The Violin is Consigned

 My online contacts with Sydney String Center inspired confidence. They were asking all the right questions and they even have an online form to upload info and photos if you want to consign an instrument. They seemed aware of their market and told me that they weren't interested in consigning the viola, since they were overstocked in that area.

When I actually went there, I was a bit dismayed. It's way out in the suburbs, in a very unimpressive little building (could be a dry cleaner). I had a `10:00 appointment and arrived early, before they opened, and there was no place to wait, or even a place to sit down. I just had to stand in the blazing (and I mean blazing) sun. Eventually I took a little walk around the neighborhood, which was basically residential but had a car dealership plopped in the middle of it. Weird. At least there were trees, so some shade.

When I finally got inside, I wondered if I was even in the right place. It certainly lacked the gravitas that I associate with a big city violin dealer. No low lighting and dark wood cabinets. Instead, there was lots of music-themed merch. A big business in rental instruments.  Definitely a focus on kids, on young students.

The rep who actually met with me allayed my fears somewhat. We went to a private room. She wanted to know all about the instrument, both technically and anecdotally. She understood everything I said and took it all very seriously.

She took the violin away to be examined by their violin maker. I wished I could have talked to him as well, but I can understand why he wouldn't want to have to speak directly to every customer. When she came back with her report, I could tell that she had accurately relayed my observations and concerns, and the luthier's comments were on point; specifically, that the bass bar was now where it should be for that violin, but that they would need to reset the neck because the instrument had not been played in several years.

The required repairs were $1500. The consignment arrangement was that they would keep 25% of the sale price (which I gather is good, since some dealers keep 30%). They will list it at $80,000. The extensive repairs (though well-done) and some other minor flaws may allow a buyer to knock that down a little.

They have another Smith violin on consignment, and several instruments by his students, so the rep said she was thinking of putting together a sort of exhibition of them. I gave her information about Geoffrey and a list of links to the YouTube uploads, which she thought she could use in the exhibition. She said potential buyers like knowing something about the history of the instrument.

Very Random Thoughts

 Are people treating me like I'm old because I'm acting old, or am I acting old because people are treating me like I'm old??

Family Matters

Michael

Michael is married to Larissa, who's very friendly. I think she said she's a school counselor. Her real interest is in sailing; Michael is a golf nut like his mother. 

Michael's daughter from his first marriage is Talei. She had a scholarship (Fulbright?) to Harvard to study Education but is currently unemployed. From his second marriage he has another daughter, Frieda, who's in high school. 

He was working as an electrical engineer doing something with mining safety but he was laid off. He's now doing something Janet doesn't understand; so I asked him and it's still something connected with mining safety, specifically the conditions that lead flammable substances to ... flame.

Rozie 

Rozie is married to Russell and has two children, Chelsea and Jack. Chelsea is an academic superstar and is now finishing medical school. Jack has learning disabilities but still did well with special support from his school. Rosie is currently commuting to work in Brisbane because research opportunities are sparse in Perth and getting worse. Grant funding usually goes to people who know people, so tends to center more and more in the other big cities.

In addition to Rozie's family money and no doubt generous salary, they have a ton of money from Russell's enterprises. He's a computer programmer but also, I think, an organizer and problem solver. He finds out what people wish a certain kind of software could do, and then he makes the software do that. He has worked with multiple startups, three of which turned into billion-dollar companies: Canva, Quora (like Reddit but less messy), and another I don't remember.

Helen and Joan 

Helen and Joan are sisters, daughters of Rose's sister. Rose's brother shot himself. Helen was tough and no-nonsense. 

I spoke to Joan on the phone, a long and interesting conversation. She's over 90, and she speaks very slowly (drives Janet nuts) but she is all there. She and Janet talk weekly. Joan lives in Brisbane, and I don't think I've ever met her (and she doesn't think she's met me.) She has always been depressive and has been hospitalized multiple times. She now has ECT every few months. She says she only does it because her doctor thinks it helps her; she doesn't agree. Janet's claim that it helped Joan was instrumental in Geoffrey's decision to try it. Sadly, when I brought it up to Joan, I sensed that I had sort of invaded her privacy. She said she doesn't tell many people about her depression; she evidently finds it somehow shameful. 

According to Joan, she and Helen and Janet and Geoffrey were very close growing up.

Her son (or Helen's son?) David was a doctor and an addict. (Geoffrey said he drank himself to death.)