Gargoyle: Thanks for the links. Interesting stuff there. Unfortunately the sound clips keep crashing on the last link, even though I have Quicktime installed. I have to say, I do love blues - love listening and singing along. Not certain how welcome blues would be in folk sing around sessions in the UK. I daresay, very welcome. But I am a newbie to this environment so trying to keep a low profile. I will sing what I hope people will enjoy, which is some traditional folk from UK, and a bit of gospel, folk and other stuff from US. At least until I become more comfortable.

Tuned up my honey's little classical guitar this morning and immediately remembered how to play the stuff I taught myself (probably wrongly) years ago. Classical Gas, Dust in the Wind, Country Roads (yeah I am from that generation). Of course it was a little over 3 years ago that I was playing without pain. Today, my poor wrist was in screaming pain just with the tuning up. Much tempted as I am to just play through the pain, I am told that with RA I have to rest the hurting area to prevent increased inflammation and the deformity that follows in its wake. The old adage - "Doctor, it only hurts when I do this." "Well then, don't do that!" - becomes painfully real.

Hammered dulci sounds lovely and looks to require incredible finesse. I may give it try in one of the little shops set up at fesitvals, some time. I have mimicked that motion with different weighted items, wooden spoons and such and found no pain in it. I have looked at autoharp, it is a possibility but not if it is to be held up against the chest. I'd have to curl my left wrist to play.

For the time being, I am keen to learn and share the music that my grandparents (from Pennsylvania and West Virginia) listened to and that my Gammy played and sang. I vaguely remember her at the piano and then being the "oh so cool teenager", turned my nose up at what she was performing. Now I am in love with the sound that the mountain dulcimer makes. Don't know what it is. You reach a certain age and the heritage bug bites?

Thanks to all for the advice and well wishing.