The Dynamo
The Dynamo DM 20th April 2024 My ninth birthday was memorable. I was supposed to get a bike light so that I could ride at night like my brothers, who got one for their ninth birthday, as did their ancestors before them. For years I looked forward to it, for this was no ordinary light […]
From the same hymn sheet
From the same hymn sheet DM 13th April 2024 I don’t know much music theory, but I dread every time a Gmaj7 appears on the score. It’s just a difficult chord to play, properly that is, with all four fingers, on all six strings. You can’t simply cheat with a G, nor G7, nor clip […]
A new Oratorio
A new Oratorio DM 6th April 2024 I’ve booked tickets to see Mendelssohn’s oratorio Elijah next month, and so am trying hard to get the music into my head, in order to heighten the appreciation of the live performance, and to not expose my ignorance. But it’s a struggle. It’s not as sweet as Handel’s […]
Rocks in my head
Rocks in my head DM 30th March 2024 I’m no geologist, so I don’t know the scientific name for rocks that we used to call Thunder Eggs. These marvels were found at a nature park at Mt Tamborine in Queensland, and the best ones were presented beautifully and for sale. About the size of a […]
The kiss of life
The kiss of life DM 25th March 2024 Thankfully I never had to put my mouth on the plastic dummy beside the swimming pool in order to pass the lifesaving test for my Bronze Medallion. I kept a respectable inch or two away, and simply went through the motions of – pinch nose, breath into […]
Scarecrows
Scarecrows DM 16th March 2024 I have a vague recollection of making a scarecrow when I was very young. Its proportions and fashion accessories now elude my memory, but I do remember setting up the little guardian to watch over my newly planted vegetable patch. I was reminded of such wooden-wardens when passing a local […]
Scary worms
Scary worms DM 9th March 2024 I’ve not yet seen the Dune movies, but was listening to a reviewer waxing eloquent and making the claim that seeing the spiralling sandworms was well worth the price of admission. My mind did flick to childhood days on the beach where I watched fishermen dragging meat-baited nets along […]
Responding to runaways
Responding to runaways DM 2nd March 2024 I’m always glad to hear the sounds of grace. I’ve just hit the plot-twist in Charles Dicken’s famous novel David Copperfield. Two of Copperfield’s best friends, from opposite social stations, have run off together, breaking everyone’s heart – the girl’s fiancé, the girl’s adopted father, the boy’s mother, […]
Default faces
Default faces DM 23rd February 2024 When I was growing up, pulling-a-face was challenged with the warning: “If the wind changes, you’ll be stuck looking like that!” I dare say it was one of those threats employed by all parents everywhere, to deter their young charges from annoying their siblings and dampening the mood. (Though […]
Forgiveness
Forgiveness DM 10th February 2024 I like to keep current and relevant, and am pleased to report that I am now only nine years out of date. My daughter insisted I watch the musical Hamilton with her, which premiered the said nine years ago. I had long resisted because it focused on American politics, and […]