Wednesday 5 February 2014

Sepia Saturday 214: Musical Instruments

Sepia Saturday 214 shows two people by a piano.  For more Sepia Saturday posts, click the link.  Because of the piano, I decided to go with the theme of musical instruments and found an appropriate photo.  I come from a fairly musical family on both sides.

Here is a photo of my Pop with his alto saxophone in the late 1940s.  He is pretending to use it as a cricket bat on a field somewhere in Christchurch.  I have this photo on my wall as I absolutely love it!  I even learnt on this saxophone for a few years when I was a teenager.


My Pop was a bit of a character.  He was a joker.  He had nicknames for everyone.  My Dad was called Curly (he had curly hair), and my Grandma, Marta Hairy Legs (for obvious reasons).  My Mum had a horrible nickname that she hated, so I won't write it here.  My Pop was known as Jack but that wasn't his real name.  His friends and family all had nicknames.

He used to play tricks on people as he drove past.  If he went past a golf course and some golfers were about to tee off he would yell "FOUR" to try and put them off.  His family were trying to hide in the back of the car.

So I like this photo as it captures a bit of his cheeky side which came out occasionally.  I didn't know my Pop very well as he died when I was five.  I only have vague memories of him as I was so young, so old photos of him keep him alive in our memories.  Here is another photo of him in a more serious pose!


20 comments:

  1. What a funny family! Marta Hairy -- now that's funny! I'm sorry I can't see the photos though. Apparently I don't have permission.

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    1. Did you do something? I can now see the pictures. thanks!

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    2. Sorry Wendy. I have trouble with Flickr sometimes. They changed things on Flickr and it confuses me. I had to allow my images to be viewed publicly. I think I've got the hang of it now - finally!

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  2. Your Dad sounds like he was a lot of fun - even with the occasional embarrassment to his family. (love the bit about them hiding in the backseat) Alto sax is a good instrument. My daughter played it in high school and has currently gone back to it which is aiding even more in her recovery from a bad accident some years ago. Through her current lessons we learned her fingers on her injury-affected hand weren't as strong as they should be (she had trouble pressing some of the keys on the instument) so her instructor advised her to receive hand therapy and it has made a big difference - not only in playing the sax, but in other ways too. You just never know how one thing is going to lead positively to another!

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    1. That is an awesome story about your daughter regaining her finger strength. The sax is an awesome instrument. I need to get my instrument out of the cupboard and try and play it again.

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  3. I like the photo of your father pretending to use the sax as a cricket bat. I would have guessed a golf club, since we don't have cricket here. Very funny--would probably be even funnier pretending to use it as a baseball bat.

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  4. I'm sorry you lost him so early; I think he would have enjoyed seeing himself in Sepia Saturday.

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  5. I enjoyed you post. Thanks for sharing your story.

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  6. Just to clarify, my Pop, was my Grandfather. He did die way too young. I think he was about 54. He would have loved all the jazz concerts I've been to over the years!

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  7. Did he play in jazz bands? I love his cricket bat pose...

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  8. I think photos of cheeky and mischievous characters preserve the best of personalities we know. Much better than formal poses. When I was in 4th grade and offered a choice of musical instrument to learn, I initially chose the alto saxophone but then picked the horn because it looked easier with only 3 keys. I marvel now at that choice because in hindsight it put me on a career path I might never have taken.

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  9. A couple of great photographs to have of your grandfather. You never know, he and my parents might even have known each other. What was his surname?

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  10. What a fun posting - it made me smile!

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  11. Good job he didn't have to hit a ball with the sax You need a joker on your side.

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  12. I think your Pop and my aunt's husband would have got on well, trying to outdo one another. At one small family evening the supper was all ready and waiting in the kitchen and my uncle went out and put wisps of cotton wool in the tomato sandwiches. Love the nicknames.

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  13. You Pop sounds like a lot of fun. It (the first photo) is a great photo to have to record his larrikin side.

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  14. It's a fine photograph, full of fun.

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  15. It is so wonderful that you have photographs of your dad that catch so much of his character. As you say, it helps define him in your memories.

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  16. Hello Bel. Wearing my admin hat now: I’m putting in a request for you to remove the word verification please. It’s often numbers too, and sometimes very blurry (playing havoc with the eyesight!) There appears to be a consensus on the SS Facebook group page that comment moderation on any post over seven days has done away with spam. Won’t you consider giving it a try? You’re welcome to join the Facebook group as well.

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    1. Hi Little Nell. I've changed it. I guess it makes it easier for everyone. Bel

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