Thanks all. I know it's a short time till Friday, but the fingertips seem to be holding up. It is nylon strung. I might try the superglue though. I don't think I'm pressing too hard - but I'll monitor that. And the topical analgesics, maybe. (Joints may be developing arthritis a bit, it's familial). And I don't need to borrow an autoharp - I don't know if I can get the right sound from it for the tune, though. I like what my right hand's doing with the six strings. (Note the lack of responsibility for it. I find it works best when I leave it alone. Have an idea of the sort of effect I want, but don't intellectualise it. This would make sense if I was a musician who based it on lots of practise and experience, but, as I said, I'm not.)

I couldn't find the meths - I'm using cheap perfume. Yuck. But today is better than yesterday....

Penny S.