So here I am, finally catching up and all. Now I can post something about my weekend at the Northeast Squeeze-In! The drive back was a breeze, especially now that there was daylight (drove there in the dark). I did decide to go the 'country' way, routes 9, 143, and 8, etc., both ways. (So, I still have yet to drive on the Mass Pike.)

The workshops I took part in were the Concertina Band, our 'Dancing With Ma Baby' group, a group led by Ken Sweeney on Concertina Technique, the Playing By Ear shop that I kinda wandered into doing along with Dave Barnert, um...what else....oh, yeah, I sat around for some of the Quebecois workshop after that.

On Saturday night I caught some of the Pub Sing, but I sure wish I knew some of the songs....maybe next year. I didn't take part in the dance on Saturday, though the concert before it was sure fun.

The Concertina Band performed at the concert, and our group of Jay, Linda, Judy, Jim, Me, and....BRUCE, YOU LEFT US! WHY? (Okay, I know, you went home early, that's okay...) performed 'Side By Side' from the 'Dancing With My Baby' book. I found it all a bit rough to be on stage, but, whatever...got through it.

I had no plans of leading or co-leading any workshop, but, while looking over the Sunday workshop schedule with Dave Barnert, which had nothing (or not much) posted so far, I noticed someone's note requesting a shop on 'playing by ear.' So, I said, 'Hey, that'd be a good one.' So....anyway, Dave said he thought he'd like to try leading that, and though I would have been happy to just attend and not say much (since I still have quite a lot of room for improvement on my concertina), I did have a few maybe-helpful comments so, whatever....I agreed to do the workshop with Dave. I felt a bit overwhelmed at the last minute when I realized that, of course, since there wasn't another workshop going on at the time, there would be a large group there. Yikes! Anyway, there was some very interesting discussion (thanks, too, Animaterra!) and it was fun to hear others' views and comments.

What did I buy, there? I bought a cute little 18-button 'miniature' Stagi English concertina, to add to my collection of one Albion English Treble. I'm not sure why. I've gone over and over it in my head, and all I can come up with is that it was CUTE. I did look over the baritone ECs, but, though I thought I'd want one of those to sing with, now I'm not sure. I also enjoyed finally getting to hear the bass concertina....'Cool.'

Now I can be more ready for next year, now that I know more about what the NESI is like. I'm wondering if maybe, through this forum or somehow, we can compile a little list of some of the songs that would be sung together on Saturday night -- links to lyrics? Usually, a simple tune can be picked up easily at the time, but having no words for the song is another thing! I know a few songs that would be good but I have to find the words again...stuck them in a notebook somewhere (...not the one I left behind!).

Yeah, and I somehow left behind my huge notebook! I can't believe I did that. I was double-checking to be sure I had all my stuff and all that, but, somehow, my huge binder full of stuff got left. Fortunately, I'll be able to get it back soon, since it ended up at the Button Box (yay!!). So, a huge THANKS to Perry Werner for finding it for me and letting me know! Nothing in it is extremely crucial or irreplaceable, but, still...it takes some time to assemble those huge paper collections. (Not to mention, I'd written my notes about going IN-IN-OUT with the bellows, as per Ken, on one page!)

Okay, just one more thing....

I left before I could talk to Cheri Heppe (played English) again as I'd told her I would. So, if someone that reads this knows her and can give her my contact info, thanks. She'd mentioned liking my crocheted concertina-holder thing, and though I don't have any immediate plans to make more of them, I probably shall eventually do so. (I love to work on them...just can't do as much as I'd like to, due to the frequent dry skin problem on my fingers, etc..) If I make more of them, I'll post about them. Photo posted with this note is of my current concertina holder. (...may seem ridiculous, but, I find it convenient and helpful.)

Okay, nope, not gone yet...just one MORE thing...

To Alan Day: Yes, someone did record the concert. I know that the woman I roomed with did. Though, she may have missed a few parts of it, since her microphone batteries gave out (so I then gave her a battery from my camera). But, though she has my e-mail address, I never did get any contact info for from her, so....I guess she'll contact me if she feels like it, but, since I don't have her full name, even...I'm stuck. Hopefully, someone else has a nice recording, too!

Anyone get a chance to play one of my concertinas?


Bob

Hi Everyone,

Wendy, thanks for the writeup and also thanks for the pics!!! It was fun talking to you Friday night. Yeah, I did leave early on Saturday. I had to be home for an early day hiking with my son on Sunday, so I decided to drive home while it was still light out. I was sorry to miss the concert, but it worked out well to leave when I did. We also had a bit of a crisis at home during the week before the Squeeze-In, so I was somewhat anxious to get home. Next year I'll stay until Sunday.


Bob,
I don't play anglo, but I did look at your concertinas and play around with them. I liked them very much. The little one is really cool. Thank you for sending them up.

A big thanks to the Button Box crew for all their work putting this together.

bruce boysen

Bob, I was about to start a thread asking about this, shall we move it there? I'll try it.

Ken

It was such a great weekend I'm just now getting caught up on things like concertina.net (and the New York Times). I have sent Wendy an e-mail address for Cheree H.

To me, the "find" of the weekend was Geoff Lakeman (of concertina.net), who came all the way across the big pond just for the event. He wowed everybody with his beautiful singing voice, accompanied by marvelous playing of his Crane duet. I thought it was a bit ironic that here was us Americans playing Irish tunes on English instruments and in comes Geoff putting us all to shame by singing American jazz songs from the 1930s.

Here's a picture I took of Geoff.

Edited to add: The thumbnail pic is stretched out laterally like a funhouse mirror. He's not that fat. Click it to see the proper proportions.

And one of the more interesting instruments was David's guitar ... I think it was a guitar . I'd never seen anything quite like it. It came in about five pieces - I didn't know what he was putting together at first. Played very well, though.

Where did you get that?

Jay

Right here. Mine's the classic maple. The price has gone up considerably since I bought it 3 years ago (was $600, now $825).

I love the thing.

Here's me and too many Morris Dancers approaching Falls Village, Connecticut.
(Edited to improve picture quality)

SoloEtte, eh?
Do they also make a waterproof model, a SoloWet, as it were?

Hi gang,
Yes, the Squeeze-in was great as usual!
Where's that picture I took of you concertina.net people? OK so you talked me into it--here I am, joining the group. (Hope I'm posting this right)
I recorded the first 80-minutes of the talent show/concert on mini-disc & hope to burn a CD of it when I get the time & can share it with others.
(So David is that the picture I took of you at Falls Village?)
I enjoyed meeting & playing tunes with all you concertina fanatics.
Britt

Yes, thanks for the info. When I'm feeling better, I'll get busy with e-mail and stuff...have been sick and spent the day on the couch! (I'll get over it, I'm...sure...?)

Yes, I agree, it was really great to hear Geoff play and sing. I hope we'll hear more from him!

I enjoyed so many of the performers, some whose names I can't recall, but...if I get to hear them next year, I'll make an extra effort to get straight who's who. (I do recall the faces and the performances, though!)

Hi folks:
Yes, Geoff's playing in addition to his kind words and great interest in the other attendees was absolutley gorgeous.
Makes me want to think about finding a Duet and doing what he does.
What a gorgeous voice and what wonderful playing and oh what a treat.
I hope he returns next year or at least issues some sort of recording (or does anyone know if he already has one?)
He's the image I had of what a concertina player does and also maybe even what one looks like.

Finally many thanks to Thie Button Box folks and all of you C.Netters for your advice, inspiration and most of all your friendship.
Can't wait until next year.


Best,
Perry Werner

PS: More thanks coming to come from here I'm sure!

Hey, Britt!

Welcome to concertina.net.

The picture I posted was taken by Lawrence Eger. I should have credited it. If you have pictures from that day, I haven't seen them. Let's have a look.

Hi Britt! Did you sell your accordion? If I weren't broke I would have bought it. Never enough instruments, I say.

It was fun meeting Perry. He was a sax player in former times, from the same state as my sax-playing jazz teacher in LA, Gary Foster. But Perry, it turns out Gary went to Kans. State, not Wichita State. Sorry for the mixup. Could have fooled me, Gary even looks like you!

Hope to be there next year.

Before the busy life I lead sucks all the glow out of the weekend I want a turn to ruminate on the memories of the weekend. Since this was my first time as a player, not a spouse, I spent much of the time feeling my way, getting my bearings.
I'm no way near ready to hold my own at the speed of most of the jams that were occurring all over. But every now and then I'd hear a tune and whip out my instrument and make a valient effort.
One highlight for me was the warmup for the processional- the rain had finally stopped, the sun had come out just in time to go down, and as the light dimmed, a growing number of players added their voice to the simple little tune ('Noite de Veran" from the Galician band "Milladoiro"). Something happened- a combination of music, ambiance, smiling faces- that created a glow that shone and warmed me inside and out. It lasted through the processional to the barn for the concert. I think I realized for the first time that I was a part of this, not just an onlooker.

I popped in on the morris workshop, with great pleasure, and learned a tune by Rich Morse as well as polishing up some other good old tunes. I found the workhop by Chip Hodges on accompanying your singing with an anglo, and found Howie there as well.

Let me add my voice to the chorus of praise for Geoff- what a pleasure to hear him sing and play such great old songs.

The concertina band was another experience of being part of the whole- I hadn't played in a band since high school, and this time we were all in tune! What fun! Then I found out a personal connection with the arranger, Mike Knudsen, which enhanced the experience for me. And I got to play the Morse prototype baritone for it, which set me salivating (not on the instrument, Rich, don't worry)!

The pub sing was great fun- some of the songs got rather salacious, so I had fun countering from the women's point of view ("The Chocolate song"). (Wendy, I'll be glad to share you some tips on "how to join in on the chorus"- it's much like "how to play by ear" without the circle of fifths!)

Best of all was meeting such good folks. It's great to put faces to names. I know I'll see many of you again!

(Edited to correct my too-early-in-the-morning typos!)

Hi Britt,
Glad you could make it

I have quite a good recording of the second half of the concert so between us we should have the whole thing. I also have a good photo of you in the concert. I'll get around to posting it sometime today or tomorrow.

Robin

Ken:
Great meeting you too!
I'm sure if there was someone of note who went to the Wichita State music school who went on to achieve some sort of fame, I would have known about them
Thanks for the clarification and sorry that Gary looked like me.
By the way there were at least one or two other folks at the SI who once played saxophone and have moved onto concertina.
I guess it was due to a preference for a FREE reed experience.
One of the most frustrating things about playing the saxophone was the constant attention that needed to be paid to finding and maintaining the perfect reed and praying it would'nt break.
Also these reeds were expensive, not free!!!!!

Best,
Perry

This is my third attempt to post a message, so here goes.

There was an old squeezer from Devon
Who set out to find Squeezebox Heaven
Though they called him insane,
With his Crane, on a plane,
He went anyway....
And Boy, did he have a good time!

Here I am, back in my Dartmoor village of Buckland Monachorum ( it means in old latin, village of the monks, cos there was an ancient Cistercian Abbey here) and behind the sturdy, granite walls of my 400 yr-old cottage after an exhausting 8,000-mile round trip to the North East Squeeze-in.

I can't quite believe I have been to Massachusetts and back . Firstly, thanks to all those of you making kind comments about my playing on this website.I don't want this to send too much like an advert...but.My trio Speakeasy has recently made a five-track demo CD . I gave a copy to Doug at the Button Box . If we could put a
small tour of gigs together , just enough to cover out costs , we'd love to play the USA. Can anybody help?I can send band biog plus copy of demo etc. I could even post it as an e-mail and get one of my computer-friendly sons to help me turn the CD into an MP3-type file.

Richard Morse, Craig, Doug, Mario etc all deserve a medal for organising such an event . No wonder there is such a burgeoning interest in the concertina in the USA with enthusiasts like that about.

The Saturday concert was a kaleidoscope of music styles and presentation - Italian folk tunes, southern-style Cajun , French-Canadaian Quebecois , crazy jazz accordion, tunes on novelty clown concertinas, Rachel's great Shetland and Irish tunes on English , plus other fantastic players spewing out the Irish stuff on anglos,
Ken Sweeney's nautical and naughty song about a mermaid which I must steal,
a 20 -piece concertina band, a 10 yr-old boy and his grandad playing a Fats Waller number on melodeons.......and stonking music for the dance afterwards

The workshops were great, especially the one on paying by ear. It has made me think more deeply about the way I approach my music on the tina.

Dave Barnet's playing of classcal music on the Hayden duet was impressive . Likewise, Kurt Braun's four-part harmony Bach on his Crane duet was classy stuff. It was great to play with another Crane - we are a bit like an endangered species.
And who were the two coloured guys on the porch playing that fanastic, stomping stuff ? One with a two-row diatonic and the other beating out a rythmn on what looked like a piece of railroad track . It sounded like a cross between Cajun and south African township music . I blinked and they were gone- did I dream it?

They say music is an international language - I think we proved that this weekend.
And, to take up on what Dave wrote, it was a big thrill for me to play some of that 2o's and 30's Tin Pan Alley stuff in the big US of A .

I hear that the famous Tanglewood is just down the road -but for me the place to be seen and heard is Bucksteep Manor .

My only disappointment- and people kept telling me this- was not meeting and playing with Dave Cornell, who ironically, is apparently on his way over to hold workshops at Witney ( which I can't make.) Does he read this site? Can someone send him a message. Perhaps he can dash down here after for a brief visit to me.

Thanks again to everyone for making me so welcome.
Let the music keep your spirits high
Geoff Lakeman

Hi Geoff:
No, you were'nt dreaming.

Not sure who those two gents were but they did perform at the end of the Sat. night contra dance.
You were very close onyour guess,
The music was Cape Verdean (Cape Verde Islands are in the Atlantic off Africa).

I stayed late to hear them before heading back to the lodge after the dance.
These guys were wonderful.
I'm sorry I did not get their names but
he box player was incredible and the guy playing the other instrument was a great rhythm "section"
The "instrument" was actually a cut length of a hollywod style bed frame!!!!!
The guys at the Button Box told me about it and I ran in to listen.
I thought it had to be a joke, but it sounded great.
I'm guessing that different lengths of bedframe (I think that's what it was) would yield differnet pitches, but whatever tuning the guy was using was perfect.
I heard that they played late due to getting lost on the way from their motel or something.
Also I was told that are either from the Boston or Providence, Rhode Island area, but I can't confirm that either.
Years ago i was a voluneteer in the U.S. Peace Corps and attempted teaching music in Sierra Leone in West Africa.
The instruments I had the kids there use were mostly found objects (coke bottles, empty food cans, rocks, sticks, whatever) and basically they were used to teach rhythm. As you might imagine gorgeous duet concertinas, accordions, and any shiny instrument were just unaffordable in this region, so we made due with what was available at the time and they worked like a charm.
Anyway, I'm thinking about cutting up my own bed to see what it sounds like.
Maybe next year I'll accompany myself on a bedspring.

Again, Geoff, great and inspiring playing.
Your voice has been with me since Saturday night.
Any chance we can get that demo CD?
And PLEASE let us know how we can help you get to the U.S to play.

Best,
Perry Werner


You can imag

The way I see, it, 'fast' playing, that traditional type of mainly Irish tunes, etc., is kind of a world in and of itself, a genre, and the more you do of it the more you probably CAN do of it. (I don't think that I could play it only on rare occasions.)

But, I see that it's probably not what I'll fall into. I like to hear it and and listen to it, but, for one thing, I'm a rather solitary type of person -- I enjoy groups when I go find them, but I am just not going to drag myself out to regular sessions! Just ain't gonna be. And, though I have practiced and learned a few fast tunes, for me it would only be for social playing that I would pursue them...not what I just personally like to play for fun.

Though there's no real call for it by any sociable concertina group that I've heard of, I've enjoyed learning 'art' and 'folk' songs written by the old Classical types, Brahms, Beethoven, Schumann, etc.. I am NOT particularly classically trained, nor do I think there is more merit in these songs over some other type. Sometimes, I can't even stand classical music, in fact! But, for one thing, the classical-folksy stuff that has lyrics tends to be simple, do-able, not grand or ominous like something arranged for a huge orchestra.

I've been looking over various 'songs for high voice,' and their piano-accompaniment arrangements, arranged to work well with the singer, can usually be adapted well to the concertina. Once I've struggled through the music several times and added my own improvisations, I find that these are the songs that make me pick up my concertina and play and sing.

But...of course, it's unlikely that these songs would ever become material for a pub sing-along. So, I simply must learn a handful of some of those pub songs. Lyrics!!! Need words!!! If the singer presenting the song can go over the tune a few times, and I have a printed copy of the words to look at simultaneously, then I can usually grab the tune. The lyrics help me remember the tune.

I know that oral/verbal transmission of great songs is often viewed as being more 'right,' maybe more authentic or romantic, but....well, some of us (maybe a lot of us) just don't have that resource, these days!

(Funny, though....'Side By Side,' the song from the 'Dancing With Ma Baby' book which our one little group performed at the Squeeze-In, is one of the two or three songs that I first learned as a kid, passed on to me by verbal transmission, from my (maternal) grandmother. I'd never even heard it for years....then, there it was again. She died rather young, so it was nice to revive this memory of her, since I don't have very many of them!)

Quoted from Allison's post: The pub sing was great fun- some of the songs got rather salacious, so I had fun countering from the women's point of view ("The Chocolate song"). (Wendy, I'll be glad to share you some tips on "how to join in on the chorus"- it's much like "how to play by ear" without the circle of fifths!)
Okay...tips welcome....and, hmm, maybe some on 'How To Be Salacious Without Being Misogynistic?' I mean, really, the one about the captain tying up his poor wife to the bow of the ship or whatever that was! (See, I was so shocked, I can't remember it!)

any relation to Seth or Sam Lakeman?

Wendy,
I have a great song you might approve of. Here are the lyrics. I didn't sing it at the squeeze-in because I'm still trying to learn it all by heart and as I've often been told "If you sing acapella and forget the words - you don't have much left!"

STITCH IN TIME

Oh there was a woman and she lived on her own,
She slaved on her own and she skivvied on her own,
She'd two little girls and two little boys --
And she lived all alone with her husband.

For her husband he was a hunk of a man
A chunk of a man and a drunk of a man,
He was a hunk of a drunk and a skunk of a man
Such a boozing, bruising husband.

For he would come home drunk each night,
He thrashed her black, he thrashed her white;
He thrashed her, too, within an inch of her life,
Then he slept like a log, did her husband.

One night she gathered her tears all round her shame
She thought of the bruising and cried with the pain,
Oh, you'll not do that ever again,
I won't live with a drunken husband.

But as he lay and snored in bed,
A strange old thought came into her head,
She went for the needle, went for the thread,
And went straight in to her sleeping husband.

And she started to stitch with a girlish thrill
With a woman's heart and a seamstress' skill,
She bibbed and tucked with an iron will,
All around her sleeping husband.

Oh, the top sheet, the bottom sheet, too,
The blanket stitched to the mattress through,
She stitched and stitched for the whole night through
Then she waited for the dawn and her husband.

And when her husband woke with a pain in his head,
He found that he could not move in bed,
Sweet Christ, I've lost the use of me legs!
But this wife just smiled at her husband.

For in her hand she held the frying pan
With a flutter in her heart she given him a lam;
He could not move but he cried, ``God damn!''
``Don't you swear,'' she cried to her husband.

Then she thrashed him black, she thrashed him blue,
With the frying pan and the colander too,
With the rolling pin just a stroke or two
Such a battered and bleeding husband.

She said, ``If you ever come home drunk any more,
I'll stitch you in, I'll thrash you more,
Then I'll pack my bag and I'll be out the door,
I'll not live with a drunken husband.''

So isn't it true what small can do
With a thread and a thought and a stitch or two?
He's wiped his slate and his boozing's through
It's goodbye to a drunken husband.

Those are Geoff's sons.

HA! Love it! (Don't send that lady to my Crocheter's Anonymous group, though, okay? Thanks....)

That one I'll definitely hang onto!

Fortunately for my husband (who tolerates my YAS -- that's 'Yarn Acquisition Syndrome'), he quit drinking years ago and has remained sober. About the worst I've done for him is to crochet hats he must wear (he says he likes them).

I've got to get offline in a sec, but here's a quick note just to mention that if you do come play over here sometime, maybe you'd have an interest in Arts Worcester or WAG (Worcester Artists Group). Yes, they do art, but also music.

I am a member of Arts Worcester but I'm not really familar, yet -- I joined mostly to have something in common with my husband, who does more there. Anyway, if you check their website, you'll see that there's a Jazz concert in October. Site is: http://www.artsworcester.org

or, http://www.artsworcester.org/Calendar

As for WAG, there's a bit about them at:
http://www.socialweb.net/Places/2678.lasso

They actually do quite a bit of musical stuff.

And, ahem, since there's a link included there re the Jacob Knight Award -- I must mention that my husband is this year's winner!

Anyway, there are certainly a lot of talented people to be found at either of those places.

Me, I may do more with Arts Worcester...don't know....I did have two pieces exhibited (crochet art) but I'm really not much of an artist. One of these days, maybe I'll sing and play at a WAG concert, if I manage to get to one!

Here is more on Geoff Lakmen's progeny:

http://www.equation.scoyote.net/equation/E...nfm/History.htm

There is much more, but this will get you started.

We at the Button Box can give some thouth mostly it's small stuff though like a local concert (ideally with workshop and potluck) at an area hall. You can also get help from area musicians to set up an itinerary covering this part of New England for a number of venues. There're also places like The Iron Horse in Northampton MA and Passim's in Cambridge MA.

On another note.... Did you make it to the Sunday session at the People's Pint in Greenfield after the Squeeze-In? What was that like for you? We're you able to get another session in in Boston before you had to leave?

I really enjoyed meeting and playing with you at the NESI. I really wish I could have had more time to get to know you (and so many others!) better. Unfortunately, that's actually a work weekend for us so I'm not able to do many workshops or hang out as much as I'd like to.

Not exactly. Mon amie Danielle took the box up to Quebec City with her where hopefully she will sell it for me, as our neighbors to the north appreciate that old Hohner sound, n'est-ce pas? Speaking of Canadians, hey Robin: thanks for posting all those great photos. My recording of the first half of the talent show turned out really well. How was the 2nd half? Maybe between us we have it all. Didja get a chance to listen to the CD of your "performance" in New Jersey?
Britt

Your song Robin reminds me of a couple I drove past in Reading. As I went by the man was shouting and hitting his wife . I jumped out of the car and started shouting and swearing at him to behave.His wife replied " Dont you talk to my husband like that"!
I am confused,perhaps your song may sort it all out.
Al

Some years ago I was on the beach at Blackpool when I saw a man and a woman with a baby, having an arguement. The baby was thrown to the floor and the man hit the woman with a stick. A policeman intervened and the man hit him with the stick.




then....................







The crocodile ate all the sausages!

Speaking of songs, we all enjoyed "Sammy's Bar-Mitzvah" but setting the record straight (not to pick on its composer, he did a great job) he mistranslated part of the Yiddish. The word "pekl" does NOT mean pickle. It means package or bundle. So it really makes more sense in the refrain: Troubles 5 for a schekel; Yeden mensch hot zien pekl (every man has his bundle).

Britt

Mike "That`s the way to do it"
Al

Me too, and I'll say again that I really enjoyed hearing the duet you played with...um, Deirdre, was that her name? I don't always remember names, but, I do remember how nice your performance was.

And, in other, unrelated news (but, still a 'Squeeze-In' note) --

Just by luck, or providence, I happened to sit next to a gentleman who, upon noticing my many 'mummified' (bandaid-ed) fingers, told me he had psoriasis on his hands and uses something like 'liquid bandaid.' I'd never heard of that, surprisingly.

Anyway, since I have posted before on the topic of my fingers and how painful and annoying the dry, splitting skin can be, I just want to say, THAT STUFF REALLY WORKS!!!

My husband bought two brands for me to try, and I'm trying something called 'Skin Shield.' What a difference! Beyond just protecting the skin from abrasion and impact, it seems to kind of seal and smooth over the rough edges of torn skin that would otherwise peel or hurt.

So, I sat in the lucky chair, that night at dinner....so glad to find out about this stuff.

Edited to fix a typo. (There's probably more, but...oh well, caught one of 'em.)

Wendy,
Thanks for your kind words, I'll pass them along to Deirdre as well. It was nice meeting you, too, (funny our daughters attend the same school) and I'm glad to connect with this online community.
Slightly off-topic--
I'll try your tips as I suffer from cracked, dry skin on my hands from time to time, too. It hasn't hampered playing music but it gets to the point where it is painful to wash my hands. I get so desperate in winter, that I have had to wear gloves to bed (have you?). Maybe this "Skin Shield" will substitute.
Thanks,
Britt

Well! Glad I mentioned it, then...I was wondering if I'd been a bit crass to include 'icky skin notes' in my former post, but, at the time I'd been just thinking of any/all NESI notes I wanted to cover!

Yes, I have even tried various treatments using plastic gloves or wraps, over oils and whatever. No real results, though.

I've worn gloves to do my crocheting, dog-walking, housework, etc.. But, this liquid sealer stuff will make a big difference, I think, and life will be so much better...and, I've noticed today that it stays on, even through a bit of contact with water.

Life is so hard when you can't count on your hands. Especially when you play an instrument!

Hello All!
It was great to finally see what the NE Squeeze-In was all about! I really enjoyed myself listening to all you people playing accordions and concertinas. Now, back home in Toronto with my shiny new black Albion concertina, I'm trying to make my way through "The Fireship" (sang by Stan Hugill in the version I have) and some other songs and I'm starting to hear some traces of the original melody in my attempts... Takes lot's of swearing, though....
And I'd like to thank you all for your encouragement, the music and great fun!

See you all next year!

Voi (AKA Kartrait as registered here)

Hi, there, Voi! It's good to see you here!
I remember you from the Saturday night pub sing.

Hi Animaterra!

Your "Chocolate Song" was fun! And what a perfect response to the "Hot meat"... There's something to be said for "culinary" songs late in the night...
Do you think you could send me the lyrics with the melody line? I could practice for the next NESI!

Thanks!

Voi

Voi, I don't have the music written out but I'll see what I can do. I'll send you an email, too.

I'm finally checking in and, although it's great to ready all the Squeeze-In reports, I'm sad because I couldn't be there. I had an interview for a job I wound up not getting. I'm really hoping this year is much more profitable so that I can attend the Northeast or Southeast version. Just be sure to have classes for us novice/beginning English owners!

ldp