Being Friday the Sixteenth Day of September, 2016 ...

In anticipation of a repeat of last week's near-record attendance many chairs were arranged around tables covered with new table-cloths ...

Many chairs remained unoccupied.
"Who's MC this evening?" someone asked.

Whilst Dogsbody and Paul considered the MC issue, Tony facilitated a blue-moon workshop ...

Roger demonstrated his dexterous agility at the dusty end of the fret-board ...

"What chord is that?" asked Tony.
Roger gave an answer that nobody completely understood.

Dogsbody sang of impressment ...

There being plenty of time for conversation, we discussed Paul's assertion that the press gangs were historical myths, fabricated to frighten small children.
Actually, according to wikipedia, impressment was a common legal practice in England from Elizabethan times ...
"The last law was passed in 1835, in which the power to impress was reaffirmed ... [it] remained legal until the early 1900s, and the various laws authorising impressment have never been repealed."

After Bryan spoke in rhyme about drug smuggling, Paul wondered if such activity was also a matter of myth.
We considered the same at some length.
When challenged about the source of his information, Paul was forced to confess ...

Tony, somewhat wary of his reception in such an intimate gathering, resorted to French ...

PAS D'EAUE PASSANT ICI!

Speaking of myths, Mike P. advised against swimming alongside this manner of creature ...

The top's alright, but the rest of her was a fish.

And here's another myth ...

Southern Railway apologises for any inconvenience
to your journey caused by this delay!

Jenny waxed political ...

Fare thee well my dearest dear!

Such sentiment was not unanimously shared.

Roger and Mike went in search of Jesus on a train ...

"Give it a bit o' goat!"

Dogsbody, with a concluding song, stumbled on the downs but went home ... not rich, not poor, but exceedingly happy ...

I've got thousands of these ... or more!

Did anyone notice the spectacular harvest moon?

Being the Ninth day of September, 2016 ...

A significant turn-out for the evening ...

Here is the company at half-time.
We had to send for extra chairs.

And what a plethora of instruments ...

Notice the guitar-shaped item adjacent to the
mandolin.
That's Sylvia's new toy: an electric bass ukelele.

Paul, having been released from the penitentiary for the evening, accompanied Lucy in a lament ...

Don't tell Mary!

Bryan poetically related his opinions of the occupants of a certain house of government ...

No wonder the country is in such turmoil!

Ken sang something unsavoury about the back end of a horse, later followed by an account of the front end of a floatation-aid ...

How big?

The evening being over we shared Paul's farewell rendition in hopes that God might be by our sides

Haul away down channel ...

About the Picnic ...

Yesterday, 4th September, some stalwart CFC souls attended a family picnic held by The Friends of the Old Bosham Meadow in Bosham.
Here's some of the company ...

OK, you might think that some are sleeping.
In reality, no!
They are imbibing wonderful music
through the pores of their very souls.

The weather was fair, albeit with an unpredictable breeze.
Here's Laura and Colin of The Airborne Music Stand Duo ...

No, we weren't singing Blowing in the Wind!

Paul W was a welcome asset.
He suffered a small haemorrhage from his strumming hand while opening a bottle of questionable beverage.
After some first-aid, administered by Jane, he was still able to competently handle twelve strings ...

Use your teeth, next time, Paul!

And here's delightful Debbie ...

Elayne was charming, as usual ...

Then there was Frank, perhaps not a regular CFC participant, who provided a rousing conclusion to our music ...

Soon the morning Sun will rise ...

Marian came along to give loyal support ...

Thank you, Marian.

None of us knew quite what to expect.
PA amplification was a new venture for some us.
Actually, flying music-stands aside, it all went very well.
Picnickers, having consumed their sandwiches, were observed to sit quietly and listen attentively.
Applause was more than courteous ... indeed, occasionally ... enthusiastic!

I received much affirmative feedback, (no, I don't mean through the PA system,) and there was some significant interest in the whereabouts and doings of The City Folk Club.
One small boy commented, "The music is great. Will you come again?"
(Perhaps small boy should have known better!)
"Well ... err ... maybe, if invited, but not this year," was my response.

My personal thanks to you all for entering the great unknown alongside me.
I know that you all gave of your best.
I was proud of you all, and felt privileged to be in company of such wonderful people.

Many thanks, too, to Richard Spong, (FOBM sec.,) and his army of helpers who orchestrated the event and set up the infrastructure, and gave us such encouragement.

THANK YOU!

Colin.