I think I’ve identified the trickiest thing about trying to learn the violin as a competant pianist. Reading the basic notes is simple – there’s only one line compared to reading multiple lines for the piano. Playing all notes on just four strings takes a bit of practise, but is achievable – whilst both hands are in use, they are working together to produce one note most of the time! Shifting isn’t too tricky, it’s no different from taking your hands completely on the piano keyboard and landing an octave higher, you even get to keep your finger on the string and slide to the new position.

A slightly tricky thing to learn was the extra musical notation I have to keep track of. It took a while to get used to the up and down bow markings, but it eventually sunk in.

The most difficult part is the slurring! On the piano, you read slurs for phrasing purposes. On the violin, they actually have technical meaning – you are supposed to play slurred notes in one bow movement! If I could just embed the significance of this into my mind when reading the music, I’d be OK! For some reason though, I find it difficult to take note of them…

As Jesus travelled around Judaea, he met all kinds of people, many who became followers. Those who followed weren’t all respectable people though.

Amongst those was Matthew the publican (civil servant), more specifically a tax collector, a man despised by many of his fellow Jews because he worked for the occupying Imperial Roman powers.

By leaving his booth that he might dine with Jesus, Matthew was putting himself last, as he would deprive himself of income.

Jesus was happy to accept him though, to forgive him his sins and to dine with him. The Jewish establishment of the day, the Pharisees, were astounded that Jesus would eat with such ‘sinners’, without realising that they themselves were sinners instead being self-righteous.

Jesus responded by saying that he had come to save sinners. Indeed his disciples would be comprised of a tax collector who worked for the Romans, and a freedom fighting Zealot – both who were changed by Jesus’ power and who would consider themselves brothers.

How often do we think that someone is beyond saving? Yet, Jesus will save who he will save, and no one is beyond his power. Regardless of their ideology, culture, ethnicity or even attitude.

Had an interesting game of Diplomacy this evening, with five other seasoned players and one newbie. Alas, the newbie had drawn Russia, and I’d not picked Germany or Italy, which was a good start.
The game progressed with England and France allying, and Turkey and Austria-Hungary allying. It became clear that any country not in one of the two main alliances was doomed to be carved up, as England and France carved up Germany, Austria-Hungary took out Italy and Turkey poked Russia in the southern ribs.
Alas, an oversight on my part meant I forgot to build a unit when I could and left Brest open to English incursion, leading to the downfall of France and an eventual victory for England.

Went walking on the North Downs today with some other bods from church. We started off at Newlands Corner, walked down to Shere and then back up again. Usually, I wouldn’t have had a problem keeping up, but I think I’m still in recovery as I am now rather knackered! A good opportunity to see the wonders of creation and get some fresh air though!