Organising, Music Practice, and Choir

I've had a lovely relaxing, though cold, weekend and very nearly feel raring to go! 

The electricity was off for most of yesterday morning and then was intermittent for a good part of the afternoon. It was a cold, drab day anyway so it was a case of hunting out some woolies to keep warm. I spent the day either reading or working on the latest jigsaw and I've made some  progress at long last. This is the picture on the box, which shows a series of photos of the same room ...

... and this is the actual puzzle, which shows the room from a different angle. All the elements of the pictures on the box cover are there but you have to work out the new angle and position in the puzzle.

However, the high spot of the weekend was winning the weekly street quiz. I received my prize yesterday, plus another offer to collect any shopping I may need - they shop every Tuesday so I just have to pop a note through their door by Monday night. I forgot to ask how they manage the payment side of things. The prize was lovely and has joined my stash in the cupboard to be enjoyed at a later date ...

Today I will spend some time during the morning sorting out the digital photo files but probably in 30 minute slots with breaks in between. I have thousands of photos to look through so this will take weeks to do properly. The first stage is to move every photo file into the correct folder, then delete duplicates and any out of focus shots. If I lose interest at this stage I will end up with a workable filing system but I plan to carry on and add sub-folders, then label and tag every photo. It's a huge task but in a strange sort of way I am looking forward to getting it done ... and I definitely have the time to do it!

In between sorting the photos I want to make a start on reducing the contents of the music room cupboards. I'm sure there must still be plenty of music books and sheet music that can go now I am no longer teaching - I only need to keep the ones that I use myself or which I'm keeping for Miss C. I feel ready to get this done even though it's not possible to dispose of the unwanted things yet - at least it will be ready for when the charity shops reopen. While I'm in the music room I will fit in some music practice as well ... tenor horn this week but I'll use a mute so I don't scare the neighbours!

I say it's not possible to dispose of unwanted things at present but I am considering trying to sell a few items on eBay. I discovered that it's possible to pay for postage online and print the 'stamp' at home. I have quite a few items which, if bought, could be posted in a post box rather than having to take it to the Post Office so I may have a go.  I can get to and from the nearest post box easily and won't need to ask anyone to risk queueing in the Post Office on my behalf. My hesitation is down to whether the postal system should just be used for essentials, which doesn't include the things I want to sell ... I'll have to look into it.

If it stays dry I will spend some time this afternoon in the garden, reading and enjoying some fresh air, and this evening it's the weekly choir practice. We are working on Sisi Sote, The Journey, and One Way Or Another/Hit Me With Your Best Shot this time.

Today's list of things to do:

• physical: nothing

• in the fresh air: spend the afternoon sitting out on the patio (hopefully!)

• around the house: toilets, wipe down paintwork on stairs and landing
• achievement: continue sorting through the files from my old laptop

• social: blogging, choir practice

• fun: reading, playing my tenor horn