“Do you think you could find a home for Mum’s piano?” asked Jules, the son of our next door neighbour Hilda, who passed away last year.

“But don’t you want keep it, or even sell it?” I responded.

“No, none of us play the piano and we’re not bothered about selling it, little Sally,” he said. (He always calls me that – Bless him! – hope he’s not being ironic.)

“Well, my niece Katie might like it,” I suggested, “If you’re sure…”

“How lovely! I think Mum would be pleased to know that her piano was going to a good home where it would be appreciated,” Jules assured me.

That night I spoke to Katie and she informed me that now she has a piano. Chris checked out Ebay and found that two other pianos of the same make and era were on at around the £1200 mark. I could see the pound signs in Chris’s eyes!

“That could be one fare to Australia,” Chris said gleefully.

My brother Rob, who is a piano tuner and instrument maker, agreed to put his feelers out and help us to sell the piano. That was a couple of weeks ago.

Last weekend I was having a cup of tea with my sister and her two daughters, Lizzie and Katie, when I happened to mention that we still had to move Hilda’s piano from next door because the house is up for sale. Lizzie’s eye’s lit up. Now Liz has a piano already but it needs new felts and key covers, and it was always rather an ugly big brute, even when it could be played. On the other hand, Hilda’s piano is smaller, younger, much prettier – and it works (though it will probably need a tuning by Uncle Rob).

“I’ll pay for it,” said Mary, ” and it can be a birthday present for Liz.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I answered, “we’re family.”

Later on that afternoon Liz came around and Chris and I took her into Hilda’s place to look at the piano.

“I’ve never had a pretty piano before!” Liz exclaimed.

She broke into a beaming smile and then I thought I could see tears of joy in her eyes.

When on our own I asked Chris:

“You don’t mind – do you?”

“No, of course not. When I saw her face I felt thrilled for her. I’m so happy that she’s going to have it,” said Chris.

“Me too,” I agreed and gave my husband a kiss.

And I’m convinced that Hilda would have approved, and I hope that Robert doesn’t mind having to move another piano, especially as there are fifty-one steps up to the road… Well, he is a piano man… and she is our niece.