Well I've been a bit of a stranger to Mudcat in the last few months. I've been spending more time on Facebook making new friends and getting to know some old ones a lot better.

I hope I haven't been away from here so long that you will all be saying 'Jenny who?'

Life has taken some interesting twists and turns in the last few months, and I am now planning a trip to the UK and France - in the UK from the 10th to the 29th September and France (at my brother's place in Paris) after that till the 10th October.

A friend and I will be at Bromyard Folk Festival on the weekend of the 12th - 14th, and wondered if any 'Catters will be there. There might also be a chance to catch up with people in London right at the beginning or on the last few days of September.

Now I have a big favour to ask. I was going to bring my fiddle, but the airline has told me that it is classed as a dangerous weapon and will have to travel as luggage, and therefore count as part of the already meagre weight allowance, so I was wondering if there was anybody who has a spare one they could lend me during the UK part of my trip. I promise I would care for it lovingly.

If anyone would like to know more, I am going to try to mend my ways and spend more time here, so I'll be checking this thread and PMs. A couple of you might get PMs from me, in fact. I'm really looking forward to this trip!