Catfish

I am new here to the forum so I should introduce myself. I am in my mid 30s ,live in Brisbane Australia and have been playing trumpet for 2 years. I am told I am good at it, but I am finding it is more like an endurance sport than an instrument .

I am looking forward to leaning some new things here and hopefully benefit from other peoples experience.

screamingmorris

In the photo, I assume you are the one on the right?

What is that non-American creature on the left that looks like a cross between a 'possum and a racoon?

- Morris

Catfish

Yes Morris, that is me on the right. The little fellow on my shoulder is an infant Common Brush-tail possum. see this link for more information Brush-tailed Possum

I care for orphan native animals and prepare them for release.

Blossom (the little fellow on my shoulder ) was released early last year. I had him from the time he required 3 hour feeds. They bond to their carers quickly and are completely reliant on their mothers. They ride on their mothers back and when taken into care they will ride on their carers shoulder (or even head -which is not to be encouraged)

I have heaps more photos of him if any one wants to see them.

screamingmorris

You are going to *hate* what that photo reminds me of,
but the similarity of the animal around the neck makes me laugh ,
so here goes:

In the first half of the 1900's, Eleanor Roosevelt (the President's wife) used to wear a fox fur around her neck:
Photograph of Eleanor Roosevelt, Close-Up

Now the politically correct crowd says that President Roosevelt must always be shown in his wheelchair even though he didn't want it seen,
and they say that Mrs. Roosevelt must never be shown in her fox fur even though she did want it to be seen.

Anyway, I share your love of animals.
I still miss my childhood dog that my parents had to have put to sleep 30 years ago.
And I put out at least 2 hummgbird feeders every summer.
And I love to watch the bats circling the street lights chasing bugs every night.
And I resist the urge to kill my wife's cat when it throws up on my carpet.

- Morris

Catfish

Foxes are pests in Australia so I wouldn't mind seeing a few more draped around peoples necks.

They were introduced in 1871 by the British for recreational hunting and are now are one of the widest spread introduced predators in the country. They are responsible for endangering of a number of Australian native animals. European Red Fox (<em>Vulpes vulpes</em>)

I am glad you haven't killed your wifes cat... I have 2 cats, but I keep them inside as they do a lot of damage to the native wildlife as well. I live on the city fringes and have property which backs on to a lot of bushland.

Feral cats do a lot of damage here.

We have an infamous Cat Tree in Western Australia (be warned to not click on the link if you are easily offended by images of dead cats) The Thylazine Foundation Pty Ltd: Arts, Ethics & Literature: Gallery: The Cat Tree of William Creek (William Creek, South Australia, Australia) Photos and text by Coral Hull

Feral cats have become such a problem in this part of the country that people are forced to hunt them. The tree serves as a warning for people to be more responsible with their pets.

tedh1951

G'day Catfish, welcome.

I hope you won't be offended, but FERAL cats ARE good for something, if suspended in a tree above water, and allowed to become flyblown, the maggots dropping into the water attract the fish. Strangley enough, I have caught "Yellowbelly" and (here I go) "Freshwater Catfish" - both good eating, in the Keepit Dam between Gunnedah and Tamworth (home of Australia's Country Music). I guess it's all a matter of how you use your resources.

Hey Catfish, is it true that Cats are superior to possum on the ground, but the possum rules in the trees? Do possums like trumpeteering?

(Thinks: I hope another Aussie can get away with that lot.)

Catfish

G'day Ted,

Yes you can get away with all of that and I am not at all offended.

Very interesting information about the fish. It is good to hear they are making their contribution to the environment in some way.

Believe it or not possums can put up a very good fight. They have very strong claws (the scars on my back are proof). Although cats can climb trees possums have the advantage of being able to turn around and give a bloody good swat.

I do believe my father has taken me fishing at that dam in Tamworth. Dad has done a lot of fishing all over Queensland. And yes Yellowbelly and Catfish are very good eating. My user name is a nick name which is adapted from my real name. My first name is Catherine (Cat for short). My second name is Taylor (which is another very nice eating fish indeed only it is found in salt water).

Not much talk about trumpets, but very interesting nevertheless

Oh and do possums like trumpeting ... poor little buggers. I practice for a few hours each day and it takes them a while to get use to it. Little Blossom would run up a tree branch I erected in my lounge room as soon as I would pick up the trumpet. I think he tolerated it, but soon started to relax.

tedh1951

For those of you coming to Oz for the ITG Conference, in addition to the ongoing dissertation on "Aussie Beer Selection and Drinking Etiquette for Polite Company", Taylor ARE a nice eating fish but as they are a blood fish they need to be 'bled' when first caught. Taylor can be taken from many of the fine beaches on the east coast. I would avoid juxtaposing any fish with Vegemite though. Vegemite may cause ones embouchure to pucker if you are not an Aussie native, however that may help those beer drinkers with braces. (I've really got to stop being idiotic, sometime, ......... Naaahhhh!)

screamingmorris

It is very rare to hear of a woman taking up the trumpet for the first time in her life when she is in her 30's.
Why the trumpet rather than piano or clarinet or whatever?

If you should ever want to increase endurance without having to practice yourself half to death, a smaller trumpet bore (such as the vintage Conn trumpets with .438 bore, example: Conn 22B) can increase endurance without a sacrifice in sound quality.
And a tighter throat and / or backbore in the mouthpiece can help some with endurance.

Do you play with a community band?

I played trumpet from the age of 11 through 18 then gave it up.
I then took up trumpet again in my late 40's and after 5 years of casual practice I have become mediocre on slow ballads that I love to play over and over, ad nauseam.
I only play inside my house with my wife's cat as the only audience, and I think the cat is tired of hearing "I Can't Get Started" for the 10,000th time but I do not lend credence to her criticism.

BTW, some of this thread reminds me of that old book "101 Uses for a Dead Cat"
Amazon.com: 101 Uses for a Dead Cat: Simon Bond: Books

- Morris

Catfish

Ha hahahahhaaaaaa

*gasps for air*.

But what is wrong with fish and vegemite.. very good on toast.

I would love to attend the ITG Conference. Hopefully I can make it. Where is the discussion on Beer Selection and Drinking Etiquette. I know a lot about drinking Beer I might be able to contribute.

Tanks Ted. I am not sure I need to be bled after being caught but, I can get a little idiotic myself. I feel a lot more comfortable here and am glad I am not the only person dwelling down under.