Last year I became the happy owner of a Bodhran. A birthday present from Mrs Courtmount which she arranged while she was in Afghanistan.

Bodhran was made by Belgrath Bodhhrans in the Orkneys and is thing of beauty.

Unfortunately I'm about as musical as something that isn't musical. I don't understand this thing about beats. If you listen to a fiddle it doesn't have a beat, not to me at any rate.

I am now having lessons and have joined a few jamming sessions in a local bar. I'm told that the other players don't keep to my rhythm but they don't complain too much so I'll keep on going.

Any other bashers of the goatskin out there?