Any information to do with music, dance, useful info or small ads will be posted here if is received after the issue of the monthly newsletter.  So keep checking back.

If there are any budding keyboard players out there, a friend of mine is selling his MIDI keyboard.  It's a Concertmate-1100 and it's pictured above.  Originally bought in Tandys, it is still in its original packaging and in new and very clean condition.  Complete with stand, owners manual (the one that always gets lost!), power pack and original starter pack including books, video and cassette tape.

Well worth looking at for anyone wanting a good starter instrument with capabilities to connect to your PC.

If you are interested, at an asking price of GB £150/€205

Contact Bobby Ferguson on Durham 383-2579

Below is a list of the features of this instrument.  If you click on the pictures you will see a larger version.  If you want to save these larger pictures, right click with the mouse and select Save Image as...

When it comes to fancying cheese, I make Wallace and Grommit look like the amateurs they really are.

This is an introduction, for fellow cheese lovers, to a nice little watering hole we discovered on a trip out just recently.  It's called the Northumberland Cheese Company and its situated near Blagdon in Norhumberland on the delightfully named, Make Me Rich Farm.   We discovered this little tea room when looking for an excuse to stop for a break.

The farm produces a range of 14-15 cheeses which are incorporated into their very tasty menu and are also for sale in the shop.  The production line is viewable through a large window overlooking the carpark and you can see the process of  cutting and pressing the cheeses every day.  The farm uses cow, sheep and goat milk for their range of flavours.

The tea room was manned, when we were there, by three cheerful, young lasses. Sam (above), Anne and Fiona and despite a hectic schedule to keep the flow of customers well fed and watered, they still had time to chat and answer questions.  The small shop sells local craftwork and other produce along with all their cheeses.

I would certainly reccommend a visit by anyone who is sick of the processed plastic that is sadly and widely available in supermarkets.  One advantage is you can sample the different cheeses before you make a decision.  Secondly is the price which is considerably cheaper.

To see more information you can follow this link the their Homepage and take advantage of their online ordering system.

There are a couple more photographs and a full list of their cheeses in the Archives.

If you decide to visit tell them Stan the Man sent you :)

November 29th 2006 and some good news from the US.  My friends Brittany and Justin have announced they are going to get married next year.  So now is the time for you people out there to start making bookings so I can afford to go to the wedding.  It should be in first place on your "not to miss" list.  Justin is of Scottish descent and Brittany is from an old Irish family.  Speaking to her earlier tonight (29th Nov), I made the mistake of asking her to send me a list of things they wanted as a gift.  I hope she doesn't send me the bar bill!  I've been to many Irish and Scottish weddings, and been well entertained, but the thought of missing a combined event such as this does not bear thinking about.  Still, my best wishes go to them both and I hope to see the return of the Green Garter at some point in time.

I've set up a section on my blog page so if you would like to send the happy couple your regards, please join in with the fun.  I would like to email the page to their best man and see him spend an hour or so reading it all to the guests at the reception.  Let's try for an entry in the Guiness Book of Records for the longest Congratulory Telegram.

Good Luck to you guys.

November 12th will see the launch of our live, web radio channel.

Going under the name of  Folkus USB, it will be available to any web user with a fast enough link to handle the bitstream rate.  A small program to enable users to receive the webcast will be available on this site from Nov 1st.  Download details will be available from that time.

Initially, the station will broadcast a 60 minute program each Saturday and will be repeated on the Sunday.

The times will be 7-8 pm Saturday and 8-9 pm Sunday.  Please note that if you are not a UK resident, the times given are GMT. and remember that BST stops on 28th Nov.

Short sample broadcasts, of about 10 minutes length, to enable users check out the service will be made on the 9,10 and 11th Nov at 9pm GMT each evening.

Obviously the theme will be folk, traditional or modern with performances by established groups, local bands and solo musicians.  If you have any tracks you would like to be included please contact us at the normal address with further details.

To make the site more interactive for visitors, we have opened a Forum for the Lancre Morris Men.  This will allow guests to register and make their own posts for others to see.  You will also be able to sell any instruments you no longer need or advertise your forthcoming bookings.  Use the Forum link to get there and register today.  Your email address will be requested to activate your account, but it will not be given, loaned or sold to any other third party.  You should receive an activation code within 10 minutes, but please be patient and allow up to 5-6 hours for an administrator to approve you.

One dance which was mentioned by Terry, and has had lots of fans trying to create their own versions, was Mrs. Widgery's Lodger.  Well I took the time a few years ago to score an original tune, song and dance for the side.  I had left it as a Border arrangement, but after a letter from Ray King of Green Man's Morris and Sword Club, I am putting the tune up here to share with all.

The song, sadly, is being re-written to allow for younger viewers to perform.  The original words will only be released to people over 100 with accompanying letters of approval from both their parents.

If you want to give it a go for yourself, here are the dots.