Daybook - No. 7

Outside my window...
I'm listening to the sounds of cars on the highway

I am thankful...
For the opportunity over the past few weeks to house-sit for a friend of mine in town - it was nice to feel a bit of independence and experience a little of what it's like to live on your own. 

I am thinking...
About how much life has changed over the past year.

Learning all the time...
This week I have been busking a couple of times, it's lots of fun to talk to people walking by and hear about their experiences.

From the kitchen...
Dinner!

I am creating...
My sketches and compositions have come to a standstill - I have an idea for a couple of pieces of music, though!

I am working on...
Getting my sleep schedule back on track.

I am going...
I'm not going to any specific location, just wherever my life takes me.

I am hoping...
That my university applications process properly.

I am praying...
For my friends and family who are going through tough times.

I am pondering....
Not thinking too deeply at the moment.

I am reading...
I haven't been reading either - I need to get back into that - does anybody have any book suggestions?

I am listening to......
Just the sound of my fan and the highway.

I am hearing...
^ Ditto!

I am struggling...
With getting enough sleep.

Around the house...
My family are relaxing and enjoying the start of the long weekend.

One of my favourite things...
The people who I care about.

A few plans for this week...
This next week I plan to practice clarinet a lot. I have orchestral rehearsal this weekend for the upcoming Jacaranda Prom's concert. It will be heaps of fun! I also go back to my music lesson next week to start the final term of the year.

A little peek at my day...
I caught the bus into town and busked. After, Mum, my sister, and I went for food and drinks in the local shopping centre. When we arrived home, I've started cleaning up the caravan (my new living space - I'm sorting everything out as to where it will go!), and decided I should update my blog. Ta-da!

Sorry I've been absent - blogging hasn't been on my mind at all for a long time.

Daybook - No. 6

Outside my window...
I hear busy sounds of the highway. It's late at night, so not so busy, though!

I am thankful...
That over the past few weeks, I was able to go to Sydney to play with the London Symphony Orchestra, audition for the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Elder Conservatorium of Music (in Adelaide) (Bachelor of Music Performance - Classical), and see all my close friends while I was doing it! I'm also thankful for a feature in the local Newspaper! One more thing to be thankful for: I received the 'Student Of The Year' award at my local conservatorium!

I am thinking...
About how I will spend tomorrow - my birthday.

Learning all the time...
I have learnt this week a little bit about baking - I haven't done too much in the past, but tonight and last night had me in the kitchen baking doughnuts and cupcakes!

From the kitchen...
Not too much now, but I did cook some 'Chocolate Mousse Cupcakes' - I'll post the recipe up after this post!

I am creating...
Lately, just wonderful memories.

I am working on...
Trying to stay relaxed more often!

I am going...
To see friends, also to our local Ice Cream store's 5th birthday this week!

I am hoping...
That next year will go smoothly and fantastically!

I am praying...
For the victims of the Sydney Siege - and for the person responsible for it.

I am pondering....
What is meant to be for my future?

I am reading...
Nothing at the moment

I am listening to......
Just the sound of my fan and the highway.

I am hearing...
^ Ditto!

I am struggling...
Not really struggling at the moment: that's something new!

Around the house...
People are asleep

One of my favourite things...
My friends and family!

A few plans for this week...
I have my birthday tomorrow (well.. today, Wednesday) - will visit some friends! Later in the week we will head off to our local ice cream store, as it's their 5th birthday. I also need to finish my Christmas shopping this week!

A little peek at my day...
Today I woke up quite late, and lazed around a little because I didn't feel too well. Then I cooked dinner, washed up dishes, and cooked cupcakes! 

Front page!

The Article!

Also, if you haven't liked my Facebook page yet - click here to go check it out!

Daybook - No. 5

Outside my window...
It's dark. I'm having a late night - I couldn't get into the bathroom to have my shower until midnight, and then I made a cup of tea, and now I'm writing a blog post. I really should go to bed.

I am thankful...
That I was able to spend such a wonderful week in Adelaide recently. I saw some of my closest friends, and had a generally wonderful time - I'm in the middle of typing up more detailed blog posts, which will go up as soon as the photos from my Adelaide week arrive!

I am thinking...
About my upcoming exam, and a student concert which I will be playing in tomorrow.

Learning all the time...
I'm learning more and more that there are a lot more to people than what meets the eye.

From the kitchen...
Nothing right now.. I just had a cup of chai tea!

I am creating...
I've written down the themes to a couple of pieces of music, not sure where they'll go, though!

I am working on...
Staying positive, and thinking happy thoughts. I've found myself subconsciously playing the 'glad' game (from the book Pollyanna), where you find things to be happy about all the time. It's been working like a treat!

I am going...
To mass in the morning, then driving down to a student concert.

I am hoping...
That my ear will be unblocked soon. It's been blocked for over a week - if it stays blocked for much longer, I'll see about getting it checked out. I have a cold right now, so that may be why it's blocked, but I'm not sure.

I am praying...
That everyone's lives turn out wonderfully, and that their choices lead them to happiness.

I am pondering....
What will Sydney be like? How will my exam go?

I am reading...
The Dark is Rising Sequence - Over Sea, Under Stone - by Susan Cooper

I am listening to......
Dad talking to me about a television show.

I am hearing...
The hum of the highway

I am struggling...
With a couple of personal issues in regards to thoughts on relationships.

Around the house...
Everyone is sleeping.

One of my favourite things...
Currently Chai Tea!

A few plans for this week...
TAFE and conservatorium things.

A little peek at my day...
I woke up late, then had a video call with my teacher and did some aural training for my upcoming exam. I then relaxed, played piano, and just generally chillaxed. It was a nice day!

Daybook - No. 4

Outside my window...
Is a beautiful, calm, clear day.

I am thankful...
That my wrist has stopped hurting.

I am thinking...
About tonight

Learning all the time...
This week, I learnt that

From the kitchen...
Nothing right now, but I'll be in there getting breakfast soon!

I am creating...
I'm in the middle of three drawings now, plus three pieces of music.

I am working on...
Not too much, really..

I am going...
To TAFE today, nowhere special planned at the moment!

I am hoping...
That my hand isn't burnt enough to prevent me playing clarinet. I gave myself a pretty painful steam burn last night, while I was cooking dinner.

I am praying...
That people stop using the Catholic sacramants as an 'obligation' or so they get advantages, but realise that they really are important. That when they make the promises at baptism, and when they renew the promises at confirmation, they are supposed to keep them.

I am pondering....
What is the Sydney Opera House like?

I am reading...
'Imogen's Chance' by Paula Vince

I am listening to......
Silence, early morning, beautiful silence.

I am hearing...
The hum of the highway

I am struggling...
With the inability to play music, and the inability to draw now.

Around the house...
People are sleeping. Nobody else has gotten up, yet.

One of my favourite things...
Coffee.

A few plans for this week...
TAFE and conservatorium things.

A little peek at my day...
I woke up early today. I will have breakfast now, and then head into town for TAFE in a couple of hours.

Daybook - No. 3

Outside my window...
I hear busy sounds of the highway.

I am thankful...
That I was able to go and see the Sydney Youth Orchestra perform last night!

I am thinking...
About tonight

Learning all the time...
This week, I was given the opportunity to go through the basics of the fancy mixing desk at TAFE with my fellow classmates. I was their teacher. It was great learning how to teach.

From the kitchen...
Nothing at the moment, should probably organize dinner!

I am creating...
I'm in the middle of four drawings now, plus three pieces of music.

I am working on...
Getting up at a decent time each day (it doesn't always work, though!)

I am going...
To my friend's birthday party tonight!

I am hoping...
That my body will stop being painful. I've strained my right hand, so I can't play piano or clarinet at the moment. I also had a fall the other day, and now it's painful to kneel on my left knee.

I am praying...
That everything turns out fine.

I am pondering....
What will Sydney be like?

I am reading...
'Imogen's Chance' by Paula Vince

I am listening to......
'Love Is An Open Door' from Frozen

I am hearing...
The hum of the highway

I am struggling...
With the inability to play music. Thank goodness I draw with my left hand, otherwise I would feel even more lost!

Around the house...
People are relaxing.

One of my favorite things...
Doughnuts.

A few plans for this week...
Party tonight, then church tomorrow, then sleep!

A little peek at my day...
I woke up very late today. I read some of 'Imogen's Choice' (it's turning out to be quite a good read!), and had a shower. Now I am quickly typing up a blog post before I go out.

I put one of Mum's cast-magnet-things on my
hand in the hope that it will help!

Daybook - No. 2

Outside my window...
Cars are driving past on the highway. It was raining yesterday and today, so it is very wet, with a huge puddle right outside our house!

I am thankful...
For all my amazing teachers and lecturers at TAFE

I am thinking...
About the play tonight: only one performance of Calamity Jane left!

Learning all the time...
Yesterday I learnt how to edit and 'comp' vocals in Pro Tools. Comp'ing is when you record a few takes of the same vocal line, and then cut them up and take the best bits of each take to paste into the final version. This way, you get the best vocal possible in your songs!


From the kitchen...
My sisters are cleaning the kitchen at the moment.

I am creating...
I've started a couple of drawings. I bought some blending stumps yesterday, and I am testing them out in one of my pictures.

I am working on...
Building a steadier schedule for my week. At the moment everything's happening so fast; a week goes by in just the blink of an eye!

I am going...
To the theatre tonight.

I am hoping...
That the rest of the term goes smoothly.

I am praying...
That my pieces, which I am preparing for my upcoming music exam, will come together nicely.

I am reading...
I'm not currently reading any books, I need to pick one up soon, I think!

I am listening to......
'House Of Cards' by Human Nature.

I am hearing...
My family talking and watching television.


I am struggling...
With fitting everything in. This is why I am trying to set up a stable schedule.

Around the house...
Two of my sisters are cleaning, my brother is probably playing a game, another sister is probably sewing, Mum and Dad are talking and watching television, and my final sister has caught a tummy bug. I'm hoping it doesn't get passed around to the rest of us!

One of my favourite things...
I love playing board games, and I have an eye out on a few I'd like to buy one day!

A few plans for this week...
For the rest of the week: we have the theatre tonight, and then mass on Sunday. I will be seeing my brothers girlfriend tonight at the theatre, and I'm really looking forward to that!

A little peek at my day...
I have had a lazy day today, so far. I awoke at 11am, and then got up at 1pm. I was absolutely knackered after this week. I've listened to some music, and now I'm doing a check of my internet things.

Daybook - No. 1

Outside my window...
I hear busy sounds of the highway..

I am thankful...
For all the opportunities I have received, and am still receiving, since I moved..

I am thinking...
About my friends

Learning all the time...
I've become a stage hand in the latest production at the theatre, it's great to learn how to quickly change the sets.

From the kitchen...
Silence. People are asleep.

I am creating...
I'm working on a composition at the moment in F Lydian (key of C major/A minor, but the root chord will be F). Hoping it'll sound ok-ish.

I am working on...
Making sure I eat 3 meals a day, I skip out on breakfast too often.

I am going...
To an Eisteddfod tomorrow

I am hoping...
That the eisteddfod goes well.

I am praying...
That I will be able to locate a job soon

I am pondering....
What should I draw next?

I am reading...
I just recently read all three of The Hunger Games books, and will be reading the latest Brotherband book soon!

I am listening to......
The hum of the highway.

I am hearing...
^ Ditto.

I am struggling...
I'm not really struggling at the moment. Just plonking along at my own rate.

Around the house...
People are sleeping.

One of my favorite things...
Being able to watch the latest play at the theatre group come together, from an audience perspective. With all the plays I've been to since I moved, I have been either backstage or onstage, so it was nice watching it from an audience perspective, even if I'll be backstage for the actual performances.

A few plans for this week...
Eisteddfod, and more backstage work at the play! We're currently performing Calamity Jane.

A little peek at my day...
I got up, arrived at TAFE a little late, and then afterwards I wasted time for a couple of hours. After buying some artist's erasers, I saw a friend, who I haven't seen in a while. Then headed off to the theatre group for the opening night of Calamity Jane. It went splendidly!