ack, Thbbft!
not another sitcky!
I’m sorry, I’ll go back outside 
I agree with Julia for the most part. I racked my brain trying to decide on a higher end flute to purchase, let’s face it money is hard to come by lately, so one naturally wants to get the best bang for the buck—so to speak. So, I did exactly what Casey Burns suggested and I couldn’t be happier Got a Folk Flute, was very pleased with it, still own it, wouldn’t part with it and played it till my a-- fell off. Decided to have him make a more up scale model (more expensive and didn’t have to wait a life time to get it) and evetually added keys ( didn’t have to wait a long time to get to get the keys retro fitted either), making it a 6 keyed flute. If there is a better sounding flute out there, then so be it, but you couldn’t prove it by me. I can’t, of course tell you what to do, that would be most improper—I’m just giving you my experience as one happy, flute playing dude. Don.
Thank you all for your replies, and thanks so much to those who’ve suggested sessions and sent PMs, I’ll definitely be investigating getting about to more sessions once I’ve moved up north!
Don’t misunderstand me about my Dave Williams!! It’s a lovely flute despite what it’s been through, the guy who repaired it did a cracking job, but I’m a curious type, and as it’s the only flute I’ve played I want to see what else is out there. I won’t be parting with my Williams any time soon, and I fully intend to get better acquainted with it. 
That being said I also now have a Tony Milliard flute (review coming soon!) and I’ll be playing both for now. One of my friends in London also has a Watson flute which I thoroughly enjoy playing when I catch up with her - so who knows! I’m still pretty new to flutes and makers so I’m open minded and in no particular rush to buy more, but find it very interesting to try things and see what’s out there.
proper spelling: Aintzina
very very Vasco (that coming from a Gallego). 
I spent years and piles of money buying and selling flutes to find “my flute”. Ironically it turns out the one I started with would have been just fine. OVer the years I grew as a player and that first flute (that I thought wasn’t good enough) was actually terrific when I played it again years later. Go figure…
Doc
I just play whatever instruments come my way. Buying anything “high end” is beyond me. I spend my time learning to improve my sound on what I have. It takes a long time to get to know an instrument and sometimes there are even some long awaited surprises yet to be uncovered. Over the years, there have been a few instruments that didn’t pass the exams that were handed down to others and a few instruments that died a peaceful death. There are also two instruments that I have no need for now that will be delivered to the Godchildren. I don’t know how three Godchildren are going to divide two instruments. They’ll have to decide.