Being Friday the 4th of July, 2014 ...

Yes ... the Fourth of July!

On this day in 1776 thirteen (British) colonies in North America adopted the Declaration of Independence from the motherland.
Let’s face it … Britain lost!

To seek to administer colonies, occupied by disenfranchised ex-Brits on the far side of a vast ocean before the advent of video-conferencing was surely a no-brainer, wasn’t it, Georgivs Rex?

In succeeding centuries the USA has become a global power ...
Champion of democracy, capitalism and free enterprise, self-appointed security-guardian of the terrestrial firmament, defender of the rights of all ... (to bear arms (... What?!)) emitter of vast amounts of CO2, perpetrator of irreversible planetary damage, and otherwise generator of widespread havoc and conflict.

"The American way of life is not up for negotiation."
Who said that? Where? When? Why?

Homo Sapiens is possibly doomed, yet our American brothers and sisters still celebrate across the pond.

Please understand that the above unsubstantiated observations do not represent the opinions of The City Folk Club. These are simply the naive considerations of an insignificant humanoid, possibly worthy of discussion in less than 2000 words … elsewhere!

Had Angela been with us, she would have commanded thus:
“STOP THIS NONSENSE, NOW, Colin!”

So, we got on …

Dogsbody opened with a traditional tale of seduction, adultery, deceit and two violent deaths ...

How could little Musgrave refuse such an invitation?

You can find the full story by clicking here.
For the Fairport version follow: http://youtu.be/1it7BP5PckI

Now, that's a proper folk song!

Mike H. sang about a seasonal agricultural activity ...

Harvest Time, Lambourne, Berks.
Henry Hillary Parker, 1858 -1930.

Tony sang about somnolent inactivity ...

"I'm in the middle of a dream ..."

Simon, newly-welcomed to our gathering, gave us commandments ...

Set my people free!

Then Debbie, also newly-welcomed, provided instruction on how to produce illicit spirit ...

Here's Debbie who saved the world ...

Wow ... that's clever!

That's 'Mother' to Debbie's right.
We never discerned her name, so I apologetically referred to her as 'Mother'.

Mother, after only subliminal pressure, obliged us with the first verse of a song we might know: Early one Morning ...

Some years ago Dogsbody posted a true anecdote about that song.

You can be reminded by clicking this link.

Mike P. lamented about a famous Irish boxer who died in poverty ...

Elayne delighted us with The Ash Grove ...

... where bluebells were ringing.

The recently-named 'Havant and Hambrook Soup-Kitchen Chorale' visited the Lake District ...

Straight-way for Kendal ...
Over yon white mountain ...

There were nods to that trans-Atlantic anniversary.

Elayne was corny as Kansas in August ... high as a flag on the Fourth of July.

Tradition celebrates John Paul Jones as the Father of the US Navy ...

John Paul Jones, 1747-1792

History, however, documents John Paul Jones as 'mercenary', 'privateer', 'self-serving opportunist'.

Following such erudite deliberation, shared intelligence and humorous camaraderie, we stumbled home having been educated about the imperial capacity of beer barrels ...

So, bring forth the puncheon ...

Here endeth the lesson!

However ...

You all need to know that our occupancy of the Guide Hall on Friday, 11th June is confirmed.

18th June ... almost certainly.

After that?

We'll let you know.