Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News

Subject: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 10 Dec 11 - 02:49 PM

For those of you who may not already know, Raymond Greenoaken (aka the editor of Stirrings (folk mag for the "S Yorks and beond"area)) had open heart surgery (as scheduled) on Thurs 8 Dec.

Partner Kate reports:
"Raym's op (yesterday) went well – a double bypass in the end. He had some blood coagulation problems afterwards – a bit hairy at the time, but has now stabilised. He'll be out of intensive care today and back on the ward. ...saw him yesterday evening and yer man was high on morphine and cracking jokes! One of the first things he said was " have ye rung round yet?", so he wanted you all to know he was ok.

"Any Sheffield folk who want to visit: just let me know and I'll send details."

Those of you who know him are welcome to post here; I'm planning to nip in for a visit tomorrow (Sun 11th) afternoon and will print out messages & bring them with me.

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 10 Dec 11 - 03:13 PM

All good wishes for a successful recovery!

Henry Peacock

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 10 Dec 11 - 03:19 PM

Oops... just realised I have put this above rather than below "the line"... sorry!

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Dec 11 - 03:44 PM

We have the honour of being the Raymond Greenoaken tribute band, after stepping in for him at the Old Horns, Bradfield last year. So do send our good wishes to the editor of our favourite folk-zine!

Jane F & Richard P (Backyard Buskers)

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: Folkiedave
Date: 10 Dec 11 - 03:53 PM

Do send best wishes to Raymondo and I shall seek out appropriate music for him on next week's show!

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: foggers
Date: 10 Dec 11 - 05:10 PM

Ooops that was me without me cookie at 03.44 (Mudcat time) !

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 10 Dec 11 - 06:12 PM

Yeah, Vikki, 'twas a hell of a shock when I got the email earlier today, but O Lord how happy I am to hear that he's now out of IC and back on the ward so the prognosis must be good.

Here's a message for The Man In The Know:
"Hey R, still can't quite take it all in, especially when I remember you were on such fine form at the session only last Friday - and just to remind you of what you sang, well how's that for bein' prescient... "down in my heart compartment..." - ok I guess your heart got too hearty then, but hope you don't get too bad an attack of the no-sleep blues now while you're on the mend! Be glad, and keep crackin' those jokes man! All the very best for a complication-free recovery, and I hope to see you back in circulation real soon. Pip-pip!"

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 10 Dec 11 - 08:56 PM

YY - Pass my best wishes on to Mr G. Please let him know he has unfinished business with the Folk Police...

Cheers,

Nigel

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: r.padgett
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 03:20 AM

Yea got an email from Bob about this ~ he should be out within 7 days or earlier! Northern General Hospital assumed (had mine there!) they need the bed!!

All the best Raymond, Stirrings and Kate need you!!

Ray

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: Mick Tems
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 05:36 AM

Folwales Online Magazine heard about Raymond's sussessful recovery - here wishing you all the very best, RG.

Mick Tems

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 06:26 AM

Raymond Greenoaken - AKA Dancing Jim Wetherspoon - has been my Folk Mentor since seeing Badger in the Bag hosting Ossian at The Buddle Art's Centre in 1981. Badger in the Bag were 2 parts Grumbleweeds, 2 parts Malicorne and 2 parts Incredible String Band. It was Raymond who bestowed on me the Blessing of Peter Bellamy, Jim Eldon, The White Goddess, the Mabinogion, Trout Mask Replica, The Holy Modal Rounders, Michael Hurley and intruduced me to Dr Strangely Strange (see my review of Heavy Petting in the new Stirrings for the full story!) - so I owe him big time & brotherly, for 30 years of merry wanderings along the Ragwort Road. Here's hoping for 30 more!

My tribute to the Greenoaken muse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw7FUAsiVyc (note the carefully placed copy of Raymond's copy of Peter Bellamy's Won't You Go My Way on the shelf in back there...)

Sedayne.

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: r.padgett
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 10:20 AM

He's a lot to answer for that Raymond Greenoaken!!

Ray

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: Brian Peters
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 12:33 PM

Wow, this is all news to me. Really glad it went well. I could wax lyrical about Raymond's journalistic skills, and editorship of the best mag around, but fortunately an obituary is not called for!

And this belongs above the line, if you ask me.

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: The Sandman
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 02:03 PM

get well

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 12 Dec 11 - 08:51 AM

As planned, went in with Kate to visit Raymond yesterday. He looked a bit wan -- but that's hardly surprising. I complimented him on the new tattoo of a scar running down the centre of his chest (way more impressive than a mere scar on the cheek like those wimpy film baddies have, don'tcha think?).

Kate said he was much improved compared to the previous day (there were some concerns with his heart rate, which was too fast for quite some time, but had settled down by yesterday morning); he was even out of bed & sitting in a chair. His voice is a bit raspy (also not surprising) but his Puckish smile (quintessential Raymond, IMO) remains unchanged (although perhaps not (yet) as frequent as usual), and the way both his eyebrows raised with pleasure when Kate took hold of both his hands was very sweet.

I printed out the thread (up to & including Suibhne Astray's post) and brought it along; Raymond seemed surprised but pleased that there was a thread on him and eager to see what it said (then again, he appeared to be a bit short on reading material... ;-) ) I've also sent Kate a link to this thread (she's not a 'Catter) so that she can continue to let him see it when she visits.

Brian, it was news to just about everyone; if not for Kate, I suspect no-one outside of his family would have known... although he was anxious for folks to know that he had come through the operation OK.

Assuming that all that research about the healing power of laughter is correct, I am going to suggest that people post their best jokes here -- or else links to things that make them laugh (R doesn't have online access yet, but it won't be long before he's home and able to check this thread for himself).

Will post another update here when I've heard from Kate again.

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: DrugCrazed
Date: 12 Dec 11 - 03:23 PM

Even though I can see you as I type this Ms Yankee, I'd like to pass on something along the lines of "Get better, or I'll have to find another concertina teacher, and that's just not on".

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: r.padgett
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 05:17 AM

O wait until you are fed up of looking like a Greek Dancer, Raymond

Those white stockings might become of interest!! lol


a beggar to put on and take off!! tho

Ray

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 06:10 AM

Haven't heard any more from Kate, but word is that Raymond was coming home yesterday (Tues), so he may be able to peruse Mudcat himself soon...

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 06:41 AM

Raymond was in my dream last night - we were up on the top of Glastonbury Tor with Rob Ayling watching Glen Sweeney dancing, chanting & storytelling in the snow with a huge Shaman's drum decorated with tiny animated figures which on closer inspection turned out to be Grayson Perry's interpretations of characters from the Beano & The Broons intermingled with graffiti from St Alban's cathedral - including the famous Hare, which was being chased by Baby Face Finlayson who in turn was being chased by PC Murdoch. Raymond asked Glen if he could play his whistle with his drumming, but Glen said (in those enigmatic tones so familiar to avid collectors of Third Ear Band bootlegs) 'You're not ready for that yet' before vanishing away into the blizzarding squall... All the while I just sat there, in trembling awe, my fingers numb, and my fiddle-faddle locked away in its case. On the way back down we stopped to take photographs of the hawthorns on which the blossoms grew through the snow in time-lapse unfolding before our very eyes.

All richly symbolic no doubt...

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: r.padgett
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 09:42 AM

Fiddle faddles are best locked away!

Ray

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 10:37 AM

In the dream it wasn't too clear what the fiddle-faddle was, just that I kept it locked away in the case, which was also gift-wrapped come to think of it...

Two things worth mentioning here. One is a wee book I have somewhere of Christmas Games, Customs & Stories (Jack Spriggans and the Magic Bean indeed) which promises an abundance of fiddle-faddle stuff... & talks of maggots in a mad-man's brain. The other is the last time Raymond and I were at the top of Glastonbury Tor we played weird improvised Third Ear Band style music in the ruins of St Michael's to a wee gathering of tourists and hippies - that was a perfect sunny Friday in the summer of 1984, on our way to the festival after a merry magical mystery tour hitching around Wiltshire... On that occasion I was playing my old viola, and Raymond his trusty Conroy penny-whistle and a Chinese hand-drum from Ray Man. That was the occasion that we first met Rob Ayling who came with us to the festival (which was a washout) & has been a pal over the years, and very succesful too with his Voiceprint label...

Festival memories are vague - I was carrying a newly bought copy of John Sampson's classic XXI Gypsy Folk Tales with me and I read out 'The Squirrel and the Fox' one night huddled from the downpour - a story which has been the core of my repertoir ever since! We also played with the synth group Another Green World, which was nice, and Robin Williamson dedicated Free Born Man of the Travelling People to the recently trashed Convoy & Raymond bought a Priciple Edwards Magic Theatre album.

Happy days? Of course, but in my book the best are always yet to come!

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 02:11 PM

The latest from Kate:
"Looks like he'll be allowed home today (blood pressure still a bit low yesterday, so they changed their minds and decided to keep him in)."

S.A. - most intriguing... no doubt Master Greenoaken will enjoy perusing/trying to interpret the symbolism of your mind's vivid imaginings -- could well keep him busy for... minutes! ;-)

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: GUEST,raymond greenoaken
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 05:15 PM

I'm back, ye blaggards, and tomorrow I'll tell you what happened... It's true about those elasticated stockings...

Note to Suibhne: yon Principal Edwards album was the year before. In '85 my haul was Michael Hurley's Long Journey. And look where that took me...

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 05:36 PM

Okay, Mr Memory Man - I'll personally present you with a bumper bar of pink & white coconut nougat (if you hate cheese you'll love this etc.) if you can tell me what album I bought from the same stall...

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 06:28 PM

Good to see you back in one piece, Mr G...

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 15 Dec 11 - 03:54 AM

A little unfair me that one; it was Lol Coxhill's Fleas In Custard. I can't believe we were carrying vinyl with us as well as everything else.

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 15 Dec 11 - 02:42 PM

Welcome home, Raymond!
Good to see you're posting again already.
Got any more of your appetite back yet?
(Personally, I'd recommend making the most of being allowed/encouraged to eat chocolate -- while it lasts!)

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: GUEST,raymond greenoaken
Date: 15 Dec 11 - 04:01 PM

Fleas In Custard? Sounds familiar...

But to one and all who sent their warm wafts of goodwill, thanks very much indeed. I came out of theatre neatly zippered to the throat, and apparently (I remember nothing of this occasion) insisted my first visitors, a couple of hours later, view my scar in all it's majesty. It closely resembles the River Nile as viewed from space.

I was festooned with drips and feeds that gave me a vague resemblance to a sea porcupine, and the residual pain flowed away following their removal. Other things that went were my voice (you may not be delighted to hear I've got it back) and my appetite, which returned three days later with indecent enthusiasm.

Ray's right – I'd have been out in five days, but my blood pressure dipped and they hung on to me for an extra day. But less than a week between scalpel and release – that's a typical turnaround. In the event I had a double bypass rather than a triple, because – get this – they decided in theatre that I was in BETTER SHAPE than expected.

Another entertaining aspect of post-op were the hallucinations. At one point I saw the face of Keith Richards in the folds of a plastic towel.

So now I'm home and being waited on hand and foot by a seraglio of dusky beauties who attend to my every whim. This may be a lingering hallucination.... Took a walk today and failed to fall down. So, thus far things are proceeding pretty well.

>Raymond was in my dream last night - we were up on the top of Glastonbury Tor with Rob Ayling watching Glen Sweeney dancing, chanting & storytelling in the snow with a huge Shaman's drum decorated with tiny animated figures which on closer inspection turned out to be Grayson Perry's interpretations of characters from the Beano & The Broons intermingled with graffiti from St Alban's cathedral - including the famous Hare, which was being chased by Baby Face Finlayson who in turn was being chased by PC Murdoch. Raymond asked Glen if he could play his whistle with his drumming, but Glen said (in those enigmatic tones so familiar to avid collectors of Third Ear Band bootlegs) 'You're not ready for that yet' before vanishing away into the blizzarding squall... All the while I just sat there, in trembling awe, my fingers numb, and my fiddle-faddle locked away in its case. On the way back down we stopped to take photographs of the hawthorns on which the blossoms grew through the snow in time-lapse unfolding before our very eyes.<

I've had this dream too.

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 15 Dec 11 - 05:51 PM

Sorry - I read that as Keith Chegwin in the towel folds, which would have been worrying, even though the word is that he did actually sing on the Macbeth soundtrack - Cheggers that is.

For all the latest Third Ear news (and a big new interview with Paul Buckmaster):

http://ghettoraga.blogspot.com/

I'm going to send Luca our dream...

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: r.padgett
Date: 16 Dec 11 - 03:56 AM

Well there you go

Not to be taken too lightly I would add!

Ray Padgett

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: mikesamwild
Date: 16 Dec 11 - 07:40 AM

Best wishes Raymond from Mike and Linda, glad tou are getting better. x

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: Brian Peters
Date: 16 Dec 11 - 08:56 AM

Congratulations on a half-remarkable recovery!

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: Trevor Thomas
Date: 16 Dec 11 - 09:18 AM

You take it easy for a while, now, Raymond!

Love & Best Wishes from Trev and Alison.

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 17 Dec 11 - 02:02 PM

Spoke to Kate this evening; it seems Raymond went back into hospital yesterday, due to fluctuating heartbeat (again). They have gotten it to stabilise (again) and he is supposed to go home (again) tomorrow (Sunday). Fingers crossed it all goes well...

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 18 Dec 11 - 12:50 PM

refresh...

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 18 Dec 11 - 01:46 PM

No news is good news???

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: GUEST,raymond greenoaken
Date: 18 Dec 11 - 02:13 PM

Result! Back home, and I've bolted the doors...

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 18 Dec 11 - 02:45 PM

Just for you:

http://soundcloud.com/winterflora/rock-of-ages-medley-18-12-11

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 19 Dec 11 - 11:15 AM

Good to see you home again! Now just keep that heart of yours nice and calm, so you don't have to go back to hospital again!

May you feel better & better as each day passes...

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 20 Dec 11 - 05:09 PM

Ha! Shaman in the Snow

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: DrugCrazed
Date: 20 Dec 11 - 06:51 PM

If he's well, he'll probably want an article from me in the future as well. That destroys that excuse...

Glad to see you well sir, look forward to seeing you in January.

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: GUEST,raymond greenoaken
Date: 21 Dec 11 - 09:53 AM

It's two steps forward, one step back, but that qualifies as progress, I think. I can now climb the hill to my house without a series of pitstops. Just to say again how touched I am by your kindly words.

R.

Subject: RE: Raymond Greenoaken Heart Op News
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 21 Dec 11 - 10:09 AM

Great stuff - I hope! Onwards & upwards, as they say, just... well I know we reach Solstice Point in the wee hours of 5.30am tomorrow, but maybe best you gave the solar capering a miss this year, eh?

This'll warm those Solstitial cockles anyway, featuring your snowy shaman himself in fine old form:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4MtYYotUO4

Otherwise - rise up, old man, and shine again!