Linda Hall: A brush with good fortune

FOR the past week Mr Neat and I have been on annual leave.
We have gardened, cleaned windows, washed walls, cleaned out cupboards and wardrobes and generally had a huge tidy-up.
As per usual, Mr Neat was urging me to "throw it out if you haven't used it".
I, on the other hand, am cautious because you never know when said object might just come in handy.
So, with his words ringing in my ears, I started to clear out the wardrobe in the spare room.
I threw out old coats and toys and, as I was rummaging around at the very back of the wardrobe, I came across a framed picture I had bought years ago from a second-hand shop.
It had adorned the wall for quite some time but was relegated to the wardrobe when we moved house and was forgotten about.
As I was looking at it, I noticed it had an artist's name and title of the portrait on the back - Henry John Boddington - The Old Forge - 1811-1865.
"I'm going to Google that," I thought to myself.
Bingo. Up came the name and beside it on one of the hits was the word "invaluable".
My heart gave a little flutter. Next I searched auctions and found that one of his paintings had sold for £34,850 - that's more than $70,000. I actually had an OMG (oh my God) moment.
Mr Neat was in the shed so I rushed out and told him to come in quickly and see what I had discovered.
After explaining it all to him he took the picture, which is in a lovely wooden frame, looked at it this way and that and said "Nah, it looks like a print to me."
"Well," I said, "shall I take it out of the frame so we can see it properly?" But I answered myself, thinking what if it is the real deal and I butcher it trying to get it out?
My imagination had gone wild ... dollar signs were floating about, a new car flashed by, a brand new kitchen ... the possibilities were numerous.
I was really excited and even Mr Neat was beginning to smile a little. After all, things like this happen, don't they, so why not to us? He was even heard to mention the word "Harley" as he passed me on his way back out to the shed.
I didn't have a clue where to take anything like this to be valued, so I rang the MTG in Napier. The very helpful person told me to contact Art and Object in Auckland.
So I called them and was told to take some pictures and send them to Ben at Art and Objects.
The pictures were taken and sent - 5pm came and went and I thought, "Well, we aren't going to hear anything today." However, just after 5.30pm Mr Neat was using the laptop and he said "There's an email for you from that place."
"Surely that has to be a good sign," I thought. He might want to fly down and get his hands on it. I held my breath as I opened the email.
"It looks like a cheap print to me ... Best Ben"
"Oh no," I said. Mr Neat of course said "I told you."
We looked at each other and cracked up laughing. Luckily for us dreams are free and our dreams were good while they lasted.
The picture is now back in the wardrobe - it's survived this clear-out but it might not be so lucky next time.
# Linda Hall is assistant editor at Hawke's Bay Today.