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Towersey 2001
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Subject: Towersey 2001 From: Herga Kitty Date: 27 Aug 01 - 12:31 PM Having used the day after my arrival back from Whitby to join Mudcat and do the washing, I managed to get to Towersey on Sunday - the day the catters held a singaround after the big singaround in the 3 Horseshoes barn. We had some wonderful singing from King Brilliant, Daisy, Geordie broon, Morticia, Gervase, Micca, Noreen, JudeL, Liz the Squeak, Ickle Dorrit, Alanww and Matthew Edwards. There were some very squeaky moments when I sang Dennis Wheatley. It was great to meet catters I didn't know before, as well as to realise that there are many catters I've known for years and years from Towersey, Sidmouth and even my local folk clubs. The atmosphere in the barn was very emotional - we were walking on Rod Shearman's ashes, Rod's family were there, and the collection was going towards the project to publish Rod's songs, hopefully in time for the memorial day on 11 November. Don't ask me about the Steve Heap festival because I didn't manage to get to that bit. One of these days I will get away from the fringe and go to official events, honest, but the fringes seem to be getting better and better.... |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: lady penelope Date: 27 Aug 01 - 03:52 PM I'm going down to something called the Wareham Wail on Friday, an ALL singing event. I've never been before but someone from my choir recommended it , so I thought , why not? I'll let you know how it goes. TTFN M'Lady P. |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: GUEST,AliUk Date: 27 Aug 01 - 04:09 PM I remember Towersey fondly, though it's been 9 years since I went ( due to moving out here to Brazil) I hoped that I would be able to get there this year but I had to return to Brazil in June and that was my one major regret. I spent many a drunken day singing in the village hall, and a few un-drunken ones when I was asked to do some spots. The best time I ever sang Burning Times was one Sunday lunchtime amd the church bells started to ring as I was getting to the bit where I sing "... they were bonded in their worship for a dead man on a cross." Still sends shivers down my spine. |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Herga Kitty Date: 27 Aug 01 - 04:09 PM I think you'll find several catters who've already been, including me - see you there. It's not all singing though - there's a mediaeval banquet and quite a lot of (optional)drinking involved as well. |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 27 Aug 01 - 05:11 PM Wareham is one of the festivals that's managed to escape being included in the Folk Roots list. Which probably isn't a bad thing. (Buntingford in November is another such.)
The trouble around this time of year is all these festivals you want to get to coming on top of each other. I nearly went to Towersey this year - I've never been yet - but it'd have been too much hassle going on to Fylde, and I missed that last year. I think. They start to blur a bit...
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Madhatter Date: 28 Aug 01 - 05:30 AM Towersey was great but the Wareham Wail will be better, (no concerts etc to distract you from drinking and singing) Madhatter |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: alanww Date: 28 Aug 01 - 06:30 AM I agree with all Kitty's comments! The Towersey Three Horseshoes Barn was great - I too nearly didn't get to the festival! The only exception was a Coope, Boyes and Simpson concert - in which they sung Pleasant and Delightful! I thought it had got a bit like The Wild Rover but they sang it well and of course it does have a smashing chorus - perhaps it will find its way back into my repertoire! Essentially it was Rod Shearman's weekend - Micca even made sure that there was an empty glass for him on the table in the barn all the weekend. Very emotional! See some of you on Friday at the Wail! "The boar's head in hand bear, I ... !" Alan
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Liz the Squeak Date: 28 Aug 01 - 10:50 AM Or should that be 'My poor head in hand bear I....' I remember hearing you sing, AliUK - as the tame Christian, I was stunned at the song - never heard it before, and the bells got to me too...... It has been a splendid weekend. My car stinks, my tent stinks, I stink, Micca stinks, EVERYTHING stinks.... it got very hot yesterday! The only thing that would have made it better would be if Sean Connery were sharing my tent! It has spawned not only a new song, but a tune as well, which I daresay, if I publish here, 26 people will tell me it's an old tune that has been around for years and it's really called something like 'Napoleon's Farewell to his kidneys' or something. It needs polishing, and another verse, but I'll do it when I get chance. And yes, I frightened Les Barker again. Fantastic to meet lots of you in person, Pebbles the dog was perhaps the quietest, image of her with her head in a 'Babycham' ice bucket of water..... Alan - interesting dress sense..... Geordie - a true gentleman, plays the small pipes but didn't! Ickle - you and I will have to get very drunk together one night!!!! Matthew - lovely song, and well sung. Herga Kitty - welcome to the madhouse and please send me the words of Dennis Wheatley. And for those of you interested in such things, I had a fantastic ride on a Yamaha XJR 1300... wheee!!!! LTS |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Matthew Edwards Date: 28 Aug 01 - 01:12 PM Just arrived home from Towersey; what a wonderful weekend! Besides meeting fellow Catters I also ran into some old friends I hadn't seen for years. It was a treat to meet Catters in the flesh, and the singing in the barn was thoroughly enjoyable to share. Daisy's Cragg Vale Gamelan was a real delight, and it was nice to catch some of the other performances in the main festival. Mark Bazeley and Jason Rice did an excellent job of carrying their familys' musical legacies forward. Chris Coe was in superb form. I can't decide what to make of Kathryn Tickell's Ensemble Mystical, but John Kenny's entrance into the Concert Tent playing the one and only Carynx was a truly memorable experience. Can't make Wareham, and don't know about Fylde, but I will be at Linlithgow as my sister lives there (so I'll be able to sleep in a proper bed - and not have to cross a big field for toilets!) |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Noreen Date: 29 Aug 01 - 04:51 AM I had heard so much about Towersey and in particular, the singing in the barn, that I thought it couldn't all be true... but it was, and more! Very friendly festival in general, and particularly the 'barn singers'. Thank you all for making me so welcome. So many high points, but three in particular from the barn to mention here: Being present at Ickle Dorritt's Towersey premiere of Sparehand, and witnessing the effect her song had on all present; the personal satisfaction of working out harmonies with Ickle for The Bergen and singing it together; and hearing Andy Barnes sing The Last Leviathan, and share his powerful song with all. And I wouldn't have ben there if it wasn't for the Mudcat Café! Roll on next year. Noreen Like yonder river would I glide |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Cllr Date: 29 Aug 01 - 05:09 AM Towersey was wonderful, and the mudcatters corner in the barn has finally persuaded me to sign up! |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: JudeL Date: 29 Aug 01 - 06:44 AM Fame at last .... this year it was even referred to as Mudcat Corner! Jude |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Noreen Date: 29 Aug 01 - 09:26 AM Welcome, Cllr... tell us who you are? Something I forgot to comment on earlier: I have never, in my whole long life so far, seen so many men in dresses as I did this weekend at Towersey. And very fetching they looked too! Noreen |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: alanww Date: 29 Aug 01 - 09:49 AM Noreen: "... so many men in dresses ..." You obviously weren't at the wimmins' night at the Middle Bar of the Anchor at Sidmouth [more's the pity! X] Try this link for the truth about it:- http://www.exmouth.demon.co.uk/Play/WimminsNight.htm "Kind friends and companions come join me in rhyme ...!" Alan PS How do you get set up one of those nice direct live blue linky things? |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Noreen Date: 29 Aug 01 - 10:07 AM Ah, Alan, you mean you've not read the FAQ? :0) Basic Mudcat HTML will show you how, then you can practice here (What do you bet I'll have messed these links up now I'm trying to be a knowall...) |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: alanww Date: 29 Aug 01 - 10:35 AM How remiss of me. Clearly my education is not complete! Its very clever, isn't it! Obviously what I meant to say was: see wimmins' night for the Sidmouth pictures. "In Amsterdam there lived a maid ...!" Alan [PS My fingers are crossed ...] |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Cllr Date: 29 Aug 01 - 10:44 AM It was supposed to be evening wear at Towersey. Thats why I was wearing my pajama style rippa's (or jimmy jams as Liz the squeek so elegantly put it) It was wimmins night in sidmouth- yes I'm in one of the group photo's And Noreen have you forgotten me already? I still have the mark on my forhead where you hit me with the tent pole. Cllr. |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: GUEST,DaisyA Date: 29 Aug 01 - 10:47 AM Yes, I had a great time at Towersey too, and it was really nice having faces to to put to all of the names here on mudcat. I also bought a shiny new accordion, mmmmm. I love informal singarounds, they are so much more fun than most concerts. See you all next year no doubt! Daisy |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Gervase Date: 29 Aug 01 - 10:55 AM Ah, Mudcat Corner. It's like a rite of passage. For ages, that corner has been known as "that place where the noisy reprobates sit" or worse. And now it's a got a name! Good to meet so many 'Catters there - a shame I couldn't stay longer, but the next big get-together I'll get to properly and fraternise etc (eek, tht probably comes across as more of a threat than a promise!) |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Liz the Squeak Date: 29 Aug 01 - 11:50 AM Aha! Cllr - I know who you are now!!!! And they were jarmies.... Gervase, you look fantastic in that dress, why didn't you bring it to Towersey?? For those who don't understand or never knew, the dress up night at Towersey is all my fault. I think I explained it somewhere but here goes. I had my hen night there exactly 11 years ago last Sunday. As there were few females of my acquaintance actually there, I said men could come if they dressed appropriately. Somewhere there is a picture of Micca in a lovely blue two piece Margaret Thatcher number, with handbag, court shoes and stripy hat. It ended with 15 blokes and me doing a can can across the pub carpark. The following year, we decided to have the Hen party anniversary Cocktail party, for which we dressed up formally. I wore the wedding dress, Micca wore his kilt, there were a couple of tail coats and some posh frocks around. We couldn't be bothered to change to go down to the pub so went as we were..... The following year was the same.... the year after that, Tony O'Neil (aka the Admiral) announced that it was posh frock night on Sundays, and it's gone downhill from there ever since.... And I don't care what people say, army boots go with anything. It was the argyle socks that were possibly a tad too much.... LTS |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Morticia Date: 29 Aug 01 - 12:56 PM I may go to Sidmouth next year, it looks like a lot of fun! Towersey was splendid, as usual, and it was amazing to meet so many new mudcatters, and oh my, how talented they are....I know I've said this before on here, but it is quite stunning to learn that the people here are hugely talented as well as nice....and of course, a tad odd....but then,I like that in a a person. I'd like, please, to add a very heartfelt thank-you to those of you ( you know who you are) who showed Fiona and I such support and kindness over what was, for us, an emotional weekend.It's an honour to know you and count you as friends. |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Noreen Date: 29 Aug 01 - 04:19 PM Ah, Cllr... I get it now... (well, I understand your name anyway). You never said goodbye! *sniff* And if you're daft enough to sit in the path of a tent pole, don't blame me... :0) Noreen |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Micca Date: 29 Aug 01 - 06:47 PM What a weekend!!! And so many memories…Scattering Rod Shearmans ashes on Saturday morning, with all his friends singing "Stormalong" as we processed and all taking turns at the scattering them on the path between the campsite and the pub. The empty Glass for him (after its contents had been poured where his scattered ashes were) that was on our table all weekend. The wonderful singing of Pearl, Moira, Noreen, Gervase, Eleyna and many others. Ickle Dorritt singing "Sparehand". Singing " Sing no sad songs for me" written in memory of Rod and sung in the presence of some of his Family and the wonderful choral support from the Barn, on the choruses, and I was very moved and almost broke down when Rods banner was taken down at the end of the last night... The Mudcat gathering and all of us singing to each other…. I have never sung so often and been received so kindly, or complemented so much!! The warmth of Mudcatters, that we were meeting for the first time!!! also I echo Morticias words about the body of Talent!! It can't be beat anywhere, |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: AliUK Date: 29 Aug 01 - 07:00 PM All this talk about Towersey has made me cry. It was about the only festival that I went to regularly. And Liz I was pleasently suprised that you remembered that song. I'm glad that Towersey is getting the reputation of one of the best festivals around, I always found it friendlier than Cambridge or Sidmouth, but always with a top notch line up. Liz can you remember the name of the girl who used to sing The Rose? |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: John Routledge Date: 29 Aug 01 - 07:16 PM Just returned from my local singers club - what a great preparation Towersey was *BG* Thanks to all for an amazing weekend!! Roll on next year. John |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Herga Kitty Date: 29 Aug 01 - 08:17 PM Welcome Cllr - luckily for you you're not recognisable from the Wimmins' night pictures (even more luckily, neither is Ian Bruce unless you know which dress to look for. Or which tattoos). I hope the beard grows back soon. Kitty |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Liz the Squeak Date: 29 Aug 01 - 09:12 PM Sorry Ali, I have an attack of CRS and can barely remember the song - trying to remember the singer is beyond me! It may even have BEEN me for all I know! (though I did do it years ago, I haven't done it since I got married....) LTS |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: GUEST,KingBrilliant Date: 30 Aug 01 - 06:26 AM Hi all. Lovely to see you all. Didn't get to the barn much as it was too nice sitting in the sunshine listening to the concerts and the outside-the-bar singing. See ya Kris |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: GUEST,Hammerite Date: 30 Aug 01 - 06:28 AM Shush we're in a library Hamm |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: alanww Date: 30 Aug 01 - 10:07 AM Pity you hardly got to the Barn, KingBrilliant, as you missed some memorable sessions. Contrary to my prior intention of playing/practicing my concertina, I ended up almost entirely singing, hardly playing it at all. After our long chat at the start I was hoping to see more of you ... You had asked about sessions after hours. Every night on Camp Site 1 there was a good get-together of the Mudcatters from 12 midnight onwards ... "When I was a young man, my father did say ... !" Alan |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Liz the Squeak Date: 30 Aug 01 - 04:20 PM 'Stop doing that it'll make you blind'? I managed to see some of King and Ammerite, whilst stewarding... even Mark looked pretty good at 8.00am! Shame we never got to party together, but campsite 1 really WAS supposed to be the quiet site!!! LTS
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Liz the Squeak Date: 30 Aug 01 - 04:22 PM Noreen - I have those dots but the programme has developed a fault, so can't attach them to anything. PM me a snail mail address and I can make sure you get a copy. It's still in D. LTS |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Linda Kelly Date: 30 Aug 01 - 05:42 PM Just to add my three pennorth we had a wonderful time. Positively knee deep in Mudcatters - and frankly, what a talented bunch of individuals they all are! Thanks to Noreen, Geordie Micca AlanWW Micca LtS Morticia and JudeL in particular for your friendship and humour. Particular thanks for not mentioning the 'dog' incident -because it would be terrible if people thought that I would actually have a panic attack thinking I had lost my dog, persuade the whole village to look for it, burst into tears and cry hysterically, only to find that she was asleep under a bench in the Barn two feet away from me -ot might blow my cool image! |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Jenny H Date: 02 Sep 01 - 07:46 AM Thank you to whoever in the Barn was wearing the T-shirt that gave me this URL! I had been wishing I knew where there was a song discussion and when Moira (here under another name?) told me about this one I thought I was going to have to trawl around for it. Now I've found it I daresay I'll be around. Jenny /// :-) \\\ |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Liz the Squeak Date: 02 Sep 01 - 10:34 AM Not mention the dog incident?? Whoops..... Check out the song challenge lost count thread..... Er.... I hope she likes the songs..... LTS (running and hiding for cover...)
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: KingBrilliant Date: 03 Sep 01 - 05:06 AM See I got it all horribly wrong. Thought site 2 was the noisy one - but the people we were camped with made it very clear that they were NOT up for any late night singing etc. Ha! I thought it was a folk festival! Sulk? You should have seen me! Never mind - next year we'll come & find the 'catters instead. Its a real pain when you've geared yourself up for a campsite sing & then everyone goes to bed. B*gg*r! Sorry we didn't hang around long on the monday night - but Hammerite was pretty nackered & cold, so I thought we'd better beat a retreat before she went bad. AlanWW - thanks for the info about Wareham Wail. We didn't get there because Mark was all folked out - but I have plans of coming down with Hammerite next year & himself can please himself... We had a great weekend anyway - and it was nice to meet more 'cats. I'm just back at work this morning - which is why its taken til now to post properly. Kris
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: JudeL Date: 03 Sep 01 - 12:39 PM Lovely to see so many catters all at once, the mudcat sing in the barn was amazing! Ickle Dorrit I'm sorry that we never found time to sing that song together, must try again next festival. Jude |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Linda Kelly Date: 03 Sep 01 - 06:10 PM I'm sorry too Jude, but there will be a next time i'll make sure if it. |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Jez Date: 05 Sep 01 - 06:16 AM My first time at Towersey! What an experience. I met many great people - too many to mention individually. Big thanks to Morticia for inviting me (although it didnt take too much arm twisting - she mentioned that there would be lots of beer drinking involved! :-) ) Thanks to everyone for a great time and no doubt I will see a lot of you next year! Jez |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Morticia Date: 05 Sep 01 - 06:56 AM Do you get extra points in folkie heaven for converts?Jez had never even heard folk music before, let alone been to a festival....now he's as firm a convert as you could wish for.....mind you, still haven't forgiven him for escaping post-festival blues syndrome by buggering off to Hawaii tomorrow! |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Jez Date: 05 Sep 01 - 07:40 AM Its a cross I hve to bear!!! Well, someones got to do it! |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Noreen Date: 05 Sep 01 - 08:06 AM And some of us tried *very* hard to put him off too, Terri... I'm amazed you want to come back next year, Jez! Maybe I'll have learned some less miserable songs by then... :0) Noreen |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Jez Date: 05 Sep 01 - 08:45 AM Well the Guinness and the excellent 6X helped! You never know - I might even have a go and the singing bit - could be a good way to break up the drinking bit. |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: JudeL Date: 05 Sep 01 - 09:20 AM You mean we didn't manage to scare him away.... ...... |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Noreen Date: 05 Sep 01 - 09:35 AM As I said, we tried, Jude... *grin* |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: JudeL Date: 05 Sep 01 - 09:40 AM I suppose if some of the "outfits" he saw didn't put him off I don't know that anything would ! |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Roger in Sheffield Date: 05 Sep 01 - 01:58 PM |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Noreen Date: 05 Sep 01 - 02:59 PM Yes, Rog? :0) And Jez will be bringing his best frock next year... |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Liz the Squeak Date: 05 Sep 01 - 05:02 PM But that shirt was dead cool Jez.... and I still have your mints and sweeteners. Talk to Terri about a possible return date next week. LTS |
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Subject: RE: Towersey 2001 From: Morticia Date: 05 Sep 01 - 05:53 PM He's in Hawaii next week, and somehow I don't think he'd return early to get his mints back. |
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