BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 06:58 PM

Click here to get to the discussion of Dick & Susan's inquiries before their trip to England, August 11-28. Maybe they can come back to this thread and give us a travelogue, eh?

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 07:55 PM

Well Bob Scwarer beat me to it on the other thread, but I'll ask it for him here...............

Taking the Concorde??

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Morticia
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 08:15 PM

Be afraid........be very afraid *BG*

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 08:34 PM

I guess Susan and I ought to talk to each other. The only reason for this thread is that Susan thought that tho other thread (English Mudcatters Attention!) might be passed over by some people who might like to meet us.

Y'all can post responses to the other thread mentioned above--that way we'll cut down a wee bit on thread proliferation. (Joe--did I detect a touch of irritation in one of your posts?)

No, we're not taking a Concorde. Remember the old saying, though: "The family that flies together...."

Not irritated, Dick - just hopelessly confused....and now even YOU are confusing me! Three threads, and you haven't even left home yet. (grin)
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 08:35 PM

Keep us all posted about where you are and what you're up to.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Susan of DT
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 08:52 PM

Please post travel arrangement notes (offers?) to the other thread. I had just said, essentially, see other thread. Dick and I crossed wires on who was going to post the second thread. Sorry Joe and all.

---

Click here to get to the discussion of Dick & Susan's inquiries before their trip to England, August 11-28. Maybe they can come back to this thread and give us a travelogue, eh?

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 12:29 AM

Well, be a bit nervous anyway. And bring yer wellies - this is England in August here.......

Look forward to meeting you.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Sorcha
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 02:10 AM

Joe is only irritated about my abc/html.(*SG*) Go on to England and have a GOOD time. Sell lots of stuff and come back re-freshed. And, as Morty says, Be afraid. Of what I don't exactly know, unless it is the Funny Uncle......

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Micca
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 06:51 AM

Sorcha, the F in LFU stands for FAT (before the hospital helped me lose a lot of weight ) not FUNNY, altho' now you mention it........ any way we are looking forward to meeting you guys very much,and Towersey will be a blast...

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 11:01 AM

While I'm thinking of it---can anyone tell me what electrical service is provided in England and Wales? Volts? Cycles (or Hertz)?

Trying to keep my computer battery charged.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Gervase
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 11:12 AM

It's 240 volt, 50htz - you may need a transformer unless you're travelling with a Mac, which seems to tolerate any voltage the world can throw at it.
Don't forget that the plugs are different - you'll need to get hold of a couple of adaptors to convert two-pin US-style plugs into three-pin British bricks. Phone connectors, too - in the US you use an RJ11 that goes straight in the socket; here in the UK we have a wider plug (you should be able to pick one up at the airport - if not I've got loads, so I'll let you have one at the Black Lion on the Saturday.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 01:43 PM

refresh. Just trying to keep this visible

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Micca
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 01:56 PM

Well, the good news is the Black Lion doesn't mind us playing music, so long as it is fairly acoustic and un-amplified, YEAH for the BL, anyone need directions? turn left out of Plaistow Underground station and it is about 100 yards down on the opposite side of the Street , we will be in the bar that has its entrance just to the right of the arch through to the yard.The Pub has parking too for customers off Plaistow High st

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Micca
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 02:05 PM

REad "turn RIGHT out of Plaistow Station."

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 05:07 AM

The only one who needs directions here mate, is YOU!!

I will write left and right on your feet next time I see you!!!

Gervase - twice in a pub in 2 weeks with me - people will start talking!! Do you need a kip space? We have nicely painted room available. That goes for anyone else who might need room.....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Micca
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 08:14 AM

This is from the person who took us back to East London from Hastings via Staines!!!!!and who has to be directed by this side or your side instead of Left and Right to avoid confusion....

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: GUEST,dick greenhaus
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 03:50 PM

Is it really that confusing? Should we just stay hime?

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Lanfranc
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 07:27 PM

Dick

We drive on the left, which to you will be strange.

We also drive very close together in smaller cars than you are used to.

Our freeways are called motorways, and nobody observes the speed limit (70mph) unless there's a police car or a speed camera in the vicinity.

Oh, and some people can't tell left from right.

Our road signage is variable and sometimes (south of the Thames) virtually non-existent.

But you mustn't stay home - we're looking forward to seeing you and will try to protect you from harm. If all else fails, close your eyes while travelling - but preferably not when you are driving!

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Abby Sale
Date: 30 Jul 00 - 10:01 AM

D & S:

Be of brave heart, friends. Driving is no problem once you get used to it. Takes 3 or 4 months but it's easy. Just watch out for right turns (seriously). They're odd but the rest is like driving on a one-way street in real countries.

Then one day you'll come down here to St. Thomas which has been USian for many, may decades, was never British, but they drive on the left. Tiny, hilly, twisty roads. Reminds of of Scottish (I can never remember which one gets one & which two t's) highlands. No one on the island knows why they drive on the left.

You'll enjoy Hingalend. It's only a small place & if you get lost, just keep driving - you'll sooner or later get to water. Just follow that around to the place you want. The natives are generally friendly and many sing quaint native songs. The water's quite safe to drink, no need to worry about it. But I'd strictly avoid the food. Look for the Scottish quality restaurants called "MacDonalds."

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Jul 00 - 07:40 PM

You can't stay home now, I've had a bath especially!! I even hosed down the bratling......

Watch out for Roundabouts... give way to the traffic coming at you from the right hand side (that's the side where the steering wheel has suddenly moved to) and be brave. You are allowed to give the traditional salutes when you are beeped at from behind at these junctions. If you must drive with your eyes shut, roundabouts are good places to start. Make sure the person who navigates can a) read a map and b) stay awake for longer than 20 mins in the car.

LTS

I drive with my eyes shut all the time, which is WHY we ended up at Staines - he was no good - he was asleep!!

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 01 Aug 00 - 11:26 AM

Just wondering- Do flashlight batteries come in the same sizes in the UK as in the US? AA and C cells, in particular

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Gervase
Date: 01 Aug 00 - 01:23 PM

No problem - we all talk the same language on batteries.
As for vegetables - now that's a different matter...

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Aug 00 - 06:02 PM

Don't go near the swedes if you don't like rutabagas....

And a squash is usually a watery fruit drink, not a relative of the pumpkin.

Sprouts are lovely - you must try some, they are a local delicacy.....

Under no circumstances eat vegetables in wholefood restaurants, they are usually crisp and full of flavour, you will not recognise them as vegetables.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 02 Aug 00 - 05:00 AM

Some other British delicacies to try:

Faggots (meatballs made from pig offal)
Brawn (pate made from pig head and offal)
Haggis (large boiling sausage made from sheep offal)
Tripe (cow offal)
Steak and Kidney Pie (more cow offal)
Laverbread (boiled seaweed, eaten with pig offal)
Big Mac (offal in a bun)

:->

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 02 Aug 00 - 06:07 AM

Sh'mai, Dai, that's an offal lot to eat in a short visit!
Iechyd da
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Abby Sale
Date: 02 Aug 00 - 11:00 AM

Dai: You slander haggis. The same insides but placed is a regular sausage casing and fried or baked is very tasty. I am still remembered (and with pleasure, not rancour) for my brilliant cuisinatory invention of "spaghetti with haggis sauce." But I doubt D & S will find haggis pudding in England. Unless they happen on an honest Scottish chip shop. No, over all I still think they'd be better off bringing their food with them.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 02 Aug 00 - 11:28 AM

It's much easier to get haggis in England than it used to be; any good deli, and even some supermarkets...and, yes, baked rather than boiled!

Malcolm

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 02 Aug 00 - 11:45 AM

Sainsbury's own brand is excellent, I highly recommend it. I'm actually very fond of all those tubes and glands that have passed out of epicurean favour of late...

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: The Shambles
Date: 02 Aug 00 - 03:46 PM

I think it would be fair to say all supermarkets stock haggis now. They do seem to come from animals that have plastic bladders though?

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 02 Aug 00 - 04:44 PM

I've tried spotted dick, toad in the hole, haggis and bangers. I suspect I'll draw the line at mushy peas.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Aug 00 - 09:52 PM

Mushy peas - don't knock them till you've tried them. As Sir Thomas Beecham said, you should try everything once in this life, except incest and Morris dancing. And I'm sure you'd disagree with him about the Morris dancing.

No one has mentioned Cornish Pasties...If you aren't too worried about Mad Cow Disease.........

Anyway, try to make it to the Half Moon in Bishop's Stortford, Herts, on Sunday 13th, and you should have an enjoyable evening.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Noreen
Date: 02 Aug 00 - 10:08 PM

MMmmmmmmmm- mushy peas.......
Up t'road from here in Ramsbottom they do pea fritters..........

Noreen

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Aug 00 - 12:50 AM

EEEEEE, pea fritters, haven't had them since I moved out of Dorset - that's about as far south as you can get apart from Cornwall..... They looked like tennis balls covered in breadcrumbs until you bit into them and they were lovely and juicy and and and......

LTS slavering and drooling and wanting a big pea fritter....

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 03 Aug 00 - 03:35 AM

Now then. Boiled bacon, Pease pudding. hurrr hurrr hurrr.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Noreen
Date: 03 Aug 00 - 05:55 AM

Sorry about the thread creep.......

Liz, you're welcome to join me on a trip up t'valley in search of the elusive pea fritter anytime! I thought it was a local delicacy (along with black peas /black pudding) as I've never seen them anywhere else.

Here is a virtual pea fritter for you! :0)

Noreen

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Catrin
Date: 03 Aug 00 - 06:00 AM

Dick, you may have tried bangers, but have you tried my local butchers 'pork and leek' bangers? yum yum, especially for Saturday morning hangover.

Catrin

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: GUEST,Lorraine
Date: 03 Aug 00 - 07:05 AM

Have a wonderful time!!!I wish I could fit in your suitcase. We were there last year (and Ireland and Wales ) no time, little music (we weren't really looking) wonderful people and countries. Have fun and see you at the Getaway-Lorraine

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Abby Sale
Date: 03 Aug 00 - 10:18 AM

Dick: As a friend and onetime denizen of the uk, I urge you to accept your first judgement - stay very far away from the peas. Steer at least a three-foot passage from first sight of them. Certainly do not allow them to touch anything with which your body will come in contact. Cornish pasties are a different thing, though. I believe they are the absolute acme of British culinary art. Especially on a cold day when you need something warming the inside of your stomach that will stay there a few hours. A fine comforting lump. FYI, the mysteriously sung "oggie" is mearly a kind of Cornish pasty. Whoa - to my amazement (I was going to cite) the song isn't in the Database, only a reference to it in filename[ CYRILALL.

I'm back home now. Trips are good for you, it seems; but tiring.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Aug 00 - 01:23 PM

"Mushy Peas" could just be the moral equivalent to "Right to bear arms" threads we've been looking for...

I'm surprised noone's mentioned Jellied Eels yet! There's still a few Eel and Mash restaurants around.

And Whelks - people think it's just the French who eat snails, when it's just that the Londoners have preferred the marine variety.

(But if you get to the Half Moon, it's only cheese and similar sandwiches handed round by the bar staff, nothing exotic and ethnic.)

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Aug 00 - 04:23 PM

If you stay with Micca, get him to take you to the Pie and Mash shop in Green Street - where SO took me on our first date (I should have learned then and run......!); a famous East End delicacy - the pies are anonymous, the mash is plentiful and the liquor is not at all how Americans expect it! And it can be anything from a pale pastel to a virulent grassy shade of green..... Mmmmmmmm yum yum yummmm...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Susan of DT
Date: 09 Aug 00 - 10:01 PM

We are off in the morning. We will post to this thread from various mudcatters machines.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 09 Aug 00 - 10:56 PM

Abby-

Oggie man isn't in the DT; OGGY Man is.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Micca
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 04:55 AM

I put this in the other thread but will copy it here in case anyone missed it.
"This is to simply refresh and to remind any one within reach and who feels like coming along we will be in the small bar (door to the imediate right of the arch) of the Black Lion in Plaistow High St London E13 on Saturday from 8 ish onwards,If you need directions PM me.( the beer is good, Courage Directors and guest beers, usually), and we would be delighted to meet and greet any 'catters who wish to show up to welcome Dick and Susan."

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Lox
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 08:21 AM

If you're feeling particularly masochistic, My ex-local chip shop fries Mars Bars in batter.

Battered Mars Bar anyone?

PS. If you're in Manchester on the 12th, Come to O'Sheas pub to see the "sisters of murphy". Not strictly folk music, but certainly inspired by it, and plenty of Irish trad songs. (Hmmm what could he mean)

- Alternatively, careys in coventry on the 19th. (However, I would never mention Coventry to a tourist without first giving them a health warning. Spending any amount of time in coventry is analagous to staring at a cardboard box for want of a TV)(I imagine that folks from coventry could be entertained in this way for weeks on end)

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Gervase
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 10:32 AM

Coventry eh? That's one of those places where people still point at aeroplanes.

(Sorry, probably in poor taste, seeing as what aeroplanes did to Coventry half a century back...)

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 06:24 PM

Coventry is where practically every bicycle in England was made up until about 1950......

Mine of useless information aren't I?!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Tone d' F
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 06:30 PM

That was Raliegh interesting ...honest

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 06:32 PM

Oh, I thank you, Raghliegh I do.... (to be said in the voice of that actress who was considered dead sexy in the 1950's and who Gregory Peck always (allegedly) referred to as Joodieh, Joodieh, Joodieh.... bugger, must stop losing brain cells to beer.....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Tone d' F
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 06:38 PM

erm... I think that might have been Cary Grant so who's sad now, pass the mead throw another christian to the cat

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 06:51 PM

What, the woman?

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Tone d' F
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 07:11 PM

no the woman I think Rita Hayworth in Angels have wings (1939)

and it would take a long time for my cat to eat a whole Christian

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 07:27 PM

Don't forget to try the Desperate Dan pie at the Jug on Thursday when you're staying with Bill! The Ducks will be there or at least one of us so we will see you then.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 09:00 PM

Well, are Dick and Susan there yet? I was wondering, how can England be unafraid at the prospect of encountering those two??
[grin]
Hope you have a great time, D&S.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 09:16 PM

We are frankly terrified, but still looking forward to it.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: GUEST,Liam's Brother
Date: 12 Aug 00 - 12:07 AM

Hi Dick!

Sorry to tell you there was a huge thunderstorm tonight and WINS-Radio is reporting that Fairfield County caught fire and burned down. All other residents have vowed to rebuild. Your neighbor said you can borrow his hammer when you get back.

All the best,
Dan

P.S. Hope you two are having a great vacation.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: bill\sables
Date: 12 Aug 00 - 03:05 AM

It is 8-00am Saturday and I have just phoned Micca for any news of Dick and Susan, So far they have not arrived at Micca's home, so I presume they are still in the hotel near Gatwick Airport. Cheers Bill

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: roopoo
Date: 12 Aug 00 - 04:14 AM

Good grief! I thought I was an early bird on a Saturday, Bill: you beat me by an hour! Yep, I'll be there on Thursday.

And as for mushy peas, you haven't tried anything yet till you've visited the hot pea stands at tne Nottingham Goose Fair in October. There's nowt like a little bowl of hot steamy green mush wi' lashings of mint sauce on a frosty night to warm you up! I once had to prepare a huge panful of them to be served at a Morris party along with real ale and BBQ food. Boiled for hours they were, and I think they should have been classified as chemical weapons by the time I considered them ready!

Remember all ye visitors to York and its surroundings: The roads are called Gates, the Gates are called Bars and the Bars are called Pubs! (I've posted this before).

See you all on Thursday. If you don't want the Desperate Dan Pie, go for the mixed grill. If you want something that fits onto one plate, go for the mini-grill!

mouldy

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Micca
Date: 12 Aug 00 - 09:29 AM

They have arrived and to prove it they are here!!!!! more later

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Aug 00 - 01:45 PM

Just back from Sidmouth (where I ran into three Catters) and I'm too bushed to head back into London and Plaistow tonight, but I hear we should see the DT expeditionary force in the Half Moon in Bishop's Stortford on Sunday 13th.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: AndyG
Date: 12 Aug 00 - 02:59 PM

Kevin,

Hope you had a good time.

As you're more likely to check this thread than a PM could you PM me details of to to find the Half Moon, and does it have a car park?
I hope to drive over tomorrow evening (A-Levels permitting).

AndyG

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Aug 00 - 07:47 PM

Here's a link to a street map of Stortford, that I've already sent to AndyG The little arrow in the middle should be on the site of the pub, on the junction between North Street and Hadham Road.

There's a small carpark but most people park in the street. Should be OK, unless everyone turns up... (But even that would just mean a slightly longer walk.)

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Micca
Date: 13 Aug 00 - 09:01 AM

Right, here is the definitive bulletin of the DTs British adventure,Susan and Dick arrived in Plaistow early afternoon yesterday,Saturday and were every bit as delightful as we had been told, We had dinner with them myself amd my SO LizTS and her SO and daughter Phoebe, Morty and her SO, Steve , before stting off to the pub, Alan Francis and his SO were there along with Gervase and his son, Gervase was presented with the Patterson tankard which he filled with beer and we had a good sing and much playing of music until closing time, we then came back to the house and joined Hearme for a while, we did some choral singing and were getting quite merry, and then the LiztS contingent went home to bed and we all crashed out, Dick and Susan left at about 11.30 a.m. to go to Harlow to meet wih Alan and the others, a lovely visit with some good music and singing, look forward to meeting up again at Towersey in a couple of weeks...

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 Aug 00 - 09:03 AM

The LTS contingent actually went back and drank beer and scotch and chatted in the garden for another hour!! Am negotiating with SO for a trip to Bishop Stortford this evening..... both off work tomorrow!!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Aug 00 - 09:59 AM

You lot in HearMe were a blast! Thanks for *tuning* in!

Subject: Emery, Schmidt and McCann
From:
Date: 13 Aug 00 - 10:27 AM

Does anybody know the whereabouts,e-mail address etc. of three fine musicians called Tom Schmidt, Paul Emery and Annie McCann. I met them in Cologne back in 1981 and I do not know whether they have been back since.They were fine players and nice people. Paul and Annie drove me up to Amsterdam and introduced me to "The Last Waterhole" - a Texan honky-tonk (don't laugh) where they were gigging. I heard from someone that Paul Emery is alive and well and working in Grass Valley California, near Sacramento. If anybody can give me a clue how to get in touch I'd be delighted. Alan.

Subject: Emery, Schmidt and McCann
From:
Date: 13 Aug 00 - 10:28 AM

Does anybody know the whereabouts,e-mail address etc. of three fine musicians called Tom Schmidt, Paul Emery and Annie McCann. I met them in Cologne back in 1981 and I do not know whether they have been back since.They were fine players and nice people. Paul and Annie drove me up to Amsterdam and introduced me to "The Last Waterhole" - a Texan honky-tonk (don't laugh) where they were gigging. I heard from someone that Paul Emery is alive and well and working in Grass Valley California, near Sacramento. If anybody can give me a clue how to get in touch I'd be delighted. Alan.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 Aug 00 - 12:11 PM

National Treasure and a blast in one week, gee, I'm blushing to the roots of my roots here.....

Glad you enjoyed it, hope to emulate the evening later in Sunny Bishop Stortford....... HA HA HA HHA (exit with maniacal laughter......)

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Aug 00 - 12:51 PM

Hi, alanabit, your request will get lost in this thread, so I will start a thread for you, specifically for that purpose. The very first thread, MUDCAT FAQS- A Newcomer's Guide will explain a lot of things about how to sue the Mudcat to its best.

Hopefully we'll get some answers for you. Welcome,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Micca
Date: 13 Aug 00 - 07:36 PM

I have just come back from Bishops Stortford, Liz decided to strong arm Paul the Shark into going there to Join the Hertfordshire catters and Dick and Susan for an evening(see above) and we had a very good evening , meeting Alan Francis and his SO again and McGrath of Harlow and Andy G and Sue and the melodeon plsyer ehose name I need to check, and a really nice bunch. so Thanks for the entertainment and welcome to the Herts mob

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Aug 00 - 07:58 PM

And it was great having you. (Technically Harlow is in Essex, but I've been urging us to secede for some time, so I don't mind being called a Herts catter, as a step along the way to the People's Republic of Harlow.)

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Aug 00 - 08:03 PM

Wonderful! And, I of course would not be encouraging any Guest, Alanabits to sue the Mudcat, but rather "use" it, nice of your fellahs to overlook my error:-)

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: IanC
Date: 14 Aug 00 - 08:26 AM

Hi

More news of Dick & Sue from the melodeon player!

Dick managed to borrow a banjo from a friend who also came to the Bishops Stortford session. Finally got back to Ashwell (via Hertford) abou 1am and they retired exhausted. I haven't seen them this morning as I had to go to Wandsworth at 7am but they're probably having a quiet day before driving on to Wales.

Looking forward to playing with the windows version of DT which Dick gave me last night.

Cheers!
Ian Chandler

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Lanfranc
Date: 14 Aug 00 - 01:39 PM

Had a somewhat madcap Mudcat Weekend.

Plaistow was a blast on Saturday night, and I spent a very pleasant Sunday afternoon chatting with Dick about songs, singers and things. If ever they want to create an Encyclopedia of American Folk, they could do well to get a brain-dump from Dick - he's fascinating!

The Lady Elizabeth and Susan also spent time discussing music, education etc - unfortunately my ability to follow two conversations at once is not brilliant.

Sunday evening at the Half Moon was fun, with even more 'catters as reported above.

It has been a pleasure and a privilege to be part of Susan and Dick's trip, and we hope they might find a little time to stop by on their way home.

It was good to be able to put faces to some Mudcat names. I suspect more contact is almost inevitable!

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Micca
Date: 14 Aug 00 - 01:49 PM

The first of the pix covering Saturday in Plaistow are here Click here the Sunday night in Bishops Stortford will be off to pene Azul this evening

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Micca
Date: 14 Aug 00 - 06:58 PM

And the Bishops Stortford ones are now here Click here tho it looks like I may have accidentally sent the wrong one I will check, as the one labelled McGrath and Susan is not them at all

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 Aug 00 - 07:16 PM

Well, you've got me right on the one with us on the stairs, and in the one where I look a bit tragic as I strangle my guitar neck.

The fella you've identified as me in the other one is in fact Alan Muhr from Hertford, who may not have come to the Mudcat himself as yet, but he's been mentioned here as a man who has made some very interesting flutes, some of which he brought with him to the evening.

On to Whitby (via Bill Sables for Dick and Susan, who'll go subsequently heading for Towersey, where Micca will be waiting with reinforcements.)

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Aug 00 - 08:57 PM

Kevin, I made a ricket with one of the pics( sent the next one in the sequence, not the intended) it has now been corrected

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Aug 00 - 09:10 PM

Well I just returned from a long camping weekend and I am really enjoying the adventure here.......a lot more than camping! Everyone seems to be having the best of times and I'll continue to follow along the trail.

I hope you were suitably embarassed Gervase, but we do appreciate you my friend.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Micca
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 04:13 AM

the Guest above is me, I didnt notice it had temporarily reset my cookie, sorry , all is now ok , Spaw he was a mix of embarassed and very pleased...it was fun...and we filled it with decent beer, Adnams Broadside I think or Fullers London Pride... i was on the Cider so the memory is a bit CRS...

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Gervase
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 04:34 AM

...it was several Broadsides, I'm afraid, as my head testified on Sunday morning!
But I'm chuffed to bits with the pot - cheers 'Spaw and the legions of Pattersons.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 05:48 AM

I trust you've found a suitable bogroll to fit the pot, Gervase?

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 05:50 AM

To understand that last remark, check out the Sidmouth thread. (No cliquiness!)

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Gomez
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 06:38 AM

not enough american folk music here in england. thanks for the stuff you did at the black lion dick

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Llanfair
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 11:48 AM

Thanx all. We are now in Wales with Bron. We'll post a complete report when we get all done. UK mudcatters are wonderful, even if they talk funny.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Alice
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 12:16 PM

wow. looks wonderful. thanks for posting the photos.... still hoping someone had a tape recorder and will post a sound file.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: GUEST,Liam's Brother
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 01:00 PM

Hi Dick, Susan of DT and UK Mudcatters!

Looks like a great time. Nothing like a good sing-song in an old pub.

If you are in or near Cornwall towards the end of your trip, you might like to head over to Bodmin and Wadebridge. The Johnson Girls are at the Bodmin FC on 25AUG and the Wadebridge Festival 26-28AUG.

Wherever you go, I hope your trip continues to be fun.

All the best,
Dan

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 03:21 PM

WE talk funny!!!!

Alice - Gervase recorded the Black Lion evening for posterior, when he gets the bag back with the cable for the recorder, he'll be able to sort something out.... I'm seeing him tomorrow, so hopefully I can twist his arm or something....!!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Llanfair
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 07:51 PM

Just got back from the music night at the Red Lion. Had to wind it up at midnight because Jim has to go to work tomorrow.
Super night, huge variety of songs from traditional British to American blues. Dick plays blues very well, and sings da blues.
Unfortunately, Susan has a cold, and didn't feel able to sing solo, but did a reading of "The Queen's Four Maries" which sounded great.
A good time had by all.
Bron.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 11:16 PM

Thanks, Bron, for stayiong up and letting us know how it goes. Sure has been fun to read about the Cross The Pond Mudcat Adventure!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: bill\sables
Date: 16 Aug 00 - 08:07 PM

(from dick, who is still too lazy to reset his cookie)

Hi all- Just got back from a session at The Jug with Bill Sables and tyhe regular Wednesday night crowd, which has several Mudcxatters. Will be going back tomorrow for a special Mudcat seddion, together with Susan, who was to pooped to make it tonight.

Good music, good beer, good friends, good time. More to come. WATCH THIS SPACE.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Morticia
Date: 17 Aug 00 - 03:59 AM

Oh no, we've broken Susan already..... we only had them to play with for a short time and now we've broken one of them.....boy, are we going to be trouble when Max finds out.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: The Shambles
Date: 17 Aug 00 - 04:01 AM

The following is a quote from the program of The Wadebridge Folk Festival that Dan Milner mentioned above.

"The Johnson Girls are Joy Bennett, Maggie Bye, Alison Kelly,
Bonnie Milner and Deirdre Murtha".

Dan you are obviously brimming with pride………. Do you want to say more?…….Go on….

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: bill\sables
Date: 18 Aug 00 - 07:06 AM

Last night was one of the best sessions ever held at the Jug. There were twenty eight Mudcatters there and a host of wives/husbands/children of catters along with other ordinary listeners. Dick said he'd never seen as many Mudcat shirts in one place before, Sam Pirt led the music with his fine accordion playing and his dad, Graham Pirt, started the singing Dick and Susan semed to enjoy the night and Dick liked the many pints of real ale he was sampling. (He also met the brewer). Here are a list of who was there as far as I can remember; Big Phil, and Mrs Big Phil, Graham Pirt, The Badger, Tig, Selby, with Eileen, Tom and Joe, WindyB with Gereldine and Andy, Bobby's Girl, with John, Ellanor & Rachael, Patrish, & Jim, Wullie, SkipjackK8, Ian Stephenson, Sam Pirt, Eric Symonds, Vell, Mouldy, & Ian, Cobble, & Margaret , Bald Eagle, Oggy, Geoff the Duck, Mrs Duck, Malcolm Douglas, Mike Cahill, & Kath., Firecat, Bill Sables, & Lorna Johan Furkof, Sue Furkof, and of course Dick Greenhaus, and Susan of DT. I think we will have a regular Mudcat gathering there next year just before Whitby. Thank you all for coming Cheers Bill

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Morticia
Date: 18 Aug 00 - 09:04 AM

Wow, quite a horde ( what is the collective noun for a whole bunch of mudcatters?).......I hope someone has made recordings. Susan, how's your cold?

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: MMario
Date: 18 Aug 00 - 10:24 AM

a collection of mudcatters is a "forum" or alternatively a "posting".

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 09:37 AM

Well I also just read the "Yorkshire Gathering" thread and this must have been one helluva' night!!! I hope the "DT Twosome" survive this trip. The London crowd did seem to have abused them badly and now this!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 05:13 PM

OOooh we never did!!!!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Alice
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 05:27 PM

MMario, if a collection of mudcatters is a "posting", then is logging on to the forum "going postal"? Sounds like great fun, hope to hear some samples.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Ferrara
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 10:27 PM

Oh, Oh, Oh. Dick and Susan and everybody, how wonderful. Micca, thanks for the pictures!!!

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 20 Aug 00 - 09:06 AM

I thought going postal was different and included firearms....? From the unfortunate coincidence that most workers who go off the rails and shoot up their place of work are employed in post rooms......

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Dani
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 08:47 AM

This is such fun, even from way over here, just knowing how wonderful it was for you all.

Max, with all the yelling at the brats in the backseat, are some of these stops on the way worth the journey?

Susan's beautiful smile in those photos says it all...

Dani

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Alice
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 09:33 AM

LTS, yes, that is what going postal means. I was trying to make a joke from MMario's joke.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Micca
Date: 24 Aug 00 - 03:58 AM

Hi all, we are just about to set off for Towersey in the next couple of hours to meet Dick and Susan, and hear all about Whitby and all the Yorkshire catters, I will write and send pix to P/A when we get back. next Tuesday...Any Catters who pop up for the day , or are attending, they are likely to find us and other catters in the Barn of the Three Horshoes... where the acapella singing( apart from mine) is sublime, IMHO the best you will hear anywhere. TTFN Micca

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: bill\sables
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 03:03 PM

I brought Susan and Dick back from Whitby last night after a Mudcat Barbecue at Mrs Ducks cottage. Others were Geoff the Duck of course, Bobby's Girl,Terry K, Mouldy and Ian, Wullie, Curley droped in, Magician was there with The Badger and Tig.and also McGrath of Harlow.

Dick did a workshop about the Digitrad and I'm sure found some new members, Dorrie made herself known to us at the workshop.
Graham Pirt looked after them well whilst at Whitby and once I found them chating to Dick's neighbours from CT. For most of the week I didn't see anything of them as they were off to a workshop or concert long before I thought of getting out of bed but they seemed to enjoy the whole Whitby experience.
Today I took them down to Leeds to collect a car for their drive down to Towersey Festival and then on Monday they fly back to the US. It was a pleasure having them stay with us and we hope they will come back soon. Cheers Bill

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: IanC
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 02:38 PM

Bye to Susan & Dick! They called in Friday afternoon to give Alan's banjo back. He's got it, dick, so thanks for playing it.

They were straight off to Towersey so couldn't stay long. Farewell and bon voyage

Ian

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 02:50 PM

Good Lord, I hope there is something left to send back here. I want all of you "Brits" to know you may have worn out two perfectly good "Yanks!" .............but damn if it hasn't sounded like a time!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 07:55 PM

Well, the Whitby streets take a bit of climbing - Dick's written a song about them that he's promised to post when he gets his breath back.

It was great having them here, and it's had the effect that a lot of links have been made between 'Catters in England.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Susan of DT
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 05:49 PM

Well, we made it home. Thanx to everyone for your wonderful hospitality. More later.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Allan C.
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 10:53 PM

Welcome home, Dick and Susan! Sounds like you had a wonderful journey. But how could you miss? You were in the capable hands of Mudcatters almost all the time!

Best wishes,

Allan

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 11:19 PM

It may take a couple of days to recover--Whitby is a quaint town measuring about two miles long, two miles wide and eight miles in height. Everything is uphill from anyplace you happen to be. The music ---and the people--were well worth the effort.

The English seem to be more participation-oriented and less performance-centered than folkies here in the States. I like this. I also like the relaxed atmostphere (possibly induced by a couple of of pints of good beer--remembering that an English pint is 20 fluid ounces).

Much more to report, in a very short while.

dick

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: MudGuard
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 02:19 AM

What a pity I was with Llanfair a few days after you two left there...
MudGuard (who is glad to have a keyboard with a decent, German layout again)

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Gervase
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 09:43 AM

Glad to hear you've both returned intact, but we were sorry to see you go!
Dick and Sue were a terrific hit at Towersey in the barn at the Three Horseshoes (where, to drift to another thread, maybe 90 per cent of the material is unaccompanied), and I lost track of the number of people who came up after they'd left and said, "I heard that the guys from the Digital Tradition were here - I'd love to have met them" - which maybe shows the huge number of people who pop in and out of the DT but who don't read the threads.
Dick's point about the participatory and boozy nature of English events was brought home to me when he said that there didn't seem to be many original American drinking songs (outside of the military at least) - because I can't imagine a session/singaround or whatever without a beer (the only accompaniment I've ever had to my singing!)
In fact, during a workshop on vocal techniques at the festival there was much suppressed hilarity at the crib-sheet which stated sternly that the worst enemies of a good voice are booze and fags. Many of the singers there couldn't imagine singing without 'em!
But to return to the mutton, Micca took plenty of photographs, so they should be up for view soon.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 10:18 AM

Welcome back! It will be great fun to hear even more and to see the pix! Those sound like my kind of sessions!!

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Midchuck
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 10:35 AM

Wouldn't this be a good time to start a new thread for the post-trip war stories, so we wouldn't have to wait for the whole trip to load to read them?

How do "fags" harm your singing? And isn't that term no longer socially acceptable? (Just kidding - I'm aware of the British meaning of the word - but it is one of the more treacherous variances between US and British English.)

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 12:18 PM

I also like the relaxed atmostphere (possibly induced by a couple of of pints of good beer--remembering that an English pint is 20 fluid ounces). For this read - I sat in the pub all day and lost count of what I drank and how much, but it did make me sing a very suggestive song, that I might never have done, had I been in my native land......*BG*

It was great to have them here with us, and we look forward to breaking many more of you!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: annamill
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 12:32 PM

Welcome back, my friends! It seems you had a rewarding trip filled with music, friends, and drinks (for Dick anyway).
Can I set up another gathering now? You know we need you two!

Love, annamill

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Fortunato
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 02:43 PM

Look out Liz UK Mudcatters, I'm your next victim, but I warn you I've never been broken. (Badly bent perhaps).
I'M COMING! Sept. 23rd.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Llanfair
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 04:54 PM

Are you likely to be coming to Wales, Fortunato? and will you be here for the Llanstock?(You'll have to read the thread to understand that one!!) Bron.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 06:49 PM

Oh look children, another lamb to the slaughter......!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 08:03 PM

And they've got hills in Wales even steeper than Whitby...

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Micca
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 09:51 PM

Well, they came , they saw, they conquered,,,and charmed all the UK Mudcatters that they met,That is speaking for myself. and I am delighted to have made their acquantaince, and Dick can now add that he has sung in the Barn at Towersey, to his achievements..as I mentioned elsewhere people have come up to all of the 'catters that were there over the Sunday and Monday saying" Is it true??? that the DT people are here? and can we meet them" Thank you both very much for adding to an already wonderful event by your presence. and to end on a song quote"... will ye no come back again"

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Micca
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 04:47 AM

And to prove it the latest batch of pix are here Click here

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: sledge
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 06:21 AM

Great pictures.

Morticia, what a Woman, swigging from a pewter tankard. I am in LLLLLURVE.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Gomez
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 07:40 AM

great pics Micca.. it's all coming back to me now!

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Gervase
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 07:56 AM

Great pix - apart from that bloke in the once-white tee shirt who looks like he can't remember where he left his pile of Big Issues :^) The camera can be a cruel instrument sometimes!

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Snuffy
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 11:03 AM

On the English connection between booze and song, our Morris side love a good singaround in the pub after dancing.

But "I can't sing tonight - it's my turn to drive" (i.e. can't drink) is recognised as a very valid reason for not being able to sing.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Morticia
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 11:18 AM

Why thank you Sledge......I rather wish I hadn't swigged quite so frequently or with such enthusiasm.....oooh, me 'ead. Still, it was great fun,although Dick and Susan may need therapy for a while....Fortunato, I promise we'll be gentle with you *BG*...

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 11:42 AM

Sledge - there was more than one woman drinking from pewter vessels - mine was there, you just can't see it. As for the brown splodge on my tea shirt, it was my tea fairy tea shirt, which came with tea-ara and wand, tea towel, tea bags, tea mug, tea pot, tea tray and tea strainer. Guess who gets to make the tea. And at the point that photo was taken, I was singing so loudly, my crowns were rattling!!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: sledge
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 12:00 PM

Better and better, my sleep will be very disturbed tonight.

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 12:32 PM

I hope you observe that in the last picture, I am the one without a beard......

I also appear to be holding my chest on.....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: sledge
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 12:55 PM

And a damn fine job of doing you appear to be making of it as well:-)

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Fortunato
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 05:49 PM

Bron, no chance I'll come to Wales, I'm afraid, just London and thereabouts from the 23 throught the 26th.

I'm going to find the pictures now to prepare, I hope you were all looking your best!

regards, chance

Subject: RE: BS: dick & Susan face England unafraid!
From: Morticia
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 06:22 PM

Fortunato, no chance......we were all sleeping under canvas, drinking heavily, eating crap festival food, had minimal exposure to hot water, were drinking heavily, had been singing our lungs out for days and drinking heavily and quite frankly, we all look like the wrath of God....we can help you to look the same way in almost no time at all *BG*.....oh, and we were drinking heavily.