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Day five of the George Orwell Tea Challenge. Nine more days to go after today. Yesterday, I tried putting lemon in my tea. This helped, but it masked the taste of the tea so completely that I decided it is probably against the "rules" of the challenge. Though not explicitly mentioned, I think that lemon -- like salt and pepper -- ought to go in the same category as sugar. George might be onto something, though. I still miss my sugar, but I am no longer craving it the same way. Likewise, I think I am actually enjoying the taste of the sugarless tea slightly, rather than simply tolerating it. We shall see what the next nine days bring.
Last night, I went to St. Giles to ring bells for the first time in six weeks. Before the regular practice began, I had a lesson on handbells. We went through several courses of Plain Bob Minor, starting with me on the trebles (the 1 and 2 bells) and then rotating so that I could practice the part of the tenors (the 5 and 6 bells). During the day, I practiced on imaginary bells at work so that I would be less rusty. Indeed, I did pretty well on the trebles and not too badly on the tenors. Although I did slip at times, I was able to get back on track. When I get into the handbell ringing, I start to trance out. I understand that this is not an uncommon experience. As such, much of the ringing becomes automatic... until a mistake is made. At that point, it is interesting to see my consciousness zap back on -- mental map of the method diagram in place -- to restore me to the proper sequence of ringing. My homework for next week is to learn the part for the 3-4 bells. After that is done, we will probably move on from the plain course shown in the above link and try adding "bobs" and "singles".
When the regular practice began, we put the handbells away and rang up the eight tower bells of St. Giles. Although I enjoy ringing handbells[*], I find the tower bells to be much more fun and fascinating. I rang up the #1 (treble) and the #3 bells, to get back in practice. In the past, I have rung up the #8 (tenor), which weights 1456 pounds... but I decided to stick with lighter bells this week. We started by ringing rounds, and I could tell that I was rusty. However, as the practice went on, I rang called changes, a covering tenor for Plain Hunt Triples, a covering tenor for Grandsire Triples, and joined the hunt on the treble for another set of Plain Hunt Triples. Which brings me just about back to where I was before I left for the States. The only thing more that I ostensibly know how to do is ring Plain Hunt Triples on one of the inside bells (#3), and I shall try that next week. Nice to see that I have not gotten too rusty, and that I can more or less pick up my learning from where I left it off.
It was really, really nice to get my hands around some rope again! It definitely helps the transition back into my Oxford life. There had been many things on my mind yesterday before practice and, for a little while, they all vanished to the sidelines while I was ringing. Of course, after ringing -- and a short trip to the pub afterward with some fellow ringers -- I had to return to the lab to work with the membrane pump that I installed for the latest liquid helium fill. However, even though everything that had been on my mind, such as the cooldown, was still waiting for me, I find that clearing the mind for a time can be a very good thing indeed!
[*] And can make progress much more quickly than on tower bells, which are large and challenging to handle! I am getting pretty decent at Plain Bob Minor on handbells, but this method is still probably months away in my future on tower bells!
Last night, I went to St. Giles to ring bells for the first time in six weeks. Before the regular practice began, I had a lesson on handbells. We went through several courses of Plain Bob Minor, starting with me on the trebles (the 1 and 2 bells) and then rotating so that I could practice the part of the tenors (the 5 and 6 bells). During the day, I practiced on imaginary bells at work so that I would be less rusty. Indeed, I did pretty well on the trebles and not too badly on the tenors. Although I did slip at times, I was able to get back on track. When I get into the handbell ringing, I start to trance out. I understand that this is not an uncommon experience. As such, much of the ringing becomes automatic... until a mistake is made. At that point, it is interesting to see my consciousness zap back on -- mental map of the method diagram in place -- to restore me to the proper sequence of ringing. My homework for next week is to learn the part for the 3-4 bells. After that is done, we will probably move on from the plain course shown in the above link and try adding "bobs" and "singles".
When the regular practice began, we put the handbells away and rang up the eight tower bells of St. Giles. Although I enjoy ringing handbells[*], I find the tower bells to be much more fun and fascinating. I rang up the #1 (treble) and the #3 bells, to get back in practice. In the past, I have rung up the #8 (tenor), which weights 1456 pounds... but I decided to stick with lighter bells this week. We started by ringing rounds, and I could tell that I was rusty. However, as the practice went on, I rang called changes, a covering tenor for Plain Hunt Triples, a covering tenor for Grandsire Triples, and joined the hunt on the treble for another set of Plain Hunt Triples. Which brings me just about back to where I was before I left for the States. The only thing more that I ostensibly know how to do is ring Plain Hunt Triples on one of the inside bells (#3), and I shall try that next week. Nice to see that I have not gotten too rusty, and that I can more or less pick up my learning from where I left it off.
It was really, really nice to get my hands around some rope again! It definitely helps the transition back into my Oxford life. There had been many things on my mind yesterday before practice and, for a little while, they all vanished to the sidelines while I was ringing. Of course, after ringing -- and a short trip to the pub afterward with some fellow ringers -- I had to return to the lab to work with the membrane pump that I installed for the latest liquid helium fill. However, even though everything that had been on my mind, such as the cooldown, was still waiting for me, I find that clearing the mind for a time can be a very good thing indeed!
[*] And can make progress much more quickly than on tower bells, which are large and challenging to handle! I am getting pretty decent at Plain Bob Minor on handbells, but this method is still probably months away in my future on tower bells!
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