don't get me started on the lack of tolerance in music sessions

Good Lord, I must be one of the lucky ones. We had a cracking session in the Bull at Ditchling last night - one or two guitars, mandolins, fiddles, harp, serpent, whistles, Northumbrian small pipes, mandocello, concertina, melodeon, saxes (some of these doubled by the musicians) - and vocals. Songs both traditional and not-so, plenty of tunes both traditional and bluesy. Plenty of Harveys ale, good musicianship and very pleasant and jolly company. Everyone got a chance to lead off on whatever they wanted, at least twice, and everyone contributed to the piece as appropriate. An appreciative set of people - the non sessioners - in the bar, who listened most of the time and applauded most things. A young lass sang a couple of solo pieces - the chatter in the bar grew to silence and you could have heard a pin drop. Rapturous applause and cheers at the end. As I say, I must be one of the lucky ones - it was a great evening.