July saw the addition to my musical family of this beautiful folk harp made by Wilfred Smith from English oak, whose enterprise was the original workshop where Pilgrim Harps was founded.  I was lucky enough to come across this gem when visiting a good friend, Derek Himsley of Stringwind Repairs near Ashford in Kent.  As it's quite a bit larger than my little celtic harp, I am relishing the prospect of getting my hands round the extra strings, especially the lusciously reverberating bass strings.  First outing will be to Herstmonceux Medieval Weekend at the end of August.

Late in 2019, a band I have been following for some time, Stone Junction, was undergoing a change of personnel.  As I hadn't gigged properly in a year whilst finishing off the album, I rather thought it would do me good to get out a bit more!!  The guys, Mike and Will, have been very welcoming and now we have several gigs under our belts as the new line up, which has also been augmented with the arrival of Justin on double bass.  SJ are described as 'Transatlantic Feral Folk'.