Guitar

On top of everything else I am doing to keep myself busy and free from boredom I am also learning to play guitar. I have been taking lessons twice per month for the last year and began as a complete beginner not knowing anything about scales or chords.
I have loved music since around the age of 12 but never took the subject in school as I found the lessons dull and who wants to learn to play the recorder anyway?
The decision not to take the subject I deeply regret as I am now having to learn everything thing from scratch which can be a little frustrating at times.
I love playing even though I totally suck and it is on my bucket list to become proficient enough to play on stage one day at my local pub.
I like to play mainly rock music and a little blues from time to time. I mainly try to play Black Sabbath songs as I don't find them too fast. I get the most enjoyment however from finding a nice rock backing track and just improvising along with it. I find it soothing and kind of lose myself in the music when improvising.
Anyway, below is a video of me playing along to a rock themed grade 3 guitar track called Fallout, hope you enjoy.

DungeonWorld

Been a while since my last post so thought an update was in order.
I have recently just signed myself up for a play by mail game called Dungeonworld. I used to play this game many years ago for about 5 years but quit due to money issues and lack of time.
Play by mail games were big before the internet as they allowed gamers to play the same game even if they were hundreds of miles apart.
Dungeonworld is set in a fantasy world called Bereny which is ruled by a king and under constant threat from evil monsters. As a player you take control of a single or multiple characters who adventure deep into various dangerous dungeons in search of gold and treasures. It is also possible to play as the Baron or Lord of an estate with its own castle and land and the gameplay revolves around keeping the estate both profitable and safe from those who would wish to steal from or attack it.
Dungeonworld can be played completely for free and I fully recommend giving it a try. It can be a little confusing at first but after your first few turns it gets progressively easier and very enjoyable.
If you fancy giving it a try then please visit the website HERE.

Karate & Kickboxing Graduations

 I spent this weekend graduating for my martial arts which was a tiring affair to say the least. I got into martial arts 6 months ago, I needed a way to keep fit and going to the gym to work out just isn't my kind of thing. I had been taking my son to karate classes for the last 2 years so it just seemed natural that I join him on the mats and kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. I have been doing karate for 6 months and kick boxing for about 8 weeks.

I am a green belt in karate, working towards my blue. For the graduation I needed to complete my Pinan Yodan kata as well as all my previous katas and various techniques and combinations. Despite being nervous and making a couple of mistakes I still managed to get a blue stripe for my green belt, I just need to learn Pinan Godan now and that should earn me a blue belt next time I graduate.

My kick boxing graduation was far more physically intensive, in fact at one point I thought I was going to collapse. It was my first graduation for kick boxing and have to say as tiring as I found it, it was fun. It was non stop exercise for 30 minutes which included running, push ups, sit ups, skipping, techniques and combinations, bag work and sparring. I cant wait for the next graduation!