There’s a very mumsnet conversation happening on my train…

[UpperLowerMiddleClass]

Two mums discussing their primary school aged children. Distinct frenemy vibes. Of course it goes without saying their initial conversation covered just how well their children are doing academically.

Discussion then moved on to extra curricular activities. Mum A proudly saying what grade piano her daughter is doing, how she’s playing violin in the school orchestra etc, when Mum B pulls out a trump card - her daughter is excelling at the harp! But it’s all such a bother, wouldn’t you know? The logistics of transporting the harp, the cost of replacement strings etc.

Mum A tries to rally with a swerve towards sports and there’s mention of her son making the school hockey team. But I can tell her heart’s not really in it. Deep down she knows she can’t compete with the travails of harp logistics. Mum B has won this round.

And before anyone asks why I’m being so nosy, or why I have nothing better to do: Their conversation is LOUD and PROJECTING. I can’t ignore them. I’d love to be immersed in my book but instead I’m now learning all about the intricacies of harp upkeep and maintenance.

It was a train from Suffolk towards London.

And I’m now awaiting an angry message from Suffolk harp mum, who in all likelihood is on Mumsnet! In my defence - I couldn’t not hear her conversation.

I love a good eavesdrop! Was recently following a very interesting conversation, being incredibly subtle, til I properly snorted with laughter at something they said!! I sort of forgot I was eavesdropping and was very embarrassed to be caught out 😆

I think violin and piano trumps a single harp.

One of mine plays the harp. It is true about the PITA it is with having to transport it, tune it, etc. I am very musically inclined and I've never encountered such a PITA instrument. However it does sound lovely and my child loves it, so we persist. Nothing competitive or unreasonable on harp Mum's side at all. She's offering a fair evaluation of the situation.

The Welsh harp is Wales' national instrument while the Celtic harp is the national instrument of Ireland, which is the only country IN THE WORLD to feature a musical instrument as their national emblem. Thought I'd share that with you and add to your GK bank 🙃

How about having to install a pool for dc's water polo practice?🤔

Oh you must talk about your 7-year-old son playing the organ , and how clever to watch him using both hands and feet.

Move to Wales

I love this type of thing I wish my hearing was better

What are Kardashian type sound effects please?

it was insane - though somehow, they weren't!
They did join Medecins sans Fronitieres afterwards, as, I guess, you would with that combination, and so it's probable that canonisation should be going through the process any day now.

I think that the concert pipe organ (three manual) could just about trump the harp.

Good thought, but if under the height of 5.5, it often makes you soil yourself while playing, so most school music departments don't use it.

I genuinely cackled at this! 😂

I love this thread. Thank you so much, OP.

I'm sure it likely to make you soil yourself as you lug it around, never mind play it.

I wonder how long a player's lips take to recover after a good session (oo-er missus)

The travails of a harp playing child are real!
This isnt one upmanship, its just the instument she was offered for free tution. Turns out she is very good so it wont be stopping any time soon.
Pros: Sounds lovely even if child is shite
Looks lovely in a bay window

Cons: Weighs a bastard ton
Harps are obnoxious. They dont like being moved. The dont like not being moved. They dont like humidity. They dont like dryness. They dont like heat. They dont like cold.

Does it trump everybody to say she was accepted to a junior conservatoire to study?

Use of the word 'conservatoire' trumps everything

And comprehensive when there's a harp teacher working in the area.

South London.

😂😂😂

I would think a double bass would trump a harp 😁.

My two brothers both played cello: one of our requirements of a family car was that you could get two cellos in the boot.

And alas it never stops. I was pounced upon in Waitrose by a school mother I have managed to avoid for the past 12 years, who could not wait to tell me her son was now at Oxford. It was bizarre. Not set eyes on her in aeons and she’s suddenly there, gliding past the array of Bold Bean chick peas, breathily launching straight up into “oh hi! How ARE you? Timmy is at OXFORD now!” Marvellous, good for him, and I’m en route to the till.

Why are some people so uncouth as to boast about their offspring? Don’t they have any self awareness? Who actually wants to know, unless they’re a (long suffering) relative?

I like to hear that acquaintances' kids are doing well, but I couldn't care less if they were at Oxford or the college down the road, so long as they're doing what they enjoy.

Fortunately the only time we had to transport the harp was when we brought it home...on the bus 🤣 It was in a wheeled bag so it wasn't too bad. Attracted some sympathetic nods and a comment from another mum. Now it stays indoors and we use the one at the centre for concerts there. It frightened the life out of me last summer when the heat made it loudly pop a string when no one was near it. Replacing strings is a massive pain in the arse too.

😂😂😂 totes exhausting dahling

Sort of like cinematic bollywood/ netflix type sound effects

only if the Conservatoire was built solely for her. Like Ceasars Palace building the theatre years ago for Celine Dion

I have a uni friend that does this whole DC compare and one up thing. I leave her to it. It's so fucking boring. Happy for her to win all the time.