Day 33: A Rehearsal & Another F1 Launch

Most of today was spent doing very little (aside from finding a geocache, GC3K8QY, and changing the log sheet in our own, GC30PJJ).

As an update on our attempt to fill our calendar grid, January and February now look like this:

Our Geocaching Calendar as of February 2nd 2013

February needs a lot of work. The six gaps left in January mainly stem from the poor weather we had which scuppered our planned outings and the events of yesterday meant that we couldn’t really find time to cache.

This evening was taken up by the final rehearsal with Knottingley Silver Band before tomorrow’s trip to Preston for the Brass At The Guild contest. Frankly, I wasn’t anywhere near as up to scratch as I was on Tuesday and feel a little worried about playing the piece tomorrow – that is the next time I’ll be able to play it as the morning rehearsal at Preston Golf Club won’t have any percussion available. As long as I stay calm and my fellow percussionists note if I am looking confused all will be well. It is in my head more than it was after Tuesday, and I have a better idea of what I’m listening for to bring my parts in.

In fact, it’s a strange old thing this contesting business. Percussionists don’t take their own instruments with them, just their choice of hitting devices. Therefore the instruments you rehearse with are redundant as they don’t mirror what you play on the day. I’m concerned about how the timpani are retuned too, as they are somewhat different to what I’m used to.

If you’d like up to the minute information of the happenings in Preston, you could search for #BATG2013 on Twitter or use All4Brass.com’s Live Events page. Hopefully we’ll do well, and hopefully we’ll have time to sneak out for a cache nearby to fill a gap in!

Sauber Launch

Sauber revealed its 2013 Formula 1 contender, the C32, this morning.

2012 saw one of the most successful seasons in its history – it claimed four podium finishes – as it finished sixth in the constructors’ championship.

Nothing looks very radical about the design. In fact, it looks very simple to me with its smooth nose and very small sidepods. It appears this has been largely based on its predecessor. The car has a new, largely grey, colour scheme too which will probably look black on TV.

Sauber lost Sergio Perez to McLaren and they announced that Kamui Kobayashi wouldn’t be kept on either. Therefore the team also a new driver line up with Force India‘s Nico Hulkenberg joining the squad alongside promoted test driver Esteban Gutierrez.

Tomorrow sees current World Constructors’ Champions Red Bull launch their 2013 car and I can’t wait to see that.