Those who are interested in these matters might recall that my elder son's group, The Commotions, enjoyed some success with one of his early compositions called, "Brand New Friend". Here is a video of them 'playing' it on the BBC's Top Of The Pops in the eighties.
Not many years later, after the group went their separate ways, although not the one featured in the video, Lloyd 'lent' me the actual accordion which was used during the original recording (see left below) and I enrolled with a local accordion teacher who suggested that getting an instrument with a larger bass-button board (see right-hand photo) would allow me to take on a much broader range of music.
Unfortunately, however, although I seemed to be progressing quite well, a combination of awkward working hours and unsubtle objection from a neighbour to my practicing, I decided to abort the exercise and try again when I retired.
And so it was, although not immediately after retiring, a recent visit from my music-studying grandson has prompted me to renew my relationship with the accordion and, having studied a list of teachers on the web-site of the family from whom I bought the 'new' accordion, I have arranged some lessons.
They start next weeks; so, watch this space.
