3 Holiday Season Remodeling Ideas

Tired of all those to-do lists and home improvement projects piling up year after year? Here are 3 holiday season remodeling ideas that you might want to consider, including: interior and exterior, lighting and upgrades.

Image Source: Flickr

Interior and Exterior
A beautiful front door and front entryway is not only the home’s first impression it is a traditional symbol of the holidays. Adorned with wreaths and garland, highlighted by permanent and seasonal lighting, a beautiful front entryway is the perfect way to welcome guests. Whether its upgrading the door, the hardware, the lighting, building a new porch, or adding stone steps or decorative elements, this effort can make a beautiful first impression. Many of our clients are looking to us to update their interior entryways as well. New flooring, stair railings, dramatic lighting and custom woodwork can all add interest and elegance to your front entryway.
“Unfortunately it’s a little too late to build an addition, remodel a kitchen or add a guest suite – will have to save that for next year. But there are still a few fun ideas we can accomplish to make our homes a little more festive this holiday season.” Source: HurstRemodel

Lighting
The lighting plays a huge role in getting the holiday feel. By selecting the right lighting materials for your living, dining, and foyer areas, you can add personality to your home. This holiday season, install oversized lights for a more dramatic effect. Source: PremierRemodels

Upgrades
– Upgrade your kitchen. The holidays are often associated with lots and lots of food, but it’s hard to prepare a large meal if your kitchen is too small or lacking the proper amenities. Consider remodeling your kitchen by upgrading your appliances, adding extra food prep space, or installing new cabinetry.
– Remodel the bathrooms. When you have lots of guests, you’re going to need lots of bathrooms—it’s just a fact! Why not consider upgrading your fixtures and installing low-flow toilets before your aunts and uncles descend upon your home for vacation?
– Finish your basement. Sometimes a single guest room isn’t enough. If you’re worried about where your guests are going to sleep, consider finishing your basement. A finished basement will give you extra living space, additional guest rooms, and a place to store all of those holiday gifts that won’t fit under the tree.
– Spruce up your guest room. Is your guest room too small? Does it have enough closet space? If not, consider expanding the closet to give your guests more storage space, or add on a guest bathroom for additional privacy!
– Add on. Maybe your home is lacking a guest room—if so, add on! Adding on to your home can give you the additional space and comfort you crave year-round. Source: DesignBuildRemodelingGroup

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8279 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4W1
(604) 360-2114

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HAPPY CHRISTMAS! And a trip down memory lane…

May I take this opportunity to wish you and your families a very Happy Christmas. Thank you for perusing my blog this year, whether you’re a regular reader or someone who pops by occasionally, I appreciate your support and interest. I hope 2017 will be a wonderful, healthy, and happy year, and may all your dreams come true.

I thought it might be worthwhile revisiting my top 10 most popular blog posts of 2016. So here they are in order of popularity (to read, just click the link of each listed post). I hope you have found my musings and teaching tips useful. If there’s a topic I haven’t yet covered but on which you would like some input, please don’t hesitate to get in touch (via my contact page here on the blog).

The top post (How long will it take to learn to play the piano?) has been in top spot since this blog’s inception, and many of the posts are perennial favourites.

1. How long will it take to learn to play the piano? 
2. 10 reasons to play the piano
3. A few thoughts on Chopin’s Nocturne No. 20 in C sharp minor Op. Posth.
4. Why is Grade 5 Theory so important?
5. Resolving tension in piano playing; article for EPTA’S Piano Professional
6. Structured piano practice in 5 simple steps
7. A few thoughts on Beethoven’s Für Elise
8. Contemporary Piano Music?
9. 10 Top Tips for successful practice in 2014
10. Teaching & Adjudicating

Post number 5, Resolving tension in piano playing, has become increasingly popular, and over the past month has repeatedly been in the top spot. Which perhaps shows how many suffer from tension related issues (it’s the technical element I spend most time working on and alleviating in my teaching). Point number 10, Teaching & Adjudicating (which is really part of my biographical information) has also increased in popularity too.

Happy holidays and see you in 2017!

Melanie x

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Overseas Masters Winter Piano Academy 2016

I ended a busy year with two days of classes at the Yehudi Menuhin School last week, teaching on the Overseas Masters Winter Piano Academy. I love giving these classes and have done so on several previous occasions (in 2012 and 2014; the academy runs every other year). Malaysian pianist Bobby Chen organises the whole event, which lasts 10 days and involves around 30 young Malaysian students (and a few from Singapore and Vietnam too), who have been selected and invited to participate in an amazing mélange of classes and events.

These include individual piano lessons given in the form of open master classes (with many expert teachers), conducting, composition and improvisation classes, many concerts and lectures featuring visiting artists, sight-seeing trips to London and my contribution, which was to deliver piano technique, sight-reading and memorisation classes. All classes take place at the world-renowned school and the pupils stay on campus. The academy finishes with a concert in the beautiful concert hall, featuring every student.

I thoroughly enjoy working with these pupils (some of whom are pictured with me above); they range in age from 9 years old to postgraduate music students, and are all Grade 8 level and beyond. I offer several workshops for presentation at music educational institutions, but this particular one is, (piano technique, sight-reading and memorisation), is always the most popular.

During the classes (I taught seven students per class, and four classes in all), a young Malaysian student, Jessica Cho, kindly gave me a recording of her own piano compositions (which also included works by three other leading Malaysian women  composers; the CD compilation (entitled Interweaves) is apparently the first recording featuring entirely female Malaysian composers). I have a real interest in Twenty-first century music (particularly by women composers), and always like to highlight new work.

On listening, the music made an impression and I felt this style, connecting Western and Eastern music, is one which resonates with me (and might interest anyone who enjoys Contemporary classical music).

The Five Little Pieces for Piano were written in 2010, and are a set of strongly contrasting miniatures (all one page in length), with a concise structure, and inspired by Hungarian composer Gyürgy Kurtág’s Játékok. To obtain the score, you can contact Jessica here. These pieces would make an interesting choice for advanced students searching for a fresh Contemporary style. You can click on the link below to hear them:

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3 Winter Home Improvement Ideas

Keep the winter blues away by keeping yourself busy with the following home improvement ideas:

Image Source: Flickr

Painting During the Winter? You Bet!
Since you’re stuck inside staring at the walls, why not give them a fresh coat of paint? Contrary to what many homeowners might believe, you can use paint in your home without opening up all the windows and doors, as long as you are using the right type of paint. Paints with low-volatile organic compounds, also known as Low VOC paints, don’t produce the noxious fumes traditional paints do.
It can be a relatively inexpensive fix, depending on how much you want to spend on the paint and how many rooms you want to finish. Painting the walls will give you a great do-it-yourself project, and it adds to your home’s appeal; a new coat of paint simply makes a house look cleaner. Source: FoxBusiness

Refurbish Your Doors
Interior doors can have a lot of visual impact on your home. The good news is you can virtually “replace” all of your doors without spending excessively. Here are some ways to make over your interior doors.
– Paint them.Dark doors can make your home look more expensive. Colored doors can look much more modern and whimsical than traditional wood.
– Change the doorknobs.Updated hardware is an instant fix for outdated doors.
– Add molding to flat doors.Molding can create dimension and give an elegant, expensive feel to any run-of-the-mill doorway. Source: QuickenLoans

Spice Up Your Kitchen
Full kitchen remodels can be incredibly expensive, and that’s especially true if you have to get plumbers or electricians involved. But a lot of kitchens don’t necessarily need a complete redo; they could be vastly improved with just a few inexpensive changes and upgrades.
For example, changing out the hardware on your kitchen cabinets can both update your kitchen’s look and increase its utility. Meanwhile, upgrading your kitchen faucet and sink is a great way to add a wow factor to the heart of your home without spending a lot.
If your cabinets need a facelift, consider sanding and staining them, or even repainting or glazing them to add an updated look. And if your appliances are still in good shape, give them a good cleaning inside and out to help them look their best. Source: TheSimpleDollar

Have a hassle-free home renovation by calling a professional to help you out. Contact us!

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8279 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4W1
(604) 360-2114

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Are Foreclosures Necessarily Good Value in Vancouver?

by Jon Lumer

Everyone in Vancouver is looking for a deal. Rental rates are jumping to catch up with the sharp increase in property values and many tenants (as always) are looking at home ownership as a way to avoid paying rent to their landlord and start paying it to themselves, or at least their lender. Meanwhile, investors made dizzy by the capital appreciation they’ve witnessed in Vancouver over the last three years are desperate for a piece of the action or hope to expand their current holdings.

Many of these potential buyers, be they first-time home owners or investors, believe that picking up a foreclosed property could be their ticket to good value and an otherwise unachievable square footage in the neighbourhood of their choosing.

Is this a reasonable strategy? What are the potential pitfalls? What exactly is a foreclosure anyway?

A foreclosure usually occurs when an owner defaults on the mortgage payments to their lender and the lender decides their best option is to seize the asset that was mortgaged (the house or strata unit), sell it under the authority and supervision of the courts, and pay themselves out from the proceeds of that sale. The owner of the property is still entitled to whatever is left once all claims against the property have been settled.

Does this make foreclosed properties vulnerable to low bids? Not necessarily. In fact, the system is set up precisely in order to ensure that fair market value is paid for the property and the owner is not getting less for the home than what they should reasonably expect.

Once the court has authorized the lender that has foreclosed on the property to place it on market, a REALTOR©, acting for that lender and not the owner, will market the property while keeping good records of her efforts, market conditions and comparative market analyses, as well as any showings that result from the marketing.

If a bid is received that the lender accepts, a court date will be set. The lender will not accept a bid far below market value for the property, as they know the court is unlikely to allow such a sale to proceed, and the court has final say on the matter. This first bidder may negotiate with the lender and may submit a “subject offer,” but the terms of the contract are destined to be largely unfavourable to the buyer.

Why is that?

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Foreclosed properties are sold “as is, where is.” That means the buyer has no recourse if they are unsatisfied with the state of the property on possession. There will be no guarantees regarding any chattels, or even fixtures, the buyer may have seen while viewing the property. The danger of receiving the property in a sorry state is particularly acute if it is not vacant. This is quite different from the scenario most buyers will face when negotiating (through their agent) directly with the owner of a property.

The first accepted offer price will become public knowledge. Any interested buyers may now inform themselves of the value of that initial offer and present themselves at the court date to present their own offer. They must bring a bank draft for deposit if they are hoping to have their offer accepted. If their offer is selected and they do not have a bank draft, the offer will be rejected and another chosen. The court selects the best offer after having received all the sealed bids. There are no second opportunities once a winning offer is selected. The offers must all be subject-free. The person who made the initial offer which triggered the court date is also entitled to better their own offer at the same time other offers are being submitted. The values of all non-winning offers will remain undisclosed.

As with any multiple offer situation, the presence of many buyers encourages all buyers to increase their bids. This increases the likelihood that someone will pay at least market value for the property and quite possibly above-market value. The fact that everyone is physically present in a jam-packed courtroom should likely reinforce this tendency to increase one’s bid in the presence of competing offers.

What if there is only one offer?

In the case that there is only one offer, necessarily the initial accepted offer, a buyer may feel he is entitled to acquire the property even if his bid seemed quite low and he was surprised the lender accepted it. Not so fast. The court will still need to authorize the sale. In order to determine whether the sale is permissible, a few questions will be considered. How long had the property been marketed? The longer the marketing period, the less likely it is that higher bids will be forthcoming if the court does not authorize the existing contract. How many times was the property shown? If dozens of people have seen the property and only one has made an offer, it increases the likelihood that this is the best offer the owner could expect. How far off is the sale price from the assessed value? If the sale price is well below assessed value, this will appear suspicious, and further justifications may be necessary before the court consents.

This demonstrates that foreclosures are not necessarily quick or easy routes to acquiring property affordably in Vancouver. Some aspects of the process actually make it less likely that a buyer will find a true bargain in foreclosures.

Naturally, there is a great deal more to be said about foreclosures and I invite you to contact me if you have questions about these types of transactions or any other real estate related inquiry.

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4 More Tips on Preparing Your Roof for Winter Months

An important, yet often overlooked part of winter preparation is ensuring your home’s roofing system ready for the cold. In this short post, we’ll share a few tips on preparing your roof for winter which may just help you save a significant amount of money on future maintenance.

Image Source: Flickr

Conduct a Thorough Check
You may need to climb over your roof or have someone do it for you. You need to carry out checks on the roof to see if there is any penetration on the roof such as vent pipes, pitch pockets, and pipe boots. You need to check the chimney flashings, brick and mortar joints for any defect so that quick repair can be carried out on them before winter. Source: BellRoofingCo

Clean Gutters
Over time, falling leaves and debris will collect in your gutters. If you don’t remove the debris periodically, they will clog up your downspouts, leaving the rainwater with nowhere to go. This will cause them to overflow and likely cause damage to your roof, siding and trim. Even worse, the extra weight of the wet leaves and water could also cause your gutters to rip away from the side of your house, or collapse altogether.
If you are comfortable working on your rooftop, you should:
- Use a hose to rinse the gutters out and flush water through your downspouts; you might need a chimney brush or broom handle to push through any stubborn clogs. Clean up the debris you remove from the downspouts and gutters so it doesn’t collect at the end of the pipe.
- Install leaf guards on your gutters to prevent falling debris from accumulating.
- Add extensions to your downspouts to send the flowing water farther away from your home’s foundation. Source: TadlockRoofing

Perform an Inspection of the Insulation
In the event the insulation sustains damage, you can expect your heating bill to be through the roof. If you begin to see mildew and mold forming inside your house, you need to replace your insulation and it will not be cheap, but still necessary to do. First, indentify the area from where the water is leaking from on the roof and into the insulation. Repair the area promptly before it can cause damage to the insulation. Repair the leak on the roof, and then replace then insulation. Source: ValdezRoofingCompany

Inspect the Roof Edge
The roof edge is the building’s first line of defense against severe weather. If incorrect fasteners are used, improper installation occurs, or weather/time damage the edge it becomes more vulnerable. Inspect the roof edge both from the ground and on the roof. A ground-view allows you to spot inconsistencies or weaknesses before heading up to the roof to inspect those areas closer. Source: Metalera

For more information, contact us now!

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8279 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4W1
(604) 360-2114

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5 Top Tips to Improve Your Warm-Up Regime

This article first appeared in Pianist Magazine’s Newsletter in August 2016. Most of us benefit from a brief ‘warming-up’ or ‘pre-practice’ session before work begins in earnest, whether that may be stretching, playing very slowly, negotiating simple piano exercises, sight-reading or even preparing mentally with a coffee! Everyone has their preferred method; during my interview series (Classical Conversations), one eminent pianist remarked that morning practice was simply  impossible without playing scales at a quarter of the intended speed whilst intermittently sipping a weak cup of English breakfast tea! I hope these suggestions may be of interest. You can read the original article here.

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Warming up before you practice is important, especially before negotiating large chords or octave patterns. Warm-ups don’t need to last a long time; 3-5 minutes is ample. Here are a few ideas to add to your pre-practice routine:

1.  Before you start, stretch out your arms, hands and then fingers, one by one, and encourage your wrists to make circular motions in the air (away from the keyboard). Flexibility and freedom during practice can be helped by freeing and relaxing the muscles beforehand.

2. As you put your hands on the keys, play a triad (one in each hand), slowly, allowing your fingers to sink into the keys. Repeat this with different keys and chord shapes. I like to play diminished sevenths as they fit my hand comfortably.

3. Now start playing scalic patterns; again, very slowly, allowing the tips of the fingers to play deep into the key-bed. You could begin with five-finger note patterns, hands separately, then play them in unison.

4. Move on to a few scales. Once you’ve played several two octave similar motion scales (in different keys), work with various touches: legato, non-legato, staccato, martellato, etc. If the wrists make small rotational movements after each note (when playing slowly), this will be a helpful way to keep flexible and tension free.

5. End with a few arpeggios and broken chords. Select your keys and work carefully, observing the movement required to play each note with an even sound (and pulse). Keep arms moving freely, guiding the hands and fingers during the larger intervals. When warming-up, slow speeds are much more beneficial.

You could now move on to exercises such as those by Hanon, Cramer or Czerny, working on technique, or you may just want to dive into your pieces!

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Purchase or find out more about the Faber Music Piano Anthology here (and also on Amazon).

Read about my piano guide, So You Want To Play The Piano? here.

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Field C

Field C (Reinsch Field)

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Yukon Residences – Cambie Corridor 3- & 4-Bedroom Pre-Construction Townhomes + Garden Homes

At a Glance

• four 4-storey buildings
• 33 3- & 4-bedroom homes
• 70 underground parking spaces
• close to top-ranked schools
• adjacent to Winona Park & Langara Golf Course
• lush setting along Habitat Connection Corridor
• close proximity to Canada Line

On The Park
Alabaster Homes is pleased to bring you Yukon Residences, a boutique collection of exquisitely-appointed townhomes and single-level garden homes distributed amongst four buildings aligned on a north-south axis. Located at the northwest corner of West 59th and Yukon, east-facing residences will enjoy beautiful, unlimited views across the expanse of neighbouring Winona Park. Langara Golf Course to the north, and its perimeter Langara Trail, offer even more green space to enjoy in this tranquil, tree-lined neighbourhood.

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At Yukon Residences, your daily necessities are close at hand. Steps away at Marine Gateway, you’ll find a T&T supermarket, Shoppers Drug Mart, Steve Nash Fitness World, Cineplex Cinemas, restaurants, banks, and other services. Best Buy, Canadian Tire, and Sport Check are just four blocks east on Marine Drive. Many more shopping options are within a 15-minute ride on the Canada Line, be it Oakridge Centre, Aberdeen Centre, McArthurGlen Designer Outlets, Richmond Centre, Robson Street, or Pacific Centre. Plans for a future Canada Line station at 57th & Cambie mean the greater convenience of quickly reaching Richmond, Downtown Vancouver, and YVR International Airport will increase the value of your home. Now is the time to get on board! Your opportunity is arriving on the inbound track.

Pricing for Yukon Residences
As this development is currently in pre-construction, pricing has yet to be finalized. Be the first to receive updates on Yukon Residences. Sign up to our VIP list above.

Floor Plans for Yukon Residences
Finalized floor plans have yet to be published. We look forward to sharing with you the 3- and 4-bedroom townhouse and garden home options that are sure to be popular with young families seeking a sustainable urban lifestyle.

Amenities at Yukon Residences
The range of amenities at Yukon Residences have not been confirmed at this time. However we expect residents will enjoy private patios, a central courtyard, and space for urban agriculture. Parents will appreciate being able to take their children next door to Winona Park with its playground and more than five hectares of sports fields to keep them active and healthy.

Parking and Storage
Two levels of underground parking plan to provide residents with 70 parking spaces. However, details concerning the mix of parking types, bicycle parking, and storage options are currently unavailable.

Maintenance Fees at Yukon Residences
Details will be released with pricing information.

Developer Team for Yukon Residences
The same successful developer team that brought you Osler Residences and Shaughnessey Residences, has partnered again to develop this incomparable parkside property. Alabaster Homes is a boutique Vancouver developer inspired by the city’s neighbourhoods. From the classic beauty of Shaughnessy to the urban energy of Oakridge, their vision is to enhance communities and create new legacies. Formwerks Architecture has a reputation for sensitive, user-friendly architecture that embodies clients’ functional requirements within an artistic building form. Their experience ranges from single-family homes to multi-family projects and commercial buildings.

Expected Completion for Yukon Residences
To be announced.

Are you interested in learning more about other homes in the Cambie Corridor, Kerrisdale, or Southeast False Creek?

Check out these great Cambie Corridor Presales!

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Tudor House by Formwerks – 15 Cambie Corridor Pre-Construction British Rowhomes

At a Glance

• 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom townhomes
• 15 residences in a 4-storey building
• classic Tudor-style architecture
• close proximity to amenities, parks, schools
• walking distance to rapid transit
• Oakridge Centre & Marine Gateway shopping
• less than 10 minutes to YVR airport

Timeless British Rowhomes
Formwerks Boutique Properties presents Tudor House, an exclusive collection of 15 Westside townhomes designed according to classic Tudor architecture, including pitched roofs, steeped gables, and decorative timbering. Each residence will be generously appointed with single-family home features, such as spacious kitchens, full-size appliances, luxurious finishings, and walk-in closets.

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Tudor House is ideally situated near amenities, parks, and top-ranked schools, such as Winona Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, Langara Golf Course, York House School, Vancouver College, Marine Gateway, and Oakridge Centre. Convenient rapid transit options bring the world to your doorstep. Vancouver International Airport is less than 10 minutes away when you board the Canada Line at Marine Drive Station, as is award-winning Asian dining in Richmond and the multicultural culinary options of Downtown Vancouver. This is what makes Vancouver one of the world’s most livable cities.

Pricing for Tudor House
Pricing has not yet been made publicly available. However, we recommend you sign up to our VIP list above for priority updates on Tudor House.

Floor Plans for Tudor House
Choose from a selection of 1- and 2-bedroom garden-level suites, along with 3-bedroom and 3-bedroom plus den townhomes. Contact me today for available options.

Amenities at Tudor House
These details have not yet been given to us. However, the location of Tudor House alone puts it in close proximity to an enviable variety of leisure options.

Parking and Storage
Details have yet to be formalized. Sign up to our VIP list above to ensure you are immediately informed of any updates concerning Tudor House.

Maintenance Fees at Tudor House
Included with pricing information, when available.

Developer Team for Tudor House
In over twenty years of practice, Formwerks has developed a reputation for sensitive, user-friendly architecture. This has been achieved by carefully listening to clients and translating their wishes and needs into architecture that embodies their functional requirements within an artistic building form. Their buildings reflect a public mood for comfort and tradition without the cold and austere qualities found in much of today’s architectural mainstream.

i3 is a multi-disciplinary design firm offering a full range of services to both single- and multi-family home builders. Their areas of expertise cover the complete range of project needs from the most preliminary design stages to final completion.

Expected Completion for Tudor House
Sales start in Fall/Winter of 2016.

Are you interested in learning more about other homes in the Cambie Corridor, Kerrisdale, or Southeast False Creek?

Check out these great Cambie Corridor Presales!

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3 Signs of a Clogged Sewer Line

The sewer line is an extremely important part of a home or a commercial building – one that’s often overlooked until it starts showing signs of damage. The most common problem that happens to sewer lines is clogging. Repair should be done immediately to avoid further complications, so it’s best to have the lines checked out when any of the following signs show up:

Image Source: Flickr

Strange Reactions When Using Fixtures
The next thing to look for when you suspect a sewer drain clog is any unexpected or unusual reactions when using plumbing fixtures.
- Toilets – Toilets have the most direct path to the sewer and the biggest drain line in the house, so if there is a problem with the sewer drain you will notice it here. It is rare to have a main line sewer stoppage and the toilets are working correctly.
- Tub and Shower – Other drains typically affected by a main line stoppage are those in the tub and shower. This is due to the fact that they sit lower down than say a sink drain. Check whether the tub and shower drains are blocked if you suspect a sewer drain clog.
- Flush The Toilet – If flushing the toilet results in water backing up or coming up into the tub or shower this is usually a clear sign of a sewer drain clog. The flushed water that cannot go down the sewer drain flows back up the pipes and comes out at the lowest point which is usually the shower drain.
- Run The Sink – Another strange reaction to look for is trapped air in the plumbing system. Do this by running water in the sink closest to the toilet for a minute or so. If the toilet bubbles or you can see the water level in the toilet rising then the clog is very likely in the main sewer line and not in the toilet.
- Washing Machine – An unexpected sign of a sewer drain clog can happen when you run the wash machine. If the water draining out of the washing machine causes the toilet to overflow or backs up into the tub or shower it could be the sewer main.
Note: This could just be a washing machine and shower problem and not a sewer drain clog. If the toilets are still flushing fine while this occurs then this is likely due to a washing machine stoppage and not a sewer main. Source: About

Awful Sewage Smell Coming From Your Drains
If your main line is backed up, then your drains will smell of raw sewage–and it’s not pleasant smell so you can’t miss it. Source: RagsdaleAir

Slow-Running Drains
One of the clearest signs of blocked sewers is slow-running drains, especially if you’ve noticed this problem for a while. You may find the toilets hard to flush, and soap scum collecting in the bathtub, which is caused by slow draining, may be a chronic problem. The water level in a toilet may change by itself; it may be normal immediately after flushing and abnormally low a few hours later. If you have basement drains, you may find white deposits around them caused by water backing up and pooling, then draining again. You may also notice an increased incidence of rats and other pests, which are attracted to the overflowing water. Source: eHow

Repairing issues in the sewer line is best left to the professionals. Contact us!

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8279 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4W1
(604) 360-2114

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What to ask your plastic surgeon before going under the knife

Getting a cosmetic procedure is not a decision you should take lightly. To ensure you’ll have the results you’re looking for, you’ll need to find the plastic surgeon that is right for you. Here are 5 topics you should investigate before choosing a plastic surgeon for your cosmetic procedure. You’ll be ready for your consultation […]

The post What to ask your plastic surgeon before going under the knife appeared first on Fairview Plastic Surgery Centre.

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10 Fun Facts You Need to Know about Knickers

1. Panty wearing world record- Ten-year-old Jack Singer of Warwick, New York, wore 215 pairs of underwear simultaneously on June 13, 2010. He broke the previous record of 200 pairs.
2. The sexiest country of them all- The country with the most underwear models is Brazil.
3. New Years Eve tradition-In Italy women celebrate New Years by wearing red underwear because it’s considered lucky.
4. We don’t recommend going panty-less- Ten percent of American women have confessed to occasionally having gone “commando” to avoid visible panty lines.
5. When times are tough, wear a corset- Scholars note that women seemed to wear corsets during times in history when their lives were severely restricted and they had few rights. As women gained more rights, they rejected the more restrictive underwear.
6. Rebel rebel- Underwear has been used to make rebellious fashion statements. For example, in 1780, Marie Antoinette shocked France by wearing chemise dresses at court. Previously, the chemise was worn only as underwear.
7. Starting trends for men’s fashion- In 1951, Marlon Brando helped turn men’s cotton undershirts into outwear when he wore an undershirt in the movie A Streetcar Named Desire.
8. The undie market, how big is it?- It’s estimated that over $30 Billion is spent on underwear each year.
9. How did knickers become drawers? -During the 16th century, undergarments became associated with the word “drawers.” A drawer is literally something pulled or “drawn” and comes from the French word tirer (to pull).
10. Dropping your pant(ies)- Elastic wasn’t invented until 1820 and not put into use until years later, people held up underwear, stockings, and petticoats with suspenders and garters.

The post 10 Fun Facts You Need to Know about Knickers appeared first on Panty by Post.

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Pianist Magazine Subscription Offer

As many will know, I usually publish a weekend competition or Friday freebie, but today is a little different. Pianist Magazine are kindly offering my readers a Christmas gift; a one year half price digital subscription.

I’ve written about this magazine on several occasions before, and am one of its regular contributors. Published six times a year (or every other month), Pianist contains a wealth of information for anyone who loves to play the piano; including interviews with eminent pianists, copious ‘how-to-play’ articles with expert teachers, news from the piano world, over forty pages of free scores (for all levels, from beginners to advanced), and a complimentary CD of featured pieces, plus lots more.

Visit Pianist‘s website, where you can enjoy helpful video ‘lessons’ as well as regular competitions. To purchase the half price digital subscription, which is a mere £13.50/$18 (for six digital editions), click here.

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Celebrity Christmas Gala at Kings Place 2016

Yesterday I spent a thoroughly enjoyable morning at Kings Place (a hub for the arts near Kings Cross Station in London), soaking up a Christmas Gala concert with a difference. I don’t write many reviews (you’ll already know that if you are a regular reader of this piano blog), and I rarely go to concerts (just too busy sadly, writing, teaching and composing), but I wanted to write a few words regarding the value of concerts such as this one.

Organised by British concert pianist Lucy Parham and agent extraordinaire, Lisa Peacock, Lucy Parham & Friends consisted entirely of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg’s (1843 -1907) piano music, focusing on his Lyric Pieces (Lyric Suite Op. 54). At first glance, this might seem a fairly standard concert with conventional repertoire, but a ‘typical’ recital this was not. The programme featured a raft of celebrity amateur pianists, all playing for fun and for the love of music.

Lucy Parham, Sarah Walker, Oliver Condy & David Pickard playing In the Hall of the Mountain King

There’s no doubt this concept transformed the ‘traditional concert’ into a wonderfully inspiring, innovative event. Introduced by charismatic BBC Radio 3 presenter Sean Rafferty (who interviewed every performer before their performance), a group of fourteen pianists, who make their living doing something totally different, braved a fairly discerning, but sympathetic audience to play one or two works. Overcoming nerves is an issue for many professionals, therefore to witness those who aren’t professionals playing with confidence and clear enjoyment, was splendid.

The line up included; Sarah Walker (BBC Radio 3 presenter), Edward Fox (actor), Oliver Condy (editor of the BBC Music Magazine), Alan Rusbridger (journalist and Principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford), Sophie Raworth (presenter of the BBC news and other programmes), David Pickard (Director of the BBC Proms), Conrad Williams (writer), William Sharman (athlete), Myleene Klass (radio & TV presenter), Peter Fincham (TV producer and executive), Alistair McGowan (impressionist, comedian, and actor), Stephen Boxer (actor) and Cathy Newman (Channel 4 news presenter and journalist). Some had played for a few years, whilst others had been learning since childhood, and one or two had only been practising a few months. Duets and solos cascaded between two model D Steinways which dominated the stage of Hall One.

Alistair McGowan plays Grieg’s Notturno Op. 54. N0 4

Repertoire included a delicious selection of Grieg favourites such as Morning (Peer Gynt), Arietta Op. 12 N0.1, Puck Op. 71, No. 3, and March of the Dwarfs Op. 54 No. 3, to less familiar pieces such as the beautiful Notturno Op. 54 No. 4. Observing those who are famous in their chosen fields, tackle piano works of considerable difficulty, and move completely out of their comfort zone, was fascinating, and I appreciated the dedication, care and genuine enthusiasm for the instrument, which was displayed by every performer.

Myleene Klass & Peter Fincham play Anitra’s Dance Op. 23

Concerts such as this not only provide a superb platform for those with a desire to improve their playing (I guarantee all performers will have found the experience musically beneficial, even if they were terrified!), but they also highlight classical music, and in particular, the piano. In a climate where instrumental tuition is seriously declining (and generally underfunded), and music study is progressively sidelined in our schools, such interest is heartening and of great importance.

The concert ended with a rousing account of In the Hall of the Mountain King arranged for two pianos, and four pianists (eight hands), played by Lucy Parham, Sarah Walker, Oliver Condy and David Pickard.

Lucy continues her highly successful series of Word/Play concerts (this is her fifth season at Kings Place), on Sunday 8th January 2017 with The Fox Family & Richard Sisson performing The Tales of Beatrix Potter. There are five concerts in this series and you can find out much more here. I interviewed Lucy a few years ago as part of my Classical Conversations Series, and you can enjoy our chat by clicking on the link here.

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November 2016 Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver Statistics Package with Graphs & Charts

November 2016 REBGV Stats Mike Stewart Vancouver Realtor from Mike Stewart

 

Home sales and listings just below 10-year average

Home buyer and seller activity remains near historical averages in the Metro Vancouver housing market.

Residential home sales in the region totalled 2,214 in November 2016, a decrease of 0.9 per cent from the 2,233 sales recorded in October 2016 and a decrease of 37.2 per cent compared to November 2015 when 3,524 homes sold.

Last month’s sales were 7.6 per cent below the 10-year sales average for the month.

“While 2016 has been anything but a normal year for the Metro Vancouver housing market, supply and demand totals have returned to more historically normal levels over the last few months,” said Dan Morrison, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) president.

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Metro Vancouver totalled 3,147 in November 2016. This represents a decrease of 20.9 per cent compared to the 3,981 units listed in October 2016 and a 7.2 per cent decrease compared to November 2015 when 3,392 properties were listed.

Last month’s new listing count was 1.2 per cent below the region’s 10-year new listing average for the month.

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 8,385, an 8.3 per cent decrease compared to October 2016 (9,143) and a 3.6 per cent increase compared to November 2015 (8,096).

The sales-to-active listings ratio for November 2016 is 26.4 per cent. This is up two per cent from last month (24.4 per cent).

Downward pressure on home prices can occur when the ratio dips below the 12 per cent mark for a sustained period, while home prices can experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months.

“Demand, relative to supply, for detached homes is lower right now than demand for townhomes and apartments,” Morrison said. “This is causing prices to remain stable, or flat, for townhomes and apartments, while detached homes are seeing modest month-over-moth declines.”

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $908,300. This represents a 1.2 per cent decrease compared to last month and a 20.5 per cent increase compared to November 2015.

Sales of detached properties in November 2016 reached 638, a decrease of 2.1 per cent from the 652 detached sales recorded in October 2016 and a 52.2 per cent decline over November 2015. The benchmark price for detached properties is $1,511,100. This represents a 2.2 per cent decline compared to last month and a 23 per cent increase compared to November 2015.

Sales of apartment properties reached 1,200 in November 2016, an increase of 1.9 per cent compared to the 1,178 sales in October 2016 and a 22.7 per cent decrease compared to November 2015.The benchmark price of an apartment property is $512,100. This is unchanged from last month and is an 18 per cent increase compared to November 2015.

Attached property sales in November 2016 totalled 376, a decrease of 6.7 per cent compared to the 403 sales in October 2016 and a 40.9 per cent decline compared to November 2015. The benchmark price of an attached unit is $667,100. This represents a 0.3 per cent decrease compared to last month and a 23 per cent increase compared to November 2015.

The post November 2016 Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver Statistics Package with Graphs & Charts appeared first on Mike Stewart Real Estate Specialist 604-763-3136.

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Friday Freebie: An Angel’s Footsteps

It’s Friday and time for a Freebie! I’ve written today’s piece which is intended for those of around Grade 3 (ABRSM) level. It’s not quite a Christmas tune (in that it’s an original piece and not an arrangement), but hopefully it has the spirit of the festive season.

To hear the piece and download it for free (until 11pm today only (British time)!), please click HERE to publisher, EVC Music Publications Ltd, and follow download instructions. Hope you and your students enjoy it!

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Amarin News: Exhibition Honoring His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej

The Amarin Morning and Evening News features the exhibition organized at ISB, in remembrance of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

[This post contains video, click to play]

[This post contains video, click to play]

 

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Holiday Blog Post: PBP’s BEST SELLERS

From lovely to luxe, our best sellers are favorites for a good reason!

Look no further, we have compiled a list of some of our most coveted Panty by Post fan favorites. From comfortable cotton to sexy seamless and luxurious lace we’ve got you covered!

We’ve had years of panty-ing experience. We’ve been carefully examining and meeting the needs of our customer’s on a wide range of sizes , colours, styles and shapes. From our collection to your lingerie drawer, this is everyday intimate wear made easy. What’s not to love? You already told us you do!

This new Best Sellers Collection comes after months of studying the most important part of our business – you!  We are so confident that each panty will become your #1 fave, we are willing to bet our behinds on it!

The dream of Panty by Post has always been about bringing the experience of France to women all over the world in a little package every month. Now you can get 12 of our best of the best, for less… 37% less to be exact- of gorgeous, glamorous & effortlessly wearable panties. You know you want to click here to see more.

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4 Inexpensive Home Improvements for the Winter Months

Is your home ready to weather the upcoming winter? Now is the ideal time for making some improvements around the house to make sure it’s ready to handle the cold weather, snowstorms, and other “unforeseen” surprises. Here are 4 inexpensive home improvements that you might want to consider, including: checking and tuning up your heating system, adding extra insulation, spicing up your kitchen and repainting.

Image Source: Flickr

Checking and Tuning up Your Heating System
Before the start of the cold season, it’s not a bad idea to tune up your furnace. 30% of an average home’s energy costs are related to heating, and this number can spike further if you have inefficiencies with your furnace or boiler system. The first place to start is by replacing the filter at the beginning of the season and every couple of months while you run the furnace. When purchasing a new filter, note that the cheap ones are made just to protect the furnace fan motor, so make sure to get a more efficient and healthy pleated filter for improved air quality. Source: Inhabitat

Adding Extra Insulation
Unless you live in an older home, chances are the walls in your house are fairly well insulated with fiberglass batt insulation. If not, you’ll want to look at insulating your home’s walls sufficiently.
Even brand new homes often lack sufficient insulation in the attic. Since heat travels up, this presents a huge problem in the winter. According to Energy Star, you don’t have enough attic insulation if you can easily see the floor joists in your attic. This do-it-yourself guide from Energy Star shows you how to better insulate your attic on your own. Source: Money.USNews

Spicing Up Your Kitchen
Full kitchen remodels can be incredibly expensive, and that’s especially true if you have to get plumbers or electricians involved. But a lot of kitchens don’t necessarily need a complete redo; they could be vastly improved with just a few inexpensive changes and upgrades.
If your cabinets need a facelift, consider sanding and staining them, or even repainting or glazing them to add an updated look. And if your appliances are still in good shape, give them a good cleaning inside and out to help them look their best.
Winter might drag on, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make these long, cold months productive. Instead of counting down until spring, create a list of easy, inexpensive improvements to help pass the time while you’re stuck indoors. Then get started – because spring will be here before you know it. Source: TheSimpleDollar

Repainting
You’ve been staring at your neutral colored walls every day for months. Want to brighten your mood? Try repainting! Go with a bright, cheery color to liven things up.
I always repaint in the winter because that’s when I need the most visual stimulation. A new coat of paint can dramatically lift your mood and the mood of the entire room.
Make sure you crack open the windows to let in fresh air while you’re painting. Or, consider going with an eco-friendly, low-VOC paint so you don’t have to worry about breathing in toxic fumes. Source: MoneyCrashers

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8279 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4W1
(604) 360-2114

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Recommended Piano Resources for November 2016

In the run up to Christmas, many of us are on the lookout for gift ideas for friends, family, piano teachers, students and piano lovers everywhere. I hope this fairly substantial selection will inspire a host of piano related shopping. As usual, there’s something to interest all levels. I’ve made a few exciting composer discoveries (which is always fun); today’s list features a historical novel, a new piano method, a practice notebook, a Children’s piano concerto, and new compilations, as well as publications from our favourite publishers. Enjoy!

Beginners/Elementary

Piano Junior

This new method published by Schott Music consists of a series of books (8 books in total) and has been written by German pedagogue and composer, Hans-Günter Heumann. I was one of the consultants on this book, and it has been exciting to see the finished product. PJ is a robot who is the main ‘character’ (he has a friend called ‘Mozart’ the dog too!) in this tutor series for youngsters (age 6 and above). Piano Junior is designed as a ‘fun and interactive’ piano method, starting with black notes, employing innovative, user-friendly graphic notation before introducing white notes, traditional staves, clefs and time signatures. In addition to each book, there is also extra material on the website, which includes videos, audio demos and play-alongs for all the pieces, as well as downloadable rhythm checks, workouts, sight-reading exercises and other resources. Find out much more here and purchase here.

My Practice Palette

Written by British teacher Roberta Wolff, this book can be enjoyed in paperback or e-book version and is designed to assist students and teachers in their quest for effective practising. My Practice Palette  is essentially a notebook which aims to educate parents, teaches, and students about how to practise while eliminating the need for teachers to write practice notes. This is done by teaching practice methodology and metacognition. Roberta recommends using My Practice Palette from grades 1-5. Teachers can also work through the Practice Palette during lesson time. The benefits of this are, no extra time is required for planning, and teachers can be spontaneous yet easily keep track of a student’s progress. It’s certainly a colourful volume and would no doubt encourage those who might otherwise find practising dull. Find out more and get your copy here.

14 Easy Pieces for Piano

American composer Richard Lane (1933 – 2014) has written a group of charming little pieces for those of around Grade 1 level (ABRSM). I discovered Richard’s music through the ABRSM list C pieces (for 2017/8), whilst writing the Piano Notes series (due to be published by Rhinegold in January). These works, which are published by Swiss publisher BIM Editions, are tuneful, attractive and all feature particular technical elements (important for teaching repertoire). Duets, an arrangement and original pieces all feature in this volume. Find out more and purchase here.

Piano Star

This is a new series published by the British examination board, ABRSM, for beginners (or for those up to prep test level). There are three books in the series, each containing new arrangements and original pieces written by a host of different composers and teachers, all associated with the popular British exam board. The volumes include solo pieces and duets, offer a mix of styles, plus fun extension activities and plenty of illustrations. There are 74 pieces in total, written by 20 composers including Christopher Norton, Paul Harris, Mark Tanner and Mike Cornick, and children will love the tuneful simplicity of the pieces; this is certainly useful teaching material. Find out more and purchase here.

Intermediate

Piano Concerto No. 1 For Children

An interesting discovery, written in 1993 by Russian composer Ilia Chkolnik and published by BIM Editions, in their Junior Series. Piano concertos written solely for children are becoming increasingly popular, with many, particularly Russian composers, highlighting this potential gap in the market. This score has an orchestral reduction (or second piano part), and at first glance, could be mistaken for advanced level. However, it consists of idiomatic, essentially tonal writing and lasts just 11 minutes. There are three movements, two fast outer sections, and a beautiful slow movement, which reminds me of Shostakovich’s Second Concerto in F major Op. 102. Teachers looking for varied contemporary repertoire will enjoy this piece. To hear, find out more and purchase, click here.

Intermediate to Advanced

My First Chopin

A new publication from Schott Music, compiled by German pianist and pedagogue, Wilhelm Ohman. This collection of 20 pieces lies well within the capabilities of the advanced player, and contains some of Chopin’s best-loved works including a group of Preludes, Waltzes, Mazurkas and Nocturnes. These genres are popular amongst students, and with the Raindrop Prelude Op. 28 No. 15, Prelude in B minor Op. 28 No. 6, Waltz in B minor Op. posth. 69 No. 2, Mazurka in B flat major Op. 7 No. 1, Nocturne in C sharp minor No. 20 Op. posth., Funeral March (from Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor Op. 35), to name a few favourites. An excellent addition to any student’s library. Find out more and purchase here.

The Piano Playlist

A large selection of 50 popular classical pieces arranged by British arranger and editor Barrie Carson Turner, and published by Schott Music. Arrangements have always been a favourite with pianists, and this offers a comprehensive list of music across several centuries, all transcribed for intermediate up to advanced players. From opera arias (Habanera from Carmen by Bizet, Nessun Dorma from Turandot, and O Mio Babbino Caro from Gianni Schicchi both by Puccini), to ballet numbers, famous gems from orchestral works (Ode to Joy (Beethoven), The Swan (Saint-Saëns), Adagietto (Mahler’s 4th Symphony)), to piano concertos, instrumental music and  arrangements of piano pieces. My choice piece is When I am Laid in Earth from Dido and Aeneas by Purcell. This is a beneficial volume for those wanting to discover some of the best-loved works in the Classical repertoire. It would also serve as excellent sight-reading material. Find out more and purchase here.

The Ultimate Easy Piano Songlist

A new publication from Faber Music. Containing 45 arrangements of best selling songs, this will please those who enjoy a wide variety of pop and easy listening music. Numbers from artists such as Adele, Cilla Black, Cole Porter, Ella Fitzgerald, Chris Rea, Michael Buble, Eagles, One Direction, Wham!, Nina Simone, Muse, Vera Lynn, David Bowie, Justin Beiber, Jamie Cullum, and Radiohead, to name a few. This is designated ‘Easy Piano’ but few elementary pianists will manage these arrangements; I would suggest intermediate level as minimum. Complete with lyrics and chord indications, this is a lovely volume, and would make a perfect stocking filler! Find out more and purchase here.

Piano Collection by Jevdet Hajiyev

The first book of a special centenary edition of selected piano works inspired by Azerbaijani traditional music, written by Azerbaijani composer, Ahmad Jevdet Ismail oglu Hajiyev (1917 – 2002), and published by EVC Music Publications. For intermediate to advanced level players, this book will be a useful addition to any piano teacher, advanced student or keen amateur’s piano library. With the expected Russian inflections, this music is generally tonal but with a direct influence of Twentieth Century masters such as Prokofiev and Shostakovich (Ahmad Jevdet Ismail oglu Hajiyev’s teacher). Some pieces are short (such as those from Musical Sketches), whilst the Scherzo and Sonata are more substantial. Listen to the music, find out more and get a copy here.  

Online

Flowkey

Flowkey is a piano learning-app geared for all levels, whether beginner or advanced. It’s also a useful music education tool for parents, teachers, and adult learners, as it’s easy to get started. A wide spectrum of music is covered, from classical music to pop songs. You can apparently practice interactively and receive instant feedback; progress can be tracked and piano lessons are also on offer, in the form of various courses. Flowkey is partnered with Yamaha, and can be easily connected to digital pianos. Find out much more here.

Books

Ghost Variations

This is the latest novel by British author, writer, and critic Jessica Duchen. Whilst not strictly focused on the piano, it is a very interesting musical tale. Jessica tells the true story of Hungarian-born violinist Jelly D’Aranyi’s quest to recover Robert Schumann’s forgotten violin concerto. It’s also the story of an aging woman in a world which is becoming progressively more hostile. Jelly negotiates her way through the changing world of 1930s London. War is ever-present, and the heroine has to come to terms with her fading powers and upcoming young stars such as Yehudi Menuhin. As a woman, she faces the ultimate decision, choosing between music or love.  Find out more here and buy your copy here.

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You can find out more about my new Faber Music Piano Anthology here.

And my beginner’s guide, So You Want To Play The Piano? here.

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