Robin


Robin

One of my recent posts was about my friends here in the Abbey.  Now I’ve news of someone else who’s been visiting me, who has heard the fame of my lovely sounds

Yes, a lovely red breasted Robin has been visiting the Abbey just to say hello to me, and provide me with some company

His friendliness has nothing to do with the biscuit crumbs Mr Gary has been leaving him, or the drops of water in the sink in the kitchen area.  No, he’s had a lovely time flying around in this vast space, with sun streaming in and, of course all creature (i.e. bird) comforts to hand

But here’s a mystery.  Where is he coming in and going out?  I know he has his own entrance for he’s twice been enticed back into the fresh air at the west door and each time has re-appeared, chirping happily.  And he disappears for long periods and, unless he’s got a secret roosting spot somewhere, I think he goes back to his family to share news of his expeditions into this great building

No matter.  He is lovely company and an extra diversion for nice Mr Gary and his henchpeople  -  and maybe Mr Robin will take out some new and exciting tunes, french of course!!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dear friends

Image
Dear friends The long overdue work on me has now begun, and I am being dismantled - yes, dismantled!  And no, this is not at all painful For more years than you can imagine, my pneumatics have been drying out and failing, and I have become more and more unreliable I would love always to fill this beautiful building with my rich tones, and usually that is just what I do, but not always. My many pneumatic motors are a patchwork of sticking plasters, my lovely pipes are covered with 60 years' worth of dust, and woodworm are munching their way into my timbers The day work began is a day I will always remember.  Hundreds of lead tubes were removed (for recycling), my keyboards extracted, the pedalboards removed revealing countless lost pencils and piles of dirt, my stop heads removed and the the lovely console removed But I am still here, waiting eagerly for all the work to get done so we can have that epic celebration promised by this building. I am going to look sad for...
Read more

Another spectacular recital

Image
Another spectacular recital I’ve already told you about the wonderful organists coming to play me, your friend Hillie, each month.   These are international recitalists!   They are used to playing the top organs in Great Britain and abroad.   Yet here they come, to help put me on the map, and to help raise money for my renovation and completion. The second of these organists played just recently.   This was Miss Catherine (Ennis) and she played music all about angels including one piece by my most favourite of all composers, Sir Edward Her playing was just marvellous.   She made me sound as if I was young again, and brought out all sorts of sounds I hadn’t heard in many a year And so many people had come to hear me, and hear her play.   My friends counted more than 120 people, and I’m sure there were other folk lurking in corners All that is amazing.   Also amazing is that I’m told Miss Catherine played in her winter coat.   ...
Read more

Let’s talk trunks

Image
Let’s talk trunks   Trunks and wind might not sound particularly exciting, but when your double risers and electric blowers are all moved around, this becomes a most important subject   In 1911, Mr William connected my blowing mechanism to 3 double risers and those were then connected to my windchests.   A whole series of zinc trunks made those connections   But with the passage of time, my trunks became rather the worse for wear.   Their bends began to leak (you can imagine straight trunks are a very good idea, but in practice bends are essential) but old newspaper stuffed in saved the day.   Joins too become a bit brittle, but drawing pin fixes have proved invaluable in keeping me going   After all these years, and now with my lower regions completely reshaped, my trunks too have therefore had to be given attention by Mr Gary   He told me that in these modern times, u-bends and black plastic pipes can be very effective. ...
Read more