Hi, thought I'd say hello as I followed your link to zinngystrinngywhatever. This site is a great way to share these things, thanks.

I lived in Europe for ten years -out of the rat race. Went touring with a band, met my wife, bought a farm in Portugal, played in bars (as a duo) in Portugal and across the border and ended up back in England! Damn! Ellen is a language teacher so we get the six weeks in the summer at least.  

Nice guitar collection. 

Richard (and Ellen) 

Hi WW

Thanks for asking, yes progress is slow; i'm finding it very hard to overcome the dexterity required to get the notes.  My fat fingers are a pain and it is disheartening.  I'm also affected by the weather (I've got SAD) and at the moment it stinks!  But I'm not going to quit these things take time, so I'll just keep plugging away  What's the weather like in Spain?

 Talk to you soon

Phil

Hello

 Im sorry I haven't replyed earlier to your email but Ive been having a problem with my browser.....or so Im told. Tell your Husband the bike in the profile is awesome actually the photo was taken in Spain somewhere near Mercia.

Maybe now I can join in the 'acoustic fun' with everyone else

 Catch you soon I hope 

 1 bloke

Hiya WW! Thanks, I'll have to mosey over to soundclick and check your station out....

 As for the tuning its a low C tuning, CGDGCD, a lot of people use it for celtic music like the Air/Jig thingy, but its good for other things too, my Nocturne tune is played in it too. I love the range you can have playing with it.

Cheers! 

Ah ha finaly found out how to use this messaging thingy.

Thanks for the positive comments on the music. Well your right I'm not a beginner I've been addicted to guitar for the last 28 years but hopefully I'm still an improver. Sometimes I think I'm going backwards! I see you live in a great part of the world for guitar music. Some of my favourite music (Albeniz etc)was inspired by the Andalucian region of Spain.

Great collection of guitars you have there

Thanks again for the comments. 

Hi WW

Thanks for your recommendations, Music room looks like a good site, I'll give them a call tomorrow.  I'm now thinking about a Freshman, as Justin Sandercoe recommends them.  Hopefully I'll have a guitar this time next week 

 Cheers

Phil

I'm pleased you enjoyed the Mermaid video on YouTube.  We were in the process of putting together the things we needed to do the tour but we were interrupted by a local bureaucrat wanting to demolish my house (long story!) and the project lost momentum. It's a project we'd like to revisit one day.

The Mermaid is well worth seeing "in the flesh" - or should that be "in the wood" - if you get a chance.  Even the best of photographs can't do it (her?) justice.

I am pleased that you have found my column encouraging. Glad you've rediscovered the guitar and that you enjoy your new found singing voice too. 

All the best,

Julie

Hi WW

 I got a message from AL but could not find it till tonight, so apologies for the late response  As you will have gathered from my post I have bought a guitar, the Tanglewood T28.  F rom the website of Guitar village, who are based in London. I was led to believe that the model I was buying was on special offer.  If you look at the website and scroll down their monthly offers, near the bottom you will see the guitar I ordered.  I bought it and the postage was £60 to Jersey but I thought I was gettin a good guitar so I bit the bullet.

 I then checked Tanglewood's website and found that the recommended retail price for the guitar was £130  So I phoned them today to clarify how this was .  They said that the guitar was a special offer because it was a starter kit  which came with the usual gig bag and tuner.   I told the guy that when I ordered the guitar I made it clear that I wanted sort of the next step up, say about £200, the salesman inferred that the guitar was what I wanted.  I bet your sorry you asked me now aren't you?  Any hoot the upshot is the salesman I spoke to is going to call me and we'll hopefully sort it out.  I'm a reasonable guy and although I'll have to send it back, at their expense, I'll get my money back or get a suitable guitar.  Phew!!!  This is on the back of us just getting beat at football by Croatia, so your message was a timely intervention which has taken my mind off it

Anyway How are things in sunny Spain?  I was speaking to my wife's (Rae) friend in Malaga on Sunday, we're hoping to visit her next February (my Rae's birthday).  she hasn't seen her since she left for Spain and we moved to Jersey, so we're looking forward to it.  I like your singing by the way; i hope that when I can knock out  a tune I'll be able to sing along.

 Thank you for taking an interst in my progress, I'll let you know the outcome.

Thanks

Phil

PS I had to say WW because I don't know your real name, sorry

Hi I knew it I felt sure the last time I looked it was only 5.

Chris

Ooops, another couple of pics added to the gallery!

W bought a funny little Crafter mandolin, just to have a stab at it. Hubby went to the music shop to buy a strap for it and came back with the Oscar Schmidt! ......can't think how that happened????