Just back from a wonderful and very emotional concert at the Auchtermuchty Folk Festival in Fife - to mark the retirement from performance of traditional singer Sheila Stewart.
The hall was packed with singers and friends, there were contributions from various Festival guests (including a stunning slow air 'Farewell to Barra' on the small pipes by Hamish Moore), and plenty of heartfelt chorus singing.
But you could have heard a pin drop when Sheila herself took the stage: she was the absolute mistress of her craft, working her audience with all the experience gained from 60 years of performance and sharing her precious traveller heritage, though not without quite few tears when she launched into her final song, 'The Parting Glass'.

It was truly a privilege to be part of it all, so all thanks to you, Sheila, for being such a wonderful ambassador for traditional song and storytelling - and a real inspiration to several generations of musicians! We owe you, lady!