N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: My guru always said
Date: 09 Mar 03 - 01:40 PM

SINSULL: a bottle of Port would also come in handy, along with as much massage oil as you can get through customs :-)

EtV: Excellent news about the bottle-top collection (how kind), did you manage to get enough for a jingle-stick? If so, please don't bring it next year...... Please let Skipjack know that I'm intent on organising an away-day from the Bull at Barton to the Sloop at Barton & will be claiming all goodbye hugs *g*

Noreen: will you be scanning & providing said evidence to Pene? (what name on the cheque??)

CatPHiddle: More piccies please!!!!

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 Mar 03 - 12:53 PM

So if I can afford the trip next year, I should bring a sheep, a bottle of aspirin, and an "Arse cake"?

Thanks for sharing the adventure. Quite a rowdy crowd by Getaway standards. We only singabout farts. As for the rest...we have children present. G-rated, you know.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 09 Mar 03 - 12:05 PM

I expect to hear from you very soon then Noreen!!!!!

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Noreen
Date: 09 Mar 03 - 12:01 PM

Old-style film with captured evidence still in camera. Full-time working persons don't get to developing shops during the week, and Saturday was a haze after Skipjack's session on Friday night followed by Oakley's hospitality on the farm... (no filmic evidence of that, thankfully.)

Will inform victims of blackmail price as soon as film is developed.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 09 Mar 03 - 06:55 AM

We have more photos....will have to get Micca to send them to Pene so everyone can see them!.....Anyone else got any photos to post??

Well its been a week....and I am hoping we are all going to meet up in Portaferry next year. My liver and kidneys have just about recovered and the DT's only lasted until Tuesday afternoon so Im going on a detox so I am ready for the Yorkshire Gathering!!!

Cat

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 09 Mar 03 - 06:44 AM

Fib-don't you mean Loughingstock? Can't believe it's a week since we viewed each other over breakfast looking for signs of life, only to find very few amongst the survivors.(Of course some of us wondered if you were dead or kidnapped Hil, and were collecting used bottle tops for the ransom, just in case)Skipjack, has written in his book of knowledge (very thin!) that you owe him a goodbye hug.

Great pictures Micca, unusual to see skipjack decked out in cake mix, he's usually just foaming at the mouth. You might be pleased to know that we all survived the week and Skip, Noreen and I had a reunion at his session on Friday.

Skipjack is very pleased that everyone is planning his birthday party next year and has vowed to buy everyone who attends at least 2 pints each!!!!

Actually he has a tight hold of "Frank's IOU a couple of pints", and is having his best forgers working on an exact match of paper, vintage Guiness stains and pen used to replicate an unlimited number of them which he will gladly distribute to the poor and needy of this parish.So life returns to it's dull normallity and we look forward to more pictures and music with throbbing ferry background.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: GUEST,John Moulden - still cookieless
Date: 09 Mar 03 - 05:17 AM

It was good to see everyone and meet old friends - I've known Kate (Fibula) for 25 years but haven't seen her since she was two - I did however, recognise her parents! I'd have liked to stay longer but the need to take grandsons to Dublin on Sunday (where, and in Galway, I've been ever since, beating my head off library shelves) had to take reluctant precedence. If anyone wants to contact me about local songs it's [e-mail]

Enjoy yourselves - but you do don't you?

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: My guru always said
Date: 09 Mar 03 - 03:47 AM

Any more piccies anyone? The memory is fading fast :-(

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 07 Mar 03 - 03:41 PM

Ok ..... so now mine and Judes 'discussion' about bras has been immortalised forever in one of Micca's songs!!!!


Cat

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: MMario
Date: 07 Mar 03 - 11:52 AM

Loughstock and Barrel??????


***groan***

Definately a candadate for the "Songs that never would have occurred except for Mudcat" CD (color-code:plaid with paisley stripes and invisible dots)

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: My guru always said
Date: 07 Mar 03 - 11:47 AM

ROTFLMAO :-)

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Micca
Date: 07 Mar 03 - 11:33 AM

Tune is Galway Bay!!!!
Fibs after the amount of the black stuff Drunk it would be Loughstock and Barrel!!!!!

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 07 Mar 03 - 11:27 AM

Excellent Micca! Excellent! (Small aside - the pub name is Dumigan's.)

One more thought - since we were on the shores of Strangford Lough, I think we should call the gathering

LOUGHSTOCK!!!

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: My guru always said
Date: 07 Mar 03 - 04:19 AM

Nice one Micca :-) What's the tune???

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Micca
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 06:22 PM

Portaferry Mudcats
(Tune Galway Bay)By Micca

Maybe someday I'll go back to Portaferry
And hear again that lively music scene
To join the Mudcats there a making merry
And watch the Guiness sink in Fiddlers Green

When we got there we said "It's the edge of nowhere"
"It isn't" said big John ," but Never fear"
If the rain stops, and the sun comes out tomorrow
You'll get damn good view of it from here

And did it Rain? Oh bless me, this is Ireland
It poured down like the sky'd begun to crack
But we were snug and warm inside the Fiddlers
A drinking that vile stuff that's coloured black

In Dumicans we drank a lot of porter
You ask me how I know? Well here's the proof
I was on my 13th visit to the toilet
Before I noticed that it had no roof

Now Skipjacks Birthday it occurred in Ireland
And we all signed a card for his good sake
And smiled when he was given a small prezzie
His very own DIY birthday cake

We sang a lot and stayed late at the drinking
And some played music till the early dawn
Including many tunes of Local vintage
And no one seemed to notice No Bodhran!!!

How did we entertain ourselves between times?
even Irish pubs must sometimes close, alas
we drank a lot of tea, and wine from boxes
and Jude and Cat give seminars on Bras

No mention will be made of all the farting
Or of jiving in the pub on Saturday night
And you know that we are too polite to mention
The night time noises from the poltergeist

John Moulden, John and Jacky sang so sweetly
And Frank and his musicians, they were grand
The local folks made welcome all these strangers
And everyone played like it was one band

Oh Maybe someday I'll go back to Ireland
If the Mudcats meet again in County Down
I'll return again to rest myself in Barholm
And enjoy again the welcome in the town

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 01:37 PM

Declan Try Here

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Declan
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 01:09 PM

Micca,

Any chance of you posting the words of "The Hash".

Sounds like a song I'd like to know.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: My guru always said
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 12:58 PM

Glad you're feeling better Cat :-) Recommend hot toddies for Micca!

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 12:50 PM

Eric....I have indeed stopped dribbling but Micca has caught my cold so the dribbling continues but not by me!!!!

I don't think there were any photos taken of the bra disscussion and swap but alan did measure my assets in relation to the size of his hands!!!

Cat

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: mooman
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 12:24 PM

Oh that was me Eric! How was I to know that "The Resting Chair" was the local session closing tune...it isn't even an Irish or a traditional one! But, as you say, the "piss off and stop playing that...it's the end tune!" message was delivered in the best possible humour and with great gentleness and decorum by the delightful local musicians. However...I shall know better for next year! This of course may be why we were banned from the lock-in at Dunigan's on the Saturday!

I am still wondering why the excellent Eamonn Bannon from the Saturday night in the Fiddlers isn't an international superstar. I have now added his superb slow arrangement of "I'll tell me ma" back into my repertoire.

I believe the reason I didn't die after eating Skip's cake with its fluorescent turquoise icing is that my bit was fully sterilised by the Guinness on the floor from which I ate it.

I am marking the dates for next year in already in my planner and really hope that Mickus Maximus and some other American/Canadian friends may be able to join us next time...that would be really great.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From:
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 11:00 AM

I heard about that,and the plot to kidnap him afterwards and dump him in the lough. (Sorry Cat-but you said you wanted the insurance!) But, I was also there when someone tried to play the local session closing tune but I believe that only a gentle hint was given that is was the end tune. (Can't remember which tune it was-Richard will know)

Skipjack wrote "arse" on his cake because he told me in utter confidence that was what was on his mind.I promised not to tell anyone, so I wont.I have also the story about Skipjack wanting to play musical candles! But only Noreen knows the truth about that. This week has flown by, and I haven't done half as much work as I needed to do. The weekend and next week will be exremely busy.

I am quite suprised that there have been no obituraries this week after Skipjacks cooking of his cake.

Looking back, it was a splendid weekend and if meeting up in Holland goes even half as well, we'll be in for a really good time.

Micca, great photo's so far, and has cat stopped dribbling yet?

So next year looks like a rematch, get the dates, and we'll book early for the weekend.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: mooman
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 09:20 AM

An abiding memory, of which The Viking would surely have written had he arrived at that point, was the opening song of the proceedings in the Fiddlers Green.

One local, at least, had to be forcibly restrained as Micca burst forth into song with his parody "The Hash Me Father Scored" sung to the tune of a certain song with a similar-sounding title.

The regulars seemed to enjoyed it after the initial couple of bars and panic had subsided and the rest of us recovered too although the experience upped the initial blackstuff count!

moo

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: alanww
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 07:19 PM

Oh, pity there are no bras involved but I am anxious to see your piccies, Jude!

"When I was a young man ...!"
Alan

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: JudeL
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 05:57 PM

Have now collected photos , mostly of the ferry excursion. There is also a couple of Skippy committing cookery and discovering what he had wrought. And a piccy of something naked , sorry chaps to get your hopes up it wasn't the bra swopping incident it was only the cake before it was covered in icing.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 10:34 AM

Hello folks, I've downloaded the photos off my camera and there's some crackers, but I'm waaaaaaaaaay too busy to upload them yet - I have an entire seminar to plan, write and do slides for - all for tomorrow afternoon - my own fault for skiving off work to go to Portaferry. Anyway, I'll get the pictures done soon, hopefully by the weekend.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: alanww
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 08:55 AM

And hello to you, Declan. While I spend most of my time in the Middle Bar of the Anchor singing, with a bit of my time in the Radway and Swan playing, I have certainly been known to go into the Bedford, particularly late at night for the lock-in! So it could well have been me. I look forward to seeing you there again this year!

"Dancing and singing, bell ringing ...!"
Alan

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: JudeL
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 08:45 AM

Common places in Sidmouth to find many of us during festival week are : the Anchor Middle Bar, The NewT (new tavern) The Bedford, and The Swan. If you haunt any of these places you will usually find a few catters.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Declan
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 08:24 AM

Interesting photos, looks like it was fun.

I'm fairly sure I saw Alanww in Sidmouth last year (possibly in the Bedford?), but I didn't know it was him. I'll be sure to say hello the next time. Leadfingers looks a bit familiar as well, but I don't know from where. I don't think I know any of the rest of you yet, but I'm looking forward to meeting you all sometime.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: My guru always said
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 08:16 AM

It's so true Liam, I always know when to say no....

So glad to hear you at Portaferry, hope the fingers heal from your playing burn-out, Fab time, hear you again next year :-)

Hil

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Liam of the Ferry
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 08:10 AM

Its me Liam and sore my fingers are. I'm drifting out in the abyss with the rest of you now. Thank you all for a brilliant weekend. Unfortunately I got stuck to my seat for the rest of Saturday and was beyond all reasonable medical help on Sunday. I've still got loads of funny songs in my head and am humming away inwork about chocolate, my guru saying no etc.
Hope to see yous all again same time next year.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: My guru always said
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 05:47 AM

Well Micca, I'd like to say Great piccies too, but that has got to be the WORST one I've ever seen of me!!!!! The rest are great though *g* Thanks for getting them posted, excellent memories...

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: alanww
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 05:22 AM

Great batch of photos, Micca, and not incriminating! Looking forward to all the others ... are there any of the bra size discussion incident?

"I thought I heard the old man say ...!"
Alan

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 03:09 AM

Sigh, looks like you had a good time! Nice photies micca!

Ta, nice to see you all having fun!

Ella

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Micca
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 03:02 AM

Well, whar can I say? Thanks to (in No Order except #1:-
First and Foremost

Fibula Mattock

Well done to you and your Family for a Splendid W/E
next to the Locals of Portaferry, who ALL seemed to know we were coming and made us amazingly welcome!!!
special mention to Frank at the Fiddlers Green and his Staff and the staff at Dumicans for making Us so at home,
Linda, Norah and the rest of the staff at Barholm!!!! for reasons which were obvious to all who attended. ( looking forward to next year)
To the Mudcatters that attended!!! You were wonderful, and the Music and singing was Magical.
Finally to the MUDCAT, without which NONE of this would happen at all!!!
The First batch of pix are HERE

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Big Mick
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 08:44 PM

Great music, a flatulence contest, good friends, great food, a bonk in the night...............as they say south of here......"It jist don't git no better'n nat, Maw". I WILL be there next year. Thanks for the posts!!

Mick

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: alanww
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 07:56 PM

Jackie: Brill to see that you are up from your hospital bed and doing the bizz! Just loved your singing and thanks again for the lift from Belfast City Airport - what a champ!

I do hope you get your back sorted PDQ. I had a back problem myself a few years ago and I found one particular exercise helped enormously. I therefore showed it to Fib's mum, ie Lily(?) if I recall her name right, in the middle of a session at Fiddler's.

I was hands and knees on the floor alternately stretching out my right arm along with my left leg and then left arm with my right leg! I looked a right prat but who cares if you find it helpful too! I did it for 10 minutes three times a day even for a few months after the pains that I had been getting had gone.

Anyway mend quickly, good singing and I hope to see you at Portastock next year!

"Dear thoughts are in my mind ...!"
Alan

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: My guru always said
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 07:08 PM

Hey Jackie, you're very welcome! It was great to hear you sing, but we all wanted to hear you more - so next year you make sure you're fit & well! So glad you're improving, hope the medics can sort a permanent solution for that back of yours! Well met Jackie :-)

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: GUEST,eoin (jackie)
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 04:22 PM

Sorry to have missed the session on Sat and I believe some superb singing on Sunday. I enjoyed Friday night TOO much, in fact you might say 'I got carried away'. Thanks for the well wishes. Back is on the mend (I hope).Thanks for the words of 'Thaney', a cracker song and sung beautifully. I must get hold of the CD.It ws great to put a face to the names. You are all 'fantastic'!!!! I really enjoyed your cmpany and I must add Fib did a great job to organise it. (maybe an annual event) The Mudcat Ball. My Guru, what can I say . . . That song!! I only stopped laughing on Sunday. I enjoyed you's all. Hope to see you all again.               slan eoin (jackie)
ps. Micca I will get those CD's to you that I promised. I will try and find your address through Fib.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 01:41 PM

Great idea Terry. Micca and I definately want to go back, and for week sounds excellent!!!

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Leadfingers
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 01:36 PM

I mentioned the possibility of it all happening next year to Linda,and said IF it did I would try to get over for at least a week to be able to see some of the countryside,to which she replied that there would of course be a discount for a longer booking.There's a thought to bear in mind.My little drive round with Fibs mom as a raffle prize only wetted my appetite.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: My guru always said
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 10:22 AM

Aha, if Raven is who I think it is, he'd better get his driving license sorted out for next year coz I won't be offering him a lift! Still, at least I got to see the Giant's Causeway - that's something else, what a place!!

Fib: That was a fantastic weekend, thanks so much for getting it off the ground. Now, let's get next year sorted so that people have time to book cheap flights & commit themselves! Booking the whole hostel sounds best, surely we can get enough interest. Barholm is an excellent 'base' and 'Mine Host Linda' has said that although the accomodation is only for 50, there's a lot of leeway with spare 'put-you-up's' etc :-)

Thanks too to Fib's Family and the whole town for welcoming us with open arms! My best wishes to Jacky for his recovery - what a superb voice he has there. (Please tell him I had the same thing a while back - I know exactly what he suffered - thank goodness for morphine!) Hope he gets a chance to take a crack at 'Thaney' - when he hears the original version by 'Malinky' (on their 3 ravens CD) I think he'll be surprised - it's so much better when Karine Polwart sings it with all their instrumentation. Mine is a poor imitation.

Ferrying the 'lad' up to the top of the world on Sunday meant I missed the Cake icing session (so glad you rose to the challenge Skip), the raffle & group photo etc. Micca's going to be a bit technical later on & try to get me in the photo which would be wonderdful *g* Also missed goodbye hugs from Skip, Eric & Noreen so I'll claim those for the next time we meet!

Being a relatively recent Folkie and a novice at gathers and festivals I was delighted to be made so welcome (I think) by the Catters at the first 'Portstock', roll on next year & all the other good bits in between. Thanks all, may you always have music....

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Raven "Where's my pint"
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 09:28 AM

jebus that was all a good lot to read ...

i had alot of fun this weekend (althought i buggered off to the other side of the country half way (~_^))
if this does become annual i'll certainly have something to look forward to next year (^_^)

thanks for a good time guys - also funny to see that you guys have dirtier minds than me and my mates all put together :p

< Raven >

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 07:31 AM

Groningen needs kazoo for the A part of Ryan's Polka. I think that settles it.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: GUEST,Fibula (leaving Portaferry)
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 06:18 AM

Right folks, I'm off - I've a flight back to Bristol in a few hours.
I'm so glad you all enjoyed yourselves. I'm all on for making it an annual event!!

Frank says he's delighted you all enjoyed yourselves. Liam (the citern player, who should post for himself!) also had a blast. My parents thought you were all wonderful - a far cry from the evil axe-wielding maniacs they expected their daughter to hook up with online.
I'm off to see Jackie now - he's devastated that he missed the rest of the weekend. Then again, he probably got the most wasted of all of us, sky high on morphine on Saturday morning!

I'll post photos, tales and scandal when I'm back in work tomorrow.
Thanks for coming - it was fantastic to meet people again, and to meet the ones I hadn't met before. I'm weighing up my next options - Eurogathering versus Yorkshire...

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: alanww
Date: 03 Mar 03 - 07:58 PM

Well, come on chaps, I think that some of your comments are a little controversial and even below the belt! LOL

Is Cllr actually suggesting that I should not have orange juice with my corn flakes? In fact, it is delicious! For one thing, didn't I see that you took some ice with your Irish Whiskey? Sacrilege! And who missed out on a round of Guinness or six for some sleep ... ?

And is mooman suggesting that the result of eating a wonderful beef meal produced by Jude and Paul was a danger to mankind? In defence of them, I really don't think it is quite the thing insulting them that way! You didn't even taste the delectable concoction! And what about womankind, I say?   [Maybe there are other dangers they face - but I'm not mentioning any names please note Cllr!]

And just because I was asleep at the time Eric and Skip were getting up to their tricks, doesn't mean that I'm the only one who can play the "trumpet voluntary" with the organ in the middle of the face below my eyes! Well I'm too much of a gentleman to say what happened between the two of you at 4am whilst I was pretending to be asleep ... And I'm glad, glad, very, very glad, glad I'm not that goddam shee-eep!, with apologies to the fighting person from the ancient capital of Italy!

Miiiooouuuuuu! :o))

"I fell in love with a Mudcat Group ...!"
... with apologies to Cicely Fox Smith ...
Alan

PS Seriously though, I'm looking forward to seeing you all again soon - I know it will be Dog Days (next weekend!) for Leadfingers and perhaps the Yorkshire Gathering in May for others! A nicer group of people I couldn't hope to meet!

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Cllr
Date: 03 Mar 03 - 07:03 PM

Just to Clarify Saturday morning I had orange juice coffee, a bowl Cornflakes Bacon egg baked beans and half a potato cake, i only looked ill when Alannww decided to have his orange juice on his corn flakes. Sunday after crashing three hours earlier i did without the cornflakes, this morning I just had cornflakes. I had to post this As I don't want any one thinking there was something wrong with my appetite(s)**grin**Cllr

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 03 Mar 03 - 06:36 PM

What a Gentleman Mooman!!!

Glad you all got home safely, it was lovely to see you and Lady MacMoo and Hannah again.

Cat

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: mooman
Date: 03 Mar 03 - 06:29 PM

Just arrived home...I think we were the last to leave and leaving Portaferry was hard. Many thanks again to the wonderful Fibula and her lovely family for organizing a great weekend.

I have very little to add to Eric the Viking's entirely accurate account of the proceedings. We were on the ground floor and know nothing of any alleged nocturnal "activities" but there were indeed several very loud bonks bumps overhead during the not so early hours of the mornings.

For an essentially non-drinker, I managed to consume a surprisingly large quantity of the evil black stuff though, from breakfast recollections, not as much as the assembled multitudes. EtV managed to leave a very important detail out of the cake-icing workshop account (the process was carried out in the Fiddler's). Greg managed, with great delicacy and finesse, to beautifully decorate the cake with bright fluorescent icing....not with his name but, for some unexplained reason, the word "ARSE!". I got a bit of the exclamation mark and did, indeed, eat it off the Guinness-sodden floor.

I can vouch for the noxiousness of alanww's rear emission as reported above (as I was the closest person to him at the time of the atrocity. I believe the inpectors should be recalled from Iraq immediately as alan's arse presents an infinitely greater threat to mankind and (thinking of my friend CarolC...the ozone layer). This potent chemical weapon needs to be decommissioned immediately not least because 'Spaw may be knocked off his perch as champion practicioner in this particular area.

Being a gentleman of the highest degree I did not peek at all while Cats was removing her bra during the bra-swapping session.

I hope Micca does post up the authentic field recording done in the conservatory to the acdcompaniment of the ferry revving up and I do hope Lily Ani is not traumatised for life by the lullaby recorded for her.

It's well past midnight here in The Surreal Kingdom of Belgium so I'll knock off for now for some shut-eye and will try to complement the further recollections of a memorable weekend that will surely be posted by others.

Peace to all

moo

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 03 Mar 03 - 06:28 PM

Exactly Jude!!!

Subject: RE: N. Ireland gathering 2003 - THIS WEEKEND
From: JudeL
Date: 03 Mar 03 - 06:12 PM

Cat: I don't think they understood our explanation about sizes .....   after all it isn't D, 2D and 3D, ... it's D , DD and E