Day Twenty Three

Although not sure how to count. It's day 23 by the calendar, but had very little actual practice time. Tonight I was encouraged to have some time on the guitar, though could only really work on my fingering a bit.

Still putting fingers down too wide and muting one or the other string to the sides of the one I am aiming for. On the plus side, fingers getting a bit stronger and the ends should be getting tougher, over time.

Probably need to trim my nails even shorter than they are, especially on my left hand. Might try that before picking up the guitar again tomorrow

Missed days

Been too slack with guitar, not going to get very far without practice. Need to focus but can be tricky with a little one who jumps all over you the moment you get home.

Glad I don't work from home. Be nice to in some regards, but would be pretty difficult on work days that aren't school days.

Day One, sort of

Started practicing a bit on the guitar toniggt, though admittedly not much. Was working a bit on my fingering, still hitting the next string along and muting the sound.

Tried to write a bit today too, but I didn't get up early enough. Might have to get up earlier next time.

Day Zero

Well, I'd had a few different plans for an "unboxing" video of sorts when I had a chance to muck around a bit with my new guitar for the first time, but didn't end up videoing it.

I did have a play and (unsurprisingly) I totally suck at it. Considering that it is the first time I have picked up a guitar and have had no lessons, nobody is surprised by that plot twist.

Pretty sure that the first thing I should focus on is going to be my fingering. I noticed straight off the bat that I tend to contact the next string down and mute it. So I need to really arch my fingers to get the tips in there without touching the other strings.

Although I'm trying to do this on a zero dollar budget, my first expense is going to be new strings. I did manage to tune the guitar, but it started drifting out of tune almost instantly. The strings are old, pretty much the original strings that came with the guitar as far as I know. The guitar used to be my mum's and she didn't get much of a chance to play it.

I can get cheap strings online off eBay no drama, though while I'm learning I should probably spring for good ones so I can train my ear. Or not, the budget is the budget.

Maybe on the weekend I'll get a chance to sit down and do a video. Here's hoping!

Second night

Bit sore and managed to stay busy most of the day but seems like not much got done.

Well, daylight is disappearing, the radio is on and we have enough stuff unpacked to prepare a meal instead of having to get takeaway. Some stuff got damaged, but that should get sorted out, hopefully.

First night

Moving and being transient had kinda become a thing for me. Moving around every few months for work, travelling interstate - it all sort of blurs in together. Seems like the last year and a half I've been one rung up from living out of a suitcase.

I couldn't go home, so home came to me. ♡

First night in our new home. Next stage of our lives is starting.

New house

We got the keys to the new house today. It is ... quite small. I could stand in the back yard, stretch my arms out and almost touch the back wall of the house and the back fence at the same time. :( Smaallll...

On the plus side it is pretty nice, and it is practically brand new. We're the first tenants in it. Couldn't find any major issues with it so far. Plus there is heaps of storage room.

Our gear is scheduled to arrive tomorrow, fingers crossed it arrives on time. And there isn't much damaged...

Family shrinkage

It was good while they were here, but the boys have gone back to WA along with the daughters' friend. Place is a lot quieter now, which is kinda good and kinda bad. Teenage boys will be teenage boys, always competing and trying to be top dog. It's nice not to have an argument every ten minutes, but it's sad having a quiet house.

#SadPanda

Next week we should be moving into the new place. Fingerz crossed things go well. Here's hoping.

Secondus

Put a second video up, mainly just to test the custom thumbnail option on Youtube. Probably not the best use of resources, but I'm going to claim the high ground and say it is better than a video of random stuff some people post.

Haven't written much this week (read: anything) but I'm currently ahead so not overly stressed. Should have more free time once we're settled in the new place. Or less time, depending on how much I practice on the guitar.

On the plus side, loving being able to have more time with my family.

And the writing begins

Despite all the distractions, I was able to get a few words down yesterday. My targets are pretty generous, so there is pretty much no excuse to be falling behind. While the boys are here, we will be busy doing family things and when I go back to work then that will take up time too. Plus when the home furnishings arrive, I'll need to focus on that and helping get the house set up.

But when I can, I'll be sneaking in time to get some words down. I have until November so it isn't a tight deadline.

Though if I have limited time, I'll be giving preference to guitar practice rather than writing.

And the cycle renews

And so passes away 2015, a turbulent year I spent mostly away from my family. I think I only saw my wife and the kids for one month out of the twelve. Had a lot of ups and downs (admittedly mostly downs) but I'm optimistic that we're on an upward swing. Financially we're getting on top of things but these few weeks during the move are very turbulent. Lots of extra expenses though I'm saving where I can.

My main goal in 2016 is to learn to play the guitar. I don't have any lofty dreams or overzealous ambitions for my playing, but I do want to be improving throughout the year. So long as I make the time to practice, then I should be right. Right?

I'm not sure how much writing I will be doing. I've been trying to committ to writing since 2007 but haven't really gotten into it. I get motivated, want to write but then when I sit down in front of the computer and ... nothing. I have ideas, I have stories in my head that I want to tell but they come out very dry and clinical. If I wrote more, no doubt I'd be better at it; but it's one of those things were you have to go through the hard slog before it gets better.

My true passion is video, producing movies and video clips and such. But I don't have a few spare million lying around. And there's no money in it, not in Australia. Now, if I won lotto... :D

I'll have to settle for making little videos for me, just me playing (or more likely, trying to play) my guitar.

Can't wait for it to arrive!