Being The Fifteenth of January 2010...

See Me Run: David
Moonshadow: Paul
Dream A Little Dream Of Me: Brenda/Allis/Berry
?: Ian/Alan
Candlemas Eve: Anne/Alan
Stewball: Lynda
Creole Belle/Anything Goes: Mike P.
Flowers of the Forest: Anne
Good Man: Lorna
Out of the Blue: Mick
Bird-Dog: Ken/Berry
When The Green Man Goes A Walking: Mave
He Was The World To Me: Anne/Alan
?: Jenny/Bill
Young At Heart: Berry
Drink Up Your Tea Love/When Sick Is It Tea You Want?: Bill 1:1
The Musical Lovers: Colin
Flower of the Valley: David
The Big Grand Coolie Dam: Paul
?:
Chanson D Amour: Brenda/Berry
Lord Inchquinan: Ian/Bill 1:1/Alan
Fanny Dow/?: Anne/Alan/Ian/Bill
Hush-a-Bye Mountain: Lynda
The Echo: Mike P.
So Early In Spring: Anne
Mexican Waltz: Lorna
Julia Ford's Polka/Din Tarrent: Mick/Mike P.
Ever Since A Rooster Came Into Our Yard: Ken
Our Singing Will Never Be Done: Mave
Cheating Heart: Berry+Full Cast
Three Drunken Maidens: Bill 1:1
Garton Mother's Lullaby: Colin

Being the Eighth of January 2010...

Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy: David
Jimmy Brown: Paul
Isle of Hope: Anne
Cripple Creek: Mick
Cold, Haily, Rainy Night: Bill 1:1
A Melange of Christmas Leftovers: Colin
Farewell Farewell: Jane/Dave
The Holly and the Ivy: Lorna
Flying Saucery: Dave
Willy o'Windsbury: David
Farewell Shanty: Paul
Catch Me If You Can: Anne
Boulie House Jig: Mick
Battle of the Nile: Jane
?: Bill
?: Dave
Early One Morning: Lorna
Earl Richard: Colin
When The Spring Has Come: David
I'm Only Sleeping: Paul
Crazy Man Michael: Jane/Dave
When the Snows of Winter Fall: Anne
Snorkel: Mick
Being Small: Lorna
John Henry: Bill 1:1
It 'Aint Much Fun Being a Gnome: Dave
The Copper's Christmas Song: Colin
The Snake: David
His Eye is on the Sparrow: Paul
The Parting Glass: Jane/Anne
Homeward Bound: Dave
The Black Fox: Mick/Bill 1:1/Colin
A Recorder Player's Confession: Lorna

Being The First of January 2010....

The Flower of the Valley: David
Goodbye: Paul
All I Want: Eddie
Cathy's Song: Lynda
Winters Afternoon: Mike
Reynadine: Jane
Mingulay Boat Song: Duncan
Anji: Mick
It Was In The Month of January: Anne
Music Makes Pictures: Mike P.
Back and Sides Go Bare: Ken
Wassail Song: Mave
I Walk The Line: Les
6 Pretty Farm Maids: Bill 1:1
Down In Yon Forest: Colin
One More Dollar: David
To Ramona: Paul
Union Miners: Eddie
Farewell Farewell: Lynda
Butterflies: Yvonne/Mike
Wrecking Ball: Jane/David
There Stands The Glass: Duncan
Blackwaterside: Mick
?: Anne
Shoals of Herring: Mike P.
The Pheasant Plucking Song: Ken
Auld Lang Syne: Mave
What a Morning: Les
Sunny Bank: Bill 1:1/Colin
The King: Colin+Full Cast

Do I have to bring my own music stand?

Not any more!

I am delighted to announce that the club, following the perceived accord of an assembled populus, and at moderate expense, has acquired a music stand.
This will be kept alongside CFC's other material assets at the club venue.

If you wish to use this device, please follow the illustrated instructions below...

Be warned ...
Failure to carefully follow these instructions for erection can result in irreversible dysfunction.
Items 5 - 9 are particularly important.
Kindly observe the repeated (albeit near-unreadable) adverb 'gently'.

Furthermore, we have a clip-on LED reading light.
So, now you have no excuse!

Win..!!!!

Many, many thanks to Bill and Jenny for hearing my plea...!!

What we did to celebrate Yuletide...

Soon after opening the doors, as promised, at 7.00 pm on 18th December, we witnessed the arrival of the spectre of 'Christmas-soon-to-be'; Berry wobbled in. He didn't look too well and he shied away from any attempts at close physical proximity.

In spite of his obvious infirmity, he bore consumable offerings - sandwiches, separately containing salmon, cheese and ham, all beautifully presented.

He explained, on the grounds of ill-health, that he considered it unwise to stay and share his germs (already shared with Brenda.) We few, present at the time, acknowledged that this was a noble, considerate and generous gesture, far beyond the call of duty.

Thank you, and well done, Berry and Brenda. Get well soon!

Two near-disasters occurred. I realised that I had lost the paper plates, plastic cutlery and napkins that had been ordered on line for the event. Fortunately, some extra ones had been discovered in Jane's domestic 'war cupboard'. At the same time we found that a string of festive lights failed to function. David drove Jane's credit card, accompanied by Jane, to Tesco, at great speed. Two sets of coloured lights were procured at half-price before they were gone. Our customary ambience was thereby restored.

Participants (eventually totalling 30 people) began pouring in, and exchanged greetings, cuddles, occasional kisses (no tongues), and generally shared the goodwill of the season. Ken came dressed as (brought) a Christmas tree.

Entertainment commenced with a rendition of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, led by a cleanly-shaven David, very soon after 8.00 pm, which is the best we've ever done for a 'prompt start'. Doubtless, our MC will near-accurately chronicle all the musical offerings in our singaround format in due course.

We were honoured by the presence of two distinguished guests, one of whom represents the operators of our venue. (I have to respect her stated desire for anonymity in this blog, and avoidance of unnecessary references to the host organization and the venue. Hence this guarded wording, but you'll know who/what I mean.)

Just before half time, David delivered a short and sensitive speech of gratitude to this person, and to the organization. A charitable donation from club funds was made, along with presentation of a magnificent bouquet of flowers. The aforementioned anonymous person graciously received these and went on to make some very nice comments about our Friday gathering, saying, “We are pleased to have you.” WOW!

Then we proceeded to partake of a diversity of food which many had brought along to share. For some, that was the best part of the evening. We pulled crackers and begrudgingly donned our silly paper hats. Consumption of intoxicating liquor was barely concealed!

Little time was left for music, but David’s cunning plans (and a slight over-run) meant that almost everyone was offered another opportunity to perform. Our guests simply said, “Pass,” but politely stayed until the end to enjoy Ray's delightful closing performance of The Happy Wanderer.

It was a splendid evening. The milk of human kindness (Shakespeare, W., 1623, Macbeth), but no real body fluids, were shared. Our appetites for food and music were satiated.

Many thanks to all who attended and contributed in whatever way, even if that simply means 'being'!

In particular, thank you, to David for your expert MC-ing, to Lynda for coordinating food, to Ken for being unusually well-behaved, and again to Berry and Brenda for not sharing their bugs, but whose sandwiches were well received. Finally, but not least, to all those good souls who stayed to help with clearing up.

God bless us, everyone! (Dickens, C.,1843, A Christmas Carol.)

Please note...
We will not be meeting at the Guide Hall on 25th December.
However, we anticipate that their will be a 'critical mass' to enable us to meet on 1st January.
('Critical mass' does NOT imply a religious ceremony, nor impending nuclear meltdown!)

Disclaimer...
Any similarity to real characters, living or dead, in this post is entirely coincidental.
Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily shared by anyone at all!

Being the Eighteenth of December 2009...

God Rest You Merry Gentlemen: David+Full Cast
I Wish I Was 18 Again: Paul
Gabriel's Message: Mave
Fagan the Cobbler: Bill 1:1
Santa Baby: Maggie
The Story of Christmas Dinner/Silent Night: Mick
Scarlet Ribbons: Margaret
The Good Old Way: Colin/Jane
? : Jane
A Christmas Carol: Ken
Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Pollker Dot Bikini: Lynda/Paul
The Blacksmith: Anne
? : Mike P.
Walking In the Air: George
When A Child Is Born: Jasmin
Good King Wenseslas: Lorna
I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas: Ray
Troica: Mick
Lambskin Carol: Jenny/Bill 1:1
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas: David
Will the Circle Be Unbroken/Jingle Bells: Mick
? : Paul/George
Steal Away: Maggie/Colin
Sleigh Bells: Mave
Jenny: Mike P.
? : Margaret
A Very Berry Christmas: Ken
Famous Blue Raincoat: Jane
Shepherds Arise: Colin/Bill 1:1
The Brash Lad: Lynda
The Little Drummer Boy: Mick
Flemish Carol: Lorna
When the Snows of Winter Fall: Anne