Yesterday we did the last Caroling-gig (you know; the Salvation Army playing with a pot for coin collection, as seen in many films) for this year with the Vasa Band. And that was something special I can tell you:

Apparently this has been going on for a while now but the Old Town in Stockholm is Organizing a advent-calender in the famous buildings around the Old Town. So for example door 13 was in the castle and the King and Queen went to do their little thing (mostly waving of hands). Yesterday we took part in the opening of door 19 and there were about 200 people there to see us. I was very surprised, but happily surprised.

The last Caroling for my part will be on Christmas eve when a traditional gig will take place in Södertälje with the Salvation Army there. Will be very nice to see all...

This is not to often but these courses are in fact totally free of charge AND a good introduction. I have taken them and had great use of them:

https://www.microsoftelearning.com/eLearning/offerDetail.aspx?offerPriceId=109340

By the way - here’s a good site for us who want to check in on .NET 3.0 - http://www.netfx3.com/

And finally - a real good presentation by my housegood Juval Löwy: http://perseus.franklins.net/dnrtv/0039/PartA_media/PartA.wmv

When I wrote the list over weird things to do this weekend i forgot the most heartwarming thing; yesterday I went to the St Göran’s Hospital with Elin and a friend. Elins father works there as a hospital priest. We went around about 5 floors and sung carols and some euphonium playing sneaked it’s way in there too :)

It was very rewarding although not too many people had the strength to come out - which you can understand. But I could almost feel their appreciation out the place where we stood.

Yesterday did my first Santa-performance!

Since it was on party for Elins workplace and didn’t know anyone I was a bit nervous. Also they are nurses on a “urology”-department I was a bit nervous to read the rhymes on their present. :) And I was right - some of the rhymes had to do with the parts of the body that they work with. Nothing too bad though…

To the right is not a mugshot of someone robbing a bank, but rather me in the Santa outfit.

Someone has a little bit to much time on their hands…

Here are some pictures of me doing the presentations this weekend. I would like to think that I have at least a small Bond-look…

Just read that the YBS Band are looking forward and keeps a positive attitude. That’s what I like! See the positive - even in the dark situations. Read more here

I know about a story about the times when Watson took over Black Dyke. After two rehearsals the band consisted of only 5 players. But that didn’t get them down. Apparently Robert Childs said: “Great - now we can build the band we want!”. That’s cool!

I still cheer for YBS. Keep going!

I am from today starting a period with some really weird stuff on my schedule:

• Today I will be a Santa at Elins work. I have never done the Santa-stuff before, will have to choose a voice later today
• Tomorrow I will give a presentation on SOA (Service Oriented Architecture). This is scary since so many people have things to say about it. I have prepared and hope that it will work out alright.
• Saturday - playing with the Salvation Army. Typical Christmas stuff for me and a lot of people in the world.
• On Sunday there is a gig with the Vasa Band in some church. It will be fun
• And then to top things of with - on Tuesday the 19th the Vasa Band will be “door” number 19 in the “advent”-calender in the Old Town in Stockholm

As I said a lot of really different...

Well, this is probably no news to people reading 4BarsRest, but one of the most successful bands in later years (ever?) is being dis-assembled as we speak (?).

Since Sunday all of the key players and the conductor has left the band in a single file:

• David King -conductor and primus motor for the band since 13 years
• Sheona White - solo horn
• Steven Walsh - solo euphonium, who by the way made the gutsiest move in the business by stepping up to take up the solo euphonium chair after Morgan Griffith. Respect!
• Stuart Linguard - principal cornet

I can’t imaging how the band has planned to cope with these problems but I hope they do! YBS stands for a quality above the rest and probably have improved the brass band movement as a whole with their performances. I, for one, has listen...

I got the Seinfeld-box from my sister in (a late) birthday present. There are some great moments in there; this is when George starts doing the opposite of everything he think is right … with wonderful results - everything starts to go right for him!!?

No worries though - in the next episode he is back like the loser we love.