Holidays!!!!!!!

Well, whoever said that holidays were relaxing clearly did not live in our house lol...

I finished exams last week Friday with my last exam being my piano exam. I played what I feel is the most beautiful Debussy piece called "The Girl With The Flaxen Hair", I also played the dreaded Beethoven and then a piece that has been the most fun I've had playing a piece in a long time. It is a duet by Peulanc. I can't remember the name of it, but it was so much fun. It was a modern piece and the funny sounding notes are on purpose, but add to the piece instead of detract from it.

But now I'm on "holiday." I'm still running around like a chicken with no head most evenings and Durban City Orchestra is even more hectic than ever with 3 Christmas concerts coming up in 1, 5 and 6 December and now I'm playing piano for some of the pieces for the concerts and it's slightly driving me insane. I've also now been contacted by my friends band and they've asked me to do session work for them on their upcoming album playing keyboard. I'm still waiting for the phone call from Warren as to when I'm meeting him. Hopefully soon so that I can get in and out of studio fast so that the album can be finished.

Friday 13 November wasn't only the last day for exams for me, but I was given the most amazing opportunity from a jazz mate at the university. Dane Frances is an amazing jazz guitarist and he's always wanted to do something with me on flute and he finally had his chance and gave me amazing exposure in the jazz gospel field by asking me to play with an amazing group for a guys album launch. The album is called "Walk By Faith" and the guy is Marvon Nelson. The group was amazing and even though I barely knew them, the group welcomed me with open arms and the amount of respect that was given to each member was amazing. Standing on stage in that type of evnironment was spectacular and surprisingly, not nerve-wracking in any way, I believe that we got on that stage fearless by the grace of God because these people want to be blessings to God and that is an amazing gift.

I know it's also only been a month since Paul and I broke up, but it's safe to say he's moved on and I'm happy for him. Two weeks after we ended, he was back with an ex-girlfriend of his from two years ago. She makes him happy and I'm glad for that. I have also moved on and back into the arms of an ex-boyfriend...gosh Paul and I know how to do things don't we? lol, I'm back with my ex-boyfriend Nelson and we're hoping 5th times a charm. We know we've been together so many times before, but we think we were young and stupid back then and we really want this to work now. We're really happy right now, it's still new and has only been a week and I know there will be bumps in the road, but we're taking this a step at a time and that's the best for us.

Hehe and in other news...I've got glasses!!!! Andy is now the only one in our family without a pair of sexy spectacles!!! I have the same eye issues as my mom, I noticed about two or three weeks ago that I was leaning into my music to make it clearer and I spoke to my mom so we made an appointment at the optometrist. So now I have glasses coz my eyes have focusing issues and my distance is now going as well. So my loving brother says my list of disabilities is now growing: I'm short and I'm short sighted...you gotta love him, but I have peace of mind that when we're the same ages as our my parents....my eyes are gonna be better than his!!!!!!!! -insert evil laugh here-
But I love him and I have to admit that I think my glasses look really nice on me. Oh well, at least I can still walk around with them off and not have terrible issues:)

I just want my family in America to know that I am missing them dearly and I'm hoping that at some point soon either I'll be able to visit you or you get to come here. You guys are always in my thoughts no matter what.

Much love
Bugz

It's been a while...

Si it's been a while since I've been on here, writing my blog... life's been busy and I hardly ever touch the computer unless it's for assignments so you can understand then why I haven' written all that much...well not at all...these past few months.

Well, the biggest news as most of you know is that as of 22 Sept...I'm 20!!! No longer counted as a teenager...but not yet counted as an adult...everyone seens teens are such an inbetween age...I think being 20 is lol. I didn't do much exciting for my birthday though. I just invited a group of friends over and I wanna thank them for coming even if the Afrikaans boys barely stayed for 45 minutes. But I do wanna thank Mom, Dad, Tannie Berta, Jacques, Paul, Andy, Janine, Tatum, Telise, Kylie, Edd, Ian, Johan, Juan and Gerrie for coming. You guys made it awesome.

Then there was Charlene's wedding. Wow was Charlene beautiful and little Amber was the most precious child I have ever seen. It was such an honour for me to play at the wedding though. I get to see the view only the minister sees through the ceremony, I get to see the couples faces and I must admit it is beautiful. Charlene and Sias were absolutely glowing throughout the ceremony and I think it was absolutely beautiful.

I'm in exam time now for my second semester of the year. I'm crazy busy again, but at least I've written history and then I have piano and flute next week. Giving me lots of time to practise :)

There is some news I have to tell before I head off, for those who know that I have been dating Paul for the past 7 months, I'm sad to say that we have ended the relationship. I'm not going to go through all the details coz I would like to keep it between Paul and I. But I wanna thank my friends who have been there for me and have helped me through this. I really appreciate it. It's been 2 weeks now, the sun is shining and life is beautiful to say the least. I'm gonna live my life and enjoy it to the fullest.

Much love
Bugz

Photo's

Hey Hey!!!!

I finally got it right!!!! Here's a slide show of some of the pictures I took at Stellenbosch :)

Enjoy!!!!!!!

Much Love
Bugz

The Confusion

I'm starting to feel slightly sorry for my older brother Andy. He's been so used to me being into normal popular music that it's shocked him for me to come back and be so into classical music. I guess that's what happens when it's surrounded you 24/7 for over a week.

I drove my car for the first time today since I got back. I have to admit that it felt wierd to be driving somewhere now after being able to walk anywhere you needed to go for 11-12 days, but anyway, i immediately took at the Lily allen cd I had left in my car and put in the "Four Seasons" cd...I guess it's good for me, but it's so hard for me now coz I want to share all this amazing music with me friends here in my town and it's not possible. Andy looked at me like I was crazy when I played him "Violoncelles, Vibrez!" when I got back. I guess I've got to start getting used to it, coz i doubt any of my friends in Toti are going to understand that much. Luckily I do have friends out there that understand my excitement when I talk about certain pieces...it's just sad that there are those out there who really can't appreciate the sound of classical music coz if it wasn't for classical music then they wouldn't have what they listen to today.

Much Love
Bugz

Stellenbosch International Chamber Festival!!!!!

Wow...I have to say...these past 11 days have just been so amazing...I really wish more people were there to be part of this festival.The KZN Youth Orchestra were asked to perform for one of the lunch hour concerts so we participated in the entire festival :)

Every night was a classical concert. On Tuesday I thought the concert of the week was going to be Daniel Rowland playing the "Four Seasons" but then they played "Violoncelles, Vibrez!" with Thomas Carroll and Peter Martens soloing on cello and everyone agrees that the was the piece of the week. Everyone was on the edge of their seats and they recieved a FULL standing ovation!!!

Every morning we were up early for breakfast and then we had rehearsals for the concert orchestra and the symphony orchestra from 9h00 - 12h00. Then we would rehearse with our ensembles...wow...that was an experience. For my ensemble we played the first movement of Mozart's quartet in G major...luckily it wasn't the famous one...we were supposed to perform the full thing....but as per usual...I was the only one that actually worked on it and could play my part. But supposedly we were the best at that time slot so I'm happy and I made four new frieneds in the process.

I met some amazing people there and strengthened some friendships:) It was awesome:) Definately going back next year.

Much Love
Bugz

Playlist Change

Hey hey everyone

Ok...I think the first thing you guys may have noticed about my blog is the sudden change from popular music to classical...now...it was a request from my dear friend Edd...I probably wouldn't have done anything, but I realised that I guess everyone out there needs to know the stuff I'm into out of popular music and the type of things I do in the orchestra's I'm in...I do the Hungarian dance no. 5 by Brahms and Marche Slave by Tchaikovsky in the KZN Youth Orchestra and I did The "Egmont" Overture with the Durban City Orchestra.

I threw in Schubert's "Unfinished" because I've simply fell in love with the symphony, it's beautiful and lyrical and I love his use of the woodwinds...hey...what can I say...I'm instrumentist....lol...I don't eve think that's a word...oh well...and then the Shostakovich Festival Overture is a request from Edd himself...

I know not everyone is gonna appreciate this music, but it's what I love and I really want to share it with everyone :)

Much Love
Bugz

Wow...been a while

Ok...so I know I haven't blogged in a while...sometimes I just forget that it's here, but I have been meaning to post for a while.
A lot has happened since Paul's unfortunate car stealing...good things....great things actually:)
I've met Paul's whole family:) It's pretty much safe to say that his mom and dad love me...Still have no clue about his step mom and step sis...they seemed extremely hard to talk to, but I'm taking my mom's advice and not getting upset about it...maybe they are shy and don't know what to say to this little engels meisie Paul is now with. One very good thing that came out of Paul's dad's visit from V-Town is....Paul's got a car again:) after like a month and a half of me picking him up from his flat...he is over the moon...yes the car needs work... but he got it for free from his dad so he's definately not complaining:)
Another awesome thing that's happened....MY MINI IS NOW COMPLETE!!!!!!! I know my mom has photo's on her blog...but this car is my baby so I'm gonna be a proud owner and post photo's too...

Some other photo's that I'm gonna post are from the KZNYO tour to the East Rand...that was a lot of concerts over three days and....we had to contend with one of the busses breaking down on the way up.... was not cool...

And then there's the Durban City Orchestra...wow....I'm having such a blast with that...we had a concert on 24 May at Marianhill Monastery Church....amazing place filled with beautiful music. We played Haydn's 104, the Oberon and Egmont Ouverture's and my friend, Jane, played a violin concerto by Mozart...was just amazing...never enjoyed playing a concert so much in my life before...thanks to Ed, Russell and Angus asking me to join :) We've just gotten our new music...gonna be fun and.....I get to play piano...Elton John's "Don't let the sun go down on me"...gonna make it perfect:)

Varsity is busy as always...got my last exam for the semester tomorrow...piano...working hard to perfect everything before the exam....just hope I can do it...really want to do well...Just wish that this Bach Prelude and Fugue wasn't so hard to play....but I'll do it:)

Well...that's the update....will be back soon to keep you in the loop...Just have to say though...I'm missing all my cousins over in America...I'm trying to save up for a ticket...but it's hard being a student and doing that...but I hope that you will all come visit sometime soon:) And congrats Gareth...your fiance' is beautiful:) Miss you all and love you lots all my family in America MWA

Much Love

Bugz

What's happened to society?

You know things are bad in your town when your car gets stolen outside your church...or more specifically when your boyfriends car is stolen outside your church...yes it happened to my big Afrikaner on Tuesday... and then we go to the police station of our wonderful little town and the first thing that is asked when Paul says his car is stolen?

"Who was driving the car?" *blank stares*

I mean...COME ON!!!! Well...let's see...maybe the person who stole the car...that would be a good start...I never thought a person could get that stupid...and then what follows that dumb question? The typical thing for a black person in sunny SA...*SNIFF*...oh and don't think it's one of those little ones...it's one of those where they've left their nose for probably about a week now and have just decided they want to clear it in one foul swoop...disgusting anyone?

So we got over it...opened a case and Paul's mom took him home...and then what happens? The stupid woman phones him at 23:30 to ask him for the last 4 digits of his ID number...now please tell me why she didn't get thim in the first place? Seriously...then she starts to rattle off the case number to him...so he asked her to wait for him to get a pen and paper...and she's(wait for it)...AMAZED that he doesn't have it on hand....let me see...hmmm...it's 23:30...perhaps he was ASLEEP!!!

So let's see...you can't even leave your car outside a church...part of the police force are useless 100% of the time...WHAT"S HAPPENED TO SOCIETY??? How could things have gotten this bad...

Oh and no...no news on his car...sucks because yes he loved his car...but he had some items of sentimental value in it that he misses anymore...I feel bad that it happened to Paul..

Much love

My Life As It Stands

Wow...it's been a while since I've posted and I've had a really good reason...."Oklahoma".... It took up most of my life for the past five/six weeks or so and even though it's over now...I'm a bit nostalgic about the whole experience because I met some amazing people there such as Luke and Leendert...They became great friends for me while doing Oklahoma and I'm glad that we won't let our friendship end there...

So, life has been a bit busy for me...my own family complained about never seeing me enough because while they were at work...I was at University and while they were home...I was out rehearsing somewhere... mostly...you guessed it..."Oklahoma"...but it ended last week Friday and now I've got time on my hands...over 140 emails to read and family to catch up with....

But what's amazing is how lucky I got this week... I've met someone amazing...who...surprise surprise...my parents approve of...lol...we've actually known each other for quite a while and we've been acquantances for the past year and then suddenly last week Saturday at my friends gig...we just clicked and we've taken things from there...yes...I think I've found a keeper in my big Afrikaner...:) hehe

What else is new in my life....let me think about this... oh yes!!! because of "Oklahoma" and all my Oklahomies I decided not to join the Durban City Orchestra until after I was done...well...I had my first rehearsal on Monday night...wow...for a small orchestra...we can grow and we'll be great under Russel's baton...I loved every minute of rehearsal...including all 37 bars rest that I get as a 2nd flute hehe...oh well...I'll try keep more updated now...

Much love
Bugz

Life in general

So nothing much has happened recently in the land of sunny South Africa...I am though officially registered for my 2nd year at the University of KwaZulu-Natal:) I am really excited for this, I am getting to see all my friends again, but this year isn't going to be as relaxed as last year...I am planning on getting four A's...I am confident I can get them as long as I am diligent and work hard...

Nothing new on the "Oklahoma" front except that the one song..."The Farmer and the Cowman" is permanently stuck in my head...during registeration, three of us were sitting together singing it...it's just one of those songs that never quite leaves your head...

The family is safe and sound and thankfully we have gone a year without Andy injuring himself:) Lets hope it stays that way...

Much Love
Bugz

KZNYO and the Great Camp of Greystone 2009

So two weeks ago I went away for a week to a camp called Greystone....It's a week away for all the kids in the KZN Youth Orchestra to go and rehearse the repetoire for the year...boy was it hectic...the orchestra consists of 72 kids...including me...and then split into two...one is the A orchestra and the other is the B orchestra or otherwise known as the development orchestra...both A and B orchestras have their own pieces but the whole orchestra does play pieces together... We hardly had any time to ourselves...on Monday we rehearsed for 9 hours, Tuesday we rehearsed for 9 hours, Wednesday we rehearsed for 6 hours but did 3 hours of activities, Thursday was another 3 hours of rehearsal, then 2 hours of activities...followed by frantic practising for the groups participating in the talent show...I'll get to that in a moment...then on Friday we rehearsed for 2 hours and then played a concert for our parents for an hour...it was fun though and it brought the orchestra closer together.





Now for the Thursday night talent show...4 of us did the almost impossible...no one thought anyone could do this...we made our conductor... the great Lykele Temmingh...blush like a red tomato...we were four girls in our group and we decided to sing two songs...one being "Man, I feel like a woman" by Shania Twain and the other being "Mamma Mia" by Abba...oh wow was it funny...we did "Man, I feel like a woman" with no problems and nothing exciting to talk about...but then we hit "Mamma Mia"... we firstly made sure that he was sitting in the front row so the that the chaos would begin...I sang the first line and walked up to him and walked back...we could see on his face he wasn't worried...Joss sang her line and did the same as I...he began to look a tad worried...Claire sang her line and did the same as Joss and I and Lyk looked really worried...Vikki then did the same as us and we had him terrified...We did the chorus and left alone..for that time only...with the 2nd verse we repeated our actions...but...when Vikki walked forward we all did and we surrounded Lyk...he looked so petrified and as we said "Mamma Mia" we knelt in front of him!!! He was shocked...petrified...and didn't know what to do with himself...poor old man...never seen him turn so red in my life before :)

The fun only lasted a week and now I'm back at work :( But I have great news..."Oklahoma" has started and I am having a blast with that. us winds have it harder than the strings coz at least they can laugh and play at the same time...WE CAN"T!! So for the first time we are playing the song "Pore Jud is Daid" and the director was singing the lyrics...my word...we were in stitches...even the conductor...Russ...had to stop the song he was laughing so much...I have to say that Rogers and Hammerstein were on some seriously strong stuff when they wrote this thing coz...wow...it's a piece of work.

Another bit of great news though...I have now got students :) Dad was working on site at a customer and he mentioned I teach piano...a guy took my number from Dad and seemed to have passed it onto my students mother...now I am teachinga brother and sister...Remo and Carmen...I am taking Carmen for her first lesson this Friday and Remo I have taken for only two...but this kid can play for a 12 year old...the only pity is...he can't read music so I have had to take him back to the basics so he can at least do an exam and do the sight reading section...

Well that's all for now...
Much love
Bugz