Here we go, it’s 2021 and I have no gigs to announce. I say that, as January is usually when I post information here on the first few of the year, The City of London Symphonic Winds, followed by The North London Symphony Orchestra… with a usual post related to Brass Band Area Contests (I’m not missing having to attend eleventy-billion band rehearsals to be fair). I have so much sympathy, if that doesn’t sound too patronising for those who…
After 32 days, 31 rides, mainly on Zwift, I’ve completed my challenge! 31 Rides 1005.74 miles covered! 57:35:09 Total Ride Time 36,882 Calories burned! 66,733 Feet of Climbing The final day was the PRL ride on Zwift. 11 laps of the London Loop. Above shows the stats recorded by Zwift App. I can’t quite believe I completed the 100 miles in under 5 hrs which is cool. Yes, I did enjoy a beer or two after the ride, needed to…
End of Week 3, the stats!! 24 Rides (21 on Zwift, 3 IRL) 701.11 Miles in total (Lands end to Pitlochry ā or near enough!) ā er.. 70% distance 41:33:09 Total riding time. 25,301 Calories burned 47,591 Feet of climbing (90.65% of the total I could find for one of the popular routes) 49 miles behind ideal schedule (see burn down!) The red line is tracking my cumulative daily progress towards zero miles remaining (burndown). Iām behind schedule, as indicated…
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…
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…
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 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 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…
A new decade, or is it the last year of the previous š 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 š Sadly, having to step down from regular Trumpet at North London Symphony Orchestra & City of London Symphonic Winds š It’s hard to believe that it’s 17 years since I packed up and left the Isle of Man after living…
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…
