Although the whole thing of playing the musical piece ‘Cavatina’ at concert speed is not the be all and end all of classical guitar, it is something of a benchmark indicator of progress. And so it is with a small sense of achievement that I have finally made it into that particular arena. I can manage the first 10 bars at full pelt before coming undone. Only 78 more bars to go. I’m getting there. To this point it has taken me a mere 2 years, 9 months, 1 week, 4 days, 8 hours, 33 minutes and 52.455 seconds of daily practice to get this far. But hey, who’s counting?

Over on the performing side of things, the fourth gig in The Great Institution of Chatham Street has come and gone and we managed to pull off another very successful evening. Highlight of the night undoubtedly went to The Baldoyle Boy who made a stirring stage debut with his take on the Neil Young track ‘Words’.

Next gig is Wednesday April 5, you’re all invited.