Chris Timson

Actually you never stop improving, the rate just slows down, but it never stops. Chris

I've not been around this forum for a little while or I would have replied before now. Like you I'm a stroke survivor, and that means we're ahead in the odds. One third of stroke victims die, one third are left seriously disabled and only a third come out of it with something approaching a normal life. That's you and me, mate. Be thankful. My stroke affected my left side and I remember feeling relieved that since I play the G/D anglo where the melody is almost entirely on the right hand I would still be fine to play melody. I still clearly remember the feeling of outrage I felt when I got home from hospital and tried to play, only to find I was all over the place! I could hardly play two or three right notes in sequence. That feeling of outrage is important. When I first met my physiotherapist after the stroke she asked me what I did for a living and what my interests were and that sort of stuff. When I said I was a musician she broke into a broad smile. It seems musicians really resent anything that stops them playing and fight it, hard. They tend to make better than average recoveries from stroke. So fight to play, it can only do you good. Very best wishes, Chris

I will add a counter view and say that although I had played the C/G anglo for years and still use it for song accompaniment, the concertina never really opened up for me as a session instrument until I got my first G/D. I don't know so much about old timey but it suits English music like a glove, especially once you've embraced what Dan Worrall calls the "double Z" approach to playing across the rows on the right hand. The great strength of this approach, apart from its intuitive rightness, is that it allows you to play the melody on the right hand while playing chords or parallel octaves on the left. Get a G/D - you know it makes sense! Chris

Well I've just got back home. They did me proud with all the wine and that. Feeling less strange (but that may be the wine and beer ). I know a fair bit of what I'm going to do:- 1) Support Anne's greetings card business. Since she started the music degree she hasn't been able to spend the time on it she would like. The down side is, on my first day retired I can't have a lie-in because she's arranged for her accountant to call round at 8.30 am. Now that's cruel. 2) Music. We're in the process of starting a four-part close harmony group, plus we find we are apparently founder members of the Bath Jubilee City Waits, there's sessions to run and friends to play with. 3) Recording. I've spent the last few years building up a set of decent studio equipment and learning how to use it, basically for the interest of it, and in the process gaining a modest local reputation among folkies. I'll never make a living at it but a little income will help the money go further. But first I've got to rebuild the whole set up to get Anne's desk out of the room and make more space in time for some customers next month. So much for taking it easy ... Thanks for the best wishes all. Chris

Sitting at my desk here at work, I'm passing the time before I go off to the canteen where they present me whatever they're going to present me with after 19 years with this company. I'm retiring. My choice, which makes feel even stranger. Tomorrow I start on a different life. It should be fun, but right now it feels very odd ... Chris

Hilarious. Made my day, that did. As well as the bamboo reeds one should also watch out for the reed reeds. Not good to use, vegetation ... But seriously knock-offs of the Rochelle have been around almost as long as the Rochelle and this looks to be another such. Chris

I too would like to add my condolences. Sad. Very sad. Chris

Looks like my sort of session. Sadly I'm unlikely to make it to Toronto in the foreseeable future. Looks like my loss. Chris

Wasn't it just! Really interesting and very well presented. I learned much about the music that I play that I've been thinking about ever since. A highpoint of the weekend. Also very good to actually meet Dan and his good lady after many email exchanges and even phone conversations over the years. Chris

Well, yes, he was a music hall performer, and by all accounts a good one. The Professor moniker for someone wishing to stress their musical abilities was always an accepted thing in that context. Chris PS I'm in the MacCann school, because that was how Peter Honri always spelled it and I thought he should know if anyone did. The good professor doesn't help because he seems mostly to have spelled it MACCANN ...

Well, Anne will be there with her Aeola and her Morse baritone (plus fiddle, but let's not talk about that). Chris

I also have ordered the CD on the strength of the clips. It reminds me of the CD Paul & Jody - American Songs and Tunes, by Paul Friedman & Jody Kruskal for the same combination of instruments which I really like and which strikes me (as a Brit who really doesn't know what he's talking about when it comes to American traditional music) as heading in the same direction. Cheers, Chris

No, that's standard procedure with the lower notes in concertinas. You'll see it on the bass reeds of many concertinas. Chris

Actually, it's Diamond Jubilee, her dad having died in 1952. Personally I've hardly noticed being 1) a republican, and 2) totally caught up in the staging of the opera my partner Anne has written Chris

Ticked two: Jeffries G/D for sessions and morris, Dipper C/G baritone in Wheatstone layout for song accompaniment. Historical accident that I ended up that way but I'm not changing now. Chris

Well of course it all depends on the tone of voice you use when you say the word "Flaming" ... but flaming or not, I'll be there. Chris

Well I hope you reported them to the RSPCC! Chris

I've always loved the sound of octave playing anyway and was working on it a lot prior to the (minor) stroke which left my left hand a bit inaccurate. I still try it a lot in the privacy of my own home. I can vouch that it's a great post-stroke therapy. Chris PS BCNU at Brightlingsea, Dan

You're right, the instrument is potentially quite valuable, in the low thousands, but only potentially. An awful lot depends on the condition. However I would say you are in good hands with Theo. Chris

Speaking as a 60-year old, I agree. Back in my 20s I played melodeon for a while. No idea why I didn't carry it on, perhaps I was fated to play anglo. Once I took up the anglo I've never had much inclination to learn a different instrument. It suits me too well. Actually I do have a button accordion that was made for me a few years back, but the key layout is a direct copy of a 30-button Jeffries G/D, so I can pick it up and just play it. It's called the Anglodeon. So I don't think that qualifies me as a multi-instrumentalist. Chris PS In case no-one else has said it, welcome to the forum.

I have to admit that is as spectacular an example of concertina porn as I've seen in quite a while. I don't even play the English and I think I'm going to have to go home and have a cold shower ... Chris

Check out the Concertina FAQ for a list of makers and repairers who can help. If you're in Lincs then maybe the closest is Mike Acott in Ipswich. His contact details are as follows:- Mike Acott 33 Kelvin Road Ipswich Suffolk IP1 5EH England Phone 01473 743080 Chris

Saw a report on Facebook that the George session went off well and a good time was had by all. Our own session (co-incidentally held in a pub called the George and at the same time, though in Bradford on Avon) was very good too. Hopefully, David, we can arrange someday to be in the same George at the same time! Chris

That's beautiful. Oh, and the concertina's nearly as nice as the shirt too! Chris

Hi Dan, Unfortunately the forum software won't let me send you a pm, I guess your inbox must be full. Just heard that you'll be at this year's ECMW. Really looking forward to meeting you there. Cheers, Chris