YES!!! The "I'm So Happy!" thread - 2011

[Maggi Young]

Oh, we're latched alright, David!

I recommend anyone enjoying this type of music to seek out  YouTube links to the 'Transatlantic Sessions' - these programmes (several series) made by the BBC are  all real gems- some of the finest music, players and collaborations you are likely to find. 

[Martinr]

At last this Forum reaches the only topic more important, much more important, to me than my plants. Traditional music. 

[David Nicholson]

Could you tell us some of your favourites Martin?

[Martinr]

Where do I start....Absolute no. 1 favourite...sessions in the pub, don't care if it is Scottish, English, Irish, Canadian, French, Swedish.

Recorded artists. Anything by Bruce McGregor, Fiddler's Bid, Blazing Fiddles, The McGarrigle Sisters, Aly Bain & Phil Cuinningham, Stan Rodgers, Wolfstone, etc, etc. I could go on all night but a programme featuring the Island of Barra is just starting on BBC so I'm off.

[Hoy]

At last this Forum reaches the only topic more important, much more important, to me than my plants. Traditional music.  

Here you can taste Norwegian trad music
http://www.hf.uio.no/imv/om/organisasjon/nfs/lydsamling/lydfiler/index.html

[annew]

Johnw - I just watched the 3 year-old conductor with a great big smile on my face and tears in my eyes at the end. What a performer! Would love to see him in front of a real orchestra.
PS I like trad music too, just finished listening to Danu, one of my favourites.

[Martinr]

Great link Hoy, all I need now is rain so I can justify sitting still long enough to listen to all of them.

Danu is a good choice Anne, have you got the CD where they all play solos, 'Up in the air'?

[Peter Maguire]

I can endorse Maggi's comments about the Transatlantic Seesions. We were lucky enough to see them on tour in Gateshead's Sage concert hall last autumn and it was fabulous. Now I see they're back again in February - presumably after  Glasgow's Celtic Connections festival: different line-up of musicians, so I'll be back for second helpings  
Incidentally, the Sage also run a biennial fidldle festival around the end of April called Fiddles on Fire - it's mix of concerts and workshops. If you can't be in northeast England around then (and I suppose we ought to be gardening in the glorious weather), then here's a link to make you jealous: http://www.thesagegateshead.org/whats_on/festivalDetail.aspx?e=&df=634299943708628750&dt=634793759990000000&g=&p=&f=&ar=&keywords=&match=any&fe=634261006729183371.
I'll be there.  

[Martinr]

Jealous indeed...too much music, to little holiday and, alas, right in the middle of the show season

[annew]

I don't have that one, Martin, but will look out for it.

[Paddy Tobin]

Enough of this music!

About ten years ago I was sent to put two cordalines in the compost bin. However, instead I planted them as sentinels at the entrance to the compost bins and they have lived happily there ever since until the cold snap before Christmas killed them. Now, I know they would probably shoot again but I don't want them to be odd shaped so today I dug them up and eventually they reached the compost bin.

The stump of Acacia melanoxylon also had to be removed. It had grown for over ten years, grown from seed, but was badly knocked back by last year's frosts. It did re-shoot but I didn't want a bush so removed the stump today.

Happy to have removed all three. Now, I do deserve a nice bottle of wine after that.

Paddy

[Hoy]

Paddy, I hadn't been happy after that But I had needed the wine In fact, a nice bottle is waiting for me

[Paddy Tobin]

Hoy,

I look at it in the spirit, "What you cannot refuse, give gladly."

It was necessary to do this work, remove the trees, and I was glad to have it done and out of the way.

By the way, I am on the second bottle of wine (with help - teenagers are always willing to help with wine), eating chocolate and awaiting coffee.

Paddy

[Hoy]

OK, Paddy, understandable Sometimes you have to do away with something
My teenagers have moved (studying) but my wife gladly helps with the wine. But you can't be serious about chocolate with the wine (or the other way round)
Chocolate with anything but wine

[annew]

Chocolate with anything.