Being Friday the twenty-third day of October, 2015 ...

Berry, in the chair, claimed to be unwell.
He suffers so graciously that no one can tell.

He took us on a journey ...

bouncing over white clouds.

Paul sang because he was ...

HAPPY!

Elayne sang in this foreign language ...

We discussed the merits of the zither ...

Andrew sent us home in full assurance that ...

you don't have to know the words!

James Fagan and Nancy Kerr at Chichester Festival Theatre ...

I received the following message last week from Chichester Festival Theatre ...

Hello,

Here at Chichester Festival Theatre we have an event coming up that may be of interest to members of Chichester City Folk Club.

On 18 November acclaimed folk duo Nancy Kerr and James Fagan will be performing alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra in a celebration of British folk traditions.

Nancy and James have twice won Best Duo at BBC Radio 2s Folk Awards and they are renowned for their lively and interactive shows. Nancy is also BBC Radio 2’s Folk Singer of the Year for 2015.

To welcome you to the Theatre for this very special event we would like to offer Chichester City Folk Club 2 for 1 tickets in the top three price bands. More information can be found on our website, and you can book online or by telephoning the box office on 01243 781312, using promo code FOLK1 to claim the offer.

I would be grateful if you could share this information, and we look forward to welcoming you to the Theatre.

Best wishes,

Bella

Only one small problem: that promo code 'FOLK1' is not recognised on CFT's checkout on their website. You'll have to use the phone.

Being Friday the 16th of October, 2015 ...

• There are those who sing delightfully.
• There are those who play instruments with great dexterity.
• There are those who do both of the above simultaneously.
• There is Dogsbody who stumbles over the fret-board.
• There is Ken who likes to use lots of words, while Mave raises her eyebrows towards the ceiling in abject wonderment.
• There are collaborations.
• There are several who join in.
• Pam blows the most authentic train whistle you've ever heard!
• Some say 'Pass', and that's OK.
• We missed you, Berry, but I think you are MC next week?

[Blog administrator's sincere apology to all those many participants not mentioned nor subliminally identified in above.]

There is, however, only one who bakes brown things to share ...

Those crunchy bits at the edge were the very best.
The secret is maple syrup and sea-salt.

Thank you, Maggie ... again!

Oh, I almost forgot, this is a folk music club ...
Yes, we had the customary maritime disasters, one couple sitting on a train, a death or two and one suicide.
No limbs were severed although Angela came face to face with this beastie ...

There was a smattering of holiness and one reference to a sexually-enhancing medication.
We engaged synchronised hair-tearing and rending of clothes, as befits a folk song.

We are so very fortunate that there exists in our company one who has the precious gift of being able to distill the essence of a heavily-orchestrated, contemporary song, and present the lyrics, unaccompanied, with supreme tenderness and charm ...

No, Michael Lee Aday wasn't there ... but Elayne was!

And there was something about a jolly arachnoid beastie ...

We departed in near-silence pondering Andrew's closing, self-penned offering about a place where the sun don't shine ...

Notwithstanding, all ended very happily.

Being Friday the 9th of October, 2015 ...

Mike P. sang of his aspiration to become a brain surgeon ...

I want to look inside your head!

This couple invited us: "Look at us!" ...

We'll go down in history!

Elayne anticipates the onset of cooler seasons ...

Soon I'll hear old Winter's song ...

Once more we explored the recurring conundrum, "What is a folk song?"
An example was given suggesting that any song that refers to solicitation, rejection of amorous overtures followed by murder, concealment of a corpse, and a talking bird would qualify.

Songs about nightingales fit the genre too ...

... don't you hear the sweet song?

Oh, and then there's songs about trains ...

... upside-down the engine turned!

Next week we'll have to pick up on the death theme, execution, bodily dismemberment, maritime disasters, cross-dressing crew members, hunting with hounds ... oh, and something Scottish, please, for Maggie.

Being Friday the Second day of October, 2015 ...

Did you know that this day celebrates a little-remembered anniversary of conflict between Scotland and Norway?

1263: The Battle of Largs.

Neither did we!

At the City Folk Club in 2015 Dogsbody was at the helm.
He sang about European time-keeping ...

Eine deutsche Uhr Wickler

Mave likes to ride on top ...

The seats are so small and there's not much to pay.
You sit close together and 'spoon' all the way ...
(Ack: Messrs. Leigh, Tilzer & Laswood.)

Mick and Marion are having difficulty finding suitable accommodation ...

Nobody lives here any more.

Now who is this person?

Oh, he's a Chichester Picker.

... and here is his magnificent instrument ...

Once again Maggie brought along cake ...

"It's cherry and berry this week."
Thank you again, Maggie!

Mave sensitively acknowledged our late and dearly-missed friend, Ray Hedges ...

Keep yer 'and on yer ha'penny.

Angela performed foot-percussion to accompany Max and Sylvia's closing pieces, while Paul played with this ...

Then, in the face of gathering storm-clouds, we Homeward hi-ed ...

... tomorrow may be clear!

Being Friday the 25th of September, 2015 ...

Berry arrived early to take charge of proceedings.
"Whoops," he declared, "I have forgotten something; I must go home."

Back soon!

Nevertheless, we were able to commence music-making by 20.27hrs precisely.

Some may recall that on the preceding week a lady turned up ...

Hello, my name's Maggie.

"Is this a folk club?" she had asked.
"Ooh, no!" replied Berry,"This is a cookery class."
Much nonsensical conversation followed regarding baking.
So this week Maggie shared her own culinary offering ...

Lemon Drizzle Cake

It was VERY good.

Thank you, Maggie.

Otherwise we got on with music.
There were elements of contradiction as Paul, Angela and Roger performed I am weary ... followed by Angela's solo: Awake! Awake!

Roger then soothed us with his guitar rendition of this charming waltz from Co. Clare ...

Eyes were closed, breathing and pulse-rates slowed as we imbibed the music through the pores of our very souls.

Elayne sang of some late blooms ...

We were honoured by the presence of a Chichester Picker who took the opportunity to publicise another music organisation in the locality ...

"I don't intend to poach," said Andrew.

Don't worry, Andrew, we're not in competition.