Sons!!!

We got a phone call from the police last week at 1.30am telling us that our younger son was on his way to hospital by ambulance having been in a car accident. It's funny how one slips immediately into calm panic mode. He was able to talk to us on the policeman's phone so we knew he was "OK" but nevertheless when he said the car had turned over several times and was obviously a write-off one can be forgiven for a moment of silent screaming. We drove 14 miles to Casualty, which took us past the site of the incident. Happily the area was already cleared so we felt maybe no one else was involved. When we got there we were greeted with a small miracle for which we give thanks. He had a few cuts to his neck and hands and a shoulder all but dislocated, but nothing else! The air bags and safety belt saved him. Apparently after leaving a friend's house he was going home when a car came in the opposite direction round the bend and in the middle of the road. W. swerved, hit the verge and went over ... The other driver probably never knew what happened and went on. We are all so thankful that there was nobody else in the car and that W. seems alright. I did head injury observations on him the next day and all was normal. The only worry now is he is off abroad for six months skiing and rockclimbing! He leaves on Monday! I trust he will be sensible and do his sightseeing first. He and his friend are also hoping to get jobs whilst there as well, so may be his shoulder will heal before he embarks on his sporting adventures. His work is in operating theatres so he will be in the right place!

Cello practise took a back seat for a day or so.

Lunchtime concerts.

We have a wealth of lunchtime concerts in the area. Many of them are free, and if one pays anything at all it is still a real gift. Last Tuesday, for £2.50, I attended one at the Chapel Royal in Brighton. The foundation stone of the Chapel was laid in 1793 by the Prince Regent, who attended the official opening with his new wife, Caroline, (with whom he was vastly disappointed, by the way), and he attended services regularly until he built his own chapel in the Royal Pavilion in 1822. The exterior Georgian walls were originally built largely from material from the beach (goodness knows what, except for stones). Later the good old Victorians repaired and renovated it with red brick and a clock tower. However, if you go to www.crbr.org/building/foundation.asp and click on the 'tour', you will see it has a charming interior for lunchtime concerts.

There was a cello quartet playing early music, Byrd, Dowland, Lassus, Tallis, Wilbye, Tomkins, and Morley. What a feast! Every item displayed that measured, restrained beauty of the time, and I should love to know if the arrangements are available for the likes of us. The quartet, String Theory Cello Ensemble, appears to be based in Lewes, East Sussex, so I shall keep my eye open for more of the same. If I discover anything about the availabilitiy of the arrangements I shall pass it on. What could be better than 4 cellos playing beautiful music together, unaccompanied?

Hooray! You're still there!

My internet connection went on the blink - again - and I have just tested - again, and here we are! Courtesy of M. who seems to know exactly what the diagnosis is,and therefore can administer the appropriate treatment. Suffice to say, my dear spouse has been going round announcing tragically,"It's all my fault. I'm to blame etc". Actually, he's right - this time. If blame is to be apportioned, it is down to him. But what can I say? He made me my Most Excellent Endpin Anchor, so I forgive him. This is all I have time for at the moment as cello practise calls. I have sneaked a look at everyone else's blog and you have all posted since I got disconnected so I am looking forward to a long session soon when I can catch up on everyone else and post a proper entry here.

Encores, sons and endpin anchors

I can confirm that the encore I referred to a couple of weeks ago was indeed 'Alone' by Sollima. The cellist we heard at the Brighton Dome, Umberto Clerici, E-mailed the Brighton Dome Notice Board to verify it. Actually, from his website I noticed that he has been to USA since then and played the piece in question in Cleveland and Ann Harbor, Michigan.

I rarely miss a cello practise session. Usually it is 1-2 hours according to how the fingers and arms are holding up. However, one of our sons has left the house he rented with 2 other folk when the lease ran out and has moved all his stuff back home! He has so much that there is no room for him and so he is sleeping at his sister's down the road. He is planning another trip abroad for a few months. New Zealand this time. Last time it was Australia, Malaysia and Vietnam. He was going to visit Canada - specifically the West, but they don't easily recognise his qualification in Canada, but they are very keen on it in New Zealand. He is an ODP - Operating Department Practitioner. My time has been taken up, therefore, with finding space where there is no space.

Yesterday I had a good session and did rather better than expected. Perhaps a break is sometimes good. Also, my husband has made me an endpin anchor that won't skid all over a polished wood floor. Last week at Orchestra I had to cling on to the cello with my knees as the floor has been waxed, and my 'Black Hole' was useless. The Double Bass hissed at me to 'spit on it' which I did - several times - asking the gifted 10 year old on my left to avert her gaze! I have a real problem with sportsman spitting so even this ladylike version went against the grain and something had to be done. Now I am the possessor of one of those wooden ones with several holes and a cord that goes behind the front legs of the chair. It's perfect.