The Piano

Of course, “The Piano” has to be the title of this entry, for those of you who remember the 1993 NZ movie of that name. But of course the piano of this entry is different.

On day 3 of being in Auckland, Robert, who has been orienting us to the role as hosts of Friends Centre, took us to the piano store we previously found and noted in one of our first blog entries. Piano Traders has since moved but are still just 200 metres away from our front door!

So this is the sight we beheld entering the store. You may not drool over this sight, but we did, particularly the grands in excess of NZ$30,000.

The store first opened in 1953 by Russell and Clarice Hancox and remains in the family, now managed by their grandson Robert. Their pride and joy is a 100+ year old Bechstein. It was originally sold to a client in the 1950s and recently purchased back. It now sits in the store without a price tag. We were invited to play. It even had a double bench in which each half could be lowered independently. It felt like the instrument was just waiting for us, and no one else.

Heaven!! However, this is the best part: we are invited to come back ANYTIME and play in the store.

So while we have yet to feel the comfort of a daily rhythm and while we continue to meet a whole new community of Friends, we not only have the touch stone of one another but also the reassurance that we can escape to The Piano.