FinnDave

I believe that tulips are considered a generous tip if you're playing in Amsterdam.

You'll be OK unless it gets fortnight to play.

We'll never know for sure

Yeah, my hearing's a bit weak sometimes, too!

I remember bits of different gigs that, if they had all happened on the same night, would be a truly memorable gig. With The Wirebirds, we had an unexpectedly good gig at a bike rally in April last year. We'd already played two sets in a social club, then driven an hour to a remote field only to be told we would be on late as they were behind schedule. Managed to sleep in the car for an hour or two (missed the burlesque though) and went on after midnight. Proper stage, PA and lights run by people who knew what they were doing, and despite, or maybe because, us all being knackered, we played a good set, everyone dancing (including the girls from the burlesque show), that was a night to remember.

I think the ad is good and clear, it lays out exactly what they expect and what they can offer. I wouldn't be interested in a band that gigs so infrequently myself, but they are up front about it. I can see it appealing to quite a few people if they have young families and/or demanding jobs. Like many 'musicians wanted' ads, it is realistic and not the work of dreamers.

If people whose playing I respect ask me to play with them, then I consider that to be a sign of reasonable ability.

Set list??

There's a UK distributer: http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/pickguards-c62

Not last night, but yesterday afternoon, was part of the host band for the monthly blues jam at Fat Lil's in Witney. Local stalwart Dave Smith of the Mighty Cadillacs has recruited half of the Wirebirds (me and guitarist Al Stroud), so the band is now a five piece with two lead guitarists, which certainly opened a few eyes and ears yesterday! Quite a few gigs booked for the new line up, so the year is looking good.

That sounds as if it could potentially leave you open to losing at least half of your spoon collection

I feel sure a new spoon would help.

Yes, it's true to say that it does have some advantages

It must be a more accurate way of weighing a bass, though, before I took in the shower my Precision weighed under nine pounds according to the kitchen scales, but obviously the accuracy of the Archimedean shower scared them into revealing its true weight afterwards at just under 27 lbs. I'll play it tomorrow if water has stopped pouring out of the jack socket by then.

I played O'Neils in Reading last night with a band that was half Wirebirds & half Mighty Cadillacs (Winey based blues/RnR). Good place to play in terms of size and audience, but getting in and out of the centre of Reading isn't easy, neither is parking near the venue. Last time I played there I got fines for bus lane infringements that equalled my take home for the gig, hopefully avoided that this time. Gig went well, some good dancing going on out front. Played my maple/sunburst Precision through Rootmaster 800 evo and Barefaced Super Twin, more than loud enough with the volume barely off the starting block.

No idea if the shower door is watertight. I'll pop in there in a moment with my best Precision and see if I can work out the weight once I've collected all the water off the bathroom floor.

We don't have a bath, will this work in the shower?

Just need to find the right system of weights, they are all 42 somethings...

And more recently, there has been such a resurgence in interest in vintage spoons that most major spoon makers are now making replicas of their earlier wares, in some cases charging more to add signs of wear and tear, even going to such lengths as to introduce fake tooth damage, and scorching from use of excessively hot sauce.

Obviously a man of good taste!

The 70s was responsible for spoons of very varied quality, and even today some real lemons are still being passed off as peaches.

In those parts of the country which the term 'head' for 'bowl' is not used, they of course refer to the point at which the bowl and handle join as the 'bowl stock'. Which in itself is an interesting co-incidence, as I think I have a booking to play there this year. On to the more serious part of your post, as a (tie) dyed in the wool traditionalist, I will always argue the case for silver sixpences as being the more authentic metalwork for a pudding.

It is obviously essential to then eat the pudding and sauce combination using the correct type of spoon. I am of the belief that only a rosewood spoon can bring out the full richness of the pudding/sauce combination; the use of a maple spoon would introduce a harsh brittleness to the taste. I accept that the existence of 'taste woods' has been debated among pudding aficionados for generations, but I remain convinced that a traditional pudding would be ruined by the use of a maple spoon (unless the pudding dates back to the 1950s, when maple spoons were in widespread use, and therefore the use of one would recreate that much sought-after vintage taste).

I prefer the tone of a traditional Christmas pudding, these modern light weight sponges will be the ruination of bass playing.