Saturday 5 March 2011

Storytelling Sunday

Are you ready for a story? It's time to begin...


"Thank you for bringing your flute and playing for me today," said Granny, as the last notes of "Hillbilly Holiday" fell from the air.

You are welcome," smiled The Small One, sweetly, because she knew what kind of a reward she would like. "May I go into the dining room and play with, er, play on the piano?" She disappeared and came back carrying a battered old music book. "Did you play with this one?"

"A little bit," said her Granny, "but of course the piano was my Dad's, your Great Grandpa's, really."

"My Mum says she thinks that I'm a lot like him because I play and I sing and I invent things and I like entering competitions and doing magic tricks.."

"Yes, he did all of those things,"  laughed Granny. "He taught himself how to play the piano. Never had a lesson in his life. And the bagpipes in a band. he kept a practise chanter for that, long after his chest got bad. He used to get your mum to sing for him when she was a little girl. Amazing Grace or Morning has Broken. I don't suppose she'd do it now."

"No, she wouldn't," I said quickly, and buried myself in the Sunday paper.

"He was still making music in his seventies, when Uncle Sam bought him a stylophone, like Rolf Harris had. remember?"

Oh, yes. I think we all remember that.

"So I am like him! But then my Mum says I'm like her Dad, too, because he played the recorder and I like to do that. We're doing some good tunes for the Easter Concert. But it's a surprise."

"She's right," said Granny. "You are. He had a few recorders. He even made a recorder himself. And because you have played so nicely for me today, I'm going to give you a present."

And she loooked at me and I knew exactly what it was she wanted me to fetch..

And that is the story of how Grandpa G's big bass recorder in its polished wooden box came to live in our house, to take pride of place on The Small One's music shelf.


And that's my tale for today. If you have one you would like to share, please link us up! Everyone welcome.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the way you tell your stories using conversation. It's a technique I've never mastered, but it's so effective. That recorder is beautiful. We had harpichord, recorder, and flute for our wedding. Loved the story of your car on the previous post as well.

This West London Life said...

Your story brought a tear to my eye, just lovely.

Cheri said...

a beautiful story, beautifully told and photographed. Will The Small One play Grandpa G's recorder?

scrappyjacky said...

A lovely story,Sian.....and a wonderful heritage gift for TSO....I'm sure she'll cherish it.

Sandra said...

Sian, you made me feel part of the story, thank you for your blog ... I love it.

What a beautiful photograph too.

humel said...

I'm rather loving this story - I can just picture TSO performing beautifully :-)

I've just set my story to autopost for tomorrow; it's a bit different, a bit experimental, so I'm a bit shy about sharing it but I shall be brave! I'll add it to your linky when it (the post and the linky) goes live xx

Amy said...

I really like how you use conversation as well - it does bring the story to life!

Thanks Sian, you have helped me to remember a story I didn't want to forget, but thought it may have been inconsequential in the scheme of things :-)

laurie said...

i love this tale of music and love coming down through the generations of a family!

Cate Brickell said...

I love how you tell stories! I certainly haven't told my story the same way, but I'll have a think, see if I can do it next month!

Jimjams said...

You tell it so well that I feel like I was sitting in another of the armchairs listening along too.

Miriam said...

I love this story as well Sian. I love the way things join and meld one generation to the next.
Thank you for Story Telling Sunday, I am struggling with life at the moment but the thought of having this to join in has helped so much.x

debs14 said...

Lovely story, brilliantly told.
I had a stylophone too. Mine didn't seem to work properly as no one could ever guess the tune I was playing(yet it sounded brilliant to me!)
It's lovely to read how the generations each take on little bits of our parents and grandparents, thanks for sharing.

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Oh, I love this tale of music passed on through generations. Well done once again my friend! xo

Rhona said...

What a lovely story, I'm sure the recorder will be treasured by TSO for years to come. xx

Lou said...

How lovely to have something so precious!! beautiful story Sian xx

Ginger said...

Great Story Sian!! Love the photo as well. I finally got the courage to participate :)

Denise said...

Such a lovely tale -so well told.My Dad has a violin in his wardrobe that belonged to my brother (who we sadly lost when I was a girl and he was 16) I remember trying to get something out of it when I was the small one-but with no luck.Thank you for bringing back a tender memory,it made me smile x

Denise said...

P.S. I meant tender in a nice way!

Maria Ontiveros said...

What a beautiful story Sian! And I really admire your use of dialogue. Just perfect.
Rinda

Ladkyis said...

Sorry mine is a bit late. I was out most of the weekend, giving away books

Melissa said...

Great story. We have a coronet that has been in Robbie's family for years.

alexa said...

Beautifully told, Sian. Felt I was right there. Your 'story' word for the year is blossoming beautifully ...

Anonymous said...

Lovely story of a beautiful moment. Seeing the flute picture took me back to school days as well. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

What a lovely story Sian and I love how you used conversation to tell it. So glad you shared it.

Thanks for putting the link in for mine, I totally forgot about doing that. :)

Goesturbo said...

Story telling Sunday, what a lovely idea! Beautiful story!

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