A change.

Day 6.

I gave myself an extra half an hour in bed this morning and when I arose I read a letter from a certain somebody... Stephanie. When I got to the workshop I found Claudio repairing the broken microphone wire on my accordion. I set about powering throughout the last few rows of reeds, as the two days previously. We played music in the shop today, which made a change and was quite fun. Claudio (drums), Stefano (bass guitar) and I (accordion) agreed to have a session at some point before I go. Just before we left for lunch a delivery of accordion cases, spare parts, fittings and accordion bodies arrived. It was then decided that Claudio and I will visit the factory where such things are made, too.
For lunch I had some of the ham and Pecorino left by Claudio, alongside two large, buttered, warm bread rolls.
Back to work at 3 and I quickly finished the removal. At last! Claudio then gave me another reed block, from a fairly new accordion, and showed me another way to remove the reeds without causing damage or mess to the newer reed block - heating the reed with an extra large soldering iron, which in turn melts the wax a little allowing the reed to come free smoothly. After cleaning up the reed block and twelve reeds Claudio showed me how to cut some of the reed block away to allow for a bigger piece of wood to be inserted to raise the reeds up. This allows more air to pass through the reeds, causing them to sound quicker once the keys are pressed. Once the wood was cut and had been wrenched out with pliers, the empty space had to be filed level. During the afternoon a customer came in to buy/try an accordion, so we had lots of fast and flashy live accordion music echoing through the building. I arrived back home at 7:20 and, after doing the washing up, made my dinner; gnocchi with a tomato sauce. Give yourself a pat on the back if you guessed I'd be having a tomato sauce again today!
After tea I spoke to Stephanie again and the popped next door to watch the football with Claudio, although he spent most of the time researching wood. It's his birthday tomorrow - I must find time to pop into shop tomorrow!
I wish I had been able to be with Stephanie in person today but it wasn't to be. She's coming here soon though! (:

Arrivederci x