wWnderful inspiration abounds at the Mudcat, yourself included, Peter. I'd played violin from the time I was 8 years old, hadn't really picked it up in years. Heard Jeri and Sorcha, both, play their fiddles in HearMe and lo and behold I got that puppy out and started practising.

I am honoured that I have such a fiddle. It belonged to old man Tweedy (whose son is now and old man/fiddlemaker) who taught my dad to fiddle way back in the 1920's; it was Tweedy's favourite until the 1950's, when he found one he liked better and sold it to my dad.

When I came home at 8yrs old and told my parents I had signed up for orchestra, it is to my dad's credit that there was no hesitation on his part, in letting me take that violin back and forth to school, everyday on the schoolbus.

What a lot of trust with such a precious cargo. Its patina of over 100 years is beauitful and its tone is smooth and mellow when someone who has practised plays it. I am blessed to still have it and feel a responsibility to help it sing once again, in large part because of the Mudcat. Thank you all!

kat