Ah, the Hooft, Chris! The best thing to come into my life since my wife of fifty years! I have other instruments, but the Hooft went with me to Ireland in May this year. I played in Ennis, in Doolin and in Galway. Had a wonderful time meeting other musicians in the pubs, who invited me in because I had the concertina with me. I'm off to New York city next month, and of course the Hooft goes where I go, so I hope to be playing in a few pubs there as well!
Your thought about the fingernails makes sense - I never thought of the "problem" in those terms, but that is what is happening to me when my nails are soooo short! I suppose that I'll just have to leave them a bit longer from now on