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Wednesday 1st
That Newark chap phoned again today... Tony or Toby I think it was. He wanted to know if I could give him any work. I suppose I could do with a hand, but it's a bit risky taking on someone fresh from violin making school - quite likely to be completely useless.
At one time I did have great hopes that it might be "Potts and Son" but Frank hasn't shown the slightest interest - well not for some years anyway. I can still remember how he used to enjoy playing in the wood shavings or digging away at a piece of spruce with a thumb plane. I really can't see what the attraction is with merchant banking but he seems to be doing all right for himself.
Friday 3rd
Late this afternoon a lady brought in an old wreck of a violin in one of those coffin cases. Usual story... it belonged to her grandfather, hadn't been touched for fifty years, used to have a 'wonderful tone', etc etc. She was wanting to sell it to raise a bit of money for Christmas presents. The fiddle was a chestnut roaster, but the bow caught my eye. I thought at first it had a plastic frog, then realised it was silver mounted. Turned out to be a very fine Hill bow (Albert Leeson) with a black tortoiseshell frog. Momentary hesitation as I considered the possibilities... but of course I ended up telling her what it was, and what it might be worth. It needed some restoration work so I sent her off to Brian - he should be able to come up with a buyer. Merry Christmas to her!
After she left I finished off the last of the Glenlivet. Honesty can really be something of a curse in this business.
Friday 10th
3 more bills came today! Thankfully there was also a cheque from St.Marks for the work I did in September (they have someone new in accounts, so the payments are coming through much faster now). Still no sign of the money for the Klotz.
Wednesday 15th
Oh dear! Albert L__ rushed in to see me. He had taken his 'Gagliano' to Jenkins in Reigate for another bridge (don't know why he would go to Jenkins... he can't cut a decent bridge. His feet are too thick and he's very full around the waist). Anyway, the fool let on that it was a Voller. Now Albert is wanting my opinion on the matter. I tried to point out that it was the sound that was important, and that the Vollers were fine makers and he should be proud to have a British made instrument, etc etc. But to no avail. It is not Italian and it can't possibly have the 'Italian sound'.
Milroys order arrived today. Caol Ila 12 year old and my Christmas bonus, the rather expensive 18 year old Macallan (what was I thinking when I ordered that... I deserve it of course, but can I afford it? Better not let Rose see the bill, especially after I told her we couldn't afford the expensive plum pudding). Annoyingly the Macallan label has been put on at an angle - the left side is a good 1/8" lower than the right. You'd think at that price they could have done a neater job.
Friday 17th
Received a cheque for £100 towards payment on the Klotz job. Don't expect I'll see the rest of the money now until he needs some more work done.
Frank phoned - wants to take me and Rose out for dinner tomorrow night. I said we could walk around to the Spotted Dog but he had already made a booking at some fancy restaurant in Guildford - probably wants to show off the new BMW.
Haven't had a spare moment for my own fiddle. I might be able to get to it if things slow down over the Christmas break.
Saturday 18th
Brian phoned about the Hill bow. He managed to sell it quite easily - seems it was an excellent one and she did very well out of it. Haven't heard a word from her of course... but one never expects to be thanked for helping people out.
Can you believe it! Peter K__ phoned at 3:20pm wanting an urgent soundpost adjustment before the concert tonight. Luckily I had the answering machine on.