For many years of my life I was a Programmer/Systems Analyst working on contracts all over this country (and several others) for anything up to a year at at time. The first thing that I would do in any new area was to find the nearest Folk Club - once I found one it was always easy to find others. In a very short time I had a social life with new friends all sorted out - and the chance to enjoy listening to and performing music. The old UK Folk Directory was of some help, but it would have been wonderful to have had Mudcat then.

Many of the other contractors who I worked with, also used to get interested in folk music - especially when they realised how many young ladies frequented the clubs in those days when girls didn't normally go into pubs on their own.

Even if I couldn't find a nearby club, I've never been afraid of going into a pub and singing - and there have been many instances where I've ended up starting a new club.