That Was Red Nose Day That Was

Despite Dogsbody foisting his 'herring substitute' off on an unsuspecting Lucy, (Dogsbody was canned as well as the pilchards), we had a jolly fine evening. Bill 1:*'/;-?1 was particularly venomous with his "Thou lie!" responses and was forced to retreat at speed at one point, and the spot prizes were liberally distributed by Dogsbody, (some with dedications which were more of a swipe at their partners, harumph). On the money side: Lynda donated sweets, which we enjoyed for a donation; the Pick a Pose sweepstake sold out and Pam & Les got half the readies (the rest to Comic Relief); the pot contributions were donated to Comic Relief. Proceeds from the above, plus a further contribution from the Club, a hefty bump-up from a Wiltshire resident (in the area for the day, but had a better offer on the night) - and not forgetting the Far East contributor also - brought the total donated to Comic Relief to £165! Well, well, well, everything: I think we done well with our jolly herring, sorry, RedCityFolkNoseClubDay. Thank you, City Folk Clubbers, once again, for your generosity - and your music.

Today is Red Nose Day ...

Come along this evening.
Join in.
You might win a valuable prize that looks thus ...

It's good on toast.

No, I don't mean dog's body!

More about Herring ...

Whilst on the subject, and as we approach Comic Relief, I am moved to share this pearl of humorous wisdom ...

The Herring is a lucky fish,

From all disease inured.

Should he be ill when caught at sea:

Immediately - he's cured!

(Contagion, Milligan, S., 1918 - 2002.)
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/contagion/

Perhaps a spot prize could be awarded to anyone who can set these words to an orginal tune in the hypomixolydian mode?

Red City Folk Nose Club Day

Red Nose Day - the Comic Relief headline day - falls once again on a Friday! The 18th of March, in fact - NEXT FRIDAY!! By a strange coincidence, the City Folk Club will be meeting at the Guide Hall that evening. The Red Nose Day fund-raising theme is "Do Something Funny for Money", but, seeing as most of what goes on in the club is already funny (either ha-ha or peculiar!), you needn't feel obliged to do anything especially funny (although you can if you want to!) - just come along with some spare cash. If you want to dress up, or sport Red Nose Day merchandise (visit Sainsbury's, Oxfam and other stores, or buy from http://shop.rednoseday.com/), well, you'll probably be thought very silly - but go ahead!

Now, we know how marvellous you were back in November, raising an amazing £500 for Children in Need, so we're not making a big thing of Red Nose Day. The City Folk Club is primarily about making music, not raising money for charity. However, we thought Red Nose Day couldn't be passed-over completely, so, we intend to:-

a) have an official Red Nose Day 'Pick a Pose' sweepstake - £2 a go, with half the proceeds to the winner (i.e. £30), and the rest to Comic Relief;

b) have Spot Prizes - but the categories won't be announced until the night! (but - if you were thinking 'red'/ 'most ridiculous trousers/ hat/ underwear'/ 'most trenchant observation on the rightful place of the ukelele in contemporary music' - I'm afraid that confidentiality agreements restrict me from confirming or denying - but you might not be wrong);

c) the usual £2 admission in the 'collection pot' will go to Comic Relief - plus, of course, any other contributions you care to make.

Comic Relief helps people in the UK and Africa. See the BBC site at www.bbc.co.uk/rednoseday Please, please also watch the two-part documentary "Famous, Rich and in the Slums", where Lenny Henry, Angela Rippon, and others are sent to live in Nairobi's Karibe slum - Africa's largest - home to 1 million people, without proper sanitation. Part One is viewable on http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00z6dnn , Part Two on http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zfxm0 . Lenny Henry's harrowing account of his experience there is in the 5th-11th March edition of Radio Times. You will find it difficult to view/read these and not be moved. We don't know how lucky we are, really.

Looking forward to seeing you for the usual fun - and more - on the 18th for Red City Folk Nose Club Day
Ken Hobbs, Minister Without Portfolio*
* I think I Ieft it in the kitchen in the hall about two months ago - if anyone finds it , could they pass it on, please?