just another morning here

She thought it went ‘quite well’. I think it could have improved in places. Still jolly proud of her

Much excitement today; in the middle of the festival we popped off to Devon Strings Workshop to collect Anna’s cello, henceforth to be known as Klaudia, which I hope is a German enough name!

Looks a bit odd in the photo but sounds amazing – looking forward to hearing more of it (her?!) in the future.

We happened to be passing Devon Strings today so popped in to see if there was any update on the new cello – and it was out on the workbench! Rebecca was in the middle of some very delicate work around the edges.

It is also going to be treated to a clean – 100 years worth of dust inside, it was filthy! Still on a German name hunt, any suggestions?

In other news this week: my sister came to stay, which was lovely, even if we didn’t see *that* much of her. We had new doors fitted front and back – very exciting but no photo yet as the dratted door people left us with silver knocker and letterbox but a gold door handle – we’re getting that changed!

Yesterday the girls both went out for a Wind Group rehearsal, then Anna had a theory lesson. Josiah went to play with his friend up the road, and Abbie stayed at home and vacuumed the hallway after the door fitters had gone. Oh, and friends from church came for tea.

Haircuts all round this afternoon, and now more friends are here for tea and a film afterwards. It’s been a good week, especially helped by Josiah having a brilliant attitude towards music practices every day (these are usually Big Fallout times)! Plenty to do but lots of space either side, so everyone’s been happy.

A post about love for Valentine’s Day. Worryingly there’s a gender change involved here, so let’s not take it too far!!

Jim is Anna’s 3/4 size cello. Over the past couple of years (she insisted it was longer but I only picked up the cello in July 07, I know because I blogged it!) she has obviously spent quite some time with this cello and become very emotionally attached to it! So much so that she wanted to keep it when she moved up to a full size, but I said no, and callously sold it before she’d even finished with it!! No, seriously, it is going to a good home with the Puddles tomorrow so she’s happy really.

As an aside – is it odd to name one’s instruments? I thought so, but on questioning a few of the kids at orchestra it seems quite common! The most amusing one I’ve discovered so far is a bass clarinet named U-bend

Anyway. Anna’s new cello is over 100 years old, German, and was totally beaten up when we first bought it. I should have taken a photo but I forgot. It had a couple of really big cracks on each side at the front, a lot of the edging around the body was missing, the pegs (and holes) needed replacing – and so the list went on!

Devon Strings are currently working their magic, and restoring it beautifully, putting the best strings on it and setting it up properly, etc. At great personal expense! I’m very much looking forward to seeing it (and hearing it!), by the end of the month if all goes well. And hopefully Anna will love it just as much if not more than poor old Jim.

I dunno, you always have a special place in your heart for your first love, though, don’t you?