A: with great difficulty!

When I first had aspirations to become a folk singer, I wanted to be like Bob Dylan, or at least like Paul McNeill!

I did make a reasonable living out of it in 1969/70, but couldn't make enough to buy a house for my new wife, so went back into banking.

Spent the 70s and early 80s playing bars, restaurants and folk clubs in Britain and Germany, teaching guitar and running folk clubs as well to compensate for my wife's loss of earnings while she brought up our kids. Managed to hold down the day job in a Bank at the same time, which caused confusion when the worlds collided.

Then spent ten years accumulating airmiles and developing a reputation in the field of financial computer software. Put both kids through University, left banking, started my own software company. Bill Gates need not fear my competition, but I make enough to indulge my serial guitar acquisition syndrome.

Now I'm offered more gigs than for some time, but now I find myself compared to Burl Ives. Must be the beard!

I've not made a lot of money from my folk activities, but I've had some great times, and met some fantastic people.

What more could I ask? What more could anyone ask?

Alan