The trip went great. I stayed at the Mariner's Club / Sailor's Home across the street from Robin Hood - which is a loud sports bar now. The Spanish Point folk club is still going strong and I sat in on their monthly session on Saturday. There was at least one no-show, so they dragooned me into playing despite my protests and fortified me with a Dark'n'Stormy. My first try, Out From St. Leonard's, was a disaster (couldn't get my voice or the chords right), but Roddy McCorley went over well. I hope no one was recording it...

On St. Patrick's Day I went up to Fort Hamilton to see the Bermuda Regimental Pipe Band - four pipes, two snare drums and a bass drum they had just had delivered from Chicago. The emcee was late, so the drummer lectured us from his i-phone; the first time, he said, that he wouldn't get in trouble for having it on parade! One of the players told me afterward they've played all up and down the east coast, especially a major tattoo in Virginia and another in Halifax. Also in Germany, where they were confused because the audience stamped in appreciation rather than clapping.

It is the fiftieth anniversary of the Bermuda Regiment this year, and they are planning a small Tattoo in October; I just might go back.

The people in Bermuda are so friendly; I was offered a dozen drinks during my stay. It's such a small town atmosphere, too; one of the people at the Spanish Point bar before the show was the Minister of the Environment, and I ran into both the pipe band emcee and the folk club organizer later in other parts of the island. The taxi driver who dropped me off at the Mariner's Club came in with me to say hi to the manager.

Anyway, it was a lovely time, and I appreciate the heads-up you guys gave me about the folk club. You helped make it a success!