Concert piano

This is the piano in the little concert hall. Emma and the other children played beautifully, but I have to admit I did not. I was soooo nervous I made mistakes and stopped before the end of my piece, saying to the audience, 'The moral of the story is Start them young!' They were very polite and laughed and clapped.

Olga, thank you for your advice and web link. I had a look at FlyLady and can certainly learn some things. Manami and Hugo presented Emma and me with flowers after we played the duet and many people congratulated me for having a go! Piano playing is not my forte, but I am determined to persevere.

This morning I got up early and went swimming. Always beautiful and worth the effort.

Trees

When I lived in Newcastle I said the only thing I would move for was trees, and at the time I posted a photo of the trees in our new backyard.  (Since I'm tucked into the basement of the house, the backyard is really my front yard.) It's only recently I've thought to take a photo of the trees out the front, along the edge of the park. We are truly blessed, living in such a beautiful area.

I should go for a walk among the trees first thing every morning, to calm my frazzled nerves. Lately I'm extra frazzled and am finding life quite difficult. Nothing major, as we're all healthy and happy, but I can't seem to get things together, even after 72 years of practice!

When I open my eyes every morning I am overwhelmed by all the things I need to do. Stupid, I know, as most things are self-inflicted: Japanese, teaching English, piano, online uni courses, jigsaws, this blog, reading, ancestry, exercise classes, emails, updating address book, lunch with friends. 

Then there are the essentials, like school dropoffs and pickups, shopping, cooking, cleaning up, washing, ironing, sorting mail, bills to pay, visits to doctor, vet, hairdresser.

I'm behind in every category and constantly feel guilty.

I've tried 'Things to do' lists but they don't help, as I usually lose them under piles of paperwork. Today I'm making a huge effort to get on top of things. Double piano lesson this afternoon, the last before the concert on Sunday. Boy, will I be glad when that's over!

The things kids do..

Hugo brought down a stool and a torch and entertained himself this morning by watching the washing machine go round and round!

I'm so tired lately, it's all I can do to drag myself out of bed in the mornings. According to the weather woman on the telly, this morning is the coldest in Sydney all winter. In fact, the entire winter has been cold and maybe that's adding to my tiredness.

Today's forecast is between 5 and 14, which, although freezing for us, is nothing to you northern hemisphere dwellers.

Between exhausted times I still work on my ancestors. (I liked your comment, Michael!), still teach English, learn Japanese, do online uni courses, mind the kids, practise the piano, go to exercise classes, meet with friends, and so on.

The piano recital is on 16th, so I'm having double lessons between now and then. Talk about a nervous wreck...