My interpretation of We Wish You A Merry Christmas and Feliz Navidad.
You can download the transcription here.
You can download the transcription here.
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Saturday, December 21, 2019
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (again)
I did a video of this song before. Am doing it again and I have included my transcription of the song for reference (I do not play exactly according to the transcript).
You can download the transcription here.
Hope you like it.
Merry Christmas.
Will put up more transcription in due course (means I don't know when).
You can download the transcription here.
Hope you like it.
Merry Christmas.
Monday, December 16, 2019
Tinkering with Raspberry Pi
From one of my previous post, you would have known that I have played around with the Raspberry Pi. I have used it to create a wifi hotspot and also created a music pager application using the GPIO pins and Python. I have also set up Lighttpd with the Bottle WSCGI framework where Lighttpd acted as a proxy for the Bottle application - to speed things up.
Currently I am running Kali Linux of the Raspberry Pi 3 to learn hacking and digital forensics.
Recently I have also installed LibreELEC using the Raspberry Pi 1. It is really fantastic!
But in this post I really want to highlight DietPi (see https://dietpi.com). It is a super light weight distro which makes using the Pi 1 as a computer bearable. On the Pi 3, I feel that it is really working wonderfully. I used the LXDE and the XFCE desktops and I feel that the LXDE Desktop is really wonderful (writing this post on the Pi 1 running DietPi and the Chromium browser).
I won't go into the detail of DietPi - please visit the very well documented website. However I just want to point out that for the filemanagers to connect to Windows (Samba) shared folders, please install the following
gvfs-backends and gvfs-bin
from the repositories. It took me some time to get this working and I hope this post can help someone.
Finally I really recommend you checking out DietPi if you are tinkering with the Raspberry Pi.
Currently I am running Kali Linux of the Raspberry Pi 3 to learn hacking and digital forensics.
Recently I have also installed LibreELEC using the Raspberry Pi 1. It is really fantastic!
But in this post I really want to highlight DietPi (see https://dietpi.com). It is a super light weight distro which makes using the Pi 1 as a computer bearable. On the Pi 3, I feel that it is really working wonderfully. I used the LXDE and the XFCE desktops and I feel that the LXDE Desktop is really wonderful (writing this post on the Pi 1 running DietPi and the Chromium browser).
I won't go into the detail of DietPi - please visit the very well documented website. However I just want to point out that for the filemanagers to connect to Windows (Samba) shared folders, please install the following
gvfs-backends and gvfs-bin
from the repositories. It took me some time to get this working and I hope this post can help someone.
Finally I really recommend you checking out DietPi if you are tinkering with the Raspberry Pi.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Jazz Blues
Practising improvising over a Jazz blues tune. Played the head for 2x at the beginning and ending. Improvised over 4 choruses in between.
The backing tracking is the same one I used in Nubeez. Hope you enjoyed it though I am still a beginner.
The backing tracking is the same one I used in Nubeez. Hope you enjoyed it though I am still a beginner.
Friday, October 18, 2019
Monday, September 2, 2019
Hai Ou (Seagull)
My version of Hai Ou (Seagull) and jamming with my sons (electric guitarist and drummer) at a Jamming with Dad event.
Sunday, August 11, 2019
Jamming with my children
Jamming with two of my children.
Apologies for not showing much of our faces. The studio is so small that if we have one more person playing we would not be able to move.
Apologies for not showing much of our faces. The studio is so small that if we have one more person playing we would not be able to move.
The Thrill Is Gone
Sway
Fly Me To The Moon
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Monday, July 29, 2019
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Blues ukulele
Two blues song played on the ukulele - an instrument where I picked up seriously a few months back.
The first video is a classic blues tune - Everyday I've Got the Blues.
The second is my own composition -"Happy The Man". Blues don't have to be gloomy and sad. I did some improvisation. Hope you like it.
The first video is a classic blues tune - Everyday I've Got the Blues.
The second is my own composition -"Happy The Man". Blues don't have to be gloomy and sad. I did some improvisation. Hope you like it.
Everyday I've Got The Blues
Happy The Man
Saturday, July 13, 2019
Wednesday, July 10, 2019
For Baby
Got news that I am going to have a 3rd grandchild. This song is dedicated to all my grandchildren.
For Baby
Saturday, June 22, 2019
Santiago de Compostela (2019)
Flew into Porto on 22nd Jun 2019 to start my Camino walk to Santiago de Compostela on 24th Jun.
I stayed 2 nights at Gallery Hostel and it is really nice. I shared the mixed dorm with 3 other persons. Besides a full kitchen, the dorm also has a movie room. They also have houses for families.
After checking into the hostel, I walked around Porto and it was really happening - being a bright and sunny day. Below are some pix and videos around Porto.
I also went to the Cathedral to get my passport for the Camino walk.
It was drizzling in the morning on 23rd Jun. However the rain stopped by 11 am an the festivity can be felt on the streets.
It is the Feast of St John the Baptist and is celebrated in a big way in Porto. According to our tour guide, more than a million people will coverge to Porto and party till the early hours (4 am?). In the photos you may be able to see people walking around with rubber mallets. This is because "whacking" someone with the mallet is part of the partying. It is bigger than Christmas and New Year.
Followed a 2.5 hour walking tour around the city.
Went for Mass at the Church of Our Lady Of Carmo. Did not understand a word but the procedure is universal in the Catholic Mass.
Rehearsal for the party
This is where I had dinner (self cooked) in the hostel.
Tonight I am not joining the party. Turning in early to start the walk. Two hostelites (one 10 years older and the other 30 years younger) are also starting off (but later).
Here are some markers starting from the Cathedral. I am following the guidebook I downloaded (by John Walker - thank you).
You can download the guidebook here.
Set off to Vilarinho at 6 am on 24th Jun (about 27 km according to John Walker's guide).
As I was walking to the Cathedral, you can see the aftermath of the partying along the street.
Was told that it was a public holiday on 24th Jun and there will be a big parade later in the day where floats from different parts of Portugal will come and compete to ee whose is the best.
Though I followed the guide, I must say taht I had some trouble getting out of Porto. Sometimes there are mixed symbols and sometimes I could not see any (especially when roads intersect). I relied a bit on Google.
Constructions in the city also bloced/erased some signs.
Once out of the city, it was relatively easy till I came to a junction where the standard sign (a scallop and arrow on a sign post) pointed in one direction and the yellow arrow (which is marked on most lamp poles, poles for power cables) pointed to different directions. Luckily some fellow walkers came along and a local told us which to follow.
Actually I think both works (one is a detour).
Stamps for the day. I got one of the stamp outside a house along the route.
Went to a cafe nearby to have a super light dinner and then tuck in early for tomorrow's walk (27 km) to Barcelos. A piece of bread and coffee cost me only 0.95 Euros. Maybe it is pilgrim's price. On the TV, it was showing Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon in Mandarin with Portugese subtitle.
25th Jun. It is a 27 km walk to Barcelos (from Vilarinho). Did not use much of the guidebook. Just followed the arrows.
Again there were confusing signs and I consulted Google to see which direction is the shortest. Other than that, it was quite easy in terms of finding the way.
Booked into a hostel by 12.30 after walking since 5.45 am (with 10 min break in between).
Met a 79 year old Canadian man whole has completed the Camino and Fatima walk (done over more than a month with breaks) - that means up to Camino and then back down for Fatima.
26th Jun will be the longest walk. It is about 34 km from Barcelos to Ponte de Lima. I was not sure if I could make it. The contingency was to break the journey into two. Anyway I made it!
There was a bit of rain for about 15 min. Otherwise the journey was cool.
For tonight, I booked into a public hostel (for 5 Euros) which only provided a bed, kitchen, washing facility and toilet facility. Most hostelites brought their own sleeping bag. I did not.
Instead of cooking, dinning out with Ella, an Australian who is working as a lawer in Hong Kong. It was her 27th birthday.
Got another stamp for my journey.
Started today's (27th Jun) walk a bit later as the distance was less than yesterday.
There was a place where I missed the yellow arrow which resulted in me spending more than an hour walking. Google was not helpful as I think the GPS was not accurate enough. Finally a local (who did the walk 2 years ago) noticed I was heading in the wrong direction (following Google). She drove me to the Camino path. Thank you.
Though the walk was shorter than yesterday's, I think it was tougher. There was a park where I had to go uphill (I think it is up mountain) for 4 km. The route consisted of stone paths and I think onenof the slope was about 45 deg. When you thought you had completed the climb, the next climb appeared.
However at the end of the climb, there was a guy selling cold drinks and snacks. I treated myself to a Coke Zero.
However I think the day ended just right. I booked into a public hostel for 5 Euros and I think it is better managed. At least we got a blanket.
I got a bed by the door with easy access to powerpoint. So, arrived just in time.
Got another stamp.
It is day 5 today (28th Jun) - completing today would have complete half my journey (in term of days).
Again I started before 6 am and was aiming for Valenca (Portugal). When I reached there, it was before 11 am and so I proceeded to Tui (Spain).
The terrain was more forgiving with only short or slight inclination to toll through.
I was also considering going pass Tui for another 15 km. However I lost an hour crossing into Spain and decided against it. It will be about 30 km tomorrow with the option to break midway. Will see how it goes.
Booked into a public hostel which basically provided a bed, bath rooms and washing. There are not plates, cups, cutlery, pot and pans though there is a cooker. Compared to the last one, this is below standard and it cost 6 Euros.
Got two stamps today. I stamped one on my own passing by a chapel.
Met Giuseppe who passes by me everyday. He goes like a Porsche. Invited me to try his organic coffee in London.
Today (29th June) is supposed to be a 30 km walk from Tui to Redodela. However I think I did 34 km as I booked into a single room - give myself a treat.
However reached Redodela late and could not be food supply. Hope cafe opens early tomorow - it is Sunday.
Today's route was long but the terrain was more manageable though there were some uphill routes.
Encountered two splits in the journey. Took the left route on both occasions and got better sceneries. At one point, there was a guy playing a bagpipe.
While I was having my mid morning break outside a house, heard a man screaming. I was wondering if he needed help. Luckily Giuseppe came by and the door bell was answered by a lady who said the man has mental illness (which is consistent with my guess).
Got 2 stamps today. According to some, need 2 stamps for the last 100 km.
Had a pilgrim dinner consisting of cheese omlette, pork chop with fries and a coffee.
Today's (30th Jun) walk was about 20 km but had a steep climb. As the route was one of the shorter one and being a Sunday, I started out at 7 am. Managed to reach Pontevedra at about noon.
Along the way, met a guy making leather items by hand. Also saw a busker outside a church.
There were two split paths today. On both cases took the left path - longer but somehow the left seems more pleasant. The guy making the leather items described it as "double the enjoyment".
Reach Pontevedra earlier than expected. It is a nice town.
Attended Mass when I passed the Church of St Bartolome while look for a place to stay.
After Mass, booked myself into a single room for 26 Euros. Then bought items for dinner, breakfast and lunch.
Had late lunch with Ella.
Got 3 stamps today.
1st July 2019. Today's walk to Caldas de Reis was about 20 km with some elevation to overcome - nothing tedious. Had an early breakfast in my room and started the journey slightly after 6. Reached my destination at 12.45 - 6 and a half hour walk with 15 mins break at cafe.
There were 2 ocassions where I have to choose to go left or right. On both, took the left option following others.
Somehow left seems to be right for this journey.
Two Japanese pilgrims passed me by today. They have been walking for 45 days - first the French then the Portugese route.
Here are some photos taken along the way.
Tomorrow's journey is the shortest and I got baggage transfer service (for the next 2 days). Taking it easy from now on.
Again, booked into a single room for 17 Euros.
Here are the stamps for today.
As expected, today (2nd Jul) was a short walk from Caldes de Reis to Padron. I had my baggage transfered to my hotel at Padron and so I was walking with about 1 kg of load. I passed some walkers though some passed me by. It was busier than other days.
I met a pilgrim from Hong Kong yesterday and met him and his schoolmate at the Church of St James of Padron where I went for half of Mass.
Nothing unusual on the way but I tend to notice people experiencing issues - a young guy was rubbing his knee and saw it bandaged in church, the Hong Kong pilgrim experiencing pain at the heel, couple walking slower than me and so on.
Padron is a small town and I attended half the Mass at the Church of St James of Padron when I wondered into the church.
Went to sight see a bit and had tea with Ella and explained a bit about the Catholic church to her.
My hotel, Padron Jardin, was very nice. One night of luxury before the final walk tomorrow. My baggage was there waiting for me when I arrived.
Here are the stamps for today.
3rd Jul was the final day of the 240 km journey. Started the journey just before 7 am. The route was uneventful but it did look busier. Maybe I started later.
Here are the photos along the way.
When I arrived at Santiago de Compostela at before 1 pm, the town looked "very happening" - people eating at restaurants, buskers performing, shops are opened. The whole town seems to function around the Camino de Santiago.
I arrived 2 days ahead of my original plan. So I have time to relax and maybe wander out of town a little.
Here are some photos of the town.
And here are the stamps I got today including the final stamp and certificates.
The top certficate says I completed 240 km (cost 3 Euros) and the bottom is the certificate of completion (F.O.C.). "Marcum" is "Mark" in Latin.
Camino Blues.
Woke up later today (4th Jul). Went out for a short walk and found the bus route to the airport. Attended Mass for pilgrims and then went to the market. After that I sat at the square listen to a busker playing fingerstyle jazz - the type of music I like at the moment.
Had a wonderful dinner with Ella and Mochi. Thank you Mochi for treating us.
Today (5th Jul) I want around to look at busking. There were a number but I really like the guy (in black) who played fingerstyle jazz. I ended up sitting in the square listening to him for about 2 hours and sketching some of the things I saw along the Camino.
There was a display of vintage cars a the square.
Everyone who walks the Camino carries a bag. I carried a backpack like the one shown below.
It weighted about 12 Kg and contained things I would use along the way. As the days went by, I used every item in the bag. However there are items that I used for pleasure and not out of necessity - my tablet for example.
As we walk our journey of life we too carry an invisible bag of things - expectations, worries, anxieties, assumptions and so on.... And got so use to carry the "bag" that we thought it is normal and may even convince ourselves that they are necessary.
On the last 2 days of my walk, I engaged a lagguage transfer service to forward my lagguage to my destination and walk with just what I needed for that part of the journey. It was certainly easier to walk and I even passed some pilgrims along the way.
I would like to link the above to the Beattitude "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." In my opinion, God created us pure and good - not sinners. God being perfectly pure and good could not have have created imperfect creatures or creation.
I submit that we have the ability to sin but we also have the ability not to sin.
So how come we cannot see God? Well, it is because of the "impurities" that we have added to our pure being. And trying to be purer may not be the right approach. Maybe we need to get rid of the "impurities" and also stop accepting them from others. Crudely, I call these "impurities" "RUBBISH". They often appear in our lives as fantasies of the mind.
If we are able to rid these "rubbish" and travel light, we will be able to see God has never left us for we will be small enough to go through the eye of the needle and be in God's kingdom (which we always have been).
I stayed 2 nights at Gallery Hostel and it is really nice. I shared the mixed dorm with 3 other persons. Besides a full kitchen, the dorm also has a movie room. They also have houses for families.
After checking into the hostel, I walked around Porto and it was really happening - being a bright and sunny day. Below are some pix and videos around Porto.
It was drizzling in the morning on 23rd Jun. However the rain stopped by 11 am an the festivity can be felt on the streets.
It is the Feast of St John the Baptist and is celebrated in a big way in Porto. According to our tour guide, more than a million people will coverge to Porto and party till the early hours (4 am?). In the photos you may be able to see people walking around with rubber mallets. This is because "whacking" someone with the mallet is part of the partying. It is bigger than Christmas and New Year.
Followed a 2.5 hour walking tour around the city.
Start of walking tour
Can you spot an intentional defect?
The Bishop's at the background
Streets done up for the party
People queueing to see the above
Went for Mass at the Church of Our Lady Of Carmo. Did not understand a word but the procedure is universal in the Catholic Mass.
Rehearsal for the party
Tonight I am not joining the party. Turning in early to start the walk. Two hostelites (one 10 years older and the other 30 years younger) are also starting off (but later).
Here are some markers starting from the Cathedral. I am following the guidebook I downloaded (by John Walker - thank you).
You can download the guidebook here.
As I was walking to the Cathedral, you can see the aftermath of the partying along the street.
Was told that it was a public holiday on 24th Jun and there will be a big parade later in the day where floats from different parts of Portugal will come and compete to ee whose is the best.
Though I followed the guide, I must say taht I had some trouble getting out of Porto. Sometimes there are mixed symbols and sometimes I could not see any (especially when roads intersect). I relied a bit on Google.
Constructions in the city also bloced/erased some signs.
Once out of the city, it was relatively easy till I came to a junction where the standard sign (a scallop and arrow on a sign post) pointed in one direction and the yellow arrow (which is marked on most lamp poles, poles for power cables) pointed to different directions. Luckily some fellow walkers came along and a local told us which to follow.
Actually I think both works (one is a detour).
Yellow cross saying you are on the wrong way
Left or straight?
Cafe where you can stamp your walk
One path is a detour
I was hoping to see directions to public albergue but could not see any. So stayed in a private albergue for 12 Euros. The albergue got a swimming pool but too tired to swim.
Stamps for the day. I got one of the stamp outside a house along the route.
25th Jun. It is a 27 km walk to Barcelos (from Vilarinho). Did not use much of the guidebook. Just followed the arrows.
Again there were confusing signs and I consulted Google to see which direction is the shortest. Other than that, it was quite easy in terms of finding the way.
Started walk at 5.45 am
Must try to see if I can stay in a public though private albergue are really affortable. Though I had a shared room last night, I was the only one occupying the room. Hopefully for tonight too.
My stamps for the 2nd day.
My stamps for the 2nd day.
26th Jun will be the longest walk. It is about 34 km from Barcelos to Ponte de Lima. I was not sure if I could make it. The contingency was to break the journey into two. Anyway I made it!
There was a bit of rain for about 15 min. Otherwise the journey was cool.
Got another stamp for my journey.
Started today's (27th Jun) walk a bit later as the distance was less than yesterday.
There was a place where I missed the yellow arrow which resulted in me spending more than an hour walking. Google was not helpful as I think the GPS was not accurate enough. Finally a local (who did the walk 2 years ago) noticed I was heading in the wrong direction (following Google). She drove me to the Camino path. Thank you.
Though the walk was shorter than yesterday's, I think it was tougher. There was a park where I had to go uphill (I think it is up mountain) for 4 km. The route consisted of stone paths and I think onenof the slope was about 45 deg. When you thought you had completed the climb, the next climb appeared.
However at the end of the climb, there was a guy selling cold drinks and snacks. I treated myself to a Coke Zero.
It is day 5 today (28th Jun) - completing today would have complete half my journey (in term of days).
Again I started before 6 am and was aiming for Valenca (Portugal). When I reached there, it was before 11 am and so I proceeded to Tui (Spain).
The terrain was more forgiving with only short or slight inclination to toll through.
I was also considering going pass Tui for another 15 km. However I lost an hour crossing into Spain and decided against it. It will be about 30 km tomorrow with the option to break midway. Will see how it goes.
Booked into a public hostel which basically provided a bed, bath rooms and washing. There are not plates, cups, cutlery, pot and pans though there is a cooker. Compared to the last one, this is below standard and it cost 6 Euros.
Met Giuseppe who passes by me everyday. He goes like a Porsche. Invited me to try his organic coffee in London.
Today (29th June) is supposed to be a 30 km walk from Tui to Redodela. However I think I did 34 km as I booked into a single room - give myself a treat.
However reached Redodela late and could not be food supply. Hope cafe opens early tomorow - it is Sunday.
Today's route was long but the terrain was more manageable though there were some uphill routes.
Encountered two splits in the journey. Took the left route on both occasions and got better sceneries. At one point, there was a guy playing a bagpipe.
While I was having my mid morning break outside a house, heard a man screaming. I was wondering if he needed help. Luckily Giuseppe came by and the door bell was answered by a lady who said the man has mental illness (which is consistent with my guess).
Had a pilgrim dinner consisting of cheese omlette, pork chop with fries and a coffee.
Today's (30th Jun) walk was about 20 km but had a steep climb. As the route was one of the shorter one and being a Sunday, I started out at 7 am. Managed to reach Pontevedra at about noon.
Along the way, met a guy making leather items by hand. Also saw a busker outside a church.
There were two split paths today. On both cases took the left path - longer but somehow the left seems more pleasant. The guy making the leather items described it as "double the enjoyment".
Reach Pontevedra earlier than expected. It is a nice town.
Attended Mass when I passed the Church of St Bartolome while look for a place to stay.
After Mass, booked myself into a single room for 26 Euros. Then bought items for dinner, breakfast and lunch.
Had late lunch with Ella.
1st July 2019. Today's walk to Caldas de Reis was about 20 km with some elevation to overcome - nothing tedious. Had an early breakfast in my room and started the journey slightly after 6. Reached my destination at 12.45 - 6 and a half hour walk with 15 mins break at cafe.
There were 2 ocassions where I have to choose to go left or right. On both, took the left option following others.
Somehow left seems to be right for this journey.
Two Japanese pilgrims passed me by today. They have been walking for 45 days - first the French then the Portugese route.
Here are some photos taken along the way.
Tomorrow's journey is the shortest and I got baggage transfer service (for the next 2 days). Taking it easy from now on.
Here are the stamps for today.
As expected, today (2nd Jul) was a short walk from Caldes de Reis to Padron. I had my baggage transfered to my hotel at Padron and so I was walking with about 1 kg of load. I passed some walkers though some passed me by. It was busier than other days.
I met a pilgrim from Hong Kong yesterday and met him and his schoolmate at the Church of St James of Padron where I went for half of Mass.
Nothing unusual on the way but I tend to notice people experiencing issues - a young guy was rubbing his knee and saw it bandaged in church, the Hong Kong pilgrim experiencing pain at the heel, couple walking slower than me and so on.
Padron is a small town and I attended half the Mass at the Church of St James of Padron when I wondered into the church.
Went to sight see a bit and had tea with Ella and explained a bit about the Catholic church to her.
Here are the stamps for today.
3rd Jul was the final day of the 240 km journey. Started the journey just before 7 am. The route was uneventful but it did look busier. Maybe I started later.
Here are the photos along the way.
When I arrived at Santiago de Compostela at before 1 pm, the town looked "very happening" - people eating at restaurants, buskers performing, shops are opened. The whole town seems to function around the Camino de Santiago.
I arrived 2 days ahead of my original plan. So I have time to relax and maybe wander out of town a little.
Here are some photos of the town.
Camino Blues.
This guy really plays some cool fingerstyle jazz.
Images from Camino
As we walk our journey of life we too carry an invisible bag of things - expectations, worries, anxieties, assumptions and so on.... And got so use to carry the "bag" that we thought it is normal and may even convince ourselves that they are necessary.
On the last 2 days of my walk, I engaged a lagguage transfer service to forward my lagguage to my destination and walk with just what I needed for that part of the journey. It was certainly easier to walk and I even passed some pilgrims along the way.
I would like to link the above to the Beattitude "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." In my opinion, God created us pure and good - not sinners. God being perfectly pure and good could not have have created imperfect creatures or creation.
I submit that we have the ability to sin but we also have the ability not to sin.
So how come we cannot see God? Well, it is because of the "impurities" that we have added to our pure being. And trying to be purer may not be the right approach. Maybe we need to get rid of the "impurities" and also stop accepting them from others. Crudely, I call these "impurities" "RUBBISH". They often appear in our lives as fantasies of the mind.
If we are able to rid these "rubbish" and travel light, we will be able to see God has never left us for we will be small enough to go through the eye of the needle and be in God's kingdom (which we always have been).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)