Well, after playing several open mic events and a couple of local festivals, I was asked to perform on the acoustic stage at a record companies launch night.

A few weeks later the owner of the company Robert Harrison of Long Haired Music in Spilsby, Lincolnshire saw me in Lincoln and asked if he could record my playing. This would be…

So, following my break/holiday it was back to work for a fortnight of difficult (and long) shifts.

However, I did manage to fit in a couple of open mic sessions. One was the monthly 'jam night' at the Plough where, having arrived late after a long shift, I played my cigar box fiddle performing (for those that know or care) "Lincolnshire Lads", "Fanny power"…

Well everybody, I've just spent a week or so away at my parents and I suddenly realised how tired and fatigued I was. Dad got himself a cymera (or something like that) which is a trapezium shaped stringed instrument with each string tuned in a diatonic progression. It sounds really tuneful and would be great with a pick up and a bit of distortion.

 …

Well there we are, another Christmas gone. There seems to have been so many.

I got an invite to play at a local pub (bar) on new years eve as part of their festivities. I played a selection of 1960/1970s English pop classics with a 4 string baritone tuned guitar. One of mine.

Songs included 'Honkey tonk angels', Honkey Tonk Women', 'The Ballad of Lucy Jordan', 'Memphis', Brown eyed handsome man' and 'Promised Land'. Things went well and the Landlord and family…

Well, although the weather has been awful, it's been a good week.

The fiddle has been finished with a new bridge and several minor adjustments. I'm slowly getting used to the instrument as it is a bit different from a 'traditional' acoustic violin and it balances a bit strangely when compared to my factory built electric fiddle.

I have also been delighted to see that my cigar box Christmas tune 'Silent Night' was included in the Christmas download for 2010 and I received…

Well, I finally got the 'cigar box' fiddle built. Everything looked good, the instrument tuned up well and seemed to remain in tune. The bridge was a bit out but as easily adjusted although a new one would have been better as the one used was a reclaimed item from a 3/4 violin.

So, new bridge and some fine tuners were ordered and ,when they arrived, were…