Sunday, April 29, 2012

Pics from the picnic ...

Ominous curtains of grey cloud scudded across an oppressively low sky.
Thunder growled in the distance.
Penetrating drizzle drifted sideways in a chilling north-easterly breeze.


... and this was supposed to be spring?!!!

Fortunately we had decided to hold our seasonal-celebratory ‘picnic’ indoors.
The Guide Hall was quite cosy once we’d fired up the central heating and adjusted the thermostats on the radiators to MAX.

Right on time, Helen, of Baps ‘n Buns, (outside caterers from Barnham,) arrived with generous platters of sandwiches and appetising savoury nibbles.
That was all rather good. click here: recommended

Participants supplemented this gastronomic fare by bringing cakes, tarts and other sweet things.
After a while there were mutterings: “When is somebody going to start?”


This man of strangely bilious complexion, wearing a very silly hat, took the initiative and invited Berry and Paul, (who hadn’t finished his first sandwich,) to start some music.


Then we cruised with musical contributions from anyone who was encouraged to perform.

Great to see Ray


Meanwhile, Angela occupied some floor-space surrounded by bits of organic matter: flowers, willow, greenery and the like. She even ran a workshop on how to create flower garlands. That commanded Lynda’s full attention, and the results were truly remarkable.

Is that clockwise or anticlockwise?

After a short break for second-helpings of food we embarked again on music.
Lucy led us in a community sing with a song in some odd dialect of Swahili – in no less than a four-part round. The harmonies were glorious when we got the timing right!

Then came the big moment: the May Queen Competition

Aspirant May Queens

As senior club member, Ray was invited to adjudicate.
He selected Jane ...



After that we had to consider the Jack-in-the-Green contest.
Clearly, the only winner, (by virtue of his surname and his valued regular support and contributions to the club,) could be Berry ...


This was a most enjoyable afternoon, and I trust that those gods of stormy weather have been appeased by our efforts.

Thank you to everybody who turned up and contributed in whatever way, (even if you had to pay to park on a Saturday afternoon.)

Now, for my next EBay auction: a green foliated top-hat …

(A partially used pot of green face-paint will be included f.o.c.)

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Being Friday the 27th of April, 2012 ...

There was just one serious tragedy this evening.
The head of the locomotive engineer, George, was discovered by the firebox door.
Regarding the rest of his remains: it is too grizzly to describe in this public domain.

Here’s George’s engine: number 143 …



Otherwise there was our usual fun, and some participants proffered amusing quasi-Russian names to delight our imagination …

  • Ivor Chestikov: Ken recovering from a slight cold.
  • Eva Vestov: a soviet striptease artiste.
  • Rimsky Takyerkorsitov: a randy Russian composer brought up in Glasgow.
Berry was in the chair and, (having little patience for such frivolity,) he gently facilitated the gathering to sing and make music.

We all did the best we could …

Father and Son: Paul
Never, oh, Never Again: Lucy
I am Weary, Let me Rest: Angela
All Around my Hat: Roland
You've got a Friend: Margaret
Weary Cutters: Colin
Alone under Oxford Street: Roger
Nothing You Can Do: Mick & Marion T.
Manchester Rambler: Mave
Nobody's Darling but Mine: Marion & Mick T.
Sad Ending: Mick W.
Jambalaya: Berry & company
I Wish I Knew you Before: Paul
Leftover Wine: Lucy
Engine Number 143: Angela
Windy Old Weather: Roland
When I Need you: Margaret
On One April Morning: Colin
Unfed Melody: Mave
Adieu, Adieu: Roger
O'Carolan's Draft: Mick W.
Across the Great Divide: Mick & Marion T.
Going Home: Marion & Mick T.
I'll See You in my Dreams: Berry
Raining in my Heart: Paul
If not for You: Lucy
You are my Sunshine: Angela
Careless Love: Margaret
Rolling Down to Old Maui: Colin & Roland
When I'm Gone, Sally don't you Grieve: Mick & Marion T.
Good Old Apple Wine: Marion & Mick T.
Things about coming my Way: Roger
Mississippi Blues: Mick T.


"Oh, dear ..." said the Fat Controller.


Sunday, April 22, 2012

Being Friday, 20th April, 2012 ...

Innumerable deaths, graves, an inadvertent homicide, imprisonments, history, philosophy, one lost maidenhead, cross-dressing, a smattering of loving tenderness and at least two trains …
It all happens in the virtual world of the City Folk Club!

We were pleased to welcome Derek and Roberta all the way from Worcestershire.
Derek plays a mean guitar, and Mike, (MC,) had to split up fret-board corner for the sake of variety.

Phine, now resident in Singapore, paid us a visit.
It was a delight to see and hear her.
At her request Roger performed his rear-view-mirror song.
That has long been a favourite in our gathering.
Lynda sang ‘Farewell, farewell’ for Phine, and we all hope it won’t be forever.

We mourned for the passing of Bert Weedon. It was he that taught Berry to play the guitar in 24 hours …



The forthcoming centenary of Woody Guthrie’s birth did not go unnoticed …



Here’s what we heard …

Both Sides Now: Mike
Wonderful Picture of you: Paul
When I've Done my Time: Les
Foggy Dew (revolutionary): Colin
Garden of Graves: Elayne
Beware, Take Care: Angela
So Long, it's been Good to Know Ya: Roland
Elizabethan Days/The Last Dance: Derek
My True Love: Annie
Out of the Blue: Mick
I Know Where I'm Going: Margaret
Rear View Mirror: Roger
Molly Bawn: Lynda
Let's Keep it that Way: Phine
Big Grand Coolee Dam: Paul
Folsom Prison Blues: Les
Ups and Downs: Colin
Polly Oliver: Elayne
The Nest: Angela
This Land is Your Land: Roland & Angela
Crooked Road: Derek
Stone Walls do not a Prison Make:Annie
3 Polkas: Mick & Mike
Sweet Little Sixteen: Berry
Five Hundred Miles: Margaret
Banks of the Nile: Roger
Farewell, Farewell: Lynda
What Shall I Write: Phine
Bring us a Barrel: Colin

Dogsbody had to be educated as to the meaning of the adjective ‘tender’.
He thought it was a noun: something to do with a train …

An 8-wheel 'watercart' belonging to a Drummond T9 4-4-0 express locomotive of the London & Southwestern Railway.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Win a Prize at the Picnic ...

We have decided that a competitive element to our seasonal celebration, (Saturday, 28th April,) might prove entertaining.
Accordingly, prizes will be awarded to two people who attend most convincingly attired/costumed/decorated as Jack-in-the-Green and May Queen.

Here's one Jack ...


... and here's a May Queen ...


There are plenty of other images out there in Google to stimulate your imagination.