It’s About Time

Today, marks the end of Amanda’s first year in school (well, nursery actually). Overall, it has been a profitable and wonderful year though we learned that she has difficulty keeping still in class due to her active and curious nature. Besides, it is her first year in class or group setting. Though she attends our Church Sunday School, it is still different somewhat.

Midway through the school year, we had a good chat with her teacher and soon after we had a good talk with Amanda. Though barely 4 years of age, we are often amazed at her ability to comprehend things and in this case, realize our expectation for her when it comes to learning to sit and listen in class. For this we are grateful to God for that.  Since then the second half of school year saw an impressive improvement in behavior.  Of course, occasional reminder from teacher quickly helps her readjust back to the norm.

Besides nursery school, Amanda was enrolled in children’s gym at JWT Gym. The main purpose was to expend her energy! Of course the benefit is that she develops her psycho motor skill besides social skills too. Later in August she was enrolled in Berries’ World for Chinese as well as Montessori Kids World (?) for phonics. We didn’t expect her to excel except to learn and thus no strong pressure on her to do well. Thankfully she is much better now in Chinese as well as phonics though I am anticipating her being able to read on her own. That will be the day, wouldn’t it?

In the interim, I was the chauffeur for all her classes except phonics because it was across the road from our house. My wife brings her there each Saturday. She loves to read and I am glad we both get to read some before rushing her off to shower as well as brunch.

We’ll see how things turn out come K2. . .

Martin Luther:

“Music and notes, which are wonderful gifts and creations of God, do help a better understanding of the test. . . . We have put this music to the living and holy Word of God in order to sing, praise and honor it.  We want the beautiful art of music to be properly used to serve her dear Creator and his Christians.  He is thereby praised and honored and we are made better and stronger in faith when his holy Word is impressed on our hearts by sweet music.”

Colossians 3:16-17

Yesterday, out of curiosity, I did a research and finally found Yamaha archives that listed the specification for my FG512-II:

Year(s) Sold:1981-85
Retailed: USD$330.00
Top: Spruce
Back / Sides: Indian Rosewood
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood
Bridge: Indian Rosewood
Color(s):Natural
Finish: Gloss
Tuners: TM-2

Now, how about that? Indian Rosewood! Used for the back and sides (no wonder the dark red). No wonder it still sounded so good! Tried to list it for sale once but no takers, sadly.

Yamaha FG512-II

Anyway, brought it down to Malcolm last week and he was “grieved” that the previous guy who did my guitar violated a practice of the trade by sanding down the bridge to rectify the neck warp and high action of my guitar. It’s a no-no, according to him Later found out that this same guy years ago destroyed his precious electric guitar. Doubtless this led him to determine to attend school of luthiers in CA, USA. He did his internship subsequently in Canada and specially hired to trained luthiers in China later.

Well, I’m glad I found Malcolm to service my guitars. He is a believer and that always helps. The best incentive is that he lives in the East too so that saves a whopping amount of time in terms of traveling