Twas Christmas Day In the hospital

Well fellow organists, guess who had an emergency operation on a detached retina at 3-30 on Christmas Morning?
Yep. Me.

Well I have to say that as I was carol singing with my wife at our local community carol Sevice on Christmas eve afternoon, the vision in the right eye was suddenly getting worse as a rather large black area moved up from the lower left vision area. By 8-15 inb the evening I was persuaded by the family to go to thehospital. They took one look, and rang the on-Call specialist who came over from the Carols By Candlelight service in the City. I was earmaked for an operation at 1 in the morning but other operating room cases moved me to 3-30 am. I awokw after a general anesthetic was used to put me out for the Op, and they had stitched up two teras in the retina I believe. At 4 pm on Christmas day, I given a local anesthetic and they injected Gas into the eye.
Now on 29th December I am typing this with a rather amusing gas bubble floating arounf in the little vision I currently have in the right eye, BUT it is a lot better as I have just got back from a checkup.

Unfortunately it hindered my organ playing a fraction, so here attched is an older one of my playing called Blame It On The Bossanova, a melody that my wife and I used to dance too.

The tree is ours

Enjoy

Best wishes to you all for 2009

Robin

A Merry Christmas To You All

Well it is the 22nd December.
The Turkey is defrosting, the dried chestnuts are soaking and I have time for a quick play.

I hope you all enjoy it.

Robin

Playing For Christmas

Well, it is that time of the year again, and I have dug out the list of Christmas music that I play. It is a combination of Carols and songs that I like and generally if my memory hold up, can play. Unfortunately being and "Mr. I Play By Ear", I am once again, left looking at the list on occasion thinking,"How does this melody go", or I am half way through a piece when I suddenly run into a completely different tune, or forget completely and stop. (See and you all thought that reading music was a bind).

I have to confess that I am a Christmas Baby. My birthday is on the 2oth December, and my Granddaughters is on the 24th December. She will be three next week, I will be Mmmmm, old enough. As an Englishman and living in New Zealand, I have kept up our traditions here and after much searching, s till manage to have Roast Turkey dinner, Chestnut Stuffing, and Cranberry Sauce followed by home made Christmas pudding with Brandy Sauce. I also make the mincemeat for the 12 dozen (yes 144) Mince Pies that my wife Susan bakes.

The first photo here is of the old faithful organ, with the Christmas tree in the background. I find it helps to have achristmas feel around you when you are playing the organ at Christmas. It helps put that elusive feeling in that identifies your style from others.

Well I will leave you with a quick picture of our lounge. Many of the Christmas decorations on the fireplace were made by our children over the years. It is imp[ortant that Christmas is a family time.

Bye for now.

Have a great Christmas.

Robin