My apologies for the blandness of this latest blog post. Allot of great things have been going great for me, but one unfortunate setback is that I lost my camera in a book store in Ennis -- so no pictures. Allot has happened since I left the farm in County Claire. Willie Clancy Week was quite an experience. I made some great connections with other players and took fiddle classes from two great fiddlers of my own generation: Oisin Mac Dermot and Caoimhin ni Reiligh. Both of my teachers had great style and teaching methods. Oisin is from West Claire, Clancy's territory, but currently resides in Sligo. Caoimhin is from County Dublin. There were far too many people in that small town, few of whom were actual musicians, to be able to hear the pub sessions but I was able to learn so many great things about trad music and my style of playing. the concerts were amazing! I can't believe the level of playing some of these musicians are at. The fiddle concert in particular blew my mind. I was a bit melancholy when I had to leave at the end of the week, because I had gotten used to the routine and the friends I made. Fortunately I didn't have to say goodbye to everyone. I am currently on the Aran Island of Inis Oirr with my lovely new friend Bridget Mac Ateer. Bridget is a brilliant and beautiful person with a heart of gold. Anyway, back to the story. After the Willie Clancy Week my friend Jim gaev me a ride to the town of Loughrae where I met my next organic farm host. As soon as I met her Eileen Thomas gave me a hug and took me to her home. The first thing I thought was this place is amazing. Talk about living close to the earth! everything on the farm was made from recycled materials. There were native species of all sorts of plants and animals, and they were all part of the ecosystem Eileen was working to preserve. Eileen comes from Scotland. Her father was a welsh coal miner and she is a Scots Gaelic and Irish speaker. She works in Loughrae as a geologist. She is really a fantastic and interesting person, also very kind. There are three other volunteers on the farm, one from Canada, one from Basque country and one from France. we all get on very well. My job at the farm is restoring an old caravan. I have been replacing a rotten wall inside with materials I salvaged from around the farm. It is a great job that involves creativity and ingenuity. That's where I have been for the past week, and this weekend for my time off Bridget invited me to come to this island, Inis Oir with her. On Monday I go back to work. That's the brief synapses. Hopefully I can find a way to send pictures soon!