Thanks all. Big smiles and go for it would seem to be the order of the day. Of course, being a woman, I also worry about whether I'll be able to fit into my clothes on the day. Maybe that worry will eclipse the other. Once I was wearing a pair of very tight trousers and they split right up the back. I had to back into the the ladies lavatoire (still smiling)and send a friend round the audience scrounging small safety pins. I did a passable repair job, but moved rather stiffly on stage for the rest of the set. What if one of the pins had..well pinged open...painful! On Tuesday I shall pack spare clothes.

nutty. what's your act called? Or aren't you telling? i should have thought supporting those two must have been a huge thrill. Did you converse with the greats, much?

wyo woman. we wondered where you'd gone. I will certainly report back. (Ned would kill me if he could read some of these messages. I expect he wishes my split trousers would remain a secret.)

derrymacash. Thanks ever so. I'll get a link up to Pay the Reckoning Soon. It's a great site. In the winter I'll have endless time to try out all the tunes. 'Spect I'll go to the big smoke one day. Probably just to stare open-mouthed at the sights though. I've only been twice for weekends. We're country mouses.

Thanks also to WYSIWIG and Ralphie and the rest for being so supportive.

Roger in Sheffield. Message received and understood. WILCO if poss.

Lucy/Hawker Thanks for the extravagant vote of confidence. I'll swap pics with you when I get mine developed. Lovely big audience you had on Saturday at Wadebridge. I tried to capture the whole scene on camera, and the kids sounded really sweet and were a credit to you. Angus the Yorkshire Terror had his picture taken with Ned the other day. Yes, the same Ned who wouldn't be caught dead holding his lead as he looks so puny. Our kids had a great time in your workshops and are really looking forward to the next one. This makes me feel very happy, as normally when I mention a folk festival they groan. I've just noticed that the Wareham Wail banquet is not suitable for children so I don't think we can go. Cos what would we do with them, while we're in there? Next year,I'll organise better.

Cheers everyone.

deni