Excellent weekend of music here. Fountain on Friday night saw the visit ...

Excellent weekend of music here. Fountain on Friday night saw the visit home of Wallace from the U.S. and along with the regulars and the occasionals, Geordie , Ivan and Wilson, it was a mighty night of tune and song, not all Irish traditional!

On Saturday afternoon I went down to Portaferry for an excellent session involving among others Geordie, Ben Healey,Fergus Thompson, Brian Harte and the stalwarts of the music scene in those parts Denis Calvert and Ernie Swain. We owe a lot to these people who have been there through thick and thin over many years. An enjoyable time was had by all. It was still in full flow when I left to return to Belfast for the Hewitt session. There was no shortage of players. There were good musicians waiting on the side unable to get a place up at the musicians table. The Hewitt has its regulars, Spike Callaghan, David Williams, Frankie Drain, Seanie Lavery, Bro Maguire and Gerry Mc Cartney and others. Gerry was out of his sick bed on Saturday to appear. He was drinking water so he must be serious! And there are always others who drop in and make valuable contributions. From the perspective of traditional music we are alive and well.

I've made an executive decision to recycle my waist - I'm gonna get on that ...

I've made an executive decision to recycle my waist - I'm gonna get on that exercise bike right now!

Just wishing all of you all a happy new year. Here in Sydney it's the count ...

Just wishing all of you all a happy new year. Here in Sydney it's the count down to the fireworks on the harbour, it just gets bigger and better each year. The only drawback is you have about 2 mill of people down at the water to watch. We haven't been down at the fire works in 15 years because it takes about 5 hours to get home after the show and stuff that for a night out. No, we will watch it on TV AND HAVE A GLASS OR 3.

Happy new year to all the Abbots in WA, lets hope this year will bring a ...

Happy new year to all the Abbots in WA, lets hope this year will bring a bit of peace to the world and that the ashes stay here in OZ.

Jackie and Elaine, I would send you something ... but I don't know your ...

Jackie and Elaine, I would send you something ... but I don't know your address. What is it? Happy New Year to you both and all our BelfastFolk contributors. We've just been watching split screen pictures of London and Edinburgh's Fireworks on Sky TV. It looked wonderful.

Happy new year to all. id any of youse see the fireworks from Sydney? Well ...

Happy new year to all. id any of youse see the fireworks from Sydney? Well, me an her paid for that out of our tax and we thought it only fair if you did watch it on TV that you send us a few bob. We don't expect much, say 2 or 3 poun from each of you. For those of you in the USA, Frank and Wallace, that would be 4 or 5 greenbacks I think. Thanks very much in advance.