..if anyone needs to get me a Christmas present...

Today I blagged my way into Steinway and Sons private showroom, partly out of intrigue and partly out of need to play a piano again (my fingers were getting restless...) and after seeing some of the most beautiful instruments on this little old world, including an original 1878 Steinway Square Grand (couldn't find a photo unfortunately) i was asked if I should like to play one of the grand pianos (having already explained that the dollar price-tag for a Steinway was never likely to be on my radar - yes, even a second hand one). Was I to say "No, but thanks anyway.."?

Lol - don't think so! So, the kindly lady allowed me to sit (giddy as a schoolboy on his birthday) and play as I pleased on this little beauty. The Karl Lagerfeld 150th Anniversary Steinway Grand. It retails, apparently, at $180,000 (82,000 pounds). I hardly dare touch it for fear of breaking, or even smudging it with my sweaty little unworthy fingers...The last person to touch it was a world famous pianist at an international piano recital.

Was an absolute joy to play, and the sound was, well you'd expect it for something that costs that much! The kindly lady asked in jest 'Would sir like to pay for one now?' to which i replied 'Do you take an IOU?'