The eclectic life of our esteemed Secretary - ex-Rolf Harris devotee, Lawn mower aficionado and lots more...
Some of the text quoted from below is that of a disgraced Australian entertainer.
Classic Moments
Champions
1983 Ian Payne (Bearsted, England)
1984 Pete Satchell (Folestone, England) 1995 Matt Smith (West Farleigh, England) 1997 Matt Smith (West Farleigh, England) 1999 Cody Buck (Ringstedt, Germany) 2001 Timo Kamp (Ringstedt, Germany) 2003 John Gladwin (Loose, England) 2005 John Gladwin (Loose, England) Liaison with Port Vale
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How to play the Didgeridoo
To play the didgeridoo properly, (once you’ve mastered how to make the first note) you have to learn the knack of cycle breathing.
It is diametrically opposite to anything you have ever done in the breathing line so it is a skill you must practise and practise. It will take a long time before it becomes second nature. The didgeridoo is played by making a buzzing sound with your lips, something similar to that required for playing the really low bottom note on the trombone. It is essential that you don’t use too much pressure or you will jump to the next overtone when you really want the bass note. Obviously, the pressure to make that sound is initially coming from your lungs and the secret of learning to do the cycle breathing is that you must change the pressure from your lungs to the air reserve held in your cheeks. You squeeze this air out using the muscles in your cheeks to keep the same sound-giving pressure while you snatch a quick breath in through your nose to fill your lungs. Then pressure is transferred back to your lungs again. The very simplest way to learn is to hold a mouthful of water while you breath in and out through your nostrils. Then when you feel ready to try a cycle breath, get rid of all the air in your lungs by breathing out through your nose; then, leaning over the sink, squirt the water in your mouth out under controlled pressure from your cheeks while you fill your lungs as soon as possible by breathing in through your nostrils. While you are doing this, you should have created a very fine stream of liquid coming out of your mouth into the sink. The advantage of learning cycle breathing this way is that if you do it wrong you drown! (That’s supposed to be a joke!) The truth is, if you try to learn just by squeezing out air through your mouth while you breath in through your nose, you might find it difficult to know whether you are doing it right or wrong. Using a mouthful of water shows you if it’s working correctly. Once you have got the idea, a very simple method to show whether you are indeed doing the cycle breathing correctly is to put a drinking straw into a glass of a water and practice keeping a long steady stream of bubbles coming out of the straw. This stream of bubbles should remain constant as you continue to change from lung pressure to cheek pressure while you rapidly fill your lungs with air through your nose and then go back to lung pressure again. This is the cycle that you use to play the didgeridoo but of course the important thing is not to lose the pressure. Ideally you should be able to make the buzzing sound with your lips using the pressure from your lungs, and then change the pressure to cheek pressure keeping the buzzing sound going while you fill you lungs with air from your nose. You should be able to immediately change back to lung pressure again without the buzzing sound stopping. If you can do this without the instrument, (and you will get some weird looks from passers by) but when you transfer to the didgeridoo, you will have the system mastered. Good luck! |
How to play a wobble board
Wobble boards were accidentally discovered by Rolf (see full story in his book ‘Can You Tell What It Is Yet’) and you cannot buy one. However to make your own Wobble Board Rolf suggests the following:] “My first Wobble Board was made of 2 foot by 3 foot 1/10th inch thick hardboard, although they can be made slightly smaller. There is a slight indentation in the middle of each of the short side so the hands don’t slip when playing. This needs to be as wide as the hand and about ¼ inch deep. It is played, not by gripping the board with the fingers, but by propping it between the palms of the hands and bouncing it, accenting every second rhythm, don’t try to play one. I’ve found tempered hardboard works best, or, MDF board but it must be really thin, or it’s too hard to bounce! Good Luck!”
Pumpkin Growing Competition
2009. RULES.
1. Largest diameter pumpkin measured on or before 18th September 2009 is the Winner (Digital photo of measuring please) 2. In the event of a tie for the winner the tallest sunflower with then determine the winner (Digital photo of measuring please) 3. The loser will have the smallest diameter pumpkin (or no pumpkin at all) on 18.09.09 (Digital photo of measuring please) 4. In the event of a tie for the loser the shortest sunflower will then determine the loser (Digital photo of measuring please) 5. Pumpkin and sunflower seeds to be issued on or around 1st March 2009 6. Seed growing can be started indoors but must be planted in garden by 1st May 2009 (Digital photo to show outdoor planting please) 7. NO artificial light to be used 8. NO non-standard growth hormones to be used (ie only use standard composts/fertilizers). The judges may need to know the whereabouts of your pumpkin for 1 hour a day in case of random drugs testing 9. NO accidental or intentional damage to other competitors entries 10. Minimum entry donation of £2 per family to West Farleigh Sports Club 11. Winner to receive special trophy and meal (see rule 12). 12. Loser or losers to cook edible 3 course meal for winner with at least one course featuring pumpkin (Digital photo please) or pay for meal for two in a restaurant. Good Luck to one and all – hopefully these means you need a load of compost rather than meaning a load of compost to you: Ian Payne Hon Sec West Farleigh Sports Club 01622-666432 (W) 01622-730230 (H) |
