So where have I been? (I)
2 Weeks Ago
I could say there and back again, which would not exactly be untrue. What is true is I’ve largely been away since August due to ill health, both physical  and mental  . Hopefully, now reasonably recovered. <fingerscrossedsmiley>
So “WasBin’Appenin’ “ then?
August is my annual big  holiday event of the year, it being the Broadstairs Folk Week festival, which runs for eight days in the second week of August.
http://www.broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk/
It is a chance to play a bit  , as well as get to see a large number of groups and artists and, maybe, enlarge my CD collection. It also means the family get together throughout the week, as I stay at my Dad’s and the rest of the family live locally. 
Of course, this year the plans were shot down!  I had developed tennis elbow, so that meant playing the fiddle flew  out of the window.  On to plan B! Make the most of seeing the best of the groups playing that week. I arrived early afternoon Friday, 7th August and had a chill, chat and  with Dad, whilst discussing the week. It was decided to visit the concert Marquee after supper and see ‘The Hot Club of Cowtown’, a Western string trio from San Diego.
http://www.broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk/
They were very good indeed, and recommended listening. The support act, Mother’s Ruin were ok, but will improve with experience.
The late night event was Mamienco, a group from Paris, performing a mix of Jazz, rock and Gypsy Music. Very lively and toe-tapping.
http://www.myspace.com/mamienco
Saturday, 8th, and up at 10.00 and a slow walk along the cliff top, as Saturday and Sunday are traditionally the two days when many Morris sides turn up and perform along the Promenade. As many as thirty sides may show up. A small selection are invited to perform at the Bandstand, but it is always a popular event. Some of the better sides I saw include
Bishops Gundulf (Rochester, Kent)
http://www.bishopgundulfs.co.uk/Bis...Gundulfs%20Morris%20Frame%20Set.htm
Maenads (Lenham, Maidstone) http://www.atmg94.dsl.pipex.com/
Wild Hunt Bedlam Morris (Merstham, Surrey)
http://www.wildhunt.org.uk/
Royal Liberty Morris (Hornchurch, Essex)
http://www.royallibertymorris.org.uk/
To name but a few...
The evening I was meat to be entertained by The Mighty Zulu Nation, but they couldn’t make it, so another group from Medway appeared at the last minute... Very much the last minute. Delayed in traffic, then made to walk 500m with their gear, as security didn’t believe they were performers. However they put on a very energetic display, with a lot of audience participation. I wish I’d written own their name.
The late evening event was The Glorystrokes, a Band that have to be heard, rather than seen, to be believed. Folk meets Metal... With a capital M-E-T-A-L!!! Awesome!
http://www.myspace.com/glorystrokes
Sunday and a visit to the craft tent. Many were regulars, but a coupe of new sites. However funds were tight this year so no £50 wooden carvings or £30 hemp pyjama suits! I ended up just mooching as nothing inspired me... Then realised I’d missed my favourite band!  ,  .
Luckily they were performing that evening, so I headed off early to see them... Oh yes. Who are ‘them’? The fantastic ASHA Ceilidh band. As it was a dance, it was a little disjointed but still fab!
http://www.ashaceilidhband.co.uk
I then hung around the same venue, as it was pouring with rain for the late night event with ‘Warblefly’, another Electric LOUD Folk band. Truly y stomping and another worth a listen... Who said Folk Music was boring and doesn’t ROCK?
http://www.warblefly.co.uk
Monday I went to see a Folk musical story based on the wives of Navvies, the men who physically built the roads, canals and railways across the British Empire, in ‘the Navvy’s Wife’.
http://www.thenavvyswife.co.uk
The evening was meant to be a Cajun and Rockabilly evening, with Sarah Savoy and the Francadians. Sarah is around 6’+ (180cm) and Broad, with a ‘30’s style haircut ad tacky tattoos, particularly ‘SAVOY’ across her shoulders. The music never really got going, and all she could talk about was her baby (who was making a right royal racket directly in front of me!!!). My sister and Friends had bought tickets, at £8.00 each and were underwhelmed.  I had a season ticket!  Can’t go without a link! <enjoy> 
http://www.myspace.com/sarahsavoythefrancadians
Again, the day was saved by the late evening event, Aardvark. I have known this band for many years, and Pete Grassby is a very talented Melodeon player. I was grateful I’d only come out with a little  as they’d just bought out a new CD. Maybe for  ?
http://www.theaardvarks.co.uk
Tuesday is midweek as far as I am concerned, as I’ve had three days, solid, of Folk , and now have only three more days after today! So what about today? This was going to be special... I was really looking forward to the evening event but first the afternoon? Nothing had really grabbed me, so I headed to a venue, in a Pub Garden, just off the promenade, to listen to Monroe’s Revenge.
http://www.monroesrevenge.co.uk
Plenty of pickin’ here. A good fresh sound. I was quite impressed, although the wind did spoil it a little!
http://www.monroesrevenge.co.uk
And then it was the event I’d bee looking forward to. I’d seen a group called ‘Bellowhead’ the previous year, at the BBC Folk Proms day and was blown away:
http://www.bellowhead.co.uk/
and tonight was a show with it’s wo main protagonists, John Spiers and Jon Boden... They did not disappoint... One bit!
http://www.spiersandboden.com/
Again, if only I had had more money. I was only able to fund this holiday because I found 250 Euros in a purse that I’d forgotten about! And they had four CD’s including a new one by JS! No, double Sometimes this Festival can backfire on me!! But I had a good evening! And it was a ‘wet’ venue... It had  . Well! It is a Folk Festival!!!
The evening event, as is usual on the Tuesday, was a non-Folk session, labelled as ‘A Little Bit of Ska...’ with a band that I reckon were playing in the ‘30’s... The 1830’s at that. Again my Sister and her Friends had bought tickets, this time at £10.00. To call it ‘A Little Bit of Ska..’ with Arthur Kay and the Originals, was stretching the point a touch. The music didn’t even reach walking pace, let alone the beat of Ska! There were a lot of disappointed punters!!
http://www.arthurkay.co.uk/
Wednesday was another American session, as that was the underlying theme of the week. Today’s concert featured Jody Kruskal and Paul Frieman, a duo from Brooklyn who weren’t exactly my
They were followed by Kirsty McGee and Mat Martin.
She was ok, but wasn’t overawed by him.
http://www.kirstymcgee.com/home.html
The headliners were The Maybelles.
Now this was truly toe-tapping, again. A real taste of good old U.S of A Country Music. I was pleased I sat through the other two duos.
http://www.themaybellesmusic.com/
And, hey, the late night event was another non-Fol bash, but on that put vigour into aching ankles and trembling knees. The Funking Barstewards with sonds of the ‘70’s... Certainly an entertaining night of Boogeying, with many volunteers dressed for the party!
http://www.thefunkingbarstewards.co.uk/
Thursday, the penultimate day of the Festival... And another afternoon that didn’t really inspire. I can have too much American music... Quickly! I went to listen to The Ginger Jug Band, but they spent a fair bit of time chatting amongst themselves. Spoilt it a bit. I decided to head to the Bandstand, which saved the day with Tener Duende. They were only on for a short burst, but my toe started tapping!
http://www.myspace.com/tenerduendemusic
Thursday evening was a very pleasant evening away from Folk, spent with a Schoolfriend I’ve known for 45 years, but not met for possibly 5... A good evening spent chatting and drinking, with the odd thrown in for good measure. However the wife and kids, as well as work called, so we went our separate ways, him to Birchington, me to the late evening venue. This time a group called Wholesome Fish, described as Acid-Folk-Punk Anarcho-Funsters. Well! It’s as good a description as any I could come up with. Certainly there weren’t many sat down towards the end of ther evening. Just listen to ‘Apple Blossom’ for a taster...
http://www.myspace.com/wholesomefish
Friday! The last day! Why does this day always depress me? Why do I always feel I should have done more? Listened to more? It is the same each year, and the tennis elbow has really made it worse!!!
So what about today? Many Folk artists leave early, so the afternoon is really about demonstrating what has been learnt at the many workshops, with a show at the bandstand.Here are people who have learnt clogging, rapper sword, North-West morris, to name but a few... And some were exceptionally good.
However there was still the evening concert to come. This had been he talk of the town, if not the area. An amazing coup!!!
Yes! The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain!
I’d only heard about them, via the media, as they were going to perform at the BBC Proms the following week. Something previously unheard of.
Were they good? You bet. It was packed to capacity, with many standing outside the perimeter fence, which the Band often mentioned in pauses, to great applause.
If you get an opportunity to see them, grab it!!!
http://www.ukuleleorchestra.com
They were that good, my Dad stayed until the end. That was a first for the week!!! And he’d attended all the early evening events with me, for which I felt really pleased. Unfortunately they ran out of .
The late evening event was with Florida, a local band who always close the Festival. They are , but do not change or improve much.
So the Festival closes for another year. And I’ll be back next year, hopefully with both wings working, and back playing. However, I shall not complain as, for once, I saw the Festival from a non-Musician’s perspective and, by and large, enjoyed it.
The highlights?
Asha, as always, Spiers and Boden, Warblefly, Wholesome Fish and, of course, the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.
 if you survived this far! Go and have a ,  or maybe even a 
You deserve it!
MMF
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Zeniths and Nadirs.
Oct 18, 2009
I guess life is full of them at some point, but to get a mixed bag at the same time? 
So life's nadirs.
The right arm has got no better, unfortunately... . It appears to be  or fiddler's elbow (prefer the latter), also known as lateral epicondylitis. The big problem I have is that I have to have a medical attendance follow-up at work, so i cannot take time of to let it heal. Next month I shall buy an adjustable walking stick, to see if my current one is the cause. 
I am seeing a new neuro-muscular Specialist to get answers as to my mobility problems. This is really dragging on and getting very tiring. 
As of September I was informed that my position at work is redundant.  . It is something I have been expecting. However it raises a number of concerns... namely my mobility and physical ability to transfer to another position, my age, and the number of vacant positions available. There are plus points though...
My 50th approacheth... Rapidly 
The Zeniths.
Yes, there are some...
I have now registered as disabled... although the only thing they picked up on, is that I am unable to lift items out of the oven. Nothing to do with mobility, using stairs or any of those factors... So on the lowest level of disability allowance!!!
In terms of my occupation, I have been selected as the department's representative, so I am actively involved in the process, and hopefully, due to my experience, knowledge, and profile, shall secure a position fairly readily.
My 50th party is coming together. There are a number of friends who can't attend, but they get Special  from me, as I fully undertand why, and look forward to seeing them next year.
But my real biggy!!!  
I hve heard from Cyn via FB... Almost a year has passed but we chatted, briefly, last night... YAY.
So all is not and  There is some ,  and  for which I am grateful.
Hopefully normal service will be resumed soon, but MMF is still full of PMA, even if life is proving to be a little taxing, as there are many who would  to swap with me, and I do consider myself fortunate.
Back soon.
and all around!
MMF
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- Latest reply: Oct 20, 2009
Flying on one wing... Badly!!!
Aug 26, 2009
I know I said I wouldn't mention my health again, but just in case anyone had wondered why I'd been offline (which unfortunately I doubt) I am currently writing this left handed as I have a form of tendonitis in my right forearm,  which is why I haven't been online much.
My right elbow and forearm are extremely painful and largely unusable,
It mean't I didn't pick up my fiddle once throughout my holiday, and is now causing problems at work.  .
It is so difficult to type left handed when I am so used to typing with two fingers! One on each hand!! ... and I desperately need to wash some shirts, which isn't too bad as the machine does that... (see the badly edited entry A55673878 ) It's the ironing that is posing the problem... And I really need a bath! <pongsmiley>... I know! TMI!!!
I hope to be back when I am flying on both wings!!!  
MMF
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- Latest reply: Aug 26, 2009
Respite care or R & R? You decide!!!
Aug 6, 2009
I'm now away for 10 days... Although I've actually been away for longer than that.
Something has shifted!
Either my perspective has changed, or H2G2 has. Not sure what it is. Just feel empty and invisible. Sort of  . Maybe because I am working on entries.  .
Not sure, as I spent ages on a specifically requested entry from the Nodnol Meet and it is still languishing in  hell! A little bit off-putting but may be to do with my writing style!  .
Anyway, I shall recharge my batteries in Broadstairs, and I may be back! 
It depends on whether anyone is about! Who wants to chat.
My holiday link is:
http://www.broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk/
Have a good summer, everyone!
I definitely need one.
MMF
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- Latest reply: Aug 7, 2009
Is that rain? Nah! The tide's come in.
Jul 24, 2009
There was a promise of rain today, yet I didn't believe it as, thirty minutes ago, it was wall-to-wall sunshine. Then down it came!!! The road became a river and the drains couldn't cope, and flights to Heathrow appeared to be diverted, and it was wall-to-wall water instead. The people at the  stop where getting drenched from the cars' bow wave. It had to be seen to be believed.
I understand this is likely to be the norm now, with climate change... Note: I didn't say global warming.
I've heard from some pundits that it appears the UK climate is moving away from it's usual maritime climate to a Mediterranean climate. This means a number of days of increased  and heat, followed by an intense deluge of rain, thunderstorms and flash floods.
Not as bad as this, here... (Caution BBC news video)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8166533.stm
What makes this one really is that last night I dreamt I was in the old family home, and there were extremely loud thunder claps and very heavy downpours. It was that extreme I had to calm my Sisters. Once it had passed I looked out of the window, and the water was two meters deep. A veritable flood. After 10 minutes it had gone, a bit like outside, except for the usual thirty metre long lake opposite the stop.
I guess, as it is the Hull Meet tomorrow, it was to be expected!!!
Now were are my waders and Sou'wester?
MMF
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- Latest reply: Jul 25, 2009
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and fantasy. 
I enjoy folk-music 
and fiddle-playing. I have two identical Red/Black Bridge Electric violins (see http://bridgeinstruments.com.) 
murder)
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and all things to do with Natural History. 
I regularly visit WWT London Wetland Centre, although I am not a twitcher. 
, sweets 
or desserts 
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but I'll leave some here...
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