Last night, I have played Gavotte of the 1st orchestral suite by Bach with my wife. It is the only piece she could play at present. No wonder she could play only that because it is only a year and half since she started flute. We could go through the piece even if she has had breath problem or unstable tone etc. It was a fun. Only wish she could start flute 20 years, or at least 10 years earlier. But we could never go back to the past. Let's go on enjoying ensemble together even if she could play only a part of it.
The basssoonist seems to quit the ensemble due to his work schedule. Unless they change the practise day from Friday to the other week end day, it seems I would be asked to play the bassoon part. I should hustle a bit more for the bassoon solo part.
Our daughter may join it as well. They have asked her to play the 1st violin part. I am wondering if she could get out of the work soon enough to be in time for the practice. If she could join it, it would be a dream coming true for me. How has it taken me to make it come true? I would treasure this opportunity of family ensemble however short it might be.
During dinner last night, the 1st orchestral suite performed by Stuttgart Bach Orchestra conducted by Karl Muenhinger have been on in the livingdining room.
5/14/2015
Monologous QSOs
I have often called CQ looking for any conversational QSOs. Only 10 or 20% chance of call to me. Most of callers are just wanting QSL. There must be only another 10 or 20% who would or could make conversation on CW.
I feel as if I have found gold in the sand beach. Unfortunately, the problem goes on. About half of these conversational QSOs are that of monologue. The person would go on talking about himself for several minutes. Often longer than 5 minutes. What a torture to listen to his monologue for that long time on noisy and messed band! If he/she was well known to me, that is another story. I am interested in what have happened to him/her and could concentrate on what he/she says however long it may go on. It is, however, a real torture for me to be forced to listen to what he/she says.
It often makes me fall asleep. Actually, I have ever experienced such a QSO as there was only noise when I woke up. Who could blame me? I am sorry I could not go on listening to him/her until the end of his/her story. But I could never do that.
No, I won't criticize anyone. At certain age, we could never get off such a situation making monologue to the others. It is my own problem if I could be conscious of making monologue. It is a serious problem for me if I could be conscious of own intellectual deterioration. Maybe, I should ask some good friend of mine to let me know of tendency to monologue by myself. It will be the time for me to quit this hobby.
I feel as if I have found gold in the sand beach. Unfortunately, the problem goes on. About half of these conversational QSOs are that of monologue. The person would go on talking about himself for several minutes. Often longer than 5 minutes. What a torture to listen to his monologue for that long time on noisy and messed band! If he/she was well known to me, that is another story. I am interested in what have happened to him/her and could concentrate on what he/she says however long it may go on. It is, however, a real torture for me to be forced to listen to what he/she says.
It often makes me fall asleep. Actually, I have ever experienced such a QSO as there was only noise when I woke up. Who could blame me? I am sorry I could not go on listening to him/her until the end of his/her story. But I could never do that.
No, I won't criticize anyone. At certain age, we could never get off such a situation making monologue to the others. It is my own problem if I could be conscious of making monologue. It is a serious problem for me if I could be conscious of own intellectual deterioration. Maybe, I should ask some good friend of mine to let me know of tendency to monologue by myself. It will be the time for me to quit this hobby.
Galapagosization
Galapagosization is one of the most popular words in Japan. It stands for anything which won't work well any longer because of being behind the evolutional process of the age. It often means retrogression or degeneration which leads to the collapse of the society.
There are two things newly added to galapagosized things in amateur ham radio in our country.
One is the new licensing system. It is told new and comprehensive. When we apply for the station licence, they will permission to operate on all the bands/mode so far as they are allowed with the operator licence. The galapagosized point is that it is issued for each rig, not for the operator himself. We should apply for the guarantee of the rig for legitimacy to JARD or TSS. This guarantee is done on paper basis actually without any technical check up. We should pay several tens USD for each equipment for the guarantee. It is not possible for us to modify the equipment without further gurantee by those organizations.
The other matter is that they have started a new "e learning" based operator licence for a higher class. We should take the exams to get any operator licences. For beginner licences, there have been classes prepared to get the tickets in stead of taking the exams. This licence taking class is extended to the 2nd class this year. We could get the 2nd class ticket without taking the exam. It is given with e learning, which may mean it won't take much investment for the class. This may sound good for amateur hams who would upgrade their licence. But the fee is incredibly high, that is, about 400 USD. JARD may be responsible for this system. They may get so much profit from this new licence system as they have had from the same system for the beginner classes.
There are always stories of concession by the bureaucrats accompanied with these galapagosization. These matters are not exceptional. JARD and TSS are supposed to provide appointments for retired bureaucrats. So amateur ham radio is another field of galapagosization.
There are two things newly added to galapagosized things in amateur ham radio in our country.
One is the new licensing system. It is told new and comprehensive. When we apply for the station licence, they will permission to operate on all the bands/mode so far as they are allowed with the operator licence. The galapagosized point is that it is issued for each rig, not for the operator himself. We should apply for the guarantee of the rig for legitimacy to JARD or TSS. This guarantee is done on paper basis actually without any technical check up. We should pay several tens USD for each equipment for the guarantee. It is not possible for us to modify the equipment without further gurantee by those organizations.
The other matter is that they have started a new "e learning" based operator licence for a higher class. We should take the exams to get any operator licences. For beginner licences, there have been classes prepared to get the tickets in stead of taking the exams. This licence taking class is extended to the 2nd class this year. We could get the 2nd class ticket without taking the exam. It is given with e learning, which may mean it won't take much investment for the class. This may sound good for amateur hams who would upgrade their licence. But the fee is incredibly high, that is, about 400 USD. JARD may be responsible for this system. They may get so much profit from this new licence system as they have had from the same system for the beginner classes.
There are always stories of concession by the bureaucrats accompanied with these galapagosization. These matters are not exceptional. JARD and TSS are supposed to provide appointments for retired bureaucrats. So amateur ham radio is another field of galapagosization.
5/10/2015
Carpal tunnel syndrome
After having practised cello hard for several days, I got carpel tunnel syndrome on the left hand last night. I was surprised to find numbness on the index and ring finger while playing it for fast passages. Have never experienced it before.
Maybe, too much flexion on the left wrist holding bow in addition to the fast movement of the hand/arm. Tendonitis is common on the right hand but never this symptom on the left. I should keep it rested for a while.
In stead, I could pound brass?! It won't have median nerve work too hard, possibly?
It is not easy for us to spend our old lives. We might have to be transited from the creation value to the experience value by V.E.Franckle.
Maybe, too much flexion on the left wrist holding bow in addition to the fast movement of the hand/arm. Tendonitis is common on the right hand but never this symptom on the left. I should keep it rested for a while.
In stead, I could pound brass?! It won't have median nerve work too hard, possibly?
It is not easy for us to spend our old lives. We might have to be transited from the creation value to the experience value by V.E.Franckle.
5/09/2015
New drive way arrangement
I have had four of the gingko trees along the drive way removed. I have been thinking of this for some time. Those trees were good look and gave decent appearance to our home entrance. But they were getting very tall and hard to do with the fallen leaves. They have made too much shades for the lawn on the norhtern side as well.
The most important reason which had made me relucatant to do this was that I discussed to plant them there with my father about 20 years ago. They were only young plant about 2 meters high. Removing them meant losing some history we have made here.
But it won't be so many years left for me and my wife to do with the garden for now. It is the time, I believe, for us to modify it as we think best. I am actively remodelling the back yard as well. I would have more German Iris and Mary Gold for the basic plants there. And more vegetable farms, however small they might be. I have planted tomato, ginger, sweet potato, okra, cucumber, egg plant, sunny lettuce, lettuce and water melon. Melon is also planned. Hopefully, we might have rich harvest this summer through fall.
Half seriously, I am getting ready for the possible hyperinflation upcoming not too far from now, when we should pay so much money to get food for a few years. I hope it won't come true. But our government, and possibly the people, have lost the fiscal discipline here. The net debt is almost ten billion USD. I can't find any other way to get out of this astronomical amount of debt than hyperinflation state. I wish this guess could be only a kidding.
Anyway, it is a fun for me to modify the garden for practical purposes. I might have lost good poles for antenna in the future.
The most important reason which had made me relucatant to do this was that I discussed to plant them there with my father about 20 years ago. They were only young plant about 2 meters high. Removing them meant losing some history we have made here.
But it won't be so many years left for me and my wife to do with the garden for now. It is the time, I believe, for us to modify it as we think best. I am actively remodelling the back yard as well. I would have more German Iris and Mary Gold for the basic plants there. And more vegetable farms, however small they might be. I have planted tomato, ginger, sweet potato, okra, cucumber, egg plant, sunny lettuce, lettuce and water melon. Melon is also planned. Hopefully, we might have rich harvest this summer through fall.
Half seriously, I am getting ready for the possible hyperinflation upcoming not too far from now, when we should pay so much money to get food for a few years. I hope it won't come true. But our government, and possibly the people, have lost the fiscal discipline here. The net debt is almost ten billion USD. I can't find any other way to get out of this astronomical amount of debt than hyperinflation state. I wish this guess could be only a kidding.
Anyway, it is a fun for me to modify the garden for practical purposes. I might have lost good poles for antenna in the future.
5/08/2015
Invitation to dinner by our daughter
A couple of days ago, I and my wife have been invited to dinner by our daughter. She wanted to treat us with the first salary she had got for her job. She has started her career as a nurse this spring.
It was a nice Sushi reataurant in a countryside near to Mashiko, famous for the pottery. She booked a cosy room for us.
We were pleased to hear how she had started working at an ICU at a large hospital near to the university she graduated from. It seemed she had been worn out every evening when she got to the apartment. The staff and the system seemed to be pretty democratic even thouth the senior nurses have not been just tender to the new comer but pretty strict in instructing them. I and my wife have known that, being established in the war, the rank of nurses was pretty rigid and severe. Wheter this democratic and flexible system is unique to this hospital or not, she is quite lucky to be trainted at such a hospital. WE were grateful to them.
Having started studying law in another university, our daughter has experienced a big disappointment and has spent some time for moratorium. But, after her grand mother or aunt, she has decided to study nursing. Since then, she has changed herself. She has become a real lady with her own end for life. She could sympathize the other epople now. We could not be more thankful for her efforts to her and for support and supervision to everyone who has taught and has lead her this way.
I have had a big glass of beer while my wife had a small bottle of non alcohol beer like beverage. Daughter had only tea. We have toasted her career. May she become a good nurse who "mitleiden" those suffering from illnesses.
The course dishes was good enough. Salad, Sashimi, Cooked fish, Tenpura and this plate of Sushi. Desert and tea were also served.
We kidded her to come back to this restaurant every spring. A satisfying evening.
5/04/2015
Two pieces of good news
Recently, I have had two major events for music life. One it that I was invited to an ensemble by a conductor. I used to play at a local orchestra under his instruction almost 10 years ago. Still having some trouble reading score with the eye problem, I decided to join it. My wife would join it as a flutist as well. It is still a small group. Hopefully, with the conductor's warm personality, there will be more members gathering soon.
The piece for practise is the orchestral suite Nr1 by Bach. Compared with his other works, it sounds simpler and less smotional as if it had been composed only for the court. In the tonality of C major, it sounds grand and dignified. Though it won't necessarily be an easy task for me to attend the practise once every week, it would be a joy to make ensemble with good friends as well as my wife this time.
The other good news was that a violinist friend, Ms. T., whom I had played the piano trio or the other chamber music for almost 15 years would get married this fall. When I started cello again just before age 50 years after a long hiatus, I wondered with whom I would play any ensemble. Our daughter, who was a pretty good violinist, was busy with her studies. I remebered of Ms. T who used to play very good violin at a concert in her high school days. I impudetly asked her to play together with me. Surprisingly, she agreed with me. Since then, we have played a number of chamber musics together. The 1st movements of piano quintets by Brahms and Franck. The whole piano trio Nr2 by Brahms. The 1st movement of piano trio by Mendelssohn and so forth. She has enriched my music life or literally the early old age in my life. I could not thank enough to her for her effort and kindness to me. In the meantime, she has completed a music university and has been to Germany for further study of violin performance. Finishing a music university there, she came back here to do musical activity in performance as well as teaching.
Last fall, I proposed her to put an end to our piano trio activity mainly due to my vision problem. I also thought I would need to practise more to do with such a professional musician as her. She kindly told me to restart any ensemble any time in the future. What a sweet girl!
Several days ago, she has given m an email to let me know she would be engaged with a guy very soon. She would get married with him in this fall. What a good news! I have been concerned with her marriage. I was even trying to find a candidate for her husband as well. It was a pleasant news to me like that of own family member. I was asked to attend the wedding party and to play cello. It would be more than a pleasure to do so. Some chamber music may be suitable for such an occasion. Music has the power to unite people. I should practise cello even more for now.
The piece for practise is the orchestral suite Nr1 by Bach. Compared with his other works, it sounds simpler and less smotional as if it had been composed only for the court. In the tonality of C major, it sounds grand and dignified. Though it won't necessarily be an easy task for me to attend the practise once every week, it would be a joy to make ensemble with good friends as well as my wife this time.
The other good news was that a violinist friend, Ms. T., whom I had played the piano trio or the other chamber music for almost 15 years would get married this fall. When I started cello again just before age 50 years after a long hiatus, I wondered with whom I would play any ensemble. Our daughter, who was a pretty good violinist, was busy with her studies. I remebered of Ms. T who used to play very good violin at a concert in her high school days. I impudetly asked her to play together with me. Surprisingly, she agreed with me. Since then, we have played a number of chamber musics together. The 1st movements of piano quintets by Brahms and Franck. The whole piano trio Nr2 by Brahms. The 1st movement of piano trio by Mendelssohn and so forth. She has enriched my music life or literally the early old age in my life. I could not thank enough to her for her effort and kindness to me. In the meantime, she has completed a music university and has been to Germany for further study of violin performance. Finishing a music university there, she came back here to do musical activity in performance as well as teaching.
Last fall, I proposed her to put an end to our piano trio activity mainly due to my vision problem. I also thought I would need to practise more to do with such a professional musician as her. She kindly told me to restart any ensemble any time in the future. What a sweet girl!
Several days ago, she has given m an email to let me know she would be engaged with a guy very soon. She would get married with him in this fall. What a good news! I have been concerned with her marriage. I was even trying to find a candidate for her husband as well. It was a pleasant news to me like that of own family member. I was asked to attend the wedding party and to play cello. It would be more than a pleasure to do so. Some chamber music may be suitable for such an occasion. Music has the power to unite people. I should practise cello even more for now.
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