Maeve-

It was indeed a wonderful gathering. There was plenty of good food and fluids to imbibe and David was a great form and did two sets of songs from traditional sea songs to music hall, to contemporary.

People were still singing (Drive Dull Care Away!) after David's concert when we departed at midnight. They're probably still singing!

Kendall was in a good story-telling mood, and sharp as a tack with his replies.

Sinsull did a superb job of dredging up the original words of "Let the Rest of the World Pass By" in response to David's version of the "Tattooed Lady" which has a passing reference to that song.

There were also those wonderful British songs with tongue-twisting lyrics, such as "Swim, Sam, Swim" with hungry sharks snapping at his heels.

Jeri was persuaded to do her song "Wheel of Time." She also led "Mollymauk."

Peter seemed somewhat subdued from his usual boyant self. I think he only led one song, London Julie, and that was after Barry had left the deck, so to speak; no, he also led "Won't You Help Me to Raise 'Em." Joanne led several songs including the lifeboat service song "Don't Take the Heroes" and Keelahan's forest fire-fighters song "Cold Missouri Waters."

Jaquie and Kendall did Utah Phillip's coalmining song "Morphine" and several others.

Tom Hall was in fine form but other than "McPhearson's Lament" I'm blanking on song titles. Linn was induced to lead "Aunt Clara" among others.

I'm also blanking on the songs that Barry and Justine led, and Rose and her son Colin. Maybe someone will wake up and fill in the blanks.

I think I led West Indies Blues (Ella Madison), Midwatches (Burt Franklin Jenness), Hell's Pavement (John Masefield), and Outward Bound (Bill Adams). "Hell's Pavement" even had a reference to a "Davy Jones."

Cheerily,
Charley Noble