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.