hours violin playing since last posting but with assorted problems; this morning as usual another problem diverting me from the studio so after dinner I gave up on the studio idea and have made a start on the vintage rotavator restoration doing a lot of stripping it down; strangely whilst in the workshop I'm seldom interrupted; there's something evil about the studio due to a years non stop problems letting me in. I don't believe in superstitions etc but I must have been bad in a previous life.





Being a mechanical engineer these restoration projects are easy for me whilst being enjoyable. There was still vintage petrol in the tank unmistakable by it's smell but the engine oil looked clean; it's not been run for many years but I soon had it fired up checking for spark then adding a drop of petrol directly into the cylinder; it ran briefly so I was then happy to start stripping it down so today turned out well for a change.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi Colin

Good that you got some practice in, it's strange that you get interupted in the studio but not in the workshop

Looks like you have a lot to do with your rotavator.

Logan

 

Hi,

Thanks @Logan it's very strange indeed the many problems I've encountered just about every time I've wanted to practice violin playing in the studio and still the problems go on. Today I think I'll have a go at playing around with the recorded violin practice I've managed to transfer to my computer; it's been incredibly frustrating getting this far.

Yes the rotavator will take time to fully restore but I've got all winter to play with it; I don't want to do it quickly otherwise I'll be finding another project to mess around with; I like to keep busy.

Kind regards, Colin.