The Ghost Party

13th July 2013

Name to be changed soon...

Writing Hell blog

The Ghost Party…

This story has many variations from many countries. the basics remaining the same. My story although it was attached to the Isle of Wight, I could easily have adapted it to a place in my old home village of Brockenhurst. There is at least two places I can think of.

Way back in 1821, George Maurice Bisset, the owner of the most grandest mansions to be seen, in a fit of temper he set fire to it and burnt it to the ground. This was because he did not want his daughter to inherit. This was because she had the temerity to marry a clergyman without her fathers consent. All that was left of the mansion now are two gateposts standing at the end of the long drive.

A hundred years later in the 1920s me as a young man was walking the road enjoying the scene, and making notes for my blogging stories. It was very cold night, and it was getting late. and I thought it time to try and find a room for the night.  As I went I came upon two gateposts with heraldic beasts on top of them. I was so impressed, and, given it being New Years Eve, I wondered if I could a nights shelter here.

          I walked down the drive, and saw that there were lights ablaze in every window of the mansion, and sounds of gaiety and laughter: there was a great party going on. It was obviously a  fancy dress, because of the men wore powdered wigs and women were resplendent in their Georgian dresses.

I banged on the front door and on the windows, but could not get any attention. After a period I gave up: but I was half way up the drive when I thought I would go back and try again. As I turned, a black carriage pulled by four black horses came thundering down the drive from the house towards me: I flung myself into a ditch to avoid being trampled beneath the hooves. I was so shaken, bruised and very angry, that I decided not to return.

 

          I later found a room in the village in a small, quaint lodging house. When I was talking to the landlady about my experience, she told me that the house was long gone: it had been knocked down in her great – grannies time.

The next day I decided to go back, and found nothing but an overgrown drive with two old gateposts at the entrance. There were no heraldic beasts on the gateposts, no house. All he could see was a field, a tumbledown barn an old orchard, and a tangle of weeds. If you have nothing better to do on a New Years eve, then pop along to this party.

Courtesy of Folk Tales by Michael O’leary

Look out for my forth coming post ‘Apple Tree #2′……….

Red Flag of Destruction

Wednesday 11th July 2012

Loved and Forgotten (Red Flag of Destruction)

http://youtu.be/8RY3GJt28EM

Hope you all listen and enjoy the show,, hopefully will be doing some more in the near future.

This song was written by myself, John Dunkinson, and Richie Butler. Back in the time of many protest songs and anti-war songs, we like other musicians thought we would include our piece. The song was written and recorded at TW Studios London back in middle 70's, Although the recording was ok at time my versions is a product of re-recording and making it digital. Any way I hope the quality is good enough to enjoy. My other site has given good  reviews.

Gerry A /C 2012

23rd february 2012

 

D  o  w  N!

 This view is from the castle Keep, it was quite a trek to get to it, and as you can see it is a hell of a trek back down all those small slippery stone steps. Where is 'Health and Safety' or a 'Lift' / 'Elevator' (to my American friends) when you want one.

 

Now to go back Down

 D  O  W  N  !       Cliff Rail lift, apparently it is said to be the shortest rail way in the world. This actually travels directly up a cliff side, and on the top a very nice cafe greets you where you can enjoy a nice sandwich. The view is quite spectacular, looking out across the sea.

 

Now to go Back Down 2

                                                       

All the above is of my own work, Please enjoy and express your views...

Weekly Challenge Jan 13th 2012 #2

Peaceful, 13/01/ 2012

My idea of peace is---

New Forest Ponies

Forest Stream

One beautiful sunny day, my wife and I went for a walk through the nearby New Forest. We eventually came upon this peaceful scene, and luckily I had my camera. The results are as you can see. Others were taken but I think these pictures represent the theme well. But they also have a memory within as well, which makes it doubly good.

So to all that view, please enjoy and comment.

Lymington Folk Club - (Bar Room Blues) Update!

http://www.unique-photography.co.uk/folk/index.html 
http://www.jdrobertsband.com/  


The  4th January 2012 and the Lymington Folk Club, both the date and place will be set in 
my mind for a very long time. Why you ask, well, I met up with some old friends from my 
teenage years and my dearest friend and longest known friend John Dunkinson played a 
small set, by himself and a couple of tunes accompanied with Pete Strong and Pete Jones. 

     His music was uplifting and the icing on the cake for me. But I am pretty sure the rest of 
the club also enjoyed his songs, judging by the applause and the after effect.  John who 
lives in Seattle, USA means I and his other UK friends do not see him very often, and 
because of this it made it doubly good for me.  But must not forget the other artists that 
performed this night, because once again the Folk club produced tunes to the highest of 
standards. 

A very big THANK YOU for this alone. 


Apart from my regular visit and enjoyment of the music at this Folk Club, by the way is 
every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, it had turned into a re-union of old friends, the 
only thing that remains to be seen is whether or not we will all keep to our departing 
words, 'keep in touch, I'll give you text or call, check you out on Facebook, don't leave it 
another thirty years' you know what I mean. We have all done it at some time in our lives, 
people get separated with life's paths, and then meet up again further down the paths of 
fate. We had a good night talking of the past and of today. This is a sign of good friends, 
you can talk to each other easily, no stopping and faltering and wondering what to say.


John Dunkinson sang some songs in remembrance of a local  character, poet and singer 
songwriter from the area. He has recorded his songs and put them onto a CD called 
'Gypsy'  and subtitled 'In Memory of Rod Legge' Very high quality recording and very 
high standard of music. So I suggest you have a listen to them by visiting the web site on the following link  http://www.jdrobertsband.com/   and if possible support the local characters. 


       Without these people, your villages and towns would be like any other, boring. These 
characters can be like an attraction and a very valuable asset. Look after them while alive 
and if not then at least give them life in their death with some form of acknowledgement. 
Please visit and website and help. THANK YOU, for this.

http://www.jdrobertsband.com/  = for the CD 'Gypsy'

http://www.unique-photography.co.uk/folk/index.html = for the Lymington Folk Club. If in the area

remember to visit. 1st and 3 rd Wednesday of each and every month

Oh, Little Bridge. - A Poem by Gerald Ainger/Cobb

Oh little bridge may I cross?

Where to go I am at a loss,

Back from where I came, Oh no!

It’s your direction I must go,

Oh little bridge you are in my way,

I must pass on this winters day,

Your railings are in need of some paint,

As they are looking a little faint,

Oh little bridge you are a star,

To cross you I’ve traveled far,

Looking across to the other side,

I see secrets you have tried to hide,

Oh little bridge spanning the stream,

To tread your boards is my dream,

Trickling waters bubbling over stones,

Soak my feet, ease my aching bones,

Oh little bridge I’ve changed my mind,

Another route I shall find,

My decision, not one that was rash,

I’ve decide to paddle through the water-splash.

 Dedicated to the village bridge

 in Brockenhurst, UK.

 I spent many a summer evening sitting on it’s railings

 playing the guitar.  July 1997.

Bar Room Blues..

Us at Thomas Tripp, Lymington,UK.    

Doin' Our 'Ting      29 June 2011

         We, John and myself Gerald, turned up at the Thomas Tripp public house,in Lymington, Hampshire, UK, expecting the Lymington Folk Club to be present, and hoping to see some musicians of varying styles. But to our surprise it was not on on this particular Wednesday. Yes you guessed, it was next Wednesday. Apparently every first and third Wednesday of the month. It was a shame because my friend had a music CD, that he and several others had recorded numerous songs written and performed by themselves,  in remembrance of the local poet, musician and character of Lymington. Some of the songs were in part at least written by this local character. I must say that it is very good so if you get a chance to purchase a copy I strongly advise it. All in a good cause I might add. See and visit the web site, it explains all and I say support your local characters. www.jdrobertsband.com     Any way I diverse.....

           We met up with another friend, also in the picture, his name is Pete and he is the one on the left. I personally have not seen him since 1979 -1980, he said the last he saw me was when I had my hair draping half way down my back. And so thinking this then the years would be about right. We all sat down with a pint and having a chat about things from past and present, we, after a short while asked the bar tender if we could have our own guitar session in the back bar, to which she said we could. Of course it was lucky that I had brought two guitars with me.  We all proceeded to have a good evening of music on our own. The memories rushed back from the days of past gone when me and John used to do it regularly. The reason I am recording this is because, as one reason already mentioned, I have not seen Pete for over thirty five years and it was brilliant for this to happen now, we could still talk and have things to say. Conversation did not become quiet or awkward. And now with mobile numbers passed over we should be able to continue our re-found friendship.

        The other reason is.....John, who now lives in the USA and has visited UK every year, parents still live here, but for various reasons we have not met up for about ten years. So this event has been recorded, by this blog, and linked to others, Blogger, and photographs. So just in case we do not meet again this will always be here.
        We were child friends, grew up together and  learnt to play guitars together but when he went to USA I must admit I felt a little lost. So memories likes this mean so much more, hopefully there will be more. But just in case.                                                
        I had a chat with Pete a couple of weeks later and we might try a guitar duo, at the very least for pleasure and fun...
So for now I say 'Watch this Space'

www.jdrobertsband.com     Dont forget to visit and support, Please..