Now I'll have to learn Mandolin!

Thanks for the good luck wish - I need it!
Not as hard to play as the violin at least - I did have a brief try at that when someone I knew got one and I'm so glad I hadn't spent money on one. It made night time caterwauling sound beautiful and soothing.

I've managed to get a bit more speed going, but I've still got a long distance to go.
I'm sure I will always be lacking the fluently played breakneck speed I hear in a lot of mandolin playing. Unfortunately a lot of the type of music where mandolin is featured is high tempo.

Here's the increased speed in evidence on a recent recorded attempt at a trad Scot tune -
  "Cam Ye by Athole"  .... still too slow though.

Ashbury E Mandolin, Tanglewood TW Java capo 5 (Rhythm), Hora Octave Mandolin (Rhythm), Countryman Uke Bass through Loudbox Mini. It could probably do with a bodhran but I did once try to get the hang of playing one and the results were disappointing.

I have made a start on "The Scottish Mandolin Tutor" by David "Dagger" Gordon. A very impressive book / CD. Just as well it's good as it seems to be the only mandolin tutor book that deals with Scottish Mandolin.

Mark