The Old Piano

… love is called… my old piano… his eighty eight key smile… is so pleasant to see…

Apologies, Diana Ross.

But I do love it.

Because, like most things old, or shabby, or a little well-loved, it has a story.

This upright came from the school where I teach. It was the first piano used by the first teacher in the single class pre-school in the early 1940s. Back then, the classes were still being held in a council hall. In the early 1950′s the piano was moved to the new school building, where it remained until a few weeks ago.

It was a teaching piano, and this is still so clearly evident by years of little coloured dots, (and in later years, stickers) placed on certain keys.

The top opens, the front lifts off and the keyboard hinged cover (which probably has a name!?) also comes off, opening the piano face to the world.

I would use this to show the children how, when a key is pressed, the hammer hit string.

How many countless teachers before me also taught this?

In the 11 years I have taught in my present school, this piano has been used only for play. It’s a little out of tune and has one sticky key.

And no one wanted it anymore. So it’s come to live at my house.

I have vacuumed about a kilogram of dust from the old wood, gently scraped away paint spills and glitter and blu tac. I have polished coffee cup rings and taken, very gently, to the keys.

Then, I will French polish it.

Tomorrow, a tuner/restorer is coming to tune up the piano and give me some history on what he thinks is part of the original series of Education Department issue pianos during the depression.

Stay tuned.

 

 

 

 

Living Room

Another renovation update.

I know. Ho hum.

The painting in this room is finished, with just doors and glosswork to go.

We have had plantation shutters installed.

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It’s a long way from the mission brown 80′s pelmets and feature wall we used to have.

Next room!

Boy Sleeps in Tree

Because he can.

Removing Palm Trees

There has been much renovating taking place over the holidays. Nothing finished, mind you, but a great deal of things *begun*. One big achievement has been outside the house. Long time followers of the renovations will know that when we moved here 2 years ago, the gardens were very, very overgrown with golden cane palms and mock orange bushes, all of which had been let go so long they were over 4 meters in height. Some were up to 7 meters.

Finally, got into them this week. The ground underneath looks so dry and the palms have completely stripped all nutrition from the soil. I have no idea if we have to remove stumps of golden canes, or if they will just rot away (anyone know?). But now we can start to plan out the garden we want.

Just a little gardening….

Paint Job

It’s been a while since I updated the progress on our renovations. That would be primarily because A: we haven’t finished damn thing… and B: I am slack. I’d rather post something finished, and that never happens! Anyhow, I have finally got rid of the horrible feature wall in the lounge room. It’s undercoated and took 4 coats to cover the browny maroon. I hope to finish this week and post a finished shot.