OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 08:48 AM

sometime soon I'll get a scanner ... Maybe I'll brave the post-christmas sale crowds.

Some techo bastard at work decided to get new photocopiers that scan to workgroup databases, so I can't get my wonderful colleagues to sneak in the occasional scan anymore. bugger

sandra

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 08:39 AM

Well, most of my pictures are of scenery. I tend not to take pictures of people. So mine would be a disappointment to most of the Aussies.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 06:33 AM

haven't you seen ours?

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: freda underhill
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 06:13 AM

so Bob, Sandra, Jenny, Charlie, Judy & Naemanson..

when will the photos show up?

fred

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 06:53 AM

G'day Chris and Brett,

The Oz Glossary ... I must admit that most of the pedantic footnotes are mine! (Joe Offer ran it back past me for comment ... but I think most of it came from John in Brisbane.)

Regard(les)s,

Bob

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 11:43 PM

I found that glossary before the trip and entertained thoughts of printing it out. However, I decided I didn't need to walk around Oz with it in my hands trying to figure out what people were saying. It was tough enough trying to understand Aussie as it was. When are you people going to learn how to speak English? *Grin*

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Canberra Chris
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 10:58 PM

A late message as I couldn't get onto the Cat for a few days, then had visitors stay.

Thanks Bob for the tune suggestions. I think I know the family you mean. Ten Thousand Miles Away would fit, but the full tune would stretch over two stanzas. There is advantage in using a known tune or tune family, as people can join in!

Charley and Judy - Glad your Northwest Passage got you safely home. Well, that's the way I visualise a flight to Maine, being innocent of any dealings with the Pacific, but I guess you really went Northeast! And the journey ain't over til the cats are happy.

If you or the Aussie Catters want some more amusement, I just found by chance the Aussie Glossary on the Mudcat, which is entertaining if slightly dubious here and there.

Cheers,
Chris

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Dec 03 - 02:00 PM

Brett et al-

It's really been a major snow storm here, with over a foot of snow with more to come, and a high cold wind to blow it all around. At least it's been a dry snow and we haven't had any major power outages. The driveway and the walks are clear. Judy's car battery needed to be revived after 3 weeks of meditation. Sure looks like winter around here!

Otherwise, I'm busy editing digital images that I took in Oz, hoping to pay for our trip by threatening to post some of the more embarrassing ones. However, my profits are sure to suffer from having to buy off all the photos and digital images that other people took of us.

Someone has our green squiggly that we released at the Loaded Dog. We wish them well and hope that they care for it properly.

Judy should be flying back from Oklahoma this evening, assuming that the snow ever stops. Her cat really misses her.

Hard to believe we were splashing in the surf at Maitland Bay just a week or so ago.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, still shoveling snow in Maine

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 06 Dec 03 - 07:11 PM

Welcome home, Charley. The news this morning is about the huge snow storm that is crippling the northeastern portion of the US. Please send me a picture. Maybe I'll laminate it and take it to the beach with me.

Judy must be struggling. Jet lag during a conference is hell. I've heard co-workers talk of the fight to stay awake when they go east for meetings or classes. I'll have my opportunity in February when I go to class in San Diego.

Oh, and just to clear up a spot of possible confusion, my class in Hawaii was postponed due to instructor illness. I don't know what the poor instructor has but s/he canceled a week ahead of the class so it must be serious.

Anyway, welcome home. Have fun with the pictures. I had my last rolls developed two days ago and bought a better album to put them in. I'll do that tonight while in front of the TV.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 06 Dec 03 - 06:44 AM

only 999? couldn't ya finish the film!!

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Dec 03 - 03:25 PM

Hi Gang-

Yes, we landed in dear old Maine last evening at 11 pm, Thursday, December 4th, 2003. Only about an hour later than scheduled but we FINALLY got out of Chicago, and they were so glad to get rid of us; at one point the folks at the gate desk offered to let us sing a few songs over their public address system to entertain everyone but Judy wisely pulled me back to my seat. So much for "Amelia Erhardt" and "Cowardly Act." We spent the night at a Portland airport hotel as Judy had a flight to catch this morning for a conference in Oklahoma. I needed to stick around and see if my banjo showed up on the next flight from Chicago, and it finally did and it was in perfect tune!

Now I'm back at the house, with a calcio long-haired cooncat purring in my lap. The other cat seems pleased to see me but is wondering WHAT I'VE DONE WITH JUDY. Dilbert the mouse was happy to get a pre-Christmas peanut, but probably would LOVE a chocolate Koala.

There's a huge box of mail to sort through, 3 weeks of newspapers, 185 e-mails but only 6 phone messages. Not bad!

We really had a wonderful time in Oz, our best vacation ever! And we'll think of you all fondly tomorrow as the promised snow storm fills up the walks and driveway, garnishes the trees, to welcome us home.

Now to download 999 digital images!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, back in Maine

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 Dec 03 - 05:48 AM

C'mon, lazybones! Wake up! It's only jet lag.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: JennyO
Date: 05 Dec 03 - 05:31 AM

Looking back over this thread, in his post of 15 Sept. at 4.30pm, Charlie said they would be flying out of Sydney yesterday (the 4th) at 3.15pm (our time), and landing on Thurs 4th at 10pm (their time) so unless that time changed, they would have landed before this. They are probably sleeping it off right now - that would be my guess.

Jenny

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 05 Dec 03 - 04:48 AM

G'day Brett,

That was Thursday (PM ... ?) Sydney time they were flying out ... you need to keep the 17-hour time lead in mind when figuring their progress. They are probably only some 15 - 18 hours on their way.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Dec 03 - 09:31 PM

Still no word from Charley. Are they home yet? Maybe they wouldn't let the banjo and the concertina back into the States. But that is too wise a decision to come out of this administration.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: JennyO
Date: 04 Dec 03 - 09:32 AM

It was Gavin Phillips and Ian ? from the James Craig, who sang a couple of shanties - "Haul away Joe" and "Boney was a warrior". We had a very good singing audience tonight - they raised the roof!

Wheelers and Dealers are an outstanding band - probably the finest bunch of musicians Sydney can offer. Unless you heard their CD I don't think you would have had a chance to hear them, unfortunately. One of their number, Chris Wheeler, was at the BBQ. Another one of them, Tony Pyrzakowski, who is also in the Wheeze 'n' Suck Band, is the best fiddle player I have ever heard, bar none.

So it was a ripper of a night. Shame you weren't still here. I won't upset Sandra by saying we have the best acoustics in Sydney, but we're pretty damn close - certainly comparable with the Dog acoustics anyway.

Much as I like to see John Dengate as often as possible, I don't think we will be going to his house concert, as it is at Bundeena, which is way down south, in the National Park. It's the sort of place you only want to go to if you are staying overnight. So it will be a fairly quiet weekend for us - a chance to catch up with chores around the house - and prepare for the onslaught of the next weekend.

Jenny

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Dec 03 - 08:31 AM

Brett & Charley - another great night of music at Jenny's club - Ian (from Wheeze & Suck Band), & Wheelers & Dealers. Lots of great music - & a good singing audience. But bloody hot - the fans were not much more than decorations & I spent a bit of time outside (the smoker who came outside when I was there moved a loooong way away!) The music was just as great from outside. Floor acts included a pair of shanty singers from the James Craig

Now there is no more live music till Sunday - John Dengate in a house concert, but I do have 2 new CD's - The Weavers, Rarities from the Vanguard vault (10 unreleased tracks - yummy) & The Definitive Collection of The Watersons, so I'll have lots of good stuff to listen to on Friday night. I've also been lent some blues, Leon & Eric Bibb, so I'll have enough to keep me occupied.

sandra

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: JennyO
Date: 04 Dec 03 - 02:16 AM

Yes please, any time!

Jenny

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Dec 03 - 01:48 AM

Bye, Charley and Judy, have a nice flight home... oh, uh, by my calculations you are already on that flight.

Oh well, roll in the snow for me when you get there.

As for the rest of youse down under, watch out! I ain't so far away that I can't come back and annoy you all again!

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 03 Dec 03 - 09:31 PM

G'day Judy & Charlie,

Well, at least this holiday will have put on a layer or two of insulation for back in (in)temperate Maine!

Chris: The song The Walloping Window Blind is a relative (a cheerful 'Music Hall' bastard ... ?) of the Ten Thousand Miles Away / Old Palmer Song group. I have old sheet music for it - and could e-mail you a GIF image ... if you're interested in the dots (or you could just bend the Old Palmer Song to shape!). Personally, I can't quite fit the local tunes ... so I will have a look at how The Walloping Window Blind actually sounds ... when I get home.

Come to think of, when I first read your words, I could hear something more traditional ... something very like Rolling Down to Old Maui sounds right on a second reading.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: JennyO
Date: 03 Dec 03 - 09:05 PM

Bye Charlie and Judy. Sad that you have to leave our warm shores to go back to the frozen wastes. I would love to think that one day John and I will be able to visit you and have one of those lobster bakes. It's certainly worth saving for!

Right now I have the Roll & Go CD on - it's playing "Bully in the Alley" with you singing and Brett on the bones, and it's bringing back fond memories. Today would have been a lovely day for a BBQ - perfect weather. Oh well...............

See you in the threads, Jenny

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Dec 03 - 06:30 PM

Good luck, Chris! We do envy your access to the Craig, and please convey our best wishes to the crew, and tell them if they ever drop the mudhook in Portland-East we'll treat them all to a lobster bake.

Well, it's final packing for our exit from Sydney. What a wonderful vacation. Yesterday, we had coffee and pastries with Margaret on Glebe Point Rd., swapping archane information about folk music contacts, and turning over to her about 5 kilos of song sheet copies, one or two of which I didn't get the opportunity to sing.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, off to frozen Maine

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 07:57 PM

Face it Chris, you are doomed! Give in to fate and get up the rigging!

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Canberra Chris
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 07:00 PM

Charley - there was a tune, but it's gone! Might come back. It was still hot for shaping. Anything that trips along and fits will do. Needs a bit of a lilt to catch the internal rhymes and the sea movement. I don't know the one you mention, but I love the title.

Sounds like you know how to travel, be a gracious guest, and enjoy the world.

Sandra - It's an IQ test. If I go back, I lose. Somehow I think stupidity might just get the better of me. If I go aloft you can write me off altogether. The struggle has already started. The picture of what is going on in my head is the Roll and Go logo. Aaargh! I'm being dragged under by a sea monster.

Chris

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 04:18 PM

Well, to finish out the BBQ with our nephew and his wife's, after the fish, salad, beer, and wine, there came a large platter with a mound, the Pavlova! Good lord, how one is expected to destroy such a beautiful creation? But we had no choice but to comply, plate after plate eroded the mound down to a more or less level plain, burp!

This morning we crawled out of bed early to wish our hosts the best as they cheerfully went off to work. We'll do some clean-up, admire the birds some more in the back yard, and go back to bed! Sometime later, I'm sure, we'll finish packing and make our way to Gosford and catch the rail back to Sydney. Looks like a lovely day!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 04:11 PM

Well, if music sessions are so common there in Oz then I will have to think seriously about it being my future home. Back home in Maine you pratically have to drag people in to enjoy music more than once a month at a coffeehouse. Imagine, BBQs and sessions to go to as often as that!

Charley, you are going to have to make some real changes to Maine society to get them to catch up to Oz.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 07:18 AM

Charley - "From some ocean sailing I did back in 1965, I can generally determine the pointy part of the ship from the rear porch and I can look awfully wise as I stand abaft the mizzen and tap the compass rose on the rail."

I have photos of you looking wise on the James Craig!

Until Chris mentioned seasickness I had a vague thought of one day saving my pennies & buying a ticket to go out on the James Craig - forget it!

My sea experience is limited to the Manly ferry & rolling up & down when it crossed the INSIDE of the Heads. Of course that was back in the long-ago when water was not my only drink & I did have a hangover, something that never happens now (us water drinkers never get hangovers!!!), but the motion of the sea was not pleasent and that was inside the Heads.

Chris is welcome to the open sea, I'll stick to just looking at it as I will be doing Friday when we have our Office chrissy lunch at Watson's Bay.

sandra

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 12:32 AM

Jenny-O-

Yes, we've heard the "tinkle" of the bellbirds. We sit out on the deck with our breakfast, bird guide in hand, and just admire what happens in the woodlot next door.

We just got back from our run up the coast to Swansea, where I won $6 at the slots in the sailing club that we stopped at for lunch. I'm spending it all on beers for this evening's BBQ. One of the nicest places we stopped at was Noah's Head, a high sandstone wavecut cliff overlooking a terrace of older metasediment broken up into huge squares, some of which have beautiful bowl-shaped tidepools; each little pool its own separate world.

Tomorrow back to Sydney, assuming we can find our way back to Gosford and the rail station.

Chris-

Nice song! Any clue what tune you sing it to? It kind of works to "The Whalloping Window Blind" but what tune was in your head.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: JennyO
Date: 01 Dec 03 - 11:51 PM

Brett, glad you arrived back safely and everything was still there. Did you get through the mountain of emails yet?

I suppose you have now listened to the Solidarity Choir? You said you know Nkosi Sikelel'iAfrica, so I imagined you singing along. Just as a matter of interest, the little call at the beginning, "Ma kube njalo" was done by two of the Touchwood people - Kate (Chicky) the soprano in Touchwood, and Terry, who was at the BBQ but you didn't really meet him, I think you said. They are in the choir photos on the CD cover and insert, as well as Callie, the other Touchwood singer. In fact, you will spot a few familiar faces in the photos - me, of course, tho my hair was shorter and redder then, Miguel and Tony who were at the BBQ, Simon, whom you saw at the Loaded Dog, and Amalina.

I've just been up on the Central Coast myself. I was visiting my little grandson Max, at North Gosford, and I spent Sunday night and half of yesterday at Simon's place at Kincumber, so I would have been quite close to Charlie, geographically.

Actually Charlie, I'm quite familiar with that area, having lived in several locations on the Central Coast in a previous life. In the 1970's, when I was married, we lived at North Avoca, just over the hill from Terrigal. We used to go out in a small power boat from Terrigal Haven and fish over a reef about 12 miles out from Terrigal. We were able to find the spot regularly by lining up certain buildings on shore. One day, when the outboard motor was quite new, we had had a successful day's fishing, and were coming back with several quite large snapper.

At about the point where we should have been swinging round to the left to come ashore at the Haven, the motor died, and we were faced with the prospect of riding the breakers in to Terrigal Beach. It was all very dramatic. He said - "Sit up on the front and be ready to jump off and swim when I tell you". All I could think about was what a shame it was going to be to lose the lovely 9lb snapper I had caught if the boat tipped over.

So I did what he said, and was poised ready to jump. Then the moment came - he said "Jump!"..................




































































.......and I found myself wading in water just past my knees. So we walked in to the beach pulling the boat, feeling pretty silly. Later, another boat owner towed our boat round to the Haven.

Another thing that I remember happened during the time we were living there - there was a caravan park at the base of the Skillion (I don't know if it is still there or not). One night there was a very bad storm and a huge wave came in and flooded the caravan park, carried tents away and knocked caravans over, and generally made a real mess of the place. I don't remember whether there was any loss of life, but if there isn't a caravan park there now, it is probably because they decided after that, that it wasn't a safe place to have one.

BTW Charlie, have you noticed the sound of the bellbirds - "ping, ping, ping" ? It's one of the most noticeable things about the Central Coast IMO.

Now if you guys think we just put on extra sessions and things to make you work harder while you were here, you should know that the night after you left, John and I went to a big BBQ and session at Kurrajong, at the home of a friend of ours, Warren Bishop (who calls himself Arch Bishop). With the exception of a few diehards like us, Sandra and Jane Faulkner, it would have been a whole new set of people for you to meet, had you still been around, many of them fine musicians too. What a shame you didn't hear Mick Griffin play the didgeridoo or John Grenenger do one of his silly songs, or Arch doing "Shopping trolley rage" (funny poem), or Duncan Chalmers with his fine voice, or Toni and Aitch (Lost and Found) .................
I see, Charlie, that you did get to hear Lost and Found anyway.

And that's not all - tonight there's a session at the Riverview, a pub in Balmain, and my folk club is on Thursday night. We're just a bunch of party animals, that's what. We'll be happy to wear you out any time.

Brett, you mentioned letting you know about festivals and things up in Queensland. I know this is pretty soon, but there is one coming up in Woodford just after Christmas. It happens to be the biggest festival in Australia. John and I will be there, as the Roaring Forties will be performing, and we will be helping to run sessions in the Singing Shed. Here is the official website Woodford Folk Festival and the unofficial one, Woodford Folk Festival Fun Site which gives you more of a feel of what the festival is like. I believe there will be other mudcatters there as well. Bob Bolton has already made Mudcat badges for us to give to rich-joy, John in Brisbane and Margret RoadKnight, and there will be others, including Miguel and another one of his choirs - "Ecopella" - Tony and the Touchwood people are in that one.

Jenny

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Dec 03 - 09:49 PM

Excellant! Now, your task is to write a song at each stage of your development as a blue water, square rig, sailor. When you reach able bodied seaman we shouldn't be able to understand you at all, much like middle management in government service.

Subject: Lyr Add: FIRST TIME OUT (Chris Clarke)
From: Canberra Chris
Date: 01 Dec 03 - 08:52 PM

FIRST TIME OUT

If your stomach's strong
And the weekend long
And your plans for Sunday vague
And you like good cheer
With a touch of fear
Volunteer on the ship James Craig

With a harness on
Up aloft they've gone
Just a slip from heaven, so
Each one's a saint -
But a saint I ain't
So I stayed on the deck below

There's lots of ropes
At similar slopes
Each wound around a pin
At turn about
You ease them out
Or sweat the buggers in

The theory how
From stern to bow
Is a wondrous thing to know
But they sag and lag
And snag and jag
Out here where the true winds blow

When friction locks
The tackle blocks
A little spills to the decks
But you're adults all
Some call, some haul,
No regard for age or sex

Your main defence
Is common sense
Of eye and mind and hand
And listen well
For a yell will tell
What you need to understand

At end of day
And a weary way
The deck's abuzz with cheer
For you make friends fast
Before the mast
And you hold not rope but beer

                                Chris Clarke, first sail Sunday 30 November 2003

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Dec 03 - 06:17 PM

Chris-

Sure sounds like you've gotten some "hands-on" experience. My only advantage would be my knowledge of sailing jargon, which in a real work situtation would earn me a swift kick in the rear by an attentive bucko mate. Ah, the days of a "Paddywester"! From some ocean sailing I did back in 1965, I can generally determine the pointy part of the ship from the rear porch and I can look awfully wise as I stand abaft the mizzen and tap the compass rose on the rail.

You must learn a few verses of "Dramamine", changing the name to whatever archane formulation folks aboard the Craig use to mitigate seasickness. The song is on our Roll & Go CD and easily found in the Digital Tradition archives.

Looks a little cloudy out today here in Terrigal but that didn't stop a rainbow lorikeet from dropping down on a nearby pine-like tree next to our breakfast deck to be photographed. Pretty birdie!
Guess we'll pick up our nephew and head up the coast to The Entrance, where the ocean cuts through the barrier beach and forms a great inland sea.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, still on vacation

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Dec 03 - 05:31 PM

Chris, don't make the mistake of thinking your experience reflects the reality of the old sailors' lives. You were a green hand on a ship full of green hands in varying degrees (and apparently shades) of green. There would not have been that level of chaos with a bucko mate pushing a crew of able seamen with old fashioned brutality and vulgarity. And you were apparently short handed.

This is, by the way, a witch's brew guaranteed to result in injury and damage. I'm afraid the days of sailing the Craig may be limited. Once someone gets hurt the Australian version of the Coast Guard may step in and limit what you can do. It might be appropriate to do a lot of sail training at the pier before you go out into the harbor. However they decide to do it I hope they keep sailing her.

If you can find it you would be amused to read the story of Lettie Freeman's diary which has been published as "500 days Around The World". She sailed on her father's bark in the mid to late 1800s. As she tells the tale they sailed with only seven men and the captain. And one of those seven was the cook! If I run across it in my boxes of books I will send it to you. You can give it back when I return to Australia.

I hope this experience doesn't sour you on going back. From the tone of your post it sure seems like you'll go back. And it sounds like you'll sing those songs with more appreciation of the men who had to do the work.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Canberra Chris
Date: 01 Dec 03 - 09:24 AM

As predicted for my day crewing on the James Craig there was no prouder heart ... however also no sicker stomach! I was not alone - they broke the record for medication use. Something to do with going out under steam rather than sail.

First thing they did was put me in a climbing harness, but then vetoed me going up untrained. So I watched the real 'climbers', both genders and most over sixty, balancing on a cable slung below the yardarm up to 100 feet up, while performing difficult and dangerous contortions, and bloody hard work. I have completely reset my opinion and expectations of that generation.

But there was plenty to do on deck on the fore-watch, especially short-handed. We worked some of the heavier equipment and machinery to do with the anchor and docking, and mainly worked the yacht-type sails at the front (I won't be technical!) and the square foremast sails. The processes of getting sails up and down, and shifted from side to side are confusing and complicated, and hard work. I thought I was pulling damned hard, til a 'little old lady' demonstrated putting your back into it!

There are also sudden reverses of orders, as conditions change, or mechanical hitches snarl up procedures. Even the watch system broke down and I found myself working all over the ship. Normal procedure gets overtaken by chaos but re-emerges. There is a lot of practical problem-solving on the run, mostly requiring very quick thinking, as 5% of everything snags somewhere.

You are ALERT every second for six hours. When the rope that has escaped the hand of your neighbour is holding the end of a spar below which ten people are balanced on a wire several stories above deck, your reaction time matters.

There was one hand who did some singing, while organising passengers into a line pulling ropes, but shanties soon degenerated into 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' etc, but I would guess that used to happen anyway!

I don't know if I will sound any different, but my attitude to singing sea songs has been altered forever by a brief experience of doing or watching it for real.

The crew were just great people, with inexhaustible patience, courage and stamina. And what was once defined as 'grace under pressure'.

Thanks to Sandra for putting me up again at short notice.

Chris

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Dec 03 - 08:42 AM

how's the email log-jam?

I spent almost 2 hours this morning reading my mail (32 messages)& the 4 important databases I use (about 600 documents). Fortunately I didn't have to read every document, lots weren't relevant & my colleague Paul had sent home Committee & personal emails so I only had about 6 official emails to deal with.

You travel over 1000 miles to get some Tim Tams & find them in your own back yard!

sandra

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Dec 03 - 08:27 AM

Hi, JennieG. Yes I did hear about the TimTams "suck". I had a foretaste of the experience when I dropped a corner of one of the cookies into my coffee. Once I fished it out and ate it the feling of pleasure and peace filled my soul and a silly grin covered my face.

I am looking forward to trying the "suck". In fact I forgot about it until you mentioned it. Maybe tomorrow.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Dec 03 - 03:55 AM

Vacation is still running for some of us, although along more conventional terms. We soloed today in our little rental car, running up to the wine country in the Hunter Valley. Nothing exciting to report on the way; Judy did a great job shouting out instructions to turn and then covering her eyes. We only made five of the wine cellars before we had to call it a day, leaving 95 more on the shelf so to speak. We brought bottles of wine back for our Terrigal genial hosts, and picked up some brekki items (sooo hard to cross a busy street to a shopping center on the other side of the road).

Sure miss all the fine singing of you sydneysiders, and the company. But we're doing our best to drown our sorrows...

Tomorrow, it's another BBQ and then it's riding the rail back to Sydney.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: JennieG
Date: 01 Dec 03 - 12:20 AM

Brett,
Did anyone explain the Tim Tam Suck to you? It's not as obscene as it sounds! You just bite of a corner of a Tim Tam, then bite off the diagonally opposite corner, then insert it in a cup of coffee and suck up the coffee/Tim Tam filling as if through a straw......
Definitely not to be tried in front of someone you wish to impress.
Last week was lovely, it was great to meet some real live overseas Mudcatters!
Cheers
JennieG (the one with long auburn hair)

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Nov 03 - 11:21 PM

Email count - 397! A new record for me.

TimTams: I was so proud to bring three packages to these delicious cookies to the lunch table. Those who ate of the fruit agreed they were wonderful and they began to make plans on how to get more. Then Kit showed up, took one look at the package, and told us we could get them for $1.50 each at the local Payless grocery stores!

Sigh...

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: bbc
Date: 30 Nov 03 - 09:54 PM

Brett & Charley,

Thanks for sharing your trip w/ us. I'm glad you had a good time. Welcome home!

bbc

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Nov 03 - 07:00 PM

Sigh, here I am, back at work. My computer is busy downloading the email inbox. So far we have 272 messages and it is only back to November 18, 5 days to go but two of them are weekend days. I have already been confronted with two emergencies including an emotional co-worker and the possible cancellation of my trip to Hawaii.

The TimTams went over very well. I should have bought a case instead of the three packages I did bring. I brought the standard milk chocolate, the hazelnut pralines, and the dark chocolate TimTams. The consensus is that the dark chocolate are the best.

But I have Dave Alexander on the CD player and John Warner is in the line up following that plus the Solidarity Chorus and then the Trad&Now Tapestry collection I bought on my first night there. I forgot my Margaret Walters CD at home so she will have to wait till tomorrow.

Thanks again to everyone!

Email still downloading...

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 30 Nov 03 - 06:11 PM

Charley,
don't drive while tired - we have enough AUSSIES who can't stay on the correct side of the road! and we would hate to lose you...

oh, and take care with the wine - especially if you are tired - while you may dodge the booze buses, you might need a "Designated Driver"..

Robin

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Nov 03 - 06:35 AM

Charley - Chris is so serious about the James Craig he bought a book of discounted bus tickets (10 return trips, I think). He must be back in Canberra by now, I wonder why he hasn't posted! I'm awaiting a copy of the Bums at the Dog - that'll be a CD I play to death, tho I wouldn't object to a copy of the James Craig session, either!

sandra - missing everyone, but almost recovered from a very busy singing week & ready for work tomorrow, tho fortunately there is a session on Tuesday & JennyO's club on Thursday

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Nov 03 - 06:01 AM

Bob-

We did get your CD of digital images before we left. We haven't had a chance to view them but we're prepared to pay you vast sums of money to permanently delete the files. *BG* (Bob - Thanks! Even the label looks great! Can't wait to see the pictures! - JudyB)

Chris-

We would also love to hear what you have recorded of the Craig session. Of course converting that into a MP3 file might be a major undertaking. However, a cassette would be fine. You are one lucky seadog to get to sail on the Craig. Tell us more!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Nov 03 - 05:34 AM

Brett-

So glad to hear that you made it back to Guam relatively safe and secure. Wasn't this VACATION fun?

We're safe here in Terrigal, after a wonderful train ride up from Sydney. We've been having splendid weather, excellent guides who have dragged us to remote beaches, wonderful places to eat, out to a historic town called Morpeth, up to Newcastle where among other things we tracked down the Hunter Valley/Newcastle Folk Club at a street fair and I was invited to sing a couple of songs. It was nice to hear Lost 'n' Found singing Henry Lawson's "Outside Track" as we came in. I asked them later where they got their arrangement and they explained from Margaret Walters and John Warner, of course! Then we were off to another wonderful feed and sightseeing along the sea wall. I could spend a week prowling around Newcastle but we're running out of time.

We've rented a car and I'm reajusting to driving on that other side of the road. Oh, Lord, here comes another round-a-bout! Tomorrow, without guides, we drive up through the Hunter Valley in search of wine. It's a dangerous job but we're planning each step carefully.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 30 Nov 03 - 05:32 AM

G'day Brett,

Oh well, back to the grind tomorrow morn!

"... Jenny, Jenny, Jenny (*grin* they are each different people) ..." - yeah, but one was Jennie(G).

The " ... the two young ladies in Touchwood ... " were Mudcatters 'Callie' and 'Chicky' (and I ofetn see their other third - Terry - on the bus into work ... though he usually staggers unseeing past - mind blank with the appalling prospect of 'One More Day on the Grey Flannel Line!

BTW: I slipped a CD under the Horvath's door for Charley and Judy ... the few photos I took (photography's work ... music and friend take precedence!). I'll send some "web-sized" JPGs to the Mudcat.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Hrothgar
Date: 29 Nov 03 - 11:06 PM

Brett,

For checking on things in Queensland:

www.powerup.com.au/~dnichols/

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 29 Nov 03 - 10:09 PM

It is noon:37 here on Guam and I am home after a grueling flight home. I've had a wonderful vacation but I have also learned some valuable lessons. I certainly won't set myself up with a return flight system like that. And I won't leave for as long as this next time. After all I am only 2100 miles north of Cairns. It's practically next door...

I got into Guam at about 5:30 AM and home around 7:30 AM after clearing customs and immigration. The actual process of getting through customs and immigration wasn't difficult but a plane from Saipan arrived at the same time and both our plane and the Saipan plane had pasengers that were connecting to other flights and they were allowed through first.

And for those who are curious, yes, the house and all it's contents were still here when I arrived. At some point the landlord must have arranged to have the grass cut and the lovely plants in the front planter have all been cut back to 6" tall from their former 4 1/2' tall. But they will grow back like weeds and, I hope, flower again before too long.

Thanks once again to all my new friends in Australia. I wish I could list them all but I would be sure to leave out names. However I will try. In no particular order, thanks to Sandra, John, Chris, Amelina, Jenny, Jenny, Jenny (*grin* they are each different people), Jane, Bob, Gavin, Sally, Ross, the two young ladies in Touchwood (I didn't get to meet their singing partner in the trio), and many, many others.

Thanks to those who handed over copies of their CDs willy nilly whenever I turned around. I now have a substantial addition to my library and can only hope Charley provided a copy of our CD in reply ("Charley?" He says THREATENINGLY)

And especially thanks to Margaret, my dear hostess and provider of "...grub, and a place to sleep, in God's Great Public Park..." and so much more - tourist services, guided tours, and time to go through her excellant folk music library. And a special hello and thanks to Golightly, the resident cat.

Please realize I am groggy and still working on processing the trip. Please add your name to the list and I will add a thank you for each and every one. This is not a request for you to be selfserving and to raise a grumble because I left you out. It will spark a tired brain and revive memories that I want to write down.

I think I need some breakfast too. My last meal was a snack somewhere over the Pacific not too long after I left Cairns.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 Nov 03 - 01:30 PM

"Then we all moved up to the bow and discovered a capstain to play with. Several bars were fitted in and soon three of us were working our way around, heaving at the bars as the pawls clicked away, to the verses of Randy Dandy-O." - Charley Noble

LOL! I was watching the "work" around the capstan. If a real old time sailor had seen you guys he'd have laughed his pants off and then offered to set it up so you could take a strain on something. However, as Charley says, it was great singing the song with the pawl and ratchet sopunds carrying through the night air.

Last night was indeed my last in Sydney. I will fly out today on my long journey back. It wouldn't be so long but I have a five hour wait in Cairns for my plane to Guam. An interesting note is that it will take longer to fly to Cairns from Sydney than it will to fly to Guam from Cairns.

Please keep me tuned in to when the folk festivals and gatherings are happening. If it is in Queensland I could take a few days off and hop over to attend.

Thanks to everyone for making my stay in Sydney such a lovely time. I hope to make it down here again real soon.

Brett

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: JennyO
Date: 28 Nov 03 - 09:36 AM

Chris, I'd love to hear your recording!

Well, our friend Amalina had a chance to meet Charlie, Judy and Brett tonight. She had been too sick last week and had missed the Loaded Dog and the BBQ. We had dinner at a little cafe in Erskineville, then went back to Amalina's for a sing, in a nice room with good acoustics at the back of the co-op. Sandra and I both had a lot of photos to show, and I know there will be lots of others. Hopefully there will be a large collection of Oz Foray photos on Mudcat soon.

We were having a very pleasant relaxing time, and we'd probably still be there now, if it hadn't been for little bits of commonsense creeping annoyingly into our consciousness. Eventually it had to end, and reluctant goodbyes were said. The Sydney part of the trip is over, and Brett will be flying back to Guam (but back in Oz next year - yay!).

So bye bye lovely people. It's been delightful getting to know you. I hope we can meet many more times. I'll miss you all (sniff sniff)

Jenny :-(