...not so bizarre after all.
After its bizarre start, today has been quite good really. Did a fair amount of work this afternoon, then some piano practice. I'm attempting to learn Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C# Minor - you will almost definately have heard it, and it's great. Really varied dynamics, excessive amounts of two-hand chords and plonky deep octaves, darkly twinkly high bits, and crazy wacked out rage-on-a-piano. *g* I loves it. Pretty hard, but then again not as hard as I was expecting, thank goodness.
I've just been out to get my Dad a card, as it's his birthday tomorrow; I also stopped in at Oxfam again to look for simple Russian books. Still nothing but the Mills and Boon-esque novels that were there the other day, but this time I could recognise the letters! And managed to sound out the author's name, and then noticed that it was actually there in English too, which at least confirmed that I'd got it right. *g* Also, there are notices all over the place for the Moscow State Circus, which have headers in Russian, which I could kind of read aloud. It's so fun; and also so much like being four and learning to read again, which makes it slightly surreal.
I also found sheet music in Oxfam! They had nice choral music, like Walmisley's Mag. & Nunc, and Wood's O Thou The Central Orb, and things by Bairstow and Gibbons which I didn't know, but hey, Bairstow and Gibbons are good. Only 49p each, too, but I didn't buy them, as really, what am I going to do with it? Ah well. I did buy some piano music; a couple of Valses by Sibelius (who I love admittedly half because he was Finnish, but he does write lovely music too), and a Schumann Tocatta. Mum took one look at the Schumann and wish me luck, as apparently it would be about Grade 10 (British music exams, for those not in the know, go from Grade 1 to Grade 8, and then you're off to diplomas and such). So yeah, could be interesting, may not be able to play it, but it was only 79p, and now I have my own random music to take back to uni and practise, and it doesn't matter too much if something happens to it.
I also have timetables for trains to London, and a form to renew my Young Person's Railcard. So, a good day all in all. This evening I will perhaps (should, really) do some more work, and then at half eight ish I'm going to the pub with all les folles. Caroline is coming here to park, and then I'm taking her on to the pub, as she has no idea where it is. And hooray, as we are going to the Nag's Head, which means hopefully we can sit outside and not be smoked on; and even inside it's nicer than the Unicorn or the Red Lion anyway.
I've just been out to get my Dad a card, as it's his birthday tomorrow; I also stopped in at Oxfam again to look for simple Russian books. Still nothing but the Mills and Boon-esque novels that were there the other day, but this time I could recognise the letters! And managed to sound out the author's name, and then noticed that it was actually there in English too, which at least confirmed that I'd got it right. *g* Also, there are notices all over the place for the Moscow State Circus, which have headers in Russian, which I could kind of read aloud. It's so fun; and also so much like being four and learning to read again, which makes it slightly surreal.
I also found sheet music in Oxfam! They had nice choral music, like Walmisley's Mag. & Nunc, and Wood's O Thou The Central Orb, and things by Bairstow and Gibbons which I didn't know, but hey, Bairstow and Gibbons are good. Only 49p each, too, but I didn't buy them, as really, what am I going to do with it? Ah well. I did buy some piano music; a couple of Valses by Sibelius (who I love admittedly half because he was Finnish, but he does write lovely music too), and a Schumann Tocatta. Mum took one look at the Schumann and wish me luck, as apparently it would be about Grade 10 (British music exams, for those not in the know, go from Grade 1 to Grade 8, and then you're off to diplomas and such). So yeah, could be interesting, may not be able to play it, but it was only 79p, and now I have my own random music to take back to uni and practise, and it doesn't matter too much if something happens to it.
I also have timetables for trains to London, and a form to renew my Young Person's Railcard. So, a good day all in all. This evening I will perhaps (should, really) do some more work, and then at half eight ish I'm going to the pub with all les folles. Caroline is coming here to park, and then I'm taking her on to the pub, as she has no idea where it is. And hooray, as we are going to the Nag's Head, which means hopefully we can sit outside and not be smoked on; and even inside it's nicer than the Unicorn or the Red Lion anyway.