Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 01:17 AM

Enter Maurice! (Thank you Steve Miller)

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 09:24 PM

If you come to Baltimore USA ours is on saturday!
FREE

Google baltimore wassail all welcome

Conrad

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Leadfingers
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 07:47 PM

Maurice ?? He scares the S*** out of me !!

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Girl Friday
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 07:44 PM

Morris can be a bit daunting I agree

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 01:36 PM

I think the problem is that Wolfshead Vixen have their practice there on Sundays.

Evening sessions are not doable for us because of the travelling.

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Girl Friday
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 12:40 PM

Shame. I know Karen's really keen

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 01:35 PM

guess not, then

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 04 Jan 11 - 01:32 PM

Are there any more developments on this?

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: GUEST,Wee Jock
Date: 22 Dec 10 - 09:17 AM

Re the above just a very belated thank you for the combined efforts of Virginia Tam, and the not so silent one (Chris ,i have never heard him sing so much) together with the fantastic Crowsister, plus Carrie and Clive, for putting in such a shift, especially when we were asked to sing some carols, by the Camra lot and they all joined in,it certainly made an old cynic like me feel quite festive.

Wee Jock

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: The Barden of England
Date: 22 Dec 10 - 08:54 AM

Saturdays are fine for me too
John Barden

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 03:46 PM

Thanx so much Simon.   We are ok from early afternoon to about 9:30 pm since Rochester is appx 45 minutes from home.

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: growler
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 02:39 PM

I'll see what Karen says

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: morning wood
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 02:19 PM

I'd be interested in attending. Saturday or Sunday suits me fine.

Paul.

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Girl Friday
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 10:27 AM

Saturdays aren't so good for us , as sometimes Crayside Live varies from 1st and 3rd Saturdays. Can someone from W and V tell us when their practice time starts and finishes ?

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Leadfingers
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 04:32 AM

With the Fredom Pass , its not too bad on the train for me as an occasional run out ! NOT a Regular thing though

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Abdul The Bul Bul
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 02:17 AM

Rochester is on the train line!! so yes , I could attend and have a drink or too also!

Al

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 05:05 PM

Growler, you are a star. Re the morris side, Karen didn't mention that or if she did, I didn't clock it.   Wouldn't want to infringe on their practice.

Wonder if Saturday is more amenable.

I am getting desperate. The prospect of next 3 months without the kind of sessions that Lower Stoke had is just plain depressing.

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: growler
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 04:24 PM

I would be happy to host this ,I am only one mile away. Be aware the Wolfshead and Vixin morris side, are booked for every Sunday for practfice

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 04:17 PM

Thanks all so far for your interest... If this thread generates a few more people interested then I guess I will contact Karen and Dal about it.

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Girl Friday
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 10:09 AM

I have Norman's email if needed.   We could probably come if it was on a second or fourth Sunday.

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: The Barden of England
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 09:30 AM

I'd attend as buses from here to there are good. Happy to attend rather than run, but can be pushed. However I won't be around from 11th. January until 9th. February as will be in hopefully sunnier climes.
John Barden

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 08:17 AM

I might - depends on pressure of work a bit and also the fact that I'd have to stay sober to drive. Barden has Norman's details I think. I can (if permitted) provide Cari's email and her and Clive's phone numbers - I don't think they are "Cari and Clive" as such.

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 03:29 AM

Absent the travel problems of lousy weather, I would be interested in attending, and if nobody else wants to run it, I am close enough to be able to do that too.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 02:34 AM

Richard, if there was a session at the GI, would you attend?

We are probably too far away to organise it, especially given my dodgy health. Also, I don't how to get in touch with the non mudcat potential attendees, like Kari and Clive, Norman, Steve May, even John Matthews, though he may check on this thread to find out.

Also, would I be stepping on Growler's toes since he already has Tuesday folk club there? I am gonna think about this. Maybe do a pot luck dinner kind of thing if Karen and Dal are amenable.

So a question to the other usual culprits. Who would be interested in attending winter sings once a month from Jan thru Mar at the GI?

Who might be interested in running it, if indeed it needs running?

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 02:12 AM

Lower Coke is definitely not happening. And no, I don't want to organise it. Bah humbug.

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 02:08 AM

During our chat with Karen, we mentioned the potential lack of the once a month winter Sunday sessions with Lower Coke possibly not happening.

She offered the Good Intent, if anyone wants to organise it. Thoughts?

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: DeanofRochester
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 06:45 PM

Glad to hear today went well sorry couldnt get over but our road is impassable to traffic including our own vehicle. hope to see you all tuesday presumably some wassailing will occur the usual time this week Simon?

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Girl Friday
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 06:23 PM

Thanks for the detailed report V T. Almost almost like being there. Glad it went well (the singing and the beer!)

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: growler
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 04:18 PM

Don't worry, there were about 14 people in the singaround and about the same number, in the garden hudled arround a fire drinking ale like it was going out of fasion. A very pleasent afternoon, despite the weather

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Leadfingers
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 03:42 PM

I just hope Dal isnt left with a lot of unsold beer !
      With six inches of snow on the ground here , I was concerned that IF I got there I might not be able to get back !

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: The Barden of England
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 03:33 PM

Well done Tam - I'm so pi**ed off at being unable to get there. Missed last year being Santa too, so 2 years on the trot!!!!
Although I live almost in the middle of town, the road's a rat run, it never gets gritted nor salted, it's on a hill and treacherous as hell. Perhaps a B&B next year would be better for me too.
Anyway, I'm glad that it was still a 'Good Inten't day.
John Barden

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 02:22 PM

Volvos could have made it Saturday if the roads of Strood and Rochester had not been gridlocked - or if I had had a few bazookas.

Volvos have been working today.

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 02:07 PM

We are home a bit later than normal but because we took a wrong turning and not because of the travel conditions. Roads were very clear and easy.

I kept trying to post messages here from my phone as Saturday progressed about who attended and the marked absence of volvos, but the posts wouldn't take.

Crowsister was stunning. What a surprise, eh? John Matthews in good form. We 3 held the fort for a few hours on Saturday competing a bit with the CAMRA group conversations. But the group invited us to partake of their buffet which was very kind.

Cari and Clive showed up a few hours in which heated things up some. I sang Coventry Carol to Cari's violin accompaniment. A treat. Then Shona came in and sang Cold are the Arctic Snows. She couldn't stay but returned today.

Had a lovely warm chat with Karen the landlady Saturday evening.

Sunday we had John again, Cari and Clive with Growler and Melodeonboy.

It was good even if thin on the ground.

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: The Barden of England
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 08:05 AM

Still hunkered down here in Maidstone. Friend of my daughter stayed here on Friday night, left for Sittingbourne at mid-day and arrived home at 5pm!!. Problem now is ice of course. Tam - Hope you make it back to the wilds of Essex without too much hastle and big thanks to John Matthews for filling in yesterday.
John Barden

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Girl Friday
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 07:35 AM

Watch they don't bite you.... their teeth are sharper than a leopard's

Ha ha

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: melodeonboy
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 06:39 AM

I've just hitched the huskeys to the sleigh and I'm about to leave!

Woof, woof!

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: GUEST,VA TAM on phone
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 05:34 AM

We had good time yesterday. All 5 of us. Hope more make it today.

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 07:00 PM

Seasons greeting. To all Happy Wassail
' May Ye God bless'
Happy Birthday Clogs .
regards Pierre.

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: growler
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 04:38 PM

Well done richard, you are braver than me. Went to the Good Intent , for a pint at 12.00. Watched on their CCTV, as the road started filling up with snow and went home while I still could. All hale to Johnn Matthews, who ran the depleted session at a moments notice. Ruff and Reddy will be there tomorrow come what may

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 01:43 PM

I got successfully of the peninsular - FFS there were only a few inches of snow, albeit a number of onanists in Mercedes coupes and BMWs were totally stuck on very slight hills (tyres too wide, too much power and not enough brains) and one artic cab (no load on) embarrassed himself by overlooking that with two axles at the rear and only one of them driven, bite to get away from standstill was going to be iffy. I had some entertainment due to having taken the 2 litre turbo so there were some tasty drift moments to be had by opening the throttle too wide - a couple of about 20 foot runs on opposite lock coming out of roundabouts and once I had the feel, up to about 30 degrees of opposite lock too..

Top of Four Elms Hill - big queue going DOWN as everyone being very chary of perhaps not stopping at the roundabout at the bottom and the queue going so slowly that I had to do the unthinkable and go out of gear and let her roll very very slowly on the brakes. At least the brakes work on four wheels whereas low gear only retards two - and to stay in gear I would probably have got the front wheels sliding and have been constantly accelerating and decelerating.

Up the Frindsbury bypass towards Strood - a Mercedes stuck in the slow lane - but at least he was tight into the kerb. Still room for two lanes past but do the twonks make two lanes? - No they crawl past in one and then a twat in a four wheel drive stops at the outside as I am easing past the one lane in soft snow. Don't people realise there's more grip in soft snow than on polished ice?

And so into Frindsbury. Get to the top of Frindsbury Hill and it's gridlock. Radio Medway telling me that contractors are pushing cars up Star Hill, Corporation Street is totally at a standstill - and obviously if that is so then the bridge over the river is blocked (since the only ways off the bridge are down Corporation Street or right down the Esplanade. Flash of brilliance! Use Commercial Road to bypass Frindsbury Hill down (foregoing the amusement of people failing to make it out of the petrol station up Frinsdbury Hill).

Ah. Get to top of hill down to Commercial Road and that is blocked going down because people can't get out onto Station Road at the bottom. Decide to make U-turn round traffic island and go home. That nearly WAS my undoing. Getting back up the hill and past the island and missing a fool parked so close to the island that one had to slow right down and turn quite sharply to miss his car, I failed once, got to 90 degrees of direction of travel, had to reverse over lots of footpath to take a second run, and the second run was mostly at 45 degrees to direction of travel, but at the last second she found traction and I got through the gap missing the parked car.

Back up part of Frindsbury Hill to the top - lots of people making a big issue of it but the Volvo doesn't put a foot wrong, and crawl down to the roundabout to join the A289. Ah. Standing traffic on A289, apparently leading to the A228 no doubt because no-one can get up Four Elms Hill. Now that's tricky because if idiots are blocking that then the only other way onto the peninsular is over backroads from Higham and I've already had a chat with one travelling boy with a Disco in which he told me that those roads are impassable due to 4-wheel-drives in the ditch.

Another flash of genius! If I go towards the Medway tunnel I can bang a left off to Upnor and go through the country roads over the hill to come over the military flyover at Upchat Road and through the housing estate by the barracks to come out at the top of Four Elms Hill.

Works a treat. Soft snow with loads of traction. Get to flyover. Very foolish fellow in four wheel drive stops on the flyover to watch the mayhem on Four Elms Hill. Ah well, he has classically Nigerian features so he probably is not all that used to snow.   I stop to pick up a bloke trying to walk back from Strood with his shopping – his car is blocked in Frindsbury thanks to an idiot across each end of a side street. And just as I get rolling again another kibitzer stops on the flyover. Where? Exactly opposite the Nigerian's 4*4 so between them they TOTALLY block the road.    I keep rolling gently towards them all light on.

The Nigerian wakes intelligently up to the situation, shepherds his family back into the 4*4 and pulls off, leaving the other kibitzer apparently astounded that anyone should do that!.

Admire Four Elms Hill as I toodle over it. Not pretty. At least one front wheel drive shopping basket totally sideways across both lanes going up – and an HGV with L plates ditto 20 yards back.

Potter gently round the houses by the old barracks, drop off bloke with shopping – and as I go to rejoin Four Elms Hill three front wheel drives scrabble to a halt right across the exit from my side road.    Eventually burly passers by push them into motion – but now there is a steady single line that has managed to clear the obstructions scrabbling up the hill at 1 mph all determined not to let me out, until a HUGE modern Range Rover comes up on the soft snow and partly on the soft shoulder up their inside, so they pretty well have to make room and I slip out after him.

Just past the petrol station there's a bloke walking (mostly in the road) and people driving round him.   So I stop to give him a lift. He's apparently walked from Sittingbourne to get to the Isle of Grain (!!! Must be love) and says that the old A2 is stationary all the way through Rainham.

Now we are rolling again and it's easy driving back to Lower Coke and entrepid pedestrian starts walking again.

Over to local pub for one of Shep's Xmas Ale, then into house light fire and snooze.

Well, what a fine way to waste an afternoon!

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: fisheye
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 12:45 PM

4/6" of snow at 10.30 this morning stop us: fisheye,FMON and george from attempting the journey. Those who did make it I hope it went well.
Was really looking forward to it as well/

fisheye

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Girl Friday
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 08:25 AM

We have the same situation as Don so we are staying put like last year. I am so glad that we manageds to have our Pigs Ear Christmas last night, as there was then only a light dusting. Merry Christmas and Wassail to all.

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: The Barden of England
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 08:08 AM

We have hunkered down here in Maidstone. Blubell Hill is not to be trifled with in this weather. Wassail to you all and hopefully it will be better for tomorrow.
John Barden

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 07:57 AM

12.50pm UK GMT

I've just got back from the village with some shopping. We have a blizzard here, which has deposited two inches in my garden (sheltered and surrounded by six foot fences) in just over an hour.

There is plenty of traffic in Malling Road and it is making no impression on the snow. There is only a groove in the settled snow, and no tarmac showing.

The forecast is more of the same over the next eight hours.

Winnie and I have forted up for the duration.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: melodeonboy
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 07:08 AM

Yeh, I'm just preparing the sledge and the huskeys for tomorrow!

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: growler
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 04:13 PM

John Matthews will host Saturday if JB cant make it. Ruff and Reddy will be there on Sunday, unless we have a sunami

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 03:45 PM

we plan to be there and have now booked the Shozna or Shonza for dinner at 6pm.

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 02:09 PM

Hi John
I have cancelled my B&B at the Andy Snacks Cafe this evening and if I come I will have to get a lift and that under the same circumstances seems highly unlikely
Like yyour good self I check it out in the morning.
Weather a pain in the Arse I was looking forward to it.
Regards Pierre

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: The Barden of England
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 01:42 PM

I'm looking at the forecast for tomorrow (Saturday) and it's looking pretty foul. Getting there from Maidstone's and absolute GIT, so I need to look at what the situation is in the morning.
John Barden

Subject: RE: Good Intent Wasail 18th,19th December
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 07:40 PM

Some how Terry I doubt that the trains will run but we will see?