Hello....I'm new!

Hello, Fontana and welcome! Hope you enjoy GN as much as I do.

Happy Gransnetting, Fontana.

Hello Fontana, welcome, and a HAPPY NEW YEAR to you as well. We`re brass band fans here too, hubby used to be a bandsman, before all his teeth went missing and stopped him playing!

Hello Fontana - I too worked in photography and picture editing etc. I am more or less retired now but also work in arts outreach and run singing events/choir.

I have fond associations with Devon, as all my holidays as a child were spent with my gran in Lympstone - and my Dad and sister still live in Devon. You have had a bit of rain recently I guess!!

Welcome to gransnet!

Hi Fontana, we stayed in Gozo a few years ago. My friend had a holiday home there which she has now sold. Sorry I cannot recall the name of the plce her house was in but I'll ask the family and get back to you. Lovely island, would love to go back one day. Hope you are enjoying living back in england and welcome to gransnet. Can get a bit addictive!!!! Xto allX

Hi Fontana welcome to gn.

Hi annodomini, in more ways than you think, I used to be a money advice centre manager for the CAB! X

Hi Kittylester thanks x

Hi Janey. Used to live in Xlendi ...the little harbour with a watch tower at the end of the bay, it is usually on the tourist trail LOL would be interested in where your friends house was. I miss it a lot, but not the ex husband who still lives there LOL x

Hi Mishap

Yes lots of rain here in Dorset, we live near Bridport so not far from the Devon border. I sell my images through Alamy.com which is a huge picture agency. I have a website www.catswhiskersphotography.co.uk in case you want to take a peek!

Hi numberplease glad to meet another band mate I played percussion for 25 years, all the works, tymps, glock etc. played for a Championship band for a few years, then gave it all up. Just got back into listening to the music again, as I missed it so much that I could not bear to listen for several years!

Thanks soop x

Thanks Ariadne looking forward to chatting to you all!

YES THATS IT Xlendi! My friends house was up the hill from the little harbour.
As I recall there was a little shop if you can call it that and I used to buy
bunches of herbs there for cooking. We used to walk to the harbour and it wasnt far. Hot though!! Sorry you returned for sad reasons? X

That shop was only open in the summer months, they used to sell some really dodgy home brewed wine from under the counter, best thing to use if your drains were blocked, you would never want to drink it! Re leaving....I had to leave my dog and most of my stuff there when I left, the ex shipped back the stuff (inc empty shampoo bottles) but kept the dog :0(

Anyway...have a new life here now and left the ex to carry on sleeping with lady divers he met at the dive centre in Xlendi! Considering I worked and paid the bills he led a charmed life...do I sound bitter?

Sounds like you had a right to be bitter, but you also sound the sort of person not to give in to it.
Which championship band did you play for? My hubby was a soprano cornet player for many years, then he changed bands and was second cornet in that band. We went to see Black Dyke band at our local parish church recently, they were, as usual, BRILLIANT!

Numberplease...Aldbourne in Wiltshire in the early 80's made it to Championship ranking, also played with other level bands Kennet Vale Band in the 80's Cricklade Band from 1970 till the 90's plus lots of helping out other bands.

BD are always brill...I really miss playing...especially the sound a band makes when it is playing hymns...even though I'm not religious I don't think you can beat that sound LOL

hey! that makes me the newest!!! Been on this site for two whole days. it looks good, but Hi everybody, looking forward to getting to know you all

Welcome sylvie I think you will enjoy being on Gransnet.
I have been here since May 2011. We are a friendly lot and there is always somebody here to listen. There is lots of support and virtual hugs for those that need them

Hi sylvie22 you just caught me before lights out - welcome and enjoy!

Welcome Sylvie hope you enjoy gn

Welcome Sylvie and Fontana I do hope you both enjoy Gransnet

Hello, sylvie and welcome!

Hi fontana and sylvie welcome

Hello sylvie welcome to GN