TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Just in case anybody is wondering what 'The Toast' is.

Well it started fifteen years ago, with members of TalkAwhile gathering at the bar to remember somebody we had lost that year and over the years this has become all inclusive, not only remembering people from the Cropredy family, but also those lost to individuals.

The toast is 'Absent Friends'.

This year has been especially hard and so the toast has to be done, even though we can't be there. So it will be in the official Fairport stream. There will be a short history of the tradition, but will finish with the toast. Everybody please be there and raise your glasses.

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Those that should be thanked:
Field 7 Trev, who actually organised the Toast being added to the Fairport stream
David Hughes, who wrote and narrates the history of the Toast
Andy Leslie, who organised many of the photos
The Frog, who made sure this got progressed and has been the catalyst for so many years.
Jim, who will propose the toast
Nev Bull, who took turned the audio and images into a video
Lucy (Daughter of YaBB), who is running the donation page

Just time to concoct the Vegemite Vodka...

And tips of the fez to the aforementioned, and YABB...

Well done to all that worked hard for this to happen.
I shall look forward to seeing it on Saturday.

Spoiler, but one of the 'Absent Friends' toasted this year will be Fairport's Cropredy Convention itself.

The link to donations to The Teenage Cancer Trust is www.toast.org.uk (http://www.toast.org.uk)

Just a thought, where can i watch it?

Scrub that, its next week, isnt it😣😂😂😂

He!p me, im dim 😁

So looking forward to this, thanks all.

In terms of technological stuff I'm the last person to know but could a Zoom or Teams thingy be arranged?

Yep, something like this exactly what these 'meetings apps' are for.
Even without a Microphone or Camera one can login and hear the audio of others, and with Zoom, chat.
Every week we have a staff meeting with around 200 logged in, works great and it's wonderful to see your much missed pals.

If anyone has any pics of their offerings for the virtual celebrations please post them so I can add to the just giving page...... sauerkraut gin going live shortly (samples could be sent via post however I have concerns it may explode en route!!)  {:-) {:-)

The Pugwash toast

Question - how did the tradition of toasting with really horrible drinks start?

Jules

A point of order, I don’t know whether my drink is really horrible yet. ;D [;-)

One man deserves the credit and the blame. Frog.

A fairly small group of us dressed in LOUD shirts, the Frog produced a bottle of 'Chinese Drain Cleaner' and we toasted Ces. (We don't know what it was, the bottle was all in Chinese.)
After that people just took up the challenge.

Haha. Thanks, Colin.

Jules

Every picture tells a story. I was 'frogged' in 2007. It was ghastly stuff!

... and now I can report that it is really rather ------ dreadful.  Roll on tomorrow (I think).

There are no words that can be used to describe sauerkraut gin..... none..... ever.....

  photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNhp2kOQZLJYjA0xGQ0yK2-arwEUSGbnbEBMY2l (http://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNhp2kOQZLJYjA0xGQ0yK2-arwEUSGbnbEBMY2l)

I don't think I've done this right ... don't know how to actually post a photo!

If you want a zoom, I have a paid sub ... is it a good idea to post a link when I don't know who'll see it ??  I'd be ok with it on here, but I couldn't be sure that it wouldn't be posted on fb or somewhere. 

 [;-)

Sadly I assume we will not have the lovely daughter of Yabb encouraging us to part with dosh  so its important that you remember her sweet enforcing tactics and take that into account take your original donation,,, double it;;; have another drink double it again
The charity has lost a lot of donations this year and need our help DIG DEEP

What Dave.P said - simples really, just donate the money you'd have spent on booze and merch...

Absent Friends! Y'all

First damp eyes of the evening...

Thanks to all involved that made that happen.

As has been said, if you have the spare beer money with nothing to spend it on, please donate. Other things apart from COVID don't stop:
www.toast.org.uk (http://www.toast.org.uk)

Seconding what YaBB said, as always please donate generously  {:-)

£500 target reached. Well done Lucy and Colin!

For these that missed it 'The Toast' is now available on YouTube Click Here (https://youtu.be/6ohx8Xih4dE)
It will also give you the opportunity to freeze frames and see if you can spot yourself.

Donations to the Teenage Cancer Trust will remain open for a few days at www.toast.org.uk (http://www.toast.org.uk)

Those that should be thanked:
Field 7 Trev, who actually organised the Toast being added to the Fairport stream
David Hughes, who wrote and narrates the history of the Toast
Andy Leslie, who organised many of the photos
The Frog, who made sure this got progressed and has been the catalyst for so many years.
Jim, who will propose the toast
Nev Bull, who took turned the audio and images into a video
Lucy (Daughter of YaBB), who is running the donation page

Superb job, everyone.  Really quite emotional now.

Jules

What a fabulous introduction to the evening . Well done. Is it a precedent?? Do you think we can get a similar exhalation from the stage next year ??  Just imagine the spectacle. The whole festival toasting absent friends and making a donation to ttcf. That would make a sizable contribution for the price of a round of drinks  (Or am I in Cropredy lala land )

As has has been said that was a fine way to get things underway. Despite being well acquainted with the toast we have never participated and our non-Talkawhile friends hadn’t heard of it. By the end there was talk of preparing concoctions so there may be new recruits next year. A donation has been made and the link passed on.  

Too tired to do anything today...  donation will be made tomorrow.

Well done all.

Just want to add my thanks to the people made this happen.

My first 'attendance' at the Toast, although it was a close run thing, made it home from playing cricket with 5 minutes to spare!

Next year I shall make sure to appear in person for the first time.

Donations now stand at a fantastic £635.00!!  :D :D

Hi everyone!

Soooo..... our current total is at an AMAZING £838.45 (including giftaid).  We will be closing the donation page tomorrow evening so if anyone wants to make a last minute donation please do it ASAP!

I am already working on a special creation for 2021 (anyone for aubergine tequila?!) and fingers crossed will see you all at the bar next year  {:-)

Dd

Fantastic, thanks to all of you who contributed, may the. next 12 months be filled with good luck and happiness.  The rest of you deserve what you get, tory government, piles,toothache and gout.

Wow, that’s splendid. Well done everyone

Amazing, well done everyone...  let’s try and top it next year too xx

That's amazing! Can we get it on Facebook live with a link to donate every year?

Excellent.

Congratulations to everyone involved in doing this. I may join you at the bar next year!

Well done everyone. Brilliant amount!
It has just occurred to me, that now most of the people that attend Cropredy now know what we are doing at the bar.
We may need more glasses next year.  :o