Max's Thread - UK Escapade

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Max
Date: 04 Sep 10 - 04:31 AM

Sandra... you're next.

(well your nation that is)

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Sep 10 - 08:10 AM

gulp - how do we match the fabulous UK hospitality? And our festivals are so much further apart in this 'wide brown land' ...

sandra

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: gnu
Date: 04 Sep 10 - 09:17 AM

You're lucky Terry's away to meet up with Max, John.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Newport Boy
Date: 04 Sep 10 - 10:46 AM

Sandra - you'll just have to find a couple of 'Catters with private planes!

Phil

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Sep 10 - 11:07 AM

Well, Mick and all who thought up and contributed to this fabulous trip, I must say that it is truly a gift that keeps on giving - to all of us. We've all learned so much, and I think Max's tour amongst all of our UK folks has gone a long way to giving us a look into that rich music and cultural heritage in the here and now.

Thanks to all of you, and thanks, Max, for reporting back, and thanks to our UK folks who have offered up stories and photos.

SRS

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 04 Sep 10 - 11:33 AM

I met up with the main man myself. He came up to the venue where I was stewarding, and we had a long chat.
It was nice to meet up again, and we chewed the fat, and set the world to rights ☺
Glad you're enjoying your trip Max, we're an eclectic bunch over here, some of us are quite nice too ☻
To save anybody else saying it, I don't count myself in the quite nice category.☺-☻

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Sep 10 - 04:26 PM

I've been enjoying Max's London Photos along with some from the music gatherings he's been enjoying. Makes me want to make another visit.
Have a great time, Max! Your architecture photos show you have a good eye for photo composition.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 04 Sep 10 - 05:41 PM

Amazing Joe . Is that blue skys in those pictures !! I dont remember much of the corlor blue in the sky at any rate !! Thanks for the link ..

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Bill D
Date: 04 Sep 10 - 06:46 PM

"Makes me want to make another visit. Makes ME wish for just one visit. I spent my youth seeing the US, while my wife saw Europe a couple of times. We trade stories.

C'mon home Max, there's radio shows which miss you.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Will Fly
Date: 04 Sep 10 - 06:50 PM

Just said "farewell and a safe journey" to Max after a great evening at the Lewes Saturday Folk Club at the Elephant & Castle. He played great blues with mandolin accompaniment from Leadfingers. And My Guru Said To Me was excellent and in great voice.

An evening to remember - watch out for some forthcoming YouTube videos of Max in action this evening...

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Sep 10 - 09:58 PM

Someone needs to pull all of these photos from all of these sources into one file. And the videos. And Max's commentary and the stories people have shared. Put it all on a disk as a slide show with videos and I'd buy a copy.

Just a thought.

SRS

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 12:26 AM

I've seen zillions of pics of Big Ben, but never a close up of the amazing decoration. I second Joe's comments about the photos.

thanks, Max

sandra

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 03:50 AM

Sandra,

Being very pedantic, very few people have seen ANY pictires of "Big Ben".

What Max's photos (and probably all the other ones you've seen) are showing is ST STEPHEN'S CLOCK TOWER.

"Big Ben" is the nickname of the largest bell (formally called The Great Bell) installed in the tower.

Here's a photo of the real Big Ben:

ACTUAL Photo of Big Ben

:-)

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Anne Lister
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 04:21 AM

And Max and I drove past where the man who gave his name to Big Ben had a family estate, in Llanover.   Benjamin Hall, who married Augusta Waddington, was the chap in question.

Happy landings, Max - we've loved having you here! Hope your return home is full of joyful reunions, and we hope you'll come back soon.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 05:54 AM

Thanks, Rob, now I can say I've seen Big Ben & the decoration around the clockfaces on St Stephen's Clock tower!

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Leadfingers
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 07:07 AM

Got Max to Heathrow in good time for his flight - He takes off in about a half hour from now ! London orbital Carpark did NOT live up to its nams , so an easy drove round from Leatherhead . Had a great time last night-Thanks for Hospitality , Hils and Richard , and after a FULL day driving the Pretty Way to Lewes Via The Wail) Hills did a superb evening at the Filk Club !

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 07:27 AM

safe flight to you Max.. wonderful seeing you in person.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: GUEST,puck
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 08:19 AM

It gave me great pleasure indeed to meet Max and shake his hand at Llantrisant Folk Club last Wed. evening and to thank him for the Mudcat Cafe - this brilliant and educational resource he has gifted to us all. In humble reply, he said not to forget that it is as useful for him as it is for us!
It's true that an on-line community is only as good as those taking part in it but Max envisaged the concept, made it a reality and what a success it has become!
P.
[Malcolm 'over-by-'ere']

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Girl Friday
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 08:45 AM

I'm very glad that we went to Lewes last night. It was great fun, and we got to say goodbye to Max properly. I'll look at your piccies later Max . Happy landings, and glad there were no holdups on the world's biggest car park.
Sue

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 03:54 PM

Have a safe journey, Max.You have your Whitby heather so you'll be back :)

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 03:59 PM

He has landed back in the U.S.! Just sent a tweet and a facebook note.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: vectis
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 04:15 PM

Very pleased to hear he has arrived home safely.
It was a pleasure to meet him in Whitby. I hope he will make NZ once I have moved there so I'll get to see him again.
Mary

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Girl Friday
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 04:16 PM

Max- your photos of London are absolutely stunning !

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: My guru always said
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 06:08 PM

We're so glad Max has returned home safely, he will be missed here in the UK and especially here at Old Keepers.

This trip would not have happened without Big Mick's initial 'nudging', the collections made by SINSULL and in the UK, all the wonderful MudCatters who contributed, hosted & helped (you know who you are), and also all those who offered ideas and suggestions for Max's Grand UK Escapade. I must also add my personal thanks to my other half, Richard, who supported me throughout the organisation of Max's trip.

Max has a huge list of MudCatters he's met (and possibly met) in the UK. I've posted Registers on the appropriate threads but I may have missed a few Catters for which I apologise. As Max promised, he has been documenting the trip to the full with photos and videos aswell as posts here and on Facebook etc. I'm sure that Max will need a while to recover from his strenuous itinerary. I think he impressed us all by managing the challenge of the trip with such cheerful good grace. It's been an absolute privilege to share some of Max's time with him and to ease his passage during this trip. As his Mum says, he's a good boy!

Thanks Max, for providing us with such a secure home-base for the Worldwide Folk Community, you now have an idea of how much we appreciate you here in the UK.

Wishing you safe journeys on your next adventure, we know you've got the bug for getting out and about to meet Catters around the world. They'll want to meet you too.....

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Big Mick
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 01:00 AM

My role was minor compared to that done by MGAS and Sinsull. I had every intention of doing all the legwork.... but as is well documented, my life took some hops that precluded that. I called "She who is Mother to all, and must be obeyed, elst you will receive boxes of gaudy junk" otherwise known as Sinsull. She did what she has always done (which is why I love you, woman), and then we got talking about who to get with in the UK. Sins suggested MGAS, and that turned out to be enough to earn them both Sainthood in this lad's heart. So when it comes to kudos, it belongs to these two. And MGAS, I hope Richard is a tolerant sort, because I am going to give you a grade A, down home going to Jesus, country boy, patented Big Mick hug the first time I get the chance. And to our friends in the UK, thanks so much for the hospitality you have shown. The fact is that ever since I met Max, all those years ago in his "office" above the Iron Horse Brewery in West (by Gawd) Chester, PA, I fast knew that I loved this man like a brother. I have watched him, over the years sacrifice time with his kids, money, and relationships, just to keep Mudcat going. He has done this not because he had too, and at times not because he wanted to. He did it because he knew that this was a special place, and that for many it was their window on the world. He is as fine a man as I know, and I so wanted this to be the trip of a lifetime. Thanks to Sinsull, MGAS and Richard, and all of you fine UK'ers, that is exactly what happened. I hope one day soon to tell you all that in person. But for now, please accept my fondest best wishes and my gratitude for showing our Max the hospitality you showed him.

All the very best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Soldier boy
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 10:37 AM

Very well expressed Big Mick and a big thanks back from all UK Mudcatters.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: gnu
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 03:00 PM

Ya know... I was just chattin with a buddy and said I enjoyed the vid of Max playing and singing and mentioned his good guitar playing might not have been possible after the accident.

Accident?

Yup. For anybody that missed the thread, here it is.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Anne Lister
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 06:24 PM

Thanks, Gnu ... we did meet a cement mixer on a quiet lane in Monmouthshire and Max told me the tale. Luckily in this case the two vehicles didn't make contact.

But it was absolutely our pleasure to have Max come and visit and I'm so glad it all worked out the way it did.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 08:39 PM

Our time with Max was all too short in a very busy schedule, but long enough to know that when he next visits the UK he has a place to stay for as long as he wishes.

The fee for this service will be a little help in playing finger style blues guitar.

It's been both a pleasure, and a privilege.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Max
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 06:44 AM

The last day was loaded up with a drive to the Wail and then to Lewes Folk Club. The Wail was definitely worth the trek, there were a ton of mudcatters there and some great singing. Gave me a welcomed 2nd chance with several fine folks I saw along the way and cream tea and scones with jam and cream. It's a really neat little festival out in a field, and the weather was perfect again.

Amazingly, 16 or my 17 days were blue sky and sunshine. I don't know what everyone talks about, England's weather is delightful.

Just a couple of hours at the Wail, then it was off to Lewes Folk Club where Hils scheduled to perform and Terry and I were there to support her. Even Richard was cajoled into singing a song. We tore the roof off the joint. Terry sat in with Will and then with me, and Hils was amazing. Her songs are still stuck in my ear. It was another great club in another great room. Not a lot of admitted mudcatters, but perhaps we recruited a few.

Back to Old Keepers to pack and sleep before an uneventful drive (thanks Terry) to the airport. Everything went perfect, flight on-time, the seat next to me empty so I could stretch out, everything went smooth. Then a drive from Philadelphia to State College where my kids were waiting. Emily was a peach to meet me so I could get some of the best hugs I've ever gotten.

The next morning I went to see my folks and pick up my dog, who also missed me dearly. Just when I thought I was home and back to normal, I'm up 2 hours before dawn, clearly still on UK time. So it's back to work, back to life... Wish me luck.

There'll probably be another couple of updates as a ruminate about my trip. I can tell you this was a life changer. All the fine folks, all the ground I covered and songs I heard, the festivals the folk clubs, surely I'll continue to process it all for the rest of my life. Perhaps I will consolidate it all with the pictures and such and offer it up in a more tangible form as suggested, we'll see.

I very big thank you to all involved. All the great folks who welcomed me into their homes and drug my butt across the country and into their clubs, thank you. Hils and Richard, SINSULL and Mick, jaqui and anyone else who contributed and organized this trip, you are amazing, it all went off without a hitch. Amazing...

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Leadfingers
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 06:55 AM

Max - It was a real pleasure to be able to contribute to your enjoyment of England and Wales !

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 07:38 AM

If you give away the secret of our perpetual glorious summer weather, our little island will soon get too crowded.
Glad that you enjoyed it though Max.
Did Jacqui not tell you that Hertfordshire is the jewel of all England?
Next time maybe?
keith.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Girl Friday
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 11:11 AM

Now that you're home Max, the English weather is back to normal. It poured with rain last night, and is still doing it today.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Leadfingers
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 11:56 AM

Perhaps we should get Max back for the whole summer - See if we can ALL get a good tan !!

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: SINSULL
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 12:02 PM

Funny - Jacqui's daughter was here from the UK. 90+ degress until she left. Fall is here now.
Good to have you back, Max. I have enjoyed the travelogue.
SINS

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 12:19 PM

What a wondrous thing you have all wrought...from the basement where Mudcat was born of Max and Jeff, to corroborating with Dick and Susan with the DT, to all who have come here and contributed, what a wonderful, wonderful thing/people/Max!

Glad you are back safely and loved the travelogue, too. Look forward to hearing more when you feel so inclined. Really neat you had hugs waiting for you!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 12:44 PM

I was lucky enough to meet Max a second time, at the Wail - I'm glad he enjoyed his brief visit, tea and scones/ cream / jam, and to hear that his whole trip and journey home went so well. (It rained in Dorset the morning after your visit to the Wail, by the way, while you were flying home....)

Kitty

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 01:07 PM

That was Max's tears Kitty, as he flew over, on his way home.
Next time Max, I demand that you come to Scotland as well. :)

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 05:21 PM

Great to meet you in person at last Max and to shake the hand of the man who has given so much to all of us.

Andy

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Soldier boy
Date: 09 Sep 10 - 10:39 AM

It was great to meet you in the flesh Max and also to meet My Guru Always Said and Noreen and Barbry in The Board Inn at Whitby, along with about another 30 Mudcatters or more!

It has been a real delight reading your travelogue and I also hope that you might ruminate some more amout your trip and consolidate a sort of reflective summary of your experience with pictures and commentary etc (but please do rest up and recover from what must have been a truly exhausting time here first).

In the meantime, talking about 'pictures' etc, does anybody else have any more photos or video that connect with Max and his trip around the UK that could be posted and shared on this thread?

Chris

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Sep 10 - 11:25 AM

I have thoroughly enjoyed the trip I have vicariously taken and want to thank all involved for taking such good care of "Fearless Leader" and sending him home in one piece. This is another of the threads that not only tells a tale but one where we have learned a great deal about an awful lot of members who are often more quiet about themselves.....sorta' like the memorable Bill Sables and Allen USA Tour years ago.

He returns just in time for the beginning of college football season so he can once again see his Penn State Nittany Lions get the shit kicked out of them by the Buckeyes of Ohio State.

Good to have you back lad.........What's this year's bet?



Spaw

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Barb'ry
Date: 09 Sep 10 - 12:09 PM

I've got pictures and a video of Max but a) I don't know how to post them on the site and b) I took the video vertically on the camera and can't turn it round... OK, I know that sounds dim, but I can't find the 'rotate clockwise' button on anything! I've uploaded some of the pics onto my facebook page, so if anyone wants to 'be my friend' let me know.

bx

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 09 Sep 10 - 02:32 PM

You Americans are lucky we let you have him back. He's a helluva nice guy, and we realy would have liked to keep him.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Splott Man
Date: 09 Sep 10 - 05:13 PM

I've got a few pics on my Facebook which are viewable by all if you're on Facebook too (I think).

Splott Man a.k.a. Ned Clamp (there - I've gone public!).

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: My guru always said
Date: 09 Sep 10 - 05:46 PM

Max put most of my photos up on his photo-pages!

And Max has already posted links to some of Richard's video's too.

And I'm still not on Face-book, I don't really have to be, do I? I've got friends, honest I have *sniff*

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 09 Sep 10 - 06:42 PM

But did he ever return?.....

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: My guru always said
Date: 10 Sep 10 - 04:31 AM

We sent him back home Dick, honest we did.... And he posted on 7th September to prove it! He'll still be catching up with a backlog from work, MudCat, Facebook & goodness knows what else, whenever he can find time between hugs from his kids & family!

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 10 Sep 10 - 11:25 AM

May I second Katlaughing's post? Mudcat and the Digitrad are phenomenal resources and we are very lucky to have them.

It was a delight to meet Max and hear him sing. Another time we must show him more of lovely Lewes.

Valmai

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: My guru always said
Date: 10 Sep 10 - 02:53 PM

Just to let you all know how we did with the Escapade T-shirts. Max has had the proceeds from the sold T-shirts since I got to the point where my costs were covered. There are only 4 left if anyone still wants them. There are 2 off XL, 1 off L and 1 off L demo. Price may now be negotiable to save me keeping them in my cupboards *grin*

Oh, I'm so glad I didn't order 100......

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: gnu
Date: 10 Sep 10 - 04:56 PM

Wonderful pics again!

And... oh my... Max smokes? How absolutely terrible!!!!

Got a light... cough... cough...