eek, is that why we didn't meet, Andrez? Or maybe cos the phone box is no longer near the Restaurant?

my National -

Wed night, Martyn Wyndham-Read's Lawson concert @ The National Library after a quick visit to my colleagues in Head Office (well, ex-colleagues as I'm 2 years retired!) then dinner with one & her husband who accompanied me to the concert & loved it. Met an assortment of folkies & a few Mudcatters. Back to the the Festival & set up camp.

Thurs - Back to the National library for Folklore conference - Mudcatters Bodgie & Mark Gregory gave papers. A very interesting panel discussion by children's play researchers & the difficulties they have today in conducting that research. Then back to the Festival & into the festivities!

Concerts, sessions, workshops, conversations, meeting folks, rain, buying stuff, wandering round, taking pictures

highlights -

spending time at the Stockamn's Camp where I listened to a lot of good traditional music (including the duo MWR & Danny Spooner)
Martyn's concerts & conversations with him & Dan at various events
Danny's Seasongs workshop
Mark Gregory's AL Lloyd workshops which included several old film interviews from the 70s)
Dennis O'Keefe's lunchtime Australian song sessions each lunchtime in the Session bar
The Grand Parade at the Colonial Ball Sunday night (I took lotsa' pictures of the beautifully dressed dancers & had a great time talking to friends)
Jenny Fitzgibbon's ballad concerts
Keith McKenry's Lost Folksongs concert
Bodgie's Old Bush Songs & CD launch concerts


Grand highlight -
JennieG & I ran Hrothgar's Sunday morning Hymn session cos he couldn't make the Festival. JennieG, Rowan, Chris Maltby, Canberra Chris, & the others who led hymns might be used to singing in public but I'm not - I've never done it before, but there I was with Jennie in front of a room full of enthusiastic singers (those harmonies!!!) singing along with Jennie when she started the proceedings.
It was my voice that did most of the announcing & housekeeping & will be heard on the official archival recording of the session reminding folks we only have an hour instead of the usual 90 mins & that another session will be held as soon as we leave, & constantly reminding them to avail themselves of the excellent medicine provided by Dr Jamieson (thanks to Canberra Chris) & Dr Drambuie (thanks to another Mucatter, BruceD??)
We had enough medicine left to offer to the 3 coordinators of the next session who appreciated it.

The obligatory Ozcatter pic ((Bob Bolton, JennieG, Sandra in Sydney, Rowan, BruceD, Canberra Chris & Chris Maltby) was taken at the end of the session in the foyer - unfortunately a few Ozcatters escaped (freda & Callie with her 10 month old son who I still haven't met) & other Catters were photographed at various times in the festival & pics will be posted in due course.

sandra