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, (2026).
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
Bill has been making biographical notes, which may be of interest and will be a continuing work in progress until it isn't. Bill Bio (The link redirects to dropbox ).
These are windows into our world.....
Weekly Diary Notes:
If not up to date use dropbox link above.
13th November 2026: Bill still wobbly. New TT tune is Little Beggarman, (Red Haired Boy), may be do-able by next week. Had thought to go to Morris tomorrow but not really on the cards. Sheila: sorting garden after first frost, Yoga. Bill playing some music but frustrated that the 'chemo shock fingers' seem to be lingering and he is relearning how to play, and his singing voice has changed. Folk on Foot with Billy Bragg essential listening, would make an excellent Everyman Wildcard if he would do it! Classic Folk: a good selection for the week.
12th November 2026: Bill very weak and faint. Bad night. Couldn't make it around small Tesco's without risk if falling. Spoke with GP who is supportive but basically we carry on, 6m -1yr we reckon, (should we last that long!) Listened to the rest of Genevieve Plays Folk. Still nauseous this evening after a seemingly positive day. Missed the Angel session.
11th November 2016:Sheila: lunch with Mary Jane, Nat and Harrison popped in. Bill's continuing sour taste and malaise seem to be attributable to the weight loss as much as the chemo. Still day today difficult.
10th November 2026: Bill very low, planning funeral etc, sorted a box of photos, Consultant visit: expecting push back, but he counted that Bill was wearing five layers,and checked his loose flesh. Ceased future chemo and under review. Basically the cure was worse than the disease at this point, and will refer to MDT for surgery review. Says tumour has halved in size, (based on out of date scan).
Prescribed steroids to promote a 'build up' period. PICC line removed so normal life, (?including swimming at some stage). Opportunity cost: Laxfield Supper'nSong, but hope to feel batter later in the week. Nat & Harrison popping in tomorrow, had a chat with Holly. We saw Pam, Jed and Rosa at the Woolverstone and had an update on Jezzer.
9th November 2026: We called the Nurselijne, Sheila spoke to Hannah, likely push back on wanting a break!. Appointment tomorrow, hopefully we can negotiate and find clarity over treatment, progress and purpose. Sheila Ch Gung, Bill watched Russell Brand sentencing remarks, listened to Classic Folk, (re-run of Sandra Kerr programme). Shared position with Caroline J, supportive but … hard to convey the impact. Conversations need to be had. This is probably my last year, or part..
8th November 2026: Bill very rough, opportunity cost Trackdogs at JPC. A lost day. Sheila muddling through but very upset.
7th November 2026: Bill ok night , dreadful morning. Sheila caring. We rang Macmillan who advised to log
with the 24 hour helpline, holding on that for the moment. Bill posted Theme of the Month Melnet: Up and Down, ('U' tunes). Finished listening to Genevieve Plays Folk, (started yesterday).Excellent. Isaac and Sophie came round with soup. We watched the Royal Festival of Remembrance on Tv.
6th November 2026: Bill bad night, hyper-fermentation & acid, struggling to eat so very weak. Sheila: swam, yoga, online course.
5th November 2026: Bill better night but no steroid bounce so weary and tingly . Posted Morris & Sword EP, and Strumpets should pop up on U3A FB. Now TT tune is out. Watched the Folk Music hart Show.
Sheila out to lunch with friends. Alan Day Tune Book arrived , interesting, all notated in for CG and in key so.... As ever with Gary Coover, high production values.
4th November 2026: Bill appalling sleepless retching night, bad day, Pump disconnected. No more steroids so tomorrow likely no better.
3rd November 2026: Bill tingly numb fingers/lips etc, started on build up drinks. We watched Mel Biggs 'chatterbox' with Lisa Jarvest. Bill always enjoys Lisa's melodeon videos so interested to hear her story. U3A Folk Music Group: Bucklesham Shannon. We made it and stayed fro an excellent afternoon of music and song. Not clear still whether the group will survive beyond September. We certainly hope so. Build up samples arrived, and honeycomb cushion, (Thanks for the nudge Patricia). Bill processed a couple of vinyl ep's.
2nd November 2026: Bill Chemo round 4 took up most of the day and quite impactful, managed to prep TT tune fro tomorrow. Meanwhile Sheila swam, fixed the dishwasher. Morris a miss again.
1st November 2026: Sheila crafting, Bill posted melnet TotM. Laurel rang for a chat. Katie H name-checked Bill as 'indefatigable' on FB. Afternoon of Music, dance and song, EATMT Coddenham: (opportunity cost, The Sober Mic Cafe). One song made the afternoon worthwhile, for the remainder, a performance space for three or four enthusiastic groups and a few regulars. The afternoon will be dressed up in positive publicity with imaginatively framed photographs and description, but......Tea and cakes, and curiosity assuaged. We will continue to support future events, in the hope of at least one redeeming contribution. Preferred to watch Young Musician of the Year final in preference to the 'Woolpack' session. Bill has next round of chemo tomorrow. Bad sign. Sick and ill this evening!
31st October 2026: Sheila: prop building. Holly popped in for a cuppa, Bill dropped in on Ash's family. (Use the energy while it is there!) Prepped Melnet TotM. Knoodled. Had a buying splurge, Alan Day's tunebook, a honeycomb cusion and a pelvic back support, and a fresh priter cartridge, they don't seem to last long!
30th October 2026: r.i.p Sandra Kerr: Sheila: Yoga, Bill: run through of tonight's set with S, looking at TT tune. PICC line care and Nutritionist appointments. Fairly straightforward, half helpful. Saw Shirley H at the former, accompanying a friend. Felt half normal but flagged toward evening. Everyman, we opened the evening with a couple from the U3A set played to a different audience, seemed to go well. Sanders Denny Bartlett were excellent although their well of material only slowly grows. Dave T played a guitar he as newly built, and excellent sounding 'D', he has also built an arch-top bouzouki and is working on a parlour guitar. His instruments all sound individually excellent and distinctive. We stayed the course, but got held up by a traffic incident A12 choke on the way home so , a late night. Bill's YT subscribers up to 1318, but viewings, (around 6Kpcm), would only earn £22 a month if monetised! Not the point, it is a public service channel. M-J T is recruiting for a guitarist to replace Colin in ZigZag Boxcar,
29th October 2026: Sheila panto practice, prop building, Bill knoodling on TT tune, managed a walk to the shops, first time out of the house in about 5 days. Posted side 2 of the 'Best of British Folk' Mary D offered us a spot at Everyman tomorrow, we said yes on the basis she has a reserve, and we need to say yes to things. We watched Hamnet, (thanks Martin).
28th October 2026: Sheila:back still bad, Bill: feeling marginally better, Sheila fiddles with Liz and Sue, Bill returned a couple of ESM jackets, etc in case of use. Posted a 2010 bluegrass video found in a rummage.
27th October 2026: Bill another rough night and day. Sheila sufficiently worried to ring specialist nurse, who , (to paraphrase),said, it is hard but suck it up! Bill posted TT tune and a few other catch up videos. Shared a Donal Lunny documentary with a few targeted friends. Sheila suffering badly with a twisted back and slowly healing broken rib. We both struggle to get upstairs.
26th October 2026:Bill bad night, difficult day. Sorted some videos as couldn't play music. Sheila: very tired. Jacqui popped in with some videos and treats. Bill let ESM know that his default for the future is 'not out', but he will make what he can. A nice response from David that he will 'be missed'.
25th October 2026: Bill:another bad night and day, Sheila: sorting garden and cleaning her van. Bill scheduled the rest of the U3A Concert videos for publication over the next month. At least it is done and autaoated whatever happens.
24th October 2026:Sheila gym. Bill a real 'nadir' day, very rough. Trying to eat 'little and often'. Strugling generally. Managed about ten minutes music. We watched Ken Loach's 'The Old Oak', excellent.
23rd October 2026: Bill very rough., Onc nurse referred us to Gp for ? Antibiotics. Swollen throat and glandular,not up to music. U3A FMG this pm is out. GP satisfied antibiotics not needed and gave advice. Wedge pillow on order. A real downside of the present situation is that Bill cannot play his instruments for about half of the fortnightly cycle. Digitised The Dancing English 2. Colchester Morris have lost another man to 'C'. Donal Lunny has also died. A huge loss to Irish music.
22nd October 2026: RiP Keith Graham: Bill sorry to miss your funeral but....a friend of many years in the morris. Sheila: Panto practice, Tai Chi. .Bill: Blood test, some concern over his fitness but escaped re-admission! Scheduled post of Harbour Lights & Tracey seems to have worked. Scheduled an intermission overture slot for next Tuesday. Holly popped in for a visit and catch up.
21st October 2026:Sheila gym, massage. Delivered the contract for her house to solicitor. Bill another rough night, posted side 1 of Bestof British Folk to YT, No appetite etc . Looked at new TT tune, listened to a Bob Dylan concert on YT, and the balance of Genevieve plays Folk. A dank rainy day. Pump removed, a week of semi normality in prospect? They forgot to do a blood test so going in for that 2morrow.
20th October 2026: Bill still very impacted by chemo, barely eating. Sheila in full 'prop' building mode for the U3A Ladies Panto. Appointment Oncology pm. Different Oncologist. Seem to think Bill responding well, but suffering. Titrated doses next time. Review in 2 weeks. Missing Bluegrass again, let Greg know the score, he sympathetic as Kath had Chemo last year. Bill digitised side 1 of Best of British Folk.
19th October 2026: Bill: Chemo#3: full day, full dose. Stronger reaction than last time, bad night, Listened Classic Folk meanwhile. Not up to ESM practice, but it looks like a good session with new starters and Gen in action.
7.9.26