Charley Noble to UK in October 2006

Subject: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 05:30 PM

JudyB and I are currently sorting out the details of our revisit to the UK this October. We'll be seeing old friends, meeting new ones, singing songs, doing some research, and enjoying the sights to be seen.

We're planning to land in London on October 3rd, be in Swansea for the weekend of October 8-9th, be in Liverpool for the weekend of October 14-15th, and depart from London on October 19th.

In London we'll be staying with an old friend that I worked with while in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia, way back in the early 1960's. We're planning to join the Folk Club Singers Night at Cecil Sharp House Tuesday evening, October 3rd, 8 pm. Be nice to meet some other London Mudcatters there. Anyone interested in joining us?

Next we travel by rental car to South Wales, do some book hunting at Hay-on-Way, and then on to the Swansea area for a weekend ((October 7-8th) of singing with Crane Driver and SussexCarole who say:

"We'll take you to our local singers' club on the Sunday night, it's a song circle in the back room of a pub, and there is another small song circle on Saturday near Ammanford we could go to."

Then we meander up the coast of Wales, stopping here and there while holding up our slate to ask directions to the next unpronounceable place of interest. By the weekend of October 14-15 we will be staying with Jan and Ken Lardner of Chantey Cabin (nautical CD distribution center of the world) at their home in the harbor town of Preston, an hour north of Liverpool. There certainly will be an opportunity for some more singing with the Lardners. And we're looking forward to touring what's left of Liverpool's sailortown.

Next we may be stopping in to see other friends in Bristol on the way back to London but that part of our journey is not firmed up. We'll probably be in London again for a couple of days before we fly home.

We would appreciate other suggestions, places we might want to see or people we might want to meet.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble and JudyB

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Crane Driver
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 05:56 PM

We're looking forward to it already, Charlie.

Anyone like to join us for a sing on the Saturday, not a million miles from Swansea, get in touch now!

Andrew & Carole

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Girl Friday
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 09:31 PM

You cv-ould do eorse than come to Orpington on Friday October 6th to see Tom Lewis.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 03:07 AM

There's a Mudmeet at Banbury Festival. on the 14th October, there will a few of us there Charlie, relevant thread here Be nice to see you and Judy again if you could make it.
Giok

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 08:36 AM

Girl Friday-

Tom Lewis is certainly one of our favorite nautical singers and all around fine person. Errr, where might Orpington be?

John-

Thanks for the info but we better stick close to Preston that weekend with the Lardners as some other folks will be gathering there. There's a rumour that we may get a visit from Two Black Sheep and a Stallion from Yorkshire and Shantyfreak (one of my C. Fox Smith co-research friends). We're hoping to meet with Danny and Joyce McLeod there as well so we can compare more notes about C. Fox Smith's life and works.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Saro
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 11:55 AM

If you happen to be passing anywhere near Hampshire, let me know and I'll take you to the cottage where CFS lived when she was writing Homeward (aka Home Lads Home as it has come be be known by many).
Saro

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Micca
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 02:46 PM

Charlie, PM me an email addy and I will send you my phone number here in London, I hope to be at C#s on Tuesday 3 Octo to see you anyway, but if not,get in touch and we can meet on your way back through London

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 05:03 PM

Saro-

You certainly know how to attract my interest! Some day Danny McLeod will bring out his biography of C. Fox Smith, and I and Shantyfreak will find a publisher for the 400 poems we've posted to the Oldpoetry website.

Micca-

I'll look forward to seeing you at Cecil Sharp House. If not I'd certainly like to get together on our way back through London.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 05:27 PM

As one of the mudcatters I would really like to meet, I am gutted that I won't be able to get the opportunity -have a good trip. Linda

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Blowzabella
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 05:41 PM

Charlie

Jan & Ken are good friends of mine - they've long been supporters of our little Lancaster festival. Perhaps I'll get a chance to pop down while you are staying with them - I'm only half an hour or so away from Preston (never been to their house though, so not sure exactly where they are!) (mind you, wouldn't exactly call Preston a harbour - it's got a big dock, but not a natural harbour)

If you have a chance, just half an hour north from them, I could give you a tour of Glasson Dock - a quaint C18th port and also see the presrved Georgian quayside - home for the past 18 years to our Maritime Festival.

Blowz

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 06:19 PM

Blowzabella-

Be a delight to see and hear you at Preston. Why don't you contact Jan and Ken for more detailed information. They are expecting some Mudcatters to contact them. The Chantey Cabin website has their e-mail address if you or someone else wants to contact the Lardners.

And, no, I don't have a clue what the waterfcront looks like in Preston but I can easily be enticed to visit "quaint 18th century ports."

Linda Kelley-

Where are you based? I'm thinking Yorkshire but I could be wrong. I know you've composed some fine fisheries ballads. I'd really love to visit the East coast of England sometime but this time around we'd be spreading ourselves too thin.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 27 Sep 06 - 01:16 PM

East Coast I'm afraid Charley, near Hull.never mind next time maybe. Regards Linda

Say hi to Jan & Ken from Hissyfit!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Sep 06 - 01:56 PM

Charlie Noble,
Rick Spencer and David Littlefield with be playing in Swansea Thurs. Oct 5. This comes after two gigs in Cornwall on the 1st and 3rd. Maybe we'll see you during our time there. David

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Blowzabella
Date: 27 Sep 06 - 02:10 PM

Hi Charlie, further to my PM to you, I've contacted Jan and Ken and said I'd love to meet up with you, while you're staying with them and also that I'd love to show you around my 'patch' if it can be worked into the schedule and you are so inclined. I'm quite the tourism expert in my area, so could, as 'twere, show you a really good time!!!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Sep 06 - 10:38 PM

David-

Wish I'd known about Rick Spencer and David Littlefield (old friends from Mystic) singing in Swansea before. They are fine traditional nautical singers and also good songwriters.

We, however, already have reservations for a lovely room in a great pile of rock blocks near Brecon in the Southeast corner of Wales.

Maybe you folks in Swansea can persuade Rick and David to stay over for the weekend!

Blowzabella-

Jan and Ken kindly forwarded me your e-mail so everything seems to be working great in terms of communications. We do need to check and see whether Two Black Sheep and a Stallion are actually going to occupy their cottage just west of Preston that weekend and whether they are staying an extra day or two. Monday or Tuesday is still unplanned but Wednesday we need to be back in London to meet with our niece. And Thursday we fly home.

Anyone else planning to come to Cecil Sharp House on October 3rd?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: JudyB
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 11:24 AM

A quick question from the logistics support half of our team - our mobile phones won't work there. I know in the US I can buy a phone with a thousand prepaid minutes for around 50 pounds - is something similar available there? Are there different types or networks or whatever, and (if so) does anyone have a recommendation for which one would work best in London and while roaming around in Wales? I'm more concerned with it having a chance of working if the car breaks down on a back road in Wales - not that I have a clue who I'd call at that point!

Thanks for your help!

JudyB

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Dave Earl
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 02:04 PM

JudyB,

Mobile phone SIM cards with prepaid credit are avilable in the UK and over-the-counter top-up when credit runs out. Look out for a mobile phone shop in almost every High Street

Orange or Vodafone are usually pretty good. My Vodafone mobile worked in deepest Wales when I was there for Crane Driver and Carole's wedding earlier this year.

BTW if you find yourself in the South East of this Sceptred Isle check out the Clubs in Sussex (Carloe knows them.

Dave

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: SussexCarole
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 03:23 PM

Hi Judy

Dave (Breton Cap) is right about network coverage here on Gower. Where there is a signal, Orange & Vodaphone are best.....BUT there are lots of places here where no mobile will work. In fact we can only get a mobile phone signal on a phone in our house if we hold the phone out of our bathroom window & the wind is blowing south! But that's a small price to pay for the beauty of the area we live in!

Lots of cheap deals around for 'pay as you go'.
See you soon
Carole

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 09:26 AM

With regard to Sharp's Folk Club evening, October 3rd, does anyone know who is acting as host/hostess that evening? I've received no response from the website contact person, which doesn't greatly surprise or dismay me.

I'm also interested in what Mudcatters might be attending that evening. It's always more fun singing when you have some clue of the people you're singing to or with.

With regard to our book hunting foray at Hay-on-Way, it looks as if we've picked the date when the annual "horse sale" is happening and all the lodging space in town has been booked weeks in advance. However, I'm sure they'll let us sleep under the bar if we ask nicely.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 09:11 PM

Oh, is it OK to sing a Ewan MacColl song, "Northern City," at Sharp's with a Maine accent wearing Levis?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: JudyB
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 09:28 AM

OK - I admit your Maine accent can get strong enough on occasion to walk by itself - but how do you propose to get it to stand still while you put Levis on it?

JudyB

PS Thanks for the info on mobile phones!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Oct 06 - 11:48 AM

Well, we're still packing (and re-packing) and printing out various things that we might want to take with us.

Countess Richard and Micca are kindly contacting a few folks with regard to our night at Cecil Sharp House October 3rd.

Andrew and Carole just sent us detailed instructions on how to find their home on the Gower Peninsula, out beyond Swansea. There should be some good singing there that weekend (October 7-8).

Then a dozen or so folks will be converging on the Lardner home (Chantey Cabin) in Preston, north of Liverpool, for some more singing the weekend of October 14-15.

If you have a favorite spot to mention in Wales that you think we'd like to see, now is a better time to mention it than after we've returned to the States.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble and JudyB

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: GUEST,observer
Date: 01 Oct 06 - 06:30 PM

Charley,

if you are in the london area on a Monday the "world Famous" Herga folk club meets with several mudcatters as members and some non mudcatters who are also fine singers

contact El greko, Breezy, Moses The singing Ref, Herga Kitty to name but a few.

Ob

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Oct 06 - 08:13 PM

El Greco is certainly one of my favorite songwriters and singers. Unfortunately we arrive on Tuesday morning, leave for Wales soon after and don't get back to London until Wednesday October 17th.

However, why don't you encourage a few more good people to join us at Sharp's on October 3rd.

We really seem to have the packing routine down. My 5-string S.S. Stewart banjo is well padded with socks and underwear. I've got C. Fox Smith draft anthology notes to go over on the trip over. And I even have a 10-pound note someone sent me for a CD. We can go wild!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Oct 06 - 12:57 PM

It's out the door, next stop London!

We'll try to post into this thread periodically as we wander our way around.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Moses
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 03:21 AM

I'll be late but hope to make Sharps tonight - maybe around 9.30pm

Christine

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 04:40 AM

Charlie, you can't play your banjo at the sharp house. Usually it is too flat.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 08:54 AM

Brett-

It's good that you're feeling better.

We've arrived in London safely, banjo in hand but some of our luggage is still in transit. We're going out to buy a cellphone and some groceries in the Green Wood neighborhood where we're staying with an old friend.

Then it's off the Camden Town for din-din with our niece and then around the corner to Sharp's.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble and JudyB

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Leadfingers
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 07:38 PM

Cracking night at Sharps with Charley ! They let him do THREE songs !!
Moses made it in time for a song , Dave West did Admirals Banana Shanty , I didnt forget any words OR Chords , Micca was Micca and a good time was had by all !

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: GUEST,Charley Noble
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 09:14 AM

Thanks to Micca and Leadfingers for helping making me feel welcome at Sharp's last evening. We had a fine table for JudyB, my niece Jenna, and our London hostess Anne, where we could observe everything going on.

I hadn't been to Sharp's since 1997 and it was pleasing to find so little changed in the years. The bar was still there and fully finctional, the same graphics were on the wall, and as far as I could tell, the same individuals gathered around!

There was quite a range of singing from traditional drinking songs, old ballads, sea shanties, contemporary, country western and parodies of all of the above.

I led off with West Indies Blues, which people seemed to enjoy chorusing along on. After the break I was invited to sing two songs in a row and decided to do Dead Dog Cider and The Long Road Home.

We have to leave for the British Library now!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble in London

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Moses
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 11:10 AM

Sorry I didn't make it until the 2nd half but enjoyed the evening very much.

I shall never think of Cider in quite the same way again!

Enjoy the rest of your stay, Charley

Christine

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 01:42 PM

Christine et al:

I certainly enjoyed your singing.

And now here is my chorus to the Dead Dog Cider song (there's more discussion in an old thread):

Here's to dead dog cider,
The best there is by far;
Here's to dead dog cider,
No moaning at the bar;
You can search this wide world over,
Find many a beer or ale
But when you've tried dead dog cider,
Your search will be curtailed!

Jet lag still hasn't caught up with us. Neither has half our luggage but they claim it will be delivered to our door within the hour. Fortunately, for me, my banjo did arrive with our flight, and in perfect tune!

I am now a card-carrying member of the British Library, and as soon as we return to London from Wales in two weeks I have an appointment to copy the two early and exceedingly rare C. Fox Smith poetry books that are missing from our draft anthology on the Oldpoetry website. What joy!

This evening we take Anne out for a Greek dinner at her favorite restaurant in Wood Green.

Thursday we take off in a rental car for Wales.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble and JudyB

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: SussexCarole
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 07:12 PM

C Sharp House & London and then on to the wilds of Llangennith!! Wow Charley & Judy you really are going from one extreme to another. Looking forward to seeing you...
Carole & Andrew

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: JennyO
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 10:34 AM

Just being a little fly on the wall down here in Oz. It struck me while reading this thread that five of the people posting on this thread are 'Catters that have visited here and that I have fond memories of meeting. God I love this place!

Jenny (wishing I could be more than a fly on the wall!)

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: JennyO
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 10:45 AM

Well actually six - "SussexCarole" is Carole and Andrew - two people :-)

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Oct 06 - 04:17 AM

JennyO et al-

We have arrived safely in Llangennith on the Gower Peninsular near Swansea after a lovely couple of days in the Brecon hills. Andrew and Carole escourted us safely down the highways and byways to their house, nestled in the hills above the wild sandy shores of the Peninsular.

We had a fine time roaming the hills and the coast yesterday, and after a wonderful meal had a full evening of song swapping went off to sleep.

Now it's bright and sunny again and it's time to make some breakfast.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 04:34 AM

We had another fine evening of singing at the folk club gathering at the Greyhound Tavern just up the road from where we're staying. Joy and Tony made us feel very welcome as the circle slowly made its way to us. There were a lot of songs of the sea, traditional love songs, a few "American Songs" from the couple behind us, and some off-the wall gems that I hadn't heard before.

At some point I led my version of the "Yangtse River Shanty" which several people had learned from the singing of one Barry Finn. So, indeed, the song is alive and well in Wales! The original composer, Hamish Maclaren, might well be pleased.

We spent much of the day in and around Swansea, out to Mumbles Point, down to the dock pools, the museums and a pub or two. Swansea Bay has some of the highest tides I've ever seen, almost as high as the Bay of Fundy, and when the tide is out the entire bay appears to be mudflats. And there were still some fishing boats to look at, quite a range of types with their lovely familiar smell!

Now if we can find our way up through the hedge rows of the Gower Peninsular to M4 West(Andrew has thoughtfully outlined the route), we'll be in the coasatal town of Fishguard by the evening, after a stop in Carmarthen (said to be the birth place of Merlin); Judy wonders if we'll find in the shops there any pieces of the Crystal Cave for sale.

And so we leave this fair village. Andrew and Carole have scuttled off to their Monday morning work. Murphy, the neighbor's grey tiger cat has popped in to say farewell, and to get his chin and ears rubbed. It's on the road again!

We may be out of touch until we reach North Wales later in the week. But don't worry. We're having fun!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble and JudyB

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 06:53 AM

We were in the eastern end of the Brecon Hills when we took our canal trip last year.

Keep on singin'.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Barry Finn
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 01:13 PM

Hi Charlie & Judy
Sounds like you're getting your fill of music, good for ya, makes ya groww hair. I hope there'll be pictures of all this when you get back? If you happen to run in to Micheal O'Leary Johns give him my reguards will ya, I think he's somewhere in the neck of the woods that you're in now. Lovely man & a lovely singer. Your Yangtse River is traveling fast. I guess it's to late to pass on a hi to Carole & Andrew but I'll be seeing them in a few weeks. Are they going to to be coming up our way after the Getaway? And are you still not going, bad boy? It's time you ought to be thinking of publishing a world folk music travel log, you've been taking in some nice spots over the years & this could keep you going places well into retirement. Oh, you are retired, well then it'll carry Judy.
Have a good time.
Barry

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Crane Driver
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 05:13 PM

Hi Barry

We didn't get to meet Mike, but when we took Charlie and Judy to Worm's Head, we bumped into Tony Fraser, Mike's singing buddy from Mainbrace. Small world, eh?

We're looking forward to meeting you again at the Getaway - and we do indeed hope to visit your neck of the woods afterwards, so stand by for the details!

We had a great weekend with Charlie & Judy, hope to see them again soon too.

Andrew & Carole

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: stallion
Date: 12 Oct 06 - 05:57 AM

Charley,
Family committments are driving us all mad, we are hoping to catch up with you on sunday afternoon. Saturday is brim full of family stuff on all quarters, Ron is trying to manage to slip away, I will have my wife with me and martin has relly's staying and is hoping they might be on their way home by Sun afternoon. What's that saying, three buses come at once! I will look forward to seeing you sometime sunday and I will bring as many as'll slip t' knot.
cheers
Peter

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 05:49 AM

Nice to see all these messages since we disappeared from the screen on the Gower Peninsular (Andrew and Carole's). Since then we've successfully invaded Fishguard, a lovely little harbor town in southwestern Wales, carved out between two rocky headlands. We immediately wound our way via one-lane roads up to Strumble Head where there was a lighthouse and steep cliffs, and a few seals lazing about far below. Then we dropped our gear off at our BB and walked down to the Sailor's Inn in Lower Fishguard, just the kind of sailor's hangout where you would expect fishermen and smugglers to hang out. Several hours later we awoke miles out to sea...

Next day we did motor out to St. David's Cathedral and the bishop's extensive ruins. I love to look at ancient piles of rocks, and there were heaps of them there in all stages of ruin and reconstruction. Then we motored on down the coast to Pembroke to nose about the town castle, one of many fine examples of military strongholds in Wales.

That evening we braved the smoke of the Royal Oak Tavern in Fishguard to join their open Folk Club sing, and were warmly welcomed after a few songs. I hadn't done any advanced e-mail and had the fun of figuring out how everything worked. There were some traditional sea songs, other traditional drinking songs, traditional dance tunes that I joined in on with the banjo. I did some of the C. Fox Smith poems that I've set to music, a traditonal sea shanty at full blast, "Dead Dog Cider" and after hearing an outrageous song about the traditional fishfingers industry, responded with my song about the cow that sank the Japanese trawler; Judy responded at the appropriate time with a plaintive "moo."

The next morn we wound our way up the rocky coast and then northeast into the valleys to the lovely town of Llangollen, well known for its canal boats and train rides. The next day we were able to take a horse drawn canal boat ride for about an hour, and then catch a motorized canal boat tour which took us for a couple of hours along the foot of lovely fields and hills, and across the River Dee on Thomas Telford's great bridge; I should have some slendid photos from my perch at the stern of the canal boat pointing straight down to the river hundreds of feet below.

Today we wander up the hill to the pictureque ruins of Dinas Bran Castle, which overlooks the town and can be seen for miles around.

I've also found a fine used bookshop in town, everything at half price! And there are many other interesting shops for Judy to prowl through.

Saturday morn it's off to Liverpool and Preston, and hopefully we'll be meeting up with some of our Mudcat friends there for that evening or the following Sunday. Our host s will be Jan and Ken Lardner as mentioned above.

We are getting more comfortable motoring about in our rental car. But it is getting stuffed with plunder that we'll have to ship home in a separate crate!

Off to the Castle!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 11:26 AM

Well, we managed to make our way up and down the winding path to the ruins of Dinas Bran Castle overlooking the town. I'd been hoping to wander through some romantic ruins and this site certainly fit the bill. The castle itself was burned in the 1200's as the English invaders approached, destroying all the wooden luxury accomodations but leaving plenty of rock structure. However, since then the rock structure hasn't fared very well and what's left is some very haunting remnants, a few crumbling arches and tower corners, and a magnificant view of sheep pastures for miles around.

One of the nicest places to hang out for a brew or a desert is the old corn mill, a lovely old stone mill, complete with working water wheel and heavy beams. From the terrace one can see the castle ruins high on the hill, occasional canal boats working their way above the town, and the river Dee cascading by.

We haven't found a local folk club at any of the taverns but I am enjoying the bargains at the used books warehouse.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: SINSULL
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 01:00 PM

Another "fly on the wall" here. Someday I will make it across the Pond and visit these good people on their own turf. Meantime, Charlie and Judy, ENJOY!
SINS

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Oct 06 - 05:37 AM

We've been having a great time at our new base here at the Chantey Cabin, in the little river town of Freckleton (adjacent to Preston), an hour north of Liverpool. Ken and Jan are our gracious hosts and have more than made us welcome. Their business, the Chantey Cabin for those who are not familiar with it, is the major distributor of nautical CD's in the world, and Ken and Jan are accordingly a major node for anything happening in this wonderful world of music as they meet many of the performers at and about festivals.

We had a lovely evening at their home swapping songs and stories with Jim Saville from Yorkshire, who I've been collaborating with on the C. Fox Smith anthology project. Jim is also a member of the Shellbacks Chorus, an umbrella group of shantysingers based in the UK.

Sunday, Ken took us into the Liverpool dock area where we got to walk about the surviving highly renovated brick warehouse buildings, admire the basins and the lock system, the few vintage ships moored there and the miscellaneous pieces of massive nautical hardware scattered about. We then searched out Paradise Street and Lime Street, what remnants were left. I even climbed down into a construction pit to see if I could find any relics of old sailortown but not a single thing, not even an old Roll & Go CD!

We then paid a visit to nautical singer Hughie Jones who lives nearby in a lovely old five-story townhouse sandwiched in between two major cathedrals. It must be a noisy place on Sunday mornings!

When we got back to the Chantey Cabin two of our friends from Yorkshire, Martin and Peter from Two Black Sheep and a Stallion were waiting for us and we had a fine evening swapping songs and stories. We really need to focus on the East coast of England the next time we come this way.

Today we head north to Lancaster, to walk around the old harbour and meet some more singing friends. Then Tuesday it's back to London for C. Fox Smith research at the British Library and then to repack all our plunder and prepare for our flight home.

I think we're beginning to get the hang of driving here, both the driving itself and the necessary navigation!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Snuffy
Date: 16 Oct 06 - 07:16 PM

Beware of the necessary navigation - it's tidal below Preston!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: GUEST,Charley Noble
Date: 17 Oct 06 - 04:26 AM

Snuffy-

Thanks for your kind advice. We've noted that navigational rules on the waters here in the UK are different than navigating on the highways. Our favorite highway sign has to be the big explanation mark!!!

We had a lovely run to Lancaster, via the famous seven-mile illuminated "midway" of Blackpool, a circuit then around Fleetwood, before visiting the Lancaster Maritime Museum and roaming up and down the Maritime Festival sites. And of course we were regaled with stories (all true) of the exploits of various performers. We had a lovely dinner at a country tavern with Val and her husband, and wine and coffee at her home later on.

Now it's repacking (all these new CD's!)for London and the return of our rental car; hopefully we'll be able to find its home lot again amidst the rush hour traffic.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Barry Finn
Date: 17 Oct 06 - 07:05 AM

Hi Charlie & Judy
If you'd like pack all the new CD's & post them to my house. I'll gladly hold on to them & give them a listen and when you get home you won't even have to thank me. Sounds like a full & good vacation, enjoy.

Barry

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Oct 06 - 01:29 PM

Barry-

I'm sure you have no interest in a full set of Stormalong John CD's, and a few others that Ken and Jan stuffed into our hands as we staggered out of the Chantey Cabin! Will we see you next Saturday at the Press Room?

We did make it to London from Preston, and to the rental car lot on schedule and with a minimum of stress. It is somewhat exciting to deal with rush-hour traffic but much of it was trying to escape central London.

Today I went back to the British Museum and the C. Fox Smith books were awaiting me as promised: WINGS OF THE MORNING, A GREATER BRITAIN and ALL THE WAY ROUND. So I spent several hours photocopying them, and checking carefully to make sure I had each page. Now I think we have 99% of the poems that Cicely published and I'll be adding them to the 400 poems already posted to the Oldpoetry website under her name.

We're all packed up and tomorrow morning at 7 AM there should be a limo waiting at the door to take us out to the airport. There we'll check in, have a much needed breakfast, and wait for our flight home.

This has been a nice trip, all things considered, wonderful weather, and our thanks again to everyone who extended hospitality to us.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: SussexCarole
Date: 18 Oct 06 - 01:44 PM

Have a safe journey home Charley & Judy. It was a real pleasure to have you stay with us.

Carole & Andrew

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Barry Finn
Date: 18 Oct 06 - 01:48 PM

Yup, I'll see you at the shanty session. Maggie Bye (of Johnson Girls) will be there too, with her husband Mark (good singer too), he's in town for a conference.

When re-entering the U.S.do not allow your CD's to fall into the wrong hands, put them in an ammo container, lock it & wrap it with duck tape.

"It is somewhat exciting to deal with rush-hour traffic"

You need to take a tour of Boston with me some day during rush hour if it's excitement that your craving. Your car though, not mine.

see ya soon
Barry

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Oct 06 - 03:10 PM

Carole and Andrew-

We're certainly looking forward to seeing you again (and Micca) after the Getaway at Sinsull's house. Maybe we can spirit you away for a tour of OUR Maine coast.

Barry-

Everyone I spoke to was enthusiastic about the Johnson Girls but they want to hear ALL of them next time around.

I also think that you'd get a warm welcome.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Barry Finn
Date: 19 Oct 06 - 02:48 AM

If I could afford to swim over I'd do it. At the moment my arms aren't as strong as they should be so I can't afford to fly. Maybe I'll get there some summer in the meantime I'll have to settle looking at your pictures. By the way, don't come to the shanty session with out them! How's that for pressure, oK then the drinks are on you. Good thing too the price of soda's gone up.

Barry

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Oct 06 - 11:10 PM

Safely back in Maine in our own bed with our own cats!

More later.

Charley Noble and JudyB

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Oct 06 - 09:35 AM

This saga wouldn't be complete without describing the final dash from Wood Green in North London to the Gatwick International Air Port in London's southern suburbs. We arrived in plenty of time to catch our flight. But what a fever dream! Waking up at 6 am, catching the taxi at 6:45 and dashing through a maze of narrow streets in the early morning rain. I had assumed the taxi would go north to M-25, which circles London and connects with the air port. But, no, we plunged due south into the heart of the City. I have memories of innumerable fast food restaurants of every variety flashing by, curious residential architecture, churches and pubs by the score, finally the Thames which I had no problem identfying, and then onto more major streets until we rounded up hard at the South Terminal. The trip took two hours to cover 60 miles and may have set a new record!

We had plenty of time to check in, consume a full English breakfast, and pass through security to our gate. They did check under my Greek Fishing cap, evidently to see if my head was still screwed on right. And Judy was singled out for a pat-down. But all in all everyone was polite and business-like and we didn't have any major mix-ups there.

When we reached Philadelphia, in transit to Portland, Maine, we were surprised at the additional security procedures. There were long lines and waits in between stations. But we had allowed plenty of time before our flight to Portland (which was delayed an hour anyway). This time all our luggage arrived and there was no inspection in our presence. Somewhere in the process I did drop my wallet but was only made aware of that by hearing my name announced on the public address system; someone had turned it in with all its contents intact. Thanks, someone!

When we got back to Maine our van was still in the parking lot and since Judy had an extra set of keys (mine were misplaced in my luggage!) we were home in an hour. We were a little dismayed not to see our two cats waiting for us but the note from our catsitter didn't indicate any problem there. When we went out an hour later to search the neighborhood, they both turned up from their patrols in response to our calls and appeared quite pleased to see us. It is hard to type this post, however, with Teji's teeth in my sleeve.

It probably will take us this weekend to process a set of digital images to post on my personal website. But if you are interested, check back here on Monday.

Thanks again to those who provided the hospitality that made this trip so enjoyable.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble and JudyB

Subject: RE: Charley Noble to UK in October 2006
From: Naemanson
Date: 20 Oct 06 - 07:02 PM

"And Judy was singled out for a pat-down."

I think we'd all like to give her a pat down.

Welcome home C & J. Glad you had a good trip.

My next big trip will be in June. Look out gang, I'm coming home again.