Yes, it was the cheapest Trumpet I could possibly buy. But it works.

We were going to hire one, but a frighteningly thick layer of bureaucracy got in the way.

What could be simpler? When I was a school it went like this.

1. Music teacher decided that you should learn an instrument.
2. They lent you the instrument (money may or may not have been involved here, I didn't concern myself with trifles like that when I was at school)
3. You used it until you got fed up, and then you gave it back.

The way it works now is like this.

1. Headmaster asks if any children are interested in learning music.
2. You get a huge load of forms to fill in saying that you're going to pay for the lessons and hire the instrument. (Note, see point 2 above, this might have happened before)
3. Music teacher eventually "assesses" your child and decides which instrument they'd be best at.
4. They give you back the forms with the instrument filled in.
5. You then have to try and ring up a place that's in the center of Sheffield that the bloody music teacher goes to at least 3 times a week. This place is only open for 3 hours, 3 times a week. You have to get hold of them (they never answer the phone) and arrange to hire a trumpet off them.
6. They never answer the phone, or ring you back after you leave them messages, so you give up and just go and buy a bloody trumpet anyway. You can always flog it on ebay if she gives up.

Stupid bloody system. The fucking music teacher goes there every week. Why can't she just pick up a fucking trumpet and bring it too the school? That would have been a lot easier than me having to persuade work that I have to leave early, and then go to a place that's shut anyway even though they're supposed to say open until 6pm.

Fuckers.

---

Anyway, D1 is already making quite melodic sounds out of her nice shiny new bright red trumpet.

Somewhat embarrassingly for me, I couldn't get a note out of it. Despite playing the 'bone for a while when I was at school. I just don't have the lips for it anymore.