Our Getaway spanned a whole week so our memories stretch beyond West River Camp. It'll take weeks to get it all sorted, but this is a brief summary of it all.

Bill & Rita put us up (put up with us?) from the Thursday night when we arrived tired and bedraggled from fighting our way through US Immigration (the Global War on Tourism?) until after the Getaway. Wonderful people, with an amazing house the size of an aircraft hanger (but much cosier).

We arrived at West River with Bill and his craft goods, and then it was hugs with all our friends as they turned up. Suddenly the last Getaway seemed like only yesterday. The Friday evening sing was a great foretaste of what was to come - remembering the voices and songs from our previous visits.

West River is a wonderful venue with heated cabins, comfy beds, picturesque waterside location, great venues for workshops and sings without losing the charm of Ramblewood.

The Workshops were so varied it was difficult to work out how to be in two or more places at the same time. That cloning workshop is a good idea, but we'd probably never fit it in.

Saturday night's concert - we did our Kipling song (Do you like Kipling? Don't know, I've never Kipled) and Carole yet again allowed herself to be costumed by Sinsull (thankfully customs didn't look into the luggage on the way home, as we bought two costumes for our local folk club Christmas party)! - Will we ever learn? Probably not.

Sunday night! Wow! We had a really superb time - first another great concert, then tremendous chorus songs in the auction room and finally a quieter sing into the early hours.

Monday was a relatively quiet day but we had out first chance to visit an American eat all you want Chinese buffet with Bill & Rita. The words "I'm full" still echo in our ears amidst Rita's & Carole's uncontrollable giggles.

Tuesday night Bill & Rita took us to the shanty sing at Wheaton where we were given a very friendly welcome, met Getaway friends again and had a great time. Andrew was delighted when two of the locals sang one of his songs.

We flew up to Boston on Wednesday & were hosted by Mary Sinsull and the Maine-iacs. Thanks again for wonderful hospitality.

Thursday we were given a tour of Portland by Charley Noble & Judy B. Then that night Sinsull hosted a party for us. It was our first meeting with Seamus the mad Labrador, who showed an unexpected talent for the kazoo and an inexplicable passion for Micca, but the photos can be suppressed for a fee.

Then, far too soon, it was time to go home. We must do this again! So many thank you's to all our friends xxxx

Andrew & Carole