Khatt - I'll take you up on that offer. Thanks for the advice everyone. It's a lovely thought that the instrument will find me as much as me finding it.

Curse you Greg, with your talk of £4K a go... One day, when I'm a multi-millionaire with my erotica empire (long story, great idea) I shall buy me one of those. Actually, my Dutch non-boyfriend's sister makes violins, and teaches people to make them. I am sorely tempted to learn, but her classes are in Dutch. I'm quite sure I can't afford one of hers either.

(Is there a tune you must never play when trying a fiddle in a shop? Like a "No `Stairway'" sign in a guitar shop?)