Thanks for the very helpful responses, (especially Jack Campin/Richie/Mo/JP2). Notes duly scribbled in diary.

JP2 - "Somewhere" could well be the Middle earth at 5pm on Saturday. I'll be there.

I shall be very sorry to miss Frank Lee's session later in the week as I have to return to Devon on Wednesday.We have known each other for some (!) years.

Steve G - I take your point about workshops. However, in my experience such sessions can and do happen .... they are seldom planned, and the best one can do is find the times and places where they are most likely to develop, and hope for the best. I tend to avoid very large sessions - the music often gets too fast, too loud, and out of control. (I don't know why, but prime candidates for this treatment seem to be 'Speed the Plough' and '3 around 3')

As for my use of the word 'sensitive' - there's musical sensitivity which involves phrasing and shaping a tune rather than just bashing it out. I'm very keen on this.

Then there's social sensitivity which I will illustrate by a counter-example as follows:

One of the saddest things I have ever experienced in a session was to see a relative beginner (and we've all been there) start a well-known tune. She was clearly nervous, but played well, if a tad slower than normal. People joined in supportively, but across the room someone who hadn't listened at the beginning, finished his conversation, put down his pint and let rip. Before long he had increased the tempo beyond the capability of the originator of the tune - so she just shrugged and gave up.

I'd be surprised if that sort of thing happens at Whitby, though.

Thanks everyone.


John