Folkbluesnbeyond
Bill Johnston and Sheila Darling have enjoyed a low profile presence in the East Anglian Acoustic Music world for more decades than they may admit to. We are active members of local folk clubs and dance sides, and have performed in public solo, as a duo and in bands. Our musical lives are mainly recreational at this time, (2025).
Bill is maintaining the Diary Notes, updating a week or so at a time, see below.
Bill also maintains a separate musical web presence on Facebook, the only space at present where his Tuesday Tunesday sketched tunes initially appear, along with other musical bits and bobs. https://www.facebook.com/folkbluesnbeyond/ If you are not FB phobic have a look...Linked FB sites relate to the U3A Folk Music Group, Facebook , and Bill's most recent band, '3 Men in a Shed Suffolk' Facebook and earlier barn dance band 'Instep, Facebook.
Bill was also a member of John Goodluck's 'Bards of the Heath' : Facebook
There is a 'Folkbluesnbeyond' Youtube channel with more than a thousand videos, music or folk related. folkbluesnbeyond - YouTube
Also on Bandcamp. One upload at present, a blues tape from a time when Bill was hungry to perform. Bandcamp. Bill's 1990's Blues Archive
Always willing, even now.
These are windows into our world.....
Weekly Diary Notes
27th December 2025: Bill posted a few U3A Christmas Party videos. Sheila cooking for Joe's 'pagan' afternoon. TT tune is in progress. Bill dropped into the party for a while, Sheila stayed the course. Good to hear that Mick R is back at home.
26th December 2025: Boxing Day: East Suffolk Morris danced at Pinmill, sunny but bitingly cold, particularly for the musicians, even with fingerless gloves. The dancing followed by Carolling in Pinmill Sailing Club and a formal farewell and presentaion to Mike Garland , our foreman, who is relocating to the Midlands but (we suspect) will be a loyal friend and distant member of the side and a relatively frequent visitor. We entertained Sheila's children and grandchildren Will, Lily, Toby, Leah, Jorja, Isaac and his girlfriend Sophie by stages when we returned in mid afternoon. An exhausting day. Bill posted a video of the dancing to FB.
25th December 2025: Christmas Day A relaxed day. Will,Leah, Isaac and Jorja came round for a cuppa. Bil posted some more Christmas Party U3A videos, looked briefly at next week's TT tune.
24th December 2025: Sheila bp better, on waiting list for 24 hour monitor. Bill still feeling rough.Posted a couple of U3A Christmas videos. Notice that EATMT has received a significant lottery donation. The devil's kiss, may become even more generic and possibly anodine.
23rd December 2025:Bill sorted the U3A Panto video, dropped card off with Sue B, Sheila working on
family presents. Sheila had high b/p all day, eventually to pharmacy for advice, which was, to A&E. Unresolved.
22nd December 2025: Sheila gym, Bill swim. Worked on videos, prepped TT tune for tomorrow. Posted a couple of videos to U3A FB from Xmas party.
20th December 2025: Happy Birthday Holly: Sheila gym, Bill a wander around Ipswich on the day when hitherto ESMorris have danced Border sets in tatters and shared a spot briefly with the Salvation Army, they were there, we weren't. Bill dropped in on Ashley's family, and Rowan.
19th December 2025: Sheila yoga, Holly came to lunch with Bill and played some carols on her (borrowed) English Concertina. Doing well. Bill pottered on some videos.
18th December 2025: Sheila swam and had coffee in town with friends, Bill swam, and sorted some of the videos from Tuesday's U3A party. Some of the recordings are corrupted by RF interference, probably from the chiller at the bar in the room. Also sorted the cosmetics on Irvine's melodeon. Something of a vanity project given the ost of bringing it back to life, but Martyn did a thorough job.
17th December 2025: Laurel popped round on her way back to Broadstairs, Max had a music session with Sheila. Sheila went for coffee with a friend, Bill picked up Irvine's melodeon, newly fettled from David T who had recovered it from Martyn W. Clive's funeral with East Suffolk dancing went well, except that the organist didn't show, so David T and Martin F accompanied the hymns on his accordion.
16th December 2025: U3A Xmas Party & Panto: an excellent afternoon, including the ladies' pantomine. Bill video'd , no idea how effectively. David T collected Irvine's old melodeon from Martyn.
15th December 2025:Sheila panto dress rehearsal, Bill swam. East Suffolk Morris practice. Request night and practice for Clive's funeral on Wednesday.
14th December 2025: Sorry to learn that Linda McCartney died earlier this week. A likely dampener for the Dove Christmas session this afternoon.
13th December 2025: Sheila :gym, panto props, Bill had a wander in Woodbridge. Upgraded the bedside books, (also picked up Mike Harding's Folk Songs of Lancashire). Almost sorted TT tune. Ashley's roof is repaired.
12th December 2025: Sheila Gym and lunch with colleagues. Bill knoodling. Listened to Folk Club. Alex from One Tree Hillbillies has died. East Suffolk are dancing at Clive's funeral on Wednesday, Bill probably not, the music is covered. Popped in on Ashley and family.
11th December 2025: Sheila : Panto and Tai Chi, Bill swam, updated computers as needed. Angel Woodbridge session: Bill was grateful for a lift from Andy, on his fourth musical outing of the week. It seems that the 'Mariners' (Felixstowe), session has returned to its original home at 'The White Horse', each Wednesday except the first, (when it would clash with the 'Celtic' session). A interesting evening, seven in the circle. The new TT tune is a banger, excellent.
10th December 2025: Sheila: swam, and had coffee with Linda G. Bill had a wander around Felixstowe. Forgot about MidWeek Blues Xmas Concert, but probably not up ofr crowded noisy space.
10.11.25