OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 06 Oct 03 - 09:08 AM

As I don't drive, I can't agree or disagree with Charley's advice, except the bit about driving on the wrong - to you - side of the road. Maybe Hrothgar's mate might have some info leaflets or tips for driving n the wrong side of the road. Another possibil source of info is rental sites wich just might value their cars & customers enough to include such info on theor websites

Try www.yellowpages.com.au then "Car and/or Minibus rental" as companies often include their website in their ad. Choose Queensland, then I think it's non-metropolitan. I think Valda has a link for car rentals on her site (link given several days back)

sandra

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Oct 03 - 09:34 AM

Brett-

With regard to renting cars, it's good to remember that most Australians drive on the opposite side of the road. This practice makes the "round-abouts" a special challenge to navigate. I've found it helpful to have a navigator in the passenger seat who is willing to scream at the top of her lungs as we hurtle down the road; too bad that Judy frequently confuses right with left...

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Hrothgar
Date: 05 Oct 03 - 06:47 AM

If you want to rent a car in Brisbane, I have a friend in the business.

Where is the "folk club northwest of Brisbane"? If it's Mount Isa, it's 1700 miles northwest ...

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Oct 03 - 11:51 PM

I was reading in Bryson's book about the Big Lobster outside of Melbourne. He mentioned a number of other Big _____s. Are there any between Cairns and Sydney?

Also, I've been wondering about renting a car. There is a folk club northwest of Brisbane I might be able to get to. Not sure if the train runs up there. Is there anything special I need to know or do to rent a car?

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 02:54 PM

Robin, looks like you're already here!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 10:47 AM

re "Political Steps"

CNNN on the ABC is now presenting the news to song... :-)

Robin

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 03:05 PM

Or Brett could just pitch a tent on that nice beach at Port D. I'm sure there's no bunyips that far north. Of course there was a headstone on the beach that we stumbled across the last time we were there on behalf of a former member of Parliment, with words to the effect that "here he lies as usual"!

Cheerily,
Charles Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 09:36 AM

Brett - I have no idea about renting rooms/apartments/hostels - my holidays were spent with relatives, & are now spent at Folk Festivals!

See if you can get hold of the Lonely Planet guide to Australia or something similar.

This link comes from Folk Australia - one of the best sites in Oz - run by Mudcatter Valda! There is a section on advice to performers planning tours
http://folk.mountaintracks.com.au/Folk_Australia/tour_help.html#links

that's were I found this link to the Australian Tourist Commission
http://www.australia.com/ProcessSplashResults.aust?C=US&L=en

I assume there will be links to the different state Tourist agencies - Tourism Queensland & Tourism New SOuth Wales & other intersting sites.

sandra

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 07:54 AM

G'day Brett,

I suspect that Port Douglas won't have too many old bush pubs ... it's pretty much an up-to-date tourist spot with all bells and whistles. (That said, it may well have 'backpacker' accommodation and inexpensive facilities.)

There is an "Aussie Glossary" in the Quick links, on Mudcat (on which I collaborated) ... but is is of a more folkloric bent than you would need to deal with the tourist belt types at Port Douglas. (And it might be a bit difficult to keep connected to the Mudcat while haggling over the laudromat facilities in Far North Queensland!) Have a browse through it anyway ... it may help.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 07:02 AM

well, I'm in it for the adventure. If I wanted a private bath I could stay home.

Attitude makes the difference between ordeal and adventure.

How about some basic info. Coin operated laundries? Public transportation in the towns? A dictionary of Australian words and phrases so I can communicate with the natives?

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Hrothgar
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 05:48 AM

Just a small warning - if "hotel" means an older country pub, you might find yourself sharing a bathroom. A motel will generally have a room with a bath included.

A flash modern hotel will have the bath included, plus other facilities, depending on stars - and if you fellers can afford five star accommodation, you don't need any help from us!

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 08:39 PM

Hey Brett!

This is the Southern Hemisphere ... by our reading of the seasons, late November is the last week of Antipodean Spring ... but that only applies to the temperate regions - Port Douglas is in the tropics and inclined to be less temperate. Generally pretty good weather up there at that time of year, if somewhat sultry (Hey ... you're in Guam!) ... but it is heading for the cyclone season!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 07:20 PM

Aw c'mon Charlie, live a little! Flowers is a fun song and the banjo would add so much...

Thanks for the definition Sandra. Do they let apartments only in whole weeks or can you get one for less than that? Or does it depend on the landlord and time of year?

By the way, I was looking at hotel prices (in Port What-ever-it-is) and they seem to be lower after October. Are we going to be there off season? Won't the gales and snow storms impact our snorkeling?

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 10:13 AM

G'day JennieG,

Funnelweb spiders in the western suburbs ... must be an effect of the gentrification of my old working class haunts!

Anyway, where I grew up, in the Chullora end of Geenacre, we had lots of redbacked spiders - and a good supply of trapdoor spiders ... but I never saw any convincing funnel web. (And, Judy & Charley ... definitely none in Annandale!)

Regard(les)s,

Bob

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 09:33 AM

Well, Brett, I think there's this place near Port Douglas called Crocodile Charley's which has a room or two, next to their pool. Very inexpensive as I recall. Breakfast is included but it doesn't say whose...

A place with air conditioning is useful in Port Douglas this time of year, maybe any time of year.

"Flowers of Bermuda"? You're on your own, my friend!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 09:08 AM

Brett - A hotel = a room with bathroom included, an apartment would have several rooms including a kitchen & living room. As Oz is the destination for backpackers there are lots of cheap hostels around.

It's getting closer!!

sandra

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 07:09 AM

I have been studying my tour book and looking at the internet sites. I'm a little unsure about spending time in Port Douglas. It doesn't seem to be my kind of place. But I think Charlie, Judy, and I can find something to do.

Tell me, what is the difference between a hotel and rental apartments? It doesn't really matter to me. I'm not traveling to see the interior of hotel rooms. I may just stay at hostels and avoid all the decision anxiety of finding and choosing a hotel.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: JennieG
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 06:10 AM

Geez Brett if it's Port Arthur instead of Port Douglas - that's at the other end of Australia!
Bob: not all funnel webs are found on the leafy North Shore. There have been biteys found at Condell Park in the Wild Western Suburbs, you know. Made front page on The Torch a few years ago. Biggest excitement since Neville Wran lost his seat in a by-election......
Cheers
JennieG home again from a nice wet drive to Goulburn and Crookwell

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 08:17 PM

OK, OK, Port Douglas. Do you know some place there where we can sit and drink and play some music? You're going to have to work pretty hard at Flowers Of Bermuda. I see it as my revenge on you for putting so many chord changes in your songs.

Anyway, I expect we can spend a few days together at Port Douglas and then in Sydney. I expect you to show me the sights.

Last night we were hard at it until 8:30PM. But now it is the new year and the pressure is released. I can once again have a life.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 10:00 AM

BRETTTT!

port douglas, port douglas, port douglas!

You're clearly burnt out but I know, I think, well, maybe we'll all end up on the same continent at the same time, at least in Sydney. Sigh, it's such a big world.

Them Brisbane folks do sound interesting.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 03:45 AM

Charley, I am working on my itinerary. I am trying to match mine to your last post above with your itinerary. I figure we can spend a few days at Port Arthur and then meet up again in Sydney. Because of the trains I'll have to leave Port Arthur earlier than you and Judy if I am to get there in time for the Loaded Dog. I'll probably leave on Tuesday (11/18), spend a night in Brisbane, and then get to Sydney on Friday (11/21).

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 08:39 PM

Spend them millions, Brett. We taxpayers are counting on it.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 08:14 PM

Yeah, we're into the final stretch to the end of the fiscal year. We worked through the weekend and have today and tomorrow to get it all finished up. Late hours and no life till Wednesday.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 08:25 AM

well, you can't keep a good idea down. I wonder if other press galleries/ex press galleries have copied the idea?

What have you been up to? Work (that 4-letter word?)

sandra

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 08:15 AM

Well, we do have a group called the Political Steps. They use show tunes to parody the news out of Washinton, DC. The original members were all congressional staffers but now I believe they make their living doing their show. They are pretty funny.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 27 Sep 03 - 12:27 PM

well, we had another great night at the Dog tonight - only one to go, then you will almost be here.

Lots of great singing tonight & the small but perfectly formed audience sang with it's usual skill (even tho lots of the regulars has sent in notes from their mums). One of the excused regulars found the event she was attending not to her taste, so she turned up at 11pm for the lst half hour. The bloke who had left his jacket last month also turned up late & despite my reminder almost left if behind again, damn, I wanted to keep it.

Incidentaly tonight The Shiny Bum Singers were part of a political extravaganza in Canberra, our nation's capital. I can only quote the advertising bumf - .............. SMARTARSES BUMS & SHORTARSES - A night of Political Satire featuring The House Howlers, The Shiny Bum Singers and Shortis & Simpson. The House Howlers is a choir formed from members of the Press Gallery at Parliament House. Wordsmiths all, they have a bottomless bucket of material from their observations and "hands on" experiences with the pollies who run this country and from which to pluck their contribution to this night of expression of political commentary. If any of you don't know of The Shiny Bum Singers (Work Songs of The Public Service) then you probably shouldn't be on this list. John Shortis & Moya Simpson complete the triumvirate (Yes folks it's Caesar, Crassus & Pompey all over again). From the apolitical & atheistic world of small business (the satirical cabaret industry is definitely not your BHP) comes John's biting lyrics with the lark-like liltings of Moya. From the cesspit of parliament itself to the engine room of the leviathan that is the Public Service to the tenuous world of the Man (& Woman) in the Street, we make no excuses for what may transpire this night.......... Jeeez I went on a bit then didn't I??? ...........

I wonder if the Washington or London press galleries have choirs?

sandra

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 06:15 AM

G'day Brett,

(Pace Hrothgar) Of course, you are more likely to meet most of those in the barbarous wilds of Queensland ... only the hardiest thrive in the concrete jungle of Sydney!

Actually, the Bicentennial Park, out at Homebush, near the Olympics site, has annual open days to view the massed webs and Golden Orb Spiders along the path down to the Waterbird Habitat ... about a kilometre of overhead webs just seperated by a bit more than the reach of the spider next-door! (Mostly from abour 3 metres up to 6 or 7 metres in the air.) Pat and I went out there last year - much more impressive than the workers living on next-door's fruit-fly!)

Regards Judy, Charlie et al,

Bob

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 04:44 AM

Well, Charlie, I suggest Judy NOT follow any of these links until you are well and truly and financially committed to this trip. There are lots of eek-eeks on them.

This one is a picture and some info aon the Golden Orb Spider.

Here is info on the Red Back Spider.

Don Henderson's Funnel Web Spider is here and here is Another Funnel Web Spider Page.

Finaly here is a Spider ID Chart.

Just in case Judy was curious.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 10:15 PM

Don't worry Charley,

We don't see any Funnel Webs on this side of the Harbour ... they stick to the wooded realms of the salubrious North Sydney addresses. (Sometimes God gets it right!) As for the Huntsman Spiders ... they are welcome to eat all the flies they want. Local Huntsman Spiders are up to 80mm (~ 3 ¼") across and look fierce and hairy but they never bother with prey they can't eat ... admittedly, some of the really big ones, up in Queensland, have been seen dragging away a full-grown rat or a young chicken ... but there is controversy as to whether that was kill or carrion - and those varieties are called "Bird-eating Spiders"!

I also get some lovely Golden Orb Weavers trying to take over the clothes line in summer - they thrive on the fruit flies from the overblown Italian backyard orchard next door at number 8! Once we negotiate the season's "Joint Use Policy" for clothesline, we get along all right.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 09:51 PM

Bad, bad, Bob! Judy's not gonna like that song at all.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: Lyr Add: THE PRACTICAL SMOKER (Don Henderson)
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 07:34 PM

G'day,

Sandra: Err... Whatever I was reading - it wasn't the calendar!

(BTW: When you repaste text from an existing e-mail, you may need to turn off Mudcat's otherwise useful new "Automatic Linebreaks" option ... otherwise the review starts to look like free verse!)

Charley: Just for the record, this is the Don Henderson poem I mentioned above. I'm afraid this one doesn't have song status/tune like most of Don's fine songs, but it's an interesting approach to industrial relations!

The Practical Smoker
Don Henderson (1937-1991) I Can Sing songs of australia, Horwitz Publications, Sydney, 1970

(Introduction from book:)
He was strong but a show off. One of those bosses who would never ask a man to do something he couldn't do himself. He died lifting a gas stove on to the tray of a truck by himself.

If you'll listen to me for a while I'll relate
    the tale of a boss and his terrible fate.
Conclusions, if any, are left up to you
    to draw for yourself, but I tell the tale to
show for the main how bosses react
    when the bite is put on them, in a sense or in fact.
I worked with a fellow, Snowy by name,
    employed by a bloke in the contracting game,
and the job we were doing, when the event
    I'll tell you of happened, was laying cement,
kerbing and gutters up in St. Ives,
    where the country is sandstone and the funnel web thrives.

One morning we're working, Snow put down his pick
    and pulled his tobacco pouch out of his kick.
The boss, whose failing, a bad one at that,
    was doing his block at the drop of a hat,
saw Snowy's makings and screamed out, "You blokes.
    I'm not going to pay you to roll your own smokes."
Snowy continued like the boss wasn't there,
    rolling his smoke with unusual care,
and lighting it up said, "A good cigarette.
    I can't afford tailors on the money I get."
Well, the boss went berserk, said the dough was all right
    and that Snow could get his at the office that night.

We started back working, but just in a sense,
    things what they were and the feeling so tense.
Snowy was clearing rocks up ahead,
    and breaking all records for swinging the lead;
so the rest of us, levelling and boxing behind,
    were slowed down to nothing, though we didn't mind.
But the way things were going, there was no way we'd pour
    when the Ready Mix came at twenty to four.
And the boss, who was wondering whether or not
    it might have been best to sack Snow on the spot,
reasoned that now all he could do
    was to go up in front and start clearing too.

They worked there together for an hour or more,
    when all of a sudden a mighty uproar
came from up front. We all looked around.
    There was Snow and the boss both down on the ground.
We got them apart, they'd done no real harm.
    Then Snowy said, "Boss, have a look at your arm."
We all looked and saw by one of the veins
    a red spot and a well squashed spider's remains.
The boss shaking (who wouldn't) asked Snow if he'd seen
    what species the spider that bit him had been.
"It was a Funnel Web," said Snow, "and no risk.
    A female for sure and as big as your fist."

Dead set, the boss went the colour of chalk
    and gazed at his arm, too startled to talk.
Of course Snow took over; the poor boss was thrown.
    Snow sent a bloke to the corner to phone
for an ambulance and to cut down delay,
    said we'd jump in the car and meet it half way.
The boss finally asked was there some antidote.
    Snow said, "Not really; but they cut a vein in your throat
and let all the blood out. Bleed you bone dry.
    Then put new stuff in. It's at least worth a try."
Then he whispered to me, behind his held hat,
    "It was really a Huntsman, but we won't tell him that."

We got the boss in the back seat, more dead than alive.
    I jumped in with him; Snow said he'd drive.
Drive Snowy did. Talk about go.
    By comparison, Jack Brabham would even be slow.
We were going the wrong way. The boss noticed but
    Snow said, "It's all right, I know a short cut."
'Course he'd drummed me before, so I was awake,
    but the boss's heart fell with each wrong turn we'd take.
And the wrong turns were many, for somehow we drove
    up every dead end from St. Ives to Lane Cove.
Till finally, getting on the right track,
    we picked up the ambulance on its way back.

When the ambulance got to the hospital gate,
    a stretcher was brought, but the boss wouldn't wait.
For red eyed from weeping, a pitiful sight,
    and all sense of reason thrown over to fright,
he frantically pushed the orderlies by,
    screaming, "Funnel web. Funnel web. Save me. I'll die."
Then tore into "Out Patients"; fronted the nurse,
    and if things were bad now they were bound to get worse;
for he rose in the air, then fell to his knee's,
    when the nurse answered, "Yes, sir. Take a seat please."
And Snowy, to my mind a bit over done,
    said, "Have a smoke while you're waiting; here, I'll roll you one."

Ready Mix = Premixed concrete – delivered by agitator truck
Funnel Web (spider) = atrax robustus - one of the world's deadliest spiders
tailors = tailormade cigarettes (commercial packets)
Huntsman (spider) = isopeda immanis - large and hairy … but pretty harmless
Brabham (Jack) = Australian world champion racing driver of those days


Enjoy! (Just don't trust locals descriptions of spiders ... too far!)

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 08:47 AM

Bob - what were you reading? It's a review of AUGUST & preview of September. Something gremlinish got in & removed section 3 of the newsletter which gave details for October & November.

Anyway, as Amalina will not be attending, maybe YOU would like to write the next review? You could also publish it in Mulga Wire!!

....................

Amalina's review of August Dog -
The August Dog started with a cappuccino moment, shared
with Jane Faulkner
who emceed the night. Margaret Walters sang two songs,
one from a new CD
that has come out which presents around 20 NSW folkies
performing songs
they wrote during the wharfies struggles with Patricks in
1998. The CD has
been produced by Mark Gregory for the Maritime Union of
Australia (MUA),
and Margaret's songs were powerful and moving reminders
of the union's
struggles.

The Dog was an opportunity to get Margaret's new CD,
which has a stunning
and lyrical collection of songs sung in Margaret's
bluesy, earthy style.
Margaret is one of the strong female singers of the folk
scene, and it's
good to hear her voice undiluted. Margaret's voice has
great flexibility
and range, and her vast repertoire is a continually
growing history of
Australian politics and people. As well, sales of the
Song Links CD are
moving quickly at the Dog, where it can be purchased for
only $42.00
(instead of the usual $48.95). This historic CD is a
collection of British
traditional songs and their Australian variants. It is
also a powerful
showpiece of fine Australian singing, and will introduce
thousands of
British folkies to a selection of some of our finest
musicians and singers.

Bob Bolton emerged from behind his trusty camera to tell
a hilarious yarn
(Incognito, by John Manifold) which Bob explained he
first heard told by an
extremely inebriated Brad Tate at the Newcastle folk
festival in 1985. The
audience was still chortling as Phyl Lobl came on. Phyl
was supported by
Michael Roberts on guitar and backing vocals , as (she
was nursing a broken
arm).

Phyl showed why she has become an icon of Australian
folk. Her song writing
has produced some of the most tender and original songs
about the
Australian environment, and about the fragility of the
greater world
ecosystem. Phyl's eco-songs reflect the rhythms and flows
of the rivers and
forests she sings about, and have moments of haunting
beauty, while her
satirical songs are hilarious, punchy and very ironic.
Phyl's last three songs were performed with Loosely
Woven, a gathering of
folkies with flute, fiddle, harmonica, recorder, tin
whistle and guitar,
who performed three textured and truly loosely woven
pieces, including a
fantastic song called Pride of the Land, dedicated to "a
girl born to
dance" - to Shirley Andrews.

Springtide is comprised of Greg Wilson & Jackie Luke, the
talented duo from
the Dang-Lyn Moon Folk Club at Mooney Mooney. Jackie and
Greg have a huge
repertoire ? one of our Dog fans heard them at another
venue the week
before, playing a totally different set of pieces.
Jackie Luke plays
Hammered Dulcimer, and Greg plays Celtic Harp, a truly
intoxicating mix.
Greg and Jackie hypnotised the Dog audience with reels,
harp solos and
jigs. The sweetness of their performance lulled one
unnamed Dog audience
member into such a state of relaxation .. Springtide has
performed in
Australia, America, and the UK, and we hope they come
back to the Dog
again..

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 09:37 PM

G'day Hrothgar / Charley,

I seem to remember that Don Henderson had one with a bit more bite ... about a funnel-web spider biting the foreman. Those trapdoor spiders are pretty tame by comparison (but they look nice and scary!).

Sandra has just circulated her monthly update on The Loaded Dog - a summary of October's offerings and a review of September's. She obviously doesn't trust folkies' memories enought to bother telling them about programs 2 months in advance! (I tried to ring her, on other matters, this morning but to no avail.)

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 11:25 AM

Hrothgar-

I would not be surprised at any topic Denis Kevans would come up for a poem. He is incredibly prolific, and has a wonderful sense of the absurd. Judy does have a shanty version of the "Insy-Tinsy Spider and the Waterspout" which we may be able to tease out of her.

SandraN-

Could you post your summary of The Loaded Dog gathering in this thread? It would provide folks from "away" just what a wonderful institution it is.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Hrothgar
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 06:35 AM

Didn't Denis Kevans have a poem about a spider on a building site? One of the trapdoor persuasion?

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 03:59 AM

I finally have a phone and therefore internet access! Now the fun begins. I can start planning and researching and looking!

By the way, for our Australian friends, if you want a treat, next July is the Pacific Island Arts Festival on Palau. There's supposed to be a website but I haven't been able to get into it yet. Check out visit-palau.com.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 18 Sep 03 - 09:51 PM

G'day Charley,

Your Maine clam & lobster-bake/barbecue sounds a bit like the way I cooked local mussels, gathered from the Huon River in Tasmania ... simply got a low fire going on the sand and dropped the mussells on top of the ashes until the shells opened ... then wolfed them down ... Yum! This was how the local Aboriginal people dealt with them and takes some beating.

Sydney is a different story ... in the smoky inner suburb of Leichhardt, if I started up a wood fire in the backyard's free-standing brick barbecue - I'd probably have the local Fire Brigade (stationed 50 metres away on the corner of Leichhardt St & Balmain Rd) chopping through my front door in one minute! I'm afraid the propane fuelled variety is the most likely contender! (But, Wee Eric Bogle's song notwithstanding, we are pretty good at retrieving steaks while they are still edible!)

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: JennyO
Date: 18 Sep 03 - 09:32 AM

Mine is one of those 4 burner gas jobs with the ignition button - nice and big and easy to use.

Sandra, unfortunately I don't have the pictures. "She who shall remain nameless" has them, so they are lost forever, as far as I am concerned. I'm not sure how I would go about making some more. We could have done it at the Dog - oh well, maybe we can anyway. Now all I have to do is find my words............

Jenny

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Sep 03 - 09:16 AM

Thanks, Bob, for reminding us of Australia's claim to fame in the world of arachnids. Judy urged me to correct the spelling of her pet words for spiders and centipeds; they are "eeks" and "eek-eeks" respectively.

Now, back to the BBQ! Here in the States there are many ways to BBQ. In Maine, when we're doing lobsters and clams we build a bonfire on the beach with driftwood and toss in stones, let it burn down and then cover with a layer of seaweed, add the lobsters and other goodies, add some more seaweed, and then cover the whole thing with a canvas tarp and sit around guzzling beer for about twenty minutes or until the lobsters turn a bright red. Then there are those with the new propane afterburner wheeled units who just have to press the ignition button (the one next to the self-destruct button) and everything is ready to char. There are still the older BBQ grills where one loads them up with charcoal brickets or anything else that is likely to burn, pours on lighter fluid or petrol, ignition, and then grills whatever's available slowly over the glowing coals, if anything is left after ignition.

I'm not sure if I know any BBQ songs.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Sep 03 - 08:56 AM

Charley - the singing session the night before the Dog won't be at the Dog (that costs money!) but at someone's place. Someone will get volunteered.

Jenny - have you got the pictures for the song? (snigger, snigger)

hurry up November

sandra

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 17 Sep 03 - 10:48 PM

Spiders! Insects! Deadly creatures! I've been reading Bill Bryson's book and he goes on at length about the various deadly creatures that inhabit Australia.

As for parties and barbecues and all, count me in! I'm sure I can see my way through pretty much anything you can dish out in that arena.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 17 Sep 03 - 10:27 PM

G'day Charley,

Did we mention that Australia also has the world's deadliest spiders? (But they worst ones [atrax robustus and atrax formidabilis] for stay north of the Harbour ... say from North Sydney, through Hornsby and up as far as Brisbane.) By comparison, Redbacks (cousins of the Black Widow Spider), are pretty tame stuff!

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Sep 03 - 04:55 PM

Bunyips? Well, the little ones aren't really much of a problem. Around here we use their cousins as bait while trolling for Sea Bass. But I understand that you've got some of the largest and most stupendous of the species. You'll not find me walking on your mudflats late a night. No way!

Judy's pet name for spiders is "ecckks." Things that have more than eight legs and crawl are "ecckk-eccks." You know, it's real hard to sneak up to a napping wombat when your partner keeps emitting sounds like that!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: JennyO
Date: 17 Sep 03 - 01:17 PM

Yes, we do dead animals, as well as anything else people want to cook.

Hates spiders, huh? I think we might be able to come up with a song or two for the occasion (cackles wickedly to herself).

How does she feel about bunyips?

Jenny

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Sep 03 - 11:32 AM

JennyO-

Sounds good for Sunday. We'll have to brush up on some archane train songs, or maybe we'll just sing some of our regular rail/sail songs.;~)

Of course, we'll have to bring something appropriate to barbeque. Do you do dead animals or is this only insects or plant life? Brett and I have been known to consume almost anything. Judy has an aversion to spiders.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: JennyO
Date: 17 Sep 03 - 11:15 AM

Yes definitely a song party and BBQ at John's and my place at Earlwood on the Sunday. We're planning on it! We're thinking of starting in the afternoon and going on till whenever. We have a nice big backyard that is just crying out for a big bunch of folkies, and when we go inside later, we can make music in the living room with the model trains and the landscape going all along the wall. As I sit here, there is a mine, a trestle bridge and a waterfall overlooking my computer.

That big John Warner voice is as powerful as ever, and we're also working on some stuff to do together. My mandolin playing might hopefully be almost up to speed by then, too.

We're having our first session here on Friday week to start the housewarming process, and also to celebrate my birthday. We hope this will be the scene of many happy gatherings in the future.

Looking forward to your visit!

Jenny

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Sep 03 - 09:21 AM

Sandra-

"So can the singing session the night before."

There are at least two interpretations of what your suggestion could mean. ;~)

"Can" could mean "put a stop to or cancel" but more likely you mean a singing/practice session would be welcome at the Annandale Community Centre on Friday evening. And we might also do a song party at John's house on Sunday, and really wipe everyone out. I really like the idea of jumping right in with singing starting Friday. What do you think, Brett, assuming you make the train and the train makes Sydney?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 17 Sep 03 - 09:07 AM

Newcastle Folk Club website
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~ncfolk/about.html

On the ground floor of the Neighbourhood centre there is a small room which can be used for practicing. So can the singing session the night before.

sandra

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 05:02 PM

Well, I'm certainly looking forward to singing from one of them "sweet spots," and peeling the paint off the walls if I can with a sea shanty or two. Brett and I will probably back each other up, assuming that we're reasonably in synch after all these months.

Helen-

Any further contact with Newcastle folks?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 08:58 AM

Charley - sound system & the Dog! NEVER!

The only time the Dog has been plugged was when we had to use the larger back hall earlier this year while the proper hall was being painted.

The Dog is the best acoustic venue in Sydney (& Oz according to my Qld friends). Have a read of our website - www.loadeddog.live.com.au - there are even a few pics there, one of the 40s in action in front of our wonderful banner. Our webmaster Chicky made it (she is multi talented!) & is also seen in the pic of Touchwood with Callie (Chicky is in the middle)

sandra