Paula t - I couldn't agree with you more. Very well put.

I am fairly new to folk music (not two years yet) although I'm what you might kindly call a 'mature' person :-)

If people had been intolerant of my early efforts I would have given up. Nearly gave up several times anyway but the encouragement and help I received kept me going and now, although I'll never be able to conquer the nerves enough to become really good, at least I'm fairly proficient and don't make people cringe anymore (well, not too much, anyway!!).