Dear Friends,
I’m an empty, fragile, eggshell of a man. I’ve not put together a newsletter since September. Accordingly, I need help with this: What would you guys say have been the top five or six whistle news stories of the last three months? What’s been big on the forums, do you think?
Dale
Well, izzarina had her baby.
I wonder if there just plain isn’t any news? I really can’t think of a darn thing. There is that whistle tour going on—I don’t know anything about it though, but there might be some grist for the old mill there. The ears vs. dots question has not been resolved, so there really isn’t any news there even though that’s a constant topic.
The new Flook CD had some folks excited. Oh, and the CD by Brid O’Donohue–that certainly was newsworthy, but maybe that was before September. The new CD coming out by Peter Laban and Kitty Hayes is big news too. The re-release of a Patsy Touhey CD by NPU is big news in the UP world.
I hardly think the incredible amount of time being spent in the UP forum talking about what to do with the Pictures of My Pipes thread would be of general interest. Although the fact that someone noticed that most of the earlier pictures had turned into little red x’s anyway was moderately funny.
I for one would not blame you a bit for not putting out a newsletter if there is nothing to report. That is hardly your fault.
amar’s thread asking for advice on how to ask a certain girl out was a big hit in the Pub. 
I’m sure the dots won.
sigh
In fairness: I was to do the write up of Brid’s CD for the newsletter by july, when I delayed things I promised to do it by autumn and full of good intentions interviewed Brid early october. Then I spent time organising all sort of post recording stuff on the other business, which is a non item in whistle terms so not relevant here, and promised Dale to finish the article before christmas. Hopefully, although it will get done eventually.
Earlier I thought of suggesting Mary Bergin’s daughter winning the Galway editions of the RTE talent show ‘You’re a star’ and Mary doing the proud mother bit on tellie. But that didn’t have anything to do with whistles either. Nice singer though.
May I mention the RTE radio series ‘Instrumentals’ though, broadcast on the sundaymorning at 10.45 (but also to be had through the RTE website) which features an instrument each week, today’s was the flute. Don’t know when the whistle will be on.
Dale, does the newsletter just have to be about whistle news? I know you said whistle news, but then you said “forums” so I wasn’t quite sure. I can’t remember the other newsletters too well. Maybe you could put in news from all the forums or for all the instruments. Or just put in anything you think would be of interest. What you got in your stocking, …
We’ll be looking forward to reading about Brid O’Donohue whenever it gets ready!
Oh, not at all. In fact, it’s never been just about whistle news.
And, I’m holding the issue until Peter finishes. No pressure or anything.
Dale
I missed that one…how did it go Amar?
Well, she has my number. Not much more.
A review of sorts is on it’s way to your mailbox as I write. I’ll start work on the interview asap.
If we’re listing good, recent CDs, CTL’s Woman of the House deserves a plug.
ah, not to forget the new mike mcgoldrick cd: wired.
Dale,
I don’t think that this applies to the newsletter so much, but what about putting some links on the website to sites that teach the whistle? I have gleaned a few from my modest travels on the forum.
Woody
A Thin Weasel sold for $760… That’s pretty significant but unfortunately doesn’t provide much newsletter filler. If there was some way to find the buyer, that might be a story…