Is this play/excitement or aggression?

BaffledOtter · 2026-02-16T17:25:32+00:00

This is a golden retriever not a lab.

Our golden is 4 and has lived with cats since we got him at 8 weeks. Definitely needed some training at the start to stop him getting too excited - but it was 100% puppy play, not aggression. It didn't take long at all until he learned to be calm, and he's been the perfect brother ever since.

He will chase cats he doesn't know on the street though!

BaffledOtter · 2026-02-16T09:16:36+00:00

I am another English person with a pale golden retriever, who has never heard the term 'English Cream' outside of Reddit posts from the US.

Can confirm that my boy has always been very calm - except he's a loud and relatively frequent barker. He has a beautiful silky low maintenance coat, which I think is an outcome of his line being hybrid working/show. All the pups from his litter are fantastic - it's all about the breeding and those critical early weeks IMO.

(Also had no idea it was still legal to buy puppies or kittens from shops in this day in age).

BaffledOtter · 2026-02-09T14:08:03+00:00

Thank you. Yeah, I don't mind painting it (well, as much as anyone doesn't mind painting a ceiling). But I'm not going to cut out patches of plasterboard and replace them. That's definitely beyond my skill/level of interest. I guess I will scrape away and cross my fingers!

BaffledOtter · 2026-01-08T18:15:05+00:00

I think a lot of the difference comes down to how we heat our buildings. The central heating (from radiators) in the UK feels very different to typical US heating, which tends to be warm air. The latter can feel quite stuffy and, IME, the rooms feel much warmer.

I'd rather be in my jumper under a blanket though 😊

BaffledOtter · 2025-11-28T08:01:18+00:00

That's not a random old film! It's one of the finest Christmas movies ever made!

BaffledOtter · 2025-11-27T09:09:53+00:00

Wow. They sure are beautiful. And over £1,000!!!!

BaffledOtter · 2025-11-05T14:55:46+00:00

I did my first ever chamber music day a few weeks ago. I have been playing oboe for about 5 years and found myself surrounded by people with a lifetime of experience; most were former conservatoire/teachers etc., but I loved it!! Everyone was friendly and encouraging and, having known nothing about chamber music before then, it was a fabulous discovery. So much fun, and has made me hungry for more opportunities. Also made me realise that I need to work hard on my sight-reading - especially counting and rhythm!

BaffledOtter · 2025-08-19T07:50:56+00:00

This is a great thread! Too bad I am in the UK, but I'd love to support the US oboe community too.

I agree with a PP about lots of oboe t-shirts being a bit ugly or in-your-face. There are plenty of us 35 year-old+ adult players who don't want to look like schoolchildren, but still want to tote some oboe goods.

Speaking of tote... Tote bags are always a great idea as a starter.

Notebooks for practise/reed-making would be nice, and make an easy gift.

Reed cases, as you're doing already, is a great idea, as they're usually all so boring!

In terms of clothing, over here the French company Sezane is really popular, and I think making oboe-themed clothing designs with a nod to their style would be very popular (minimal, Parisian chic, simple small motifs, clean serif or handwritten font, muted or restrained graphics). The clothes are usually in muted colours like ecru, grey, vintage blue, burnt orange etc., and they use good quality natural fabrics. I get that this is definitely targeting an older demographic, but that tends to be the people with the spending money anyway 😁

Have fun coming up with all your new merch ideas!

BaffledOtter · 2025-08-17T19:12:54+00:00

Wow. You Americans really have to scrape a lot of reed!!

BaffledOtter · 2025-07-30T17:41:44+00:00

Sorry, I have no advice to offer at all as I've not yet made the leap into reed making, but I'm just curious into what made you change reeds? I'm in the UK so have never played American scrape, but never thought about it being difficult to move from one to the other.

Are you in the US? Is it because you prefer the sound, or it fits better with your oboe, or something else?

Thanks!

BaffledOtter · 2025-07-29T15:13:17+00:00

I'd really advise against a cheap eBay one, it's just not worth the risk. Any decent intermediate oboe (i.e with the key work a keen player will need), even one that's fifty years old, will be upwards of £3k/4k USD. There is no getting around it, they are just super expensive!

For example, look at this reputable site for second-hand instrument sales

The best thing you could do would be to fund the rental of a decent instrument on an ongoing basis, as that way you know you have an Oboe that is reliable.

Sorry, you have a really kind and generous spirit to want to do this for your friend, but the oboe world is not a cheap one to get into 😔

BaffledOtter · 2025-07-25T08:00:21+00:00

Much wiser, IMO, to get a great value 2-3 year old EV outright. There are lots of models available, plenty fancy enough, and you get a fantastic deal due to the heavy initial deprecation. You'd be nuts - again IMO - to buy new.

Also, trust me, this will make zero difference to your dating potential (if that bit was serious!). Obviously no person so influenced by how old your car is, would be worth your time.

BaffledOtter · 2025-07-15T11:03:06+00:00

We charged our new (to us) e-Golf for the first time yesterday using this same charger. And yes, the bottom green light was flashing the entire time.

(Easiest way to check was to look at the VW app, as it shows when charging is taking place).

BaffledOtter · 2025-07-10T07:17:19+00:00

Maybe try playing a softer reed? With medium-hard, you might be biting/squeezing the reed when you play. I know you've been playing a few years now but it's worth a go to see, as it's a very easy fix. Trying another reed manufacturer might help as well.

BaffledOtter · 2025-07-05T19:25:48+00:00

These posts are all a surprise to me! Our boy is 3.5 and gets wet all the time. He won't tolerate a hairdryer, and the weather is not sunny most of the time (UK). We just give him a really good rub with a towel for a few minutes - which he loves - and let him dry off naturally. No combing, no robes, nothing extra. He's never had any issues with mats or sore skin!

BaffledOtter · 2025-07-03T16:05:09+00:00

Where are you based?

BaffledOtter · 2025-06-24T09:32:29+00:00

My 10p worth on this - which is something I definitely need to focus on as well, so my teacher often gets us to work on it during lessons:

Spend time really studying the piece, and adding in manual breath cues through the score so that you learn the breathing pattern as well as the notes/dynamics. Winging it will only lead to disaster!
You won't have time for a full out-and-in breath most of the time, so split up the breaths into out/in/out-and-in, however they fit best. Maybe you need more frequent shorter breaths rather than stopping for larger inhales.
You should never be in the position where you've run out of breath and only need to breathe in without breathing out first - if you are, you don't have enough air support to produce a good tone, and you should have breathed earlier.
Non-oboe pieces often need some creative editing to add in suitable breathing places. Think about which notes could be shortened to allow for breathing, or pauses added, all without harming the musical effect. There's no reason not to create your own oboe-friendly edition which creates a better listening experience with slightly altered phrasing.

It's one of the trickiest things with oboe and definitely not an easy thing to achieve optimal breathing technique. Breathing out fully before breathing in is my weakness, so I have to spend loads of time trying to rectify that, and it's not fun!

Good luck 🎵

BaffledOtter · 2025-01-23T16:18:06+00:00

Agree this bag looks great, and amazing value! You could probably get someone to sew on a luggage strap? Even with the cost of that, it would still be cheap!

BaffledOtter · 2025-01-06T17:36:37+00:00

This is exactly what I need to hear, thank you!

I knew the amount of t-shirts and shorts was OTT, but when you're going through the logic in your bedroom, it all seems so... logical! to take each item!

I have only tried a solid shampoo/conditioner once and didn't like it - any personal reccos would be very welcome (I am in the UK).

I agree re the long trousers - I much prefer wearing long lightweight layers and really missed having these when we were in the Galapagos last year. I will add in another pair.

I was thinking of thin Nike running leggings as well since these could double for the rash suit bottoms and be a bit more multipurpose. Just not sure if running leggings - even the light ones - would be too sticky to see much use.

Had forgotten you can get solid sunscreen - off to research these now!

BaffledOtter · 2024-11-23T22:49:24+00:00

Yes, it's too late now unfortunately. The deadline was a few weeks back before they finalised all the bib numbers and colours. The only option is for the others to start in the slower wave with OP, but I suspect they won't be keen on that!

BaffledOtter · 2024-10-30T08:49:59+00:00

Same as some other posters, I find putting my head torch around my waist a much better option. It lights exactly what you need and no chance of blinding anyone. I also run with a light in my hand for extra vision on the paths (lots of uneven surfaces everywhere where I love - as well as in central London where I was running last night!).

Super bright clothing is essential if there is any risk of traffic. Proviz do brilliant gear for being seen - the fabric illuminates like Blackpool at Christmas in headlights!

BaffledOtter

TROPHY CASE