'5000 Morris Dancers'

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: The Sandman
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 06:08 PM

Diane ,I agree.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 06:32 PM

Just a thought.
WAV was asked to move his many and various poem threads to the BS section of Mudcat a while ago, which he did.
For those that are new to this site...
BS means Bull Shit.
Best place for him, I think.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 04:46 AM

BS actually means Breeze Shooting, a general heading for non-music discussion & a more levititious exchange...

Meanwhile...

how on earth did you come up with that?!

It made perfect sense in the context of your other arguments, for example: it's much more difficult for tourists to terrorise. It actually reads like you disagree with the Left for allowing in immigrants because their sole intention is to become terrorists. If that's not what you meant, I apologise, but strongly suggest you implement a regime of disambiguation.

and I hope we can stay on such matters, as RM requested

As I suggested above, this thread was never simply about Morris Dancing, beginning as it does with a culturally divisive catalogue of English Dances & Musical Instruments, most of which amount to the hobbyist concern (as oppose to the living tradition) of but a tiny minority of the 50 million or so human souls currently resident upon English soil, whatever their ethnicity. You might as well ask for a massed model railway display or a parade of vintage Ford Anglias.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 06:13 AM

"but strongly suggest you implement a regime of disambiguation." (IB)...like asking you again to respect the (C) and not post bits of my verse willie nillie - as I say, some of my poems do rely on the poems around them more than others and, thus, some never get posted/abstracted on my Weekly Walkabout thread; which, yes Ralphie, is down in the BS section (but it's the Mods that regulate that, NOT me).
And, IB, if you check above, I'd began to consider the London ceremonies when the Athens Olympics was on - so hearing Seb Coe on the Beeb, during the Beijing Olympics, WAS news on the same matter.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: GUEST,Working Radish
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 08:54 AM

asking you again to respect the (C) and not post bits of my verse willie nillie

You've linked to your site no fewer than eleven times in this thread, sometimes as a direct response to a request for clarification. How can anyone argue back, other than by quoting from that site?

Here's another example to add to my previous comment, this one from real life (it's a quote from /Inside the British police/ by Simon Holdaway, which was published in 1983).

"An officer is selling his house, partly because he feels that he doesn't want to live next door to his black neighbour: 'You may call me a racist bastard and I know I haven't got a logical argument but I'm not going to live next door to them ... I'm not racist. It's just that I think they're very nice people but I don't want to live next door to them.'"

I think most people would agree that that police officer's views *were* racist, however much he wanted to deny it. The same goes for the views you've been expressing, WAV: they're very nice people, but you don't want to live in the same country with them.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 01:45 PM

As I've said many times WR - I have never questioned/criticised any particular race/culture but immigration itself, of which there are different kinds, of course. Genuine asylum seekers should be helped to their nearest safe country; and, likewise, someone who may have a medical condition that may be greatly eased by moving to another country, etc. But, in my opinion, economic/capitalist immigration/emigration should stop, the world over, from now on.
And, again, I was hoping the last post was from a Morris dancer, enlightening us on some of the above issues...

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 04:56 PM

I have never questioned/criticised any particular race/culture but immigration itself

I know, that's exactly the point I'm making. You don't criticise any non-English cultures, you just don't want them in England. Just like that police officer - 'I think they're very nice people but I don't want to live next door to them'. That is racist.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Master Baiter
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 11:00 PM

I may have had a good time ribbing poor Wav about English football and the better version--American Football--but I think I have read most of this thread and I believe he is having a very hard time getting his point across.

I think he's saying that he sees and believes in the value of any culture continuing to carry on past traditions. He also feels that folks deserve the right to a sovereign existence and to hold cultural values within a territorial area characterized by the groups own laws and customs. Wav maintained his cultural values while in Australia but is better back in England. He thinks it could be better yet. It takes but simple logic to see that for a people to survive as a distinct cultural group they must have their own land so that their own ways can be furthered to the exclusion of alternate ways of life within that specific geographic territory. The alternate ways need to exist in their own territories as well.

Anyway, I think those are the points he's making. Much to the chagrin of his adversaries, he expresses his belief, and repeatedly so, that this is not racist.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 03:39 AM

"Your lot should live over there - our lot live here". As I said, that is racist.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 06:41 AM

I'd like to hear that, IB...do you have the pipe in your left hand/tabor-stick in right?

Okay - just uploaded our rendering of the supernatural ballad of Alison Gross onto our myspace page; as recorded live during one of our sets at the Fylde Festival last weekend. Rapunzel sings, and I accompany using shruti box drone and dumbek together with a couple of interludes using the three-hole pipe, one of which is my favourite Morris Tune, Idbury Hill, aka London Pride. English Morris Tunes in a Scottish Ballad? Whatever next!

Have a listen at: www.myspace.com/venereumarvum

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 10:20 AM

Here's a novel idea---- rename this thread Racism Issues and start a new thread to discuss an interesting subject such as what cultures and traditions would best represent GB and/or London in 2012 at the opening ceremony.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 10:49 AM

Here's a novel idea---- rename this thread Racism Issues and start a new thread to discuss an interesting subject such as what cultures and traditions would best represent GB and/or London in 2012 at the opening ceremony.

I think what this thread demonstrates is that it is impossible to separate the two issues with respect to the nature of the multi-cultural landscape of England in the present day. Englishness means something different to us all, but when it comes to the representation of cultures and traditions at such an event as the Olympics then I would imagine anything goes. As far as general English Folkery is concerned, I would like to see Mark E. Smith singing 700 Elves accompanied by 4Square with a simultaneous dance display by The Britannia Mills Coconut Dancers, though maybe the latter's black-face routines might cause a few problems.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Fidjit
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 02:50 PM

Shouldn't this thread be below the line?

Chas

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 03:08 PM

Some of us don't have lines, Fidjit - happily mixing music & BS in one long thread list (do this on your membership page). Otherwise, it remains, essentially, a music thread, dealing as it does with the ramifications of a nominal English Folk Music & Dance & the nationalistic implications thereof in a multi-cultural society.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 05:57 AM

Just enjoyed, overall, your new, above, track, IB - well-matched voices and well-played pipe...if you could put it onto something like "Audacity" software, maybe you could select and amplify just the intro..?

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 06:03 AM

if you could put it onto something like "Audacity" software, maybe you could select and amplify just the intro..?

Not sure what you're getting at, WAV. It was recorded on our Zoom H4, and slightly edited using Sound-Forge software; slight compression to equalise the vocal / drum dynamics (over enthusiastic percussionist) but otherwise heard as played last Sunday morning (after a very late night!)

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 06:15 AM

Otherwise... Do you see what I mean about the drum sound? That's a very basic, cheap, Turkish dumbek, entirely tunable - in this case to A, to emphasise the dorian scale of the G 3-hole pipe (a vintage Overton) with a good dynamic head of plastic! No English Tabor, no matter how authentic, reconstructed or otherwise, and costing ten times what I paid for this drum, could ever sound this good - though plenty, I dare say, would play it better.

One of these days I might join The Taborers Society; suggest you do likewise.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 06:34 AM

Re: "Not sure what you're getting at, WAV"...just in case it's helpful, on "Audacity", occasionally, I have selected a section (e.g., a spoken intro. on "Walkabout with my Pen") and amplified just that part for clarity.
And I liked the singing and the pipe playing much more than the percussion, which made me think of unfitting belly-dancing, frankly.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 06:42 AM

Given the amount of belly-dancing women we had that morning, WAV - witches mostly, ceremonially cavorting to Alison Gross - then that's quite fitting actually!

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: breezy
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 07:51 AM

I aint read the thread so apologies to all

Graham wanted to join a morris team as he'ld heard all about the physical a social benefits.

he was invited for a interview

at the interview he was told that he would be required to undergo a physical examination of he genitalia

reluctantly he agreed

his equipment was examined closely and it was decided that he was niy suitably qualified to join.

When he asked why, he was told that it was because he had been circumsised.

he asked what that had to do with his application

he was informed that

In order to join a morris team , he had to be a complete

pric


sorry, bye


its only cos me knees are gone

its amazing what you learn at BMW Ipswich

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 10:03 AM

I think that last post by Breezy should have been "circumsised"...God's speed to Morris dancers!

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 10:22 AM

Whatever takes place needs to have (tele)visual impact, and I hope that there will be room for both traditional and contemporary culture. Also a focus on exemplary role models.... Also including iconic representation ( eg best of Notting Hill Carnival) without being stereotypical (Dick Van Dyke factor).
On a personal note - a good way to start of the whole thing might be one of the longest, unbroken traditions, particular to London - a reinactment of the ceremony of the keys.
Also - the English National Opera.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: breezy
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 12:18 PM

any team available for beer fest at Barnt Green next Saturday, near Bromsgrove?

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: GUEST,hector powe
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 02:13 PM

yo mudscatteers & morros dancing insane beardies and wav type wierdos; this is totally fng-mental and way to cool for the usual mudcat yawn.what the f is wav on???you actually know this guy sedanye?thats what my mother says,about just how f-ing loving you can be whiulst nauiling his racist ass to the line bfor his oewn good.remind you of anything (she says)???belly dancing???this bloke used to play with METGUMBNERBONE for christs sake!!!   
wav-what you need is some true tribal folk ritual dance to get all tghis tripe out of your heart and soul and tune into the trurue pattern under the plough.your a christian right?theres your problem.hyped up messioanic bollocks which has f-ed up the world native cultures including our own,BUT now thye rainbow tribes regroup-black AND white- no borders-no frontiers-JOHN BARLEYCORN IS REBORN!!!!!
hector powe-on behalf on the global cooling

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 12:54 AM

Hey Mr Powe.
Couln't agree more, (That is, if I had the foggiest idea of what you were on about!)
Ralph
(who's your supplier?)

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 06:01 AM

I went to a folk masters-degree final-recital the other day, where an assessor actually took part in the gig - an Englishman not picking the tune on an English cittern but strumming the rhythm on a Greek bouzouki! As suggested above, I enjoyed the bouzouki-playing that the GREEKS gifted us during the Athens Olympics, and hope and pray that attitues here revolve rapidly, such that we can gift the rest-of-the-world some of OUR OWN good culture during the London Olympics.
"(who's your supplier?)" (Ralphie)...don't know, but I think something may have gone wrong in it's fermentation..?

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 06:05 AM

Woops, it's catching - should be "its fermentation," sorry.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: s&r
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 06:10 AM

Woops - should be Whoops

Stu

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 06:58 AM

I went to a folk masters-degree final-recital the other day, where an assessor actually took part in the gig - an Englishman not picking the tune on an English cittern but strumming the rhythm on a Greek bouzouki

Here we go again! Why put yourself through it? Some deep seated masochistic impulse by which you must stretch yourself on the rack of your own intolerance. But remember, these rules of Our Own Good English Culture are but rules of your own devising; as such they have no objective currency, nor yet any meaning beyond your the bounds of your perplexing fantasy world. But still you persist, stuck in a loop of endless rhetoric & repetition by which you would judge all human culture on what you think it ought to be, rather than appreciating it for what it is. Bet it was an Irish bouzouki too; an instrument maybe manufactured here on the Fylde by that company of distinguished eponymous luthiers; an instrument otherwise indistinguishable from your English Cittern, which, one suspects, might exist in a similar hypothetical invention as the Leicestershire Bagpipes which have only existed since the eminent Julian Goodacre came up with them twenty years ago.

Stop looking for trouble where there is none, WAV - life's too short.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 07:39 AM

...I heard the Greek bouzouki has only very recently been used for folk music anywhere on these isles - apparently an Irishman visiting Greece brought one back. Why?!, I ask, when the Irish pipes and Irish harp, e.g., can sound so good - as can the English cittern.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 08:03 AM

Do you think these instruments were just laying about when the Irish arrived in Ireland? Thawed out of a melting glacier just before people arrived? Ditto for the cittern - is that supposed to have arrived with Hengist and Horsa or do you think it may have possibly arrived a bit later say the 16th century? From France or Spain? If the latter then why are they better than the bouzouki?

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 08:08 AM

Bollocks, WAV - you don't like it because it doesn't fit into your racist scheme of ethnic & cultural stereotyping & segregation. The Irish bouzouki is a recent development, but already it is very distinct instrument from its Greek antecedent, just as the Greek Bouzouki is a very different instrument from the Turkish SAZ from which it derives - see Here. Everything was recent once upon a time; like the plethora of Arabic reeds, lutes & zithers brought back by the crusaders that became an integral part of European music thereafter. The English Cittern (as invented by Stefan Sobel) is recent; likewise the Leicestershire Bagpipe (as invented by Julian Goodacre) - both are based on old notions perhaps, but very much modern non-traditional innovations that have found their way into this thing we call Folk Music, which is also a pretty modern innovation; a renewal via a revival of something which barely existed 50 years ago.   The Irish Harp is a bit of a reinvention too, likewise the Union Pipes; all have very clear points of origin & hybridisation that run entirely contrary to your impossibly misinformed and entirely specious notions of the indigenous.

You know so little, WAV - yet you judge so much. More learning I think; more listening instead of preaching; you really are in no position to make these sorts of judgements. No one is.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: s&r
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 08:16 AM

The greek bouzouki is a different animal to the Irish bouzouki. It has three strings or three courses and has similarities to the saz balalaika and the mountain dulcimer.

The Irish bouzouki has four courses and is tuned in several different ways to suit the music and the player.

It has similarities to the mandolin family. Music is rather less concerned with origin and more concerned with sound.

Stu

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Will Fly
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 08:19 AM

From the Diabolus in Musica website:

"Beware of modern instruments called "citterns". They are perfectly respectable and useful instruments, and often used to good effect by folk musicians, but they have very little in common with the renaissance cittern, other than the name. That's not a problem, except that there are whole websites devoted to the cittern, created by enthusiastic folks who firmly believe that the modern cittern and the renaissance one are closely related, and pretty much different versions of the same instrument. Which they ain't."

The cittern was common throughout Europe. The so-called "English" cittern had 4 courses while so-called "French" and "Italian" citterns generally had 5 and 6 courses respectively. But...

...if you look at the Oakwood cittern pages you'll see citterns made with 5 courses. Nothing is really as it seems when it comes to citterns - or bouzoukis, Irish, Greek or otherwise.

I've read through this thread - and this is my one and only contribution because - dear WAV - it is patently obvious that you haven't the faintest idea of what you're talking about. You appear to have gained your ideas of what constitutes living and growing traditions from "Janet and John" books. I just wonder that so much time and energy has been expended by so many intelligent people on such drivel as you spout.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 08:27 AM

...on a BBC programme a couple of years ago, where historians were trying to farm the 17th-century way, an expert period-musician visited with, among other instruments, a 5 times 2 course English cittern - plucked with a feather plectrum.
And when I listen to experts in classical music talking about the Romantic composers, they often say that when such composers wished to give a nod to nationalism they often turned to national/regional/local, folk music.
And, yes, I do keep learnig, IB - but, given your last remark, should add that I did get distinctions during my anthropolgoy major, etc....I'm not the one deluding himself or trying to delude others.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 08:33 AM

IB: Everything was recent once upon a time

I think that about sums it up (for appropriate values of 'it').

Anyway, isn't it about time we had a go at this lyrics competition WAV's set us? I'll kick off, which means I get to do the easy part:

5000 Morris Dancers all in the wood,
Foul and grim they were...

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 08:37 AM

I did get distinctions during my anthropolgoy major, etc

I'm afraid nobody cares - any more than they care about my academic qualifications or IB's. When people say you don't appear to know very much, they're basing it on statements you've made on Mudcat which indicate that you don't know very much. It's that simple.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 10:04 AM

...on a BBC programme a couple of years ago, where historians were trying to farm the 17th-century way, an expert period-musician visited with, among other instruments, a 5 times 2 course English cittern - plucked with a feather plectrum.

A modern & entirely hypothetical reconstruction of an idea of ancient instrument in other words.

And when I listen to experts in classical music talking about the Romantic composers, they often say that when such composers wished to give a nod to nationalism they often turned to national/regional/local, folk music.

They turned to a volkish fantasy of same, WAV - unlike composers such as Bela Bartok & Zoltan Kodaly, whose concerns were more to do with ethnomusicology than (God forbid) nationalism.

And yes, I do keep learnig, IB - but, given your last remark, should add that I did get distinctions during my anthropolgoy major

Sic throughout I would think, but there's none of us perfect after all, which is why I say - whatever your academic distinctions, you really are in no position to make these sorts of judgements. And further - No one is. But seriously, WAV - a recent trawl through your writings reveals you've been spouting the same guff for years with no evidence of you having learned anything. So you are deluding yourself; coming out with such half-baked tripe on things you have no understanding of if only to support your vile theories on racial purity & nationalism.

Otherwise:

5000 Morris Dancers all in the wood,
Foul and grim they were:
Down to Wavy's house they went,
His ideas to deter...

There once was an Aussie-Englishman in Novocastria chose his ground,
He thought to cure multi-culturalism, with his poetry most profound;
And they laughed at all his racist lies, but still he begged to stay
And all the Folkies that roamed the land had cause to rue the day

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 10:08 AM

Well.
I am the proud owner of a Fylde Bouzouki.
And also, a very early Sobell Cittern.
Both made (obviously) in England. North East and North West to be precise.
I'm sure that neither Roger Bucknall (Fylde) or Stefan Sobell (Sobell) would claim that they dug up the idea from the earth beneath them.
I'm sure that they are just 20th century versions of instruments whose provenance is certainly European at least.
Jolly nice they are too. Have just been playing mine!
I think now that we have pilloried WAV enough.
It's not his fault.
May this thread rest In Peace.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 11:11 AM

I wonder why the Vauxhall Velox never got a type of folk dancing named after it....or the Riley Elf or the Singer Gazelle.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 11:28 AM

I think now that we have pilloried WAV enough.
It's not his fault.

This isn't about pillory, rather ongoing & pertinent instruction; and it is his fault for persisting with his political & promotional endeavours. If he didn't, it wouldn't be a problem.

I wonder why the Vauxhall Velox never got a type of folk dancing named after it....or the Riley Elf or the Singer Gazelle.

It should, of course be Morris 1000 Dancers; complete with that typical flatulent quack you'd get on the pea-shooter exhaust in the change down; not to mention the gorgeous woodwork of the Traveller - now that's an Englishness I can identify with...

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 12:21 PM

"racial purity" (IB)...I've only ever mentioned culture NOT race in questioning the act of immigration itself - NOT any particular race; and here's another example of your deluded attempts at analysis, IB -
"Hurrah for New Labour, bunch of mushy-mouthed motherfuckers the lot of them. Who gives a fuck what they think? It's all just spin & hype anyway."..."the lot of them"?

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 12:52 PM

WAV - as Pip and others have proved, in talking about culture with respect to immigration, you are, in fact, being racist; and in high-lighting your magical cut-off point of the 1950s with respect to immigration, you are drawing attention to exactly the sort of immigration you are opposed to. Further, in constantly portraying Our Good Old English Culture with respect to the anachronistic stereotypes that constitute your risible catalogues (such as those with which you introduced this thread) then you are drawing attention to one very particular race.

Once again, though - this is not personal; you actively publish & promote this bullshit, and it is your published ideology which is under scrutiny here. I wonder, can you defend your ideas in ways that don't amount to a personal questioning of my deluded attempts at analysis? Obviously you can't.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: GUEST,JM
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 01:00 PM

'fraid not David, this is what you said only a few posts ago -

"an Englishman not picking the tune on an English cittern but strumming the rhythm on a Greek bouzouki! As suggested above, I enjoyed the bouzouki-playing that the GREEKS gifted us during the Athens Olympics, and hope and pray that attitues here revolve rapidly, such that we can gift the rest-of-the-world some of OUR OWN good culture during the London Olympics."

You are fairly clearly discriminating between the people you think should be playing a bouzouki (the Greeks) and those you think shouldn't (the English) on racial grounds here.

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: romany man
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 01:02 PM

ok last post on the matter from me, i ask one question and am dumping thread , what is wavs views then on us romanies, are we immigrants still or are we as most people think just bad all round, as i said before, we dont have a bad name for non gypsies, but non gypsies have loads for us, so who is in the wrong ?

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 02:35 PM

I came across gypsies a couple of times on the following journey, RM, and have nothing against you and your long-lived way of life here.

Poem 10 of 230: LAND'S END TO JOHN O' GROATS

At the bold age of twenty-one
    (Via Hong Kong, China, Macau)
I flew from Sydney to London -
    Land's End to John o' Groats my vow.

I took a train out of London,
    Found a highway and thumbed a ride;
I headed down toward Brighton,
    Then hitch-hiked roads the coast beside.

On the face of my shoulder bag,
A sketched map of Aus. was my tag;
For said a Scot who'd hitched Europe:
"Some emblem may well boost your hope."

And drivers throughout the island,
Over a two month riding span,
Were the kindest folks I have met -
I swear not once did I get wet!

I stopped overnight in Portsmouth,
    And one or two nights in Torquay;
Then headed along to Plymouth -
    Still travelling beside the sea.

After viewing rugged Land's End,
    I began the long journey north -
North-east, rather, before a bend,
    Somewhere in a bit from Bournemouth.

On the way, I saw relatives,
Whom after leaving I did miss -
Their homes' cosy atmosphere,
And their local pubs' good cheer.

And the hitched-lifts came from many:
An off-work Bobbie, a truckie,
As well as on-duty soldiers -
Thanks, and I've not said where each was!

I headed west through South Wales,
    And viewed Cardiff Arms from afar -
I was hitching with local males,
    And they showed me from in the car.

I stayed a while at Swansea -
    Saw the local footballers play;
Then hitched north through Llandovery -
    Beautiful farmland, I must say.

I slept mostly in B. & B's,
Where the full breakfasts sure did please;
But also stopped in Youth Hostels,
Where it's the comradeship that tells.

My favourite sites were Torquay,
Old St. Andrews (noted shortly)
The road Glasgow-to-Inverness,
The Lakes, plus London's spots, no less.

From Colwyn Bay, I headed east
    To Manchester, my place of birth;
Then on the Lakes my eyes did feast,
    Before I passed by Solway Firth.

Onto Edinburgh, Glasgow,
    St. Andrews, before Inverness;
Then waves from locals were the go -
    Warm folks round John o' Groats, I'd guess.

From walkaboutsverse. 741.com

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: catspaw49
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 03:00 PM

So since they have been in England for many years, you would consider the Roma and their songs and instruments as English tradition?

Spaw

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 04:30 PM

I've only ever mentioned culture NOT race in questioning the act of immigration itself

What cultural tests would you apply to pink-skinned, English-speaking immigrants?

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 05:26 PM

Also, WAV - in the act of immigration, describe exactly what distinction you would make between culture and race.

Otherwise - love your Cob a Coaling; though I'd be wary of trying to lose too much of your antipodean tones, though even I might drop in a few Yorkshire inflected cums from time to time. Well sung that man, though perhaps just a tad premature...

Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 07:49 PM

Ralph McTell (in one of the books about him) recounts that his first car was an ex-GPO mini traveller complete with woodwork and a ladder on the top. they never really caught on, did they?