Here I am at last! Sorry I have been absent for a while but I have been a little distracted. I may/may not tell you about it one day. It is just before six here in the UK and I have been up all night. Cooking and packing for The Folk on The Water Festival in Warwickshire.
I finally realised that despite writing a Blog about it last year, most of you don't really know what it is. I have a great friend by the name of Dutch Van Spall. I met him when I was 17 in another, much more charmed life. Dutch is a bit mad about music, he loves everything about it and has dedicated his life to it. Dutch masterminded The Folk on The Water Festival (FOTW) last year. http://www.folkontheWater.com .Dutch decided to get on a Barge, stop at a few pubs along the way and host live music at every place he 'laid his hat'.
I live in Cornwall and as FOTW takes place on the Warwickshire Ring Canal, I offered my services as Chief Cook and Bottle Washer. Funnily enough, Dutch accepted. So I found myself on a Barge, in a County I had no knowledge of and managed to pitch in and look after the crew in some small way. What a fantastic time we had. We could not believe how many people turned out to welcome us and what a positive response we had. Oh and the two weeks of sunshine helped as well! So here we are again with a much bigger FOTW. Much more press attention and many more artists, with more coming forward as I write, despite the fact that FOTW started on June 18th.
I wanted to tell you about life on a Barge. Firstly it's difficult. You have to almost walk sideways to get anywhere when you have a Crew plus four and some nights that can mean 9! Feeding people is also fun. Trying to open an oven door or peer into the fridge whilst a few of the Crew wander past is interesting to say the least. You have to think about lots of things like taking on water, going to the pumping station - read that as 'getting rid of Poo!' Food supplies and managing to recharge your mobile phone/laptop/ipod...etc...etc...whilst the engine is running also feature. Note to Blokes - read that as Please! can I switch my hairdryer on NOW! Then there is the 'trying to find your land legs' after spending a week aboard. The world tilts gently when you have spent so much time on the water. No alcohol needed. It took me a week at home to realise that my shower wasn't going to be interupted by a another Barge sloshing by and turning my world slightly skew whiff!
Ah but the upsides....in the summer it really is living the dream. Imagine (excuse The Pun) living aboard a Dutch Barge (only 160K, fully fitted). Having a little plot of land with some solar panels and a beautiful grapevine, a veggie patch and a peaceful mooring. Complete Bliss! Then of course you would need a one bed flat close to your mooring so that you could spend the coldest months of the year in centrally heated heavan. Oh and don't forget a nice battered hat to wear at the tiller! That is the dream. But for now I am going to live the dream on FOTW for a week.
I can't wait to meet all the new artists and of course all my friends from last year. Joshy will be there, running the locks and more importantly 'running free'. So looking forward to meeting you all and catching up with precious friends. See you there!
Barge It!
Muse x
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Friday, 10 June 2011
Brushes With Royalty
I have just finished watching The Prince at 90. An interview between Fiona Bruce and Prince Philip. Blimey, he was awful to her. I think she showed 'fear in the face of adversity' or actually sat there quaking in the chair. Joanna Lumley described him as a 'Hawk Like'. Fiona was his prey and frankly I would have loved it if she had fought back... Twitter was awash with comments. One particularly funny - by @jannism
'Well I think Fiona Bruce handled that admirably. If "admirably" were to mean "like a cringeworthy, sycophantic arse cloud" '.
All I can say is get your Leathers back on love and assume the 'Cowgirl' position.
Talking of Royalty the extended Muse family have had our fair share of 'up close and personal' moments with them. My dad, in his prime, was a bit of a cheeky sod. At some point during the early sixties, Princess Anne locked herself out of her car in the middle of a huge storm. My father happened to be around and managed to break into her car and send her on her way. Fast forward to the eighties. We were on tour with the Donuts in Cyprus and Princess Anne was on a visit. My father could not get into the Sycophants line up as he was only a Mini (non glazed, variety) Donut at the time and took matters into his own hands. He had a huge collection of cameras as he has always been an avid photographer and strung the most impressive of which around his neck. Strolling nonchalantly to the end of the line he flashed his 'Press Pass' and got some great pics of her and brazenly asked her if she remembered her 'Knight in Shining Armour'. Apparently she did!
My mum is such a sweet thing, she gets all of a fluster about Royalty and launches into her Hyacinth Bouquet routine (scary...) when they arrive in the same County as her. This was not to be in 1970's in Berlin though. We were there courtesy of the Boys in Blue, my fathers job prior to the Donuts and she heard that Prince Charles was landing at RAF Gatow. I can't remember, but I don't think it was an official visit, just a stop over. The news spread throught the married quarters like wildfire and my mother pulled a scarf over her rollers and hot footed it down to the airfield. Unfortunately for her, Charlie made a beeline for her and shook her hand, oh the shame of being pictured in your rollers in the local rag!
Not to be outdone, his father also embarrased my mother. Ma and Pa were loitering on Ascension Island, having fun on the Donut expense account and Prince Philip was on a 'scheduled' stop over, on his way to South America as President of the WWF. All the local dignitaries were lined up, dressed up in their finery. My mum was in the crowd. Philip wandered off the TriStar, ignored the line up and went straight up to my mother. He said hello and shook here hand. She was so shocked that she said, 'I hope you don't mind me saying but you look like you could do with a good Iron Sir'. He roared with laughter and moved on. Poor woman she has never got over it!
I have only had one brush myself. In 1991 I had landed in godforsaken Tidworth, a really horrible Army hell hole, after a blissful tour of Cyprus. What is it about those movement guys at MOD when they think its funny to post your husband to Tidworth after having such a great swan in the sun? Anyway I was driving home from work. I had just turned off the A303 toward Tidworth and could not understand why the roads were so quiet. I stopped at a junction to give way and there, right in front of me was the Queen in a glass topped Daimler. It was a perfect moment. Just me, Her Maj and her driver. I can only think that I had avoided the roadblock by taking my usual short cut, there wasn't even a Security Car in sight. I waved and 10 feet away she waved at me, sat in my humble Yugo.....awwww! Say what you like about the royals but I love Her Maj!
Last but not least, a couple of weeks ago The Queen arrived at Penzance Station on an Official visit. My number one son James works for Customer Services and the poor Queen stepped off the train to a reception of Truro 'Party Animals' AKA James, Olly and Treve....... I wonder if she has recovered from the shock!
Namaste
Muse x
'Well I think Fiona Bruce handled that admirably. If "admirably" were to mean "like a cringeworthy, sycophantic arse cloud" '.
All I can say is get your Leathers back on love and assume the 'Cowgirl' position.
Talking of Royalty the extended Muse family have had our fair share of 'up close and personal' moments with them. My dad, in his prime, was a bit of a cheeky sod. At some point during the early sixties, Princess Anne locked herself out of her car in the middle of a huge storm. My father happened to be around and managed to break into her car and send her on her way. Fast forward to the eighties. We were on tour with the Donuts in Cyprus and Princess Anne was on a visit. My father could not get into the Sycophants line up as he was only a Mini (non glazed, variety) Donut at the time and took matters into his own hands. He had a huge collection of cameras as he has always been an avid photographer and strung the most impressive of which around his neck. Strolling nonchalantly to the end of the line he flashed his 'Press Pass' and got some great pics of her and brazenly asked her if she remembered her 'Knight in Shining Armour'. Apparently she did!
My mum is such a sweet thing, she gets all of a fluster about Royalty and launches into her Hyacinth Bouquet routine (scary...) when they arrive in the same County as her. This was not to be in 1970's in Berlin though. We were there courtesy of the Boys in Blue, my fathers job prior to the Donuts and she heard that Prince Charles was landing at RAF Gatow. I can't remember, but I don't think it was an official visit, just a stop over. The news spread throught the married quarters like wildfire and my mother pulled a scarf over her rollers and hot footed it down to the airfield. Unfortunately for her, Charlie made a beeline for her and shook her hand, oh the shame of being pictured in your rollers in the local rag!
Not to be outdone, his father also embarrased my mother. Ma and Pa were loitering on Ascension Island, having fun on the Donut expense account and Prince Philip was on a 'scheduled' stop over, on his way to South America as President of the WWF. All the local dignitaries were lined up, dressed up in their finery. My mum was in the crowd. Philip wandered off the TriStar, ignored the line up and went straight up to my mother. He said hello and shook here hand. She was so shocked that she said, 'I hope you don't mind me saying but you look like you could do with a good Iron Sir'. He roared with laughter and moved on. Poor woman she has never got over it!
I have only had one brush myself. In 1991 I had landed in godforsaken Tidworth, a really horrible Army hell hole, after a blissful tour of Cyprus. What is it about those movement guys at MOD when they think its funny to post your husband to Tidworth after having such a great swan in the sun? Anyway I was driving home from work. I had just turned off the A303 toward Tidworth and could not understand why the roads were so quiet. I stopped at a junction to give way and there, right in front of me was the Queen in a glass topped Daimler. It was a perfect moment. Just me, Her Maj and her driver. I can only think that I had avoided the roadblock by taking my usual short cut, there wasn't even a Security Car in sight. I waved and 10 feet away she waved at me, sat in my humble Yugo.....awwww! Say what you like about the royals but I love Her Maj!
Last but not least, a couple of weeks ago The Queen arrived at Penzance Station on an Official visit. My number one son James works for Customer Services and the poor Queen stepped off the train to a reception of Truro 'Party Animals' AKA James, Olly and Treve....... I wonder if she has recovered from the shock!
Namaste
Muse x
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Half Term and Wiggies
It is half term here in Cornwall and I had a lovely afternoon with The Git, my Grandaughter Angel and my son James on Tuesday. We went to the Great God Pizza Hut, which the brats loved. Eeewwww - evil stuff! Angel was really funny but Josh was hilarious.
Josh usually stays with Ma and Pa over half term and if Angel gets wind of it, she refuses to go home, as he is her hero. Josh is really growing up now and as the folks live in a Lodge on a big Holiday Park near Newquay there are a lot of 'city kids' staying at the moment. Angel and Josh disappeared when I drove them back on Tuesday at about 6pm. I was literally with Pa for five minutes and went to find them to say goodbye. Pa said, 'they will either be chasing Rabbits and Wiggies (Angels word for Squirrels) down by the park or they will be loitering by the pool hoping to get in'. Josh and Angel have all sorts of adventures at the Park. They climb trees, trying to get as high as the pet cat...nah, no chance and they have the bruises to prove it! Owls, Wiggies and rabbits feature heavily and Gramps keeps them entertained, letting them run free but always keeping an eye and an ear out for them.
I walked around the park, tutting and wishing I had taken the car and finally found them....in the bar playing pool!! Do you think they are a tad young to be barflies? I mean how young do you have to be to get a bar tan?? In my day it was at least 16... Actually the pool table is in a different room from the bar and as long as the kids are quiet they let them play. Thank god pubs don't let us smoke anymore - erm...thats for the poor city kids whose parents don't care what they are doing or erm...is that the Grand Kids of people who are too innocent to understand what they are doing at the age of 5 and 13!!! This is supposed to be funny BTW!
Okay, deep breath taken, I clocked the scene. Angel was on the floor playing dollies with two other lovely, (obviously, she says hysterically) poorly parented city girls and Josh was looking pretty cool playing pool with the other badasses - I think the eldest of whom might have been about 11. Josh was indeed the coolest dude. He had his best skater shoes on, his flashiest baseball cap and was sort of hunched between a lounge and thrust position...god help me!
Take another deep breath, I muttered to myself. Do NOT under any circumstances embarrass The Git, he is just finding his feet. I breezed in, said to Angel that Gramps wanted to play Dinosaurs with her, grabbing her firmly by the hand and giving her my best 'no nonsense honey, you are coming with me' look and waltzed over to Josh. He did his 'rabbit caught in headlights' look and his jaw dropped as I said 'want some change for the pool table Josh'. Dropping 6 quid into his hand I walked out of the door, breathing heavily and then looked down and realized that Angel was still clutching my hand, bless her heart!
Arriving back at the parents' lodge I gave them a lecture about not keeping an eye on Angel and Josh. Dad looked up from his book, laughed and said 'don't worry they are fine and will you stop being a stressy knickers'. Ma just continued listening to The Archers. Angelina got out her foam Dinosaurs pack that I had bought her that day, eyeing me warily. Erm...I might just mention that they had been gone from The Lodge for all of 7 minutes....
I phoned Josh this afternoon. Apparently he has a hot date with the pool table and will not be returning home for several days...I try, I try so hard to be a good mum but it seems that my parents know far more than me and just how to let a little boy grow up!
Namaste
Muse x
PS I have to confess that my Barfly days allegedly started at 15 ish...
Josh usually stays with Ma and Pa over half term and if Angel gets wind of it, she refuses to go home, as he is her hero. Josh is really growing up now and as the folks live in a Lodge on a big Holiday Park near Newquay there are a lot of 'city kids' staying at the moment. Angel and Josh disappeared when I drove them back on Tuesday at about 6pm. I was literally with Pa for five minutes and went to find them to say goodbye. Pa said, 'they will either be chasing Rabbits and Wiggies (Angels word for Squirrels) down by the park or they will be loitering by the pool hoping to get in'. Josh and Angel have all sorts of adventures at the Park. They climb trees, trying to get as high as the pet cat...nah, no chance and they have the bruises to prove it! Owls, Wiggies and rabbits feature heavily and Gramps keeps them entertained, letting them run free but always keeping an eye and an ear out for them.
I walked around the park, tutting and wishing I had taken the car and finally found them....in the bar playing pool!! Do you think they are a tad young to be barflies? I mean how young do you have to be to get a bar tan?? In my day it was at least 16... Actually the pool table is in a different room from the bar and as long as the kids are quiet they let them play. Thank god pubs don't let us smoke anymore - erm...thats for the poor city kids whose parents don't care what they are doing or erm...is that the Grand Kids of people who are too innocent to understand what they are doing at the age of 5 and 13!!! This is supposed to be funny BTW!
Okay, deep breath taken, I clocked the scene. Angel was on the floor playing dollies with two other lovely, (obviously, she says hysterically) poorly parented city girls and Josh was looking pretty cool playing pool with the other badasses - I think the eldest of whom might have been about 11. Josh was indeed the coolest dude. He had his best skater shoes on, his flashiest baseball cap and was sort of hunched between a lounge and thrust position...god help me!
Take another deep breath, I muttered to myself. Do NOT under any circumstances embarrass The Git, he is just finding his feet. I breezed in, said to Angel that Gramps wanted to play Dinosaurs with her, grabbing her firmly by the hand and giving her my best 'no nonsense honey, you are coming with me' look and waltzed over to Josh. He did his 'rabbit caught in headlights' look and his jaw dropped as I said 'want some change for the pool table Josh'. Dropping 6 quid into his hand I walked out of the door, breathing heavily and then looked down and realized that Angel was still clutching my hand, bless her heart!
Arriving back at the parents' lodge I gave them a lecture about not keeping an eye on Angel and Josh. Dad looked up from his book, laughed and said 'don't worry they are fine and will you stop being a stressy knickers'. Ma just continued listening to The Archers. Angelina got out her foam Dinosaurs pack that I had bought her that day, eyeing me warily. Erm...I might just mention that they had been gone from The Lodge for all of 7 minutes....
I phoned Josh this afternoon. Apparently he has a hot date with the pool table and will not be returning home for several days...I try, I try so hard to be a good mum but it seems that my parents know far more than me and just how to let a little boy grow up!
Namaste
Muse x
PS I have to confess that my Barfly days allegedly started at 15 ish...
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