Sorry folks, the blogging will be much curtailed for a while as there appears to be something wrong with our dial-up, we keep getting cut off. The best I can do is post for a few short moments at work - like this!
A good reason for hubby to sign up to broadband, I think.
Did the Bramley to Shoreham Bike Ride for Cancer Research on Sunday, phew it was hard work. Nice sunny day, but some mud from torrential rain in the night. Nice thankyou t-shirt at the end - and a horse brass! For the bike?
That's all for now!
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Swanage Folk Festival 2006
Bill Badger and I just went for the weekend, getting into Swanage at Saturday lunchtime. The venue, the Sand Pit gardens near Swanage sea front, couldn't have been better (although some the stall holders compained of fighting to save their stalls from the strong winds!). The main stage tent had one side of clear plastic so that you could look at the gorgeous view of sea and cliffs as well as listen to the music. During the daytime the music was free, yet the quality of the artists was still excellent - Morgan and Robson (Ms Craig was poorly, sadly), Heelstone, and the fabulous Mary Jane were some of the bands we saw in the main tent. There were loads of good, unusual stalls, including a homemade liquorice seller, a too-tempting fairtrade handbag and scarf stall, hand made shoes and lots of jewellery and t-shirts. Found a superb shop in town too, 'Ever After' which sells all sorts of things to do with fairies, made me feel about 12 again! Needless to say it was an expensive weekend!
Whilst in town I watched the Procession come past - dozens of Morris sides of all shapes and sizes, and a bemused looking Slovakian dance troupe. Later the Morris teams danced by the seafront. Joyce Gang also played looking out to sea, near the Wishing Well, and were so impressed that they took photos of the crowd - with the sea behind us.
We booked into our rather poky room in the b&b in East Stoke (the nearest we could get at short notice) and drove back to Swanage for the non-free concerts. Quicksilver were first (Grant ex 'That's Life' presenter and her with the operatic voice from Mrs Ackroyd Band) who were quite funny, Grant also a surprisingly good guitar player. Then it was lovely ColvinQuarmby, on fierce form with the new song about America, religion and war, as well as Jerry's powerful song about so-called 'care in the community', performed acoustically for extra impact. Later Martin was allowed back to his drums for some thumping good dance numbers. A really good performance of 'Angels' got a lot of cheers. There were a family from Yorkshire who sat pursed-lipped all the way through, clearly hating the music. Obviously, ColvinQuarmby are like Marmite, you either love them or hate them!
Last up were Tanglefoot, the only Badger-related band Bill likes! Great fun, really powerful songs and lively stage act. Especially liked the song about the captain who lets the silvermine get flooded because bonking his girlfriend is more important than delivering vital fuel...
Sunday evening, hubby and I walked from the centre of town to the Globe in Durlston Park, along the cliffs. It was a clear day and the sun starting to set over the sea produced some beautiful colours. Very romantic. No dolphins though!
Highlight of Sunday was the Dolmen playing in the White Horse, again for free, they started off with Mystic Fairy Folk which is one of my favourites, together with their Bon Jovi style rendition of Prickleye Bush. We had to leave after the break though, in order to get a reasonable night's sleep for work on Monday. Awww! Next time we'll make a holiday of it down in Purbeck, and we won't have to rush away.
Whilst in town I watched the Procession come past - dozens of Morris sides of all shapes and sizes, and a bemused looking Slovakian dance troupe. Later the Morris teams danced by the seafront. Joyce Gang also played looking out to sea, near the Wishing Well, and were so impressed that they took photos of the crowd - with the sea behind us.
We booked into our rather poky room in the b&b in East Stoke (the nearest we could get at short notice) and drove back to Swanage for the non-free concerts. Quicksilver were first (Grant ex 'That's Life' presenter and her with the operatic voice from Mrs Ackroyd Band) who were quite funny, Grant also a surprisingly good guitar player. Then it was lovely ColvinQuarmby, on fierce form with the new song about America, religion and war, as well as Jerry's powerful song about so-called 'care in the community', performed acoustically for extra impact. Later Martin was allowed back to his drums for some thumping good dance numbers. A really good performance of 'Angels' got a lot of cheers. There were a family from Yorkshire who sat pursed-lipped all the way through, clearly hating the music. Obviously, ColvinQuarmby are like Marmite, you either love them or hate them!
Last up were Tanglefoot, the only Badger-related band Bill likes! Great fun, really powerful songs and lively stage act. Especially liked the song about the captain who lets the silvermine get flooded because bonking his girlfriend is more important than delivering vital fuel...
Sunday evening, hubby and I walked from the centre of town to the Globe in Durlston Park, along the cliffs. It was a clear day and the sun starting to set over the sea produced some beautiful colours. Very romantic. No dolphins though!
Highlight of Sunday was the Dolmen playing in the White Horse, again for free, they started off with Mystic Fairy Folk which is one of my favourites, together with their Bon Jovi style rendition of Prickleye Bush. We had to leave after the break though, in order to get a reasonable night's sleep for work on Monday. Awww! Next time we'll make a holiday of it down in Purbeck, and we won't have to rush away.
You're In The Morris Team...
Thought about joining a Morris team since Wickham Folk Festival, and had a look on the web to see which of the local ones I'd prefer and could get to. Other Val is thinking of joining Mayflower Morris, a clog dancing team, with pretty red and black costumes. They do some really nice dances, but dancing with heavy clogs on looks like too much hard work, plus their squire blows a whistle at them!! They also practise on a Monday which is no good for me, as that's choir evening.
Jackstraws are supposedly a Farnborough side, but they practise in Hale for some odd reason, very difficult to get to from Farnborough. Didn't fancy dancing in a smock (or Daisy the cow costume!), although I'm assured smocks are more practical than the pretty dresses. No relations of the New Labour MP although I understand he likes morris dancing!
Fleet were a possibility, although further away, but they dance in bare legs - not with my tarantula-like pins mateys!
Fleur de Lys seemed ideal, as they do a mixture of traditional dances, with sticks, staves and hankies, as well as a few of their own, and I liked their purple dresses. I saw them dancing at the May Day celebrations in Guildford. They practise in Guildford which is handy for the train, although there's a bit of hanging around involved - must find something to do for 2 hours from when my train arrives until practise starts! Things will get better when the train times change in December.
I've been to practise twice now, and met most of the ladies and musicians, and they are all really nice people. The side seems to be more about having fun than being foot-perfect, although some of the ladies are very knowledgeable about the dance tradition. I've kind of been thrown in at the deep end, as the ladies were busy practising for their anniversary trip to Dublin, and had no time to teach me steps or jargon really! Still, good fun, will keep it up and see if I'm any good!
Jackstraws are supposedly a Farnborough side, but they practise in Hale for some odd reason, very difficult to get to from Farnborough. Didn't fancy dancing in a smock (or Daisy the cow costume!), although I'm assured smocks are more practical than the pretty dresses. No relations of the New Labour MP although I understand he likes morris dancing!
Fleet were a possibility, although further away, but they dance in bare legs - not with my tarantula-like pins mateys!
Fleur de Lys seemed ideal, as they do a mixture of traditional dances, with sticks, staves and hankies, as well as a few of their own, and I liked their purple dresses. I saw them dancing at the May Day celebrations in Guildford. They practise in Guildford which is handy for the train, although there's a bit of hanging around involved - must find something to do for 2 hours from when my train arrives until practise starts! Things will get better when the train times change in December.
I've been to practise twice now, and met most of the ladies and musicians, and they are all really nice people. The side seems to be more about having fun than being foot-perfect, although some of the ladies are very knowledgeable about the dance tradition. I've kind of been thrown in at the deep end, as the ladies were busy practising for their anniversary trip to Dublin, and had no time to teach me steps or jargon really! Still, good fun, will keep it up and see if I'm any good!
Monday, September 04, 2006
Llangollen
After Shrewsbury Folk Festival we headed up to Llangollen in North Wales for 3 days of holiday. Checking into our guesthouse room we were delighted to find a beautiful Tudor style four poster bed, complete with curtains! Very romantic. The couple that ran the guesthouse had previously lived in Camberley, only a few miles from us.
It was a bit showery on the first day, so we got our waterproofs out and did the town trail, also venturing to the Last Inn in Upper Hengoed and the Cross Keys at Selattyn, a superb pub where the older men sat gossiping in front of a real fire.
The next day we went hiking, showers not withstanding, up the steep slope to Dinas Bran castle, past Trevor Rocks to the Pontcysyllte Viaduct and across it (somewhat scary drop) to the canal junction. A lady lost her hat in the breeze and it dropped down from the viaduct into a sewage farm below - I don't expect she'll want to retrieve it! There was an entertaining boat-jam at the Cysyllte junction as boat after boat emerged from the viaduct (which is one-way only) and the two branches of canal, all wishing to go different ways. Then it was back along the canal to Llangollen, accompanied by one of the narrowboats which had extricated itself.
The next day was overcast but dry. We hired some (rather ricketty) mountain bikes from the shop in town, with the intention of doing the challenging "Conquering Heroes" trail into the mountains. But we had not gone far before Bill Badger's mountain bike got a puncture, and we had to stop and change the inner tube. I had a look at the tyre and decided it was too flimsy for proper mountain biking, so we just stuck to the towpaths and roads instead. Our first stop was Horseshoe Falls, a man made weir, very pretty and peaceful. Next stop was a tour of Valle Crucis Abbey, with it's interesting gravestones of Welsh nobles, and then a little further on to the ancient Eliseg's Pillar. Then we went on to the Sun Inn in Rhewl where we sampled delicious Spitfire and Hanby Bitter, and I refuelled with a Welsh Lamb Henry. Later I also managed a beautiful scallop salad in Gales Wine Bar - my meal of the holiday, followed by visits to the rather posh Corn Mill pub, the Wynnstay Arms and open mic night at the Sun in Llangollen.
On our final day we visited Plas Newydd, the home of the celebrated lovers known as the Ladies of Llangollen, a wonderfully eccentric place. We also had a look round the little town museum in it's unusual converted library building. On the way back we stopped off at Chirk Castle, which was more of a stately home but nonetheless interesting (and open!), then next stop was one of our favourite pubs, the Bell at Waltham St Lawrence.
Holidays are never long enough!
It was a bit showery on the first day, so we got our waterproofs out and did the town trail, also venturing to the Last Inn in Upper Hengoed and the Cross Keys at Selattyn, a superb pub where the older men sat gossiping in front of a real fire.
The next day we went hiking, showers not withstanding, up the steep slope to Dinas Bran castle, past Trevor Rocks to the Pontcysyllte Viaduct and across it (somewhat scary drop) to the canal junction. A lady lost her hat in the breeze and it dropped down from the viaduct into a sewage farm below - I don't expect she'll want to retrieve it! There was an entertaining boat-jam at the Cysyllte junction as boat after boat emerged from the viaduct (which is one-way only) and the two branches of canal, all wishing to go different ways. Then it was back along the canal to Llangollen, accompanied by one of the narrowboats which had extricated itself.
The next day was overcast but dry. We hired some (rather ricketty) mountain bikes from the shop in town, with the intention of doing the challenging "Conquering Heroes" trail into the mountains. But we had not gone far before Bill Badger's mountain bike got a puncture, and we had to stop and change the inner tube. I had a look at the tyre and decided it was too flimsy for proper mountain biking, so we just stuck to the towpaths and roads instead. Our first stop was Horseshoe Falls, a man made weir, very pretty and peaceful. Next stop was a tour of Valle Crucis Abbey, with it's interesting gravestones of Welsh nobles, and then a little further on to the ancient Eliseg's Pillar. Then we went on to the Sun Inn in Rhewl where we sampled delicious Spitfire and Hanby Bitter, and I refuelled with a Welsh Lamb Henry. Later I also managed a beautiful scallop salad in Gales Wine Bar - my meal of the holiday, followed by visits to the rather posh Corn Mill pub, the Wynnstay Arms and open mic night at the Sun in Llangollen.
On our final day we visited Plas Newydd, the home of the celebrated lovers known as the Ladies of Llangollen, a wonderfully eccentric place. We also had a look round the little town museum in it's unusual converted library building. On the way back we stopped off at Chirk Castle, which was more of a stately home but nonetheless interesting (and open!), then next stop was one of our favourite pubs, the Bell at Waltham St Lawrence.
Holidays are never long enough!
Shrewsbury Folk Festival
Well I enjoyed it, but then I wasn't camping, ha ha. The weekend started off with some heavy showers on Friday, which can't have been nice for the campers, and on top of that it seems the camping site had been oversold, as people with camping tickets were astonished to be turned away as the festival campsite was full. I heard a rumour that the campsite had only been inspected two days before, when the site manager was heard to say, "Oh dear, it looks like it might not be big enough". On top of that, the showers and most of the toilets provided weren't connected to a water supply. The festival itself also seemed somewhat oversubscribed, with people warned not to go to the loo during some of the more popular acts in the main tent, as they might not be allowed in again! We just sat through some dire acts in the afternoon in order to have seats for the better acts in the evening. Towards the end of the weekend the organisers opened up the back of the tent, but then people were too far away from the bands to see and hear them properly.
By contrast our guesthouse was comfortable and friendly, although the ensuite shower was very pokey. There was a 20 minute stroll through the Tudor streets of Shrewsbury to the festival site at the Quarry gardens, carefully averting my eyes from the shops on Wyle Cop.
Apparently there was some local opposition to the folk festival, with residents fearing it could ruin their lovely gardens, but I think we were pretty considerate, picking up litter and putting down bark where trampling created muddy bits. We shall see if the Festival is allowed next year! A few of the local pubs joined in the festivities - one of the highlights for me was watching the Morris dancing in front of the Wheatsheaf whilst eating Kiwi flavoured iceream from Benetti's cafe. There were also various folk sessions in other pubs, some advertised and some spontaneous.
We met up with quite a few friends there - Bev, Jane, Val and Matt (showing off his new top hat), Bill and Fiona, and even Peter Darby and his wife, who were at the festival dancing with Oyster Morris.
Seth Lakeman was very popular, with lots of teenage girls competing for front spots and shouting, "We love you Seth" (us married women had to pretend not to be so enthusiastic). Eliza Carthy and the Ratcatchers also packed the main tent, she started off with a bit of a strange song, about Susie and her trapeze flyer lover, but soon got going with some fabulous folk songs and tunes. Got a really good front spot as well! Oysterband were one of the highlights as well, playing a set of popular dancey songs, but sadly not singing "The Flood" one of my favourites of their new material. Nancy Kerr and James Fagan were my highlights of the second tent, they have bought a new narrowboat (getting rid of poor Violet Sarah?) and will be moored in Bath - we will have to tell Patrick of his new neighbours! The others liked Suntrap, but I don't like their own material, preferring their traditional songs.
Despite a few hiccups a very good festival - I'll be back next year if it's running. I just hope they find a bigger camp site, a larger main tent and maybe a couple more stages!
By contrast our guesthouse was comfortable and friendly, although the ensuite shower was very pokey. There was a 20 minute stroll through the Tudor streets of Shrewsbury to the festival site at the Quarry gardens, carefully averting my eyes from the shops on Wyle Cop.
Apparently there was some local opposition to the folk festival, with residents fearing it could ruin their lovely gardens, but I think we were pretty considerate, picking up litter and putting down bark where trampling created muddy bits. We shall see if the Festival is allowed next year! A few of the local pubs joined in the festivities - one of the highlights for me was watching the Morris dancing in front of the Wheatsheaf whilst eating Kiwi flavoured iceream from Benetti's cafe. There were also various folk sessions in other pubs, some advertised and some spontaneous.
We met up with quite a few friends there - Bev, Jane, Val and Matt (showing off his new top hat), Bill and Fiona, and even Peter Darby and his wife, who were at the festival dancing with Oyster Morris.
Seth Lakeman was very popular, with lots of teenage girls competing for front spots and shouting, "We love you Seth" (us married women had to pretend not to be so enthusiastic). Eliza Carthy and the Ratcatchers also packed the main tent, she started off with a bit of a strange song, about Susie and her trapeze flyer lover, but soon got going with some fabulous folk songs and tunes. Got a really good front spot as well! Oysterband were one of the highlights as well, playing a set of popular dancey songs, but sadly not singing "The Flood" one of my favourites of their new material. Nancy Kerr and James Fagan were my highlights of the second tent, they have bought a new narrowboat (getting rid of poor Violet Sarah?) and will be moored in Bath - we will have to tell Patrick of his new neighbours! The others liked Suntrap, but I don't like their own material, preferring their traditional songs.
Despite a few hiccups a very good festival - I'll be back next year if it's running. I just hope they find a bigger camp site, a larger main tent and maybe a couple more stages!
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