Being Friday the 19th of September, 2014 ...

Not much progress on the lavatorial front.
Advice to ladies is as follows:
Go in threes: one to perform, a second to hold the torch, the third to guard the door!

Paul and Angela opened proceedings with a requested song about a passing storm ...

It's o'er!

Lucy went for tradition ...

If all the young men were fish in the water,
How many young girls would undress and jump after?

Dogsbody did 'spooky' ...

Your beauty so enticed me ...

Normally-sized Jo and somewhat larger Graham were with us.
Here are their very handsome instruments ...

"Bring me a boat," sang Jo ...

The Tyne it flows on and out to the sea.

Jo then sang about this road-side misfortune ...

Let me down slow!

Tony sang about a micro-organism that causes digestive upset ...

Clostridium Difficile

Actually it was a very charming song in immaculate French: Qu'il est difficile d'aimer, about love being hard.

Les mistook his lover for a swan ...

I wish she hadn't worn that bl**dy apron!

Dogsbody conveyed a message of good wishes from Nigel who will be taking a sabbatical.
Berry commanded that Dogsbody should reciprocate on behalf of us all.
"Say nice things," said Berry.
"Do I ever do otherwise?" was the rhetorical response.
Molly said nice things.
That instruction has been undertaken.
We'll all miss you, Nigel.

Lynda took us on a maritime journey down Lough Foyle ...

Now, is the Maid of Culmore: a woman or a boat?

Well, well, well, sang Les ...

Paul rocked our souls thus ...

Did you know that the prophet, Abraham,
once visited Birmingham?

We acknowledged that it had been a bad day for this man ...

English gold has been our bane ...

We all went home cheerfully after considering the anatomical dimensions of this beast ...

Next week ...
Yes, the City Folk Club will meet as usual on Friday 26th September.
Some of us will be attending the Southdowns Folk Festival in sunny(?) Bognor.
(What is it about the word 'Bognor' that spell-check doesn't like?)

We have to thank Lynda for being key-holder, to Berry for undertaking to be 'in charge', and Molly, who says she'll pop over the road to help.
Other volunteers will be welcome.
THANK YOU.

Being Friday the 12th of September, 2014 ...

So, what's been happening regarding the refurbishment over the past week?

Oh dear ...

However, the bladder-evacuating facility in the adjoining cubicle operates satisfactorily and now has a door ...

and it flushes fairly quietly.

Being small in number, that was fine; there was no need to queue.
(Why is it so difficult to find a good plumber these days?)

Paul took the chair in some anxiety.
MCs will know that facilitating for a small assembly can be more pressurising than for a full house.

Paul began by imagining ice-cream castles ...

That's a towering cumulus.
Will it rain? Will it snow?

Did you know that the generic term for the common blackbird is turdus merula?

"Whose stupid idea for a name was that?!"
sweetly sings the male.

Mave took us on an intimate voyage on this type of stately vessel ...

... she may be your bosom friend.

We pondered the outcome of a forthcoming referendum.
(See previous post.)

We finished off in hopes for one more day, me Johnny ...

Oh, rock and row me over ...

So, what will next week bring?

• Will our kingdom remain united?
• Will the value of the pound-sterling recover?
• Will there be a catastrophic storm?

• Will the toilets be finished?

Come along.
Briefly discuss all the above.
Most importantly, sing, play, listen and enjoy great music in friendly company.

History repeating?

Now regarding Scottish independence ...
Yes, no?
Oh, I don't know, but here's a wonderful song ...

The song relates to the reputed bribery and corruption, (probably true,) that surrounded the Act of Union of 1707.

Dick Gaughan amended some traditional lyrics soon after the Scots' vote in favour of a separate Scottish Parliament in 1979 was vetoed by a Westminsterial sleight-of-hand; those who did not vote were counted as 'no'.

The music is Dick's own composition.

Dick writes: "The verses call for the recognition of Scotland's right to sovereignty and the choruses argue against prejudice between our peoples."

Ack: http://www.dickgaughan.co.uk/songs/texts/tweed.html

Whatever the outcome of this forthcoming referendum, I predict tears on both sides the Tweed.

Let friendship and honour unite and flourish ... wherever!

Being Friday the 5th of September, 2014 ...

We all came together again:  13 humanoid beings, reducing to 11 by half-time.
Was it something Angela, (in charge,) said?
... or were people sensitive about the bladder-evacuating facility?

Angela was anxious ...

... when the sky was full of thunder.

... but we then went on to fair-ground rides.

... and the painted horses
go up and down.

Elayne was reassuring that all would be well ...

... beautiful like a rainbow.

Mick played two violins ...

No ... not simultaneously!
"They are tuned differently," said Mick.
Dogsbody lied when he said, "I understand."

Simon percussed, lost a page, and carried on regardless.

Berry demonstrated his harmonica but failed to play it.

"Yes," said Brenda,
"You may call me 'sweetheart'."

It became clear that Tony has attended yet another session of regression therapy.
He occupied another playground to swing on swings ...

Stop it!
I feel sick!

Now, Tony, last week we had poo.
This week we have vomit.
We eagerly, (nay, anxiously and cautiously,) anticipate whatever is next in your lavatorial repertoire.

Melissa provided sweetly refreshing holiness with Amazing Grace.

Now, that's an interesting song: written by John Newton, a repentant slave-trader whom Jesus discovered somewhere in mid-Atlantic.
The song was first published in 1779.

John Newton, 1725 - 1807.

The additional verse that everyone seems to know was added by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1790 ...

When we've been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we first begun.

Thus blessed, we all joined in!

Another highlight of the evening comprised Lucy, Roger and Mick having a shot at this 1969 classic ...

"Wow!" we all said,

It was different.
Lucy was pretty.
The concerto grosso was damn splendid!

Finally, Angela stepped out to show her legs to the wealthy man, so we all, a thoroughly blessed company, went home!

Being Friday the 29th of August, 2014 ...

From the outset Dogsbody lost all control of events.

Berry had words to say about impromptu collaborations, performers being 'precious' and taking themselves too seriously.
Some listened intently.
Some reluctantly discussed.
Dogsbody said nothing.
Others just yawned ...

Then we carried on as normal.

We were very pleased to welcome an occasional visit by Derek and Roberta all the way from Worcester via Rustington.

Here's Derek playing guitar accompanied by Roberta on fan ...

Roberta is the pretty one.

Kate and Tom arrived by accident.
Finding that we were not circle-dancers, they left at half-time after an appropriate and engaging vocal contribution from Kate.

Tears were shed ...

... in the rain.

Mave regretted that she saw only shearwaters when she went whale-spotting ...

Sue delighted us with a rendition of this work by Robert Herrick, (1591-1674.)

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,

   Old Time is still a-flying;

And this same flower that smiles today

   Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,

   The higher he's a-getting,

The sooner will his race be run,

   And nearer he's to setting.

The age is best which is the first,

   When youth and blood are warmer;

But being spent, the worse, and worst

   Times succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time,

   And while ye may, go marry;

For having lost but once your prime,

   You may forever tarry.

That is entitled To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time.
Age and experience disqualified most of us to make much use of Sue's wise counsel!

Tony gave outrageous advice for insomniacs.

"Do at least one poo a day!"

Patrick sang and played rather like this ...

Is that folk?
Well, it includes two executions and an amorous encounter whereby it qualifies.
Anyway, nobody took offence. It was fun!

Thanks to all who coped so admirably with the Spartan facilities there were no embarrassing moments.
Nobody flushed while music was in progress ...

We are assured that doors have been ordered.
Plasterers and plumbers are expected shortly.

So, YES, we will do it all again next Friday, and every Friday in September.