I am deep into the busy orchestra time, hauling instruments all over the city on the tube, ending up in the pub and not leaving and somehow thinking it would be a good idea to nip up to the Vortex for the gypsy jazz night (whilst still hauling said cello), and yeah. We all made it back in one piece. Just about.
But, I am still struggling with getting all my bits to rehearsals sometimes. I have a lightweight music stand I bought from Foote's for £15, which is a right bargain, and an absolutely crucial investment if you're a public transport girl like me. My only gripe is its bulkiness. I sling a shoulder bag across my body, and then heft my cello onto my back, rucksack style, and carry my stand in its bag separately. Carrying an umbrella is pointless and looks ridiculous, since all I manage to do is bash myself or my cello case with it.
I've perfected the art of balancing my case on the back of one heel on the step behind me on the Tube escalator, taking the weight of my case off my shoulders for a minute.
I keep all my music I need for these rehearsals in the pocket that's in the lining of my case, behind my cello. Tuner, rosin, pencils and erasers are all in my shoulder bag. Spare strings, black hole with anchor cords and cloth for wiping down are in my actual case. Cigarette papers (for blotting spit from your flute pads, see what you miss out on being a string player?) are floating around in the soft bag around my hard flute case. I use 100% cotton men's handkerchiefs for cleaning my instruments, they're cheap and don't scratch anything. For winter, I also carry around fingerless gloves for rehearsals in very old churches with dodgy heating systems.
We desperately need to switch the straps on our Hiscox case that Christopher is using (I'm using a slightly smaller Stentor hard case that was better suited to my, ahem, shorter stature). I've tried every luggage place ever and no luck – any suggestions? I've looked into that Fiedler backpack system but it seems like a serious hassle to install. They suggest cycling with your cello. Are they crazy? Then again, I won't cycle in London, full stop. I find the stairs from Hungerford Bridge to Embankment station a challenge enough with my cello on my back, I can't imagine cycling. Anyway.
On Saturday, I put my coat and Jennifer's coat on my cello at the pub, and tied my scarf around the neck. I had to put it next to me facing the table because there was no other place not next to a blazing radiator. It made me giggle a lot. This had nothing to do with the half a bottle of wine I'd had by then, mind you. I didn't have my camera with me, but you bet I'll be pulling this silliness again. Ah, fun with cello cases.
