tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316545162024-03-14T18:11:02.908+00:00At the sign of four candlesA very occasional series of posts about anything and everything, but most usually about nothing at all.
The name of the blog pays tribute firstly to the small Dublin press "At The Sign of the Three Candles" of Colm O'Lochlainn which published many fascinating books, and in particular a series on Irish Street Ballads.
There is also a very obvious tribute to the Two Ronnies famous TV sketch "Four Candles" whose brilliant wordplay never fails to make me roar with laughter.Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-18113207133511525362011-07-11T20:40:00.000+01:002011-07-11T20:40:51.437+01:00A gentleman of leisureHaving taken the option of Voluntary Severance combined with early retirement at the end of May after 20 years with Wirral Council I've been far, far too busy to post anything to my blog. I've been attending lots of folk clubs, singarounds and festivals that I hadn't previously had time for, and been getting out on country walks in North Wales and Cheshire. Last Wednesday I went for an invigorating walk up Moel Siabod with my friend Frank which rewarded our efforts with some wonderful panoramic views of Snowdonia and waves of rolling hills stretching far to the south.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga17S_akhGHkOLBl9oN1KFnFy9ojQVACaaQgAsN647kmpvr3NmLEjyi12UxJ1RrluAIKQxEP2EGwsK7tM-ExpL0zDJZoVPXBi-gl2gwNoR5kBrrfPp1oNY2c96nVbobOeGnpP3Wg/s1600/DSCF1357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga17S_akhGHkOLBl9oN1KFnFy9ojQVACaaQgAsN647kmpvr3NmLEjyi12UxJ1RrluAIKQxEP2EGwsK7tM-ExpL0zDJZoVPXBi-gl2gwNoR5kBrrfPp1oNY2c96nVbobOeGnpP3Wg/s320/DSCF1357.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPzTS9aYdAvRxHMFf6a4d_bRczTiVbjaKV0MbuNULVWJa9rEGR7Q65qL_13Bro2TGu3HhCHQBvIpqxnl5t0tUtq3SWfWdQCpThTFXaXrQUu5jSVNT9YTevic6R973vV1l2cnk2A/s1600/DSCF1365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPzTS9aYdAvRxHMFf6a4d_bRczTiVbjaKV0MbuNULVWJa9rEGR7Q65qL_13Bro2TGu3HhCHQBvIpqxnl5t0tUtq3SWfWdQCpThTFXaXrQUu5jSVNT9YTevic6R973vV1l2cnk2A/s320/DSCF1365.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsR-DHUJwTolCO97fe-bi1LJvbAFUBDXOsJeTdf32WdZCAwzgKe0BtO1-c4W-AqWde3eD2qXjcPk18awrKUzz1XiwNy17WtWkfoW38W8-3Gc1Lk7zoh4ZuyxopMUXFWdPNL49VgA/s1600/DSCF1366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsR-DHUJwTolCO97fe-bi1LJvbAFUBDXOsJeTdf32WdZCAwzgKe0BtO1-c4W-AqWde3eD2qXjcPk18awrKUzz1XiwNy17WtWkfoW38W8-3Gc1Lk7zoh4ZuyxopMUXFWdPNL49VgA/s320/DSCF1366.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-2955716046769673492011-05-08T09:15:00.000+01:002011-05-08T09:15:47.341+01:00In memory of Seve 1954-2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>In memory of Seve 1954-2011</b><br />
<br />
Severiano Ballasteros<br />
Was spectacular and unorthodox.<br />
He danced a jig when he won;<br />
He made golf fun.<br />
<br />
Severiano Ballasteros, known universally just as "Seve" has died at the age of 54. He was a great golfer who made golf exciting to watch; he conveyed his enthusiasm in such a way that everyone who watched him play shared the thrills with him every inch of the way.<br />
<br />
Matthew Edwards<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-12335644341297723562011-05-05T23:52:00.000+01:002011-05-05T23:52:03.494+01:00The Dream of Napoleon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGccmEKV3woXbAhgNMRohKCLqsEsHKesbN3rZc1ZqkqvqPMqRNw3zTWVYHBq-e7eHOJTdhgzpRpd1nj8as7iiqlDGkqdUTguLqF4VKMB2uLBLqCr_jv0LsKwaDFzH9bvaGrh1xVQ/s1600/St+Helena+Burial+site+of+Napoleon+Bonaparte.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGccmEKV3woXbAhgNMRohKCLqsEsHKesbN3rZc1ZqkqvqPMqRNw3zTWVYHBq-e7eHOJTdhgzpRpd1nj8as7iiqlDGkqdUTguLqF4VKMB2uLBLqCr_jv0LsKwaDFzH9bvaGrh1xVQ/s320/St+Helena+Burial+site+of+Napoleon+Bonaparte.gif" width="196" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Napoleon's grave on St Helena</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Napoleon died in exile on the island of St Helena 190 years ago today on 5 May 1821, although it was several weeks before the news of his death reached Europe. His body was initially buried on the island in a willow grove as shown in the illustration above taken from 'A Series of Views Illustrative of the Island of St Helena' by James Wathen, 1821 before it was transferred to Paris for reburial in 1840.<br />
<br />
Jon Boden's song blog <b>A Folk Song A Day</b> features <a href="http://www.afolksongaday.com/2011/05/05/bonny-bunch-of-roses/">The Bonny Bunch of Roses</a> as the song for today - a song about the enduring memory of Napoleon, but an earlier recording, for 15 August 2010 featured <a href="http://www.afolksongaday.com/2010/08/15/dream-of-napoleon/">The Dream of Napoleon. </a><br />
This song came from the singing of the Norfolk fisherman, Sam Larner, and it expresses the myth of Napoleon as a liberator from tyrants. It may have been safer to express such views after Napoleon's death, but nevertheless it does give some evidence of one strand of English radicalism that looked to Napoleon for inspiration.<br />
<br />
"Ye princes and rulers whose station ye bemean<br />
Like scorpions ye spit forth venem and spleen<br />
But liberty all over the world shall be seen<br />
As I woke from my dream cried Napoleon."</div>Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-39236360209957019532011-05-04T11:21:00.002+01:002011-07-21T10:44:32.933+01:00Ships and shanties in Liverpool<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">There were more ships and shanty singers at the waterfront festival on the May Bank Holiday Monday, and once again the sun was out so there were huge crowds attending and enjoying the spectacle. I enjoyed hearing the Young'uns, and was bowled over by their refreshing, and invigorating (and occasionally downright silly!) approach. They sing some of their own songs which are very good, besides more traditional material.I also enjoyed hearing Bernie Davis and Keith Price sing as Liverpool Packet aboard the Zebu - it was great to hear shanties sung on a real ship.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlahjVxt8rE7avNxI7QLzmsvAo2zTlzM4Z0ElTES-Ucv_k0z-L8cZu2rNZL9t63t1_JMcSIrobtL5Cp-vXu8CGCQ6P9hQ_jDh9y9K3ZpLbHDt7lgpK43CpPYX4fxz4SBFXFqJ2g/s1600/City+sculpture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlahjVxt8rE7avNxI7QLzmsvAo2zTlzM4Z0ElTES-Ucv_k0z-L8cZu2rNZL9t63t1_JMcSIrobtL5Cp-vXu8CGCQ6P9hQ_jDh9y9K3ZpLbHDt7lgpK43CpPYX4fxz4SBFXFqJ2g/s320/City+sculpture.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running Man; street sculpture opposite King's Dock</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHbZNe2rIgigKrApglsqtmyBsw0bu918pTWXeC4xeKbIhT2PI-EzE3tAUXETH7Phh_AgU5ahTPZp4gQqjmhvdRwnsM6v94gwAjpxFLVLAi6Z1JnMG_VlP89BYi5CNVxAKUGgX9Q/s1600/Liverpool+Packet+aboard+Zebu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHbZNe2rIgigKrApglsqtmyBsw0bu918pTWXeC4xeKbIhT2PI-EzE3tAUXETH7Phh_AgU5ahTPZp4gQqjmhvdRwnsM6v94gwAjpxFLVLAi6Z1JnMG_VlP89BYi5CNVxAKUGgX9Q/s320/Liverpool+Packet+aboard+Zebu.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bernie Davis and Keith Price (Liverpool Packet) aboard the Zebu</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqdqutYNuO8yKpbggagnckHYbBcOXeA7188inRkIYxAaMqZ1jP6x86xyI_JKT4TKRLGjXPf3MGlxuk_idg8r9O4sIMYgCoiP6TShR3M0szjOE8HC7gX07Kj0hiB9ALqUUQSqU0g/s1600/Oosterschelde+in+Liverpool.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqdqutYNuO8yKpbggagnckHYbBcOXeA7188inRkIYxAaMqZ1jP6x86xyI_JKT4TKRLGjXPf3MGlxuk_idg8r9O4sIMYgCoiP6TShR3M0szjOE8HC7gX07Kj0hiB9ALqUUQSqU0g/s320/Oosterschelde+in+Liverpool.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oosterschelde in Canning Half-tide Dock</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43wzhmhJxAD-6ezwyytoYCQGdlD0eiFuFJ6Lu684eU7gRTA17RpU1b_meqhcK4lNRqgBH8a48moWs8BfzAODDn46mqR96hnHCXluXB7bBYV_NFQ_XNCsULXKaiY8-2AHBZmwaTg/s1600/The+Amazing+Mekkanacul+Morris+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43wzhmhJxAD-6ezwyytoYCQGdlD0eiFuFJ6Lu684eU7gRTA17RpU1b_meqhcK4lNRqgBH8a48moWs8BfzAODDn46mqR96hnHCXluXB7bBYV_NFQ_XNCsULXKaiY8-2AHBZmwaTg/s320/The+Amazing+Mekkanacul+Morris+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The amazing Mekkanacul Morris Men</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduYir2hDHXIErIrVnqVLul_EvRXDBy18qA1gfHDJLUkHJ3yPQ9tYyPVZMay8UT3_FwCgjVuuv8iRaQkRIFJKMSHH3g9jlvrbg5iJy4kOSgWFAl1tOBBMQNAyJyx_ZELXCp97x_Q/s1600/TS+Pelican+in+Liverpool.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduYir2hDHXIErIrVnqVLul_EvRXDBy18qA1gfHDJLUkHJ3yPQ9tYyPVZMay8UT3_FwCgjVuuv8iRaQkRIFJKMSHH3g9jlvrbg5iJy4kOSgWFAl1tOBBMQNAyJyx_ZELXCp97x_Q/s320/TS+Pelican+in+Liverpool.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TS Pelican at Liverpool</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrkx0bh86VjAtzUJzpmZdQc7kAvQzirzE9iXMjR504XVMaPD0AppVELS1SdADN0nfrP6Jzcw-hXF7ZXEM-GkIKm4IwNw5m9xhLyN3c3FBJ_aNS38nlxmcumcx_6nTI3UEkgRiAg/s1600/Young%2527uns.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrkx0bh86VjAtzUJzpmZdQc7kAvQzirzE9iXMjR504XVMaPD0AppVELS1SdADN0nfrP6Jzcw-hXF7ZXEM-GkIKm4IwNw5m9xhLyN3c3FBJ_aNS38nlxmcumcx_6nTI3UEkgRiAg/s320/Young%2527uns.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Young'uns at the Maritime Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div>Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-49443211126710575822011-05-02T08:55:00.002+01:002011-05-08T09:16:18.792+01:00Sir Henry Cooper 1934-2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <b>Sir Henry Cooper 1934-2011</b><br />
<br />
In fond memory<br />
Of Our 'Enry;<br />
A gent by universal repute,<br />
And never a Brut.<br />
<br />
© Matthew Edwards 2 May 2011<br />
<br />
Sir Henry Cooper, former British and Commonwealth heavyweight boxing champion, has died aged 76. He was a lovely man, kind, honest and gentle to the core - except in the boxing ring where his fierce left hook once floored Cassius Clay (as Muhammad Ali was known at the time of their fight in 1963). He won some fame after his boxing career ended from advertising Brut deodorant.</div>Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-66032985919102962742011-04-30T10:04:00.000+01:002011-04-30T10:04:46.641+01:00Shanties in Liverpool<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">After a very successful first Shanty Festival in Ellesmere Port over Easter, the focus of attention shifted to the other bank of the Mersey where the older Liverpool Shanty Festival is running over two weekends as part of the <a href="http://www.liverpoolonthewaterfront.co.uk/spring/">Spring on the Waterfront</a> festival sponsored by Liverpool City Council and partners.<br />
<br />
Here are some pictures taken on the opening day of the festival;-<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAy5Xg8pSY0xc4vNbCXBcEdg0hq9uVHRdvylkQ2EG827Es5qyFg5ygu9L8h9mO4mPfmEQwS6-isn5e5RiYlCtt6Gt68nB22ed22hcDBJzyS3o16qAlvCDFeegeoWCdUmWY1z0-aQ/s1600/DSCF1020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAy5Xg8pSY0xc4vNbCXBcEdg0hq9uVHRdvylkQ2EG827Es5qyFg5ygu9L8h9mO4mPfmEQwS6-isn5e5RiYlCtt6Gt68nB22ed22hcDBJzyS3o16qAlvCDFeegeoWCdUmWY1z0-aQ/s320/DSCF1020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upmarket bar in Paradise Street</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81I3g1gb2ZfePkhMERSJ3oOIEpzvEBx6cQ8ZjUEyDT7r_E_xgn2EBP-jzsjsWJ8J7OOXB08zYtewNdNeCQhJIBudoFeh_2IUXkE7uf1ippzmcNtbeSeC0T6Hg9rq8SPt6spef5Q/s1600/DSCF1021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81I3g1gb2ZfePkhMERSJ3oOIEpzvEBx6cQ8ZjUEyDT7r_E_xgn2EBP-jzsjsWJ8J7OOXB08zYtewNdNeCQhJIBudoFeh_2IUXkE7uf1ippzmcNtbeSeC0T6Hg9rq8SPt6spef5Q/s320/DSCF1021.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crowds in Chavasse Park watching the Royal wedding</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAfvgmQf3D9JeeeBH7FSuPUdEVdtid5aKTmuq9f_CCX73RZBr4lu1M9koM6_cwhAwjAjVL7Sei8SrybuHl7krileIBGuj29yFLdWldcgNIpQjptDZJpxTSHdZfit2UFGVgAZFIA/s1600/DSCF1028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAfvgmQf3D9JeeeBH7FSuPUdEVdtid5aKTmuq9f_CCX73RZBr4lu1M9koM6_cwhAwjAjVL7Sei8SrybuHl7krileIBGuj29yFLdWldcgNIpQjptDZJpxTSHdZfit2UFGVgAZFIA/s320/DSCF1028.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pier Head</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBoshmXkmcqzrfOisCEeVPnMNKqu4xDmyY-E-SMBEaYU_Rs1YNawcP8MMKBDsA0MiVvMPPcbLz-aTJkPfyX7pdDb6muDwe9Q5UX4hd4-FldyytFbeGYCmBsUEe37hDqCJpImuLg/s1600/DSCF1037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBoshmXkmcqzrfOisCEeVPnMNKqu4xDmyY-E-SMBEaYU_Rs1YNawcP8MMKBDsA0MiVvMPPcbLz-aTJkPfyX7pdDb6muDwe9Q5UX4hd4-FldyytFbeGYCmBsUEe37hDqCJpImuLg/s320/DSCF1037.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The floating stage</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKxIZWh_qhT3_4tHOfZTSSAC_nLYSUaCjXwEZwutZXef15OvZvThCkTA2kGa9NjAODHfqTn5sDGyN1UYz6lfXGCazBXSm79XGpN-I1I086JsnbDS54BFMWM9VL4d3a59JxNGqug/s1600/DSCF1041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKxIZWh_qhT3_4tHOfZTSSAC_nLYSUaCjXwEZwutZXef15OvZvThCkTA2kGa9NjAODHfqTn5sDGyN1UYz6lfXGCazBXSm79XGpN-I1I086JsnbDS54BFMWM9VL4d3a59JxNGqug/s320/DSCF1041.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Duckmarine dives into the "moshpit"!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hughie Jones performing on the floating stage</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dem Liverpool gulls with their peroxide curls!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJry8XUXmDCDmOT5uQtsRDJraQhbpeJL1mb19JUb-mAdcJ1S_nuO8E03fvsqZa6o1xhf3VActiDiOtysSIvtJCFDg0SXyRXEqkgs8z57nZ1s5BAAVRi938wFznL6cmS7jD7YgolQ/s1600/DSCF1049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJry8XUXmDCDmOT5uQtsRDJraQhbpeJL1mb19JUb-mAdcJ1S_nuO8E03fvsqZa6o1xhf3VActiDiOtysSIvtJCFDg0SXyRXEqkgs8z57nZ1s5BAAVRi938wFznL6cmS7jD7YgolQ/s320/DSCF1049.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kazimier Krunk Band playing in Liverpool One</td></tr>
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</div>Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-57335122195962386302011-04-30T09:37:00.000+01:002011-04-30T09:37:33.645+01:00They paved Paradise Street...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">To misquote Joni Mitchell; "<i>They paved Paradise Street, put up a shoping mall...</i>". This Liverpool street was described by Stan Hugill in his book <i>Sailortown</i> as the most well-known street of Liverpool's Sailortown, and was infested by an army of prostitutes known as 'Liverpool Judies', and the street was lined with bars, brothels, and cheap boarding houses all designed to relieve the sailors of their money.<br />
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"Oh, as I was a-rollin' down Paradise Street,<br />
<i>Way, hay, blow the man down!</i><br />
A Liverpool scuffer I chanct fer ter meet,<br />
<i>Oh, gimme some time ter blow the man down</i>!"<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFexcQB0nTPBEDyIm83CrNtMcv-3w_K93O0sxV1I9zxdc2-l2z4Oxxi1bwSgU9SVunozdSWZVZNuQD60PtBzJow6mnzGwOEFcItcZ4tEjB5pjJBoe8228YDrP7Eiw2FSXQUXz-tg/s1600/DSCF1019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFexcQB0nTPBEDyIm83CrNtMcv-3w_K93O0sxV1I9zxdc2-l2z4Oxxi1bwSgU9SVunozdSWZVZNuQD60PtBzJow6mnzGwOEFcItcZ4tEjB5pjJBoe8228YDrP7Eiw2FSXQUXz-tg/s320/DSCF1019.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paradise Street in Liverpool One</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The street is now part of the retail heaven developed by the Grosvenor Estate; Liverpool One, designed to relieve shoppers of their money!</div>Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-25982318877457243822011-04-26T12:48:00.000+01:002011-04-26T12:48:29.784+01:00Shanties in Ellesmere Port<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEity_WiQG3KEJRwv6jvKpk7ogXUq5GIOUDcSgpvmXOdm3edAKwh-7AwCLhBH3kCpC57A4w_jXx7oMTtHpgcJuW2JUkoE3TaKTzrpKx2NMscuPJTHJFtod0LpGaii9qTb-cP8wT7Sw/s1600/Crispy+Pork+Belly+at+Bunbury+Arms.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEity_WiQG3KEJRwv6jvKpk7ogXUq5GIOUDcSgpvmXOdm3edAKwh-7AwCLhBH3kCpC57A4w_jXx7oMTtHpgcJuW2JUkoE3TaKTzrpKx2NMscuPJTHJFtod0LpGaii9qTb-cP8wT7Sw/s200/Crispy+Pork+Belly+at+Bunbury+Arms.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious meal at the Bunbury Arms!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjriPfqyRPYDPK7VEMgxXcXa8wigSH9hbQHhFOGq9G3VFLfxN6ulM5GeF13Em-KiApNk1QxFvCJPHox6nMJsjuzs3RzsFkELdXzIIRXUnp8EsxFHenls90Q6rbw_VRKX2Q0uDd4w/s1600/Hazel+and+Linda+aboard+Bigmere.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjriPfqyRPYDPK7VEMgxXcXa8wigSH9hbQHhFOGq9G3VFLfxN6ulM5GeF13Em-KiApNk1QxFvCJPHox6nMJsjuzs3RzsFkELdXzIIRXUnp8EsxFHenls90Q6rbw_VRKX2Q0uDd4w/s200/Hazel+and+Linda+aboard+Bigmere.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hissyfit on board the barge Bigmere</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cDYwWU15IBuazzKiA9RV2gWuDfsNIfMBejtfr_aQHfgaUshSvgOYqR61d8w7RXaGaFT4lNkLrrOuLG-56x7VSBI-3LD0_p2XGKdicSRhVBWHnULVrfuvmpkO-yqFlB6HShc0_Q/s1600/DSCF1002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cDYwWU15IBuazzKiA9RV2gWuDfsNIfMBejtfr_aQHfgaUshSvgOYqR61d8w7RXaGaFT4lNkLrrOuLG-56x7VSBI-3LD0_p2XGKdicSRhVBWHnULVrfuvmpkO-yqFlB6HShc0_Q/s200/DSCF1002.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keith Kendrick and Sylvia Needham</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCBY_q45A5wUShlQaOaUGNz_M7AV-r-xeXRO-NSnQSwCb2JXUASCSHV4DhaY0MGY4KBw-VRRcBo-GrPQmSOu1qdxfC7ql-YZkndISekfmAct70jD2ChTi7Gr1AGydNUjIifxT6g/s1600/Bob+Conroy+and+Hughie+Jones.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCBY_q45A5wUShlQaOaUGNz_M7AV-r-xeXRO-NSnQSwCb2JXUASCSHV4DhaY0MGY4KBw-VRRcBo-GrPQmSOu1qdxfC7ql-YZkndISekfmAct70jD2ChTi7Gr1AGydNUjIifxT6g/s200/Bob+Conroy+and+Hughie+Jones.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob Conroy and Hughie Jones</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiPsopqrHS-xf3VJOM3njjJFJU0bES6UpsLh5dFejxE9OjnziaP0iuIVMosaHInzWfeHJnip4AzJWnrQVFHyN7BuH_ZYao0m5wnjI2IZiqMN1hMsJeN6It6eV9WvZwtSGC0An-w/s1600/Evening+sky+at+the+Boat+Museum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiPsopqrHS-xf3VJOM3njjJFJU0bES6UpsLh5dFejxE9OjnziaP0iuIVMosaHInzWfeHJnip4AzJWnrQVFHyN7BuH_ZYao0m5wnjI2IZiqMN1hMsJeN6It6eV9WvZwtSGC0An-w/s200/Evening+sky+at+the+Boat+Museum.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evening at the Boat Museum</td></tr>
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The first Easter Maritime Festival at Ellesmere Port Boat Museum was a great success over the Easter weekend. The warm sunny weather helped a lot in attracting crowds to come and enjoy days out among boats of all sizes. It was a very enjoyable social occasion too; good for meeting old friends and making new ones.<br />
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There were some great performances over the weekend, but the highlight for me was the Saturday evening concert with Shantyjack, Trim Rig and a Doxy, the Enkhuizen 4 who sang some lovely Dutch songs, Hughie Jones with Bob Conroy, Nine Tenths Below on a very successful first outing, and a magical performance from Hissyfit.<br />
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Congratulations to Derek and Julia for organising this event, and I'm looking forward to next year already!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEz-z-1NuN6oWuUTbutID1phCYoPWgVwGLDwPQ6X5uC0gavGjBSKSYFBA4HATXFNs8txNnAYbowMLipPqeA4a4QpEVFM7k9KMTIYWyvFokRqFVGOFlhAA8-mXGqydR6w5ryLgVYg/s1600/Shantyjack.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEz-z-1NuN6oWuUTbutID1phCYoPWgVwGLDwPQ6X5uC0gavGjBSKSYFBA4HATXFNs8txNnAYbowMLipPqeA4a4QpEVFM7k9KMTIYWyvFokRqFVGOFlhAA8-mXGqydR6w5ryLgVYg/s200/Shantyjack.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shantyjack</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnNRzf-B2v5qRcL3xdoQlHofZtHyvCiCjUt4zx45NFaNklUDkXkN3aPvgEcFsTXK2MQD2vQubwA_-hXEdeItOunRAEV_qXM60K5QdfgjUBcuXo-Xt_55V1Y4TFqFgsJ5zOPENkA/s1600/Trim+Rig+and+a+Doxy.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnNRzf-B2v5qRcL3xdoQlHofZtHyvCiCjUt4zx45NFaNklUDkXkN3aPvgEcFsTXK2MQD2vQubwA_-hXEdeItOunRAEV_qXM60K5QdfgjUBcuXo-Xt_55V1Y4TFqFgsJ5zOPENkA/s200/Trim+Rig+and+a+Doxy.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trim Rig and a Doxy (Derek and Julia)<br />
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</tbody> </table><b>Matthew</b></div>Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-67111102543604657362011-04-23T01:08:00.001+01:002011-04-23T01:18:43.171+01:00A Song for Saint George<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The historical evidence for England's patron saint, Saint George, is decidedly thin; Edward Gibbon in <i>Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire</i> identified George of Cappadocia, (d.361 AD) Bishop of Alexandria and a former contractor to the Roman army as the probable original for the saint. This particular George seems to have lived a far from saintly life, and was killed by a mob after he had behaved in an especially oppressive manner towards the citizens of Alexandria. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This song attempts to find something praiseworthy to celebrate in our national saint by associating him with one of the greatest dishes in the English cuisine:-</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Ballad of Saint George</b></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Come all you loyal English folk, and pass around the flagon;</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">While I sing about Saint George – though he never slew a dragon -</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">For the tales of this bold hero have all probably been forged,</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">And there’s not one single undisputed fact relating to Saint George.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">According to some histories, (although they may be mistaken),</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">George was a black market crook, who served Roman troops with bacon.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">He served them a full English, long before English was a language,</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">But his culinary masterpiece was the kosher bacon sandwich.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">George cheated once too often, and when his customers grew angrier,</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">He had to flee from justice, and he decamped to Alexandria.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">There he deposed the archbishop by methods quite unruly,</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Became bishop in his place, and he taxed the people cruelly.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">He was imprisoned for his crimes, until one December morning,</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">A mob of angry pagans stormed the jail without a warning.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">And as they attacked the bishop he was heard to cry in anguish;</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Pray let me have one last bite of my breakfast bacon sandwich.”</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">George was trampled to death by the mob in all its fury,</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">They humped his body out of town aboard a dromedary.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then they chopped his body up into tiny little pieces,</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then they threw them in the harbour and fed him to the fishes.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now a paragon of virtue, George of Cappadocia ain’t,</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">But the cruelty of his martyrdom qualifies him as a saint.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">So now in many countries, and in many a strange language, </span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">People worship Saint George and his holy bacon sandwich.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the Siege of Jerusalem when the English knights were famished,</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">In a halal market stall they discovered George’s bacon sandwich.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Which gave them strength to conquer, and in memory thereafter,</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">They founded in its honour the Noble Order of the Garter.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">The flower of English chivalry will scorn the tasteless BLT,</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">White bread, brown sauce and margarine alone command our loyalty;</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cry England, Harry and St George! Salute the glorious land which</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Still venerates the noble bacon sandwich.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Matthew Edwards 23 April 2010</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">I sang this at the Beech Inn for Saint George's Day in 2010 to some mild applause, but I have to thank Fred McCormick for some of the more outrageous rhymes which first appeared in his song of <i>The Bacon Butty.</i></span></span></div></div>Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-41387930830868294882011-04-15T11:44:00.001+01:002011-04-15T11:54:59.497+01:00A sunny spring afternoon at the Beech<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNCSiFEUpwKXpRMa1IDDmbrw_eZZpvDLZttBkug6mXZNdVK1gz8gCJJQ0FkLasPDe3xyF9mnxHEdel57R_-AbN_FXiZSAXqBDxzEHklE1TLhcwGNE9doflmeEIoMzvKL7iq-Exw/s1600/Beech+band+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNCSiFEUpwKXpRMa1IDDmbrw_eZZpvDLZttBkug6mXZNdVK1gz8gCJJQ0FkLasPDe3xyF9mnxHEdel57R_-AbN_FXiZSAXqBDxzEHklE1TLhcwGNE9doflmeEIoMzvKL7iq-Exw/s320/Beech+band+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Beech Band in full swing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>What could be more pleasant than spending a sunny afternoon at the <strike>beach</strike> Beech in Chorlton listening to tunes from the Beech Band while drinking a pint of Copper Dragon?<br />
<br />
These are some photos I took last Saturday, 10 April, when the sun blazed down on a little corner of Chorlton near Manchester. I arrived too late for the clog dance workshop held earlier in the morning, so I just settled down at a bench to listen to a very enjoyable tunes session.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBnqwy8OHBbJJN2ZFOgQC5qkLVUUG9s2FfAk7JFyqkoI2oWn_HhjddXwtDdGdRoPGnmtS3IaObCPfw1Ft7ehKSyLa5AJ2y3SnOMMYpvT90fT3P1KFmBDOfaUwGc2-35qRymk5TA/s1600/Jenny+Coxon+on+dulcimer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBnqwy8OHBbJJN2ZFOgQC5qkLVUUG9s2FfAk7JFyqkoI2oWn_HhjddXwtDdGdRoPGnmtS3IaObCPfw1Ft7ehKSyLa5AJ2y3SnOMMYpvT90fT3P1KFmBDOfaUwGc2-35qRymk5TA/s320/Jenny+Coxon+on+dulcimer.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenny Coxon on dulcimer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The band played a selection of tunes from what I think is now their 5th music book, while Jenny Coxon on dulcimer also played a few very interesting tunes from a forthcoming edition of an 18th century Derbyshire musical MS. Jenny's husband was sporting a particularly elegant pink seersucker jacket that raised the sartorial standards by several notches. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdCZf0LA1hrCgEYAGComdHqro_-D3BoayX-siudueD9ucU5feUsNBD0NcMwiYhULarWRje33diPUXUjMGBxXDclct1yN4qP0Sk4heRNw8msU5hcE-GnI-Yl1M9vapdC8sEgHIeA/s1600/Ken+singing+Waters+of+Tyne.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdCZf0LA1hrCgEYAGComdHqro_-D3BoayX-siudueD9ucU5feUsNBD0NcMwiYhULarWRje33diPUXUjMGBxXDclct1yN4qP0Sk4heRNw8msU5hcE-GnI-Yl1M9vapdC8sEgHIeA/s320/Ken+singing+Waters+of+Tyne.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ken Deeks singing 'Waters of Tyne'</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Unfortunately I forgot to cover my head so that the skin on my bald patch is now peeling in a most unsightly manner. There was some discussion during the afternoon about the new shopping mall fad for dipping one's feet into a public fishtank for fish to nibble at the dead skin, and whether this could work for other body parts. There were some very impractical suggestions for head or full body immersions, where you could see that the treatment might be on the lines of "a great success, but alas! the patient died."<br />
<br />
Still if the enterprising brains behind the Beech Band can come up with a practical model no doubt the Chorlton Arts week in May will feature a stall offering a special scalp tonic treatment from flesh-eating fish!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyWin07m2zl3tTwONrlqdzq4H03h-CFp0F_UaCZfatsLocOrHEsdHrkkGbCeHfzDnbFKE7afttB7UVt6swXd6nwH8p4_eCvkDQ4A7nDZ0bNTrq8GLXvaEgPP1r0dXILum-Ez6PA/s1600/Les+Jones+at+the+Beech.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyWin07m2zl3tTwONrlqdzq4H03h-CFp0F_UaCZfatsLocOrHEsdHrkkGbCeHfzDnbFKE7afttB7UVt6swXd6nwH8p4_eCvkDQ4A7nDZ0bNTrq8GLXvaEgPP1r0dXILum-Ez6PA/s320/Les+Jones+at+the+Beech.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Les Jones on banjo</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span id="goog_1430747713"></span><span id="goog_1430747714"></span></div>Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-14706044862986357202011-04-14T18:55:00.002+01:002011-04-15T12:00:53.452+01:00The Alternative Voting System as practiced in Libya<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>The AV System in Libya</b><br />
<br />
<b> </b>Muammar Gaddafi is quite emphatic,<br />
That his rule is utterly democratic:<br />
When the people wanted someone else in his stead -<br />
"I'll elect my own people", Gaddafi said.<br />
<br />
© Matthew Edwards, 14 April 2011 <br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-81080038315646346182011-04-09T10:44:00.001+01:002011-04-15T11:57:16.420+01:00Poetry and clog dancing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The former Poet Laureate, Sir Andrew Motion, recently commented that poetry had the same social cachet as clog dancing during an interview with <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/poor-teachers-make-poetry-a-bore-for-pupils-claims-motion-2152180.html">The Independent</a>. After the recent round of funding cuts by the Arts Council of England (ACE), it seems that poetry now has an even lower status. Several small presses and publishers such as Enitharmon, Flambard, Arc and Salt are going to lose all their funding from 2012. Worst of all; the Poetry Book Society (PBS) which has done such an excellent job in promoting poetry since 1953, is also to lose all its ACE funding. This is a particularly savage and barbaric act since the PBS has done more than most to raise the profile of poetry today. The current Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, has published an angry response in today's Guardian in the form of a parody of Louis MacNeice's <i>Bagpipe Music</i>:-<br />
<br />
"It's no go, dear PBS. It's no go sweet poets.<br />
Sat on your arses for fifty years and never turned a profit.<br />
All we want are bureaucrats, the nods as good as winkers.<br />
And if you're strapped for cash, go fish, then try the pigging bankers."<br />
<br />
I like the not-so-subtle omitted rhyme of "bankers" and "wankers". In the extensive notes to her poem Duffy quotes the poet Carol Rumens:- "The withdrawal of Arts Council England support for the PBS is an incomprehensible act of vandalism."<br />
<br />
The ACE has had a very difficult balancing act in deciding how to allocate the misery of cuts, but the cutting of the PBS funds is definitely a cut too far. On the other hand I'm delighted to note that ACE has decided to continue its support for the <a href="http://www.efdss.org/news/newsId/165">English Folk Dance and Song Society</a>, with significantly increased funding.<br />
<br />
On a lighter note here's a poetic tribute to one of the finest clog dancers of all, Sam Sherry 1912-2001:-<br />
<br />
<b>Poetry in motion</b><br />
<br />
His feet land with a snap<br />
and a slap;<br />
with a rapid tappity-tap his heels<br />
spin like wheels<br />
before coming to a full stop.<br />
<br />
Then a leap, and a hop,<br />
and off he goes<br />
heels and toes<br />
forward and back<br />
clickety-clack.<br />
That's the way to do it; and now<br />
he makes a low bow.<b> </b><br />
<br />
© Matthew Edwards 2010</div>Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-30501582031485412462011-04-07T20:58:00.001+01:002011-04-07T23:57:52.425+01:00Bound for South Australia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">My sister and her family are about to fly out to Australia from Scotland for an extended Easter break; they may think that they are escaping the Royal Wedding fever currently infecting the British media but I firmly believe that they will find themselves trapped in some outpost of the old Empire where Prince William is worshipped as a minor deity!<br />
Anyway here is a wonderful Youtube clip of the "last shantyman", Stan Hugill, leading a vigourous chorus including Johnny Collins, Jim Mageean, Danny MacLeod, Shanty Jack and Mike and Steve Wilson in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoQfH7rCXUY">'Bound for South Australia'</a>.<br />
<br />
Bon Voyage! <br />
<br />
Matthew <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-28884579696476112102011-04-06T13:54:00.002+01:002011-04-15T11:59:12.348+01:00Born in the NHS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">A friend who is 62 today is very active in campaigning against the so-called "reforms" to the NHS promoted by the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley - reforms which threaten to undermine the whole ethos of free and universal healthcare in Britain. So here is a little song by way of a birthday present for her.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Born in the NHS</span></b></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I was born in Britain after the War.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My parents knew what they were fighting for;</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It wasn’t King and Country they aimed to save,</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But to get a Welfare State from cradle to grave.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I was born in the NHS;</span></i></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Nye Bevan spoke</span></i></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And my mother said, “Yes,</span></i></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I want to give birth in the NHS.”</span></i></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I don’t want choice in 57 varieties,</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I want high quality not Big Society.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I put my trust in my doctor and nurse,</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Don’t make them put their budgets first.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I was born in the NHS;</span></i></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Nye Bevan spoke</span></i></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And my mother said, “Yes,</span></i></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I want to give birth in the NHS.”</span></i></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Nye Bevan promised us, loud and clear,</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A civilised community, free from fear;</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So Mr Lansley, don’t make it a mess –</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It’s mine, it’s yours, it’s our NHS.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I was born in the NHS;</span></i></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Nye Bevan spoke</span></i></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And my mother said, “Yes,</span></i></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I want to give birth in the NHS.”</span></i></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><br />
© Matthew Edwards 6 April 2010<br />
<br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">From Matthew for Corrie to wish her a Happy Birthday.</span></b></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Note:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> A <a href="http://www.lrb.co.uk/v33/n05/andrew-ohagan/diary/print">recent Diary article</a> in the London Review of Books by Andrew O’Hagan tellingly contrasted the forthright clarity of the language used by Bevan in introducing his National Health Bill in 1946 with the obfuscatory prose used by Andrew Lansley in his proposals for reforming the NHS. While <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1946/apr/30/national-health-service-bill">Bevan's speech</a> is worth reading in its entirety there are some resonant phrases which deserve to be recalled at this time:-</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “<i>I believe it is repugnant to a civilised community for hospitals to have to rely upon private charity. I believe we ought to have left hospital flag days behind. I have always felt a shudder of repulsion when I have seen nurses and sisters who ought to be at their work, and students who ought to be at their work, going about the streets collecting money for the hospitals</i>.”</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> And</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> “<i>... the first evil that we must deal with is that which exists as a consequence of the fact that the whole <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=31654516&postID=2888457969647611210" name="column_44"></a> thing is the wrong way round. A person ought to be able to receive medical and hospital help without being involved in financial anxiety</i></span>.<span style="font-size: 12pt;">”</span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><br />
<b>Matthew Edwards</b></div>Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-24496286939961220372011-04-02T20:28:00.002+01:002011-05-08T09:16:51.766+01:00In Memoriam: Elizabeth Taylor 1932-2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dame Elizabeth Taylor<br />
Has died of heart failure;<br />
Alas! She's faced her final curtain<br />
And gone for a Burton.<br />
<br />
© Matthew Edwards, 2 April 2011<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-76551576319668691172010-10-26T09:16:00.001+01:002010-10-26T09:17:47.550+01:00A great record shop - Coda Music<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NuAklUUnv0vtUz_bh76YmL5wNVpLq7koxyiciNLC3_1dLxFhY2ZiBgiV8UyH_04ZeEsfBs_YHCE0DrKvj13X6kEjt2mPEmB8FkrgjM94DAdetyZRBHyMdKQ5lVWMZqQglU5CaA/s1600/DSCF0628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NuAklUUnv0vtUz_bh76YmL5wNVpLq7koxyiciNLC3_1dLxFhY2ZiBgiV8UyH_04ZeEsfBs_YHCE0DrKvj13X6kEjt2mPEmB8FkrgjM94DAdetyZRBHyMdKQ5lVWMZqQglU5CaA/s320/DSCF0628.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>There aren't many record shops left today, and still fewer which specialise in folk and world music. So it is good news when one such shop seems to be making a success against all the odds. This is <a href="http://www.codamusic.co.uk/">Coda</a> on the Mound in Edinburgh which has a huge stock of excellent CDs, books and magazines and where the staff are knowledgable and very helpful.<br />
<br />
I could happily spend a lot of time and money here - and I just did so during a short trip to Edinburgh!<br />
I hope the shop continues to be a success so I can go back again for more.<br />
<br />
Matthew EdwardsMatthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-87689422458683842532010-10-09T18:21:00.000+01:002010-10-09T18:21:18.482+01:00The art of busking badly; "There's brass in codology."<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2KoyUYnpDrPegvS7K8ko9qhcco8H2XFKC0mbTltrhI33cL8ZozzF-KhGKYL1hg7HTRj3EkSMOK4HR40n0VQIEpIlhOMaMqLeCqX-T2BqVf6KN6dp2f5mhO5xKQuqScOKyOphXA/s1600/DSCF0572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2KoyUYnpDrPegvS7K8ko9qhcco8H2XFKC0mbTltrhI33cL8ZozzF-KhGKYL1hg7HTRj3EkSMOK4HR40n0VQIEpIlhOMaMqLeCqX-T2BqVf6KN6dp2f5mhO5xKQuqScOKyOphXA/s320/DSCF0572.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilfred Pickles as "Owd Thatcher" in the BBC <br />
Northern Regional radio programme 'Under<br />
the Barber's Pole' written by Tommy Thompson<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>In 'The Trumpeter', another story from <strong>Lancashire Pride</strong>, the Lancashire dialect writer Tommy Thompson tells the story of Joe Slater "the highly esteemed cornet player of the Beesham Temperance Silver Band" and his encounter with a pavement artist on the same instrument whose playing puts his teeth on edge. Joe demonstrates to the busker just how the cornet ought to be played, but is then thoroughly disconcerted when the street "hartist<em>" </em>completely outplays him;-<br />
<br />
"Ah axed thee afore," said the player. "Han' we getten any brass wi' thi good playin'?"<br />
"Not a sausage," said Joe.<br />
"There's no money in good playin'," said the player. "Thee ax th' Hallé lot."<br />
"There's no money in bad playin' either," said Joe lamely "Is there?"<br />
"There's brass in codology," said the player. "Tha has to get sympathy."<br />
"Tha didn't get mine," said Joe.<br />
"Ah worn't playin' for thee," said the player. "Ah have me own public. Sithee...we'll go up this narrer street an' Ah'll show thee. Thee stop on th' flags."<br />
He went into the middle of the street and blew "Home Sweet Home" as though it was the first time he had heard it. Joe covered his ears with his hands and watched the hat fill with coppers.<br />
"What did Ah tell thee," said the player as he filled his pockets. "Codology! Tha con keep thi art for art's sake. What about slippin' in for a quick un?"<br />
"Ah could do wi' one," said Joe. "Ah'm stunned."Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-91932645705547472142010-10-08T14:26:00.000+01:002010-10-08T14:26:55.163+01:00If capitalism is the answer then what was the question?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KLI7mAiMRNM0wcKgvP5-H3DWBf66d1InaPhgWNGLfqY1BbCC8KruWoDlt7Vq3XaItNh30hgFz_NpbBcGdpfN6_WI-6CPFfe3LJvObBafMaGIzLZJb_dgAvnskl8f6oA5bR_b5A/s1600/DSCF0571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KLI7mAiMRNM0wcKgvP5-H3DWBf66d1InaPhgWNGLfqY1BbCC8KruWoDlt7Vq3XaItNh30hgFz_NpbBcGdpfN6_WI-6CPFfe3LJvObBafMaGIzLZJb_dgAvnskl8f6oA5bR_b5A/s320/DSCF0571.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>One of the few pleasures of the current global financial crisis has been the emergence of John Lanchester as a writer on economics. His articles on the topic in the London Review of Books are classics of clear explanatory writing; like Cobbett he uses plain English prose to get to the heart of the matter, so that the reader actually understands it.<br />
<br />
He has now written a book <strong>Whoops!</strong> which is probably one of the best guides to the mysterious world of high finance since J K Galbraith's account of the Wall Street Crash. <br />
<br />
His analysis of the economic and political climate in which the crisis occurred is that with the collapse of Communism the capitalist Western countries no longer had a comparator to demonstrate to their citizens that their model delivered a better way of life. When the Berlin Wall fell the capitalist model stood supreme and unchallengeable.<br />
<br />
If anyone dared to suggest 'there must be another way' the West could reasonably respond; 'Show me.' John Lanchester's book shows quite clearly the consequences of allowing capitalism to go unchallenged and unregulated. He exposes the sloppy thinking behind the belief that a free market regulates itself, as well as the sheer intimidatory power that the market uses to prevent any form of regulation.<br />
<br />
Now the West has been forced to embrace a strange sort of social capitalism and take the banks that were Too Big To Fail into various schemes of public ownership. However these act like cuckoos in the nest, greedily requiring so much for their own sustenance that they choke off almost all other forms of public activity. The business of government becomes providing a life support system for business itself, with the bank threatening to die if the system is switched off - and to take the government, and the country with it. However at some point the banks that have been Too Big To Fail are going to become Too Big To Rescue - there simply won't be any resources left to sustain them. What happens then?<br />
<br />
<em>What will we do if we have no money?</em><br />
<em>O true lovers, what will we do then?</em><br />
<em>O we'll hawk through the town for a hungry crown,</em><br />
<em>And we'll yodel it over again.</em><br />
(Mary Delaney's song)<br />
<br />
Matthew EdwardsMatthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-86733029308994908172010-10-06T12:52:00.000+01:002010-10-06T12:52:38.268+01:00RNID name change<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQT1gdq5iV2cCURB5gkoloAtHuczNO_rn6kZ8ziGRNzgw_GSGO4_17ofLaUhyphenhyphenlXvVVd2EqDlfGLxxDhpVMmDZVdx3qzVQz8R3MbbJ6tMRQ8KCRf1lxN0VQ9wVe0X3jFBZC4S44Q/s1600/rnidLogo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ex="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQT1gdq5iV2cCURB5gkoloAtHuczNO_rn6kZ8ziGRNzgw_GSGO4_17ofLaUhyphenhyphenlXvVVd2EqDlfGLxxDhpVMmDZVdx3qzVQz8R3MbbJ6tMRQ8KCRf1lxN0VQ9wVe0X3jFBZC4S44Q/s1600/rnidLogo.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Action on Hearing Loss</span></strong><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I've just received the new issue of the RNID magazine <strong>one in seven</strong>, which announces the new campaigning name for this charity: <strong>Action on Hearing Loss</strong>. It is a good change in that it does capture the essense of what the RNID is about, and it is much better than the current confusing set of initials (my bank for example seems to think that I'm paying my membership subscription to the RNIB - but I've checked and despite getting the name wrong they are sending my money to the right place!)<br />
<br />
However the new name is still rather a mouthful; I don't know what the other options were but I would have quite liked <strong>HearingAid</strong>, or <strong>DeafAid</strong> or even <strong>DeafAction</strong>. I am not personally a BSL user, but I hope the redesigned logo will find a way to incorporate a stylised combination of the signs for 'deaf' and 'action'.<br />
<br />
Anyway there will be an opportunity to comment on proposed changes to the logo, colours and fonts through an online survey open from Monday 18 October to Sunday 29 October at <a href="http://www.rnid.org.uk/brand2">www.rnid.org.uk/brand2</a>.<br />
<br />
MatthewMatthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-41129970564970085002010-10-04T13:40:00.000+01:002010-10-04T13:40:10.569+01:00New hearing aid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYqdlkRVgLUnXWlGyVM7m4fo27OJDHCfjmdWM0pzE9FTy1e3Hfg37LCP3n0kOgbkt9aXMkTyZUXrD-5mGYEsdzKNy7DD4ZQNsNCX7uzjhBafcoRE0rtWAgkBOg-mrqxMlL5XX6w/s1600/DSCF0557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYqdlkRVgLUnXWlGyVM7m4fo27OJDHCfjmdWM0pzE9FTy1e3Hfg37LCP3n0kOgbkt9aXMkTyZUXrD-5mGYEsdzKNy7DD4ZQNsNCX7uzjhBafcoRE0rtWAgkBOg-mrqxMlL5XX6w/s320/DSCF0557.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I've been wearing my new hearing aid since February this year, and I've just been back to my audiologist for a review. I had to report that I've been absolutely delighted with it; it's the best one I've ever used. I hardly ever touch the volume controls any more as the aid is sensitive to the different acoustic environments I go through and adjusts itself automatically. The windblock technology is a special advantage as I can now go walking in the country and up in the hills without having to put up with the wind howling in the microphone; I used to have to switch my old hearing aid off when walking up Snowdon &c because the noise from the wind was just unbearable!<br />
I chose a silver coloured aid this time (it matches my hair!); perhaps next time I'll be bolder and choose a bright primary colour like the ones David Hockney wears. I don't want to hide my deafness by wearing a "discreet" device which nobody can tell is there.<br />
All the same it is amazing how much is packed into such a tiny device; as a child I wore a bulky body aid which I clipped into my shirt pocket and which was connected to the earpiece by a long wire. I hated the rustling noise from clothing, but to this day I still always choose shirts with a breast pocket.<br />
The aid is a <a href="http://www.phonak.com/uk/b2c/en/products/hearing_instruments/versata_art/overview.html">Phonak Versáta Micro</a>; it is a powerful device which suits my fairly severe hearing loss. I'm looking forward to future developments which will enable me to connect easily to my mobile phone and other devices.<br />
I got the aid privately; it cost me a lot but it is just so much better than my NHS aid that I reckon the higher quality is well worth paying for. I'm keeping hold of my NHS aid as a spare, though.<br />
I'm still having to relearn to listen to music, and to join in singing effectively, as the new aid protects my ears from sudden surges in volume. There is a special music programme available for the aid which I'll look at on my next audiology review.<br />
<br />
MatthewMatthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-86963241544375460202010-09-16T01:50:00.001+01:002010-09-16T11:45:59.829+01:00Lancashire Pride<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_FJ7f78-MTyjFlgIViDjJfu1GulJHs-5PLhj9wsWpykJ741381qTqgRP2I-ZGQBUFPDVtfS3ZNg7IheTmfLF-0QxsBTl6WEv-7kgJSDPnkOfWrKF0IQbrykLJIvbkPOBzprvKQ/s1600/DSCF0556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_FJ7f78-MTyjFlgIViDjJfu1GulJHs-5PLhj9wsWpykJ741381qTqgRP2I-ZGQBUFPDVtfS3ZNg7IheTmfLF-0QxsBTl6WEv-7kgJSDPnkOfWrKF0IQbrykLJIvbkPOBzprvKQ/s320/DSCF0556.JPG" /></a></div><strong>Tommy Thompson (1880-1951)</strong><br />
<br />
Tommy Thompson was best known as a writer in the Lancashire dialect, and he wrote short sketches of Lancashire life for the back page of the Manchester Guardian from the late 1920's until his sudden death on February 15 1951. He also appeared regularly on the North Regional programme of the BBC in the 1940's, where he gave Wilfred Pickles his first break as Owd Thatcher in the barber shop where many of the sketches were set.<br />
<br />
Most of the sketches from the Manchester Guardian were published in a series of books which were very successful in their day, and apparently were also very popular with American servicemen stationed in the North of Britain during World War II. He also wrote three novels <em>Blind Alley, Crompton Way, </em>and<em> Cuckoo Narrow</em> which were less successful, as well as a one-act comedy <em>Stick-in-the-Mud, </em>and his "little autobiography" <em>Lancashire for me</em> written in standard English.<br />
<br />
<div align="left">Bernard Wrigley, the folksinger sometimes known as "the Bolton Bullfrog" has read some of Tommy Thompson's sketches on BBC Radio Lancashire, but I don't think he has recorded any of them. I hope the best of the sketches, and the autobiography, will one day be republished, as they well deserve a new readership.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">The short pieces are full of a gentle humour, which can actually be quite sharp at times, and his characters are fully rounded individuals who come to life in a few short, pithy phrases. The rambling discussions in Owd Thatcher's barber shop are excellent of their kind; Tommy Thompson had a real genius for dialogue. The language is rich and expressive, and it is a real pleasure to read slowly while relishing the clear picture Thompson draws of some very extraordinary 'ordinary folk'.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Here is a short extract from a piece in 'Lancashire Pride': <em>Music Hath Charms</em> where the men in the barber shop are talking about music.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"> "When Ah wor in th' village band we played 'Faust,' " said Jim Gregson.</div><div align="left"> "Which on 'em?" said Young Winterburn, "Gounod or Berlioz?"</div><div align="left"> "Both," said Jim. "We'd only five copies o' either. Ah wor on Gounod an' our Sam wor on Berlioz. Ah showed him who could play cornet. He never played a note after that do."</div><div align="left"> "It'd sound like Wagner," said the barber.</div><div align="left"> "When Ah wor a choir lad," said Farmer Platt, "we sung under the vicarage window when th' parson lay on his death-bed. He didn't tarry for an encore."</div><div align="left"> "It con be terr'bly soothin'," said Owd Thatcher, "con music. That's why they play it in eatin'-houses. If tha chews a bit o' tough steak to a good tune tha con down it in no time."</div><div align="left"> "Ah like chamber music," said Young Winterburn.</div><div align="left"> "What's that?" asked Owd Thatcher.</div><div align="left"> "Why," said Jim Gregson, "there's about four or five on 'em sits in a ring, an' one fiddle says 'Tiddley oom,' the t' other fiddle says 'Piddley pom,' then th' owd big fiddle chips in wi' 'Grunt, grunt,' then they o' han a do at each other 'ell for leather until it's oppenin' time."</div><div align="left"> "In th' owden times," said Young Winterburn, "folks used to stop in an' sing madrigals."</div><div align="left"> "They knew no better," said Alf Higson. "We're civilised now."</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">From:<strong>Tommy Thompson,</strong> <em>Lancashire Pride,</em> 1945</div>Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-42572876251074403122010-09-06T18:31:00.002+01:002010-09-06T18:32:42.702+01:00Lime Street Station, Liverpool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUxqYYObLPfa-RFnKiYkGDXNYI6M5Cz7_K8_yYT_XAz-qnDd-6v7-Gq-pY-rsEB6oA_AO1NNyd2AdNA9vaU1n_4J9QHh36u5ZeD6B9XZtV1nHZFWgm73bqiyJ6MjOOb1pC9vYQQ/s1600/Lime+St+%26+St+George%27s+Hall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUxqYYObLPfa-RFnKiYkGDXNYI6M5Cz7_K8_yYT_XAz-qnDd-6v7-Gq-pY-rsEB6oA_AO1NNyd2AdNA9vaU1n_4J9QHh36u5ZeD6B9XZtV1nHZFWgm73bqiyJ6MjOOb1pC9vYQQ/s320/Lime+St+%26+St+George%27s+Hall.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>What a difference the new entrance to Lime Street station makes. It is a wonderful open public space, with a terrific uninterrupted view of the whole station frontage. The Central Point Tower has gone, and so has the giant mechanical spider seen clinging to it two years ago!<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0Aesc4fCz-NQJhPlyI08-NXZJvLvsrhUBmOzloosNtjQCW6EP_peOM-rXnCqXTs_zdjUA6vnta0glmgy-wJ-diLNpoL_sTTepL-0BQFM5dKdSQ4is5hqISqkBlNM2xKcJnDkDA/s1600/DSCF9516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0Aesc4fCz-NQJhPlyI08-NXZJvLvsrhUBmOzloosNtjQCW6EP_peOM-rXnCqXTs_zdjUA6vnta0glmgy-wJ-diLNpoL_sTTepL-0BQFM5dKdSQ4is5hqISqkBlNM2xKcJnDkDA/s320/DSCF9516.jpg" /></a></div>Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-7314125948283961842010-09-03T00:54:00.001+01:002010-09-03T01:00:18.080+01:00The Real Amazons!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxMKQeKg6ox1sv_22l4xBYbIqby4I1OSpYZtKc6YReITT72eTijJMrYh3rGj2m_II_o2R100wRfI24HP9aa6TA38vZvkkjk5tGbMj-C9IpsEbELXFWZ9hk0V7IajjV0BBzx_YCA/s1600/News+from+Nowhere.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxMKQeKg6ox1sv_22l4xBYbIqby4I1OSpYZtKc6YReITT72eTijJMrYh3rGj2m_II_o2R100wRfI24HP9aa6TA38vZvkkjk5tGbMj-C9IpsEbELXFWZ9hk0V7IajjV0BBzx_YCA/s320/News+from+Nowhere.JPG" /></a></div>Mandy Vere from the Liverpool radical bookshop <a href="http://www.newsfromnowhere.org.uk/index.php">News From Nowhere</a> recently published a letter in the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/nov/18/discount-prices-killing-bookshop-waterstones">Guardian</a> to protest at the pricing policies adopted by Waterstone's. News From Nowhere is a small haven in Bold Street where they sell real books and act as a focal point for many community groups. Waterstone's 3 for 2 aggressive pricing may seem to give the customer cheap books, but the policy actually reduces the choices available to book lovers. <br />
Its been a struggle for this shop to keep going, but where many other independent shops have buckled under the strains this women's co-operative has stayed around.<br />
Visit their website <a href="http://www.newsfromnowhere.org.uk/">News From Nowhere</a>, or better still visit the shop in Bold Street, and buy your books from the <strong>Real Amazons! </strong><br />
<br />
Matthew EdwardsMatthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-12019617171084041672010-09-03T00:40:00.002+01:002010-09-03T00:44:31.979+01:00The return of Henry Bohn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVnZIpUFELAYxBkts9I0n2HF5jBVSgfvb_v9Pyp3jZxDQWu17t836W54qXx_a6GRc544r_XDOW4SF-VJK2nuBxVGgrX_17TzN3_QqxiLUjvz928ATtRzQ4Ko2UpT7IJl3zJHJfQ/s1600/Henry+Bohn+Books+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVnZIpUFELAYxBkts9I0n2HF5jBVSgfvb_v9Pyp3jZxDQWu17t836W54qXx_a6GRc544r_XDOW4SF-VJK2nuBxVGgrX_17TzN3_QqxiLUjvz928ATtRzQ4Ko2UpT7IJl3zJHJfQ/s320/Henry+Bohn+Books+(2).JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">After my earlier lament for the disappearance of this valuable Liverpool institution, I'm pleased to be able to report that the shop has reopened around the corner in London Road (next to the Empire Theatre box office). It has actually been open for a few months now but I've only just been inside again today. There are lots of books stacked in chaotic order; many of them still in cardboard boxes awaiting pricing, so a persistent explorer may turn up all sorts of surprises. I was very pleased to discover a wartime edition of <strong>Lancashire Pride</strong> by the Lancashire dialect writer Tommy Thompson for £3.50. This contains many of the wonderful articles he wrote for the <em>Manchester Guardian </em>in the 1930's and 1940's. Apparently the book sold well to American soldiers stationed in the North of England, so there must be some bemused children and grandchildren of those veterans who are struggling to understand the earthy humour in these tales. I'll add one of these tales in a later blog.</div><br />
Matthew EdwardsMatthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31654516.post-12382355672483528912009-06-08T19:26:00.002+01:002009-06-08T20:44:31.458+01:00Celebrating Gypsy Roma Traveller History MonthThis month, June 2009, is being marked in Britain as History Month for the Gypsy, Roma and Travelling communities to remind people both within and outside these communities of their real and lasting role played in history and culture.<br /><br />In the wake of the gains made by the BNP in England, by the Jobbik anti-Roma party in Hungary, and by other extreme parties elsewhere in the June 2009 European Parliamentary elections let us remind ourselves how these communities have been victimised and marginalised in the past. The attempts by the Nazis to wipe out the Roma are only recent history. Even more recent was the killing of 15 year-old Traveller Johnny Delaney in Ellesmere Port in May 2003, which is not widely known about. Read the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/3246518.stm">BBC report </a>of the trial of Johnny's killers; the police investigation treated this as a racist crime but the judge in the case decided otherwise.<br /><br />The big event in the Travelling community this month is of course the Appleby Fair in Cumbria, but the website of the <a href="http://www.grthm.co.uk/index.php">Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month GRTHM</a> shows other events being organised all round Britain. The <a href="http://www.grtleeds.co.uk/index.html">GRT Achievement Service in Leeds</a> has an online shop with a new DVD 'The First Traveller' for sale with songs, stories and music from such Travellers as Sheila Stewart MBE. The GRTHM has also produced a small collection of songs in the downloadable <a href="http://www.grthm.co.uk/romano-drom.php">Romano Drom Songbook</a>.<br /><br />Here is a great cultural tradition to celebrate, and one which should be valued for its vitality and vigour.<br /><br />Nicodemus<br />8 June 2009Matthew Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167414190233864155noreply@blogger.com0