Thursday 13 December 2007

Not Another One..

Hold this thought:

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is
exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different
kinds of good weather.


John Ruskin, author, art critic, and social reformer (1819-1900).

Yesterday the latest cornet arrived. Himself has been in a fervour of anticipation, pacing up and down the flat all yesterday, insisting that one of us was at home in case it arrived. He even went up to the post office on the corner to ask how long it would take, given the Christmas post.

Of course it arrived yesterday morning when we were out at a hospital appointment, but he was able to go up to the sorting office and collect it.

The new cornet is in fact an old, treasured cornet that has been playing in brass bands since the 1930s. It looks rather tarnished to me, like someone who’s stayed up all night. But I would never dare say so.

The case was shabby which he has now stripped with a hot air gun (why?) to reveal battered black leather.

He spent all afternoon cleaning it, polishing it and playing it (I’m learning to work while he practises). And he’s now happy.

“This is THE ONE, Pop.”

Now where have I heard that before?

13 comments:

Cornish Dreamer said...

Another cornet?! I hope this really is "the one" and that he's happy now, but will that happiness last?

Nice quote from Ruskin, btw.

RT

Flowerpot said...

The quote is from my sister in law - as ever - she gets great quotes. As for cornets - well, it takes a lot for me to give up, but ....!!

Anonymous said...

Eeee! I do hope he finds his soul mate cornet soon. Do they sound nice?

Crystal xx

Flowerpot said...

Well, nice is not a word that I would use when practicing the cornet! Actually they all sound the same to me, Crystal, but apparently it's all about pitch. Any the wiser? Im not!

the rotten correspondent said...

Bless his heart. And yours.

If you aren't familiar with this expression, it's a southern one that means oh so many things. Love, exasperation, bewilderment, indulgence...the whole works.

I use it often.

Flowerpot said...

rc - that sounds very apt! Yes I did know it and I like it very much.

Akelamalu said...

Shouldn't he be saying 'You're the ONE?" :)

Ellee Seymour said...

The cornet you describe has the same kind of history as my son's trumpet which we paid £100 for. Wonderful stuff flowerpot. I expect you love singing along, I know I do.

Elaine Denning said...

I think it's all so incredibly romantic. There's nothing worse than a man without passion!

(Perhaps it's the approach of Chistmas which is making me all sappy...)

Philipa said...

'sounds' like it's going to be a joyous xmas :-)

Fiona Mackenzie. Writer said...

The cornet sounds a real character - with a past too. What a great story that would make?

Flowerpot said...

Ellee - I'm glad to hear your son's trumpet has a rich past too. Lovely to think that these instruments are passed on to loving homes.

Flowerpot said...

MissU - I hadnt thought of it being romantic but yes it is - he's in love with a cornet!!

Philipa - well, he's going to be joyous, yes. Not sure how my mother's going to like hours of cornet rehearsal butn ever mind....

fiona - you've got me thinking now...!