The Chamber Philharmonia Cologne

On Wednesday evening, I performed with the Chamber Philharmonia Cologne.  I've seen their posters up around Brisbane for years, but never been to a concert.  But this year, I was asked to be a 'ring-in' player for their Brisbane concert.  A touring group of 4 German players, with 2 Aussies thrown into the mix for the tour, they had 3 extras for the Brisbane concert.  Plus a flautist.  We had a 4pm rehearsal and an 8pm concert.  I expected the rehearsal to last until about 7, a short break for dinner, then the concert.  No.  Rehearsal until just after 5... 

Rehearsal was more of a 'top and tail' affair, which was good in that they expected us to know this music, and to be able to count and read key signatures.  And having less rehearsal ensured my adrenaline was running for the concert.  One of the pieces was the Bach Double - I'm quite familiar with the solo parts.  I have never played the tutti parts (I was the 2nd violin tutti part for this).  I have also never succeeded in playing either of the solo parts of the 3rd movement without stuffing up rhythm.  This made me very nervous.  But it went off without a hitch.  Most of the music was well-known (Mozart, Vivaldi's Winter, some Paganini and Monti) and it was refreshing to hear a different take on these works - not to mention how inspiring it is to see and hear this music performed live, with such energy.

Dinner was at a Japanese place on Adelaide St (with a view of the cathedral).  I had the miso ramen and a chilled green tea.

If you get a chance to see these players (they have 16 more concerts on this Australian tour), I highly recommend them. 

Miso Soup

Last night, a friend said I must try miso soup.  I have some miso paste for Japanese-style dishes, but I've never had miso soup.  He handed over 2 packets of the miso, and 2 packets of the ... you know, the other stuff you put in it.  He did tell me what the flavours were, but I neglected to take notes - and it's been a long time since I read any Japanese so I'm not so sure.  (The yellow one is K6 if there are any people in the know reading this).

I thought (due to its salty factor) this would be a good post-run snack.  I think I'm right.  Liquid, quick, and salty.  I still followed it with chicken and kale, but it was a great starter.  And I can't wait to try the other flavour.  Whatever it may be.

Today's photo:

This was almost a New Thing.  Well, it is a New Thing... Today, I ate my first home-grown tomato.  It was so good!  So good, in fact, that you get a bonus photo.  I ate it with fried haloumi; a (delivered) organic tomato; 3 wrinkly but finally red cherry tomatoes (also from the garden); and basil, chives and parsley from the garden.  The large tomato is a Black Russian, so even though it looks a bit green still, it was quite ripe.

It was a good lunch.

The Card Materials

A couple of years ago, I started making my own cards.  An 11-yr-old had given me a Christmas card that she'd made herself and I thought, I can do that.  Of course I then had a slightly card-obsessed phase...  Then I started looking at items that could be worked into cards.  All that lovely paper is lovely, but expensive and environmentally suspect.  So I have a collection of things that could be used in cards.  It's a bit like having an attic of shoe boxes filled with things like buttons, string, and nails.  (The shoe boxes in my attic have things like Christmas decorations).  On Friday was a friend's birthday, and I actually used one of these leftover bits for her card.

This friend is a home economics teacher but can also (and does, depending on the year) teach Japanese.  Her home has lovely Japanese items around and, when looking for inspiration, I thought this bit of cardboard with its Japanese-style print would be just right.  It's actually from the box of a mug I was given for Christmas (the mug is just as pretty as the box).

It was easy enough to cut a square out of a box, but it was just that little bit too big for the card.  I kept trimming and trimming, then eventually realised that I could take the top sheet off the corrugated part and it would sit so much better.  I was hoping for a bit more dark blue in the background of the card, or even some gold, but it looks like I'm all out.  I think the light pink works nicely though.