Jeri-

We certainly missed you in between bites of quice, sauteyed chicken in a wonderful white sauce, sald, small red potatoes, and key lime pie and my baked cheesecake. The cheesecake was lighter than I usually make but it seemed to go down well, and we left enough for the breakfast gang.

I sang C. Fox Smith's "Lumber" without messing up the 4th verse and now I feel much better. Judy and I also tried a song ("I'll Say Good-Bye") we've been working on alternatively for a year. Our verses don't exactly correlate but the plot is the familar one of the sailor being called back to the sea, leaving his love behind, or so it begins and then switches tacks. I'm not sure whose version is more warped but both include the "pierhead leap." The tune and chorus came in a dream and it's a very pleasing tune. I'm less sure about the verses.

John Warner's "Kitty Kane" certainly deserves more attention. I wish I could more reliably figure out the tune but JudyB does a fine job of leading it.

Maybe because Barry Finn wasn't there we felt free to put together a collaborative "London Julie." I also was asked to sing my original version of "Yangtse River Shanty."

It certainly was just nice to sit around the bright fireplace chatting and swapping songs.

Thanks again, TRUBRIT and Tom, for hosting this song party!

Will we see you at the next Shanty Sing in Portsmouth (NH) in two weeks?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble