Hereward

I think this is quite an improvement Chris and thanks once again for all your hard work. Ian

I visited Chris Algar a fortnight ago and he had many of these instruments in stock at Barleycorn. Ian

Do you think that if we asked really nicely, Juliette might put up some more recordings for us? I'd like to add my voice to the call for more recordings from this talented player. Ian

Loblolly Boys helped out the ship's surgeon but usually didn't have any medical training themselves. Not that the surgeon's training was up to much. You were certainly better of being treated by a surgeon serving the Caliph of Egypt hundreds of years earlier than you were with someone in the British Army in the Peninsular War; although the French were better off. Loblolly comes from a soup they gave the sick to help them build up strength. Ian

Thanks for this great idea. To save all the agony of playing the same couple of notes hundreds (thousands?) of times to get them right, I can go to my local crossroads (where the gallows were too) and have a word with Old Nick or Carfax or Woden, whichever god of the crossroads I manage to call up. I'm definitely tempted. Ian

I was interested till I saw the price. Guess I'll have to wait for my birthday. Ian

Here's my idea: That's not bad at all Boney. Perhaps 'Come out and Play' might be better than using the imperative? Just my thoughts. Ian

Hi Ian Try this one: http://www.jameskeane.com/friends.html Thanks Leo That's done the job. Cheers Leo. Ian

This link does not work on my computer. Ian

Imagine the potential for haunting with the old instruments many of us have. No doubt they have had many owners each and a good selection of ones perfectly placed to haunt, so to speak. Ian

Few would hurt animals if someone challenged them to a duel when they did. Sometimes I wonder if the modern world, with all its rules and regulations, is always the way to go. Ian

Thanks Theo. There is a Maplins just over a mile from me and I am going to pop along and get a set of these. I have no need to open my instrument yet but am well aware that I will do one day and might as wel be prepared. Third Porchester Sea Scouts made a big impression on the young Ian. Ian

What is the best screwdriver one can use for a concertina that is available in the UK? I have seen mention of watchmakers tools but was not aware that it was possible to get them large enough for the job. I have the normal random set of british screwdrivers one accumulates but don't find anything suitable because the head is generally too thick to fit in the slot if it is broad enough. The ones I do have that fit are somewhat too small in the head and handle. I even have a set of watchmakers tools but these are far too small. Perhaps it is best to march down to the nearest DIJ store with the instrument and have a look? Ian

I would be the one in trouble LDT. She who must be obeyed would have my guts for garters if I just thought about messing with any women, never mind young ones like you. She's the one with the Black Magic in my family. Ian

Does the pseudonym mean something like black sheep does in English Taka? I told a friend of mine in Tokyo years ago that I had learnt Ju-Jitsu. We pronounce that incorrectly of course and it comes out sounding like a Japanese word meaning Black Magic. This lead to quite some amusement for him; although he didn't seem that surprised. I was playing a gig there at the time and we were quite gothic looking I suppose. Ian

That's strange because I use Firefox and had no problem. Computers are funny things. Ian

I would not recommend this. It is better to have it dealt with once and for all by going to a properly trained hypnotherapist, for whom this would be bread and butter work. Ian

From my knowledge of NLP I would advise anyone to rehearse successful perfomances in his mind in the liminal state before sleeping. Your unconscious does not differentiate between this and the 'real' world and you will be better prepared. Just before you have to play for real, concentrate on your feet being on the ground. Never ever use a negative. Do not say 'I cannot fail', for example but rather 'I will succeed'. The unconscious mind does not recognise negatives. This is why it is so daft for a dentist to say, 'You will feel a small prick' before the jab. You will - he just effectively ordered you to. Ian

Concertinas are big kids at heart then - just like me. Ian

Concertinas and snow. How much romance can this one man take? They are both lovely things in my eyes. Ian

The King of the Jungle deserves the King of Instruments I reckon. Ian

I love the snow and even more with this tune ringing in my ears - great stuff Alan and thanks. Ian

What?!! I assume you're not serious!! Mayofiddler is just engaged in that good old fashioned Irish trait of self deprecation. Slagging yourself off etc. I am afraid that Pete was not joking and he has left the whole site, which I consider a bad loss. Ian

That's an understatement even by the standards of this Englishman here. I do hope I can one day get so good that I can be nonchalant about such a piece of music. Well done sir! Ian

I've sent you a PM about the song Dave. It sounds like I am also involved in Filk Music, albeit unwittingly, because a song about one of Stephen King's characters was also written by me some years ago. Ian