"P. S. I do not have a certificate or license to operate a folklift, but when I was working as a Production Illustrator at the Boeing Airplane Company (yeah, I have a certificate as a draftsman and technical illustrator), whenever I went out into the shop or assembly line, I had to step lively to keep from getting run over or mashed against a wall by forklift operators who were either blind or had a total disregard for property damage and human life." (Don)...maybe, as with some here, they hadn't bothered to get theirs.
"Just by the way - on the Antiques roadshow there was a very nice old banjo, smooth arm, made in Newcastle upon Tyne about a hundred years ago" (Stu)...noticed that...but never an English cittern on that programme.
Here are some of the factors that define English folk, in my opinion, for Tiger Tim (but I couldn't put a number on your other questions, under #1)...
A music of miners, farmers, fishermen, and other working folk, now performed by all sorts.
The simple repetition of a tune for telling and/or dancing.
English folk may be divided into two main branches - traditional/unknown author - handed down, mainly via oral tradition; and composer/known author of which there may be covers or self-penned pieces.
Songs and ballads, for the most part, sung unaccompanied, or, lately, lightly accompanied etc..
2. - no, I agree with you.
3. To me, the bulging veins that often accompany the bulging muscles, and the bandages on the arms of young top-female tennis players are not healthy. Table tennis IS a much better sport for females, or say non-contact netball as a team sport.
4. I've said that I accept that some sports, such as Lawn Tennis, have become global, and that I've enjoyed watching international competitions at them, and that I hope and pray Andy is soon playing for Scotland against the likes of England.
5. I agree with Gandhi on quite a lot (but it's true, as IB noted, that he could have shown more respect of ingigenous South Africans, while he was there. But, as you should know and accept, I only mentioned him as a way of saying I'm not presently a popular repat.
6. I accept that some are better than me with accents but, as a repat, I've made an effort to sing and speak in a northern English accent - you may note that I rarely if ever criticise quality on the folk scene but selection and choice, etc.
And finally, I've said just above, and way above, that I accept that some sports have become global but whether globalisation should continue unabated is another matter...it's what's best FROM NOW ON that I keep stressing.