I'm a poet

The British Oak is a strange affair
The landlord is never there
The locals like to read old papers and smile
Some have dogs
"I'm just out to walk the dog luv, may be a while"
There are clean bogs
There are plugs
The amplifier fires up
My lager deserves a final sup
I need to learn driving
The folk club is thriving. The ceiling is bare
Lynne isn't there, Richard Russell is buzzing. Some good new faces appear
It's great to hear
The return of Gordon with his mandola and John Lee churning out musical waves on the hurdy gurdy. Welcome back also to Neil sporting a Flying Burrito Brothers T shirt!!!

Fiddlefit for a king!

The excellent duo Fiddlefit did a cracking half hour set at The Blackheath Folk Club last night. Bill & Judith really put on an outstanding display of musicianship with their own brand of violin and guitarfolk music. It was also good to see the return of old favourites Bruise, who have been touring England, Scotland & Europe throughout the summer. My old mate Richard Russell also turned up and treated us to one of his poetic rants. The highlight for me was Martin and Simon's impromptu performance of All Blues to celebrate the 50th ammiversary of the release of Mile Davis' Kind Of Blue album.

Crayford Arms 19th September 2009, Gong Scourer Morris and various folkies!

Hellooo

Well I haven't been on this blog page for some time now. It was nice last week at Knockholt! I also had a good time last night at Blackheath Folk Club. Blahh Blahh Blahh!

Lucien's First Bike

Well I'm going to try an alternative to youtube called DAILYMOTION so things may go haywire.

Lucien's First Bike
Uploaded by mickywoodsie. - Discover videos of people, family and friends.

Night Time Blues

Well here I am sitting in an office on the 3rd Floor at Rathbone Place. It's 1.15AM and I can still hear the drunken crowds of revellers in the streets outside. I'm doing a one off night shift for my revisions project (job cutting) all it involves is counting the numbers of workers in specific work areas every 10 minutes throughout the night! That's so exciting man ...

Can't wait to get down to the Star and Garter for the Friday night blues & Folk & comedy revue with good ol' Steve & Kelvin..

I went to folkmob last night. Fairly quiet night as a lot of people are away on holiday at this time of the year. Pete The Hat's son Gavin gave a superb performance of two West End musical numbers. There was also some stunning guitar playing from young Darragh and young Chris. The lager tasted exremely good and was lovely and cold, just right for this hot weather!

Plop

Well I didn't last long on the wagon - 4 days! This is because I just had to go to the British Oak last night, it was calling me "Come, come, come to the folk club, come to the folk club Theresa's there!" like that old Black Widow record! It was a rather quiet night, but we still had fun. It was good to see Neil Clasper playing some tasty lead guitar with Matt & Jerry. I even managed to do 3 songs myself, all Dylan stuff - Positvely 4th Street, One More Cup Of Coffee & Lay Lady Lay. I think I must be after Fred Dylan's job! Good to see Theresa & Fran out. Thanks for the lift home Big T! Pete The Hat was there with his son Gavin, very nice young bloke who promises to learn the guitar and perform before his next visit all the way from St Albans. I thinks I will have to go to folkmob tonight - but that will mean drinking, could it be physically possible for me to go there, go up to the bar, say "good evening Fran, would you be kind enough to pour me a slimline tonic with ice and a slice?" ... Ooooh that will be hard work, especially when all my chums are sitting back, swilling gallons of fine english ale and litres of the coolest golden lager, right there in front of me while I stand with this stupid little glass of watery plop in my hand. Let's wait and see.

Lurgi?

A great night at The Blackheath Folk Club last night. I have now finished jury service and am back at work again. I don't think I will be at folkmob tonight I feel a bit sick, hope it's not the dreaded lurgi flu. Oh I nearly forgot, I went to Colin's session at the Pelton Arms on Sunday and that was great too! Here are some pictures:

Jury causes lack of interest in folk

Well I've been on jury service again this week, so haven't had much time to put anything on here. Both Blackheath Folk and Folkmob were sparsely populated this week. I'm off to The Star & Garter tonight, so lets hope that this fares a bit better.

Star & Garter

I went to the new session at The Star & Garter on Friday with Pete and Graham. It is run by Steve Bowditch and Fred Dylan. Fred was away on holiday in Crete, so we missed his "Sounds like Bob" show. The host Steve Bowditch was excellent with his unique brand of comedy and song with guitar accompaniment. His current theme is "I'm A Pirate" and it had the audience in stiches! Especialy his take on Village People's "In The Navy" I didn't get the name of Steve's mate, who was co-hosting the evening but he was really funny as well, joining in on percussion and backing vocals with Steve and some of the other acts. There were a couple of old faces performing, Tony & Keith also a couple of bands "Warpigs" and a tro who's name I didn't get (Little something people) who's singer sounded just like Sandy Denny.

British Oak

It was a good night at The Blackheath Folk club last night. We had our youngest performer Daniel Goodwin aged 10 who played Ukelele and piano for us.

Moldy Moldy Men

We went to The Royal Standard last night. Funny all the years I've lived in and around the Blackheath area I'd never been in this pub before. Anyway they are going to try live music for a few weeks on saturday nights, so we thought we'd give it a whirl. The duo playing were The Moldy Moldy Men. They comprise of Jonathan Glew and Niall Costigan who are both regular performers at Blackheath Folk club. They did a two hour set of a mixture of covers and original material. Very good stuff and I recommend that you see them.

Swimming in a putrid pool

I had a good birthday on Wednrsday, my head was still spinning the next day, but I managed to get to work OK. Bruise were very good at Folkmob and the beer was certainly flowing. As part of my new "get fit" regime I went swimming in the new Eltham Centre this morning. The water smelt bad of putrid human sweat. I noticed that the water was not chlorinated, so it must be a hotbed of bacteria and all sorts of infectious stuff.A load of schoolkids had just left the pool, so they had probably pissed in it as well, dirty little bastards. I didn't stay in there very long as the stench was overbearing. I think I will have to give up alcohol for a few weeks, I am getting to like it too much! I'm off work for a few weeks with jury service starting on 20th July. Not looking forward to commuting daily to Tthe Elephant & Castle.

British Oak

Went to the British Oak last night for the folk night. There was some big threatening looking git standing at the bar shouting "go on the Irish!!" "Oi diddly diddly" "Go on you catholics" and shit like that, during performances throughout the session. The thick bastard didn't understand that folk music can be played and sung by any nationality, in fact apart from myself I don't think there were any Irish in the pub and there certainly were not any Irish songs or tunes performed. It's brainless scum like that that can ruin the night. Other than that it was another good night with some outstanding players and singers.:

Nuclear bastards

Although it is good news that the russians and americans are talking again about arms reduction and cutting back their nuclear stockpiles. I don't really think it will make the world any safer, because it all means nothing when there are still loads of hateful, evil bastards such as Korea, Pakistan and Israel armed to their rotten teeth with nuclear weapons and threatening the very stability of our planet. Let's hope that when the LHC finally gets up and working, the magical secrets that it reveals are never shared with the likes of these filthy warmongering scum. These sacred secrets should be kept in the hands of reason and used to ensure world peace and the exploration and eventual colonisation of deep space... Amen

Where did the time go?

This is my last night shift. When I finish in the morning I will be off work for the rest of the week and then all next week. Then from 20th July I will be on jury service so, with a bit of luck I won't be back at work until August. Looking forward to Wednesday, when I shall be looking backwards at my life so far! It will be my birthda, 54 years old, thats an old man! And here's me I still haven't decided what I want to be when I grow up. As Sandy Denny once said "who knows, where the time goes" I certainly don't. Anyway the great duo Bruise will be at Folkmob and I will buy my friends a beer or six.

Wanna kill some peasants? Here have some dosh!

I've just read this on the BBC news site:

"The UK is to spend £1bn a year in overseas aid on countries that have recently emerged from conflict"

The UK is a Trillion pounds in the red and one of the poorest countries in the developed world. Who the fuck decides to give away money that we haven't got to countries that will spend it on murdering their own citizens?

Blues Abused!

Went to the British Oak last night to see The Steve Morrison & Mark Walker incarnation of Blues Abuse. Although we missed Al Richardson's harp playing, it did mean that Steve could treat us to more guitar solos than is normal when Al is blowing full steam. Mark's drumming and occasional backing vocals added a new dimension to Steve's sound. There were also some new (for me)songs, as well as different versions (harp free)of old stuff. Good to see lots of my friends from the folkmob at the gig, This is a great pub and worth a visit if you haven't been yet!

Clattershack

I went to The Crown in Chislehurst last night with my mate Pete. This is home to a monthy session run by old friends Missiuri Gutts. Here are a few snaps:

Liz Simcock

Myself and Graham went to see Liz Simcock and her band at Orpington Friday Folk last Friday. This is a lovely little folk club. I am always amazed at the number of quality guest acts this club manages to put on during the course of the year, for such a small club. This is thanks to Sue Tuckey who runs the club herself! There you go, a committee of ONE, so there are no arguments or disagreements. Liz Simcock was her usual faultless self and we enjoyed two outstanding sets. Floor spots came from the unbelievable glam-folk pioneers Tone Deaf Leopard who were augmented with Ian on double bass & Warwick on lead guitar, Liz looked a bit concerned that her band may leave her to pursue a career of fortune & fame! Big Trevor Little also did a solo joiny-in gospel song which was outstanding. My old mate Peter Twiddle gave a cracking couple of numbers as did Ralph Henning. The beer tasted good the company was great - what more could you want on a friday night!

Sky Saxon

Everybody is talking about the recent death of that Michael Jackson bloke, and Farah Fawcett , but sadly the death of one of my heroes on 25th June went by unreported in the mainstream media.

The great SKY SAXON (later Sky Sunlight) leader of sixties psychedelic punk/garage band died aged 71 on Thursday 25th June 2009. His early song "Can't Seem To Make You Mine" was recently used on a TV ad ( don't know which one) but surely he will always be associated with that brilliant anthem "Pushin' To Hard"

I first came across Sky's music during the early seventies on Lenny Kaye's wonderful compilation NUGGETS. I then managed to get hold of some of the early Seeds albums including an original copy of WEB OF SOUND album on a stall in Portobello Market for 30P! Their early stuff was solid proto-punk but they later developed a more pastoral psychedelic sound and Sky in true weighed in fashion Sky went off his head and joined a hippie commune and changing his name from Saxon to Sunlight. During the Punk/New wave boom of the late seventies I remember buying a record by Sky Sunlight and The New Seeds - but for me he never recaptured that raw innocent sound of the early Seeds records.
RIP

Ramsgate

What a dump. We drove down there to take my grandson Lucien to see the sea, as he has never been there before. After a 2 hour journey then £2 to park in the carpark near the beach. The public toilets were closed, The swings and other children's things were also closed!!! This is at 2pm on a sunny afternoon in late June!!! Some dodgy looking crook types sitting outside a "seafood" bar selling imported, defrosted, prawnshit & factory compressed fishmeal from some cesspit in the far east as "local seafood" No wonder this country is on it's knees. Bloody lazy bastards "can't be bothered to open up, think I'll go back to bed" attitude that made this country what it is. We then went on to Herne bay, at least some stuff was open there - but all very tacky, gimme-your-money-for-shit type stuff. funny that these beaches all have signs saying NO DOGS ON BEACH between May & Sept yet there were hordes of those arseholes with baseball caps on their peanut, brainless sculls, sporting cheap gold toilet chains on their scrawny necks, with crap tattoos on their idiotic arms grinning at each other whilst excercising their ugly mutt shit-machine bull terriers, rot-while-errrs and other fierce mad dogs. Yeah we'll be rushing back there!

Knockholt

Here is some video footage of this year's Knockholt This Is Summer. The footage isn't much good and it has been compressed, which means on top of crap footage you have poor quality. However It was just a bit of fun. I will try and upload a shorter uncompressed version when I get time.

Blob From Shanghai

Got back from Knockholt on Saturday morning knackered. Not sure if I am fit enough anymore to endure 3 or 4 days in a field drinking beer! Anyway when I got back I lay there on my bed and turned on the TV. There was a movie on called The Lady From Shanghai, I vaguely remember seeing the last 15 or so minutes of this film about 30 years ago and being impressed by the pschedelic/surreal sequence at a closed fun fair. I thought then, that I must see the complete film at the next opportunity, I soon forgot all about it. Anyway, all these years later I finally decided to watch it. Well what can I say, that Orsen Welles bloke is a genius. The movie site IMDB say that this film is great but flawed! They are talking through their bottoms - it is a brilliant film and I urge anyone who appreciates good movies to see it.

On a completely different subject, I came across a strange phenomenon the other day called Quantum Lyman-Alpha Blobs - these are pulsating blobs of plama/matter about 8 quadzillion miles across and they are like huge jellyfish wandering around our universe zipping in and out of reality eating galaxies for breakfast. I looked through my telesope last night and saw one with it's hungry eye on me!

Movie Update

Here is an update version of the latest Pete The Hat blockbuster. The earlier upload to Youtube contained some encoding errors so lets try again:

Barbeque

Linda Smith had a barbeque yesterday. These BBQs are set in Linda's lovely garden in sunny Mottingham are an occasion that I always look forward to. Thanks Linda for once again hosting a great afternoon. The beer was brewed by Linda herself for the event and it tasted fantastic (as did the botted lager, and the bottle of wine ...) Here are a few pictures that I took:

Solitary Electron Soul

I've got a couple of weeks off work coming up soon. Knockholt is on the horizon. I'm getting worried about my leg, it is more painful now than it was before the operation in February - I could hardly walk yesterday and the pain is stopping me from sleeping - whinge, whinge, moan, groan ...

Did you know that in the whole universe there is only one electron. It zips from location to location in and out of reality and time. All of every thing is everything and nothing at the same time and time does not exist! Blimey where does that leave me?

Well I reckon that this particular quantum mechanical theory could be applied to the "soul" That would mean that there is actually only one "soul" in all of space and time and it zips instantaniously from person to person across time and space covering every human that ever lived or ever will be. This happens in a never ending continuum that takes less than billionth of quadrillionth of a nanosecond for each cycle. So that means that you are everybody. So you better be nice to your fellow man because he/she is, or will be you!!!

Pig's Ear

I went to the Pig's ear Folk Ale festival Friday through to Monday camping with a load of musicians, next to a pub in scorching hot Kent! Isn't life hard! Pig's Ear are a fantastic folk band based in Edenbridge, Kent. Each year they organise this small friendly festival at the Kentish Horse Pub in Markbeech. The Pub Landlady own's the three adjoining beautiful fields, which are surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside in England. There is a mixture of Rock, Country, Americana, Folk Song & Folk Tunes on the main PA stage, a singaround in the pub every night and loads of small sessions going on in varous parts of the camp and certainly something there to please everybody. There was maypole dancing, Childrens entertainment, great pub food at reasonable prices and a huge choice of real ales.

Got it!

The asus 1000HE was delivered yesterday. I've only messed around with it for a short time, but so far, I'm impressed. I can connect to my wireless network at home and now, thanks to the £5 a month add-on to my vergin broadband account I can access the internet whilst wandering. That means I can take the asus to knockholt loaded with music and browse the net as well!

Netbook & Ale

There's a fantastic new netbook out called ASUS 1000HE it has a 9 hour battery life, XP,Bluetooth, camera and only weighs 1.45kg. I was thinking of getting one as my laptop is heavy and bulky. £309 should I ...?

I am thinking of goinhg to Pig's ear Folk & Ale next week. My mate Pete is going on Friday I may go on thursday. It's a musical camping weekend - in a field behind a pub!

Nigel Performs

Nigel is going back to Oz on sunday. He treated us to a brief performance of Neil Young's "Hurricane" last night at folkmob.

Fat Bloke

I put on tons of weight over the last year - I think it's because I haven't been going out to pubs as much as I used to. Sitting at home surfing the web and watching DVDs whilst eating ice cream, sweets, take-aways and other rubbish has taken it's toll. That along with drinking cans of coke all day and no excercise. By March 2009 I ended up weighing nearly 17½ stone!!!!

Enough is enough I said. I want to be able to wear normal clothes again. I don't want to die of a heart attack! I am now on a strict selective food regime. No cokes, cheese, white bread, red meat, eggs, potatoes, sweets etc. Lots of fish, salad, fruit & water, one or two cups of black coffee, occasional chicken breast, occasional slice of wholemeal. Now I do go out for a beer now and then, mainly Tuesday & Wednesday for the folk clubs. I am not going to be silly and not have a few pints - so those pub visits are excempt.

Since starting this on 28th March I am back down to 15½ stone and there's no stopping there my target is 12½ stone and hopefully be able to fit into a pair of Levi's again.

Nigel

It was great to see my old friend Nigel last night at Folkmob. I haven't seen him since 2001 - doesn't time fly. He's made a new life for himself on the other side of the world. He was in England for a short stay with his partner April and their 4 month old daughter Indigo here are a few photos that I took:

Rochester

I had a great day at The Good Intent yesterday. John Barden was running a great singaround in the bar and Dal was running a beer drinkers paradise in the garden - 30 guest ales! I would have loved to have tried them all but I found the wonderful Whistable East Indi Ale and stuck to that as it was luverly! Good to see a good folkmob turnout. Sue & Mick Forde, Mike & Chris Porter, Dave, Pete, Jim, Linda, Rachael, George, Babs and Richard. Missed Richard Bridge. I didn't bother with the High Street this year and went straight to the Good Intent arriving at 11:45 to find about 6 people waiting outside the gate. I don't know why they don't open earlier!

Icarus Club

I went to the Icarus club on Friday. This is a short season of gigs at Blackheath Halls promoting new bands and local performers. The first act was The Kittiwakes, a trio playing all original material. Folky stuff most of which relates to Lofoten Islands in the artic. The Next act was our old friends Bruise. They played well, but the person doing the sound mix did not do them justice. there were a couple of other mediocre acts then a super set from Dennis Greaves & Mark Feltham from Nine Below Zero.

Easter

Easter Sunday. It's not snowing, but it's a miserable damp grey morning. Bruise were excellent last night at The British Oak. It was good to see a fair turnout of folkmobians, including Dave K, Mike & Chris Porter, Mr & Mrs John H,John Evans and Graham. I'm looking forward to their show at The Rugby Club on July 8th, my birthday!

Good Friday rant

It's Easter already. Last easter only seems like yesterday when it was snowing! There's not much happening today, so I'll just sit around and play with computers and stuff. I think I'll go to homebase and buy some tomato plants, but they're probably closed. I gave up eating rubbish a couple of weeks ago, that includes eggs, cheese, burgers, sausages, white bread, sweets, ice cream, coca cola, crisps, peanuts, cakes & biscuits. I have been drinking only water and black coffee. I still drink lager when I go out which is only two or three times a week these days. It's a slow process and I've lost about a stone (6kg) I need to shed at least another 2 stone to be where I want to! Bruise are playing at The British Oak tomorrow and I am looking forward to it. The are a really great duo/band and nice people to boot.

Crap

I am thinking of buying a bicycle, but all the bikes that I look at have millions of gears - well about 18 on average. Why would any normal mortal need 18 gears on a bike? I used to cycle a lot years ago. In those days I had a BSA bike with 5 gears of which I used 3 most of the time.

Why is everything crap? I went for an eye test a couple of weeks ago and picked up the new glasses the other day - I couldn't see through the things! "you're not used to them yet" said the woman on the phone "wear them for a week and see how you get on" If I wore those things for a week I would have been blind by now. I brought them back and asked for a re-test - these tests cost £28! The optician said "oh dear those glasses are wrong, sorry we are crap, I'll order another pair" £425 spent and they got it wrong - crap opticians D&A Eltham. Later that day I went down to PC world and bought a laptop for my daughter. the spec looked good on the Advent 6552 so I handed over £400 and took it home and presented it to Sarah. All was going well until she unplugged the USB card after transfering some photos - as she pulled it from the USB slot the computer screen went blank. The laptop was dead and would not power up again. I brought it back and they gave me another one - guess what! The thing worked fine until she once again transfered her photos and pulled the card from the socket - it died! Back to PC World I trotted. Whats going on? This computer is a pile of poo" said I "yes, I know we are a crap store and we sell poop" said the assistant. "Well you can take this pile of poop back and give me an HP laptop instead" said I. The HP is working fine to date touch wood

Back to work

I went back to work today after 4 weeks off. I have been stir crazy during that time just sitting about the house, unable to do anything strenuous. I've put on about a stone in weight over the last year, giving up smoking 3 years ago didn't help!. Drastic measures are called for. I have been consuming just salad, seafood oily fish, fruit, wholemeal bread, black coffee and water for a week now and am still the same weight - i need exercise. Looking forward to the folk music session down in Richard Bridge's local The Nag's Head this sunday.

Spotify

Anybody use spotify yet? It makes your computer into a juke box. It hasn't got everything e.g. no Floyd - but it has got some great stuff just try it out!

Here's the LINK

In The Ghetto

Another two weeks off work ... Getting quite bored. I ventured down to Eltham this morning. Have you noyiced the shops in the High Street? Pound Stop, Poundland, 99p store, Lidl, peacock etc all selling crap. That along with the 6 charity shops & 5 phone shops makes it a wonderful shopping experience. I went home empty handed. I'll give it another year or so and it will be a Ghetto like Woolwich.

Operation

Had my knee operation on Friday, they brought it forward by a week! Not too bad painwise, but as expected I am unable to bend my knee yet. The main problem is that I pur my back out before the op and that is still causing problems with movement. Have been watching old episodes of Dalziel & Pasco, this is a detective series which is every bit as good as morse and I recommend it to people who enjoy good murder mystery drama.

Brrrrm...

Just back from the British Oak. A good night, loverly relapsed atmouse fear! I'm off sick again my back is in a painful spasm and my knee has ceased up. I am having surgery next week, so I won't be back at work until April. Kay's just got a nice new car, so she is happy. That's good.

Hope

Well here we are, February already. Doesn't time fly when you're having fun. Anyway I thought that I would post something here as I haven't done so since January. The Folkmob seem to be settling in nicely at their new home at the rugby club. One day i will bring my guitar down there and do something. Richard Bridge is hosting a sing-around at The Nag's Head in upper nowhere next week and I am looking forward to that. Kay is ill and awaiting further surgery that won't be for at least another 6 weeks, so we are keeping our fingers crossed. Poor ol'Theresa Findlay is back in hospital with complications following major surgery before Christmas. The theiving evil financial fat cats have drained our country dry and the money in pockets isn't worth anything. Let's hope something good happens soon.

Boiled Baby?

Did you know that Jonathon Swift once proposed that the solution to poverty in Ireland was to kill unwanted babies, then butcher them for their meat and fine leather for the rich! The main stock of catholic peasants would be farmed, allowing one male to regularly service four females and thus keep a constant supply of babies for the marketplace. The pamphlet that Swift published was called "A Modest Proposal" It was supposed to be satire, but I'm not so sure. It also mentions reducing the number of "papists among us"

French stick

Went to the rising Sun last night with my old mate Graham Atwood. I needed a pint or three after spending all day at the hospital with Kay, who is very ill at the moment. Anyway myself and Graham are sitting there enjoying our beers when a lanky frenchman comes through the door and says "Geeve mee a light!" wiggling a cigarette in his hands "sorry mate, we don't smoke" said Graham "yeah sorry,I gave it up" says I.
"you no geeve me a light, why you geeve up smoking?" he leers across at me "... You got lung canceer?" " geeve me a furkeeng light"

This onion pedaling, snail chomping, kisser of nazi's bottoms is now getting on my nerves

"Fuck off French wanker" says I

"Watch your language" says the cheese eating surrender monkey

He walks out, I follow him through the door. He runs away.

I now think I understand Ron Trueman-Border's song Everybody Hates The French.

I wonder if it was one of those French fags that smell/taste like shit that he wanted to light?

Nag's head

Went to a song session yesterday in Lower Stoke. Here is a short extract:

Christmas Eve

Well here we are Christmas Eve! All the shoppimg done , I'm waiting for Kay to get back from the hospital. No boozing tonight, just a quiet night in watching some DVDs and preparing stuff for tomorrow. Thinking about my friend Theresa poor girl has just had some major surgery and has to stay in hospital over Christmas. Her husband Tom is a great bloke - he's booked in at a hotel near to Guy's hospital so that he can be near her. Let's hope 2009 brings them both some good luck!

Feeling rough

Blimey I drank three pints of lager last night and I feel terrible! My mate Sion Humphries played some fine songs last night at The British Oak, including my favourite "my Child". He is moving on to pastures new in Sussex - Good Luck!!!

Last night at the Tudor barn tonight.

Fare-Thee-Well Hall

It will be sad to see the folkmob move out of the Tudor Barn. This wednesday is their last night there, after 12+ years. I hope I can make it for thye occasion. My friend Theresa Findlay is still in hospital following major surgery to remove a cancer tumor. I wish her a speedy recovery.

Dave Kennington

Dave has got engaged to Sara - good luck to both of them! It's the Folkmob Christmas party tonight, I think I'll pop along for a couple of hours.

Snow

Blimey it was snowing this morning! Mind you the rain has washed it all away again. Kays birthday today she's 44 doesn't time fly. Lots happening recently, I've been off work with a dodgy left knee, it's really painful to walk. Had some x-rays done last wednesday. There is arthritis in my knees and hips and one of the bones in my left knee is askew. I will have to have another arthroscopy and some special goo injected into the knee.

Brian Bruce

My old mate Brian passed away this morning after a three year battle with cancer. I knew Brian for nearly ten years. He loved performing and was an accomplished vocalist and guitarist. He had been suffering particularly with severe pain badly over the last few months. Let's hope he's keeping them entertained "up there!"

Paul Steele

I met Paul about three years ago at Orington Folk club. He sang a lot of songs that were old favourites of mine including many Dylan numbers. Paul has a superb guitar style and an inimitable vocal delivery. Here he can be seen playing MY guitar. He borrowed it as his own was in some strange tuning.

Moody Plants

I was walking around the garden yesterday and I came across some strang vegetation growing in a corner. I'm sure that I remember seeing plants similar to this in an old hippy book or on the cover of a pop group's LP!



I better chop them down!

Financial Meltdown?

Let's hope that the government bail out of the bbanking system works - I'm worried about my pension. These fat financial slugs have been leeching money from the working masses for far too long, they need shooting! Private banks should be limited in size and not allowed to profit by lending money that they haven't got, to people who can't afford the repayments anyway - these people are fucking criminals. If a human steals, he goes to prison. However, if a fat stinking slug of a banker steals millions it gets a knighthood! Why are we not seizing the huge assets that these fat bastards still cling to?

Pete The Hat

Pete and myself went down to John Bardens all day sing - around at The Good Intent pub in Rochester last weekend - here is a clip of Pete's debut at that world famous gathering!

Happy Birthday Jim

Jim Radford is 80 tomorrow! He is one of the finest men I have met. He joined the deep sea rescue tugs during WWII and played a part in securing the freedom that we all enjoy today. Jim saw some terrible sights, as a young man (boy) during that conflict. This strengthened his resolve to oppose mankind's  bigotry and violence. Jim spent his life as an active voice against the injustice and greed in this world from the vietnam war through to the Iraq war - Jim was there on the streets demonstrating. Happy Birthday mate!

R.I.P.The Monty Club

This bloke is the "parish priest" that has decided to close down the Monty Club in Eltham! The twisted bigot has treated some of the hardest working, charitable and kindest people that I have ever met, as if they were dog shit on his shoe. People who give up their free time every weekend to raise money for charity, who work hard unpaid for the parish year in year out! He couldn't even talk face to face - He instructed solicitors to do his mischief for him. I emailed him pleading for him to reconsider - he didn't even acknowledge me. Well his god is watching him and he will get what he desrves.

The Men Who Stare At Goats

About three years ago Kay bought me a book called "The Men Who Stare At Goats" It's about the U.S. military investing in some crazy research in the hope of maintaining world dominance. Recently some of my old mates at the FOLKMOB in Eltham have formed a loose band using this name - great choice!!! I remember a band called "Goats Don't Shave" anyway have a look at this video:

Krazy Rulers of the NWO - The Rat Masters who Stare at Goats
Uploaded by neverknwo

Sitting at home

Well I'm sitting at home playing with my grandson! I wonder how they are getting on down in Knockholt? The weather seems OK - it rained a little bit but the sun has been poking through every now and then! Brian saitd that he will take me to farnborough tonight, I've just checked and see that Ron Trueman-Border is the featured Guest. I will probably go along for a couple of hours and a swift 2 pints of lager! I was supposed to be on leave for two weeks but have phoned work and said that I want to go back next week - sad person that I am!

Knockholt

Well good luck to all that are about to brave the English weather for the next few days at Knockholt. Sadly I will be unable to attend this one as I have no transport and haven't been feeling too good recently. Anyway I hope it all goes well and ye have a great time. say hello to my brother Ginger!!!

Rugby

I left Rugby on the 12:17 fast to Euston. We pulled out of the station and went about 2 miles down the line, waited for an hour and then reversed back to Rugby. We waited again for a half hour or son then pulled out again, but only went as far as Northampton, where we were chucked off. A coach then took us on a round-the-houses trip to Hemel Hempstead. After another wait I caught a train to Euston - arriving at about 17:00! - i reckon I would have got there earlier if I had walked! Amyway it's good to be back in uncivilisation again and I'm looking backwards to a pint or 3 at the monty club this evening with Bill and Dave K.

Ronnie Drew

Good ol' Ronnie died today R.I.P.

Worried

I am feeling very depressed. The more I look around me every day, the more it seems that world is becoming a living nightmare. Global warming, pollution, corruption, political incorrectness, rudeness, crime, violence, mass economic migration, hate, greed, self importance, road rage, celebrity, secularism, evolution, big bang, clever people who know they are right, stupid people who know they are right! Oil running out, China getting stronger. India getting rich. People with hate in their eyes walking the streets, clambering onto the tube, gathering at bus stops, serving at supermarkets. Grinning faces of self important idiots on the TV. Cackling voices on the radio. All the great pubs have closedThe rat race to destruction goes on and on and on.

I must visit Brian Bruce today.

Competition

Have a look at the video on the right made at the British Oak. The last performance on it (when it gets to 2.10 on the timer) our old mate Rich is singing a song that he composed himself. Now if you can possibly guess the title of that song and email it to me at woodsie@folkmob.com there will be a special prize for the first correct entry picked from a hat!!!

I'm back!!!

I haven't updated this blog for some time! mainly because I haven't been doing anything of note. I am no longer involved in Blackheath Folk club.

My mate Brian Bruce is now in Greenwich & Bexley Cottage Hospice and would appreciate some visitors - It's open all hours!

I had a couple of pints at The Monty Club last night - the place was empty. No cabbies, no folkmob, no Kenningham. Bill was there. He doesn't drink anymore as he had a minor stroke a couple of weeks ago. He went home at 10pm and I left shortly after that.

Brighton

I went to Brighton for a couple of days for a work meeting. We were staying at the Grand Hotel which is supposed to be the best hotel in Brighton. It's the one that the IRA bombed when the Tory party were there, in the early 80s I remember seeing Norman Tebbit being rescued from beneath a load of rubble! Anyway at £190 a night and £7.20 a pint - I don't think much of the place. Crappy analogue TV with only 5 channels (not including news & sport) only a small bath - no walk in shower. Even though in the restaurant there were only a handful of people and we had pre-booked. We had to wait 1 hour 15 mins from placing our order to getting served our starters. The waiters were a strange bunch who gave me the creeps. When the main course eventually turned up it was rubbish. The rest of my group went for a kebab afterwards! The whole place was drab and dusky rip off run by a cold indifferent workforce - I wouldn't stay there again even if I won the lottery!

Flaky Bruise

Another great night at Blackheath Folk Club - We now have a PA system - thanks to my old mate Brian Bruce - please bear with me while I get used to the controls. That wonderful duo "Bruise" came along and treated us to a couple of great songs. Have a look at their Myspace and their website They are doing their own gig at the British Oak this coming Saturday - I'm looking forward to that! Also the world famous travelling musical luminary flaky Jake has returned from his global wanderings - he graced us with a couple of great numbers.

Sunday Morning

Lovely morning outside! I went to The British Oak last night but only stayed for an hour. I saw Bill Clift and Matt Percival said hello, but had to go before they started their set, as I was not feeling well - aaaaah!

It's only just over a week to go before I drag all my camping gear down to sunny Knockholt to join my friends for four nights camping out and singing/playing through the night in a field by a blazing fire!

Another day goes by

Well here I am sitting in my office at work. We've just been allowed back into the building as were evecuated duen to a suspecy package addressed to "The Prime Minister" was found with a powdery substance leaking from it!

The Blackheath Folk Club is now going strong witha healthy turnoutout every Tuesday. If you haven't been yet, then get along there, you'll love it!!!

Ron Trueman-Border is on tonight at Orpington Folk Club so that's where I will be heading later - hopefully I will be able to collect the PA system that Brian Bruce has for us.

Tudely Oak Kent

This was last November at The Tudely Oak. Pete The hat is talking to John the landlord, Dave Kenningham is playing guitar. Jim is looking on. rachael is singing. Beryl is drunk!

Brian Bruce

Here is a short film clip of my friend Brian performing "Crazy Man Michael" at the new Blackheath Folk Club. Poor ol' Brian has been seriously ill with cancer now for nearly two years. Despite having only just come out of hospital, he still managed to make it down to The British Oak last Tuesday to support the new club.

The Good Intent

The Pelton Arms

I hadn't been to this pub for a few years. Colin (of Roger, Codger & dodger fame) is running a weekly jam/open mic session. here are a few snaps that I took last Thursday.

Blackheath Folk Club

Here are some pictures of the first night at The British oak.

Steve Morrison & Billy Jenkins

A fine performance last night by these two South London legends. Here are a few photos that I took:

Nights again

I've been back working on nights since Tuesday. Tonight is my last one, then I can return to normality - I hope!

My poor mum is in hospital waiting for a multiple by-pass heart operation, she's 75 and I hpe she will be O.K.

I am looking forward to being involved in the start of a new folk club at The British Oak pub, which starts on Tuesday 15th April and will run every Tuesday night.

Also it's good news that Folkmob can continue using The Tudor Barn on wednesday nights even though it is no longer open as as a pub. And we are even allowed to bring our own drinks!!!

The Rhythm Festival this year features Jefferson Starship, Quicksilver Messenger Service, The Pretty Things, Man, Ritchie Havens and a host of other stuff. OK they may not all have the original line-ups but it should be good. Saying that, I believe that this version of Jefferson Starship is more or less all the original Airplane except Grace Slick.

Easter Sunday

Well, it's easter Sunday and it's snowing outside!

The climate has definitely gone nuts. Mind you Easter is early this year. It's the earliest easter we will experience in our lifetimes, so make the most of it!

Here we are again

Well we had a good 3 weeks at The Rugby club and it's back to The Tudor Barn next week! The session at the Queen Victoria has finished due to the pub closing again. The good news is that The British Oak want us to do a folk night on Tuesdays. I'm off to Orpington Folk Club tonight to see my old mate Mitch Hiller - he always puts on a great show.

13th Floor Elevators

This is rock 'n roll

Fed up

Work, work, work. Day in day out - boredom! All i want to do is float away to some island and strum a guitar under the stars ...

Lots going on

Lynne has started up her Woolwich Folk Club again at The Queen Victoria in Woolwich. It is now run in the bar every tuesday. I'm spoilt for choice next week as Missouri Gutts Session is also on a Tuesday at the Crown in Chislehurst. Richard Symonds and Guy Silk have started up "Mycenae II" in Orpington on Sunday evenings and hope to attract a wider scope of music ibcluding blues and folk see their website here

Tuner

I've lost my new guitar tuner, £25 it cost, boo hoo! The last time I had it was at The Tudor Barn last Wednesday. I only bought it a few weeks ago and was just getting used to it. Funny how we all seem to rely on these little gizmos. I remember when you had to tune your guitar by ear. I used to use the A and E notes on my old echo super vamper harmonica as a reference point then cross tuned the guitar using 5th and 6th fret harmonics. I bet new young guitar players these days wouldn't know where to begin without a tuner! Anyway if anybody finds it please let me know.

Where is everybody?

I went to Orpington Folk Club last nights with Brian Bruce. It was deserted! Apart from The regular scratch band there was me and one other bloke in the audience. We waited until about 9.30 and went home. There were a few more at the Tudor Barn on Wednesday, but still a bit thin on the ground. It's good to see that Lynne has ressurected the Woolwich Folk Club which will kick off on Tuesday 15th January at The Queen Vic pub. Lets hope that the musicians will come out of hibernation and support this venture!

Passport

I am now officially Irish! I picked up my Irish passport yesterday. People don't believe me when I say that I have never been abroad. When I was young I never really fancied going to Spain with the hordes of lager drinking sun readers or whizzing over to France to save a few quid on fags and booze.But at 52 I need to do things and see places! Iceland, Alaska, China all look interesting! I can also now apply for a driving licence.

I'm going down to Rochester today for the best acoustic / sing around in Britain! A full report will follow.

Update

I haven't been posting on here for some time. Lots of stuff has happened. I managed to contact my long lost daughter who I haven't seen for over 20 years! That's her picture on the right. The folkmob christmas party was a success there was loads of food and a good time was had by all. This coming saturday I will be down in Rochester at The Good Intent for a singaround hosted by the great John Barden. Bill Gardner is threatening to come with us!

Wizz Jones

What can I say? I don't know how I missed this bloke during my 40 years of being a music nut. He is fantastic. He's been on the scene for over 50 years! The list of people who cite him as a major influence includes - Eric Clapton, John Renbourn, Rod Stewart & Ralph McTell to name just the ones who spring to mind. He is 68 and still brilliant.

I saw Wizz last night at The Orpington Folk Club - what a night. I looked around me at an audience that were completely transfixed by the maestro guitar playing and passionate vocal delivery of such classics as "Burma Star" "The Legendary Me" & "Paris"

The FolkMob have got to book this guy while he is still gigging, I can assure them that they will be shouting out for "More" as they were last night at Orpington. I will definitely be looking out for any more gigs Wizz is playing in my reach!

Video Camera

I just bought a video camera and have posted my first short on the right of this page "Lucien" I haven't worked out all the bells and whistles yet but they seem to upload to YouTube alright if under 100mbts. Haven't been able to get them on google video yet though. We had an acoustic session in the bar at The Tudor Barn last night. It was a bit noisy at one point I could here people at the bar louder than the singing which was a bit offputting - still it is a pub!

Bored

well here I am saturday night sitting in my bedroom bored. I bet Dave and Graham are down Hardy's having a few pints and listening to some good sounds. Bill's probably down the Monty Club saying Grrrr! i went to Paddington station yesterday to meet my daughter returning from a trip to cornwall with her college. I went to eltham this afternoon. Argos and then Sainsbury. Apart fom that I haven't been out since Thursday 20th sept. I'm off medication now but have to take things easy. as Pete D'Hat would say "what a palaver"

Tudor Barn Update

Folkmob Chairman tells me that the Tudor Barn lease has been sold to Johnny Arnold and is therefore likely to remain a pub after all. Let's hope that the new landlord will still allow folkmob to meet there on Wednesdays.

Tudor Barn

I hear a that Greenwich council may not be renewing the lease of The Tudor Barn! It is currently leased as a Public Bar & Restaurant. The current leaseholder has allowed Folkmob to use the upstairs area for their weekly meeting/session for the last 11 years. There have been several rumours going about regarding the plans for the building. Here are some of them:

• Stephen Lawrence Hall : A meeting place for young black students
• Tudor Balti: Indian Restaurant
• A Mosque
• A Gospel Church
• Hostel for homeless refugees.

Whatever it turns out to be, it's unlikely that it will be a pub, unless somebody can persuade the council and buy the lease

Rhino Insertion

I just got over the worst experience of pain and physical torture in my life! It started on Thursday evening. I went to Orpington folk club with my mate Brian Bruce, I was going to make my performance debut there so I brought my guitar with me. When we got there, I was sitting tuning up when Steve Jennings said "there's blood on you're guitar" I noticed that my nose was bleeding! It wouldn't stop so Brian kindly drove me all the way back home again. Now I was coughing up blood clots as well, so an ambulance took me to Lewisham hospital where they performed bi-lateral rhino insertion, which involved shoving these two long things right up both nostrils as far as the can go and by golly it hurt! Then the worst was to come, they inflated them while they were in! This is supposed to stop the bleeding. The kept these rhinos in for 48 hours! that meant total pain and no sleep. I'm out of hospital now but have to take things easy to keep the blood pressure down. Other than that ha ha! I enjoyed last wednesday at the Tudor Barn. Sion's last song was excellent - can't remember the title but I will ask him to do it again soon.

Knockholt

A bit belated - but what a great time we all had down at Knockholt! Beautiful weather, good people, great music, and good beer. Fantastic new wood supplier from Dover. Where were all the sheep? I think that the farmer had advance warning about certain sheep fanciers amongst our number! The steak & Ale pie at the Tally Ho was excellent. Richard Bridge's guitar playing was exceptional. Poor old John Barden was struggling with a throat infection but managed to entertain us in his inimitable way on Friday night, as did the fantastic Kevin the shirt murderer. On the left is a picture of the campfire just before midnight on Friday. Rachael Hayes celebrated her 40th birthday- happy birthday Rachael! Special thanks to Graham for supervising the marquee erection and looking after the fire Wednesday to Friday and Richard Phipps for taking over fire duty for Saturday night.

June seems like ages away - roll on!

Rough Pubs

I am amazed at the state of pubs in the SE London area. I worked for Courage brewers in the seventies. Back then if you wanted to run a pub, you were thoroughly vetted and also if you were not a married couple it was unlikley that you would be considered. You also went through rigorous induction training. You had to keep a good house otherwise the area manager would have you chucked out. I was in a pub on Thursday and was disgusted by the way it was run. Some low-life people were lingering in the bar area and theperson serving had about one brain cell and that was damaged! Here is an exchange that happened at the bar.

"Excuse me could I have a bottle of red wine"

"wassat?" guffaws of laughter from the scum at the bar

"Wine, red wine"

"I better phone the boss" ......... she picks up the phone and dials "wos bottle of wine? have we got red?"

"We've got a bottle of red but it's only got a little bit init cos nobody ever drinks it" more guffaws of laughter
"boss says we got a bottle of white" she grunted

"is it chilled?"

"waa?"

"Has it been in the fridge"

"No it's warm"

"Oh give me a pint of lager then"

"That was a twenty I gave you"

"was it? are you sure?"

Walking back through the bar I nearly got impaled by a metal spike sticking in the middle of the foor. £2.90 for crap lager as well.

John Barden at The Good Intent, Rochester

Myself and Dave Kenningham went down to sunny Rochester yesterday. We had heard a rumour that the great John Barden was hosting a session there. We arrived at about 1.30pm and stayed till 6.45pm. It was a very enjoyable afternoon in the company of Tone Deaf Leopard, Shirt Murderer, Growler, JB himself and various other kindred spirits. Dave was spoilt for choice as there were about 20 different real ales on offer from various kentish micro breweries. Me being a phillistine opted for a few cold pints of Fosters! I then even managed to pluck up the courage to do a few numbers myself. I enjoyed it so much that I'm going back again today - there is talk of the talented Richard Bridge making an appearance and I don't want to miss the dulcet tones of his mandolin! I will report back later.

Thursday Night

OK I'll be posting some pictures of Thursday night later - I'm off to Orpington now!

Two Daves

I went to Mycenae House last night. It seemed empty with no Dave Kenningham. Bill told me that he had seen him in Eltham High Street earlier that day and he told him that he wasn't feeling very well and had a pain in the jaw! I hope nobody gave you a right hander Dave, I'll set Bill on them if I find them!

Anyway Dave Silk Tells me he is selling up and buying a property in France. He wants to spend the rest of his life drinking good wine whilst tinkling on his piano or sitting on his porch looking out over the Seine, eating French bread and oggling French women! Dave say that he will still hopefully be over for two out of five Mondays but Mycenae House sessions will continue without him. Well I hope so Dave but things will never be the same - But good luck in your venture Dave !

Anyway looking forward to Wednesday PA Session at The Tudor Barn and an acoustic singaround at The Change Of Horses Farnborough hosted by Brian Bruce.

Friday Folk

Blimey I'm falling apart my leg is dodgey and I've put my back out, it's agony! Anyway I managed to get down to Orpington Friday folk last night. Thanks to Kevin for giving me a lift home! Kevin does some wonderful original material such as his spoken ragishtimey one about the 2nd world war pilots "coming home to mum" a term they used when returning to blighty after engaging in perilous action behind enemy lines. I also enjoy Kevin's self penned songs about his English childhood trips to the coast and down to Devon with his mum and dad, a world that seems a million years away from this mad multicultural, greed driven, moble phone orientated criminal hell that we have to endure today. Keep it up Kev!

It's always good to see Peter & Marion. What a great singer Peter is. He always manages to pick some great material to sing, my favourite being " Now I'm Easy"

Another great performer is Robin. I first saw Robin at The Change Of Horses about a year ago. He never ceases to amaze me with the scope of material he performs from traditional folk to current pop songs. I love his introductions to his songs, always very informative, I suppose that comes from Robin being a teacher! I'm glad to hear that he is now a resident at friday folk. So if you're at a loose end on a Friday get down to the Orpington liberal club and grab some of the action.

It's only 25 days to go to Knockholt! can't wait to get the ol' tent up again. Debbie has found a new wood supplier - Oooooh I can feel the warmth of the campfire now!

See yer all at The Tudor Barn on Wednesday.