David Quinlan - Blog - Software Engineer, Trumpet Player, Runner, Yogi

One Thousand Miles for Blood Cancer – End of Week 2

July 30, 2020

2 weeks done, the stats.. 14 Rides (13 on Zwift, 1 IRL) 360.96 Miles in total (Lands end to Stoke-on-Trent – or near enough!) – er.. 36% distance 21:51:33 Total riding time. 12,821 Calories burned 26,521 Feet of climbing (50.52% of the total I could find for one of the popular routes) 108 miles behind ideal schedule (see burn down!) The red line is tracking my cumulative daily progress towards zero miles remaining (burndown). I’m behind schedule, as indicated by…

One thousand miles for BloodCancer UK

July 11, 2020

MrQ

Blog, Leukaemia, Music

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Having signed up for the Prudential Ride London again this year for BloodCancer UK (formerly, Bloodwise), I had started the year with a training program in mind, penciled in a few sportive events (in fact, did the first of the year with UK Cycling Events). Then, Covid… To cut a long story short, the event has been cancelled. This is disappointing for lots of us cyclists, but really devastating for all of those charities that rely on such events (and…

Music during Lockdown

June 27, 2020

MrQ

Blog, Music

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The last rehearsal I attended this year with Hitchin Band was (I think!) on 12th March. The planned rehearsals for the run up to the Area contest in Stevenage were cancelled due to the postponement of the Area contest. My last concert was on March 14th with Bloomsbury Chamber Orchestra. What, no concerts? By now, I would have performed in many concerts, with Hitchin Band and a few other groups that I play regularly with. I read today that my…

Working from home

March 28, 2020

MrQ

Blog

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Working from home is probably very new to many people in this Covid era. This is my third time working from home for an extended period so I thought I’d write some thoughts on how this “concept” has evolved over the years. There are many other articles out there offering tips and hints on working from home, sticking to a schedule, setting up a separate working environment etc so I won’t necessarily go into that! I first started working from…

March Music Madness?

March 2, 2020

MrQ

Blog

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March 2020 is going to be quite a busy and diverse one from a trumpeting perspective with a very different gig each weekend where I will get to perform quite a wide variety of music and musical styles. It all kicks off on Saturday 7th where I will be playing with the Bloomsbury Chamber Orchestra. This year, BCO are playing music by Spanish and French composers. I will do my best to channel my inner matador in Manuel de Falla’s…

2020 all change..

January 19, 2020

MrQ

Blog, News, Photography, Travel

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A new decade, or is it the last year of the previous 🙂 anyway, 2020 sees me 17 years since I left the Isle of Man 2 years in remission from Hairy Cell Leukaemia! yay! New Job at Numerous 🙂 Sadly, having to step down from regular Trumpet at North London Symphony Orchestra & City of London Symphonic Winds 🙁 It’s hard to believe that it’s 17 years since I packed up and left the Isle of Man after living…

Time to say…

September 11, 2019

MrQ

Blog, Concert, Music

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When people find out that both my wife, Helen and I are musicians, then find out we’re trumpet players, and then find out Helen is a professional singer, the next question usually is do we get to perform together often. Well, the answer is yes we do from time to time, in bands (wind band, brass band and occasionally orchestra if MrsQ gets time to write out the transpositions, typical brass bander…), but I rarely get the opportunity to be…

Ride London 2019 Done!

August 31, 2019

MrQ

Blog, Leukaemia

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Better late then never but here is my post relating to this years Prudential Ride London which took place on August 4th. I chose to raise funds again this year for the marvellous people at Bloodwise and it was a privilege again to ride in their colours. The ride this year could not have been more different than 2018 in many ways. Firstly, in terms of my preparation and training, I exceeded my training miles this year over 2018 by…

NLSO – Celebrating British Composers

June 16, 2019

MrQ

Blog, Concert

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For our second concert of 2019, the North London Symphony Orchestra will be featuring works by British Composers, Bax, Walton and Vaughan-Williams. Returning to St James in Muswell hill, the orchestra under the baton of Robert Max will perform:- Tintagel: Bax Viola Concerto: Walton, to be performed by Alinka Rowe A London Symphony: Vaughan-Williams It is certainly an interesting program for brass as we have lots to do, but it is also a very musical performance. The Walton and the…

Prudential Ride London 2019

May 7, 2019

MrQ

Blog, Leukaemia

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I will be riding Prudential Ride London again on August 4th 2019 raising funds for Bloodwise. For those of you not familiar with Bloodwise, they fund world-class research into all types of blood cancer. They are also there for blood cancer patients – they support anyone worried about blood cancer with expert information and advice. After 2018’s rain soaked event, I’m sure I’m with every other rider in the 2019 event hoping for better weather (and, of course better times!)…