Meet-up South Wales 21st Sept 2005
With the recent death of the director[?] of the film "West Side Story," the song just keeps rolling through my head, "Toniiiiiiight, toniiiiiiiight / Won't be just annnnnyyyyyyy niiiiiight............" ~ Have a luscious Red Needle and a great time, you 'guys.' Dang, Ali, you make it sound like your and your husband's arrival may be more of a miracle!
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John the Shorts
- Posts: 491
- Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2003 4:22 pm
- Location: Wales
Dear All
Sorry it's my first post in a long time but I had a great time (despite rushing from a meeting and being about 45 minutes late anyway)
I've just re-read some of this thread and I have to say that as I entered the pub I thought people had given up on me and left rather than wait - however over the drone coming from MTV and my favourite barmaid I heard the dulcet tones of Leonard from the rear of the bar and I wandered down that way to join a gathering that, while small, was great fun.
Just a few words to those who attended:
Ali & Lee - You were a great laugh (and next time I'll have to wear my hearing aid so that I can don't miss evey third word) - it was a shame that Lee didn't have his guitar but when we all arrange to meet in Bristol I'm sure that this can be remedied
Rob - Shame on you for leaving so much Cranberry Juice I hope you've got home okay but did you know that there was a Cardiff train leaving Bridgend at 23:11? Maybe we can all arrange an afternoon in Cardiff at some point (provided it doesn't clash with Rugby Internationals)
Wendy - it was great to see you again, thanks for keeping me in the loop as I am so infrequently on the board these days, lets hope that the next meeting arranged is a bit sooner than 2 years. I hope you got home okay also (PS see below and never rely on me for train times)
Diane - thanks for being the driving force behind this meeting and I'm sure Emma (Manageress of The Railway) will appreciate the Leonard poster left behind.
Finally a big thank you to British Rail (or whatever they are called these days)* the train I went for was the 23:19, however that only runs on a Friday, weekdays it's 23:07 so when I arrived at 23:16 I should have been worried, luckily it arrived at 23:32 and I arrived home (after a quick walk from the station) at 0:07 (Licenced to sleep) - still work in the morning so just a quick check of my e-mails and this post before settling down for the night.
* By the way I know it's Arriva Trains Wales
Another finally - my apologies for being out of uniform on arriving I didn't want to change into shorts between the council chambers and the pub
And, finally, a final finally - thanks to all of you for a very enjoyable evening, to those of you who brought presents and toasts and drinks and, above all, the pleasure of your company just let me say you've made a happy man very old (I look forward to seeing Rob's pictures of the night posted here)
And a final, final, finally - if you get anyother Leonard songs translated into Welsh I would love to see them
Sorry it's my first post in a long time but I had a great time (despite rushing from a meeting and being about 45 minutes late anyway)
I've just re-read some of this thread and I have to say that as I entered the pub I thought people had given up on me and left rather than wait - however over the drone coming from MTV and my favourite barmaid I heard the dulcet tones of Leonard from the rear of the bar and I wandered down that way to join a gathering that, while small, was great fun.
Just a few words to those who attended:
Ali & Lee - You were a great laugh (and next time I'll have to wear my hearing aid so that I can don't miss evey third word) - it was a shame that Lee didn't have his guitar but when we all arrange to meet in Bristol I'm sure that this can be remedied
Rob - Shame on you for leaving so much Cranberry Juice
I hope you've got home okay but did you know that there was a Cardiff train leaving Bridgend at 23:11? Maybe we can all arrange an afternoon in Cardiff at some point (provided it doesn't clash with Rugby Internationals)Wendy - it was great to see you again, thanks for keeping me in the loop as I am so infrequently on the board these days, lets hope that the next meeting arranged is a bit sooner than 2 years. I hope you got home okay also (PS see below and never rely on me for train times)
Diane - thanks for being the driving force behind this meeting and I'm sure Emma (Manageress of The Railway) will appreciate the Leonard poster left behind.
Finally a big thank you to British Rail (or whatever they are called these days)* the train I went for was the 23:19, however that only runs on a Friday, weekdays it's 23:07 so when I arrived at 23:16 I should have been worried, luckily it arrived at 23:32 and I arrived home (after a quick walk from the station) at 0:07 (Licenced to sleep) - still work in the morning so just a quick check of my e-mails and this post before settling down for the night.
* By the way I know it's Arriva Trains Wales
Another finally - my apologies for being out of uniform on arriving I didn't want to change into shorts between the council chambers and the pub
And, finally, a final finally - thanks to all of you for a very enjoyable evening, to those of you who brought presents and toasts and drinks and, above all, the pleasure of your company just let me say you've made a happy man very old (I look forward to seeing Rob's pictures of the night posted here)
And a final, final, finally - if you get anyother Leonard songs translated into Welsh I would love to see them
To err is human
To forgive is against government policy
JTS
To forgive is against government policy
JTS
it was a shame that Lee didn't have his guitar but
Ali!?! I thought the guitar was in the boot of the car! Are you a two-guitar family???
Photos! I want photos!
Thanks for the quick recap, John ~ I've been wondering how it went for you folks
. Great to see you here on this quite occasional basis 
.Glad you caught your train
.~ Lizzy
Lizzy, just to let you know, we are very glad to have left 3 hours early, as due to a serious road accident on the motorway (we were not involved) we were caught in a horrendous queue of stationary traffic for aprox 1 1/2 hours, it then took a futher 25 minutes of Lee's sense of direction being challenged (not that he had much there to begin with! 
), whilst we drove in ever increasing circles around a one way system to suss out how to get onto the pay and display car park - I can say I got to listen to some choice Anglo Saxon phrases. Anyway, and most remarkably (for Lee) we got there on time, and had the most fantastic evening, I shall go into very little detail, as Rob (bless him) is doing the write up so I do not want to 'steal his thunder'.
Lee will be providing the entertainment when we have a meet up in Bristol soon (date to be arranged) to make up for last night.
This morning he has a red needle hangover, I have a funny rash from the bubble bath, and does anybody know the name of that fruit...................................................................................?????????!!!!!!!!!
), whilst we drove in ever increasing circles around a one way system to suss out how to get onto the pay and display car park - I can say I got to listen to some choice Anglo Saxon phrases. Anyway, and most remarkably (for Lee) we got there on time, and had the most fantastic evening, I shall go into very little detail, as Rob (bless him) is doing the write up so I do not want to 'steal his thunder'.Lee will be providing the entertainment when we have a meet up in Bristol soon (date to be arranged) to make up for last night.
This morning he has a red needle hangover, I have a funny rash from the bubble bath, and does anybody know the name of that fruit...................................................................................?????????!!!!!!!!!
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Diane
Hi all, what with all these accidents, mishaps and mix-ups with train-timetables it's amazing we got to meet at all!
Rob was indeed deemed the 'writer-up' and official photographer of the event, so I'll keep this brief: It was so good to meet you Wendy, Rob, Ali, Lee and John. I feel I know each of you more from one shortish meeting than I could if I read 1000s of posts, and yet we had barely scratched the surface, I thought, when it was time to leave. Here's to a Bristol meet-up, hearing Lee play and also hopefully meeting even more of the people on this forum!!
Thank you to Margaret for providing goodies to pass out even though you were unable to attend. Cheers Margaret! And thanks Rob for your presents too. We got a lot of presents for Leonard's birthday!
It is now in the discreet arms of Rob as to how much he reveals about the shorts incident, who drank all the tequila and what really happened to all that fruit...
Thanks for coming, all, and thanks for a great evening,
Diane
Rob was indeed deemed the 'writer-up' and official photographer of the event, so I'll keep this brief: It was so good to meet you Wendy, Rob, Ali, Lee and John. I feel I know each of you more from one shortish meeting than I could if I read 1000s of posts, and yet we had barely scratched the surface, I thought, when it was time to leave. Here's to a Bristol meet-up, hearing Lee play and also hopefully meeting even more of the people on this forum!!
Thank you to Margaret for providing goodies to pass out even though you were unable to attend. Cheers Margaret! And thanks Rob for your presents too. We got a lot of presents for Leonard's birthday!
It is now in the discreet arms of Rob as to how much he reveals about the shorts incident, who drank all the tequila and what really happened to all that fruit...
Thanks for coming, all, and thanks for a great evening,
Diane
Hi Ali ~
You've explained, exceedingly well, the wisdom in leaving early for places unknown
~ or even known . WHAT a TRIP !!! And ~ still ~ you landed there on time! Kudos .
So, what happened to the guitar!?! Did it fall out of the boot in the traffic tie-up ?
Diane ~ It really is hard to explain the special feeling that's shared between Cohen friends, isn't it? There's nothing like in-person connection with them. Perhaps, you'll [and the rest of you] now be inspired to come to Berlin and to our Hydra-again.
I'm really pleased to hear how lovely it went for all of you. Can't wait to see the fun shots and read Rob's account! I know, first hand, how good Margaret's treats are, too ~ I know you'd have much preferred being there , but good on you, Margaret, for thinking of that !
~ Lizzy
You've explained, exceedingly well, the wisdom in leaving early for places unknown
~ or even known . WHAT a TRIP !!! And ~ still ~ you landed there on time! Kudos .So, what happened to the guitar!?! Did it fall out of the boot in the traffic tie-up
?Diane ~ It really is hard to explain the special feeling that's shared between Cohen friends, isn't it? There's nothing like in-person connection with them. Perhaps, you'll [and the rest of you] now be inspired to come to Berlin and to our Hydra-again.
I'm really pleased to hear how lovely it went for all of you. Can't wait to see the fun shots and read Rob's account! I know, first hand, how good Margaret's treats are, too ~ I know you'd have much preferred being there
, but good on you, Margaret, for thinking of that ! ~ Lizzy
Lizzy, if I were to go into great detail of the 'slapstick' of my life....... But , however, truth is stranger than fiction. My Husband Lee is a Local Authority Caretaker (live in) and if you want to know what the job entails I will let you in on the poem I wrote for the Tenants newsletter, I write and publish monthly.
I live in the twin towers
In a place called ******** Hill
With ASBO's and Police raids
It's like something off The Bill
I cant go out in the evenings
'cause the crime rate is too high
And i'm scared of falling objects
Being hurled out of the sky
It's just the same in daylight
Come to think of that
I've even seen the Caretaker
Who wears a builders hat
The grafitti on the paintwork
Isn't educational
There are words I've never heard of
Shame the bug**rs cannot spell!
We could have a pretty garden
With a bench and flower beds
But the kids would only smash it up
Or the alkies and smackheads
And it used to be a nice place
Where our kids could safely play
Do you want to live in ******** Hill
No thanks! No b****y way!
(Edited to protect the identity of the innocent!)
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The ensuing crisis on Lee trying to finish on time to get ready at a leisurely pace meant that sans guitar, sans birthday cake (and what would have been even worse if the traffic fiasco had worsened - without Diane's phone number), we ran to the car and were 50 miles away before we realised, (also picture my earlier missive - one very irate male driver, pumped up on chewy soft mints and testosterone
) I decided not to ask him to turn back and pick up the aforementioned objects 
I live in the twin towers
In a place called ******** Hill
With ASBO's and Police raids
It's like something off The Bill
I cant go out in the evenings
'cause the crime rate is too high
And i'm scared of falling objects
Being hurled out of the sky
It's just the same in daylight
Come to think of that
I've even seen the Caretaker
Who wears a builders hat
The grafitti on the paintwork
Isn't educational
There are words I've never heard of
Shame the bug**rs cannot spell!
We could have a pretty garden
With a bench and flower beds
But the kids would only smash it up
Or the alkies and smackheads
And it used to be a nice place
Where our kids could safely play
Do you want to live in ******** Hill
No thanks! No b****y way!
(Edited to protect the identity of the innocent!)
------------------------------------
The ensuing crisis on Lee trying to finish on time to get ready at a leisurely pace meant that sans guitar, sans birthday cake (and what would have been even worse if the traffic fiasco had worsened - without Diane's phone number), we ran to the car and were 50 miles away before we realised, (also picture my earlier missive - one very irate male driver, pumped up on chewy soft mints and testosterone
) I decided not to ask him to turn back and pick up the aforementioned objects Hi Ali ~
Ah, okay, I see now. The guitar was, figuratively, already in the boot of the car . As in me, sitting here, saying, "I'm on my way!!!" Yes, I remember those kinds of days, too! Definitely, not worth the hassle .
From the sounds of it, Lee wouldn't have done so exceedingly well in playing, anyway. Tense fingers on tense strings, accompanied by tense voice ~ not necessarily the best combo .
Hmmm....Your poem is very illustrative on the working/living environment of where you speak 'on' that Hill. I've worked in those conditions, but so far haven't lived there. I know your residents appreciated seeing you put your understanding of their conditions into words like that .
So, tell Lee to bring that guitar along to Berlin. Since Margaret covered with her snacks, I'm sure Leonard's birthday cake was missed, but not overly so.
"Waiting for the Miracle" turned out, indeed, to be your arrival .
~ Lizzy
Ah, okay, I see now. The guitar was, figuratively, already in the boot of the car
. As in me, sitting here, saying, "I'm on my way!!!" Yes, I remember those kinds of days, too! Definitely, not worth the hassle .From the sounds of it, Lee wouldn't have done so exceedingly well in playing, anyway. Tense fingers on tense strings, accompanied by tense voice ~ not necessarily the best combo
.Hmmm....Your poem is very illustrative on the working/living environment of where you speak 'on' that Hill. I've worked in those conditions, but so far haven't lived there. I know your residents appreciated seeing you put your understanding of their conditions into words like that
.So, tell Lee to bring that guitar along to Berlin. Since Margaret covered with her snacks, I'm sure Leonard's birthday cake was missed, but not overly so.
"Waiting for the Miracle" turned out, indeed, to be your arrival
.~ Lizzy
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Diane
Lizzy , I have been unclear: Margaret's goodies were of the electronic variety, and not of the edible...!
It would be great, no doubt, to make Berlin and Hydra, but I have other plans for breaks/holidays for the forseeable future. That's one of the reasons I wanted to meet local LC fans, as one-day meet-ups are much easier to plan into the old diary. I'd never say never, though.
Thanks for your poem about your 'broken hill' Ali.
From what we heard of Lee's credentials/history as a musician last night, I have no doubt he would make a great part of the entertainment at Berlin or anywhere. If you get that recording of Lee singing Hallelujah sorted, maybe you could post it on the forum...?
See you,
Diane
, I have been unclear: Margaret's goodies were of the electronic variety, and not of the edible...! It would be great, no doubt, to make Berlin and Hydra, but I have other plans for breaks/holidays for the forseeable future. That's one of the reasons I wanted to meet local LC fans, as one-day meet-ups are much easier to plan into the old diary. I'd never say never, though.
Thanks for your poem about your 'broken hill' Ali.
From what we heard of Lee's credentials/history as a musician last night, I have no doubt he would make a great part of the entertainment at Berlin or anywhere. If you get that recording of Lee singing Hallelujah sorted, maybe you could post it on the forum...?
See you,
Diane
Hi Ali ~
Yep, just acknowledging that there is a problem, and in your case, actually giving 'voice' to their complaints, can make all the difference in their tolerance levels and feelings of disgruntlement, which can 'tide them over' until the situations get corrected...
Meanwhile, Diane's comments make the prospect of listening to Lee's cover of "Hallelujah" sound pretty appealing .
Hi Diane ~
Oh, geesh ~ leave it to me to think of food . [Well, just so you know, for future reference , Margaret does make really nice hors d'oeuvre trays.] When it comes to Berlin/Hydra, time can always work to change your mind. Even so, your smaller meet-ups are definitely much easier on the diary, as well as the pocketbook, I agree.
~ Lizzy
Yep, just acknowledging that there is a problem, and in your case, actually giving 'voice' to their complaints, can make all the difference in their tolerance levels and feelings of disgruntlement, which can 'tide them over' until the situations get corrected...
Meanwhile, Diane's comments make the prospect of listening to Lee's cover of "Hallelujah" sound pretty appealing
.Hi Diane ~
Oh, geesh
~ leave it to me to think of food . [Well, just so you know, for future reference , Margaret does make really nice hors d'oeuvre trays.] When it comes to Berlin/Hydra, time can always work to change your mind. Even so, your smaller meet-ups are definitely much easier on the diary, as well as the pocketbook, I agree.~ Lizzy