Forty-three years ago today.....

......we were on the second day of our honeymoon at Korora Bay (northern beaches of Coffs Harbour).
I snapped this shot of my new bride on the rocks at the end of the beach near the Sandy Beach Apartments (the Google photo bears little resemblance to the location as it was forty-three years ago!) where we were staying.

The year before we were married we were out in Sydney (where we lived at the time) and popped into one of those self-photo booths, which were dotted here and there (usually at railway stations) and often used by people wanting wallet-sized B&W prints or shots for a passport application.

This is the only such photo which I still have of that era.....

In 1976 we moved from suburban Sydney to our new home at 72 Buena Vista Road, Winmalee (Google photo is recent...taken after the fires of 2013) in the Blue Mountains, both of us commuting to work in Sydney by train.
The following photo - one of my favourites of Shirley (she looks very contemplative) - was taken in 1977 at the dining table.

Memories are enhanced by photos because they trigger details.
These pix bring back memories of some wonderful times.

Learning to play the piano.....properly!

For some years I've been able to play an electronic keyboard by ear and to use the automatic accompaniment, but I've never been able to read music or to play left-hand chords.

This all started to change in February of this year, when I commenced piano lessons with Michele Saunders Music Studio, here in Yamba. In fact, the studio is literally 100 metres from our front gate. How good is that?!

I have a Yamaha E443 electronic keyboard which has lots of bells and whistles but which, at the touch of a button, reverts to what is effectively a 61-key piano.

Lessons are half-an-hour per week and I am now coming up to my 30th. lesson. That's 15 hours of tuition in total over the past eight months and I am enjoying every second of the experience.

I never had the time to do this whilst I was working and helping to raise two children but now, in retirement, I have all the time in the world.

I practice at least an hour a day....not necessarily all in one go; some days I'll have a half-hour session, other days I'll be sitting at the keyboard for a couple of hours.

Last Saturday night I had my first "public" performance - at the home of a very dear friend (Margaret) who plays the organ beautifully and who hosted an evening of light classical music for about twenty or so friends.
There were four musicians - Michele (on guitar...her expertise is boundless), Margaret on her electronic organ, myself on my Yamaha keyboard and a gentleman by the name of Peter who plays a Kawai electronic piano (88 keys). Peter and his wife Claire were visiting for a week...and the stay included  several music sessions with Michele.

Peter is blind, is 83 and Michele is his music teacher.....his remote music teacher, because he lives north of Brisbane and Michele coaches him via the internet.
Yes, that's correct........and we believe it is a unique arrangement.

Here is a photo of three of us....Michele, Margaret and myself...........

 And another which includes Peter...........

I couldn't live happily without music.....and to be able to learn to read and play it from such a lovely and encouraging teacher as Michele is one of life's bonuses.