Easter Bunny-- the myxamatosis threat

The initial alarm about the health of the Easter bunny has been exaggerated ! The swollen head and red eyes are the result of a long session in Wetherspoons with a couple of stoats and a visiting badger! The libations of "Trappers hat" had a marked effect on it and we hope recovery is complete before the egg delivery commences.

Sam sherry's waltz

I remember watching Sam at the Milnthorpe civic hall in '70. Went with the inimitable Ray Parsons and we then adjourned to the 'Bull for a few jars before going home to HH. Where I straightway commissioned Charlie Brown to make me a pair of clogs! Charlie was one of the last lakeland clogmakers , his was the last shop in Hawkeshead village, The Queens head still displays the "Hawkeshead Girt clog" which belonged to the local ratcatcher who had a bad foot. No good for dancing but great for stamping on rats??
I  recall that Sam also sang "I must go where the wild goose goes"

Set of jigs from one of my my Mexican friends

Another good afternoon session

The Belvedere session had ten yesterday, a nice mix of shanties and hunting songs and a couple of nice ballads , Good to hear and its a very rare occurrence that you hear the same song twice! The vast repertoire of the gathered congregation ensures that there are always new-- new numbers and new -- old numbers.
 A treasure trove of knowledge and talent combined with great humour and--oh yes ,  the usual slander and vituperative that makes it such a relaxed session . As Keith remarked , it gives all of us and excuse to hang around the pub in the afternoon—as if we needed one before Fine fun and a song collectors dream!!

Beer duty reduced!!!!

Well , I would have been quick to comment if the ill conceived beer duty escalator had been deployed So-Well done George Osborn on reducing  , even if only by a penny the suicidal tax levies that are threatening our national drink ,( the fine traditionally brewed beers ales and ciders that is , for those who think I mean tea or fizzy lager)
 Keep it up George and give the breweries and drinkers a break, here's to you!!!

2012 Irish festival at the docks

Some of the street theater girls singing at the quayside.

Belvedere session

A cozy little session today with six stalwarts in attendance.  Nice to be able to fit in a little conversation and a few anecdotes . Saying that we are here to sing and sing we did! Colin kicking of with "Drink old England dry" and Helen backing my mandolin manglings  with her Bodrhan .  we had some fine compositions from Helen and Jane and The Rose of Allendale from Colin on the second round and then a beautiful rendition of "The banks of the sweet primroses" From two Helens and a Jane . A lovely rendition with tight harmony , a haunting melody . Sooo good!!
 Jack gave us "Twa Corbies" and a good "Sailing down to old Maui" a good old whaling song .
Looking forward to next week when I think there might be a fight for seats , get there early!
The beers were good with "White monk" ; Organic's Pale and Brimstages "Trappers hat" , All good and well served by Kelly.

Ingleton Folk weekend.

The Ingleton folk weekend coming up in October is always worth a visit and the have had some great acts on in the past.
I enjoy the pub sessions best and the one at the Hill inn at Ribblehead is usually a good one with a free bus to get you to and from Ingleton! Heres a link.

http://www.ingletonfolk.co.uk/

Ned the carter.

Ned the carter.

When first I went a Carting
from the villages departing down the rough and rocky roads of Westmoreland
I'd drive me team of horses
past the rowan trees and gorses
watching  sunlight gleam on Morecambe's Silver sand .
*
You forget about your  trouble
where the curlews softly bubble near the rushes and the springs up on the tops
with the forelocks softly bobbin'
on the brows of Roan and Dobbin
and the crunching of the wheels down mountain tracks.
*
We would grind through rain and mud
down wet lanes and through the wood with me oilskin buckled tight up to me neck
while the rain ran of in courses
down the flanks of both me horses
as we splashed along beside the swollen beck.
*
In the market we stand waiting
 while the wool is sold and taken off to mills in Lancashire for ready cash
then its to the inn for drinking
With the horses bridles clinking
as they wait outside and munch their steaming mash.
*
On the sacks and bits of lumber
in the cart I lie a slumber as the fuming whiskey round me head does roam
but I lie there safely sleeping
to the waggon's gentle creaking
Cos' the tired old horses know their own way home
*

Now the carting days are gone
for the motor car has come and me horses went to pull haytiming rakes
And up against the wall
lies the cart and shafts and all
and the wheels adorn a townies cottage gates
*
Now I'm old and failing
and the lost days i'm bewailing as I think on how the old ways used to be
In my head I wander back
to the winding mountain track
with the curlews on the breezes flying free. ©mike locke


This is a song about Uncle Ned Bentham a carter/carrier from Helks in Dent. He also had the White Hart , Dents 'Lost' pub which was behind Sedgewick's memorial. There are many anecdotes about Ned and his quirky ways which will follow in the form of tall tales and ribald rhyme!

Baltic fleet songs of the sea.

Another good session with Derek giving powerful and theatrical renditions of some great songs and also some old favourites with Julia's button box accompaniments . Harry and Arthur with concertina athletics and some super versions of some familiar songs nicely arranged and delivered and a few from the "Shanty kings"
Wapping brewery's "Summer ale" was my "Beer of the Session"  the rest were excellent too ,
 Its just that they tend to get in your mouth ;-)