Mark Knopfler was doing a master class program for the BBC on playing the guitar once. I've still got a copy on VHS somewhere.

The guy asked him to explain his "unique gift".
Knopfler looked a bit puzzled and said "what gift?".
"You're gift for music" the guy said.

It's the only time I've ever seen Knopfler rattled. [b]That's not a gift[/b], he said, [b]that's running home from school 5 days a week and dashing straight out on a three hour paper round to buy you first guitar. It's weekends in your bedroom while your mates are at the football and night after night practicing till your fingers bleed while your mates are in the pub finding girlfriends.[/b] ….

He went on for quite some time at the end of it he said [b]It's the most expensive gift I ever earned.[/b] And all the poor interviewer could do was look down at his feet and say "sorry".

[b]That's ok[/b] said Knopfler. [b]Can we get on with the music now. It's been quite important to me.[/b]

Most of what you see isn't talent pet. It's sheer hard work. You study your craft, you pick up the things you like best about your heroes and you make them your own. A turn of phrase here, a sideways thought there, you put them all together in your own unique way and if that doesn't work you adapt, you find out what does work and you build on it.

That's how you get good at something Chel. 🤗