Pirastro Violino.

 

Take a closer look at my little violin picture today. Something has changed.

Okay, here's a picture to help you out.

The wrappings on the end of the strings are a different colour. I bought these at Alastair's Music yesterday, on his recommendation, and they sound great! They were also not as expensive as other strings I buy.

I'd never heard of this particular string before. Pirastro make lots of differently named violin strings - Obligato, Eva Pirazzi, Tonica, etc.

I do have a funny story about these strings.*

Quite a few years ago I was playing double bass in the Wellington Chamber Orchestra. There was a lady bass player who was one of those people who know everything and don't listen to what you have to say. We both finished up talking to a violinist in a break. I noticed that her strings had blue wrappings and I asked her what they were, suspecting that they were a Pirastro string. She said, "They're Pirastro." I replied, "Yes, but what type?" The know it all lady spoke up in a big voice. "She has just told you!"

Idiot!

Now, finally, I know that they were Pirastro Violino strings. If that know-all lady had simply shut up, I might have found out years ago.

Someone said to me, not long ago, "We have two ears and one mouth." I liked this! It is no fun talking to someone who doesn't listen. Here's a little trick, if you want to be a nice person - SHUT UP AND LISTEN when someone is telling you something that is important to them.

So, what is happening around the blogs?

Peter is back telling tennis club stories. Lynn and him have rented an apartment in Wellington, which Peter will live in at times. I checked it out yesterday when I was out buying violin strings. His new residence is very close to the violin shop. Lucky Peter!

Robert did a short little post that finishes by telling us to 'stop sin'. Actually, to be more accurate, the message is written more like this...

Stop.

Sin

Notice where the full stop is. That could mean to stop what you're doing and go sin.

I just rang Peter to talk about how to get to the car park for his new apartment. Fortunately, he hadn't dropped his phone in the bath. Actually, the lazy bugger was still asleep. We had a quick conversation where I said, "I'm not rich, but..." He interrupted me to say, "But you are, that's your name!"

No one has ever made that statement before. I was very impressed by his quick humour. Maybe 'impressed' is not the right word to use here? Knowing Peter, and his incredible wit, next he'll be calling me Rich Shit! How can I possibly compete with this guy?

I'm off to try and think up jokes that are almost as good.

Ciao tutti.

* Though obviously not as funny as TC's tennis club stories.