A 2nd autumn/winter goal I’ve set myself…

Two years since I had a brand new kitchen, and I have accumulated so much and intend to go through each cupboard and drawer and shelf in there throwing out things that I never ever use. So one space a week during winter. Also want to produce a family photo-book on my laptop. Never produced one of these previously so will be a learning experience

A great idea Witzend - and the sort of thing I would like to do too. I tend to do it in dribs and dabs BUT I'm going to give it a whirl.

Hi. I started my autumn deep clean when the Grandchildren went back to school but lost my mojo half way through ! Good job it’s only a small house. I just have the lounge to do now but I’m waiting to buy a new carpet first.
The summer planters need emptying and replanting, their looking at me through the patio doors 🤦‍♀️

As a semi-retired music teacher, it really warms my heart that so many of you plan to learn new pieces on the piano. Witzend, Of Strange Lands and People is a lovely piece and I think you will really enjoy learning it. I now have time to enjoy making music for my own pleasure once more and I am working towards some musical goals. I am already a member of a chamber orchestra of a very high standard, which I enjoy very much and have to work hard in order to be at the right standard. I gained my music degree in 1986, and have now started to work towards the diplomas that I have not had the time to do before. I plan to take the Trinity College diplomas in ascending order: firstly, the Associate diploma (ATCL) on viola, next the Licentiate diploma (LTCL) on violin and finally the Fellowship diploma (FTCL) on the piano. I am really enjoying the (very) hard work it takes and am equally thrilled when I achieve something I previously could not do and frustrated with myself when something does not go as planned.

Katyj

Hi. I started my autumn deep clean when the Grandchildren went back to school but lost my mojo half way through ! Good job it’s only a small house. I just have the lounge to do now but I’m waiting to buy a new carpet first.
The summer planters need emptying and replanting, their looking at me through the patio doors 🤦‍♀️

I managed to empty some of mine put in some autumn/winter colour but then came the rain!

Witzend

*posset*, that was me, only I went back to the piano about 50 years after passing grade 2. I worked on my own (almost had to start again from scratch, so used Carol Barrett’s classical course for beginners) then after about a year joined a group (keyboard) class for maybe 3 years.

Eventually got to the stage of playing Grade 4 and 5 pieces, not exactly brilliantly, but new grandchild care then meant I missed quite a few classes , and stopped going. Then Covid, so no classes anyway.
Very rusty now, but hoping to ‘oil’ it!

Thanks, Witzend - You've motivated me - I've just ordered a (used) copy of Book 1!

To walk each day, haven't today though. De cluttering am getting quite ruthless, house starting to look bare. To start my water colours again.

Hi there
We have finally ordered an Ottoman bed and I can wait to sort out all My clothes /shoes now that I will have more storage .I will sell anything I no longer want on Vinted etc yaaaa😀

Witzend

Has anyone else set themselves a task for the cold, dark months?

My first is to tackle one drawer or cupboard every day and get rid of stuff we no longer wear or use. Set myself the same last year but hardly did any. Resolved to do better this year - but that’s for after the clocks change.

2nd, after barely touching the piano for ages (and I was never much good at all) aiming to learn one favourite piece I tried (and gave up on) a few years ago - Schumann’s ‘Of Strange Lands And People’.
I’m going to try to do it by learning very small sections by heart, playing each over and over, until they’re finally dinged into my ‘muscle memory’.
We shall see….

Yes I have a list of things to do until the spring equinox! It’s very satisfying (to me) crossing things off my list each week - sorting / decluttering one drawer cupboard or shelf each week , 30 minutes in the garden, 3 exercise dvds from YouTube, 5km walk, jigsaw puzzle, read at least a book a week, use a weekly facepack - have several things on my list by the time the spring comes I will have done some decluttering and look and feel fitter !

I'm going to tackle my paperwork. I haven't done it since my husband died in February 2021. I tend to open the draw and stuck it in the back. I have no idea where everything is. Some of it is probably spreading material.

Shreading not spreading

posset

Witzend

posset, that was me, only I went back to the piano about 50 years after passing grade 2. I worked on my own (almost had to start again from scratch, so used Carol Barrett’s classical course for beginners) then after about a year joined a group (keyboard) class for maybe 3 years.

Eventually got to the stage of playing Grade 4 and 5 pieces, not exactly brilliantly, but new grandchild care then meant I missed quite a few classes , and stopped going. Then Covid, so no classes anyway.
Very rusty now, but hoping to ‘oil’ it!

Thanks, Witzend - You've motivated me - I've just ordered a (used) copy of Book 1!

👍!

Brilliant! Thank you GNetters - just what I need , a book idea to kick start my return to the piano.

Musicgirl

As a semi-retired music teacher, it really warms my heart that so many of you plan to learn new pieces on the piano. Witzend, Of Strange Lands and People is a lovely piece and I think you will really enjoy learning it. I now have time to enjoy making music for my own pleasure once more and I am working towards some musical goals. I am already a member of a chamber orchestra of a very high standard, which I enjoy very much and have to work hard in order to be at the right standard. I gained my music degree in 1986, and have now started to work towards the diplomas that I have not had the time to do before. I plan to take the Trinity College diplomas in ascending order: firstly, the Associate diploma (ATCL) on viola, next the Licentiate diploma (LTCL) on violin and finally the Fellowship diploma (FTCL) on the piano. I am really enjoying the (very) hard work it takes and am equally thrilled when I achieve something I previously could not do and frustrated with myself when something does not go as planned.

I am really impressed Musicgirl. I was a reasonably decent pianist but have lost my mojo to get back into it. Must try harder as they say.

Thank you, Arlme. Good luck with getting back into the piano.

I do wish you every success, Musicgirl - your goals are truly impressive!

We bought new arm chair/sofa last week. My autumn/winter goal is to buy a cosy wool blanket, snuggle up and read all the books I've bought this year (plus a couple I was given last Christmas). I'm still working on average 10 hours a week but I'm determined to get back in the habit of reading more. I love snuggling up on a miserable winter's day with a cup of tea and a good book

For posset and anyone similar, soon after I returned to the piano, a very old one in need of tuning, I told the tuner how my sight-reading was hopeless. He recommended acquiring lots of (unfamiliar) music and just playing it, just keep going, without worrying about getting it right.

To start with I ordered some very easy stuff 2nd hand from Amazon - among others an old series entitled Read and Play starts from the very basics and goes up in stages.
It did take quite a while, but my sight reading did eventually improve a great deal.

Mine are to continue with the decluttering, deep cleaning as I go. I am also planning to join a dance class to lift my mood and thought that Scottish Country might be fun.

That’s a great idea. I might try and knit one garment per week before December. I’m not one for tidying out drawers but it should be done as well.

whywhywhy

That’s a great idea. I might try and knit one garment per week before December. I’m not one for tidying out drawers but it should be done as well.

😯
One garment per week?

I'd be lucky to knit just one garment before December!

Witzend

For posset and anyone similar, soon after I returned to the piano, a very old one in need of tuning, I told the tuner how my sight-reading was hopeless. He recommended acquiring lots of (unfamiliar) music and just playing it, just keep going, without worrying about getting it right.

To start with I ordered some very easy stuff 2nd hand from Amazon - among others an old series entitled Read and Play starts from the very basics and goes up in stages.
It did take quite a while, but my sight reading did eventually improve a great deal.

That's a great idea, Witzend. I think there are websites where one can download (free) sheet music and print it out, so I will try that too.

My son has a saying “you can’t eat an elephant in one go, you have to take little bites”. The meaning being don’t tackle a big job in one go, do little bits until it’s done. I’ve written the explanation as one person said “how horrible, how could you eat an elephant they are lovely” 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

My winter task is to finish what I started during Covid: to select and put into a proper album our pre-digital photographs, annotated my best but no li ger very good handwriting.
DH died exactly two years ago today, and I couldn't face it during the last two winter

no longer very good handwriting