The Eagle has landed!

Cross posted from Pianoworld, with minor edits. I will write more in the blog over time.

It’s been 11 months since I posted on Pianoworld about my decision to buy a Sauter Omega 220. Well it has finally arrived. Delivery commenced at 11am on Friday 8th August. It was a very auspicious day, with many ‘8’s:

• Date – 08.08.2008 (and first day of the Beijing Olympics)
• Serial number – contains an 8
• Price – contains 8’s
• Address of my flat – contains an 8

I hope it augers well for the future!

Annotated delivery pictures are at this link . The guest password is ‘digit’. A few quick snaps are shown below.

Pictures cannot do justice to the exquisite craftsmanship of the piano. The attention to detail, fit, finish, and hardware are nothing short of amazing. The first tuning and prep (not there is much to do other than to run through the checklist), will be in two week’s time.

Delivery has been scheduled!

The ETA for the piano mover’s truck is between 11:00h – 12:00h tomorrow.

The final countdown

Just one more ’sleep’ and my new (rather large and heavy) baby will be here. I’m waiting for Alvin to tell me what time the delivery will happen tomorrow. It will be exactly 335 days after I confirmed the Omega order with Alvin on 9th September 2007, or:

• 28,944,000 seconds
• 482,400 minutes
• 8040 hours
• 47 weeks (rounded down)

It’s hard to believe that exactly 11 months have passed in a flash, and so much water has passed under the bridge in that time.

I will be having dinner with Lynnette Seah (co-leader of the SSO) and some close family friends this coming Sunday. She wants an update on my attempt to learn to play the violin, and also wants to hear my story about starting again on the piano and buying the Omega.

Omega’s container retrieved

The container with the Omega was reached early yesterday evening. Customs will be cleared today. Alvin says that a Friday delivery is 99.9% certain. Even the weather seems to be cooperating – the forecast for Friday is for overcast skies, but no rain.

Ship is in port

And being ‘unstuffed’. Looking good for a Friday delivery. I asked to be present for the uncrating, but the freight forwarder does not allow that.

Delivery before National Day?

The ship is on schedule for arrival on 4th August. Alvin has applied for priority customs clearance, so there is good chance it will be delivered by the end of next week!

The piano movers are on standby for the morning of either 7th or 8th August.

ETA 4th August

That’s according to the freight forwarder. Will know for sure when the shipping company sends the bill of lading to Alvin. I doubt that I will see the Omega in my home before National Day. But even if I do, I absolutely refuse to learn to play any National Day songs!