A SERIOUS THANK YOU, and a bit of an explanation and a bit of self pity ;-)

Over the last 18 months my family has been dogged by bad health :-((

I spent the previous Christmas knocking on the "Pearly Gates" after suffering multiple blood clots in my lungs. After being rushed to hospital I spent several days there and then several months recovering. Whilst I was getting better Mrsthereallyniceman became more and more unwell and suffering frequent chest pains. She spent months backwards and forwards to hospital culminating, a few weeks ago, with her having quadruple heart by-pass surgery. The good news is that she has now almost fully recovered, back to ballroom dancing, and she says that she has never felt as well.

So we must get down to recording another banjo/piano video masterpiece. :-)

MrsTRNM says she would like to show you all the operation scars on her chest... but I thought it may put you off your practice!

During this time I have not really spent as much time as I should on the website so I would like to give personal thanks to all who have posted discussions and videos and give thanks to Steve who has looked after things while I have been otherwise occupied !  I should now be able to get more things going on the site...so keep your eyes peeled.

Now I have given you the sob story, there is one person who I would like to give very special thanks to. He made me so happy when I received a parcel out of the blue from him. I have only now got round to sharing it.. BUT what he sent me has become probably my most treasured set of Classic Banjo memorabilia and has prime place in my collection.

I won't publish his name.. but he knows who he is and I hope that he knows just how pleased (delighted) am.

Let's see how long it takes for someone to guess what I received that made me so happy!

He sent several documents:

Item 1.

?

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Well, it does prove parallel lines don't meet but you probably knew that from Geometry.

Ian,
I am glad that you and your wife are doing better, and on the road to recovery. I am embarrassed to say that I haven't been around here for quite sometime. My music partner and I have been working on our music which is on accordion and tenor banjo. I keep in touch with my classic banjo stuff, but have been extra diligent with keeping my accordion music up to par. Dealing with health is always an ongoing thing. So, we forge ahead and keep picking and squeezing and hopefully it will all turn out well. I wish you both continued good health. Keep playing as it is the best medicine.

Well, here is a  more obvious clue :-)

Not something to do with Van Eps by any chance?

Gosh, you are far too clever for me Richard :-)

Now for the rest of the items.

What I like about this ticket is that Fred signed it and that he used it, fingered it with his grubby fingers daily and carried around with him. So his DNA IS on there ;-)

All I need is a DNA sequencer and with a little genetic modification I can recreate a few chromosomes, swallow them and then I will BECOME, my hero, Fred Van Eps  8-)))

3) Here is an original 4 page flyer detailing the Van Eps banjos

4) A  business card for the Van Eps Laboratory

5) The Van Eps-Burr Corporation company letterhead

6) Van Eps America's Leading Banjoist, three page performance flyer

7) And finally  the Van Eps  "Original" Promotions photograph (Fred's instructions to the printers on rear)

Oh yes, the first item.... that is a page from Fred's personal manuscript pad that he used for compositions and arrangements!

 (More DNA on there, I guess, so I should soon be a "Super" banjo player)    8-))

So again, thank you so much to the very kind person who sent me all this.

Glad to hear you are better!!!  We rely on your English wit to keep us honest!

What a great haul.  As an owner of a FVE banjo (non flush fret) I like to think that he might have cut himself while making it and that somewhere under the finish and in the wood is his blood.  The banjo has special powers!

Thanks for sharing!

Could you tell me what the size is of the publicity photo?  Is that the highest res scan?  I want to make a print for my office wall at work.

Ok, I'll bite. What's the extra "F" for in "Fred F. Van Eps"?

Very cool collection, Ian. I'd spring for a 'flush fret' Van Eps but at $10k, Miz Diane would likely use it as a vampire stake...on me!

Frederick Fletcher "Fred" Van Eps
(December 30, 1878 to November 22, 1960)

What concerns me more is a review on the last page:

Well really!

LOL "cottagers", considering a cottage in Newport, RI (back then) probably started @ 50 rooms...just for the servants quarters. =8^0

Considering he was FF Van Eps, I would have gone for the "oh, the extra F just means he's very loud..."

Phew, thank goodness you explained that Marc.

So please don't check the "Urban Dictionary" like I did!

I am sorry to hear that Mrs Really Nice has been seriously ill - what a horrible business but great news that you have both made a full recovery.  Hope the banjos and bells are ringing in Blackpool in celebration! 

Thanks Carrie,

It has been a bit stressful here for the last 12 months!  We are both back to blooming health so it will have to be a video soon... batten down the hatches !

Yes indeed the Blackpool Bells are now ringing again!!!

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