Yamaha FG700MS

And this is the beautiful Yamaha FG700MS. Look forward to get my fingers picking on this...

My Personal Target

My Yamaha guitar will be delivered on Monday. Sheehan's Guitars have completed the set up process so the 'action' should be just fine. I am coming back to the guitar after more than 30 years and I have set myself a personal target. To learn to play at least the first sixteen bars of 'Stairway to Heaven' on acoustic guitar. This includes the chords and finger picking. This will take weeks, even months, of dedicated practice. I have watched more videos of this on YouTube than you can shake a stick at. It looks, no, it is difficult - but then I am much the same age as Jimmy Page...

Mind you, he has something of a head start on me....

Retired to the Guitar

I haven't touched a guitar for more than 30 years. When I lived in the Netherlands I took lessons from Peter van Dorst, who still features in the top echelon of guitarists in that country. Circumstances dictated that my lessons were interrupted; I had to move back to the UK. For many reasons I gave up trying to play the guitar, something that I regret a great deal. I am retired now. I have tried to get to grips with playing the harmonica and find it really difficult to 'bend' a note, which doesn't help if you want to play "The Blues"!

And so, at this tender age of 69, I have decided to take up the guitar again. That's right. After more than 30 years, with fingers considerably less supple than they were, I want to play the guitar. Nothing fancy. Start with the chords I remember (I think!) And for no other reason than personal pleasure. Something to practice in a fixed routine. Daily. That's the plan. So, I have invested in a Yamaha FG700MS Acoustic supplied by Sheehans Music. These guys are experts in guitars.  And this is the guitar I have ordered.

http://www.sheehans.com/product/yamaha-fg700ms-acoustic-guitar/fg700ms?TRE00003

Sheehan's experienced technicians will complete a free set up before shipping the guitar. This is particularly important to get the perfect 'action' (something I remember all too well) so that the strings are situated at the optimum distance above the fret board. (ie. minimum finger pressure required in front of a fret to achieve the required sound).

In the meantime I have started to do finger exercises to improve (hopefully!) dexterity. Helped with doses of Glucosamine and Celadrin! When the guitar arrives I am determined to set aside one hour a day to practice and perhaps 20 minutes for 'noodling' (look it up!)

Time to dream...

To sleep, perchance to dream... Do cats dream? It is said that when their paws twitch during sleep cats are "chasing rabbits". How do we know though? Riley does it. He is asleep now in what we call the Banana rest. It is made from dried banana leaves apparently.

Riley has lived with us now for almost six months. He is adorable, a wonderful, gentle natured animal. Rescued from a lonely existence to a home full of love. He is so worth it...

Sailing The Swale Estuary

The love of sailing has never left me. Memories of wonderful days in the 80s when my friend Graeme and I were members of the Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club. At the time I owned a Merlin Rocket, which was a beast to handle with a rating of 106 on the Portsmouth yardstick. It sailed like a - well - like a rocket!

Our friends Roger and Kathy had a beautifully restored yacht moored at Harty Ferry on the Swale. It was a joy to sail; very responsive. Here are some scanned photos of such a day, with me at the helm.

I keep promising myself to get another boat, particularly as Graeme has bought his cruiser, moored at Twyford Bridge Marina. Persuading my wife that this is a good idea however, is another matter....

Not Quite Nice

Not Quite Nice by Celia Imrie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not Quite Nice? What’s not to like about this charming romp along the Côte d’Azur as the author Celia Imrie navigates a fine line between farce and drama. The intricacies of plot are spot on as Theresa, sick of her spoilt daughter and equally spoilt grandchildren, is in dire need of a change of scenery. When she loses her job she heads off to the south of France to contemplate her future. Throw in a melee of ex-pats, financial worries, men who are not quite what they seem, plenty of laughter and mystery and you have a fine debut novel. Fans of Katie Fforde and Peter Mayle will love this, as I did. Rather made me want to beetle off to the sunny South of France and chill out in Bellevue-Sur-Mer....

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Messing About In Boats

Twyford Bridge Marina in Kent is located on the River Medway and is the perfect spot for messing about in boats. My good friend Graeme has purchased a 22' cruiser moored here. So, we did a bloke thing and went yesterday to mess about on it. Having been laid up for the winter would the batteries have any life left, would the engine start? Happily enough it was Yes to both.

Bit of a squeeze getting it out of here!

The location is wonderful, located as it is on the River Medway, which boasts a footpath that runs from Yalding (where the marina is located) to Tonbridge. A beautiful walk.

This beautiful converted Oast house is located along the river heading towards Tonbridge.

The marina is perfect for those of a particular inclination.....

The scenery is spectacular. Here is a view along the river looking back towards Yalding.

The marina is well served by the Teapot Café, which boasts the largest collection of teapots in the world (don't know if that has been verified!). We enjoyed lunch here.

That's it. Just two blokes enjoying each other's company, messing about in boats, messing about on the river, not a care in the world.

And not a mention of the forthcoming General Election.....