Monday, October 27, 2014

Being Friday the 24th day of October, 2014 ...

Berry occupied the seat of authority with his usual, welcoming charm ...


Who could fail to be engaged by that
mischievous grin?

Outdoors the weather was fair, but there was precipitation in one of Paul's essential body-parts ...



Oh, misery,
misery ...

Les gave account of a cycling accident ...


but Les didn't care!

We were pleased to welcome Stuart and Jan again.
Stuart sang about a failed amorous encounter alongside a bank of wild flowers ...


"Never mind," he concluded ...
"Many a dark and cloudy morning
turns out to be a sunshiny day!"

Debbie provided some classical culture ...




Dogsbody pretended to be happy ...



Lynda indulged in an agricultural skill ...


... and I claim all I have is my own.

Elayne promised that lights will guide you home.
Here's Elayne looking lovely...


Thus reassured, we all went safely home!

"What about the death-count?" you might ask ...
Only one sheep is reported to have died!

Important information:
Yes, we will meet next Friday, 31st ... that'll be Halloween.
However, the Guide Hall will be otherwise occupied the following week, 7th November, so you'll all have to find something else to do for that evening.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Being Friday the 17th of October, 2014 ...

"You didn't need to dress up for me!" exclaimed Laura who was waiting at the door.
Dogsbody, still wearing an ill-fitting suit, replied, "I didn't have time to change out of my funereal attire."



A couple of other people arrived fairly early.
Mike H. asked, "What time do things start?"
"Do I really need to tell you again?
"In nautical terms that will be 8-bells - 20.00hrs - the late dog-watch."

Stephen, a new-comer who lives on the other side of the railway tracks, came along.
He wondered how many participants we might expect.
Three of us proffered in unison, "Dunno!"

By 20.27 hours (BST) of the 24-hour clock we had acquired a critical mass ... twenty souls, indeed!
Lights were dimmed and the front door secured.

We got on, encouraged by Angela and Paul to occupy the illuminated side of the thoroughfare.

Lucy doesn't like a certain day of the week ...



Mave referred to corporal punishment ...


... you naughty boy!

Laura, accompanied by a mediocre concertina-player, sang about a day to die on ...


Here the pipes will lay beside me ...

Thereafter there was a veritable abundance of happiness.

There was much sunshine, moonlight and reference to various celestial bodies ....


(No, Ken's body arrived later!)


Mike P. went on a voyage from Dingle Peninsula ...



Ready about!


Then Elayne brought operatic culture with this ...



Melissa described her father's garden that has many trees like this one ...



syringa vulgaris

There was frivolity towards the end ...



Finally, we heaved upon a nautical securing device ...



We hauled halyards and fore-sheets, got on course down-channel and went home with God by our sides.



It was indeed a splendid evening.
Many thanks to Angela for her sensitive direction.
Thank you to all who came to swell our numbers and contribute musically or pass ... and/or heckle.

We will do something similar next Friday, 24th.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Farewell Ray ...

Several of us attended a packed church for a funeral on Friday afternoon.



Of course, we will all miss this very gentlest of gentlemen: his warmth, his friendship, his courtesy, his humour and his music.

Will Warman recited this poem, He is Gone ...


You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see him,
Or you can be full of the love that you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember him and only that he is gone,
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what he would want:
Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

David Harkins, 1959.

We left the church to a recording of Ray singing Shep Woolley's song, Down by the Dockyard Wall ...



Yes, Ray used to sing it better!

We all joined in the chorus.


Were there tears? Yes ... only good ones, healing ones.
Memories? Yes ... fond ones.
As it says in the poem ...
Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Being Friday the 10th of October, 2014 ...

Here is a diagram of a motion-sensing light circuit, such as we now have in the toilets ...


Berry understands things like this.

We learned something disturbing: if you sit motionless on the throne for more than thirty seconds, the performer is plunged into darkness!

The following few random images that might give some clues as to what went on.


Here's a bonny barque.
A barque is a sailing ship with three or more masts.
The foremasts are square-rigged.
The mizzen is rigged for-and-aft.


We remembered Ray again ...

I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

Lucy sang about cuculus canorus ...


... she brings us glad tidings,
And she tells us no lies.
(But, she does rob nests!)

Roger was valiant and bold ...


With a shield on his arm
And a lance in his hand,
For God and for valour ...

Les gave account of an airport in bad weather ...


So, I'd best be on my way ...

Now hear this ... 



Lucy's rendition, accompanied by Roger and Mick, was enchanting.

Dogsbody lowered the tone by closing in praise of alcoholic beverage ...

No, that image is not Dogsbody.
It's Bob Copper, (1915-2004).

Then everyone helped to clear up.
Everyone said, "Thank you," to everyone and we rolled home in absolute silence in hopes of being spared for another Friday evening of music and fun ...

Yes, that'll be Friday 17th October, 8.00pm.
The sooner you arrive, the sooner we can start music!


Thursday, October 9, 2014

What has happened to this blog?

Many apologies to all our readers for an interlude in news.
The administrator has been preoccupied by family/domestic considerations, and attending a Folk Festival in sunny Bognor.

The South Downs Folk Festival was particularly good.
You might recognise some of these participants of Bellacapella ...


Yes, Elayne, Suzanne, Andy, Patrick and Sue were there.

Yes, the club did meet on Friday, 26th September, and last week, 3rd October.

I have to thank Lynda for acting as key-holder on 26/09, and Berry for taking control of proceedings for that evening ... as well as those few who turned up to make music. A smallish quorum was present and, according to reports, performed 25 songs.

I wish I'd been there to hear Lynda's unaccompanied rendition of this ...




Lynda assures me that you all had a good time.
Thank you, all.

We met again on Friday, 3rd October.
That was a good evening.
We fondly remembered our very good friend who recently passed away ...




We now have use of two toilets, both with doors and electric lighting ...


The lights have a motion-sensor!

We engaged déjà vu ...


... and who are these people?

We ended Going Down Fighting...


Twenty-five years ago you could have booked this band for just £100.00.
Now they come along for FREE!
(Well, OK, just £2.00 in the pot.)

Be assured ...
The City Folk Club will congregate tomorrow, 10th October, and every Friday throughout October.

Normal blog-service will be resumed as soon as possible.

Let's finish with a song that Ray used to enjoy singing ...