Rat problem

[Moo]

But you live in the country, Nemesis.
If you had to spend much time clearing their s**t out of your gutters and gulleys and off your windowsills* you might feel less benign.

*And I'm not talking about the odd splash. It can pile up in great quantity below favourite roosting spots.

 

[Nemesis]

I feel benign as they are just doing what they have to do to live really.

They don't kill, maim, invade foreign countries...

Nor do they have the ability to collect their shit and pump it raw out to sea and pollute the habitat of other creatures.

 

[Penners]

Our rats went out of the house and back outside without too much trouble.

Oh yes, and how did you achieve this? Did you just ask them nicely?

 

[Nemesis]

Took one look at me and fled.

 

[Penners]

Took one look at me and fled.

Seems to me you have a marketable talent, there. Rent yourself out to visit people's infested houses. You could even learn to play the whistle, like that Hamelin chappy, just to add to the effect.

 

[Nemesis]

I already can. But the Hard Paddington Stare works wonders.

 

[elm]

I already can.

Do I detect a fellow traditional music fan?

 

[Nemesis]

My penny whistle playing is strictly private. At least until I am so skint I have to busk.

I have not played in public since, very drunk, I joined in with a ceiledh band at a large function... let's not go there.

 

[Penners]

I have not played in public since, very drunk, I joined in with a ceiledh band at a large function... let's not go there.

Tell us where you next plan to play and we promise not to go there.

 

[Gervase]

Blimey, what with Middi and his accordion, me on the melodeon and concertina and Nemesis on the whistle, we could have our own PP ceilidh band. There's a thought to frighten the horses!

 

[Penners]

Blimey, what with Middi and his accordion, me on the melodeon and concertina and Nemesis on the whistle, we could have our own PP ceilidh band. There's a thought to frighten the horses!

Great! I'll bring along my folk guitar, if I can wrest it back from my son-in-law, who's supposed to be learning to play it.

My rendition of The Bleedin' Sparrer was a favourite in the back room at The Monk & Compasses in Holbrook.

 

[Nemesis]

Nah. There's one person who posts on here who could supply us with real music from the finest traditional instrument anywhere. When I go, it's what's gonna be played at my funeral!

Not yet decided on the tune, maybe Derwentwater's lament.

Unlike a close friend who went to the strains of 'Always look on the bright side of life' as rendered by our own dear Pythons.

Or indeed another, a former member of a rock band, who went to 'Goodness gracious great balls of fire'.

 

[Penners]

I think I might like to be cremated to the strains of "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes".

 

[Penners]

Nah. There's one person who posts on here who could supply us with real music from the finest traditional instrument anywhere.

Go on - don't be coy. Who and what? If you can't tell us the person, at least tell us what the instrument is. Could it be the Oop North Pipes?

 

[Nemesis]

I am coy as maybe he doesn't want to be outed.

 

[Penners]

Well at least tell us what this heavenly instrument is.

 

[elm]

Gervase wrote:
Blimey, what with Middi and his accordion, me on the melodeon and concertina and Nemesis on the whistle, we could have our own PP ceilidh band. There's a thought to frighten the horses!

Great! I'll bring along my folk guitar, if I can wrest it back from my son-in-law, who's supposed to be learning to play it.

Sounds like fun, I can volunteer some hammered dulcimer, bit sketchy at the moment as I've only been playing it for a month .....

 

[Penners]

I can volunteer some hammered dulcimer

No chance of a sober one, I suppose?

 

[Gervase]

OK then, who's the Kathryn Tickell clone then?

 

[Nemesis]

Her father is best known for his rendition of 'Dowsing the hogs'. At least whenever I have head him sing (going back several decades...) he's always sung it. It's become something of a family joke. We groan.

However - I see he's giving a talk at the Lit and Phil on the Border Ballads this month.

Could be interesting.

http://www.litandphil.org.uk/html_pages/LP_news.html

I have friends who play dulcimer - nice instrument.
Here's one of them. If you are lucky sometimes you can catch Terry and Liz busking on Hallstile Bank in Hexham.

http://spacemonkeylab.com/stonehousemusic/liz.php