All that’s left now are the CDs. There are 2200 of them, stacked in boxes. I am dreading the task of going through them. Some are rare and valuable and I haven’t a clue which, so I have to list each one and put it into ebay to research the price. A friend of Zachy’s, called Fred Everywhere, has a company that will do it all for me, but I’d have to give him 40% which sounds a little high.
Getting rid of the other stuff was quite fun, although I wouldn’t like to do it every day. A man called Silas came from a local auction house on Tuesday. He knew his stuff. I showed him piece after piece – all the hideous things left for me to get rid of. Some of them are worth quite a bit which is an added extra for me. Mainly I want them gone, and if they can go to someone who actually likes that kind of thing, and pay for something useful for us instead, then it’s a perfect arrangement.
Yesterday Silas arranged for a big man with a shaved head to come and take them all away, while I went through the details with his boss. They’ll be in the special auction in November, “we get the interior designers from London at that one”, so if anyone fancies various items of hideous chunky Stickley furniture, a nasty chestnut Spanish refectory table, early flat pack – (bought as sixteenth century but Silas says nineteenth if I am lucky), a pair of eighteenth century French chairs upholstered in truly horrible fake fur, and a curiously ugly example of Tramp Art – a mirror made of cigar box chippings, then head on over my way to place your bids.
Silas wanted the speakers badly. I think he liked them more than anything. His voice changed, and he said “wow” quietly. Sadly, he couldn’t have them, but he told me how to find someone who did, and I briefly entered the world of hi-fi collectors. It’s a strange place; full of men who spend thousands – sometimes hundreds of thousands – on the perfect system.
They all seem to be between thirty and sixty, and they’ll drive a very long way to consider reverentially an amp, or a pair of speakers. It’s common to put an ad on ebay and find the winner has driven overnight from Germany – his battered golf full of stuff he’s picked up along the way, clutching a thick roll of notes. It’s a cash only kind of arrangement always.
Some of them have turned their hobby into a business and so it feeds itself – the never-ending quest for the perfect everything. I don’t understand any of this. I don’t understand why you would pay fifty thousand pounds for speakers. How good can something sound after all?
I didn’t say that to the dealer who turned up yesterday of course. I nodded and smiled while he ran his fingers lovingly along the red bird's eye finish, admiring the tweeters. I have no idea what they are but they impressed him no end, and we finished our business with a handshake and a great big pile of twenties – both of us happy, and off he went in his Jag.
Comments
Ewan | September 4, 2009 - 16:59
Now that's definitely a man-thing. Even so, I believe the highest fidelity only shows up the limitations in the original recordings. I reckon there's a metaphor for life/love or anything you want in there, somewhere.
Hi-Fi is not important now, not in the mainstream, MP3 is the default format and, with the best will in the world, the quality is not the best. A minority will look to FLAC and APE formats, but unless you go down the ridiculous-sums-of-money-on-more-equipment-route, it'll still sound crap on any digital machine.
insertponceyfre... | September 4, 2009 - 17:05
yes - absolutely. I was going to call it boys' toys at first. The dealer who came said he'd just had a call from a man in his fifties with a new baby who wanted to sell his whole system - he had paid 122 grand for it. Can you imagine the conversation that led to him making that call?
Sikander | September 4, 2009 - 17:07
Definitely a man thing.
I've just been catching up on your 'big things' - I'd missed the first installment. Your writing is compelling and a joy to read. Thank you so much for sharing what must be a really difficult time through such splendid prose.
Ewan | September 4, 2009 - 17:07
Hehehe... serves him right for getting himself that other big boy's toy... the trophy wife!
insertponceyfre... | September 4, 2009 - 17:11
actually - the dealer said he sounded more as if he was terrified the baby would despoil the perfection of it! it was very funny.
sikander, thank you very much for saying such lovely things - I am really pleased you are enjoying reading my stuff - and it's not very difficult at all - it is taking me into all sorts of interesting places- how else would I ever have met that dealer? : )
sarah wilson | September 5, 2009 - 06:31
And you've opened up a whole new world to me too. I didn't know you could spend that on speakers. But then the dealer probably doesn't know his Blahniks from his Laboutins.x
insertponceyfre... | September 5, 2009 - 07:33
oh it's amazing how much some of them cost - handbags and shoes - even the ones with stupid prices - don't come anywhere near. Dealer was more of a sensible lace ups person
Ewan | September 5, 2009 - 08:14
Doesn't know his Blahniks from his Laboutins? That's what Choo think! Arf! Arf!
I'll stop now.
celticman | September 5, 2009 - 10:37
Yes good writing and amazing prices. I don't even listen to music and havent' even a radio in my van, but I've an old stereo kicking about somewhere and some Shawaddy Waddy and Mud LPs. Get me those contact details and I'll split 50/50.
insertponceyfre... | September 5, 2009 - 11:21
oh that should easily fetch top price! Thanks for liking it xx
insertponceyfre... | September 5, 2009 - 11:28
Ewan you are just trying to draw our attention cunningly away from the fact that you seem to know an awful lot about hi-fi systems. it's not working! xx
Ewan | September 5, 2009 - 11:52
Rumbled!
Naw...not guilty. I didn't even get much money for my LPs whan I moved out to Spain. All that vinyl in strange colours, like a Berlin knocking shop. Hohoho.
insertponceyfre... | September 5, 2009 - 11:56
"my name is ewan and I am an audiophile"
you're just not there yet
Ewan | September 5, 2009 - 11:58
Sshh... don't say I'm an audiophile, some people on here might get the wrong idea. A lynch mob of Malapropistas might come for me with a rope and burning faggots.
insertponceyfre... | September 5, 2009 - 12:01
I am laughing - at least there is no p in the word - you remember the poor paediatrician? my lips are sealed
Ewan | September 5, 2009 - 12:07
Yes, that's exactly the story I was thinking of - and they say that spelling - or even using the correct word - is not important.
Hooray for Grammarbot, I say.
threeleafshamrock | September 5, 2009 - 17:38
My mate got reported for calling someone 'Pedantic'. Luckily his boss had a dictionary.
I digress...really enjoying the writing; gifted.
Chris ;)
insertponceyfre... | September 5, 2009 - 18:39
thank you Chris -words can get you into a lot of trouble if you aren't too careful huh? :)