Well said young Widder! I suppose that there are a two or three of things that could be said to be 'wrong' with the front room singarounds at the Tap 'n' Spile.

Yes, lots of people do know each other. I suppose that's inevitable for a singaround that's been there for 10 years, three times a year, and before that at the Duke of York and other places. So there's lots of jokes about things that've happened before. Newcomers can either choose to feel excluded, or ask a neighbour 'what's all that about, then?'. I'm sure that any fully paid-up member of 'the clique' will offer an explanation.

Yes, the room is too small or too popular. But if the room was larger it would lose its intimacy. So this means that sometimes you can't get in. Official venues have a steward who says 'sorry, it's full, you can't go in.' Sometimes the landlady has to do this (and it's her pub, remember. When Maggie and I go, we go early enough so that we can get a seat.

And, although the singaround encourages all sorts of music, the nature of the singaround tends to encourage English traditional-style singing with choruses. But nothing is excluded - I've even played a mellodeon in there. I've even played blues on a bouzouki in there. But don't expect a second song 'cos it takes over three hours to get round the room once!

We don't go in all the time 'cos we like to do other things as well. So we'll perhaps be in the Endeavour with other friends, doing more accompanied singing. Or we'll be in the Black Horse for a more intimate (and usually quite daft) session with other friends. Three afternoons we're out with Scratch Morris, entertaining the public and festival goers, and offending at least two dance people. And I'll have a diddley session in the Fisherman's Rowing Club and Maggie will have a look at the Harmony Singing workshop.

Whitby Folk Week is what you make of it.