Hello....I'm new!

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

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!

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?

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

Thanks Ariadne looking forward to chatting to you all!

Thanks soop x

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!

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 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 Kittylester thanks x

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

Hi Fontana welcome to gn.

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

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!

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!

Happy Gransnetting, Fontana.

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

hello Fontana - welcome to G'net. You seem to be very much at home here and it's good to meet a kindred spirit.

Thanks Crimson, yes a fab book I just bought my self a secondhand copy after lending mine to someone and not getting it back! I'm the same about books as you, some books I just can't bear to part with! I stupidly gave away my Mrs Beeton book on household management 1982 edition and just spent a lot of money on buying another one from EBay!

Hi Fontana; I've been nosey and checked your profile . See you list The Shell Seekers as one of your favourite books. Isn't it just wonderful. I lived in Cornwall for a few years and I find her books lovely 'comfort reads'. A friend lent me The Shell Seekers several years ago and, for once' I left it somewhere when we were on holiday [Kefalonia or somewhere] because I wanted someone else to pick it up and read it whilst sitting on a beach gazing out to sea. I'm normally very precious with books and can't bear to part with them. Welcome!

Thanks Butty, Happy New Year!

Hi Fontana and welcome to the world of GN.

Hi Grannyactivist, thanks for your message, should have mentioned that the purple hair is spikey too, hope that does not make me sound too scary LOL?

Happy New Year!

Hi Faye, that sounds like a plan! Hoping to make friends, have fun and share ideas with new people....Happy New Year by the way!

Hello and Happy New Year, fontana! Look forward to reading your posts. We are definitely a mixed bunch - but that's what makes it work.