Yes... of course...

So, I've had a nice month away in Australia... without my instruments! I can't tell you the sheer pleasure of boarding a plane without the overhanging threat that someone is going to take your violin away from you because it doesn't meet the little box standards of carry on luggage... despite the fact that most decent airlines have an exemption for small musical instruments like violins...

Anyway, it also means that I had no ability to look after my instruments whilst I was away either.... This summer in Netherlands was quite hot and dry... which is pretty rough on the gut strings that I use for my violins (and violas...). The strings dry out and become brittle and break (sometimes, I can oil them to keep them "alive" for a little bit longer... but I have to be careful not to drip it on the varnish or the fingerboard... so, mostly I just change the string when it is starting to get false)....

I was pretty lazy when I got back to The Netherlands as I don't have any playing work until next week... so, I only opened up my instrument cases a couple of days ago when I needed to take the violin that I have on loan to a luthier for it's once yearly check-up.... it's actually a bit of a pain in the arse as I need to travel to Amsterdam for the luthier to look over it for about 5 minutes, pronounce it healthy and then train back from Amsterdam... I spend about 90-120 minutes travelling for the appointment, but I often try to tie it in with other chores (this time, I was hoping to try out a couple of violins... but they ended up being out when I happened to get to Amsterdam...).

So, back to the story... I opened the case, and all the violins had broken E strings (then thinnest strings...). Now, normally that wouldn't be a problem, as I could just change them... but before I had left for Australia, I had lent an instrument case (a double case that can carry two violins or a viola and violin combo) to a friend... and I stupidly left all my spare strings in that case! Which meant I had no spares in the house and I would have to wait a day or two for the quickest order. In the end it isn't too bad, I was hoping to practice a bit... but I'm more than happy to have a few days of extra enforced holiday!

... however, it was a touch embarrassing to arrive at the luthier with broken strings! I do really take care of the instruments! I made a lame joke of asking if he knew how to repair a broken string, and if it was serious damange...(it's the sort of thing that novice string players ask!)... he did make a polite laugh... but I gather it was funnier in my head than it was in actual delivery!

Anyway, the strings are due to arrive tomorrow, but in the meantime my case was returned back to me today... so, I'm going to have to get back to work soon... right after I replace the strings! Speaking of which, I do have to take inventory of my strings and see what holes I have in the stock... there are some strings that are now way to old to feasibly use as replacements (in the packets, they still dry out and get brittle!).

Tomorrow's job!