Max's Thread - UK Escapade

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Sep 10 - 11:14 PM

About Native American signage- well, there's Seattle, Spokane, Snoqualmie, Puyallup, - and that's just in Washington state.

In Alaska, they have Alaska, Alyeska, Yakutat, Eek, Ignigik, Chugiak, Chignik-

Get the idea? :)

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Sep 10 - 10:57 PM

Yes, Jack, there are places like that in the U.S. Many of the reservations and Pueblos and such use their own names for things, from their languages. Though they are the native names, they're usually written in the Latin alphabet.

Max's travels continue to be amazing. I'm enjoying watching from here!

SRS

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Sep 10 - 03:50 PM

I see he's famous enough to have a statue erected on the shore already...pretty good likeness, too!

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Big Mick
Date: 02 Sep 10 - 03:30 PM

I don't think you are in PA anymore, Toto. This seems to be turning out to be all I hoped and more. Keep the stories and piccies coming, buddy. Love to all the 'Catters.

Mick

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: SussexCarole
Date: 02 Sep 10 - 05:49 AM

Superb time here with Max - just speeding off to the Wail and to deliver Max to Oxford - more when we get back.

Some piccys here: http://picasaweb.google.com/CaroleEtherton/MaxInWales

Over to you all to add details.............

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Max
Date: 02 Sep 10 - 04:57 AM

All my public photos can be found here: http://picasaweb.google.com/MaxSpiegel

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Jack Campin
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 05:53 AM

Tootler's point put a question in my head.

Is there anywhere in the US where public signage is in a Native American language?

(Not trying to distract from Max's thread, a short answer will do).

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Tootler
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 05:25 AM

I suspect I should have warned Max that the Welsh have their eccentricities about station labelling!!

For some bizarre reason they want to have the names in Welsh. How inconsiderate of them! [g]

Seriously, Max, I'm sure you'll have a lovely time in Wales. The Welsh are very friendly and it is a stunning country.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 05:11 AM

another good place with a very generous freebie photo account is MyOpera where Mudcat has a photo album as do some 'Catters.

sandra

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: sian, west wales
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 04:38 AM

Had a great time last night. Wonderful to meet Max and touch base with all the other 'Catters. Many many thanks to Ann and Steve for hosting the evening!

sian

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Splott Man
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 03:47 AM

Update.

My photos on Facebook are set to be viewed by everyone, but I suppose that's just everyone on Facebook.

I don't yet have another online photo account and am a bit busy right now, so please hang on till the weekend when I can put a bit of time to it.

Anyhoo, we had a small but fun gather at Anne's last night, Max was the only one to get to sing as there was too much interesting conversation.

Present were:

Anne Lister and husband Steve
Dame Pattie Smith EPNS
Splott Man
Crane Driver
Sussex Carol
Sian from West Wales
Soup Dragon
JudeL
Guest:Andy & Guest:Marie
and of course Max.

Splott Man

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Splott Man
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 03:39 AM

Please don't blame me for the eccentricities of Facebook.
I don't know why I vanished yesterday, that's their fault.

I'll have another go at going public later.

Splott Man

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: My guru always said
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 04:22 PM

Alas, I'm not on Facebook but I do know that photo albums there can be made 'public' so that everyone can see them. Hopefully Ned will change the setting when he gets back from the MudGather at Anne's!

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 03:57 PM

I thought I was picking Max up from somewhere as I am not working... Oh well... best laid plans and all that.

LTS

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Noreen
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 03:26 PM

I think Ned has just given you a good reason, Jack! :)

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Art Thieme
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 02:28 PM

Fantastic!
Art

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Jack Campin
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 02:24 PM

Can you put the photos somewhere public, like Photobucket, Picasa or Webshots?

(Nobody's ever given me a good reason why I should put up with the hassle of being on Facebook).

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 02:13 PM

Hils The photo album is on facebook. Do you have a facebook account? Are you logged in?

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Micca
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 02:12 PM

I suspect I should have warned Max that the Welsh have their eccentricities about station labelling!! and that Cass Newydd was Newport!!! Sorry!
LtS, I am picking Max up to fetch him to the Black Lion, so No problem (I hope) I know you may feel this ais an excessively optimistic view of things but at least he will have someone with him with some knowledge of the vagaries of London's sometime eccentric transport system and how to get around it.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Leadfingers
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 02:04 PM

They show fine for me Hils !

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: My guru always said
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 01:45 PM

Oh Ned, you haven't made those piccies Public, I can't see 'em *sniff*

Liz, I've PM'd you, am surprised there's any confusion, the Itinerary seems to be working well, apart from train station confusion! (there had to be a glitch Max, hope that's it)

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 01:04 PM

Can someone remind me where Max will be on Thursday and when do I get him from? I am suffering a dearth of gin and am very confused.

The session is still happening, hopefully there will be someone else but Manitas and me there.... :-D

LTS

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Crane Driver
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 11:23 AM

Ah - little Neddie has returned. It was only a temporary defenestration.

See you tonight

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Crane Driver
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 10:48 AM

Oh Neddie - what have you done? Not only does your link go nowhere, but when I look for you on Facebook, you're not there any more! Don't say you were just a pigment of our imaginations?

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Splott Man
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 10:30 AM

I've plonked a few pics of Max enjoying south Wales here

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Anne Lister
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 02:58 AM

Again I should clarify - my husband Steve works at Llancaiach full time. I'm a lowly "relief interpreter", and have other things that I do as well to earn money (like singing, songwriting, telling stories, running workshops, teaching and whatever else I need to do to make sure we can afford to keep going). But it is a wonderful place and well worth a visit - we even had King Charles I come visiting a couple of weekends back!

Weather looking good for this evening, fellow South Wales Mudcatters!

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 01:44 AM

I also loved Micca's photos. Some years back Santa Micca sent me a CD of the session at the Barn at Towersey in 2003 - now I have more pics of regulars & other Catters!

Anne and Steve work at Llancaiach Fawr Manor where it's 1645 all the time. They are actors who play out the roles of servants on the stately manor. I went into work with them and got to go through as a patron. It was most impressive and I enjoyed it very much.
Llancaiach Fawr Manor - as Max says, 'tis very impressive!

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Tyke
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 10:03 PM

I don't know if Max was introduced to The Works of Frank Meadows Sutcliffe when he was in Whitby. But as for Photographs and memories of his UK Escapade here is a blue clicky Thingamajiggy

Whitby Harbour points North with the Whale Bones on the West Cliff and the Abbey on the East Cliff. With the Sun Setting at Sea at certain times of the Year. The light is so special in Whitby that no matter how many times you visit you will always find somthing that you have not noticed before.

We only met briefly in the Endevour Max but I hope you get some pleasure from a look at Frank Sutcliffe's Photographs and trying to work out just what you are looking at and just where the Photographer was standing when he took his image.

Oh and the Red Street Lamp halfway up the 199 steps Marks the Harbours Channel for a safe return!

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 09:03 PM

I'm learning so much about our UK Mudcatters! Thanks Max, for sharing your travels with the rest of us. And Micca, the photos are great.

SRS

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 08:50 PM

Micca, love those pix, esp. the one of Max looking rather pensive or is it just glad of a minute's quiet?**bg**

Max, we are so enjoying your posts. I read them to Rog as soon as you've sent another. I am so happy you have had the chance to do this. What a wonderful, incredible journey!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Maryrrf
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 08:35 PM

I'm just now catching up on your adventures, Max. I don't post too often but do log on to Mudcat at least once a day - and really appreciate Mudcat being here. I'm so glad that this came about, and that the UK 'catters are taking such good care of you. Did you ever imagine anything like this when you created Mudcat???

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Dame Pattie Smith EPNS
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 08:02 PM

Splottie and I will see you at Anne's tomorrow night Max - or tonight as it is now. So starts the party in Wales and you are coming to me for tea on Wednesday before the fabled Llantrisant Folk Club. Once been never forgotten!
X The Dame

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Noreen
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 06:17 PM

Hey, gnu- not just you, but I'm learning stuff about other UK catters- I didn't know what Ann and Ned did outside music festivals, before now.

(I was going to say in 'the Real World', but as has just been agreed elsewhere, music-making with friends such as goes on at festivals is very much the REAL world, and what we do the rest of the time merely supports that!)

So glad that you're still being looked after well, Max- this is most definitely a life-changing trip. You're fitting in so much concentrated experience in your visit here!

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Anne Lister
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 05:53 PM

Just to clarify ... I DID have Max's number, but on the phone and computer that was at the house, and hadn't bothered to take it with me because having heard he was on the train thought nothing could go wrong. And I didn't help matters by the fact that my iPhone was out of battery charge, so Max couldn't get through until it had charged a little in the car. I've never normally dared to go out leaving a meal cooking in the oven and so while worrying at the station about how someone could vanish between Reading and Newport I was also worrying about charred meat and potatoes at home - and the phone number.
On the way back home I managed to log into Mudcat on the recovering phone and was just about to find Max's number when he called - such a relief!
Tomorrow night is the Mudgather, which will be about a dozen strong. And I'm hoping to show Max a bit more of this beautiful part of the country.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Max
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 05:30 PM

Towersey was the same goodness I've come to expect at the festivals I've been to over here. The barn had a magnificent sing going on and the pub had a mighty fine jam going too. Morris Dancers were dancing in the sunshine as we arrived. Lots of mudcatters there too. Mr. Red, Mike, Terry, Liz, etc etc. Much love. 

After the sing, Mr Red interviewed me for his radio program and I recorded a station ID for him, which was fun for me, cause I'm the guy usually asking for them. 

After the barn sing ended, we got to run around the festival grounds for a bit. Got a bite to eat and checked out the shops and curiosities. A fair amount of weird stuff floating about. Weird puppets, men in dresses and wigs riding motorized refrigerators, faces painted, girls dressed up goth and fancy, crazy instruments being played and sold… I loved it all. 

A couple of more mudcatters down there too which were great to meet. 

Then, Leadfinger Terry Silver drove me to Reading Station. Micca tagged along, but slept through most of the fun. See, if you've ever heard stories about Terry's driving, THERE ALL TRUE. It's manic, high anxiety, speed racer blindfolded sort of stuff. At one point he hit something on my side of the car, going fast, that pushed the passenger side mirror closed. He calmly and casually just asked me to push it back out. While there was some concern for my safety and actually finding the station, all turned out just fine and I am grateful for the ride. Micca helped me find the right platform and bid me farewell and I was off to Ann and Steve, I was off to Wales.

The train ride was lovely. I enjoyed the landscape and comfort of the train. Passed the madness of the Reading Festival on the way out and WOW was there a lot of people there. Tents were scattered a out for miles as the train kept rolling by. 

I wanted to keep this a secret so not to get teased, but I got a bit confused and missed the Newport stop. The station was under construction and you had to open the door yourself, and signs had Welsh on them, and I blew my chance. To add to the confusion, I couldn't reach Anne on the phone, she didn't have my number and she had to rush back home to save the lamb she was roasting me for dinner. 

I got off at the next stop and caught the first train back to Newport which, as luck would have it, was ready to go as soon as I found it. I got ahold of Anne as soon as I got on the train, and they circled back to get me after rescuing the lamb. Lost about 35 minutes and caused Anne and Steve 2 trips to the station was the worst of it all. 

The lamb was perfect, the dinner, the companionship and conversation was great and off to bed for an early start to Llancaiach Fawr Manor. 

Anne and Steve work at Llancaiach Fawr Manor where it's 1645 all the time. They are actors who play out the roles of servants on the stately manor. I went into work with them and got to go through as a patron. It was most impressive and I enjoyed it very much. There was also a dog show (DOG SHOW!) going on outside, so that was fun to see too. Among much else, I saw a Welsh beagle that was almost as handsome as Merle. 

Ned picked me up from there and took me deep into the Welsh countryside and preserves called Brecon Beacon. Lambs everywhere, seemingly roaming free over the stunning green and heather hills of Wales. All the while Ned tirelessly answering my endless questions about life and culture and history of the region. I learned a lot and saw some great views I've been wanting to for many many years. 

From there, he took me into Caldiff, which I later learned is the fastest growing city in Europe. A college town, a holiday destination, a port and an all around bustling city, visually stunning in the old and new architecture.  It was especially hopping because it was a bank holiday Monday. 

Carnival rides, vendor booths, music, parachuting, rescue dog demonstrations… a lot was going on. A lot. Ned knows the city well, and was the best tour guide I could have possibly had. He works downtown at a touch-me science museum and planetarium, the finest of which I've ever seen. He took me for a custom tour on our way back out of town. 

A quiet evening here, giving me a chance to rest and other things, like shave for the first time since last Wednesday at Whitby and post this update. Another lovely dinner from Anne and Steve, more of the same super duper hosts I've had along the way. I am well cared for and feel very much at home even though I'm in a different foreign town and country and home every night. 

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: gnu
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 05:10 PM

Yaaa know... the pics from this thread are not just great. The pics with titles and names are allowing me to put faces to people I have been talking to at the Café for years. It makes this whole endeavour even FAR better. With some pics, I can almost feel the atmosphere. Well done and thanks.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Micca
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 01:53 PM

and a few of Max and other "assorted" Mudcatters Here and others not Mudcatters

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Noreen
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 12:56 PM

Thanks micca!

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Micca
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 12:30 PM

There are some Pix of Max at Ash Nr Sandwich on Saturday Here

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: GUEST,Girl Friday
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 06:36 AM

Shame that Max didn't get to hear Ben, and vice versa, we should have given him Ben's demo C D.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 05:44 AM

"Not that you would dream of quoting her, Crow Sister."

I think I forgot to this at the end of that post! ;-)

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Anne Lister
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 03:03 AM

Guy - the usual phrase is Cymru am byth (Wales for ever). We'll take good care of him, but the Welsh are, as ever, welcoming.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Tyke
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 01:08 AM

Seems to me that Max has proved to be so popular during his vist you might consider Raffling or Auctioning off his Socks to raise a few quid for the Mudcat "Darn It!"

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Richard Atkins
Date: 29 Aug 10 - 08:42 PM

Max has left the care of Guru and myself to Wales, may he continue to enjoy his time This side of the pond.
Some may think Americans can be loud .Max is reserved and talented and I look forward to his return to us on friday.

Max your socks over the cottage radiator should be dry by friday! :>)

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 29 Aug 10 - 07:29 PM

All he needs is : "byw cymru Hir" and "Rwyf wrth fy modd y blues " .   Something like" Long live Wales" and "I love the blues" if Google translate is correct !!

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Girl Friday
Date: 29 Aug 10 - 07:20 PM

That was me. duno what happened.

Icchydd dda !

Forgive any spelling mistakes please

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Ebbie
Date: 29 Aug 10 - 06:29 PM

Not that you would dream of quoting her, Crow Sister.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Anne Lister
Date: 29 Aug 10 - 06:17 PM

He's here in Wales now and had his first pronunciation lesson - necessary, as tomorrow he'll come with us to Llancaiach Fawr to start the day.
And I'm heading to bed ... goodnight, chaps.

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 29 Aug 10 - 03:00 PM

"he, and VTam, are just the sort of Americans I have always had the good fortune to meet"

Uhu! Well, my Aunt (from Virginia) reckoned that the only Americans worth meeting, are the ones who had left America..

Subject: RE: Max's Thread - UK Escapade
From: gnu
Date: 29 Aug 10 - 02:46 PM

He's off to Jonesland?