Barb'ry, Andy and I are now in Wheaton outside Washington DC with our lovely hosts Bill D and Rita Ferrara. Other Shellbacks have been farmed out to other local host families for two nights, with a houseparty at Judy and Dennis Cook's tomorrow before we reassemble and carry on with our trip.

The weekend was truly splendid. After initial trepidation (before arrival) from both sides as to how we would all fit in and get along, we have made many new friends, had a most stimulating musical time, and a couple of hours' sleep each...

I was really honoured to be asked to co-host the Sunday evening concert, even if it was only to give some embarrassing introductory anecdotes about the Shellback performers :0)

Everyone here has been so welcoming and hospitable, and want us to come back again- so we can't have been that bad!

There were so many highlights, from the Missing Persons Soup Kitchen Quartet, to the ballad workshops and singing to the accompaniment of David Sheim's harp...oooo, never sung with a harp before... but the overriding joy of the weekend was the friendliness of all and the great welcome given to these strange people from another continent- and all because of a shared interest in music.

Amazing, isn't it?

As to the events of this morning, all I will say (at this stage) is that Big Mick is a true hero, Jeri will be eternally grateful and we all enjoyed breakfast together afterwards....

:0)