It was a small but dedicated gathering at the Press Room yesterday. In addition to Brian and his family, there was Tom, Linn, Barry, Jeri, Carol, Alan, Rosaline, my wife Judy, and who was that big fellow next to Barry at the table?

No one destroyed their vocal chords, although there was an ocassional false start as people attempted to gauge their key inappropriately to that of the air conditioning system.

Australia seemed to appear in many of the songs in some form or other: "South Australia," "Flying Fish Sailor," and "Botany Bay." There was the West Indies set with "Black Bird Get-Up," "Kingston Town," and "Sloop John A." There was the outward bound set with "Go to Sea Once More," "Willie Went to Sea," and "Shanghai Brown." There were at least two Gordon Bok songs, "Astoria Bar" and "Mister, I Don't Mind." There was "The Banks of Newfoundland" and "Lowlands of Holland." And Bruce wasn't there so we had a good time singing some of his songs!

We really need to work up some more closing verses to "Leave Her, Johnny, Leave Her."

See you all next week at the China Sea/Roll & Go party in Gray, or if not, in September.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble