Welcome to the house of madness: Do join us......

Wed, 14 May 2008 17:58:41 GMT

Oh dear, oh dear. Frightfully p****d off. Again this has not been the most wonderful of days.

I am wondering if it is me or other people. The new manager really annoyed me today, after I told them that the owed product was not hanging up. I have a bad throat due to drinking cappucinos. Milk. Serve me right, but they can hear that talking is not wonderful for me, at the moment. Next time I'll go to someone else. And sorry seems to be my favourite word. ***** Right. Has anyone any ideas so I stop saying sorry, and instead just be blunt and firm - maybe that's just it.

And what about dealing with people who are rather loud and confrontational (anybody read The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy - I am referring to the character of Farfrae, who seemingly oblivious tramples all over another character Henchard's hard work and well, wrecks his life. Fafrae also doesn't also seem to feel emotions deeply, whereas Henchard does - angry, overjoyed, puzzled etc). I just seem to have to fit round someone who seems to squash my already quiet character into the corner - which I don't want - just because she has a damn opinion on everything. My short fuse will probably go off at some point, as I'm seriously angry at having to play the grownup and explain myself, and remain calm. I know that's better than arguments, where words can really wreck havoc, but still being unsure of my qualities may have something to do it, although the feeling of bending round people is understandably, starting to p*** me off big time, gods' beards. Any ideas?

Oh, yes and it's the vibe I get off the two people mentioned that really makes me frightfully angry. Which is to say, a unspoken feeling of their opinion of my intelligence. They are certainly not the best of people to bring it out into the open, I'm much better in my writing than my verbalising - however, that can be wonderful in the right company. And much of that's around. Silent waters run deep - why bother explaining to some ***** who can't even wait to acknowledge, listen or respond to the bloody good points I say.

Maybe I just trample myself into the ground and other people then tramp down either realising or not.

Just feeling the irritation rising (although I will try not to blow - I think way too much of other people, and how I might feel, but they don't you see - AHA!), and rather nearly tearful. Oh to hell with the bastards, I'm off to get my blunderbuss.

Tue, 13 May 2008 20:01:08 GMT

Not been the nicest of days. What with the sock palaver - throw cowpats at the monkey. Having an awake nightmare at 2am, where my brain made me throw myself out of bed, because there was another mattress and contraption above, swiftly coming to crush me. What the hell have I been feeding my brain and psyche? Finding the damn front door open at 4am, and I mean WIDE OPEN, and housemates being a little too laissez-faire. My room's by the front door, of course I'm going to be utterly unimpressed and fairly firing on all cannons. May have been a drunk friend, but it REALLY IS NOT ON. Finding the door flat against the wall, looking like an invite to all, is enough to spike anyone's ends. And when you remove a notice - after the person managed with difficulty, to write a fair and carefully worded response, let them know when and why you take it down, Otherwise it's jolly damn well rude.

And as for stuffing the bin till it's overflowing, and collapsing into bin, with mucky bits going down between bin and bag - hang it! we are not at university for Thor's sake. Grrrrr. I don't really like leaving notes, so maybe that house meeting should come about over a nice cup of tea and a slice o'cake?

And people just acting like what I've said matters not a lot, especially when the person I referred to in an earlier post, is still brushing off my points like I've just whinged at her. ****. SERIOUSLY.

Fistie cuffs and sharp words, are tempting. I'm sick of being the one who makes to fit in other's selfish and thoughtless behaviour. And people who are a little too noisy and inconsiderate for their safety's sake - though it is nice to have music in the house. *sigh*

As I said, it's been a LONGGGGGG day. *silently screams*

Tue, 13 May 2008 12:16:38 GMT

I might be given this pharmacy job, but for one thing. The head supervisor for a our area is dry, and miserable, and uppity. Apparently the only cause for concern is my striped socks. I told our pharmacist what I thought of that, that the man is basically a dementor, a polymorph, pulling all the joy out of any situation of life. It's not the goth principle, it's that. Stripey socks make the customers laugh, gives them something interesting to see, especially attached to a friendly assistant, who might be the only person they see for a while. I used to do hospital radio with a purple wig on my head, for gargle's sake ( and was voted Best Newcomer that year). I am utterly unimpressed, as I know I am a bloody good worker and a credit to the pharmacy. And laughter is the best medicine. greenwyrd says I should wear black ones and dye my hair shocking purple or something.

But I think it's sad, and pathetic. What's wrong with a bit of shared laughter and colour. Shame on you conservative dementor narrow minded weevil - try and see people for how truly fab they are.

Independent - Goths and Pagans Reinventing The Morris.

Tue, 13 May 2008 12:09:54 GMT

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/hey-nonny-no-no-no-goths-and-pagans-are-reinventing-morris-dancing-823498.html?r=RSS

Splendid article. Absolutely spiffing! nicked from Nikki and Darren of Boggarts Breakfast. Obviously these writers were at Rochester, being that Hunters Moon and Wolfshead and Vixen are notibly noted! :)

Mon, 12 May 2008 19:50:14 GMT

Ah, I was supposed to go to Boggarts practice but lift cancelled at last minute. Have been working on my feet all day, so not in the mood to use my feet to trek down to practice. Especially as they don't really need musicians most of night.

Pro's being - early night, alcohol, chilling out and planning those macabre kids stories' maybe, meanderingly!, prepare dinner for tomorrow night, being that I have to be off for another morris practice, almost as soon as I leave work. And watching thin blue line and all that good english stuff! :) YThe Gods bless Rowan Atkinson, those eyes, that brain and his cotton socks! Harhaharhahahahrrrrrr!!!!

Con's - well, it would have been nice, I could have given back Liam his cider, I was thinking I'd be busy, and be manically trying to work out when to cook dinner for tomorrow, and any news.

And nicked this from miss_amethyst's friend sinibar..... the tea ditty.....! Oh yes, yes, yes, Bring It On!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eELH0ivexKA

What I did on my weekend

Sun, 11 May 2008 15:45:59 GMT

Well. I've just dyed my hair, which I meant to do ages ago, and was bored, so thought, "Go and dye your hair, and stop being bored". :)

Working all this week at the handy pharmaceuticals provider of this rural community.

And ended up at Holmfirth (where they film Last of the Summer Wine, and a pub had bright yellow plastic wellies of Compo's to raise money for something or other....) Festival. Had planned to go to Crucible's new cd launch, but then housemate went awol. Pah. Then got invited by morris dancer friends down the road to go with them, to the above launch. Then come saturday morning, get a call from another friend "ready in twenty minutes? we have space in the car if you want to come to Holmfirth with us?" Ended up ringing him back and saying "YES!" but feel bad about cancelling on the evening of other friends, as we live on the same road, but they're manically busy. Damn. :(

But played for the boggarts breakfast, got to see mad but excellent morris dancers the bunnies from hell, one of whom complimented me on looking scary in my boggart makeup. So I bowed to him with palms together,which saw a grin from him, being that I had answered his question of "you do know that was a compliment?!", hahhahaaaaa!. Glad to know I'm still able to be scary.

Also bumped into some old friends from Sidmouth, made a new one, got to see Mr Fox dance: - (I don't think I want to be involved, I get much more a kick out of watching them, especially looking rather sinister yesterday, in undertakers top hat and long velvet coat - almost looked like a mascot or associate of strange pastimes for them!) and yes! sollersuk, Glenise must have told you that we met by accident! :)

and now? More wine!!!! :) I'm with miss_amethyst, that young innocent! :) *smiles*

Fri, 09 May 2008 12:51:30 GMT

In the madness of the pharmacy today, my brain growled "Eureka!". I'm still onwards discovering stuff about myself, but this was a really useful lightbulb :- I don't know how to relax. Or I won't let myself for fear of missing something or feeling that I should be using all my time to either worry that I'm not doing something or feeling very guilty about not doing anything or just feeling the extreme feeling of can't be bothered.

Brain, keep eurekaing!, we'll get to the bottom of the well with this. And I get highly upset and angry with myself, not helped by certain persons, who reiterate that I'm slow and wieldy and leave things to the last minute. Thanks - not. Yes, we are talking about them that fuck you up - thanks, miapatrick for reminding me of that. I need to keep reading and talking and building on my knowledge. Much better than feeling hopeless and banging my head against the castle fortress door.

So this weekend, I wil try and like my company and relax - probably by going round the charity shops, and try not to mentally beat myself about the head when I return back to the digs. Fingers crossed. Mmph. :@

Thu, 08 May 2008 20:27:28 GMT

Call me silly, call me changeable, call me an old softy. And the nature pantheism/Animism showing itself of me. I don't care, I think this the nicest, sweetest thing I've seen for a while. Scroll down for a really nice photo. Good for you old chap, I think you well deserve it:

http://news.uk.msn.com/Article.aspx?cp-documentid=8260931&imageindex=8#4715236

:) Isn't he just bloody gorgeous? xxx

I just had a walk in the garden and smelled the blossom, like Lu-Tse (Lao -Tze). Maybe that grounded me, in the beauty of nature.

Thu, 08 May 2008 19:37:32 GMT

high hill highs and valley deep lows. Always. And only worked out how I'd felt all life, was depression. That was about three months ago. Having a ghastly evening (broken down about two and a half or three times tonight), though company in 'ouse is balanced. I however, feel like running screaming into the streets.

however, I will spare the neighbours, who would be somewhat worried seeing their friendly local pharmacist assistant suddenly going quite cuckoo.

Just talked to friend of psychology background, up here. Perhaps we will work on this. After all, everyone deserves to enjoy their achievements and present living life and get to know oneself and elevate themselves to a nice state of nirvana or at least something to roll around the rafters in the good and rotten tomato times with.

Don't mind me, I probably don't make any sense, but writing it all down helps sometimes to make sense of the hurt, jumbled, aggravated mess that is making up the inside of my skull at the moment. Black as the inside of a cat on a dark moonless night, as Mr Pratchett mused. Hmmm.

Idea in the brain does not equal idea in the flesh...!

Thu, 08 May 2008 13:42:15 GMT

Hmmm. When having decided to make sushi for lunch, or attempt to, it might be an idea to let the rice cool down. Although, maybe better to make rice at lunch and then make sushi for dinner. That idea literally pinged just now. Oh. It tasted pretty alright though. :)

Wed, 07 May 2008 18:16:47 GMT

I remember hearing the Poozies sing this acapella beautifully on folk on 2, when Jim Lloyd ran it. It grabbed me then, and then other times, and then I just googled Pete again, who I know, and gods it helps when the mind attacks the psyche and forthwith. And I never knew Damien Barber was a fan and friend of Pete's. Fancy that!

http://www.petemorton.com/

Another Train
Words and Music - Pete Morton

The beginning is now and will always be,
You say you lost your chance and fate brought you defeat,
but that means nothing you look so sad,
You've been listening to those who say you miss your chance.

There's another train, there always is,
Maybe the next one is yours,
get up and climb aboard another train.

You may feel you're done, but there's no such thing,
although you're standing on your own, your own breath is king,
The beginning is now, don't turn around,
For regrets of bad mistakes will only drain you.

There's another train, there always is,
Maybe the next one is yours,
get up and climb aboard another train.

We crawl in the dark sometimes and think too much,
Then we fill our heads with the craziest things that only break our hearts.
I know you've seen what this earth can do,
When its dragging down another loads of us, us worrisome fools.

There's another train, there always is,
Maybe the next one is yours,
get up and climb aboard another train.

I know its hard, we can feel confused,
We can crown ourselves with it all, 'till we feel we cannot move,
building worlds that don't exist,
Imagination plays the worst tricks.

There's another train, there always is,
Maybe the next one is yours,
get up and climb aboard another train.

There's another train, there always is,
Maybe the next one is yours,
get up and climb aboard another train.

Lyrics and music: ©2000 Pete Morton

New Morris Side! - Cotswold......

Tue, 06 May 2008 21:19:02 GMT

Yes, that's the one with white shirts and baldricks and bells and sticks and hankerchiefs!

Set up by a few people, on new year's day, this year, watching Sheffield City Morris

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/sheffield-city-morris-or-stamp-doing-stick-dance/340117259

(well, alright that's them in drag in their daughters' Sciorra Irish dancing clothes!), but I knew the husband of one of the people who set it up, who I met AGES ago, at the folk day a the V and A museum, which was a blast. And we share the same name!

I'd heard about "William Morris" from a friend, and we learnt two Adderbury dances today. Goddesses, I'm so pleased with myself, at telling myself, I would pick this dancing lark up again with no trouble. And we in the middle, remembered the three times, everyone forgot, to do double swings and clash sticks. I can STILL JUMP and I CAN STILL CAPER DECENTLY, wiht great leaps, when I have enough breath! This is exercise I like, even though it still gets a bit hot and agh for me. Still, there was a self defence class upstairs, with a rather handsome instructor. Who smiled at me, when he came in - and we were waiting to see who else was turning up - probably due to the makeup, I had on. Stilll...................!!!!!

So doing nicely, slowly, so far, Thank Ye!!!!!!!!! :)

Just a pic.....

Tue, 06 May 2008 16:50:54 GMT

or a couple of May Morn on Higgor Tor, by the mad morris, and of Rochester Sweeps (see last post)!

http://boggartsbreakfast.org.uk/ee/index.php/site/pictures/

And dancing outside the old man of kent pub with our new friends, Hook Eagle Morris (yes, them in the background all in black with feathers in top hats and red braces) - damn fine individuals!

http://boggartsbreakfast.org.uk/ee/index.php/site/pictures_med/308/

and yes, if you flick to something else and come back, the photos change. Just a tip.

xxx :)

Rochester Sweeps May Festival

Tue, 06 May 2008 11:25:16 GMT

It was fab in the best of company.

Travelled down with another Boggart about 1.30pm on the friday, and promptly got caught in roadworks between Sheffield and Derby. **** Went over the most amazing bridges by the tollgate near Essex I think. A mad curving bridge, amazing architectural architecture! We were hoping to get there by 4.30, but hah! we got to the school, which was the morris teams camping ground at 8pm. Still it was still light, and the Boggarts team chipped in to help with putting up tents, and with one Boggart running up to the other end of the campsite to catch the cruising car, that was looking for our lot!

It was really very nice to chill out and chat, and even as it got dark, I didn't have to don a coat. It was that warm, but perhaps that was due to no wind. :)

God, we were up early on saturday, I woke up at 6.30am and decided to get up, so I didn't have to queue for showers and we were due in town, twenty minutes walk away at 10.00. We also have to eat and do our boggarts make up, so you see why, I was keen to get moving. And what a campsite, black painted faces and jingling bells everywhere. My god, I'd been to Rochester on the last day, but a very long high street covered with Morris teams dancing is a great sight to be seen.

We danced at so many places, it is hard to remember, but we made lots of new friends and received so many compliments. We are Border reworked, to impressive standards, and we really enjoyed ourselves, as did our audience. We were in the opening ceremony and danced in front of the Mayor of Rochester (yes, we seem to be making a habit of dancing in front of these dignitaries!) and then I think we joined up with Motley Morris, who organise this festival http://www.motley-morris.co.uk/

We also saw the Witchmen(Kettering?) around and Maenads (Kent), http://www.witchmen.com/
http://www.atmg94.dsl.pipex.com/, Grimspound Border (Dartmoor) http://www.grimspound.org.uk/

The only problem with being in a team is hearing the teams you want to see dance like the above, including Hunters Moon (Sussex)http://www.huntersmoonmorris.co.uk/

But I was in the best of company. It was the first time I'd been out properly with a morris side to a festival, and I saw what great uns I was with. some of our members got in on the friday about 11pm and everyone came and roped in to help put up their tents and settle them down!

We also got noted for the blue faces and for dancing "playground" round the war memorial with people still sitting on it. I didn't get to see any of the Rochester Sweeps, which is a shame as Sweeps are considered lucky, but I did get to see some maypole dancing, after all these years, with two morris dancers standing on an enormous maypole, so it didn't fall over!

On the sunday, I walked past Hook Eagle Morris http://www.hookeagle.org.uk/, and gt talking with a couple of them. Was going to walk on, much as I wanted to watch, when a few more of our Boggarts went past and stopped, and I gabbled on, how wonderful this lot were. They were supposed to be dancing in the same spot, on the next turn, but something had happened. So when we got up to our spot, I hassled our squire, until she went to have a word with them. So, new mutual admiration and friends sprung up, as they came along, danced with us, then dragged us to another dance place, and then we all went to a pub (the old man of kent), on the edge of the town, and indulgently danced for each other. Brilliant!!! I inted to see them again, and I really hope we hook up with them (no pun intended, honest guv), and dance again with them at another few festivals. :)

I think the other teams must have thought we were either mad or hardcore, as we were practising the "impossible dance" on the campsite on saturday afternoon and sunday afternoon! Mind though, we did see which teams are stunning: Working on the dances and strengthening the weak bits, is what Boggarts do, but you can also see it in the teams I mentioned above.

Hope we get dance with you all again. :) :) :) Rar!!!!!!!!!!1

Thu, 01 May 2008 16:37:42 GMT

Aarrgghhh!! Don't you hate it when things just di..sapp...ear into that nowhere land. I was looking for one thing, and then realised, I was also missing my purple and black socks. Which means they must be together, only WHERE???. *Grrr*. I hope they are either around the house or they are at the Norwich house, (which wouldn't surprise me in my wild way of packing) or I may have left them in friend's car, who gave me lifts to and back from Norwich.

*swears loudly* this sort of thing really gets on my wick. And much as I want to blame it on one, we don't have a mischievous ghost or poltergeist, unlike sollersuk. *Grumph*

Of course it could be Mr Pan, up to mischief, (being that it's the 1st of May), but I can't see what even he would find amusing, in hiding dirty laundry. *Double Grumph* Pah. :(

Dancing at May Morn :)

Thu, 01 May 2008 06:11:19 GMT

We danced on the rocks and the Derbyshire Hills, and my feet are only just beginning to unfreeze.....

And we raised up Bright Phoebus!

Happy May Day to you all! Good health and happiness always :)

Higgor Tor - - Hathersage, Derbyshire

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:46:28 GMT

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisrudland/2094989559/

this is where and when we'll be dancing at dawn to welcome in the summer on May Morn

:) :) :)

Bespoke Corsets by Cassopia

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:16:16 GMT

I think this is the magazine Vampyre Connexion friends were talking about!

If you get it, look for the ad, near the front, of a red background, with a very classy woman photographed (three times over the page) in a black corset. That's our Squire (for Boggarts' Breakfast Border Morris), Grace! Modelling another Boggart's (Emma Davies) Bespoke Corsets:

http://www.cassiopia.co.uk/burlesque_about.htm

http://www.scarletmagazine.co.uk/ Emma's also in the gallery pics in
the white gown and corset, 4th photo I think and Grace is also in the gallery, the 6th photo).

Green Men Dance with the City Boys

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:03:46 GMT

Forwarding this on from treadwells and I used to join them. Love to have seen it in the city though, and peoples' faces!!!!

Okay all of you in Tower Bridge area and the City of London, here's the route for your Mayday entertainment. Go get some magic from them --
Christina

Fowlers Troop and the Deptford Jack in the Green:
May Day 2008 - Route

10.30 - 11.30: Borough Market – Market Porter, (Free House) Stoney Street, London SE1 9AA Deptford Jack prepares, and leaves at 11.30 sharp.
Stoney St, Clink St, Bankside, Jubilee Walkway

11.40 - 11.50: Globe Theatre

11.55 - 12.35: Founders Arms, (Youngs) Hopton ST. SE1 9JH

12.35 -12.45: Tate Modern
Hopton St, Upper Ground

12.55 - 1.35: Gabriels Wharf (various refreshments) & National Theatre
Upper Ground, Waterloo Road

1.45 - 2.40: Hole in the wall, (Free House) 5 Mepham St, SE1 8SQ
Exton St, Roupell St, Meynott St, Blackfiars Rd, Union St

2.55 - 3.45: Charles Dickens, (Free House) 160 Union St, SE1 0LH
Union St, Pepper St, Doyce St, Clenham St

4.00 - 4.40: Lord Clyde, (Free House) 27 Clenham St, SE1 1ER
Marshalsea Rd, Great Dover Rd, Silvester St

4.45 – 5.45: Royal Oak, (Harveys) 44 Tabard St, SE1 4JU
Borough High St, Stoney St

6.00 – 11.30? Market Porter (again) – Thankyou and Goood night

http://www.deptford-jack.org.uk/

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:36:10 GMT

The justice sees fit: http://news.uk.msn.com/Article.aspx?cp-documentid=8188999

there's no excuse for such mindless behaviour - EVER.

Boggarts Done Good!

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:08:54 GMT

We were a bit short of members today, due to sudden realisation of clashing with booked birthday dance out at Kinnersley Castle, with Mr Fox. Naturally half our members dance with Fox, so things looked a little grim.

We knocked em dead in the town though. I was rather worried, but picked up seeing Boggarts painting up by the town hall. It was a half hour dance out, for Environment Awareness day or event, and we did dance in front of the mayor, who turned out to be a very nice chap, very interested (he mentioned he'd seen the Sheffield Giants - again most of us members, last weekend in town) and certainly no veneer of fakeness.

Rar! indeed for our melodeon player and head musician Darren, who had gone over his bike on the tram lines, a couple of days before, and was in a fair bit of pain. And Rar! to Mark for organising us and calling the figures while dancing or drumming. We made ourselves very popular, and various people have asked about booking us for their group events, including a biker and possibly a rugby club? and a medieval psychedelic folk band called Circulus? for their gig at the boardwalk in Sheffield. So everything went smooth and the Squire (in Kinnersley) is chuffed, because I just got her reply back to my text!

And then me and another Boggart went to the fabulous Blue Moon Cafe and had those conversations that you used to have as students till the wee hours, only better, and yes, I'm still changing, finding myself through the enlightenment of talking intensely and complexly with individuals. I don't do this on purpose, I just fall into these situations.

And for upasaka, you should have been hanging out here! When I came back, the sun was shining and my housemate decided that far from being a bit over the top, that playing the harp on the front steps in the sunshine, was just what she and the world needed. What was extra nice is she got many compliments from strangers and two of our friends walked by. She is, I suspect, a better harpist than she might think she is. She has SOUL! :)

Tonight, I deservedly intend to slump in front of the cathode ray and hopefully Blackadder is on! Nearly bought an audio cd of the fabulous series, but ouch £16, and trying to find audio tapes these days, is not easy, although that may just be waterstones and blackwells. I happen to know there is a nice independent audio books bookshop in central London. I intend to visit next time!

And tomorrow is Boggarts practice; Thursday we dance at the crack of dawn to welcome in the May and the summer on top of Higgor Tor (which may be in Derbyshire?) and then this friday and weekend coming, all being well, Boggarts do Rochester Sweeps Festival. painted_bird, will I see you there? Hope so!!!

Hmmm

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:42:56 GMT

On a slightly more cheerful note, yesterday evening became a very nice surprise.

After texting a friend, I got invited to birthday celebrations at what I found to be our local pub! Sue and Richard came round and got roped into a cup of tea, but as we walked up the hill that is our road, the aforementioned birthday boy called out that he'd found a frog in the road. Hilarious consequences occurred after thereafter self-named Goddess of amphibians and possibly reptiles, picked up the frog, worried that the dear creature might get squished. Heh! Offering my hand on the road, palm up and getting the frog to accept my hand as safe, grabbed it, with legs waggling out. At this point, frog thought Goddess was maybe an eagle (which I still feel bad about), as I usually have frogs squatting in my hand, so I don't doubt it was worried, being held in a grabby kind of hold!). Unfortunately, the Goddess does not speak Frog, and couldn't adjust her hold, without bag and fiddle causing pain. So picture hobbling fast gabble across to the pavement, with wiggly frog's legs and an anxious me. Yes, deposited froglet in leaves and wander on, rather lifted. :)

And in the session, I went higher still. Lots of nice singing and playing, and a most marvellous occurence that doesn't happen very often, which makes it happening very special. That is when I meet with a fellow musician and totally click. To the point where, a friend, thought we were friends who had played together regularly. We were mostly doing morris tunes and stuff like Willy Taylor's Table Top Hornpipe (which is a fabulous minor keyed step dance, written by Dave Roberts), and I let go, and we really played together like we'd practiced together for years. Well, that's what I heard anyway. The world's coming round again in folk, as old friends know him, James Raynard?

I don't care, it rocked big time, and I hope we drag him out again, and we jam again. That was the goblins' gribblings, big time!!!

Norwich II

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:41:55 GMT

It was truly superb. I've not been away with a morris team before, even though I've danced with teams throughout life. We all travelled up in dribs and drabs of cars and a van and ended up at one of the Boggarts' Mum's house in the surburbs of Norwich. An amazingly big house, I have to say. And beds and mattresses for about sixteen morris dancers, all spread out around the rooms of the house. Heh! I thought we'd all be crammed into one room!

Lots of laughing and drinking and wonderful beef chilli, from the Lady of the house, thanks Stella! Just what the Doctor ordered after a gruelling drive, especially on those country roads with choice of roads but no signs! And chocolate and fuit in the rooms. Nice. :)

We did have a bit of a mad mad rush saturday morning. Mixture of Boggarts eating, painting up and running around in the kitchen, with shouts from the Squire, "you got five minutes, to go and get the train in time, or we wil be late (insert growl)!".

We did all make it to the train station and Elmo was painting up as the train came in. discounted tickets being a big group - hooray, we said, more money for beer!!! Walking into town, naturally provoked many reactions but we were really all too excited and bouncing anyway. This was all in celebration for Norris Winstone's 95th Birthday, who co-founded Kemp's Men Morris and was mentor to our Norwich roots Boggart. And Win as he's known is still playing the melodeon and telling the best filthy jokes. We danced at three of the six open venues, the first being in the town, handy for Elmo who had apparently run out without his socks. We certainly got interest, and the second we were warned about the cold, by another morris team. they certainly weren't joking, wind tunnel, through the bridge by the castle, horribly cold. Again got the interest of the young ones hanging around, and Elmo's top hat was tried on and posed by a youth in long trench coat, who looked rather chuffed by his new look!

Can't remember the last place we danced, but then the pub we went to have lunch at wasn't doing food. Typical! So got sandwiches in and thought to hell with it, and ate them in the pub. Mind you, it was a shame as their menu looked good. :(

We danced at several places after that with the other teams and then had a terrific mass dance, outside the cathedral, and then inside the Assembly House, where Win got presented with a recognised appreciation. Lots of mass dancing, and yours truly got chatted up by somebody (and I just saw it unfolding, and my jaw dropped, especially, as I'd just looked at him and thought, "I wish!!!".

Aaah, then I believe, yes! I do remember, we went to a terrific friendly pub which was having an eclectic jumble sale, and I got eight books for two pounds (25p each!), got bought the melancholy tale of oyster boy and a jumper for three pounds. Boggarts rag coats are stylish but not as warm "Brrrr" as Mythago rag coats! We were waiting for the curry house next door but one to open, but morris dancers need no excuse for drinking beer! The curry house was fab, and I'm sure they were appreciative of a big group who needed to eat lots!

We also joined the morris party for a bit later, after getting terribly lost trying to find the scout hut, but it appeared that my admirer was very pleased I'd turned up. And had a wonderful music session on the train, back though have you ever tried to play the fiddle in one of those train seats???!!!

Come sunday morning, and saturday night past, we were still discussing what to do. Raining, but some still wanted to do the seaside not far away. Some including me, went to shop in town, and then meet up with Kemp's Men to dance some more at the Wig and Pen. Unfortunately my admirer had taken a fancy to me and done all the legwork and signals but hadn't told me he had someone. Pity. He really sent those biological thrills going. Swizzled. And up to that point, sunday morning when he'd got his teammate to take photos while I was playing, certainly in the direction of our band, I would be certain too, directly in my direction. Mind thinks "Whaaaat???? Make up your mind!!!!!"

Anyhow, it was a dazzling weekend, and I loved it. And we have Holmfirth, Rochester Sweeps, Warwick and Whitby to come!!! Among other ones. I wonder if we can get booked for somewhere in London for a festival. Folk in the fall at the festival hall maybe in the autumn???

In the news

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:40:28 GMT

We are mentioned!

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/video/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=video&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=video&itemid=NOED19%20Apr%202008%2014%3A16%3A26%3A280

Norwich Part I

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:40:49 GMT

I will update, it was a superb weekend and I really ache now, but I had the best time ever. :) :) :) (see below)

 
Great weekend everyone, I think Norwich will have withdrawal symptoms  
now that we have gone !
Thanks especially to Darren, Val, and Abigail, the hardest working  
musicians in Norwich this weekend, and of course to Nikkis Mum for  
being great.