Monday, January 20, 2003 6:59 pm Dr. Finbar Drinks and the Washing Machine Drains Hello all, We're back!! Needless to say, we're very excited; it's great to be playing again. But for the most part, we're excited because having the band up and running offers us a legitimate excuse to assail you once more with reams of BS via email. As always, we tell you about this week. We'll also tell you about some enticing new Finbar initiatives. And we kick the year off with a new Dr. Finbar competition. THIS WEEK Thursday evening, we're doing an open stage night at the truly unspeakable Yak Speakeasy, 160 Hoddle St., Abbotsford. Acts start from 8.15pm. Be warned: we are a little rusty. COMING UP AFTER THIS WEEK The Dr. Finbar Trio has secured a proper gig. Imagine... One Saturday, in mid to late February, you could be reclining on a pontoon, gazing peacefully across a beautiful river and absorbing the elegance and refinement that is sunny... Mildura. That's right, our connections with the Mildura mafioso have come through. We've been engaged to play, and also to do a little drug- running on the side. You're all most welcome to come and see us, however we understand that some of you might feel that you have better things to do. (Of course, you'd be mistaken...) Fortunately, we're going to hire out a function room about a week before Mildura. Ostensibly, this is to celebrate the passing of Neil's PhD. thesis, Sam's birthday, etc., etc. But we're hoping to use it primarily as a dress-rehearsal for Mildura. So you'll be able to come along and hear our entire repertoire! Not only that, but we're going to get as many of our musician friends as are willing, to do brackets. In short, we're planning something of a musical extravaganza! THE DR. FINBAR COMPETITION Mk. III Tarpaulins. These simple (and versatile) devices have been used to protect all manner of things - from perishables on wharves, to tennis courts at Wimbledon. Indeed, there was a time when a young gentleman could impress the ladies simply by sporting a spivvy tarp on his motor vehicle. Regrettably, those days are gone. We like tarpaulins. We feel it is our responsibility to help make them exciting and new again. But we don't know quite where to start. In fact, we need your aid. Send us your suggestions. You might suggest a new uses for tarpaulins, or you might suggest a novel marketing strategy. Or you might suggest something else entirely. Please help us restore tarpaulins to their proper place in the public's affections. Email your suggestions to Neil at this address. He will remove all identifying markers and forward them to Pete and Sam for blind review. They will then choose a winner, based on whatever criteria they feel like applying at the time. The unclaimed mystery prize from our last competition is waiting. It aches to be released from our custody. And we long to offload, er, liberate it. In addition, we have a further prize to offer. The winner of this competition also receives an original lyrics sheet for one of our songs, to be selected at our discretion. Entries close two weeks from today. We hope you all had a lovely Christmas and that the New Year will be your friend. Bye for now, The Dr. Finbar Trio.