Following Tom Thumb

I was asked to play at Tattershall Castle in Lincolnshire yesterday. Whilst I sat freezing in the great hall playing the harp Dave and Jack were left to explore the village. They started with the Church and found Tom Thumb's grave. It never occurred to me that he really existed. He died in 1620 aged 101 and was 47 cm high apparantly. There is a lovely photo of 'his house' on Tattershall village website - it is perched high on the roof of another house so small you can hardly notice it from the ground!

The castle itself was impressive but the moat was dry. It is normally fed from the river but they have had to close the sluice gates because of lack of rain ... (YES!) no such luck here!!! I am fed up of squelching everywhere in wellies and getting stuck. Anyway I might go back - the knights (booked to fight outside) and the National Trust were very impressed and took cards.

We are catching up slowly after a horrendous year. The harp 'Mystical' which did its first gig in May last year continues to amaze me - it sounds absolutely beautiful and multi-strung harps are like wine - they improve with age. I will never hear it at its best which I reckon to be about 100-200 years from now.

You have to look after harps though - a warning - I have collected 2 harps with central heating damage this week. The wood dries out and every joint comes apart and the harp is damaged permanently. If you have musical instruments in a heated house leave them well away from heat - they like CONSTANT TEMPERATURE. Leave WATER in a dish somewhere near for moisture.

I love teaching!

Had a lovely reception last night from Clitheroe Ladies - thank you. They were 'guinea pigs' for the new repertoire and it went down a storm - even asked for CDs - its the next job!!!

Dave came with me as the weather was very snowy here. However they had hardly any snow but it was very icy. All week the Sat Nav has been sending us down tracks and driving us mad! Last night it directed us up a track opposite the pub marked 'no through road'. We needed to turn round so headed up to find a gatehole. Much to our amazement this track took us to the main A59 and proved a brilliant short-cut.

It is very 'wuthering' here today with snow on the ground and a bitter wind. There is a local story that this was the very farm that the Earnshaws lived in when the Brontes were alive. It is difficult to prove as it was tenanted and split into 2 houses, then fell down and was re-built 10 yards in front.

Suddenly I am in big demand as a teacher! I am juggling harps around and having 32 harps is just about enough!