Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007

Subject: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 04:48 PM

Well, actually it will be spring downunder but fall for us folks from Maine. We're still in the planning stage for this trip, our third one, but it's really going to happen. Here's our proposed schedule – splitting ourselves between music, old friends, relatives, and site-seeing:

We fly into Sydney on Friday, October 26.

Sing at the Loaded Dog Saturday, October 27

Feast and sing at Earlwood BBQ Sunday, October 28

Monday through Wednesday in Sydney but unscheduled, October 28 to 31

Thursday rent a car and drive to Melbourne (or take the train to Melbourne and rent a car there)

Saturday and Sunday do workshops with Danny Spooner at Maldon Festival

Monday go driving down the Shipwreck Coast

Tuesday back to Sydney somehow (or maybe fly straight to Port Douglas)

Wednesday fly off to Port Douglas for snorkling the Barrier Reef

Saturday, November 10, fly back to Sydney

Spend some weekend time with nephew and his wife on Danger Island

Back in Sydney, probably Monday (shopping?)

Leave for the States on Friday, November 16

We're hoping to take an overnight train from Sydney and Melbourne and then rent a car once we're there. We may even fly from Melbourne to Port Douglas if that makes more sense than a round-trip flight from Sydney and round-trip train between Melbourne and Sydney.

We would appreciate any advice on what our options might be. We certainly have gotten a lot of good advice in our past trips.

We're now very comfortable with driving on either side of the road, as long as that correlates with the steering wheel and accessories. And we're well aware of the dangerous mythical and less mythical wildlife.

We'll be traveling light most of the time but I bet we'll be sending back a steamer trunk of booty before we finally fly home from Sydney. Of course I will be lugging along my 5-string banjo and maybe my F/C Anglo concertina (they are relatively rare).

Thanks to Sandra, JennyO, Danny and others who are making the musical part of this revisit so interesting.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble and JudyB

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 06:59 PM

Travelling from Sydney to Melbourne is quick, if by train (~12 hours), or may be interesting but more time-consuming, if by car. You can drive the Hume Highway in less time than the train journey but you'd be dodging semis (what Americans call 18-wheelers, but ours have 22) and B-Doubles (even longer) all the way.

When I ran a school camp at Steiglitz (60 miles west of Melbourne) and played at the Woolshed Dances in Canberra I'd frequently take visitors from overseas (or even Aussies who'd never been to the Snowy Mountains) through the High Country on the return trip. Going from Cooma to Corryong via Kiandra and Cabramurra there is one particular bend in the road where I'd time it so I reached there just before sunset and you see blue ridge after blue ridge, receding to the west. By the end of October the snow will be gone and the road will be open (with no ski resorts there are no National Parks fees on this road) and the alpine bush will be full of spring blooms. Kangaroos were never a problem and we saw only the occasional wombat. From Tallangatta (emphasis on 'ang') you can get to Wangaratta either through Wodonga or via Beechworth (the latter is more interesting) and the entire trip would take only an hour or so more driving time.

I could go on but PM me if you are interested in more (or other) details.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 07:59 PM

Rowan-

Excellent information on the Sydney-Melbourne run.

If we were driving I suspect I'd try to "make time" and we really wouldn't get to enjoy the scenic options. It's probably better for us to take the overnight train, some of which we understand have sleeping accomodations, and do our scenic driving based around Melbourne. We have seen kangaroos, wombats, and dropbears in the wild, and though it's always fun to see more it's no longer essential.

Where are you based now?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 08:12 PM

From the Tread list... :-)

Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007         
My god, is he still alive!         


:-P

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 08:21 PM

good one, Fooles

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 08:49 PM

OK; sticking to driving around Melbourne then. An afternoon at Sherbrook Forest, now almost part of the eastern suburbs and a short walk from Ferntree Gully railway station. Lyrebirds if you're lucky but a nice patch of accessible tall Eucalyptus regnans forest.

East along the Maroondah Highway to Marysville takes you up the Black Spur and through some beautiful sylvan forest that is also dominated by Eucalyptus regnans; half a day unless you dawdle and enjoy yourselves.

Southeast, through South Gippsland (John Warner comes from down there somewhere and my family comes from near Korumburra) to Wilson's Promontory, the southernmost tip of mainland Oz. National Park, a patchwork of every vegetation type in Victoria except proper alpine or desert. Great walks and most things in bloom; I'm biased, as that's where I did most of the fieldwork for my thesis on lithoseres.

You're already seeing Maldon (I was at the very first FF there as a performer; say hello to Ian Huxtable and Helen McGeochan, as well as Doddsy) so you'll see some of the Central Victorian Goldfields). From there down the Midlands Highway to Geelong if you want to get to the Shipwreck Coast, although a diversion to Steiglitz (halfway between Meredith and Maude) would show you some of the Brisbane Ranges Historic Park, as they now call it. The Great Ocean Road (all built by Returned Diggers from WWI, mostly by hand and financed by private subscription) is a scenic wonder; if heading westwards you'll be on the outside (oceanside) of all the curves, which is great if heartstopping. Back through the Grampians (check out Mt Arapiles), and then either the Otways or over the basalt of the Western District.

Have fun. These days I'm 17 hours' drive north of all that, halfway between Sydney and Brisbane.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 08:54 PM

G'day Charley,

Rowan is now based around New England University: up in the quite high portion of the Great Dividing Range where it passes through the northern end of NSW, inland from the Pacific coast. It can be quite cool, by Aussie standards.

A friend, who is doing her degree 'remote' at New England University - left too little time to post in a major project and had to drive to Armidale from Sydney ... starting off the day of severe flooding north of Sydney! She just missed the flood levels that cut off the northern roads that she was following, but on the way back (now re-directed inland) she drove through heavy snow and hail!

Anyway, I'm afraid your Sydney stay will be quieter than it might otherwise be - no raucous button accordion or concertina accompaniments from me. Patricia and I will fly back into Sydney on Wednesday night, 31 October ... after 3 weeks in Western Australia, visiting Pat's niece and her family - and getting our first look at the very different flora of the West.

Quietly enjoy the East, in our absence!

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 10:01 PM

Bob's right, but we call it the University of New England. Which confuses some from around New Hampshire but we regard UNE (at Armidale) as having precedence and thus priority.

Ever the pedant (and still keen on granite landscapes),

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennyO
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 11:08 PM

Aw, that's a shame you'll be missing each other by one day, Bob. By leaving Sydney on the 31st, he also misses my folk club by one day, but when it's Maldon Festival and Danny Spooner, I guess that's the way it has to be.

If only you could see our back yard now, Charlie, you'd wonder how we will ever be ready for you - but we still have a few weeks to pull it together for the BBQ!

I'll get John to give you some more ideas about the Victorian part of your trip, although it doesn't look as if you have much time with that.

On the day you leave Oz for the States, what time of day do you leave? Could we tempt you with a shanty session the night before?

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 08:59 AM

It's just as we feared. We take what we think might be a short foray into what for us is new territory, the greater Melbourne area, and it turns out there are weeks of things to do. Rowan, we will follow up your suggestions as best we can and consult with our local guides as well.

Bob, we should be able to catch up with you in our last week in Sydney.

And, JennyO, "a shanty session the night before" we leave would be great! Who needs to pack? Well, actually, we can pre-pack if we know something good is happening. Would the session be aboard the James Craig? I certainly intend to pay her another visit.

Robin, some day we'll trek out to the Brisbane area and explore your part of Australia but not this trip. We could have an interesting evening swapping yarns and songs.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennyO
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 10:05 AM

Hi Charlie,

Sandra suggested a session on the James Craig that night. I think it's a great idea. Now we just need a confirmation from Mike Richter that it's available. We'll keep our fingers crossed!

Seeing that there obviously isn't going to be time to do all the places around Melbourne, John thinks that the Shipwreck Coast is a must-see for you - even if it's the only place you have time for around there.

There are so many places you won't have time to see that you are just gonna have to keep coming back to see them all, aren't you ;-)

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 10:37 AM

JennyO-

Well, once we establish the Maine to Oz portal that won't be a problem.

I don't suppose that someone could arrange to drug our drinks while we're aboard the Craig so that we'd wake up the next morning miles out to sea...

"Yes, they'll wonder in the mornin', what they drank last night;
They'll wonder just what hit 'em, if they show an ounce of fight;
They'll be scoffin' seaboot duff; they'll be suppin' handspike gruel,
Dodgin' the belayin' pin, an' cursin' Shanghai cruel."

I have to refresh my singing of "Frederick's of Woolloomooloo," that traditional ditty that I collected the last time I was prowling around.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 04:13 AM

I remember playing on one of the ferries in The Great Ferry Race (part of the Festival of Sydney) when the James Craig was brought into the Harbour to be restored; great sight!

I've no real idea of your "particular interests" and I've mentioned only the landscape, as I suspect that, visually, that's what will be really different from Maine. The Prom might be a bit far away in the time you indicated you'd be in and around Melbourne, and is worth a weekend at least, so a shorter (and more doable) trip might be down the Mornington Peninsula to Flinders and Portsea. Things have changed since I courted in the area but seeing the Heads (the entrance to Port Phillip Bay) is worth a trip. Of course you could also see them from the other (western) side, on the Bellarine Peninsula but that side of the Bay is different.

Good travelling!

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Canberra Chris
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 05:25 AM

Charley,

Sounds like you will be bypassing us, but there is a bed for you in Canberra should you be driving either way and need it, and something would be on at the Muse on the Friday.

I can endorse the Cooma - Kiandra - Cabramurra - Corryong route as a stunning drive, as it is my route to Nariel Creek. If so, dip a toe in the Creek - it's like kissing the Blarney stone. Noone is ever quite the same.

Or you could just extend your trip by a couple of months.

Cheers,
Chris

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JudyB
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 09:25 AM

Wish we could extend the journey, Chris! Seems like everywhere we plan to go, there's something even more wonderful over the next hill. We do appreciate your offer of a place to stay in Canberra - as you've probably noticed, our plans are still a bit fuzzy in several areas, and I'm sure Charley will be keeping this updated as things become more clear. Do hope to see you somewhere while we're in the general area.

All the best,
JudyB

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 10:45 AM

Chris, why not have a long weekend in Sydney for the Dog & Jenny's BBQ on the Sunday? My spare bed is waiting to be used again!!

sandra

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennyO
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 10:50 AM

Now that sounds like a plan!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 12:05 PM

The trap is being baited!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennyO
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 12:08 PM

MWUHAHAHAHA HA HA HA HA!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 10:17 PM

Greetings again Charley,
Some things to see in Melbourne itself (as you're driving around) include the very northern end of Swanston St (the main drag through the centre of Melbourne); there's a traffic island where it meets the road south of the cemetery that has a pair of beautiful eucalypts in the middle. I forget the species but they have a lovely lemon-coloured gum bark without a single piece of graffiti (the last time I looked); you don't need to stop but just catch them as you drive by. It's a pity you won't be in Melbourne for the Saturday morning, when the Queen Vic market (northern end of the city part of Elizabeth St) is in full swing; a cultural event.

If your interests extend to things 'political' (in the 'historical background' sense) you could visit the Law Quadrangle at Melbourne Uni (in the same general area as both the above) to see the building that was the centre of the struggle for the Eight Hour Day in 1856 (see Thread #104204 on "Bring out the banners", one of John Warner's songs). You could also visit the Alma Doepel in Port Melbourne; it is a restored ship that was built near Bellingen a few hours from Armidale and similar to the James Craig in some respects. I sang the odd shanty there during the restoration.

If you head south down Swanston St across the Yarra you'll end up in St Kilda Rd and driving past the Shrine of Remembrance, a monument built after WWI (on your left) and the National Gallery of Victoria (on your right); the latter has a stained glass ceiling by Leonard French that is one of the largest stained glass windows in the world. You'll also have driven past Federation Square but that postdates my Melbourne days.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: gecko
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 10:49 PM

Hi Charley, There is a small and intimate folk club held on Tuesday evenings at a pub in Gordonvale, just south of Cairns. Danny Spooner can tell you more about it as he was a guest performer at the club when he was in Cairns running union song workshops in May. You have to come through Cairns to make your way up to Port Douglas anyway (Tuesday 6 November) so you may wish to consider 'guesting' for us too. I can tell you that you would have a very appreciative audience and overnight accommodation if you needed it. And who would want to miss seeing Gordonvale, where the infamous Cane Toad was released over sixty years ago in the mistaken belief that it would cure some of the ills of the sugar cane industry!

Please PM me if you are even remotely interested - hope you will be!

YIU
gecko

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 11:27 PM

It would also be a pity to get so close to the Daintree and not visit it. I did some ethnobotany there years ago and can recommend a visit. An ordinary car will get you to Cape Tribulation, and well into intimate experience of tropical rainforest; the beaches are beautiful and nowhere else will you see tropical rainforest separated from coral reef by only 5 metres of sandy beach. The Wet will only have just started so access should be no problem. And you should look up Ron Edwards near Kuranda.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 12:31 AM

While Qld has lots of fun things - Victoria has the famous Goldfields, and the fabulous Great Western Highway along teh wining mountainous shore as mentioned - you drive past, so must stop and see the famous 12 Apostles - great chunks of stone eroded from the cliffs by the sea - one of the 'bridges' recently collapsed.

NSW, if you are a spelunker, has the Jenolan Caves up in the Blue Mountains. Interestingly enough, the famous 'Three Sisters' - 3 side by side peaks - are there too - this famous landmark recently achieved notority. :-)

One of the NSW based National Commercial TV channels did a program about just how ignorant 'foreign immigrants' were about Aus - one of the questions they asked, to which funnily enough the foreigners knew the answer. was 'what were the 3 Sisters' - but the producers left that out because they thought that Aussies from other states would not know about that NSW landmark! :-)

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 05:34 AM

breaking news - Shanty Singing Session on the James Craig Thursday 15th November confirmed.

hooray

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 11:28 AM

Sandra-

Shanty singing aboard the Craig in Sydney Harbour! That will be great fun! We are planning accordingly and hoping someone slips a cable or two and we find ourselves in the early morning out beyond Sydney Heads, sailing full-an'-by towards The Snares.

Rowan-

We did make a run up to Cape Tribulation on our second visit and it was quite lovely. We also stopped on our way back to Port Douglas at a citrous planation which had displays of many ancient citrous fruits, and a small ice cream stand that we availed ourselves of.

Gecko-

It's unlikely that we'll venture south again from Port Douglas this time around although it's always tempting to "raid" another folk club. Of course the last time we tried that in Cairns itself the host group shifted the club location and the date at the last minute. We were quite puzzled when we showed up at the Green Frog (or whatever it was called) instruments in hand. However, our first priority in Port Douglas is to relax, then take the first Wavelength cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef and swim among the fishies (first encasing ourselves in wetsuits!). Thanks for your kind offer.

Foolstroupe-

We enjoyed a run through the Blue Mountains on our first trip, headquarting ourselves in Blackheath, and doing an opening set at the Ivanhoe Hotel for John Dengate. It was our first experience driving "on the other side of the road upsidedown" and once we managed to work our rental car out of Sydney we did fine!

Has anyone tried the overnight train from Sydney to Melbourne recently? We are wondering if there are actually sleeper cars (Pullman cars we used to call them) or whether you sit on a bench and grit your teeth the entire way.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 06:38 PM

A couple of years ago I had a kangaroo rearrange the front of my Subaru just before Christmas and had to contemplate missing Nariel. The kindness of friends from various states and territories provided camping gear (for both daughters as well as me) while there and a lift from Albury railway station (lovely example of 19th century Public Works Dept architecture) to Nariel (and back for the return trip. This meant I sampled the delights of train travel between Armidale and Sydney (daylight) and Sydney and Albury (overnight).

Because ETA Albury was ~3am and ETD Albury was not long after midnight I didn't bother with sleeper carriages when booking and I can't recall seeing any, although I have good recollections of the sleepers on the Southern Aurora, the more expensive of the two trains that used to do that overnnight run. The seats on the current train are similar to aircraft seats rather than benches.

I confess that, if I had a choice between a daylight drive via the Snowy Mntns and an overnight train trip, I'd always pick the daylight drive unless I was at serious risk of damaging myself due to jet lag. But then, I'm on home turf.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 11:03 PM

Rowan-

In Ethiopia the "bus" was oft' as not a Russian jeep which had 4 people in the front seats, 12 others plus a goat or two jammed into the back. Everyone had to enter and exit in the proper order. The other exciting thing about this mode of travel were the hymns people would sing as we clipped along the gravel roads at maximum speed, about 80k/hr; that's as close to heaven as I ever want to get to on this earth!

The train is sounding quite lovely.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 11:17 PM

G'day Charley,
I experienced similar buses in Timor (East and West) and similar train trips elsewhere and loved them but you'll not get such an experience in Oz. Africa is one of the two continents I've yet to visit but I'll get there one day. And I've been known to sing the odd hymn, too.

The train does have a buffet car but I can't remember anything about opening times. You can find info and book tickets at CountryLink

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 Aug 07 - 09:59 PM

You might want to consider for the future the Brisbane-Sydney Train - sleepers are available.

Also the new Fast (only one derailment so far!) Tilt-Train that runs from Brisbane up the Coast. Friends have said it is good - part day - part night journey up the coast - aircraft type seats - music, films, buffet car - you might have to book special for that. I think you can break the journey - and pick up on the next run a couple of days later... you should ask about that.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: GUEST,lamarca sans biscoti
Date: 27 Aug 07 - 10:16 PM

Charlie, we took a week to drive from Sydney to Healesville, via Gundagai, Tumut, across the Snowies through Kiandra to Cooma, down through Bombala to Lake's Entrance, then across South Gippsland past all the places John writes about in "Pithead and the Fern" and up to Healesville.

Coming back, we drove the aforementioned Hume Highway from Melbourne all the way to Gouldburn (home of The Big Merino) in one day - we never stopped at Wagga, for we'd Sydney in our eye... We made it the rest of the way to Sydney the next morning in time to return our little rental Holden and catch our 3:30 flight Auckland!

If you're interested in natural history, Danny and Gael met us just outside Melbourne to the NE at a wonderful zoo, called the Healesville Sanctuary. A part of the Melbourne Zoo system, it's a zoo/sanctuary exclusively for Australian critters. In parts, the animals just roam amidst the people - I was thrilled to be able to pet a wallaby! They also have the one and only Platypusery, where they raise platypi in captivity... Here's the website:

http://www.zoo.org.au/healesville/

If you've the time while under Danny's wing, go see Sovereign Hill - it's the Australian goldrush equivalent of Plymouth Plantation/Colonial Williamsburg. The town of Ballarat is fascinating, too. And you MUST drive the Great Ocean Highway to see at least Loch Ard Gorge and the Twelve (oops, more like 7 now) Apostles. And stop in Apollo Bay to dip your toes in the wild Bass Strait...

Oh, how I wish we could go again!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Aug 07 - 12:54 AM

Oh, how I wish we could go again!

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

we expect you again in a few years, so start saving!!

sandra

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Aug 07 - 05:39 PM

lamarca-

Sounds as if you had a wonderful run through the hills and back up the coast, with lots of support from folks along the way. We've also had great experiences as well and are really looking forward to this revisit.

How can one ever forget the resecuring of the tarp at the Earlwood BBQ as John raised a shanty and every one hauled on the lines! Or the first sea music session aboard the James Craig; Judy's shot of the Craig's rigging in the moonlight (well it may be in the security lights) is centered on Roll & Go's latest CD, ROLLING DOWN TO SAILORTOWN.

One of our favorite wildlife parks is in Port Douglas where you have breakfast with the birds, and then get to prowl along the footpaths and catwalks, shake hands with the wallabys (if you have any food for them), smile back at the crocodiles, and make strange noises at the rainbow lorikeets. Then there's snorkling on the Great Barrier Reef, although this time around we'll both wear wetsuits.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Canberra Chris
Date: 28 Aug 07 - 05:57 PM

Sandra - thanks, now that it is sadly easier for me to get away, I could get up to Sydney and catch Charley and everyone. I have to get back up to the James Craig too.

Chris

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 03:58 AM

take a flexi day after the James Craig Sessions & become a regular! Surely you can get one flexi day a month.

you know how wonderful it is to sing there.

sandra

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Canberra Chris
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 09:53 AM

Sandra - I sure do, it was me that told everyone else! I'll see what I can do for 15/16 November.
Chris

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 12:34 PM

Chris-

Judy and I will look forward to seeing you again!

As I recall, you've actually sailed on the James Craig.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 02:09 AM

Charley, not only had Chris sailed on the James Craig, he was the first (known) singer to sing in the hold. He probably startled his colleagues & the folks who were showing them around with a view to hiring the ship for a corporate event, or did he sneak off & sing on his own, I forget.

sandra

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Joybell
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 03:32 AM

We've just returned from a train-trip on The Sunlander. It's the old-fashioned way to go between Cairns and Brisbane.   Just wonderful if you take the "Queenslander Class" option. Booked up a long way ahead though. Much, much better than the Tilt Train.

Charlie, are you planing to drive the shipwreck coast in just one day? It's a great trip but it takes more time than it looks like it should. It's a long and winding way. If you do get as far as Warrnambool we'd be able to put you up in Minhamite - 1 hour North of there. It would still take you about a day to get back to Melbourne by the shorter inland route. Alternatively driving as far as Port Campbell and then back would have you seeing some great coastline. Still be a 2 day thing really.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Canberra Chris
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 09:30 AM

Others had sung on the James Craig before of course, and had tried to get some shantly singing going. I did sing below decks some years ago,while setting up for a corporate event, and lobbied to get the sessions going, and crewed on it for a day, but others including John Warner have crewed on it and sung far more since, including a proper ocean sail to Newcastle. She is a proper ocean-going ship, magnificent through the water. Maybe all ships that have a great shape for sailing sound good too. Unfortunately I have since had to worship her from afar.
Chris

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennyO
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 11:36 AM

Ah yes, I'll have to get John on here to tell you about the infamous trip to Newcastle through high seas, and the shanties he sang to help keep all the passengers' minds - and his own - off being seasick. Brings a new meaning to the word "heave"!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 12:48 PM

JennyO-

Or the traditional order to stop work: "Vast heaving!" I'm reminded of the nasty ditty we taught the windjammer schooner crews who ply the waters of Penobscot Bay laden with summer tourists; the title is "Dramamine" to the tune of "Whup Jamboree."

Danny Spooner just sent me the draft schedule for what I would be doing at the Maldon Festival in Victoria, 3-4 of November:

Sat 3rd Nov from noon to 1 pm. C. Fox Smith workshop in the Uniting Church Hall

Sun 4th Nov 2-30 to 3-15 pm with Danny Spooner Sea Songs and Shanties The Troubador.

What joy!

Which reminds me, Joy, we would very much like to hook up with you as well. Will you be at the Festival? Danny was also mentioning a family cottage near the coast that we might avail ourselves of but he needed to check if there are already plans for it to be occupied by "family."

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Joybell
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 10:23 PM

At the moment it doesn't look as though we'll be able to make it to Maldon. You'll like it a lot. It's a great festival. Lots of wonderful people and a pretty spot.
Is Danny's cottage anywhere near us? We might be able to get together there -- at least for a few hours.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 01:06 PM

We just booked our flight today, cashing in all our frequent flyer miles for the last five years. We should, indeed, be arriving in Sydney early in the morning on Friday, October 26th but we've delayed our departure date to Sunday afternoon, November 18th; that will give us some time to recover from the shanty session aboard the Craig, Thursday, November 15th.

Now all we need to do is fill in what's in between!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 07:00 PM

With any luck the weather along the coast will be relatively fine when you're driving the Great Ocean Road but, with your interest in things maritime you'll appreciate the fact that, with a latitude not far off the Roaring Forties and a fetch stretching as far west as Cape Horn, it's one of the highest energy coastlines on the globe. Not far from Loch Ard Gorge I've seen waves crashing just over the tops of the cliffs, which at that point are just on 100' high. Most impressive!

Enjoy!

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Joybell
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 09:23 PM

Forgot to mention it, Charley but there's a nice little Maritime Museum at Warrnambool.

Also we know a place where there's a secret hanging garden with a fresh-water spring and pool over the ocean. Amazing spot. Far, far to the West on the Victorian coast.
Joy

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 10:32 PM

"...waves crashing just over the tops of the cliffs, which at that point are just on 100' high" - Charley, what are you getting us into now???

Can we go back a few posts to the baby wombats or wallabies or whatever? That sounds more my speed!

More seriously - thanks for all the great information and suggestions! This is going to be fun!

JudyB

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 11:20 PM

"...waves crashing just over the tops of the cliffs, which at that point are just on 100' high" - Charley, what are you getting us into now???

Don't worry Judy, it was an unusual event and the road is well back from those cliffs. But it WAS pretty exciting and every subsequent time I went there and could see the full extent of the cliffs over a smooth sea I would recall the event and be gobsmacked.

While you're down in that neck of the woods you should go and see the Lake Conda eel traps. Most Australians think of precontact Aborigines as having no particular technical skills and no settlements. Lake Conda is a serious counter argument. Covering some hundreds of Hectares (2.5 acres/Ha) are stone arrangements that, no matter what the water levels in the lake, allowed eel traps to be used to harvest eels in vast numbers. From memory, the vertical range is around 30m (~100') and the lines of stones are well visible. Stone circles mark the locations of eel-smoking huts, with residues dated at about 3000ybp (again, from memory) and the resource supported many hundreds of people. There is some argument that their settlement of the area was more or less permanent.

And, if you drive to Maldon from Melbourne you'll probably pass a stone's throw from where the Keilor Skull (~38 kybp) was found in the 60s, changing the whole view of Oz prehistory. And, if you wanted, I could probably give you a rundown on how volcanic eruptions 15 thousand years ago led to the different types of houses you'll see (in those parts of Collingwood that used to be slums on one hand and in South Yarra on the other) and who was (or was not) regarded as employable in Melbourne in the early 1980s. We used to call it "The basalt excursion".

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 01:19 PM

Rowan-

The "Keilor Skull" seems to check out as a real find, although found back in the 1940's rather than the 1960's. You'll have to excuse me if I feel a strange need to indepentdently varify some of the "finds" that our dear friends mention -- the bunyips and drop-bears, and other such fanciful creatures. We were totally amazed when we observed an entire tree full of wombats. Of course, it was a hollow tree and lying on its side along the flood plain of a small river. But still amazing!

Last evening, Judy and I demonstrated to a visiting friend of hers how we navigate our boat if we're socked in by fog. Judy was in the bow and reached down for the pail of potatoes. She appeared puzzled till we explained that her job would be to toss them out forward and as long as they went "splash" we were OK. When one went "clunk" we'd need to go "full astern." Navigating by potato is an established tradition along the coast of Maine.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennyO
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 01:39 PM

Charlie, surely you're not suggesting that bunyips and drop-bears are not real? I'm shocked! Flabbergasted even. We must spare John this terrible revelation, particularly about the bunyips! He would be devastated!

;-)

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 07:07 PM

Charley, you're right about when it was found but my (admittedly selective) memory is that it wasn't dated until Edmund Gill got to it in the 60s; it was the dating of it and the dating of Kenniff Cave finds (I suspect you didn't go quite that far north in FNQ) at around the same time that put a rocket under Oz prehistory.

And it was around that time that Albert Masola published detail of a drawing that was regarded as the origin (among Aboriginal stories) of the bunyip. So don't go dismissing bunyips too quickly.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Joybell
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 08:15 PM

We have some pretty good lava tunnels and caves nearby. Also a nested caldera. We're close to the Condor eel traps and we have some interesting dry-stone walls and other areas of interest --volcanically speaking.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: MystMoonstruck
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 02:27 AM

Throughout my childhood, when my dad had to run errands or make an extra delivery on his route for a bakery, he would tell us he had to stop by to talk to Charley Noble. My sister and I were always so curious about Charley Noble--and here I see the name! What are the odds?

Of course, we also were curious about meeting Ken Monday, who--um--which turned out to be a town named Kinmundy.

From my long-gone dad, I say, "Hello, Charley!"

By the way, I'm fascinated by the posts!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 09:44 AM

MystMoonstruck-

Was your father a sailor by chance?

There are many "Charley Nobles" in this world. They manifest themselves in the strangest places. I recently encountered one as a private investigater, retired from the Coast Guard residing in his boat in the Pacific Northwest. His father was in the Navy as a cook and must have had a wry sense of humor in naming his son, for those who "smoke" my meaning.

I was not christened "Charley Noble" but adopted the name as one appropriate for a nautical singer. My first name is really "Charlie" which makes it less confusing when people do meet me. I'm not sure how I would react if someone addressed me as "Mr. Noble" but that seems unlikely to happen. My mother usually addresses me as "Hey, you!" and that suffices.

If you're still confused, try a "Goggle" search on "Charley Noble" and report back.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennyO
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 10:31 AM

Charlie, we haven't even told you about the hoop snake yet. It's the one that swallows its own tail and eventually disappears up its own fundamental orifice!




Always glad to help ;-)

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 11:51 AM

JennyO-

"Hoop snakes"? OK...

Should I be dredging up some of the ol' songs I learned while working my way down the Elementary Canal?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennyO
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 12:00 PM

...or was that the alimentary canal?

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennyO
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 12:04 PM

By the way, Charlie - if you notice a few of us are missing for a few days, it's because we are about to head off tomorrow to a festival at Kangaroo Valley for the weekend. I should really be packing or asleep or something, rather than posting here!

One really good thing about going away this weekend, is that we will be avoiding the APEC fiasco very nicely :-)

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 04:49 PM

JennyO-

"Alimentary Canel" it is, my dear Watson!

Have fun at the Festival. We have the annual "lobster boil" at Sinsull's on Saturday and there should be some good singing as well. We generally don't have to worry about international conferences in Maine. However, whenever "our" President vacations at the family cottage in Kennebunkport the roads in southern Maine are jammed with protestors.

I note that your current Prime Minister's days appear to be numbered.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennyO
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 09:50 PM

I note that your current Prime Minister's days appear to be numbered.

Yes, and hopefully the numbers are getting smaller and smaller!

Jenny - off to Kangaroo Valley

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: MystMoonstruck
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 10:03 PM

Yes! Dad WAS a sailor, serving aboard the FDR at the tail-end of World War II. They basically made diplomatic calls but were in mined waters at times. Now, I'm very curious about finding out about this and shall explore as you suggested.

Mom just reminded me that Dad also used the name for anyone he had been chatting with when my sister and I would ask who it was.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 10:26 PM

MystMoonstruck-

Do tell us what you discover about the inimitable "Charley Noble." You will be following the path of many a young ensign, midshipman, or apprentice seaman.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: MystMoonstruck
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 10:48 PM

What a fascinating journey you sent me on! I ended up at a site with lots of wonderful mysteries solved, including "mind your Ps and Qs", which is a common saying on my mom's side of the family.

Mom and I wondered if my barely-of-age father was sent on a hunt for Charley Noble, being a naive country boy. How odd that he never explained the joke to us, but he was noted for his quirky sense of humor.

One day, he stopped on our way out of town, went into a store and returned with this odd-looking metal object, rather like the Tinman's hat. Setting it on his head, he announced, "Look at me! I'm Tom Terrific!" (Does anyone remember that children's show?) Immediately, my sister and I started calling out in unison, "I want a Tom Terrific hat! I want a Tom Terrific hat!" Mom made Dad explain that it was just a funnel he wanted to have on hand for the trip--just in case.

Thanks for helping solve a mystery that has lasted for more than half a century. It certainly was a worthwhile search. Thanks!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 03:49 AM

Tom Terrific was popular in Oz, as I recall. And I remember the differences between a gardener, a billiard marker, a gentleman and a verger in the following terms;
a gardener minds his peas,
a billiard marker minds his cues,
a gentleman minds his "P"s and "Q"s,
and a verger minds his keys and pews.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 09:10 AM

It's a wonderful world!

Now that we're closing in on our departure for Oz, Judy and I need to refresh our vocubulary for procuring the necessities of life, such as coffee! We always managed to get a cup of "something" but procuring a consistent volume was a challenge. There were flats and fats, grandees and vendees, blacks and whites, and occasionally an honest mug. Challenging decisions are not necessarily the best thing for us to encounter early in the morning, before we've had our coffee!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 08:37 PM

Get yourselves a decent coffee at the Vic Market (the nonperishables section, in the SE corner)on the Saturday morning before you go to Maldon. Don't worry about being too early, the place opens well before civilised people are awake. And while some use the terms "latte set" or "chardonnay set" to disparage others' attitudes, you'll be able to use plain English (even the Maine sort) to get a decent coffee made to your liking. And most places clearly advertise the size options. Although, if you're used to your caffeine as presented in US (a litre or so of something that tastes almost, but not quite, like coffee; to paraphrase Douglas Adams) you may be in for a surprise.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennieG
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 09:20 PM

Charley -

Himself and I sometimes ask for "long black with milk on the side". Couldn't find any such animal last year either in BC

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennieG
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 09:25 PM

bugger, finger slipped!

as I was saying, couldn't find it in BC or Alaska, until, in a chat with a friendly cafe bloke in Fairbanks AK, we found out we should be asking for an "Americano" which in Aussiespeak is "long black". I like to add about 3 drops of milk to mine - Himself goes wild and adds about four drops. I don't care for milky coffee, unless I am in the mood for a cappucino.

But for the life of me I can't come at that stuff that is brewed and left to stew for hours on end, then called "coffee". Yech. The best coffee is fresh coffee.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 10:38 PM

JennieG-

"The best coffee is fresh coffee"

Indeed! But we are particularly fond of the mixture of beans known here as "mocha java." It may have something to do with the three years I taught school in Ethiopia where we had unlimited access to Harrar coffee. "Mocha java" is generally composed of half Harrar coffee beans.

Judy prefers hers with milk and organic sugar. I prefer mine black.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Joybell
Date: 08 Sep 07 - 05:05 PM

And here in the West at home -- We ALWAYS have the best coffee.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Sep 07 - 11:47 AM

Damn! One of my posts didn't stick. Maybe it had to do with the topic, the fact that I've discovered while doing some map reconnaisance that there's a river and town named in honor of the "bunyip" to the southeast of Melbourne. And here I was assuming that the "bunyip" was idle fantasy. Oh dear!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 09 Sep 07 - 07:01 PM

Charlie, there's a whole book on the origins and history of bunyip lore. Incidentally it didn't mention Masola's contribution, which described the outline, carved in the bank of a very inland river (dim memory says "the Murray, somewhere near Mildura) of what may have been a seal, as judged by Masola from its rather large size and shape. Associating it with bunyips was pure Masola, who was a curator at the National Museum of Victoria at the time.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Sep 07 - 08:05 PM

Rowan-

Here is more evidence of "bunyip" existence from this ancient folk song collected from John Warner:

Too-Roo-Dun

The dreamtime folk of Gippsland had a dread tale to report
Of the Bunyip living somewhere in the bay called Westernport,
They shunned the creeks he haunted, if they saw him they would run,
They spoke of him in whispers and they called him Too-Roo-Dun.
Today their tales are heard with scorn, their warning is forgot,
Beware you merry mariners all in your weekend yacht,
He opens up his gullet under anything afloat,
He swallows all the humans and he spits out bits of boat.

Too-Roo-Dun, Too-Roo-Dun
When the moon is at the full and little soldier crabs do run,
The mudflats down at Westernport I recommend you shun,
It's a mighty, massive gullet has the bunyip, Too-Roo-Dun.

His measurements are monstrous and a dreadful tale they make,
His head is like an emu, his body like a snake,
His carcass thick as several trees, his teeth just like a shark,
A frightful apparition to see gliding through the dark.
And up among the Anderson, or so the locals say,
You can see his ribmarks graven on the mudflats on the bay.
When herds of champion Herefords mysteriously have gone,
The rumour says they've vanished down the throat of Too-Roo-Dun.

Too-Roo-Dun, Too-Roo-Dun,
They say some bloke from Orbost tried to take him with a gun,
They only found his footprints at the rising of the sun,
And still he's lurking out there is the bunyip, Too-Roo-Dun.

And when the nightclouds hide the moon and tide is at the flood,
The ghastly bunyip, Too-Roo-Dun, comes creeping from the mud.
He glares between the mangroves with his wicked, beady eyes,
Looking for a juicy meal, to take it by surprise.
You might be walking on the beach, you'll hear a subtle sound,
Perhaps you'll wonder at it, maybe you'll turn round,
His eyes you'll see, his breath you'll smell, all fishy, cold and wet,
And suddenly ...................YOU'RE ATE!

c. John Warner, 1992.
from The Briggs and Stratton Pump and other Verse by John Warner (1994)

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 06:39 PM

In that case Charley, while you're in Victoria, you should visit the Den of Nargun.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 10:32 PM

Rowan-

"According to Gunai tribal legends, the Nargun is a fierce half-human half-stone creature that lived in the den, a cave under a rock overhang behind a small waterfall. The Den of Nargun, is found on Woolshed Creek, a small tributary of the Mitchell River, about one kilometre upstream from where the creek joins the river."

We would hate to intrude on the Nargun, unless explicitly invited. We are not insensitive to those who still believe in the Old Spirits, and we also have a healthy respect for anything in Australia that is described as "fierce" or "poisonous."

The Old Gods in the Gurage country of Ethiopia were alive and well when I was last in residence. I'm not at all sure how they fare now. But I'd be willing to pour a hornful of honey wine at the foot of some old tree and watch what happens. I'm not at all sure what would be a proper offering to the Nargun. There's the rub!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 12:06 AM

And the whitefellas got rid of most of the people who'd know what to offer the Nargun, quite some time ago. Having been there and still in possession of all my appendages and joyful spirits, I suspect the Nargun is quite forgiving. But then, I'm a Balanda and from Kurnai country.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 09:33 AM

Rowan-

Why am I reminded about the old story we used to hear about the anthropology student who was so eager to witness a "human sacrifice" to the Old Gods in a remote African village? He was repeatably told by the tribal elders that "they didn't do that any more" but they finally acquiesced and slit his throat.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 05:33 PM

It could be, Charley, you're being reminded of just another instance of a type of transference that has been plaguing anthropologists since the onset of colonisation of 'other parts' by Europeans. First they brought back stories of how Africans did things and when they artrived in your neck of the woods, took and applied those notions to what they saw there. And then they did the same when they arrived where we are.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 07:51 PM

I may have another mission in the Melbourne area. One of Barry Finn's mentors retired there, a tall-ship sailor by the name of George Herbert. He aslo was a master ship model builders and Barry was curious if any of his work had found their way to a maritime museum. I'm always game for maritime museums and I bet they have a good one in Melbourne.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 07:54 PM

Evidently the Polly Woodside Melbourne Maritime Museum, South Wharf Road, Southbank, in Melbourne is the place to go.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Joybell
Date: 28 Sep 07 - 07:26 PM

Also the Maritime Museum in Warrnambool - Charley -- if you make it out this way. It is right on the shipwreck coast and has a little village-port around it re-creating the arrival point for settlers in the 19th century.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Sep 07 - 09:09 PM

Joy-

So many maritime museums, no doubt amply furnished with the flotsam and jetsam of a century or so of wrecked ships. We're not sure how far we'll actually get down the Shipwreck Coast. We may not get past the twelve apostles, assuming there are still twelve of them.

About three weeks and we're on our way!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Joybell
Date: 30 Sep 07 - 03:13 AM

Stay away from the edge Charley. Many apostles are lying under the water now and London Bridge fell down a few years back. The tourists out on the far pillar had to be rescued by helicopter.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 05:41 AM

Charley @ The Dog Oct 27, straight off the plane, I hope he won't be jet-lagged!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 09:22 AM

Sandra-

Wow! Dazzling link, indeed, and with such great company. Maybe I'll bring my concertina, stuff it into my backpack (Hello, security! No, it's not a bomb; it's a musical instruemnt...); I have a song or two that I can wheeze and suck on.

We're scheduled to depart Portland, Maine, Wednesday, October 24, and land in Sydney Friday, October 26 (we spend October 25 in the wormhole evidently).

Planning is proceding well. We're certainly looking forward to the concert at the Saturday Loaded Dog, and the Sunday BBQ in Earlwood. We'll be resident the first few days in Sydney with our old friends the Horvaths in the Glebe neighborhood. Then it's off to Melbourne and the Maldon Festival with Danny Spooner. I think we've lined up all the planes, trains, and most of our accomodations. We've certainly gotten a lot of helpful advice and offers from folks in Australia.

Now it's back to packaging more CD's, assembling trade objects and gifts, repainting vacant apartment, closing down summer cottage, getting boat out of the water, and a few other chores.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Oct 07 - 09:35 PM

With regard to the weather for the Maldon Festival in Victoria, should we be packing our winter mackinaws, sweaters, and insulated boots? We're assuming that it's spring there but we don't know what spring is there. Here in Maine spring is cold, muddy, and sometimes rainy.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 12:20 AM

It's never as cold at Maldon as at Maine. It may be a bit wet but a brolly is probably as good as anything unless the breeze is up. Ordinary bushwalking gear (decent jumper, or sweater for US citizens) and/or a Lands End "Squall" would be sufficient most of the time. If you had a goretex jacket like LL Bean's "Maine Warden" that would be overkill but waterproof. Joggers would be perfectly sufficient unless you wanted to dance; leather soles are the go, as you'd know. Cotton drill work trousers are warm enough usually.

Spring in Victoria can be sunny, blowy, wet, and/or a bit cool but rarely "cold" in the way you get in Maine. You could look up the Bureau Of Meteorology site for more details. Just remember that our "Low pressure" systems have their winds clockwise around them rather than anticlockwise.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 01:34 AM

There are no weather observations taken at Maldon, but as it appears to be half way between Bendigo & Castlemaine, here are the October observations for Bendigo & Castlemaine (pronounced Casselmaine!)

I dunno how Maldon compares to these towns, but near enough is good enough!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennyO
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 03:14 AM

Meanwhile in Sydney, we are getting bits of Indian Summer here. Over 30 degrees C today. But it won't last. Spring is all over the place at the moment. The night before last, the temp fell to about 6 degrees in Earlwood.

I hope we have better weather for the BBQ than we had last time. However, if it isn't, we will have gazebos to protect us. Hopefully they won't take off like our tarp wanted to last time. I'll never forget the sight of all hands manning the sails as the wind picked up!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 08:14 AM

We did review some of the meteorology sites but there is nothing like on-the-ground reports. I suspect my light boating jacket, with an optional fleece vest underneath, will be more than adequate. But it may prove arkward playing banjo or concertina if I need to wear my mittens.

Back to packing and re-packing!

I wonder if bringing in a variety of 30 CD's will raise any questions; they are all "gifts" of course!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 08:57 AM

well, you are travelling around, visiting folks all over the place!

have you contacted Danny for an on-the-ground weather report?

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 01:54 PM

JennyO up above mentioned the wild time we had with the tarp at the Earlwood BBQ the last time we were there. I just ran across this parody I composed commemorating that event:

There were ten of us hauling on the lee fore brace in the wind and the driving hail,
Fortified with rum and good old Scotch, and a couple of kegs of ale;
So black it was you could not see the brew before your face,
So wasted were we that we could not haul, the fiasco one bloody disgrace!

Unforgivable to parody such a fine song and poem!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 07:02 PM

When I lived at Steiglitz (60 miles west of Melbourne and approx the same distance south of Maldon) I found the only difference from Melbourne's weather was that I got it about 10 minutes earlier and, compared with Maldon, the cold fronts arrived about 2 minutes earlier.

It may well have snowed once or twice at Maldon in the last century but the only place I've ever been bothered with cold fingers while playing music was at the Yarralumla Woolshed when they had their last monthly dance for the season (before going to the Albert Hall for winter) in May.

It may be that 14 months at Mawson toughened my fingers up but I doubt anywhere in Oz is cold enough in October to even think about "cold" as a problem. "Rain", however, is a differnt matter and the locals may praise you if you bring on drought relief by tempting Hui.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 08:57 AM

Rowan-

Thanks for the reassurance. We won't bring our mittens. All power to Hui! Does Hui have any preference with regard to fermented liquid?

Here's a curious event to ponder: evidently a "portal" has opened at the head of our driveway here in Richmond, Maine. Yesterday morning when I was walking out to pick up the morning newspaper I noticed this cylinder of colored paper on the ground, and being a festideous person (sometimes) I picked it up. Well, it was printed in garish orange and grey colors, and maybe some blue-green, with some pudgy fellers with glasses and an aeroplane and some antique tall ship on it. In other words it was an Australian $20 bill. This is weird, and beyond the powers of lurking Mudcatters to achieve (most are incapable of finding my house period). Our cats bring in many interesting things from our neighborhood jungle, mostly dead but sometimes they can still flap their wings or squeak. They're never brought back any currency, domestic or foreign. The fact that the currency was rolled up as a tight cylinder may suggest that a neighbor was considering smoking it, before becoming distracted by something more challenging. I don't know, and neither does JudyB.

At least it's not one of Sinsull's "tiny nuns."

We will carefully wipe it down with rubbing alcohol, just in case it contains some archane plague. But I think we should acccept this as a gift from the travel gods, and make appropriate use of it in its home country.

There was nothing but a cigarette butt this morning at the head of the driveway.

I wonder if I'm expected to send U.S. currency back or one of my CD's?

Back to packing and re-packing!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 09:02 AM

SPEND! SPEND! SPEND!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 06:53 PM

The paper ones could be used to smoke but the more recent plastic ones would be hopeless. The occasional Oz currency does get to the US, though; I donated a set to SCETV in '92 to auction off as part of their fundraising.

Make the most of it.

The invocation "Send her down Hui!" should only be uttered when you're feeling defiant at the prospect of rain; whether any beverages are fermented or distilled seem to have little influence.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 08:51 PM

Send her down, Hughie

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 09:29 PM

Sandra-

Thanks for the link to the legend of "Hui."

Perhaps I should stick with the tried and true Gurage thunder god "Boja" whom I encountered in the early 1960's while teaching in a small village in Ethiopia. He was particularly responsive to offers of honey wine, and he is most appreciative of any attention in this day in age.

Or maybe we could set up a challenge: may the best Old God win!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Oct 07 - 09:53 AM

Well, the "portal to Australia" at the end of my driveway has evidently closed. No more colorful plastic cash, neatly rolled up in a cylinder. I'll try pouring a small libation of scotch there and see if it will re-open, or is there something better I might use? Or would "recycled" scotch be more appropriate?

Do they still have "Tim-Tams" in Australia? We're including some Newman's Own Creme- Filled Ginger Cookies in our trade goods. Very healthy!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennyO
Date: 19 Oct 07 - 11:48 AM

You might like to pour some Coopers Sparkling Ale there, Charlie. On the other hand, that would be wasting a good beer.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 19 Oct 07 - 12:09 PM

I'm surprised JennyO did not mention Tim Tams as I've seen her & John eating them!

sandra

100!!!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennieG
Date: 19 Oct 07 - 05:05 PM

We took 12(!) packets of Tim Tams to our son when we visited him in Canada recently - it's what he misses most about Oz! He has also introduced many of his friends to them, so the care packages that we send from time to time are greatly appreciated.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Oct 07 - 11:43 PM

JennieG et al-

Tim-Tams certainly made an impression on us, and on our dentures. Anyone considering consuming said "cookies" should be warned that they are highly addictive. There is no cure for this addiction, only traumatic total withdrawal.

There are many varities, including DARK CHOCOLATE. Be ware, traveler, take care!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennieG
Date: 20 Oct 07 - 03:51 AM

Charley, Son's Canadian flatmate has become very partial to the chewy caramel variety. I have promised his his own supply in the next care package as he chauffered us to and from the airport and is a nice young bloke besides. And he laughed at our jokes.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennyO
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 06:40 AM

Just bringing this to the top again. Not long now before Charlie and Judy are here!

Here is the Sydney Forecast for the next week. Looks like mainly nice weather. Note that the forecast for Sunday is fine with top temps ranging between 27 and 31 degrees C, which is pretty warm, verging on hot. I'm beginning to feel quite hopeful that we will not get blown away in a gale like we were last time!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 10:49 PM

JennyO-

Thanks for the weather report. It does sound warm so we probably won't bother packing the sweaters. We really are all packed and ready to leave and just taking care of a few odds and ends, the odd e-mail, the endless list for our catsitter (the cats know something is up), loading the van with Roll & Go's sound equipment for their Pirate party at the Maritime Museum.

I do hope that our "trade goods" make it through customs.

This will be great fun!

We hope to see everyone either Saturday or Sunday.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Oct 07 - 02:01 AM

well, if Customs lets 32 weapons thru ... (advert for a computer wargame!)

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennyO
Date: 24 Oct 07 - 08:18 AM

I'll be seeing you on Saturday night, Charlie. I'll be on the door collecting the money as usual.

Right now we have rain and thunderstorms, but they are supposed to be clearing up by the weekend - or at least by Sunday. Fingers crossed...

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Oct 07 - 09:00 AM

"rain and thunderstorms"?

Well, we do have some foul-weather gear...somewhere...

All packed and it's out the door!

Only 22 hours to go and we'll be swealtering in beautiful Sydney!

My new CD, OLD SAILOR-POETS-Sea Songs is finished!

We'll be checking in on this thread periodically and posting updates.

I do hope all the luggage arrives with us...

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Oct 07 - 11:40 PM

Judy and I arrived safely in Sydney this morning and are now in a state of serious meditation at the Horvath residence in Glebe.

Air travel is always exciting and U.S. Air did their part to raise our stress level. We set records for running from one end of the Philadelphia airport to the other to make our flight to Los Angeles. Unfortunately our luggage couldn't move as fast and will probably arrive at our door, if we're lucky, tomorrow. We do have our carry on which includes Judy's guiar and my concertina, and some CD's. But my banjo, the rest of the CD's and 90% of our clothing is somewhere else. We should know by tomorrow morning if it is following us closely, or has gone to an alternative universe. I'm not looking forward to doing a set of songs solely accompanied by my F/C Anglo concertina. Spare 5-string banjos are scare as hen's teeth in Oz, as I recall from my first visit. But if someone has one, a back-up banjo might be useful at the Loaded Dog gathering Saturday evening; I bet 20 5-string banjos show up!

Well, we're going out to forage for some wine for dinner.

We're really here and dispite our absent luggage we're both feeling really great!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Barry Finn
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 12:48 AM

Happy Trails to you both. If nothing arrives you both can go,,,,nope, that's no what I was gonna say.
When Justine & I arrived in San Francisco for her nephew's wedding all of Justine's clothes were headed to Nevada. They did arrive on time for the wedding, so keep a stiff,,,,,,,,,,I won't go there either. Have a blast, good luck

Barry

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Canberra Chris
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 08:33 PM

Reminds me of the conversation at check-in desk:

"Now, I'm going to New York, but I want this bag to go to Rome, and this other one to go to London."

"We can't do that, sir."

"Well, you managed last time."

Welcome and have a great visit!

If you threaten to play an accordion, you might find banjo offers coming out of the woodwork.

Cheers,
Chris

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 10:12 PM

John & Jenny were trying to buy a small appliance recently when John saw a banjo in the shop! John was diverted & they did not get their clock radio.

Today he is buying proper strings & Charlie is on his way to try it out.

And if his luggage turns up in time (raise you voices & join me in "High hopes, he's got high hopes ...") he will have a choice of 2 banjos. I don't think we've ever had 2 banjos at the Dog before.

sandra

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennieG
Date: 27 Oct 07 - 12:20 AM

I can't be at the Dog tonight but I will be with youse all in spirit. But all being well, good lord willing and the creeks don't rise, and the mysterious whatever that has laid me low lately and has the doctor baffled not rearing its ugly head again, I shall see you at the BBQ tomorrow.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennyO
Date: 27 Oct 07 - 11:46 AM

Good! Look forward to seeing you, Jennie G. Haven't seen you for a while.

Well, the night at the Dog went off really well. There was a very large crowd, and I think everyone was very pleased with how it all went. John's banjo did its job. Now the stage is all set for the BBQ tomorrow. We've even got the coloured lights. Now all we need is 'camera.....action!'

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: stallion
Date: 27 Oct 07 - 11:55 AM

Hi Charley and Judy,
We arrived back today, at least I only lost one shoe a razor and two cd's! But the flying thing, the difference between "no Frills" and regular flying is "f*****ng" awful and bloody awful! Anyway glad to see you made it in one piece. Played the new CD all the time in the car and Jo is humming and singing at least bits of three of the songs and knows most of Neptunes daughter, you have managed to do in one short visit what I have not managed in thirty five years! Jo singing "folk songs" ( ok I know they are sea songs but the general genre Chas. the genre) Jo sends both of you her love, we shall look forward to the posts on your trip, take care.
Peter

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 09:01 AM

last night was wonderful - great songs from Charley then more good stuff from the Wheezers. For me, the best musical memory was Charley singing Cicely Fox Smith's "10 men" (not it's real title but I'm too tired to go looking & find it) - sung to the tune of Henry Lawson's Outside Track (& don't ask me what tune that is - it's too hard to reach over & pick up my copy of the Lawson CD!!) Getting back to my narrative, th audence didn't know Cicely's lyrics but they did hum along to the song & it was magic.

Today Charley was accompanied by his banjo, & he & John played a bit of a banjo duet!

We had a great party - JennieG did not make it, but I'm sure we'll see her in November @ The Shanty night, along with Bob Bolton who gets back from his holiday next week & Chris Maltby who was AWOL. Freda & Hilda were there, as was (Guest) Gerry & I've just realised we did not get a Mudcatter pic.

We will all have to assemble on the James Craig for the obligatory 2007 Charley Noble in Oz Mudcatter group portrait.

But I do have other pics & will load them onto my pic site tomorrow

sandra

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 09:51 AM

8 pics loaded!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Barry Finn
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 05:42 PM

Hi Sandra, Cicely Fox Smith's "10 men", I believe it's called "The Lee Fore Brace". It is a nice one, Charlie does preform some lovely marriages between tune & words. I hope you got to hear his marrying of "West Indies Blues".

Barry

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: SINSULL
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 06:27 PM

Wish I could be there. Some day... Meantime, enjoy each other.
SINS

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 06:38 PM

My apoligies for not keeping our journal up to date but we do find it hards to settle down and log in.

We're both doing great! The Loaded Dog was a blast and although I missed the comfort of my own banjo, the one that John and I customized was a lot of help, and did not fly apart at critical parts of my songs. Barry's correct that it's "The Lee Fore Brace" that I was singing to Jerry Hallom's musical setting of "The Outside Track." There are one or two shared lines which make it very risky to sing them in sequence: "Ten men..." The Roaring Forties also sing my version of the song but use the first bridge as a chorus all the way through except for the last verse. I think I'll try that as well.

Jenny and John's BBQ was wonderful! John greated us with a salute from his home-made blunderbus. The tenting was far more substantial and the weather threatened once but then went on its merry way. There was lots of fine singing from sea songs to labor songs, to parodies of the same. There was ample supplies of beer and wine, dead animals to grill, and other fine refreshments. But for us it was just wonderful to set back and relax, or chime in with a song inspired by what someone else was singing.

Our luggage finally arrived in the late morning so we finally got to change out of our travel clothes, and I finally got my banjo back in time for the BBQ. I think I'll try to "gate check" it next time, rather than check it into the general cargo "wormhole." We were surprised that it took two days for our luggage to catch up with us but we are grateful that it finally showed up.

The weather has been lovely, including the fireworks of a major thunder storm which happened when we were safely under cover.

Today we are shifting to a small hotel, running down to Darling Harbour to check out the trade goods, and arranging for copying what I'll be presenting for my C. Fox Smith workshop at the Maldon Folk Festival.

We are certainly appreciative to the many folks who have made us welcome!

And Peter, it's good to hear that you and the Black Sheep are safely back in the UK

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 06:47 PM

Dman! The machine just hic-cupped and posted.

Anyway, we'll be in Sydney for another couplke of days and then it's off to Melbourne.

By the way, no one mentioned that we were arrivng a day before the world-famous Melbourne Cup races, and that we might have trouble booking a rental car or a hotel. We do hope that the one night when we're sequestered in the airport hotel that not many of the guests will be galloping up and down the halls.

When we return to Sydney we are looking forward to singing with more folks aboard the James Craig, Thursday, November 15.

Love to everyone back in the States. Enjoy Getaway!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Barry Finn
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 12:22 AM

Charlie, would you keep an eye out in Sydney for my long lost sailor friend, Sheldon Leon? Have a grad time. Glad youu got you duds back, any longer & the pants might walk off on ya.

Barry

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 05:34 AM

Plenty of hire car places around the airport Charley. On Melbourne Cup day the whole town grinds to a halt.
Try to get up to the Dandenong Ranges behind Melbourne, and visit both the Healesville animal snactuary [they have platypii], and the William Ricketts centre.
I wish I was there too.
Giok

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 06:41 AM

Oh and visit Federation Square, and eat at the Chocolate Buddha there.
St Kilda's nice too!
G

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 07:02 AM

ps. thanks, Barry for the proper title

sandra

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 10:34 PM

Thanks for all the great advice! We're still in Sydney and doing quite well, borrowing Margaret Walter's computer right now to provide a brief update. This evening we take the overnight train to Melbou'ne (that's how we're supposed to pronounce it!), rent a car at the airport and head upcountry to Danny Spooner's house.

The Roaring Forties did a workshop on C. Fox Smith poems/songs recently, and I've had a lot of fun discussing that with Margaret, comparing notes. John Warner has some fine arrangements that he's worked up for Smith's poems, and a new song focused on CFS's relationship with the shantyman Dan. We've delivered to Margaret copies of all the CFS musical adaptations that we've collected including Alan Fitzsimmons, Bob Zentz, Tom Lewis, Gordon Morris and Peter Massey, Pint and Dale, and others.

We'll be back to Sydney in a week or so, and we're really looking forward to the sea music session aboard the James Craig. We also hope to meet Bob Bolton there again; he's been off on walkabout.

We had a fine musical evening with John and Dale Dengate, where we'll be staying when we return to Sydney. There house is conveniently located adjacent to the light rail line down to Darling Harbour with its Maritime Museum, tall ships, and last but not least shopping mall.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 10:47 PM

Charley, don't let those Sydney slickers mislead you about Melbourne; if you come from there you pronounce it "Melb'n".

I hope the weather is pleasant for you; up here we've had spectacular electrical storms and quite handy rain.

I hope you run into the relicts from Tipplers All (Helen and Ian I mentioned above) and Flying Pieman (John Ross, Barb Scott, Peter Anderson et al.) at Maldon. And Doddsy's a local there now.

Have fun,

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennieG
Date: 31 Oct 07 - 05:23 AM

Charley, something to keep in mind as you approach Melbourne:

The people of Melbourne
Are frightfully well born.

Of much the same kidney
Is the beau monde of Sydney.

Adelaide's forte is culture,
But in Brisbane the people insult yer
And don't even know they've been rude
They're that ignorant, common and crude.

It's hardly worth
Mentioning Perth.


Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 31 Oct 07 - 05:38 PM

And, just like many makers of maps, Hobart gets forgotten;
it's been a long time since Darwin was rotten.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Nov 07 - 02:27 AM

;~)

Just in case anyone is worried about us, we're having a great time hold up in Danny Spooner's house in Daylesford, Victoria. Danny and his wife Gael are wonderful hosts and their home is a joy to explore, all kinds of odd rooms added on by generations of people, bizarre roof lines, a flock of chickens, a lovely vegetable garden, not to mention lovely flowers, all in bloom to greet us, and two ancient resident cats to befriend.

We're learning about the old gold mining days, the Eureka Rebellion, the art museums, the current tourist trade, local wines, smoked dead critters, other interesting things to eat, or interesting things that might eat us. And I had no idea that the surrounding landscape was shaped by active volcanoes just a few thousand years ago.

Danny and I did a live radio interview to help publicize the Malden Folk Festival. Once I got over forgetting the first line of my favorite C. Fox Smith song, I did quite well but I'm somewhat humbled. I hope to do better at my workshop Saturday morning, and I do hope a few folks show up.

We've been having a fine time swapping songs, and Danny does have a nice version of "The Yangtse River Shanty," maybe the best one yet!

The weather is a few degrees cooler than Sydney so we're glad that we brought some long-sleeved shirts in addition to the boating jackets. But it's really nice to enjoy spring again, while our friends back home are enjoying fall.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Nov 07 - 02:42 AM

it's always colder south of the border where you are closer to the South Pole!

Hello, Danny & Gael - we hope to see you both @ The Dog in the second half of 2008. We're fully booked to June & acts for the later part of the year are planned!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 02 Nov 07 - 09:53 PM

In Daylesford you're also in Michael Leunig territory; watch out for Mr Curly.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 06:31 AM

Just surfacing briefly in Port Douglas. We had a fine time the last day of the Malden Festial, sharing a set with Danny Spooner of sea songs and shanties. The only gold we say was at a museum store, but lots of old diggings, and beautiful countryside.

We did run down to the Coast Road, via lovely coastal range forests and switchback roads. Had lovely lunch at "whats-it" bay and then proceeded east to Queenscliffe, and then up past Geelong to Melbourne.

Wew made all our connections to Port Douglas, but the banjo took another side trip, this time to Hobart; it arrived a day later intact. In Port Douglas we did snorkling on the barrier reef (Wavelength Tours), the Wildlife Habitate Zoo where you get to have breakfast with the birds, and feed the wallabees and whatever else shows up, inluding one very big stork-like bird that tried to eat Judy. The crocodiles we didn't try to feed.

Tomoorow it's back to Syndney and on to Dangar Island to join our nephew and his Australian wife for the weekend. Then it's back to Sydney, where we'll be staying at the Dengates and more music fun.

Then it's the Craig Thursday evening.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 10:54 PM

Does my recollection of your timing along the Great Ocean Road mean you caught the rather exciting weather there? I was wondering whether you managed to dodge the closures.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 10:17 PM

Rowan-

We missed the really exciting rainstorm by a day on our trek down to Appolo Bay, but we were very impresed with the large trees that had blown down, hauled off to the side of the road and neatly sawed up, not to mention the huge boulders hauled off to the edge of the road. The coast road was reopened by the time we made it down.

We also managed to avoid any major thunder showers in Port Douglas, although several threatened. Our last evening there was spent at a hilltop restaurant called the Nautilus. I can hardly imagine a more romantic setting, tables spread out on the deck under tall trees, high backed chairs and candle light. Very pricey but the food and wine were excellent.

I should apologize for our brief scrambled post above. The internet cafe was closing in ten minutes and I'm not a very fast or accurate typist.

We did make our flight to Sydney with plenty of time to spare, and arrived there with ALL our luggage several hours later. One for three ain't bad. We checked into the Heaven Inn again on Glebe point Road, and then had a short visit with the Dengates to drop off musical instruments and a couple of suitcases, and enjoyed some more wine and a few songs.

This morning we bused up to Brooklyn (the rail is being repaired over the weekend) and caught the ferry out to Dangar Island where our nephew and his wife are resident. Now we're sharing their hillside cottage, with lovely internet connections, a resident white cat, a nearby boat, and walking paths. It's really a beautiful place to explore and we're looking forward to the evening birdwalk.

We'll be heading back to Sydney on Monday via rail, assuming that all the repairs are actually made.

What fun!

No sign of bunyips on the trip thus far but we did see one young dropbear sprawled out a stump on the way to the cottage. We also saw an enormous birdnest with a really huge egg on the roof of a shed as we walked up to this cottage, a really HUGE egg.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble and JudyB

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennieG
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 12:29 AM

Ooooh Charley - you have been very privileged to have seen a drop bear - they are very shy creatures and don't show themselves readily.

I'm sure that is a memory that will stay with you forever!

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 12:41 AM

Charley, your Dangar Is rellies ought to be able to entertain you mightily with stories about the various bushfires and the bushfire brigades in the area and may even know Peter Watson, who was with the Brooklyn RFB before he got seduced by geology. The train trip is great, so I hope you can do it. I was one of the thousands serenading the James Craig when it entered Sydney Harbour (in 1980?) for restoration; in my case it was with my concer and a few friends on one of the ferries engaged in the Great Ferry Race that year.

Give it a good bel canto!

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 06:34 PM

We now have digital images of the baby dropbear and the HUGE egg for you disbelievers.

We did see clear signs of bush fires when we circled the island the other day, the charred lower trunks of some major trees. We also were impressed with the wave-cut cliffs near the summit of the island,some of which carved out cave like shelter for previous generations of picnicers.

This morning I got up early and enjoyed watching the birds at breakfast, the lorikeets, parrots and cockatoos. They appeared to be having problems reaching concensus on their plans for the day. Very noisy, with many exiting suddenly while others flew in late for the meeting. There was no sign of anyone taking minutes.

We're expecting Bron's parents to be joining us here for lunch today. They live up the coast in Terigal, and they're both administrators in the secondary school system.

Last evening we took the boat over to Brooklyn for dinner at the wharf, consuming more delicious fish and delightful wine. We had no luck on finding the Southern Cross in the sky on the way back. It was probably up there somewhere but clouds were there as well.

Monday, we'll definitely take the train back to Sydney.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 01:14 AM

Charley - the Southern Cross is getting harder & harder to see in Sydney's atmosphere. The faintest star has not been see for years, & the others are getting harder to see.

from the Sydney Observatory site -
Nov 2007 night sky podcast

Other things to look for in the dark night sky include the two Pointer stars, Alpha and Beta Centauri, pointing at the Southern Cross or Crux Australis. This is the worst time of the year to see Crux Australis, but looking almost due south you'll see it upside down in a clear dark sky - still very rewarding. A small telescope will also see, just underneath the cross-bar, the bright collection of stars known as the Jewel Box.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 02:06 AM

Anyone have a clue when Bob Bolton gets back to town? We'd love to get together with him as well.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, Dangar Island

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 02:49 AM

Bob got back a few days after to Dog. I was talking to him this morning, and I'll remind him about the James Craig session on Thursday. He doesn't live far from Glebe & might be able to meet you after work one night.

sandra

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 12:22 AM

G'day Charley,

We've been back all month (fairly literally ... flew back in - Perth to Mascot in 3¾ hours with a strong tailwind ... just heading for midnight Wednesday 31 October when we reached home). I've been keeping close tabs on this thread - and visitations locally.

As you known, my walk home from work takes me straight past Bellevue Street ... and a 600 metre diversion often takes me past chéz Dengate. My Monday(Bush Music Session)Mob are on tonight ... and Backblocks Musicians are at my house tomorrow night ... and I have a Committee Meeting on Wednesday night (or face Sandra's wrath!) but I aim to be at the James Craig on Thursday.

Somewhere along the line, I have to get out edition #184 of Mulga Wire (doesn't 30+ years of editing fly past ... when you're having fun?) ... but that always has to fit in with real life!

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 12:31 AM

Bob, you're welcome to miss the Committee meeting - if you want us to load you up with work!!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 07:35 AM

G'day Charley,

"We had no luck on finding the Southern Cross in the sky on the way back. It was probably up there somewhere but clouds were there as well."

Currently, during the evening hour, the Southern Cross is low ... just about due south - and "upside down" (Alpha Crux very near the horizon). If you are in a high spot, with an unobstructed (and cloud-free) view to the south ... you might pick it out - but you probably won't be anywhere in inner Sydney!

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 04:46 AM

Bob-

We agree that the Southern Cross appeared to be low on the horizen dispite the claims by others that it was actually very high! Who knows for sure? However, with another bottle of fine Australian chardonay I'm sure the Southern Cross will orbit around our very heads!

We had a delightful brunch with Sandra at Badde Manors. Tommorow we get together with Margerat, and hopefully we'll get together with JennyO Thursday evening for a run down to the Craig withthe Dengates. I believe our plan is to cut her cable and sail out of the harbour, hauling away at the haillards to as many a shanty as is necessary to propell her beyond Sydney heads. Is there high speed internet access aboard the Craig?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, 3 sheets to the wind at or near Darling Harbour

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Barry Finn
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 12:51 PM

Charlie, if you're cutting cables you'd better find out if the Craig's equiped with EPPIRB, Sat Nav, Loran-C, GPS, storm, emergency & heavy weather anchors & a crew willing to go down with the ship. Good Luck. If you make it back I'd like a ride, please.

Barry

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 06:37 PM

Barry-

Check!

But isn't it enough that we know so many instructive traditional sea songs?

All we have to do is sail south through the Tasman Sea, swing left at the Snares and catch the Westerlies. round Cape Stiff and race Northeast and then swing Northwest. Should be a piece of cake! After setting sail, we'll hardly have to touch a line.

Of course we may have some problems deciding what key to lead the shanties in, and who does what harmony. Those are the really tough questions!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, at large in Darling Harbour

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Nov 07 - 06:47 PM

Evidently I'm the featured performer aboard the James Craig this evening, opening the evening with an hour of sea songs beginning around 7:30 pm. This will be fun, and a whole lot less stressful (for me and everyone else) relying on my own 5-string banjo. I think I'll do the version of "Yangtse River Shanty" that I learned this year from Barry Finn, and maybe I'll "cover" two or three more of his and Neil's wonderful renditions. But most of the songs will be my arrangements of nautical poems by C. Fox Smith and old sailor-poets from the early 1900's.

Right now it's bright and sunny in Sydney but we can never guess what weather will sweep in for the evening.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, in Glebe

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 02:34 AM

Well ... by now Charley & Judy should be making their way to Darling Harbour ... by the traditional (... ?...) Light Rail System. Anyway, the night is fine (too bloody hot for me ... but ... ) and no rain on the radar closer than the Blue Mts -and heading nor-west.

Indeed, the Weather Bureau's 4.15 PM guess is:
Forecast for Thursday evening
Fine. Mostly sunny, though some cloud in the west. Moderate southeast winds tending northeast.
Precis: Fine.

Any locals still reading ... get up and head off to the venerable James Craig .. we won't let Charley and his jackknife anywhere near the mooring cables!

Reagrds,

Bob

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 08:44 AM

it was a fantastic night - lots of good songs & choruses & company. Just a few things marred the end of the evening - first, Bob's camera case was not to be found. No doubt by now, the temporary custodian has plans to contact the shanty master in the morning.

Secondly, a few folks decided on a final drink, so off we headed to the nearest pub. We were a small sedate company, Charley Noble, JudyB, JennyO, Chris Maltby, Robin Connaughton & me.

I was last in line as we arrived at the nearest pub, formerly an inner city workingman's pub, now trendy. I couldn't hear what Judy was saying to the big bloke (security/bouncer) but they started heading in. I vaguely noticed Charley had removed his cap & then the bouncer said I had to remove my beret, pointing to a list at the door. No beanies or caps.

Apparently this is a security thing - the camera can't see our faces if we wear fisherman's caps or berets!!! I can understand notices in banks asking patrons to remove motorcycle helmets, but a beret!!! & as I come from 2 lines of stubborn (my father & my mother's mother) I said I wouldn't enter & would wait outside.

Everyone followed me out & we stood around for a while then headed for another pub. Same notice there, so it wasn't just one publican's rule. So we sat outside (hats are ok outside!)

I've downloaded all my photos & can't post the Mudcatter group pic which shows us wearing the offensive hats cos MyOpera is down for a grease & oil change or whatever they do to websites (wash the pixels?) so you will all have to wait!

what is the world coming to if a hat wearer is asked to remove her hat - I never go anywhere without a hat - I still can't believe it.

anyway off to bed, I have a tradesman ringing my intercom in about 7 hours, which gives me less than 5.30 hours sleep, if I get to bed immediately (which I probably won't)

sandra

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 04:36 PM

tradesman is working on my bathroom - by the end of the day the tiles & bath will be restored & as shiny as they were when the building was renovated in 1979! Then of course the peeling paint will look even worse than it does now ...

And the Mudcatter pic has been uploaded so you can see the offending headwear!

sandra

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 04:38 PM

link to Mudcat pic which I forgot to post

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 07:39 PM

Sandra-

Thanks for posting evidence that we were all aboard the Craig!

It was a wonderful evening. Those who were there early got to see John, Chris and I exercising the capstan on the foredeck, lustily singing Roll the Old Chariot. We were going to try a pumping shanty as well but some vandal had abused the pumping handle.

The weather was warm with a slight breeze up on deck by the main hatch where most of the singing took place. Across Darling Harbour were discordant sounds of several rock bands, wafting their way across the cove and bouncing off the warehouse adjacent to the Craig. But it was easy enough for me to sing my set of sea songs with banjo and concertina and still be heard by the twenty or so people assembled, and it was great to have folks pick up so well on some of the more challenging choruses. Barry Finn's version of "Roller Bowler" got a nice airing, as did his version of "Yangtse River Shanty." The Burt Franklin Jenness poem "Sea Dreams" got appreciative grins with its reference to hearing "the Roaring Forties day and night about your ears." And after my set there was light refreshments below and then more general singing on deck with songs led by some of the shipkeepers, John Dengate, members of the Roaring Forties (John, Margaret and Robin), JudyB, and a couple of other folks.

My special thanks to Mike for featuring me as main performer. He now has a full set of my CD's as well as one from Barry Finn and one from Roll & Go. We still have a few CD's left from our inventory of trade goods. We may leave a stash with John and Jenny.

I note with some bitterness that the Craig sails next Sunday, the day we are winging our way back home (while my banjo takes flight to Tanzania, no doubt).

I did find the pub crawl afterwards somewhat perplexing. There I was armed with banjo, a backpack loaded with a concertina and God knows what else, and it was my blue denim hat that drew the bouncer's attention. In retrospect I should have completely stripped in response to his demand for the removal of inappropriate apparel, but maybe not! Fortunately we did find a warmer welcome at the Quarrymen's Pub a block or so down the street in Prymont.

Today we are doing reconnaisance into Bob Bolton's neighborhood of Leichhardt, in search of a fabled Sicilian restaurant where we hope to dine this evening. We were there four years ago but C. Fox Smith's observation that "the ports I knew grown strange" may be an apt description of the urban neighborhoods of greater Sydney. But we have charts, cell phone numbers, and courage!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 09:32 PM

Another member of the Roaring Forties, Don, was present but not singing as he had the best (worse?) case of speechlessness I've ever (not) heard! He's a teacher & managed 2 days at school, before giving up & going home.

But he made it to the session.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennyO
Date: 16 Nov 07 - 01:31 AM

Well I caught up with Charlie and Judy yesterday for lunch at one of the ubiquitous Thai restaurants in Glebe Point Road, before I had to head off to put in my few hours of hard slog across the other side of town. fortified with one (only one) beer, I breezed through the afternoon, and was soon fighting the peak hour traffic to get back over to Glebe and the Dengates.

There were some nice munchies waiting there and a good glass of red, before Judy, Dale, John and I set off in the tram for the Craig. Charlie had left earlier. We could hear the strains of Charlie and the banjo as we approached the ship. The weather was perfect - a warm and balmy night, and the lights on the harbour were magic. We managed to ignore the sound of thousands of noisy merrymakers drifting across the water, and made our own merry.

Charlie has already mentioned the pub fiasco with the hats. When we couldn't get into the first pub, I decided to ring George, my son who lives just up the road from there in a top floor security apartment overlooking all of that part of Sydney. It was only about 10.45, and I thought I might be able to encourage him to join us. Unfortunately he was having an early night and I woke him up. He must have thought his mother was drunk (I wasn't), with me babbling on in high spirits, surrounded by a noisy crowd. At least he managed to tell us where to find another pub before he went back to sleep. They don't make young people like they used to, that's all I can say!

We finally got our round of drinks, sitting outside a pub across the road from George's place, with Sandra naughtily trying to get me to ring him again and wave to him. Fortunately for George, I didn't do that. A bunch of yahoos in a car called out to us as we were sitting there, and asked us if we were sailors (Charlie looked the part). I called out "No - we're PIRATES! ARRR!" the trams having all gone by the time we were finished, we shared a cab back to Glebe, I collected my car and went home. It was a great night!

We are meeting up again with Charlie and Judy on Saturday (tomorrow) after they have completed their packing, and we are hoping to take them to our favourite Greek restaurant - Scorpios in Annandale. The Greek Lamb there is to die for!

What a shame your trip is almost over! I hope you are already planning the next one!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: GUEST,spindrift
Date: 16 Nov 07 - 05:13 PM

The Cuenins are going to Portsmouth tomorrow & were hoping that Charlie & Judy would be there. Barbara came to this thread to see what kind of doings they had missed down under. It was great to read all the posts from the Sydneyites & to remember Gael & Danny's lovely home as well.

Al & Barbara

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 16 Nov 07 - 07:39 PM

G'day Judy, Charlie and all,

I have back my camera pack. It was picked up with the other event's goods & chattels and moved into the Saloon. The chap who then took all that back home found an invoice along with the new Nikon lens and flash unit ... and rang me at home. I picked it up yesterday afternoon before our farewell dinner at a local Italian Restaurant ... a short walk from my home in Leichhardt - Sydney's "Little Italy".

It was a great session on the James Craig and some fine songs form Charley ... as well as a great 'sing around' on deck afterwards (... which did run a bit longer than the "capstan shanties ... with all hands to the capstan"!).

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennyO
Date: 16 Nov 07 - 09:50 PM

Well it's nearly over - commiserations at the Dengates later this afternoon, and dinner at Scorpios (I managed to secure the last 4 places - it's a popular place!) followed by more commiserations until we roll home.

So when's the next trip?

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Nov 07 - 12:53 AM

Yes, the dinner at Leichhardt's Little Italy with the Dengates and the Boltons was a great success. The Sicilian restaurant we remembered from a previous visit had disappeared but another one had surfaced nearby and proved more than adequate. We provided a couple of bottles of white and red wine to start with, Judy and John ordered a lovely dish that looked like a giant fried spider nestled on top of a mound of pasta. I was astonished that Judy would even consider such a thing but she made quick work of it. John kept us all amused with a continuous stream of sketches of our adventures, including our "terrorist assault" on the pub accross from the National Maritime Museum.

Today we paid a morning visit to the Queen Victoria Building for some last minute gifts. The young Queen Victoria was there as usual in all her slendour (evidently a permanent exibit), along with various crowns, bejeweled swords, septors, and other bric-a-brac, and a circle of and tourists.

Now we've finished up our initial packing, and are sharing a few more ditties with John Dengate while we await Jenny and John Warner's arrival for our evening din-din at their favourite Greek restaurant. Life is hard!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Nov 07 - 06:23 PM

Well, this will be our last morning in beautiful Sydney for a while. It's bright and sunny, and everything looked beautiful as we made our way up and down the flowery lanes to Glebe Point Road for breakfast. We've found a calico cooncat nearby who behaves much the same as our one back home. She looked well cared for but was happy to get more attention.

Last evening's din-din at the Greek restaurant in Annandale, where John and Jenny took us, was another great success. The lamb was delicious, the live band was full of energy, and the pack of young girls was amusing to watch as they danced in the aisles while taking digital pictures of one another. We then drove over to Margaret's neighborhood, picked her up, and went back to the Dengates for a final round of chat and singing. I'm afraid that we were poor hosts by that time. We just can't keep up with the energy of the Sydney folks.

Around noon today we catch a taxi to the international airport, check in our luggage carefully, and head back to Maine and winter!

Once more, our grateful thanks to everyone who made our revisit so wonderful!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble and JudyB

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 05:48 PM

We arrived safely back in Maine this afternoon (Monday by our calendar), and with all our luggage (there may be a TimTam or two missing but the inspectors did leave us some).

You know, it's very strange driving home from the airport. There are all these massive icicles hanging from the road-cut ledges. And Judy almost froze solid waiting with the luggage while I retrieved the van from the parking lot.

Our two cats appear pleased to see us. One is lying in my lap right now and threatens to claw me if I try to get up. The other is awaiting quality time from Judy in the bedroom.

There are several hundred e-mails that appear urgent! But there are also 3 weeks of on-line comics that we've been neglecting. Whatever!

The house is slowly warming up now that we've reset the thermostat for its regular programing. I dare say that we got pretty spoiled with the wonderful weather we had in Sydney the last week, clear bright days in the 70's (F).

We'll post some pictures from our trip in a week or so on our website with a link to this thread, certainly not all of them but a nice sampling!

Thanks again to our gracious hosts, music friends, and other fine people we met on this revisit.

I wonder what time it really is?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: JennieG
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 04:58 AM

Right this minute Charley it is 8.55pm Sydney time! So sorry to have missed you this trip but I have been trying to sort out some health issues, that has taken some time and most of my emotional energy lately. However the light at the end of the tunnel is hopefully nigh.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Revisits Oz Fall 2007
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 11:40 AM

JennieG-

We are sorry to have missed you as well.

Curiously enough we're seeing dandruff like flakes falling from the sky this morning. What can it mean? Could it be from the hair of the dog?

I seem to have picked up a nasty cold on the way back, one of the hazards of air travel. I'm just as happy that it didn't snag me on the way out so I could participate in the singing, and enjoy the lovely weather. Judy did get snagged by some kind of chest cold on the way out, and it took two weeks to shake. I think I'll go back to bed and do some more reading.

We may have flown back just in time. This morning the entire country is tied up with fog on the west coast, with rain and snow in the middle and in the northeast. With the extra pressure from the annual Thanksgiving travelers, it will take at least a week for the air lines to sort everyone out, and recover their missing luggage.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, back in Maine