Here's my bit of chat, much, much longer than usual. Its today's social media post.
I'm in floods of tears at the John Lewis advert. More than the fact i love Elton John. Or Christmas....
Here's my story. It's sad. Very sad. Yet happy, extremely happy. And it's quite long. No surprise there! Grab a coffee, make yourself comfy and read, if you have 5 minutes ...
Me and hubby had been married for a few years. Money was really tight. 2 small children. Both working full time to make ends meet. I had a piano. My beloved piano. I loved to play. It was bought for me by my mum and dad when I was 11. After I said I would love to learn. They spent their last pennies on it and they literally had nothing. £50 it cost which back in the day was a small fortune. I don't even know how they managed it. It was my pride and joy for so many years. But when children come along and you are working full time playing the piano takes a back seat. It was redundant. No longer played. When my daughter Amma was 7 I decided to sell my beloved piano. I got £200. It was like we had won the lottery. We paid off our debts. It felt amazing. Within a few days of selling, my Amma said she wanted to learn to play the piano! Could not believe it. She hadn't looked at it before then. We borrowed the money to buy an old bangor of a piano, it was all we could afford. We had it tuned. It was playable. We listened to Amma playing a few notes then getting better and better. We encouraged her along the way. She had lessons for over 10 years. We scrimpt and saved to give her lessons. Often went without. She was so good on the piano, a natural talent, which had to be nurtured. We sat next to her encouraging her through the scales and exam pieces, but nobody better at that than my mum who encouraged her every single step of the way. Through all her exams my mum was there. Every grade. Every scale played. Right up to her final exam, grade 8. Sadly mum never made this exam. She was terminally ill. Amma didn't know. On the day of her grade 8 exam mum was admitted to hospital. On deaths door. We kept the details from Amma. She went to take her exam without her beloved granny with her, her support system, her biggest fan. It's what mum wanted. Not knowing her beloved granny was dying she did it. Amma sadly failed by 3 marks. She had been sitting with her poorly granny rather than practising for weeks. My mum sadly passed away on that very same day. Amma came straight from her exam to the hospital where we broke the devastating news to her. All the family, together whilst mum slipped peacefully away. I wrote a 4 page letter to the royal school of music confirming the circumstances around the exam, appealing. Luckily they invited Amma to retake the exam... in London, their head office! Hubby drove her there and back.... in a day. I stayed at home with my son. They were so lovely with Amma. They mentioned the letter with a tear in their eyes. She took the exam. They weren't allowed to tell her how she had done there and then, but they winked at her to let her know she had passed. They drove back to Blackpool absolutely elated. Because of the music in her Amma has enjoyed many magic moments.and we have enjoyed them with her. One of the most memorable was playing at the age of 11 at her headmaster's leaving assembly at junior school. A solo. Singing and playing her little heart out. No nerves. She has played at concerts, played for others, played for herself, x factor entry, competitions, church every week, weddings, and incredibly bravely, at her granny's funeral, with my cousin singing, i could go on....and on. But won't. This is long enough already. I will just say how important buying that piano was for us as a family. This advert has really struck a chord (quite literally). I am that proud mum. #soproud #musicrules #ourdaughterrocks #magicalfirstnotes we still have that piano now . most treasured possession.
Have a good day folks.
mind if anyone is in the proper pea soup that is the fog we have in County Durham, then take care please.
