A simple Chopin mazurka to take my mind off the wretched ‘cello (which is sulking in the corner of the guest bedroom) and the far more challenging piano pieces I’ve been working on for several months. It’s part of my mini recital at the conservatoire in a couple of weeks.

Slightly ‘off piste’ for me this evening. Long Depaquit make great Chablis. Their grand cru moutonne is one of the best Chablis you’ll ever taste. But the price. 😢But because it’s not a family domaine it’s not one I buy. This was a gift from a guest.

P119 @CrossEyedPiano Can pianists really read whilst practicing? I’ve heard this before. My mind wanders sometimes but not to that extent.

Grumpy prof de violoncelle……. ‘That sounded awful John.’ ‘What, you agree?’ ‘Hard not to.’ ‘Well do something about it.’ ‘If I could I would. Be grateful you only have to put up with it an hour a week. I have to listen to it 2 hours day.’ Bad ‘cello lesson today 😥

‘Morocco-bound’ @CrossEyedPiano 👏👏👏 I can hear my dear dad singing it now. ‘I’m Morroco-bound. Like Webster’s dictionary’. Not heard it for 30 years. 💔

The wife just accused me of getting a bit grumpy in my old age. ‘Getting?’ I said. ‘GETTING?????’

Wine is a strange old business. Just picked up 10 cases of our own label Chardonnay, 8 x 5L boxes of rose and 3 bottles of crème de mure (in case anyway brings aligoté to the house) and this boot load cost almost exactly what I sell a single bottle of Dauvissat Les Clos for.

I’ve drunk just two great ‘21’s. Both from the same 1er cru. I picked the grapes for this one.

Conservatoire presentation passed without incident last evening. One of our composition students gave birth earlier in the summer. Her beautiful daughter attends lessons. Baby slept through the talk and questions. Sat silently transfixed whilst I played my Bach. ❤️🎻🎼🎶🎵

Good news and bad news on the Tokyo trip. Bad news. I’m not doing it. I’ve been in an airport before. (Stansted Ryanair). I can’t face it again. Good news @CrossEyedPiano I’m reading your book I was saving for the flight.

Reminds me of a customer we had at the pub. A villager. @NickAnt12345 Lovely man. Passed away and we did the wake. Place was packed with women of all ages. I asked a local gentleman how many wives he’d had. ‘Hundreds. None of them his, though.’ 💪🍾🥂

I’ve selected a morceaux from the greatest composer ever to have lived to finish my half hour ‘cello presentation to the conservatoire newbies on Thursday. Hopefully I won’t be expelled.

Sneaky outing to Paris for our 4th Lac de cygnes. Impossible to tire of it. ❤️

There’s a school of thought that would have it the solo ‘cellist was sited as far away from the chef d’orchestre and the audience as was physically possible. A school of thought to which I don’t subscribe, of course. It’s because I is an immigrant innit?

I’m not religious but playing solo ‘cello sitting above all my orchestra colleagues was quite moving

I’m still fretting over being married to an Old Age Pensioner. I mean not a bad one to be honest. And a half decent cook. But I’m wondering if any of those wife swap programmes are still going? And if so how do you offer up the wife?

Talking of Pinson @NickAnt12345 the VIP weekend is middle weekend in November. Which I guess is no good to you. Me neither. My first ‘gig’ with a professional orchestra. Three days rehearsal and concert the Sunday night. 😟☹️😢

Just had a walk round the cellars at Domaine Pinson. Picked some ‘22 Mont de milieu and ‘23 Fourchaumes to fill some holes in the man cave (the OAP wife has a drink problem don’t you know?). Not a single bottle of ‘24 for sale……….all been exported. Quelle surprise.

Whilst worrying about the upcoming conservatoire presentation this popped up on my FB memories this morning. It’s the 1st anniversary of my introduction to the grumpy prof de violoncelle……

The wife is now an old aged pensioner. And people wonder why I prefer to travel alone. Who wants to travel with an OAP tagging along???