ROOT MAINTENANCE

Every year I go back to Ireland to see my two brothers and to tie up again with some old friends. I spent the last 10 days in June there.

I indulge my favourite pastime - walking on the beach at Redbarn Strand. The weather doesn't matter - in fact I prefer it when the wind blows and there's a bit of a storm.

But that's not all , although I'm not what you would call a drinker, my brothers and I embarked on a few gentle bar crawls - it's a sure way to meet old friends. We visited such establishments as ' The Invisible Bar' (also known as Deaf Eddie's) , 'The Cabin', 'The Nook', 'Mackeys', 'JDs' and usually finished up at 'Moby Dick's'. Moby's was so called because it became the headquarters of the film crew who came to YOUGHAL to shoot scenes for the film 'Moby Dick' in 1954. It was directed by John Huston and starred Gregory Peck and Leo Genn. The whole business caused great excitement in the town and hundreds of locals were employed as extras. The film has been repeated many times on TV and I recognise most of the extras in the crowd scenes.

But one of the highlights this year was getting to play with this big band in Clonmel.

Danny. the Musical Director is an old friend who played lead trumpet in our band in 1956. He was rehearsing the band for a concert the following week. I stayed with him for the weekend and he invited me to sit in at the rehearsal - pure heaven !!( I'm the old guy in the blue shirt in the middle)

All the members are professional level musicians and are a lovely friendly bunch of people.

Including me there were seven saxes and -

  Five trumpets, three trombones, keyboards, bass and drums .

Boy what a sound !!!!

We played some wonderful big band music for two hours during which we accompanied the vocalists    -  the stuff of my musical dreams .

I struggled some of the time on very difficult passages, hit the odd bum note, but I hung in there. The experience gave me a huge boost to become a better sax player.

The practise and the work goes on.

Then it was back to Youghal, a sleepy old seaside town at the mouth of the Blackwater river -

                                          

- and a little more beach walking, a few drinks and a bit more socialising.

The weather wasn't great (a bit 'soft' as the locals say) but that annual trip back to my roots is always special to me.

Comments

[Ben]

Great stuff!

[Paul H. Colman]

Sounds like a good time was had.

[TomLR]

What a lovely write - up. Harry - you certainly keep the faith. I'm off on my own holiday on Monday too - I will do a write up and I will try to make it good too. I will also try to lay out my photos like postcards. Have you been bending Ben's arm behind his back ? That looks suspiciously like the work of his conspiracy to me. All the hallmarks.

[Harry C]

A great time was had Paul. I didn't get to do any stargazing at midnight though - I was bar crawling at the time !!

Thank you Tom - I'll look forward to your holiday post - and perhaps some shots from the cricket match.
I've had no contact with Ben on layout. In fact when I insert photos they seem to have a mind of their own. I try to arrange the text around them in a certain away on the draft and as in this case the published version turns differently. I still can't insert videos or proper links. Can you ??

[TomLR]

I haven't got a clue how to insert videos. I can do links - they're not too tough. Do you want me to tell you how to do it ? Paul told me how to do it. Re. photos - I share your sentiments entirely. I have learnt to love the way I can't avoid having text publishing itself at the side of photos.

[Paul H. Colman]

I've given up trying to help either of you.

[TomLR]

How can you say that about your own father ?

[Harry C]

Paul seems pretty definite about withdrawing technical support Tom (did he have a bad day at the cricket? )

I must say I haven't got a pressing need to embed videos. So I can live without them !

[TomLR]

We all had a fantastic day Harry - and all of us successful too.

Paul wore his shorts 'though.

[Paul H. Colman]

I always wear shorts when I can. I could, so I did.

[TomLR]

But how COULD you ?