Far far away

10 days left until I leave for Shanghai. How things have changed in the two years since the last time I went overseas.

I had my third riding lesson today. All my lessons so far have been with different instructors. I did go to a cheap riding place for my past two lessons but it was kind of lame because I was in a group lesson with 7 and 4 year olds, walking, trotting, 30cm jumps and there wasn't much instruction going on (NO, JESS, STOP KICKING AND STAND UP WHEN THE HORSE IS PEEING), so today I decided to splurge on an intense private lesson. Which was totally awesome. My instructor was nice enough, and I have almost mastered the rising trot! The first time I trotted properly at my first lesson I was bouncing all over the place and felt like I was about to fall off my horse, but today I finally figured out what a trot is meant to be like. It's meant to be easier, my instructor said, if you play an instrument because you are meant to be keeping in time with the horse's rising and falling rhythms. But jeez, it is a hell of a lot harder than it looks, even with my hands gripping the saddle and the horse on a lunge lead. And it is a huge workout for my calf muscles. My balance is way better now and it's so much fun though. Last lesson next Thursday, and then I'm off to search for English-speaking riding lessons in Paris. I also want to learn cello in Paris if I have money left over.

I accompanied that singer on Wednesday and it was totally shit. I had a few stuff-ups (the singer didn't notice because I am good at covering stuff-ups). It was freaking intimidating even though I wasn't the one auditioning. 6 judges. SIX. And an effing gorgeous concert grand Steinway. My second time on a Steinway. Thank God the singer was totally not taking it seriously. Well, not really even though she claimed to do so. She graduated in 2011 and she is doing a diploma at AIM, but they won't let her do a bachelor's degree because she isn't committed enough apparently. Got a 40 something result for an ATAR. She is the epitome of my worst nightmare and how I could potentially turn out to be, bad enough as that sounds. Everyone was wearing fancy dresses, as in full on recital/exam attire, so thank God I did the accompaniment for someone first otherwise I would show up next Friday at my own audition as the only one wearing jeans. But I'm not taking this audition seriously either, because I'd rather not be doing music at uni.

I think I will go on a working horse riding holiday in Ireland, England or Scotland for my Christmas break, which is from 21-29 December. Ireland probably, as the currency is in Euros so it's easier for me, and also it's cheaper. Or should I go somewhere else in France for a week, or perhaps London? No idea. Actually I think I will go for Ireland after all. Need to think about health insurance because horse riding is pretty dangerous.

$$$

Oh, I only wish I had tonnes of it. The random crap I need to do to earn some money. I've been selling stuff on eBay like crazy, and I'm actually surprised at how some pieces of junk sell and how other better stuff doesn't. I just want money to buy clothes and shoes at the moment for next year. Gloves, scarves, boots and stuff are on my high priority purchase list at the moment.

I got a job accompanying a girl for her classical voice audition at the con. I've only accompanied singers several times before and it's not like I have been taught proper accompanist skills, so I need to build up the experience which is why I am charging half the price of a regular (professional) accompanist. I have so much respect for music teachers and stuff that accompany now. It is quite a bit harder than it looks, but it's actually so much fun though I don't even like opera music. The girl has 4 pieces for her audition. A little classical Haydn song that is not difficult to sightread, because I'm more used to playing classical music. There's also an aria that isn't too hard either, I have pretty much learnt the aria and the Haydn in like a day. On the other hand, the jazz-swing sort of song is way harder, and the Aaron Copland is kind of difficult too because I'm not used to playing contemporary music with weird key changes and rhythms. The pay is good though because I am doing 2 rehearsals and the actual audition itself, and I actually do enjoy it. Plus, my con audition isn't until December so it would be good to play at someone else's audition and see what it's like.

Also continuing with piano lessons but slowly breaking the news to parents that I won't be here next year. And at the same time I'm looking for more babysitting jobs.

So hopefully that will be enough money to buy myself some stuff for next year.

I'm starting horse riding lessons tomorrow. Should be fun. I need to learn anyhow because I will be horse riding in Germany. I want to learn flute too but it is weird, I think, to have like 4 lessons with a teacher and then leave for a year. So might just start learning that in Germany if there are English speaking teachers. I'm not too sure about flute yet. I really would love to learn cello and oboe and harp. If I could ever say that I can play piano, cello, oboe and harp proficiently, it'd be awesome. It must be so much fun doing an orchestral instrument and playing in ensembles. Not that I regret doing piano, because it's also fun accompanying people.