Fidler in the Hood: Once upon a time, when we were young
Even our incomparable climate seems to be elusive this year.
Greetings! Once more into the breach, dear friends. Despite the predictably unpredictable weather we are experiencing, normal life, as we used to know it, continues to be just around the corner.
Even our incomparable climate seems to be elusive this year. Mind you, we were in the KZN Midlands last weekend – perishing cold, miserable weather, low, low temperatures. As I said to the CO, “We’d have been better off in Blackpool.” Or was it Grimsby? On with the show.
ALSO READ : Fidler in the Hood: 70 years of unrequited love
Just in Time
No matter the inclement weather, the social scene down here among the sheltering palms has certainly picked up. Seems like old times, folks.
Wednesday last week saw the monthly Moondeckers get-together at the Conservancy, Ramsgate beach.
The full moon came out in the nick of time to please the full house attendance, some 60-plus moon worshippers.
It was touch and go whether the Hunters’ Moon would make an appearance. The weather had been overcast during the day, with heavy cloud covering the area.
The gods must be crazy, but sure enough the moon came through, the Luna worshippers rewarded for their loyalties.
Moondeckers is one of the best social evenings on the local calendar; make a note of it. We are lucky to be living down here.
You Forgot To Remember
However, even Moondeckers was outshone this past week with The Shafts (Self Help Association for The Seniors) monthly get-together.
It was to be a music quiz, but a quiz with a difference – the music would be from yesteryear.
The problem was that the good folks couldn’t quite remember which year, or who was the singer or the song. All in good fun, it should be added.
Popular music from the 30s, 40s, 50s, the swinging 60s, right through to the 70s and 80s were all given a spin.
All the participants had to do was ‘name the singer, name that song,’ etc. It was easier not said, and not done.
In the picture quiz of stars from yesterday, cries of “I know who it is, but don’t know his or her name.”
And here’s me thinking everybody knew Tom Jones, Doris Day, Gene Kelly, etc.
Quite a few knew the name of Gene Kelly’s famous dancing partner, even if it was the cartoon character Jerry the Mouse!
One very nice lady called out that she had been a ballet dancer, and knew her classical music.
Another lovely lady said she had been a belly dancer, and only knew that kind of music. Interesting.
I had been tempted to play the David Rose orchestra composition of ‘The Stripper!’
Now, that would have been a pretty sight for sore eyes, besides the perfunctory police raid at Mitchell Park sports club!
Just Staying Alive
It was just an observation, perhaps, but most of the quiz participants seemed to have mis-spent their youth in the 1970s, dipping their feet in the ‘Rivers of Babylon,’ even ‘Staying Alive’; maybe ‘Tying a Yellow Ribbon, round some old oak tree.’
Maybe it was a sign of things to come when the last number was played, everyone knew it and sang it out loud and clear.
It is claimed that ‘Always Look On The Bright Side of Life’ is one of the most requested songs to be played at funerals. Let no man write my epitaph!
Well, it’s better than ‘Another One Bites The Dust’, don’t you think?
The winners were ‘The Black-Eyed Peas’ with Len Rautenbach, Colleen Haggard, Grant Phillips, and Yvonne Booysen forming the team. Congratulations, and well done.
Special kudos must be afforded to Greta Bosiers, a whizz kid on the computer, for assisting and compiling the quiz.
Special thanks also to the management and staff of the Mitchell Sports Club, for having everything in place.
Rumour has it that another Music Quiz Night is on the cards next year. Montevideo, Uruguay, here I come!
Welcome To Our World
Even though he is a football fan of Liverpool FC, congratulations must be afforded to the editor, David Rush, for becoming a proud father again.
So, Caleb George it is then, David. At least it’s a lot nicer than naming the wee bairn Mo, Jurgen or Pep.
Once upon a time, when we were all a lot younger, one Liverpool fanatic named his baby son after the whole Liverpool football XI.
Rumour had it that his wife complained to him that he loved Liverpool more than he loved her.
The Scouser in him came back with “I love Everton more than I love you!” I couldn’t dare say that in this house: I would be out on the streets in next to no time!
But that’s another story.
See you, Rob.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
