» The nicest thing someone's ever done for me

Thank you for the music
As a wee duckling, I was bored and needed to be occupied. I constantly pestered my poor mother to let me join guides/scouts/any sort of club that would keep me occupied, but my mother had to keep explaining that at a mere 6 years old I was too young for any such activities, but pester I did. When she heard about a concert band (flutes and clarinets rather than drum n bass) starting in the area she decided to bring me along so THEY could tell me I was too young, in the hope that I might believe it if I heard it from someone else. But no, at 6 they deemed me just the right age to start banging out some tunes on the recorder. I was hooked, instantly.

After a year of playing such classics as 'All through the night' and 'Bicycle built for two' I got to choose a 'real' instrument (at this point I will apologise to any professional recorder player among us, I now enjoy ye olde blockflute as much as the next person). So everyone was choosing flute, clarinet and trumpet, but not this duckeee (and here is the reason for my nick....), I wanted an oboe. And as a very stubborn 7 year old, no-one telling me it was 'difficult' or 'expensive' was going to change my mind. The conductor of the band asked if I absolutely wanted this, I assured him I did. So he lent me his instrument, and gave me weekly lessons, and never accepted a penny. After 2 years I moved on, as he had taken me as far as he could as an amateur musician himself, but I remained in the band til it eventually disintegrated in my mid teens.

We occasionally bumped into him, and would him tell of my latest acheivements; grades passed, pieces learned, places won in youth orchestras. I was offered a place to do my degree in a prestigious music college overseas, which I accepted, and thoroughly enjoyed. I studied with some very famous (in their field) musicians, some of the best in the world, and I always thought back to my first teacher, and what he had started.

About 18 months ago, I set up a recital in my home town, and invited all of my friends and family. We hadn't seen my first teacher for some time, but my parents bumped into him a couple of weeks before the gig, and he was only too delighted at the invite. The recital itself went really well, and they were a very appreciative audience. Afterwards I spoke to my first teacher, and saw pure pride on his face, he was overflowing with it. He hadn't heard me since I was 15, and here I was, about to make my entrance to the profession. We asked him to come back to our house for a small reception , but he declined.

Two week ago, my mother was out and about, and saw my former teacher's colleague, who had also been invloved with the band. They chatted for a bit before the colleague looked at my mother and said 'you do know, don't you?' My mother, now realising she was in the dark about something shook her head. She was then informed that that very day was the first anniversary of my first teacher's death. She went on to explain that he had been ill at my recital, but didn't mention it. I welled up when it was impressed upon me how proud he was that night.

I am now a professional musician, a path I almost certainly would not have taken without this man. For as long as I can remember, playing music has been a major part of my identity, has shaped my life and has led me to experiences I wouldn't even have otherwise dreamed of.

Looking at last years diary, I noticed that the day of his funeral was the same day I did my first post-college concert with a 'real' professional orchestra.
(Fri 3rd Oct 2008, 10:30, More)

» Hypocrisy

Drink
I don't drink alcohol, I tried it for a while, but ultimately I felt it was not for me. Now, I'm as likely to put pins in my eyes as I am to drink, I just don't like it. This is my desicion, and I've never preached about it, and don't discuss it or draw attention to it unless someone asks, and having tried it, I can safely say I'm happier like this.

In saying this, I know a lot of people enjoy it, and I'm not anti-alcohol, and will happily slurp coke or somesuch as people have a few pints, although I will generally leave the premises when people start to get ridiculously drunk, as that's where the fun stops for me.

My problem is with people who, while completely drunk, and barely coherent, feel the need to preach to ME about my drinking habits. People who tell me to 'loosen up and have a few' or 'stop being such a bore' when they are the ones who need huge quantities of a drug to allow them to have 'fun', yet cannot even begin to think that their drinking habits may be harmful.

I have never even attempted a come-back in these situations, as I know it would fall on deaf ears, but the hypocrisy of it astounds me.
(Fri 20th Feb 2009, 21:08, More)

» Sexual fetishes

Men in suits
Even better... men in tuxes. But the ultimate is men in tails... oh baby!! I don't know the origins, but it had nothing, absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with my desicion to become a musician, I promise you that
(Sun 25th Oct 2009, 12:26, More)