Fallen Moon: David
Annabelle: Lynda
Raining In My Heart: Brenda/Berry
Greensleeves: Mark
How Will You Know When Spring Is Here?: Mave
Poisoning Pidgeons In The Park: Ken
Welcome In Another Year: Steve/Diane
The Ugly Duckling: Yvonne
Flying High: Mike
All The Pretty Little Horses: Jane
Ramblin' Boy: Angela
I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow: Roland/Angela
Tzenna, Tzenna, Tzenna: Berry
Knocking On The Window: Tony
Walk With Me: Phine
Snorkle: Mick
The Royal Oak: Steve
His Eye Is On The Sparrow: Paul
When The Spring Has Come: David
A World Without Love: Brenda/Berry
Bridge Over Troubled Water: Mark
Where Did You Get That Hat: Mave
Billericay Dickie: Ken
Shepherds On The Hill: Steve
Whendover Hill: Diane
All Of These Things and More: Mike/Yvonne
Oh, Sister: Jane/David
Annie's Song: Lynda
Blue Moon/Lamare/I |Will: Tony
Cruising Down The River: Berry
Make You Believe In Me: Phine
Boullie House Jig/Butterfly: Mick
Mary Lou: Paul
Sweet Tyme: Diane/Steve
A chronicle of 'doings' for posterity... and other things of little consequence!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Here's a Health to the Company ...
Here's a good finishing-off song. I have a set of words transcribed from the excellent singing of Louis Killen accompanied by an ensemble called The Revels.
One of the better renditions I have found on youtube is this one - Here's a Health ...
Louis does it better.
Can we?
These are the lyrics I use:
One of the better renditions I have found on youtube is this one - Here's a Health ...
Louis does it better.
Can we?
These are the lyrics I use:
Kind friends and companions, come join me in rhyme.
Come lift up your voices in chorus with mine.
We’ll drink and be merry, from grief we’ll refrain,
For we know not when we will all meet again.
Here's a health to the company and one to my lass.
We’ll drink and be merry all out of one glass.
We’ll drink and be merry, from grief we’ll refrain,
For we know not when we will all meet again.
Here's a health to the dear lass that I love so well.
For spirit her beauty, there’s none can excel.
She smiles on my countenance as she sits on my knee.
There is no one on Earth that’s as happy as we.
Here's a health to the company ...
Our ship lies at harbour and she's ready to dock.
I wish her safe landing without any shock.
And if I should leave you by land or by sea,
I will always remember your kindness to me.
Here's a health to the company ...
Here's a health to the company ...
... ad inf.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Someone asked, "What's a Pace Egg?" ...
Here’s an only-slightly embellished anecdote…
A couple nights ago, my wife and I were enjoying a post-prandial drink in a very nice hotel in the West Yorkshire town of Hebden Bridge.
Jane, vigorously grabbing my arm, suddenly announced to me, “That’s Tosspot!"
She discreetly indicated a diminutive male figure in company at an adjacent table.
Fortified by an excellent meal, and emboldened by a not-insignificant quantity of wine, I approached said gentleman to enquire, “Excuse me, Sir, my wife wants to know if you’re really a tosspot?"
(Now, readers will detect a certain element of risk embodied in such a confrontational invitation to converse. If anything serious should have ensued, I could always blame Jane!)
The gentleman rose proudly from his seat, thereby achieving an imposing stature of 4 feet and 11 inches. He bared his irregular teeth.
I cowered away somewhat, anticipating a knee-blow to my soft parts.
Slowly, deliberately, menacingly, and giving a sly wink to his companions, he manufactured the most malevolent grimace.
Jane hid under the table.
The tension all around was palpable.
There was a hush in the hitherto cacophonous conversation at the bar.
I took another step backwards, narrowly avoiding falling over the table behind me that almost concealed Jane's behind.
“Indeed, I am, Sir! TOSS POT at your service!” he loudly proclaimed to the wider audience.
Then, after giving a well-rehearsed theatrical bow, he shook me firmly by the hand!
Order was restored as onlookers resumed spontaneous respiration.
Now let me explain …
Toss Pot is a character in a Pace Egg Play. Such plays are usually performed outdoors on Good Friday. I first came across them as a child when I lived in Yorkshire and Lancashire, although they are certainly more widespread. Toss Pot is claimed to be unique to plays originating in the upper Calder Valley.
Here, on the south coast, the ‘combat variety’ of Mummers Plays have a similar narrative, although performances are generally restricted to the winter season.
The moral plot, if one can be identified at all, is the triumph of good over evil. However, in the present day, the dramatic personifications of these abstract notions would be perceived as inciting racial violence.
St. George is always Caucasian and righteous.
Wickedness is characterised by the BLACK Prince of MOROCCO or a TURKISH Knight!
Toss Pot’s primary function is to coerce unsuspecting on-lookers into giving money.
Toss Pot's efforts at the annual Pace Egg Play at Heptonstall, that Jane and I attended this year, were well rewarded. Here's a clip ... Heptonstall Pace Egg Play, 2010
... and nobody really died!
A couple nights ago, my wife and I were enjoying a post-prandial drink in a very nice hotel in the West Yorkshire town of Hebden Bridge.
Jane, vigorously grabbing my arm, suddenly announced to me, “That’s Tosspot!"
She discreetly indicated a diminutive male figure in company at an adjacent table.
Fortified by an excellent meal, and emboldened by a not-insignificant quantity of wine, I approached said gentleman to enquire, “Excuse me, Sir, my wife wants to know if you’re really a tosspot?"
(Now, readers will detect a certain element of risk embodied in such a confrontational invitation to converse. If anything serious should have ensued, I could always blame Jane!)
The gentleman rose proudly from his seat, thereby achieving an imposing stature of 4 feet and 11 inches. He bared his irregular teeth.
I cowered away somewhat, anticipating a knee-blow to my soft parts.
Slowly, deliberately, menacingly, and giving a sly wink to his companions, he manufactured the most malevolent grimace.
Jane hid under the table.
The tension all around was palpable.
There was a hush in the hitherto cacophonous conversation at the bar.
I took another step backwards, narrowly avoiding falling over the table behind me that almost concealed Jane's behind.
“Indeed, I am, Sir! TOSS POT at your service!” he loudly proclaimed to the wider audience.
Then, after giving a well-rehearsed theatrical bow, he shook me firmly by the hand!
Order was restored as onlookers resumed spontaneous respiration.
Now let me explain …
Toss Pot is a character in a Pace Egg Play. Such plays are usually performed outdoors on Good Friday. I first came across them as a child when I lived in Yorkshire and Lancashire, although they are certainly more widespread. Toss Pot is claimed to be unique to plays originating in the upper Calder Valley.
Here, on the south coast, the ‘combat variety’ of Mummers Plays have a similar narrative, although performances are generally restricted to the winter season.
The moral plot, if one can be identified at all, is the triumph of good over evil. However, in the present day, the dramatic personifications of these abstract notions would be perceived as inciting racial violence.
St. George is always Caucasian and righteous.
Wickedness is characterised by the BLACK Prince of MOROCCO or a TURKISH Knight!
Toss Pot’s primary function is to coerce unsuspecting on-lookers into giving money.
Toss Pot's efforts at the annual Pace Egg Play at Heptonstall, that Jane and I attended this year, were well rewarded. Here's a clip ... Heptonstall Pace Egg Play, 2010
... and nobody really died!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Being The Second of April 2010...
Daisy Bell: David
The Week Before Easter: Colin/Paul
Sweet Gene Vincent: Ken
Green Banks of Grain: Mave
White Horses: Lorna
Stormy Weather: Sheena/Paul
O'Carolan's Draft: Mick
Westering Home: Duncan
The Bay of Biscay: Jane
The Thrill Is Gone: Lucy
Outward Bound: Lynda
Torn Between Two Lovers: Phine
The Sheep Stealer: Paddy
Carry Me Back To Old Virginia: Angela
Antarctic Ice: Bill 1:1
Raining In My Heart: Paul
Riley's Furniture Man: Roland/Angela
If You Loved Me Half As Much As I Love You: Berry
The Brag of the Evil Twin: David
Things We Said Today: Ken/Berry
The Daring Young Man On The Flying Trapeze: Mave
?: Lorna
Yesterday: Sheena
? Fox: Mick
A Bad Bad Day: Duncan
Sad and Beautiful World: Jane/David
Mary ?: Lucy/Paul
Caleb Mayer: Lynda
I've Got a Bimbo: Paddy
What Shall I Write?: Phine
I Saw The Light: Angela/Roland
When Will I Be Loved: Bill 1:1/Paul
Dreaming: Paul
Maggie Anne's Tune: Colin
Ey Zito Zelk:
?: Berry/Ken
The Week Before Easter: Colin/Paul
Sweet Gene Vincent: Ken
Green Banks of Grain: Mave
White Horses: Lorna
Stormy Weather: Sheena/Paul
O'Carolan's Draft: Mick
Westering Home: Duncan
The Bay of Biscay: Jane
The Thrill Is Gone: Lucy
Outward Bound: Lynda
Torn Between Two Lovers: Phine
The Sheep Stealer: Paddy
Carry Me Back To Old Virginia: Angela
Antarctic Ice: Bill 1:1
Raining In My Heart: Paul
Riley's Furniture Man: Roland/Angela
If You Loved Me Half As Much As I Love You: Berry
The Brag of the Evil Twin: David
Things We Said Today: Ken/Berry
The Daring Young Man On The Flying Trapeze: Mave
?: Lorna
Yesterday: Sheena
? Fox: Mick
A Bad Bad Day: Duncan
Sad and Beautiful World: Jane/David
Mary ?: Lucy/Paul
Caleb Mayer: Lynda
I've Got a Bimbo: Paddy
What Shall I Write?: Phine
I Saw The Light: Angela/Roland
When Will I Be Loved: Bill 1:1/Paul
Dreaming: Paul
Maggie Anne's Tune: Colin
Ey Zito Zelk:
?: Berry/Ken
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