22/2/09

It has just started to rain - the first time in about 10 days! I get the feeling it's going to be a pretty serious downpour!

Friday began with a lesson with Charlotte. She really is doing well and works hard. We've started looking at another Grade 1 piece. I really think/hope she does well because she deserves it! AC Meeting cancelled and replaced by a Bursary meeting which we didnt have to go to which was nice! I got talking to a guy called Fred, a piano teacher at the school who I hadn't met yet because he's been in Narobi where his wife (who weirdly enough went to St Paul's Girls as a teenager, the same as Carys!) had a baby girl 4 weeks ago. We ended up playing the Saint Saen's together which was fun. I dont think he's around for the Visiting Teachers concert unfortunately, but it was nice to play with the piano again, and i'll find another accompanist I'm sure! Then it was duets with Philip after. He hasnt been to Orchestra for a while apparently because 'he can play his part..!' That's no excuse I told him - obviously it helps if you can play your part on your own, but orchestra is about working together which he clearly finds hard because we're having trouble playing together just the 2 of us! So hopefully he'll be there between now and the concert. Bob the conductor has also arrived so it will be different playing with him as conductor I'm sure. Was a lesson with Soloman next. We have started looking at tenor clef which I think he finds a bit confusing, which it is, but i'm sure he'll get the hang of it. The book I have is good because it has both studies and pieces to work through so we'll keep going with that. Carys had to cancel her double bass lessons in the afternoon because the (only) double bass had been hired by a group for a gig that night, which Mr Yiga had failed to tell her! So that was a bit annoying, but she came back to my house, met the family, had some food, then we went out, taking Fatu with us. We were meeting people at school, and then Francis (singing teacher) said he's take us to a place with live music. It turned out to be a very posh hotel place where it looked like we were going to sit down and have dinner which was not our kind of plan for Friday night! So we moved onto a bar which started off playing Abba and Cher! Then moved onto Sean Paul/dancy stuff which was better! Haha. There was a slight plan to go and meet Fatu's friends at the club where they were but it got a bit late and we just stayed and chilled, drinking beers and having fun. Sam's friend, Ed, who has been in Kenya for the last 5 months as a volunteer came to visit Sam this weekend which has been fun!

Saturday started with Junior Orch, and all of us feeling pretty tired! It's going ok, but getting a little more urgent now as the concert's about 3 weeks away. I had a lesson with Francisca after which was good - Mr Yiga (Daddy..) came in to take a photo which was quite funny. She definitely has a good ear. Next was my first ever lesson with mystery man Julius! He needs to work on his bow hold, and keeping his left hand up and straight - technique stuff really. And then we worked on sound lots. He said he want to take an exam and was thinking of Grade 3, but theres no way I can enter him for an exam if he doesnt turn up to lessons! So we'll have to see about that. I also met John, the string instument repair man who is lovely. He's teaching 2 of the more senior violinists how to do simple things like putting bridges on, pegs, straightening spikes etc which is going to be really useful. I might go to see the workshop where he's been working this week which would be really interesting. I also met Bob who is conducting the Orchestra. He's really nice, and gave me a lift home! There was a plan to go to the beach, or thats what I thought, but it turned out it was going to someone's Wedding Anniversary, a friend of one of the staff from school, in an amazing house right on Lake Victoria. Was seriously beautiful - though mosquito ridden! I haven't got too many bites surprisingly! There was food and drinks and dancing and general fun! Got a matatu back to Kampala and went to a club/bar place for more dancing. Everyone is amazing at dancing here! Lots to learn!

So it's been a fun weekend and today (Sun) has been a day of chilling out and catching up with everything. Lamin was on the radio this morning! And has a TV interview tomorrow too. Very exciting! Must do some practise today! Rain didn't last too long. Feeling quite nice and fresh now. Mariam made me a bracelet yesterday which is lovely of her - she says it's coz I'm leaving soon! But it's more than 2 months so still got a while! Anyways that's about it for now. Bye! X