WTF-Beta

@RealPlayer said in What are you reading?:

@AndyD Your picture of The Pianist’s Mentor reminded me that there are a number of books on pianism by famous teachers (Neuhaus, Whiteside et al.) and I haven’t read any of them. The ones I’ve glanced at seem kind of dry, and it must be hard to describe fine muscle movements in lively prose. One study, The Great Pianists and Their Technique, does have comments by pupils of Liszt, Chopin and others which are interesting.

In my teens I read one and picked out the essence. This is my youthful writing at the back of an address book (in which I listed all the songs I liked A-Z)

Reminded me of a painting I photographed in Bowes Museum last year, from the same era.
Small among the grandest of Gainsborough and Canaletto, and I can't recall the artist, but it really caught my attention.
A napoleonic soldier after battle

Nice. Though first buy a four season coat, it's actually nearer to Bergen in Norway than London.

And remote, you'd fly to Aberdeen then train for 7 hours to Thurso where your valet/coachman could be waiting with the Range Rover.

Ten bookcases in our house 🤪
Today took 50 old DVDs to charity shops and came back with five books. A rare local history book (that costs over £60) for £3 still in its wrapper; and in the Salvation Army a poetry and a paintings book, and two novels for MrsA, all 50p each. So £5.00.

Hardbacks like new for 50p how to resist?

Published 1898, not sure how much help it's going to be, though the chapter on memorising is of interest.

Rained all day again, our lawn is mud, so have started hosepiping the dogs' legs before letting them back in.

On a positive note, after the driest summer since 1893 they just lifted the last hosepipe ban in the south of England.

Been like this for days, weeks

Is there a US version of this?

The shades are a modern Tiffany imitation, 3 bulb.

Bedroom 2 has dragonflies

Yes it was, 100sqm of carpet for 4 bedrooms & landing, with 5 new oak doors. It has however transformed our upstairs into a clean comfortable area; we're now rationalising furniture.

A few remaining things are major and require professionals & money, but there are quite a few small things for me to do.
Latest to do list... The sitting room carpet is beyond my limits (concrete floor, long join needed)

Wow very nice work. I like the idea of a rolling Island.

So you you may have heard the gleeful cries of hallelujah even as far away as the colonies when the last tack went in our carpets upstairs.
Here is probably the most boring video ever, mostly starring a beige carpet

And a few photos
the landing was most difficult for floorboard repair, cutting both underlay and carpet for L shape, 5 doorways and for stairs

3rd bedroom

And finally two of our 1st bedroom finished, the last done as we had to move all our stuff so delayed it until the New Year.

I just had a look in our fridge and we have a bottle of 'Dark Japanese Style Miso Paste' bought in Lidl.
Wonder what MrsA has been using it for. It's like a stock cube in paste form? For soups and gravies?

A snapshot that may/not help your disquietened mind

UK ticket sales for Melania are so far ‘soft

Like her husband, bombing all over the world

It's only a few seconds/minutes of slow walking & waiting.
Anyway, I prefer to go aboard last and spend the least amount of time in such an uncomfortable place.

Slumming it in a huge house worth, what, 2-3 million? With a private park around?
A retirement all paid for.
My heart bleeds.

Looks like a rather nice farm on the Sandringham Royal Estate in Norfolk, one of many large expensive properties with outbuildings & land that the King's subjects contribute to, unwillingly.