@clewless Thank you Richard for not only taking the time to listen, but also to offer honest and constructive criticism, complete with suggestions 
I was very aware of the fact that the less confident I am with my technique, the more ‘tentatively’ I pluck the strings (to the extent that I had to increase the pedal volume on the verses setting). I also miss out the occasional notes, which is probably what you’re referring to regarding the 4/4 vs 6/8 comment. I did attempt this with the 4/4 strumming pattern Justin teaches, as well as a number of different variations, and whilst that was very ‘educational’, I was unhappy with the result and felt it was just not me.
Thank you also for the suggested picking pattern- I’ll definitely give that a go. I learned an initial one that Justin teaches, but tend to just run up and down the strings left to my own devices (Here I used thumb for alternating bass strings then index, middle, index // ring, mid, index, middle)
Kudos for picking up the principle issue that I was struggling with (“Happy? No”)
@TheMadman_tobyjenner and @sairfingers , I’ll lump my good friends together on this, as you both shine the spotlight on the “Happy? Yes” qualities of my offering. Thank you
The temptation with the new toy would be to dial in exotic tones, but I thought I’d try to get just a ‘normal’ guitar sound. I downloaded a strat acoustic setting (mainly just equalizer tweaks) and then twiddled with that a bit, adding some reverb and delay for the verses.
The more I mess with it the more I realise I’ll only ever scratch the surface of it’s capabilities. I do hope it will encourage me to explore what all the different parameters do though.
@roger_holland Sharpening your tongue indeed! I’m looking forward to the day when there’s nothing left to sharpen and blessed silence will return to this happy house… 
But thank you for your vote of confidence. I’m pretty sure I will return to this again, as I like the song, but hopefully not for a good while. I doubt you’ll ever see me playing it (or anything else!) on a big stage 
Being able to force my way into Justin’s consciousness was enough fame for me- I don’t need him to be proud 
Yes, good luck with the heat. We’ve been having a splendid sunny period ourselves.
Share your version when you’re ready 
@richard Vagabonds indeed 
Cheers for sending me down memory lane. Superb song with fab fiddle by Ed Alleyne-Johnson who I’ve seen busking a number of times in Chester
@trond You Sir, are probably more responsible for this version than you might realise.
When I was rethinking how I should approach this in a different way, I remembered a strange Scandinavian bursting onto the scene with his outrageous understated fingerpicking version (with no regard for timing ), which is the AVOYP with the most ‘likes’ in the Community (Well, it is since this morning, as I gave it one more, which bumps @sclay off the pedestal. Sorry, Shane )
I thought I’d borrow a pinch of that magic and take some liberties with the melody as well.
One of the great strengths of this place is how we influence those around us, even when we’re unaware of it.
Mange tak!
(I was too stingy to shell out for a real skull. I’d love one )
@Chazzo78 Cheers Lee. Much appreciated
) with the terrible heat that especially the Netherlands will get (that won’t be much playing for me)
