TweetI had occasion to revisit some photographs I took back in Summer 2003 of the Old Pilchard Works in Newlyn when it was open to the public as a working museum. It remains one of the most memorable museum experiences I have had. The working part of the museum allowed visitors to get a feel [...]
Making Cornish ghee
TweetHere is how I made ghee, or clarified butter, from good quality unsalted Cornish butter made by Trewithen Dairy, near Lostwithiel in Cornwall. Sometimes mass-produced ghee that you get in those vicious cans taste a little rancid and top-quality ghee can cost a lot of money. For example, a small jar (less than 1lb or [...]
Making Cornish paneer
TweetLast week I attempted my first home cheese by making paneer (Indian cottage cheese) from Cornish whole milk from Rodda’s Dairy. 3 litres whole Cornish milk c.80ml lemon juice 1 square muslin or cheese cloth (c.30cm sq.) In a heavy-bottomed non-stick pan gently bring the milk to a boil. As it starts to break bubbles [...]
Learning the 5-string banjo pt 6: Overcoming practice blues
Tweet I have now had my banjo six months and recently reached a bit of a plateau in my performance and improvement. Part of this was caused by having to move home during which time my practice time went out of the window and part of it was caused by a sudden lack of direction [...]
Learning the 5-string banjo pt 5: My picking right hand
TweetI have long promised a post on my experience with picks and what I am doing, or not doing, to improve my right hand technique. My banjo came with three standard picks. Two silver nickel picks made by Dunlop and one standard (giant) plastic thumb pick. There is an awful lot of information on picks [...]
Learning the 5-string banjo pt 4: You can teach yourself banjo by Janet Davis
TweetIt’s been about two months since I first started practising my banjo. I mentioned in an early post how I chose what to start learning. After taking some advice from the good folk at Banjo Hangout I decided to go for Janet Davis’s You Can Teach Yourself Banjo, book and DVD. For UK-based budding pickers, [...]
Learning the 5-string banjo pt 3: My banjo practice
Tweet The best pleasure of learning a new instrument is actually beholding the thing itself. Even as a total beginner it was very important for me to choose an instrument I would love holding, looking at and appreciating its finer details. And this is a great motivator for practice. My banjo practices are irregular at [...]
Learning the 5-string banjo pt 2: Choosing what to learn
Tweet You can have a lot of fun researching, choosing and then buying your banjo. I certainly did. I also enjoyed joining the banjo fraternity/sorority at Banjo Hangout and I even joined the Banjo Player’s Union. I too have my 2011 special edition t-shirt and stickers, which I love. But none of the cosiness of [...]
Learning the 5-string banjo pt 1: Buying
TweetI thought I would continue to chronicle my experience with the banjo in stages. So here is a bit about my experience of choosing and buying one. After a lot of research into other people’s experiences and getting the basics of what kind of banjo would suit me best I created a shopping list: 1. [...]
Banjos
TweetThey say you know a gentleman by his ability to play the banjo, but his choice not to. Or words to that effect. This and other banjo jokes have not deterred my long-standing interest in the instrument and its music. Recently Steve Martin produced an album that epitomises a banjo lover’s seduction by this peculiar [...]
