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!