Dear No-Longer-Secret-Santa "my guru always said",

Thank you so much for an overflowing parcel. The three postal cards which preceeded it made for cheery memory-laden appetizers. Inside the package I found a t-shirt with a depiction of the famous chalk horse, a canvas bag with (Mud)cats playing across the front, to an inspirational tile, a beautiful greenman bookmark and charming book of poetry, my first ever advent calendar card with the 12 days of Christmas, and 2 luscious dark chocolate bars; all were made even more delightful by the music in which I wallowed. Your own 'A Toe in the Water' cd is lovely, and the 'Song and Ale' six cds from 2004/2005 are full of treasures. I've already having a second listen! Thank you, thank you!

I'm listening to S&A 2004 disc #3 as I write, and laughed aloud to hear the first strains of Jan Harmon's "Seafarer's Song" sung well by Jan Barnes. I wonder where she learned it? Jan (Harmon) lived near me in Maine for years before her death. She was a member of the folk chorus with whom I have sung for years. We've sung many of her songs and loved them, yet I didn't realize her songs would be known so far from home.

I'll be learning new songs from all these cds for months to come. Thank you for your thoughtful and generous gifts. I hope we'll have an occasion to meet in the future. For now I'll be content to meet you through song as your cd self sings "The Rollicking Boys Around Tandragee."

Yours in song,

a grateful maeve