OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: SINSULL
Date: 24 Nov 03 - 09:44 PM

Not a single mention of Pavlova. You are not going to send them back without a bit, are you?

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: JennieG
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 01:45 AM

Lamingtons aren't bad either.
I would like to second (and third) all that has been said about the weekend - it was great. Judy I'm sorry you have fallen foul of one of our biteys but at least it wasn't a shark! We'll see you on Thursday night in town.
And I notice there hasn't been a mention of the large G-clamp (at least I think that's what it was, I don't have a technical brain when it comes to tools and stuff) that fell off the roof very close to Charley's banjo - missed by a bee's dick I believe -
Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 02:16 AM

Yes, unfortunately that huge clamp missed the banjo.

Sinsull, I don't know what Pavlova is but make sure you get Charley and Judy to share the TimTams with you. I have it on good authority that they will be bringing a good assortment back with them.

This morning Margaret introduced me to Weetbix. Yummy brekky cereal.

I went to the Australian Museum today. I saw redbacks, funnelwebs, taipans, estuarine crocodiles, and many other bitey things. Fortunately they were all safely dead and preserved behind glass. Tomorrow Charley and I are headed out on the Sydney Ferry for a run up to Manley.

The time is running out and soon I will have to go back to Guam. Sigh, it must be time to start saving for my next trip to Oz.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 02:55 AM

By the way, I saw vegemite in the grocery store yesterday. I made sure to steer a wide path around it and away from it.

Sins, I hink I found a piece of black opal for you. You were right, it is all over the place. Hell, they seem to pave the streets with it.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Lana
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 03:52 PM

definitely stay away from the vegemite....so gross! do they have marmite there too? also gross!

talk to you soon dad, we'll have to try to arrange a phone call for when you get back. i'm moving to a new house on friday, so i'll email you my new phone number when i get it.

love you,
kelli

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 05:06 PM

Yesterday, Ron and I made it out to South Head, in between the showers. Lovely wave cut sandstone, the old lighthouse keeper's stone house, remnants of gun emplacements. What a dynamic view of North Head, and I'm amazed that someone has blown up that "ripper rock" in the middle of the channel. We had previously found shelter from the showers at Doyle's Fish & Chips take-out counter, fought our way through the flocks of seagulls to a bench and fortified ourselves for the trek along the shore.

We also checked out Victoria Street, the battlefield against the forces of urban renewal/removal back in the 1970's, sang a verse or two of Denis Kevans' protest song "Across the Western Suburbs" in honor of the neighborhood organizers. The area now reminds me of Greenwich Village back in the 1970's with its nicely renovated housing, coffeeshops, marketshops. One gets a nice view of the Woolloomooloo finger pier from the promenade.

Then we took off for Botany Bay to view what we could of the container port. Well, we didn't see much through the chain-link fence but the good news is that we didn't attract the attention of any security people.

Today, it looks bright and sunny, a splendid day for a harbor ferry cruise to Manley.

Off to brekky! Why would they serve pickles with toasted bagel and cream cheese?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 06:19 PM

Well, he went out to brekky and here I am waiting for him so we can explore Sydney Harbor. I hope they feed him a marmite and vegemite breakfast sandwich!

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Canberra Chris
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 08:50 PM

NORTHWEST PASSAGE (Northwest Passage: Stan Rogers)

Dedicated to the Aussie forwards in the 2003 World Cup final, and the gallant Canberra-based Canadians.

Chorus: Ah, for just one time I would take the Northwest Passage
To find the hand of Johnson reach illegal for the ball;
Tracing one more line through a pack so wild and savage
And make a Northwest Passage through the maul.

Westward from the scrum-base 'tis there 'twas said to lie
The route through the advantage line for which so many try;
Seeking cup and glory, leaving weary, broken bones
And a long-forgotten trail of grunts and moans.

Three driving mauls thereafter, I take passage overland
In the footsteps of brave Finnegan, when through the scrum he ran
Watching flankers rise before him, then behind him sink again
That hardiest of forwards, driving on despite the pain.

And through the maul, behind the ball, the leg-drive pushing west
I think upon big Willie, Toutai Kefu and the rest
Who cracked their forward ramparts and did show a path for mine
To race a roaring charge across the line.

How then am I so different from the first men through this way?
Like them, I left a settled life, I threw it all away.
To seek a Northwest Passage through the strength of many men
To find myself flung backwards once again.

by Chris Clarke

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 10:17 PM

G'day Chris,

Very nice ... it could almost make me see the whole game in terms of glory ... but then!

Judy, Charlie & Brett: I hope that the clear patches outnumber the overcast - the wind is angling more eastward, but it does not seem to be bringing rain, so maybe Sydney is being a bit more cheery.

See you all on board the James Craig, Thursday night.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 03:25 AM

I didn't get rained on today! That is the first time since I left Port Douglas! However, Charley took me over to Manley on the ferry and the salt spray stood in for the rain.

Sydney has a fun ferry ride. The boat has to cross the entrance to the harbor and rolls broadside through the swells coming in from outside. I saw another ferry roll up a significant amount of bottom paint and when we returned over that same route I could see why. The spray came in over the bow and soaked us where we sat.

So, technically, I have once more been wetted as I visit Sydney. Maybe they should send me out west where the drought is giving them problems. One day out there and they'd have all the rain they wanted.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 04:19 AM

While you're here, listening to the current Aussie news, enjoy
Aussie Politics In Song
Robin

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Hrothgar
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 04:31 AM

Beautiful, Chris!

Especially the bit about Martin Johnson doing illegal things.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 08:06 AM

ps. Charley & Brett - It's MANLY - & , it was so named by Governor Phillip in 1788 because the natives had a manly bearing! Rushcutters Bay just down the road from me was another coining of his - the natives were cutting rushes when he saw them there.

Lana - we do have (English) Marmite here also Promite (dunno who makes that), do you want your father to bring back a jar of each for tasting when you next meet? (Just joking!!)

Chris - great song, but then I'm prejudiced cos I think all your songs are great. See ya.

sandra (only 10 hours till visitors arrive, then 9 more till we all get to the James Craig, maybe I'd better get to bed sometime soonish)

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Lana
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 11:51 AM

That's okay Sandra, besides I won't be seeing my father for rather long time as he's in Guam and I'm in England and a poor student unable to afford the ridiculously expensive airfare to fly half way around the world.
I avoid Marmite and vegemite at all costs, especially have someone tricked me into eating a Twiglet. (in case you don't know what those are...imagine pretzels except instead of salt they are covered in marmite. *shudder*)

Lana

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 03:42 PM

Whoops! Not only do I mispell "Manly" but I forgot the negative above for "I'm amazed that someone has blown up that 'ripper rock' in the middle of the channel." That should have read "I'm amazed that someone HASN'T blown up that 'ripper rock' in the middle of the channel." The underwater rock is now plainly marked by surrounding bueys, not to mention white water at the right tide, but I bet it still nails a boat or two cruising along at night.

The Sydney ferry to Manly has to be my favorite ferry ride. Sorry, San Francisco and New York, there's just no comparison. Brett was wondering why we were so lucky to find that empty bench up on the weather side of the bow. She does ship a just a little water as she rolls past the channel of the harbor mouth.

This evening we try out the acoustics aboard the steel bark the James Craig. I was aboard her last week for a tour and they've done a lovely job putting her back together. She's a 1870's vintage cargo carrier, semi-clipper in design, sailed around Cape Horn more than a dozen times, manned by less than 20 crew members. Massive steel spars and lower yards. Now she sails out past Sydney's heads every other weekend and her schedule just doesn't work for me...

But we're looking forward to singing with Gavin Phillips and the rest of his crew. What joy!

Now it's off to brekky and then over to Kings Cross to meet with Sandra.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 05:35 PM

Oh Kelli! What a gross thing for anyone to do to you. I trust that person is permanently on your shit list.

You know, dear, if you wanted to come visit in 2005 I can start saving money now to get you to Guam. I would love for you to get the chance to see my new home. Maybe, if you can take enough time off, we could go visit some of the other wonderful Pacific islands as well.

(Please note, this offer only applies to my own family members. Sorry but I ain't paying for anyone else to come to guam. However, I will provide a bedroom for those who wish to chance it.)

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: SINSULL
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 10:25 PM

Pavlova (named for the famous ballerina who could not have enjoyed one and still fit into a tutu):
A heavenly concoction with a meringue base filled with whatever fresh fruit is in season and topped with mounds of whipped cream. Sinful.

So no one's been attacked by a kangaroo???? My record stands.

Just saw an episode of "Judging Amy" (pure sop) in which land investment in Guam is discussed. The next Hawaii. Maybe your ticket to billions, Brett.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 01:57 AM

Lana - that "treat" sounds awful. I'm not a great Vegemite fan - when I was younger I used to have a slab of fresh bread, covered with a slab of butter, then a thin scrape of vegemite then crunchy peanut butter. YUM

However my sister is a serious vegemite addict. I dunno what the crew in business class think when my sister & brother-in-law return to California, Nigeria or now Kuwait with a year's supply of huge jars of Vegemite (something like 10 jars @ 3 kilos) ps. Pam does not scrape it on her bread (but apart from this weird characteristic she is a very nice person)

Sinsull - I showed the visitors a picture of a pavlova in one of my cookbooks. They were impressed.

We chatted & lunched, & I really must log out soon as shanty singing starts at 7pm & its 5.55 here

sandra

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 07:26 AM

G'day,

Sandra did, indeed, get to the James Craig Shanty session ... along with Charlie, Brett & Judy ... and Canberra Chris - making the 3+ hours each way trip from Canberra just for the great session! In the end, we had 3 of the Roaring Forties: Margaret Walters, John Warner and Tom Hanson ... so the James Craig crew got some interesting cross-feed on shanty singing - in Australian and Maine accents! I hope this lays a foundation for wider interest in the James Craig - 1876 3-masted barque - her crewing and the shanty sessions.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: JennyO
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 08:10 AM

Well, the weather has finally come good. It was a lovely clear night, with just a little coolness. The James Craig is a very impressive ship. We sang first below deck, and after a guided tour, we sang some more on the deck, surrounded by the harbour lights and with a little thin sliver of a new moon in the sky. It certainly added something to be singing sea songs in such a location!

Altogether a very enjoyable session - and how fortunate that we were able to do it with Charlie, Judy and Brett here! I think John and I will be regulars, except on my monthly folk club nights.

Jenny

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 01:30 PM

The Craig is indeed an impressive ship, especially since I've seen pictures of how she looked when they started. And singing below decks was amazing. There we were in a huge area that ran almost the full length of the ship. Our voices ran around the deck and up through the hatch into the night. I'm sure it must have been an eerie experience for casual onlookers who came dowwn to the dock to see the ship. I envision them standing and looking at the rigging and then hearing the shanties drifting up out of the bowels of the ship. Talk about ghost stories.

As I said at the sing, Australia, good on you for fixing her up! You've done a nice job.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 06:16 PM

There have been no kangaroo attacks, Mary, so your record stands. I have pictures of Charley feeding kangaroos and wallabies up in Queensland. The closest he came to being attacked was when the roo grabbed his hand so he couldn't move until the food was gone.

We all ate some kangaroo that Bob Bolton provided at the party last Sunday so I guess you could say we attacked a kangaroo.

Yesterday Charley was singing the old "Tie Me Kangaroo Down" but there were no roos around to be controlled.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 07:08 PM

Sandra

I think it was in the Marmite thread that the deadly "forbidden knowledge" about it being used as an explosive was revealed -- with that quantity, they may be sending you their next postcard from somewhere in Cuba... :-)

Robin

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Nov 03 - 12:18 AM

Last evening aboard the James Craig has to be a high point of our visit here. Our grateful thanks to Gavin Phillips and the rest of the crew for their hospitality and their commitment to sailing this beautifully restored 1870's bark. Singing below decks was wonderful! About 30 people were assembled, with about half of them leading songs. Judy got to lead "Willie Went to Sea" and was delighted with how quickly people picked up on the chorus. I got to lead "Fire Down Below" which was quite effective in filling the space. Brett was requested to lead "Northwest Passage" and did another fine job of singing.

We also got a tour of the ship with different people bursting into song as we recognized some particular artifact. I was especially taken by the galley stack for some reason.(BG)

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." Margaret got the place of honor, the forebitts to sit on. The crew really wouldn't let us frolic in the rigging, which is probably just as well. They were actively recruiting for crew members for this Sunday's sail which is terribly tempting, but I'll be up the coast in Terigal. Just before we broke up I got to lead C. Fox Smith's "So Long (All Coil Down)" as a final song. What a fine chorus, and what a fine way to end the evening!

Now we're kind of winding down our stay in Sydney, dinner this evening with new friends in Newtown. Brett's flying out tomorrow for Guam and Judy and I off to visit a favorite nephew and his new family in Terigal. What joy!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Canberra Chris
Date: 28 Nov 03 - 01:18 AM

Well, guess what. My coach back to Canberra this morning was delayed so late I had to postpone my surgery appointment, therefore I remain mobile, and scrambled back home on buses just in time to contact the James Craig, join up, and volunteer for Sunday.

So I will be answering Gavin's call on behalf of Thursday's shanty singers as crew on the James Craig this Sunday. A prouder heart won't beat.

It's only another 3+ hours each way ...

I taped the session on broadcast-quality equipment, it's playing now, sounds great. I record ambient sound from a sweet spot, so it isn't a recording of the singers, it's a recording of that space resonating with the sound of singing. I even caught some of the above-deck antics through the hatch!

Cheers,
Chris

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Nov 03 - 09:25 AM

Chris - do you need a floor again on Sunday night or are you returing the same day!!? I assume you will not be at work on Monday?

Sat from lunchtime till ? we have a birthday party to attend so I dunno when I will be home.

Both Jenny & I have delevloped our photos. Mudcat will sometime soon be overwhelmed with Oz Foray pics as there were 5 cameras snapping all week.


sandra

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 :-(

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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