Just been going through my files and this story is in my full book that I have written for my family.
The year was 1950 and I was having my first and only child. I only wish I could have had more but it wasnt to be unfortunately.
My hubby used to be out at work either from 6am until 3pm or 3pm until 12 midnight.
He was on a two shift system and it made life a little difficult if I needed help of any kind because I could guarantee that if anything did go wrong hubby would be on the wrong shift.
After I had done my chores for the day, in the house we shared with “Kerry” the old chap who owned the house, I would either read or teach myself different knitting patterns.
It did used to get rather lonely at times because I had none of my family living near me so I felt rather like an alien stuck in foreign territory with being the only Londoner among village folk.
Money was very tight for us because women did not get maternity pay as they do today so we were very often broke by the time Friday came round which was pay day.
During August of that year when I was 7 months pregnant with my son the weather had turned very warm and sultry. Like most women who are pregnant with their cravings I had a yearning for a nice glass of cool shandy.
As luck would have it hubby was on the early shift and when he had finished his ablutions, had his dinner and had a rest it was about 6-30pm. We decided to go for a nice stroll out and what little bit of money we had we would buy a shandy with it and then have a nice walk back home.
It was a pleasant walk round the village and we finished up at the “Blue Ball” public house both dying for the cool shandy we had promise ourselves.
There wasn’t a soul in the lounge as we walked in and we had the room to ourselves. There was a piano in there and I asked the landlady if I could get on it for half an hour. She was only to pleased to know that someone had decided to play it so I proceeded to play any and everything of that era mainly for my own pleasure..
It had been some time since I had played one and anyone who has read my book will know that my family had acquired a piano by the time I had finally come out of the home I had been in.
I sat for hours playing it as a child and picked up many tunes and taught myself to vamp in time with my right hand.
I was definitely NO Winnie Atwell but I did play quite well, or so I had been told.
I cant read a note of music. My playing was strictly by listening to the music and memorising the notes.
To get back to my tale.
In no time at all the lounge filled up with people and I was surprised when I glanced round over my shoulder and could see so many folk who appeared from nowhere.
Then the singing started and if ever you have had the experience of playing a pub piano with a many folk enjoying themselves singing their heads off you would have felt as I did while knocking the tunes out one by one. A very enjoyable time.
At 9-30pm I decided it was time I finished and went home. I went to pull the lid down over the piano keys but a hand came across and stopped me.
A load of hubby's old mates had walked in and they were not going to let us go without having a few more songs and wanting to buy us another drink. I did not want anymore because my craving had been sated with the two shandies I had quenched my thirst with.
Hubby too did not want any more to drink so he just enjoyed a chat with his mates while I carried on playing. The crowd were enjoying it and I thought it would do hubby good to have a chinwag with his old mates.
It came to closing time and I started playing “Who’s taking you home tonight?” just to make folks realise that it really WAS the last tune. When I finished I closed the piano lid and before I could get out of the chair I nearly died when a hat full of money was tipped into my lap.
Hubby's mates had gone round collecting money for the pianist as they said.
It was one of THE MOST embarrassing moments of my life.
I had not gone on the piano to collect money from anyone and it was totally unexpected. I did it for my own pleasure and for others who came in to join in the singsong although I wasn’t expecting anyone in because it was SUCH a warm humid evening.
The look of shock horror must have shown as I looked down at my lap to see this pile of silver that had been put there. My face was as red as a beetroot and then the clapping started from the customers.
Boy! if the ground could have opened up and swallowed me at that moment I would have welcomed it.
The landlady came and thanked me and said not only was it one of the best couple of hours she and her customers had enjoyed for some time but the takings had shot up and she could not thank me enough. She even asked me if I wanted a job there permanently as the resident piano player.
I pointed to my tummy and said that I did not think it would be possible with what I had in store.
I was still feeling very embarrassed about it as we said our farewell.
I felt worse than ever when I got home and counted out £8-7s-5d which in those days was more than some chaps earnt in a week.
I never played in a pub again for that reason. I felt as though I had been begging.
Daft to feel like that I know but it still gives me a guilt complex about it even now.
The money did come in useful though to help pay off the rest of the money on my baby’s new perambulator that I had ordered.
Funnily enough years later I had a Yamaha electronic keyboard in my bedroom unit for some years that I NEVER thought to get out and play.
Perhaps it is because they dont sound quite the same as a piano.
Sandie Seward
Thank you for that, Maywalk. You should never feel embarassed or guilty about accepting money for services rendered. They enjoyed themselves, and it was their way of saying "thank you" to you for such an enjoyable evening.
The Landlady gained, the Customers gained, and, of course, you gained.
How bad's that? Good for you.
Pity you couldn't have taken the landlady up on her offer. It could have made a lot of difference to you, the baby, and your husband. Then, as now, extra money always comes in useful.
Maywalk
Thanks for the feedback Sandie.
Funnily enough I still cringe when I recall that incident, because of that money collection .
JoJo
Hey Maywalk you gave then a good night entertainment you should not feel embarassed at all
Maywalk
Thanks Jojo.
It wasn't meant to be like that though. I just wanted to find out if I had lost the touch.
Playing a piano I mean.
