I want to make you aware of the launch of my new website www.colingoldie.com and with it comes a new name for the instruments that I make.
August was one of the weirdest months we have had with lots of things coming at us from different angles. It started with a letter from the local town council saying that my workshop that I have been working in for 10 years is in the wrong part of my garden and that I will have to build a new one 10 meters closer to the house. To make this possible we will have to knock down our 2 garden walls, terrace and garage and other outbuildings and using half our front garden to create the new space for it. I am allowed to keep the building but not to use it for business. More about this at a later stage. Some photos of the workshop are on the new website.
A few days later another letter arrived which led to my decision of using my own name to mark the instruments I make, they now will be called “Goldie Whistles”.
These were the main things, they got accompanied by sewage overflowing from the pipe into the cellar a few days later which was… well… crap lol . A week later the washing machine broke down days before going away to the Tonder festival in Denmark. Also a week before Tonder I was rushed into emergency room at the hospital at five in the morning which turned out to be a kidney stone and was the most painful thing I have ever experienced to date. Luckily that problem “passed” that day! Arriving in Tonder at night the accomodation booked 4 months earlier was already given to someone else instead of us and was overbooked so we had to even leave earlier than we wanted…. Could carry on here but…. Trying to take it from the bright side, we are now in September!
For people who own Overtons and wondering how this will affect them: It will mean that in the future all Overton Whistles that I had made still will be covered by my usual warranty. The ones that were not made by myself, I can offer to work on but cannot do it free of charge and will not give any warranty on a whistle that I did not make.
I would be happy if you had a look at the site and more things will be added in the next few weeks including the German side of it.
Colin and Brigitte: I know what you have been going through, personally and professionally, these past few months. And of course, I have deep empathy with your kidney stone experience, Colin. Nothing quite like it… Definitely not the way to be acquainted with thoughts of one’s own mortality, and all that…
I am so very pleased that you have made public your brand name change. I am certain I speak for so many of us that honor you both. You have created wonderful instruments for us, and your business ethics and communication skills have always been models of professionalism, honesty, good humor, and aplomb.
I wish you the best in your new endeavor. There are very, very few whistle smiths who make their entire living by creating their instruments one at a time, by hand. Know that you are respected and appreciated.
Best wishes to you both in this time of transition. Your craft has been a blessing to so many in our community, and I hope that in spite of the frustrating circumstances, you are able to find some peace and happiness for yourselves.
Sorry to hear about the nit-picky issues you guys are experiencing. But you’ll always do well with the whistles…whatever the name. They’re are among the best and you’re both highly respected in the whistle community.
I can relate to the kidney stone episode and you’re very fortunate to have passed it so quickly.
May we add our good wishes, Colin and Brigitte? We know so much about you, although I have not (yet) had the pleasure of playing one of your whistles. May September be the start of a new and happy year for you both.
Lesley and Roland
Colin,
Fabulous new website and it’s great to hear that you are using your own name now. Sorry to hear you are having to move your sweet workshop…what a drag! Thanks for the look at some of your sophisticated machines, that 6 hole drill is a real beauty.
How good to see, that the news are out … it’s “Goldie Whistles” at last. With all this hard work and craftmanship you put into your whistles it’s good to read your own name on them now. It’s a real pity, that the way to this decision had to be such a thorny one, but it’s the future that matters, isn’t it? A great new website you have there, and I’ damn proud to read my name on it!
I wish the two of you loads of success and to be honest … I can hardly wait to call a new “Goldie Whistle” my own.
Hi Colin, I hope your rough patch is indeed past. Good work keeping sane through it all. I’m jealous of the cozy shop I see in the photos, and I hope you manage an equally comfortable shop again.
Arriving in Tonder at night the accomodation booked 4 months earlier was already given to someone else instead of us and was overbooked so we had to even leave earlier than we wanted…. Could carry on here but…. Trying to take it from the bright side, we are now in September!
and your whistles are some of the best I have.