We are looking forward to a relaxing Christmas and New Years after a very busy December at our two churches and at work too.   This year I left the afterschool club job for a temporary position as the maternity cover for the Youth and Children’s Officer for the Diocese of Edinburgh.  It’s been an excellent experience filled with new and exciting challenges every week.  I’ve learned quite a bit and met some lovely people in our Diocese as well as visitors from other Dioceses around the world too.

At the end of February, Paul and I had the great joy of visiting my family in the states once more.  This time, during Fawcett birthday season – so we managed to be there for Aunt Barb’s birthday and also to celebrate my birthday and dad’s birthday too.  On our visit home, we took a road trip to Maryland to meet Pat and Patrick Costello – two wonderful banjo players who share their love for this music online daily through free banjo lessons.  As Paul had learned to play from watching them online, it was a great joy to see him finally meet them in person.  We were treated to excellent hospitality by both Pat and Patrick along with Pat’s wife Miss Trudy.

For my birthday, Paul and our family chipped in to get me a digital SLR camera!  I’ve had loads of fun this year trying my hand at digital photography.  Paul has enjoyed the new gadget as well and has become quite the nature photographer too!

In the spring, we helped as leaders on the Easter Vigil and a youth retreat for St. Philip’s youth group.  Once again the Breakfast Club and our co-leaders David, Carol and Lesley continue to inspire us.

Yay Broon!

In May we traveled home to Boston for Bethany and Jeff’s wedding. It was excellent to be back to see all our great Boston friends, especially Lisa, Matt and Melissa.  We realised just how much we miss Boston and are sure that when we eventually move back to the states, it will be to Boston.  One of the highlights of the trip home was meeting Tommy, Matt and Melissa’s baby boy. He was quite impresssed with Broon’s banjo playing, repeatedly saying “Yay Broon!” We enjoyed a fun a trip to Cabot’s with the Sagendorphs.  For me, it was especially wonderful to be able to visit with my best friend Lisa and we hope it won’t be too long before we see her again.

In July, we made the big move!  We moved out of Edinburgh to a nearby seaside town called Musselburgh (although we officially live in Fisherrow apparently…).  We are renting a flat for just the two of us and it’s lovely.

We celebrated our three year wedding anniversary on the 26^th of August.  Paul treated me to a lovely meal at the Glasshouse in Musselburgh and we finished off with ice cream from S. Luca. (So thankful to be living closer to our favourite ice cream parlour now!)

In November, Mom and Dad crossed the ocean for a visit to Musselburgh to stay with us.  It was so nice to be with them again and to have time to see more of Edinburgh.  The highlights were definitely sharing High Tea at the Balmoral Hotel, climbing Arthur’s Seat with Dad and sharing in an early Thanksgiving meal with the Broons.  During this week, we also were thrilled to celebrate Paul’s Baptism day.  There was a quiet service at St. Philip’s followed by drinks at the Dalrieda with family and a couple friends.

We’re looking forward to seeing what 2010 brings and hope to catch up with you soon.   Many blessings for you and your family this year.  With Love, from Mish and Broon.

I got some really nice comments from folks all over the world on the last youtube vid I put up after the Costello’s linked to it over on their tangiersound blog.   Encouraged by all the nice things folks were saying I put another couple of tunes up.

First up, a banjo tune called Sandy River Belle…

…and here’s one of me singing along to Who’s Gonna Shoe and completely ballsing up the tune.  Hey ho…

Dick Edie recently got in touch through the blog.  Dick also learned the banjo via Youtube and with a little help from the Costellos.

Dick lives in the west of Scotland (out in the wilds) but he comes through to Edinburgh every so often to visit family and offered to meet and play a few tunes.

We got together at the flat this afternoon to chew the fat and have a bit of a jam.  Dick has also visited Crisfield and attended last years Folk Retreat.  I would definitely love to get myself over there next year!

You don’t bump into too many banjo players in Edinburgh so it was really good to meet another frailer, swap tips, stories, try new instruments and learn some new tunes.

My brother Stu joined us on keyboards and between the three of us we had a nice wee jam session.  I only wish I could remember a whole song all the way through.

Dick seems like a great guy and I hope we can do it again sometime.

Woo! I made the blog:

http://tangiersound.wordpress.com/2009/03/03/friends-from-far-away/

“how does this thing work then?”

I decided I wanted to learn how to play the banjo after watching Sufjan Stevens perform in a bar in Glasgow.  He managed to silence a drunk and rowdy crowd for a good two hours mostly by himself, some great songwriting and his banjo.

I guess I must have worn down the family on both sides of the Atlantic – maybe they thought I’d shut up about banjos and Sufjan because they all chipped in to buy me a banjo for my 30th birthday.  So in January 2008 Mish and I found ourselves in NYC banjo shopping whilst visiting the Fawcetts.  I was thrilled with my new purchase of a shiny Deering Goodtime, gig bag and hardcase (for the flight home).

As with most things in life when you have no idea of how they work a good place to start is Google. A quick search for “banjo tuition” threw up a Youtube video entitled: “Frailing Banjo Lesson One”.  Bingo!

I sat down, watched, listened and started to learn to frail.  Frailing is an old-time method of banjo playing that involves striking the strings in a downward motion.  The instructor Patrick Costello, sat in front of a white painted banister, had a brilliant way of teaching that felt informal yet informative and before long I was searching out his videos and tutorials on the Internet.  I discovered that Patrick had written two instruction books under the Creative Commons License i.e. free to download.   Patrick and his father Pat (Dear Old Dad) also started to put “Folk Song of the Day” videos on Youtube.

I think I would have put the banjo to one side after a couple of months of strumming away aimlessly but with Patrick and Pat’s help I found myself learning a proper method and improving my skills.

I found myself tuning in every day then later checking out their blog.  I’m sure I was driving Mish crazy with my incessant internet hogging and jangly banjo antics but before long the catch-phrase “How you doin’ folks” was commonly heard in the Broon dwelling. It’s part of the guys’ ethic to share folk music and they have a massive community of friends, students and supporters across the globe.

Surprise

Mish cannot keep a secret!  So one night after work she was bursting to tell me what she had got me for my birthday.  She had written to the Costellos and asked if we could visit them at their home in Crisfield, Maryland.  They were kind enough to agree to this and yesterday we found ourselves on the road.

We borrowed Mr. Fawcett’s SUV and were in Crisfield in no time (well 5 hours actually…) We arrived and were warmly greeted by Patrick, Dear Old Dad and Miss Trudy.  I’ve got to say it was strange to see these guys in the flesh as I’d been watching them on Youtube for months.  It’s almost like meeting film stars or someone on TV.  They were all really friendly, welcoming and charming.  Mish kept Miss Trudy company whilst I got to jam with the boys.  I was a bit nervous to start with but soon warmed up.  They were very encouraging and enthusiastic about my playing and got me thinking about playing in public more and sharing folk music in the community back home.  It was the biggest compliment to hear Patrick say “you’re not a banjo student.  You’re a banjo player” Shucks!

The Costello’s have set up a music company and have recently designed and started supplying their own range of banjos.  I got to try the S4 banjo which was fantastic.  I’m starting to save for one of their Somerset Banjos as soon as I get home – they play fantastically, sound brilliant and are unpretentious.

A couple of hours later and we were on our way back to Little Egg Harbor, after a quick stop by the bay whilst Mish took photos and almost lost some fingers through frostbite.  We rounded off the day with a massive sandwich from Wawa – a perfect way to finish a brilliant day.

Paul and I drove down to Maryland yesterday to meet Pat, Patrick and Miss Trudy.  It was a lovely road trip – much thanks to Dad for letting us borrow his car!  The Costello’s were absolutely wonderful and we’re so thankful for their generosity in meeting up with two strangers from Scotland to chat about banjos over tea and scones.  Paul had a good banjo playing session with the guys while I had a great chat with Miss Trudy – sharing a common interest in children’s ministry.

The drive was about 5 hours each way and we were back just before 10pm – to an absolutely ecstatic poodle.  Apparently Cody sat by the door waiting for us the entire time.  Even when Mom, Sean and Dad arrived home, he only visited briefly with them before returning to wait for us by the door, so sad… but then we were home again and Cody came to life.  His wee tail wouldn’t stop wagging and he pounced about the living room waiting to be picked up for a cuddle.   He then promptly retrieved his favourite ball and dropped it at Paul’s feet expectantly, backing up ready to chase it down wherever Paul threw it.

12 hours later, Cody is finally calm again and adventuring out into the snow filled backyard.  We’ll totally miss this dog when we fly back to Scotland on Saturday…

Mish and I have spent the last week and a bit in NJ. We’ve been spending time with the Fawcett clan and hanging out with Cody the dog.

Although it’s been brilliant spending time with the in-laws the best thing about this holiday is simply being off work.  We’ve tried not to over-extend ourselves so that we aren’t  worn out by the time we get home.  This time I think we’ll both be nicely rested and we won’t need a holiday from our holiday.

That being said we do have a road trip planned on Tuesday.  Mish and I will hit the road to Crisfield, MD to visit my Banjo hero’s: Pat and Patrick Costello.  As part of my birthday present this year, Mish got in touch with the folks that inspired and taught me to play (reasonably well) the banjo I got  for my 30th birthday.  She asked if we could come and visit and they were kind enough to invite us over to visit them during our trip to the US.  I am in awe of these guys for their generosity of spirit in sharing their musicianship.  I’ve lugged my banjo over the ocean to play a couple of songs with them – hopefully I’ll not make too much of an arse of myself.

We have just bought a shiny new Digital SLR camera for Mish’s birthday so look out for some photos from our trip soon.  They’ll mostly be of Cody the dog although hopefully we’ll have some from our trip to Maryland too.

broon oot…