We baptised my daughter today, it was a lovely day and much fun was had.

To cap it off her god farther, who had heard that I was keen to start learning the violin, brought me his old violin from when he was a child to borrow for as long as I need it! With the potential of my possibly buying it from him at some point. 

It is a Stradivarius copy made in 1910, possibly in Malta but that is all he knows. It has a label inside which reads Antonius Stradivarius by A.A. Schloth Saxony Anno 1910

I can't believe my luck, I have put on the strings he had for it and attempted to tune it. Although given my poor bowing I am having a hard time comparing the note to FM's tuning tool.

I have rewatched the first few tutorials on how to hold the violin and bow and started practising my bowing on open strings. Unfortunately my wife and little daughter have gone to sleep so I have had to call a halt, but I will record my efforts as soon as I can!

Sam.