Highlights of last 10 years

Hi Angel,
don't think I'll be able to answer this in one go. Achievements, I don't know about apart from the fact I'm still here and playing. Plenty of experiences and my highlights would be........................
Ten years, that takes us back to 1999. quite a year really! I was best man at Swarbs' wedding to Jill and a couple of weeks later the three of us were all off together on a tour of Austria. On the way home, driving through Germany Swarb had 'total respitory failure' and ended up in an intensive care unit near Stuttgart. A couple of months later the first Swarbaid happened and that was quite a gig on many levels as was that years Cropredy , as me and Swarb played it (oxygen mask 'n all) against huge odds. On a lighter note that year I produced and arranged an album of Scott Skinner tunes 'Sarona' by violinist, Mike Burnham, which I really enjoyed doing and still think is a worthy album. Nice one Mike!
In 2000, I recieved a phone call from Joe Broughton, suggesting we have a 'play' and that was the start of long lasting musical partnership that I've enjoyed ever since. I was also very fortunate that I got to play that year with a fantastic singer from the Hebredies, Alyth McCormack, and also played with Catriona McDonald (fiddle) and on another occasion Chris Stout.(fiddle)
2001 saw the first Dempsey/Broughton album, Every Other World, a definite highlight for me.
In 2002, Peter knight, Tom Leary and myself got together and formed Tanna. Which is a great little trio, and swings like the clappers. We toured america quite a bit and europe, but have only done a few festivals and gigs in the uk. We haven't recorded anything yet either, which I think is a shame, although we have hours of live recordings.
I'm going a bit blank about '03. Anyway 2004was quite something when I got asked to tour america as part of the Mary Black Band. A few rehearsals in Dublin, and then off for a 'from sea to shining sea' tour. This was particularily special for me as Mary asked if we could do the 'Once I Loved' track from the 'Freehand' (kev and Joe) album. I sang the first verse, Mary the second, me the third and we joined in for the chorus's. It was the sixth number of the set every night for the whole tour. I know I'm not dreaming 'cos I have the live recording!!
So now then, 2005. I had a phone call from Gianlucca Dessi, in sardinia, asking me if I would like to play at the Fabrizio de Andre, memorial festival in Tempio, Sardinia that summer. I was staggered, fabrizio is one of my all time favourite artists, whose album 'Creuza de ma' was hugely influential on world music. Prior to that album fabrizio was a 'cult' figure but after that he became nationally and internationally important. He was from Genoa, but lived the latter part of his life on sardinia. a fascinating character, you could check him out online!! Anyway, one of the things required for that gig was that I sing in Genovese, as he did. I can speak a few words of Italian, but to sing in the Genovese dialect.......... anyway I was determined, so with the aid of some sardinian friends i learnt it phonetically and just did it. The theatre was packed to the rafters with crowds outside as well, listening to the concert through external speakers. The atmosphere was electric, very intense. A night to remember indeed!
Phew, it's all coming back to me, I'm going for a lie down. I'll be back with 2006 to now. soon,
cheers Angel