And now for something completely different...

And now for something completely different, well not sewing related...some of my musical (I hope) squeezebox wrangling.

OH JOE! THE BOAT'S GOING OVER Lyrics


I loved a charming creature, such a very timid maid,
She can stand almost anything but of water she's afraid,
She'll have a tidy fortune when her uncle dies some day,
While on a voyage to Dover once, that girl to me did say.


Oh! Joe the boat's going over,
Oh! Joe you naughty man she cried,
Oh! Joe I wish you'd been in Dover,
Before you ever took me on the water for a ride.


The weind was blowing rather rough she clung so tight to me,
The boat began to pitch and toss, all on the briny sea,
She looked so wild she cried aloud in a frantic sort of way,
Her arms she flung around my neck and then to me did say-


I told Matilda don't be afraid now there's a dear,
With a smile she looked into my face, and gave me such a leer,
A kiss then on her cheek I stole, oh, she seemed rather shy,
And while I was kissing her, that girl to me did cry-


We landed safe in Dover, her uncle there we found,
He died two days after that, and left her eight hundred pounds.
I made Matilda my dear wife we're so happy night and day,
While sitting by her fireside sometimes she'll say-

 
A maid in Bedlam (I love my love because my love loves me) Lyrics
Abroad as I was walking, one evening in the spring,
I heard a maid in Bedlam so sweetly for to sing;
Her chains she rattled with her hands, and thus replied she:
"I love my love, because I know my love loves me!"

Oh! my cruel parents have been too unkind!
They've drove and banished me, and tortured my mind!
Although I'm ruined for his sake, contented will I be;
I love my love, because I know my love loves me.

Could I become a swallow, I'd ascend up in the air;
Then, if I lost my labour, and shouldn't find him there,
I quickly would become a fish, and search the flowing sea;
I love my love, because I know my love loves me.

With straw I'll make a garland, and dress it very fine,
I'll mix the same with roses, lily, pink, and thyme,
I will preserve it for my love when he returns from sea;
I love my love, became I know my love loves me.

Just as she was sat weeping, her love came on the land,
Hearing she was in Bedlam, he ran straight out of hand,
And, as he entered in the gates he heard her sigh and say,
"I love my love, because I know my love loves me!"

He stood and gazed on her, hearing his love complain,
He could not stand any longer, he bled in every vein;
He flew into her snowy-white arms, and replied he:
"I love my love, because I know my love loves me."

She said, "My love, don't frighten me; are you my love, or no?"
"Oh yes, my dearest Nancy, I am your love, also
I am returned to make amends for all your injury;
I love my love, because I know my love loves me."

So now they are married, and may they happy be,
Like turtle-doves together, in love and unity.
All pretty maids with patience wait, that have got loves at sea;
I love my love, because I know my love loves me.

Fast Vs Slow?

This comes under the 'general' bit in my description. I have a trouble with playing at speed. I'm fine when I play slow to mid pace I can get right notes in right order. But as soon as I speed up to 'normal' (fast to me) pace I mess up. To demonstrate this here are two videos.*

Slow

Fast

Playing slow is ok at home practicing but when playing in a session one needs to keep up. So which is best fast or slow?

*The tune played in both cases is 'Oh Joe! The boat is going over'

Bunting

On my successful sewing projects list is bunting.  Managed about 2.5metres in two Saturdays of sewing. At least it got me used to the sewing machine...I think I would have taken a year if I'd done it all by hand.


And here it is in situ at the EATMT Traditional Music Day 2011


Which was a fab day out as usual. Got lots of tunes I'm planning to learn after hearing them at the session.

EATMT TMD 2011 - Kirkgate Hornpipe/Bodmin Riding March/Radstock Jig by Ladydetemps

And I got a chance to watch the stepdancing this year.

Here is the video I did of my playing one of the tunes I learned after heard it at Stowmarket.