A Minor Journey dot com.

No, really.

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I seem to be consuming various ‘[insert_ingredient_here]free’ foods and beverages of late. Other than being lactose intolerant and thus avoiding anything with milk in (thank goodness for Swedish Glace is all I can say) I have eaten several dishes this week which are nut free or gluten free. I made a rocking Banana cake on Saturday for sharing at the BEVOB 2nd birthday meet, but went and left it at home. All I can say is that it was very nice. I adapted the recipe from this vegan one to include gluten-free ingredients. It was most delicious, even though we didn’t put a topping on it.

Back to the chocolate Soya Milk.

I occasionally buy some when I go shopping. Since we only do our grocery shopping once every two or three weeks I don’t feel so bad having some. It’s probably very bad for me but meh, its nice. And today I enjoyed some while working on a piece I’m meant to be playing with an orchestra in a few weeks. Can you spot the problem? (Click on the photo for a bigger version) There’s an extra line… Yes, it’s an Organ piece! Whoopeee!

It’s a long story, but I’m a real organ fan. (The pipe organ variety, not any other more naughty organ variety, although I have to say I do like Kate’s……_{*Grins. Perhaps I’ll stop right there…*}. Anyway. I used to be an organ scholar and even studied it for a while at music college. However, I’m agnostic who verges towards various eastern philosophies and relegions these days and so stopped playing organ. Why? Well, Pipe organs (the sort I play) tend to be in churches. And well, it’s kind of expected that in order to play said organs you probably need to be partaking in some form of Christian worship. Do I love church music? Well, organ music rocks (mostly), and choral church music just turns me instantly to jelly, but do I believe in the devotional aspect? No. Therefore I’d feel rather hypocritical taking part in what is for most, a very devotional thing. Yes, there are other musicians who sing in Church choirs and in fact, many are in Cathedral choirs, but I’d somehow feel a hypocrite if I did it.

Which sucks, because I really really love church music. Not for it’s relegious content, but for it’s exquisite harmonies and the occasional Tierce De Picardy. Not quite as good as sex, but certainly better than a slap in the face with a wet kipper.

So, I let slip about two weeks ago that I used to play Organ whilst in the office of one of the music services I work for. I was duly snapped up as organ playing teacher, and asked to play in a concert with one of the various string orchestras in a few weekends’ time. Which means I get to play an organ in the Albinoni Adagio for Strings in G minor and continuo in another piece. Hazza! The first rehearsal is tonight, hence the frantic practicing. I need to find the organ I’m meant to play it on and have a go at some point, as well as find a suitable pair of shoes to play in. See, I chucked out my last pair of organ shoes… Damnit!

Normal service is now being resumed…

Less than a week after buying her Velma is in the shop. Don’t worry. I didn’t do anything stupid: She hasn’t been wrapped around a tree…
No, on Sunday last week I noticed that whilst on hard lock there was a strange noise emanating from the front of the car. I suspect it’s either a problem with the CV joints or possibly transmission or steering. The nice bit however about all of this is that because I purchased Velma from an authorised Toyota garage I’ve got a one year approved vehicle warranty with her. So that means for once a vehicle I own will get repaired for free by a local Toyota garage if she goes wrong in the next year. Result.
It wasn’t until I got back behind the wheel of Daphne, Kate’s Prius, that I realised just how different these two cars are. Yes, they’re both Prius, although Daphne is an ‘07 TSpirit and Velma is an ‘04 T4, but the differences in feel and driving is quite different. Kate’s Prius seems more happy to stay in EV mode than Velma. That may have something to do with her age though, so I’ve asked the garage to check the High Voltage Traction Battery while they have Velma in… Don’t get me wrong though, Velma is a stonkingly good car. I’m glad I brought her. I’ve ordered the Can-View V3+ from Norm at HybridInterfaces and have already started looking for PHEV components, so hopefully in a year she’ll be even better. A 150MPG Prius? Yes Please!

Finally, if you’ll allow me, I’d like to be vain. See, I’ve recently started wearing contacts again after a two year absence. Lens technology has really moved on in the past few years and my new ones are much more comfortable. It’s nice not to have to worry about my glasses either, especially for simple things like opening up the oven, or going from a cold outside into a warm room.

But now I can’t figure out what to do with my hair. We recently brought a new hairdryer and I’ve taken to drying my hair with it every day rather than relying on the natural drying I’ve done for ages. It means I can finally flip my hair over and have a semblance of a style. But my hair hasn’t seen a hairdresser for quite some time and it needs tidying up. Thing is, I can’t decide what to do with it.
Take a look.

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I think I’m more inclined to have a more styled hair style now I don’t have glasses. I’m thinking some highlights and a tidy up, with perhaps some more bangs at the side. About this length? Tell me if I’m making a huge mistake and I should go back to short and spiky dyke *Although I may just do that!*

Anyway - Tara for now…