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The Grey Lady

Listed below are comments made by The Grey Lady between Wednesday, 20th August 2008 and Monday, 5th October 2009.

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Have you heard a chiffchaff this week? 1:35pm on 05 Oct 2009 I heard a Chiffchaff singing in the centre of Marlborough, Wiltshire at 8.30am Sunday 4 Oct 09 as well as the previous Sunday afternoon.

(Why aren't they called Chuffchiffchaffs? - That's what they really sing!)
For all of you who love the banjo... 1:27pm on 14 Jan 2009 Now then, one of my favourite banjo players ever is Mac McCulloch. He is brilliant and fantastic.
Annie Briggs Slept On My Washing Line 2:44pm on 09 Jan 2009 Please play one of my favourite tracks ever, ‘LET’S GO (THE B*WITCHED JIG) from 4 brilliant Irish lasses with some fantastic fiddle playing by Daniel Collier. They recorded it about 10 years ago and are rumoured to be working on a new album at the moment.
Karine Polwart at Celtic Colours Festival - Part 1 3:13pm on 17 Oct 2008 Reading this makes me long for the days of 'Catharsis' starting MH's programme. Oh happy days . . .
Folk Music: The music of the Common People 3:04pm on 02 Sep 2008 Worth a mention too for William Barnes and his poems protesting about the neglectful treatment of Dorsetshire farmers during the times of agricultural enclosures: The Lotments and The Common A-Took In. The latter was published in The Dorset County Chronicle in 1834 and was an attempt to prick the consciences of the landlords of Dorset and to make them aware of the awful plight of their labourers. It can be heard on the CD In Praise Of Dorset by The Yetties.
Orcadian music and poetry 12:56pm on 20 Aug 2008 Who put all those question marks in my message?
Orcadian music and poetry 12:55pm on 20 Aug 2008 I’ve recently been listening to Ivan Drever - I think he’s the father of Chris – and find his pleasant sounding voice and guitar-playing simply delightful. I was introduced to his music nearly 10 years ago by a former boss who had a special compilation album (from a whiskey manufacturer, I think) and one song has stuck in my memory all that time. I thought it was called ‘Isles Ne’er Forgotten’ but have recently learned it is a setting of T S Peace’s poem ‘Orkney Anthem’. The chorus conjures up such a beautiful thought:

"Isles ne’er forgotten, be your sons afar alone
Or ringed they be by their ain native sea
Waes hale, they drink tae their own."

Orkney does appear to have a special, timeless atmosphere, which Ivan Drever has certainly captured in music and song. Evidently, he’s not the only one.

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The Grey Lady