Diary 2008 - Part 3

Fishstock

At last the sun shone! Summer has arrived at last! A whole day and evening of music, with some fine local acts. Brixham has a bit of a continental feel to it, especially on a warm sunny day, and it felt like we were on holiday.

We found out afterwards that the whole day had been a great success and they had managed to raise £8000 for the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen..... well done, Fishstock.

Roadford Woodfair

Not surprisingly, this was all about wood, and woods, and things made of wood, what to do with wood and how to do it.

It also involved food and beer, however, and they found us a lovely spot to dance by the bar and restaurant, overlooking the rather beautiful Roadford Lake. Despite it having been a hot, sunny morning, the inevitable showers managed to appear from nowhere and drop themselves on us during our dance spot, but with a handy gazebo to shelter under and half-price beer, we didn't mind too much. After all, we're pretty used to the rain now.

Earl of Chatham

An evening spent with our mates, Sunrise Morris, at one of the best music and morris spots around and where there is always a free pint and plate of chips for the dancers. Lots of dancing (with Martyn, who dances with both sides, regularly doing his slick quick-change act), followed by a lively session, featuring the world-famous kazoo orchestra.

Sadly, we heard that the pub is about to change hands....lets hope the new landlords will keep it as friendly towards traditional music and dancing as it always has been.

Polperro

Rob Chisman, Polperro's resident pharmacist and morris dancer, organised this one for us, and it was a cracker! Loads of people turned out to watch us dance on the inner harbour, and when it got too dark to see our sticks we retired to the Blue Peter for a great music evening. Rob put the hat (or rather the bucket) round for us and did us proud.....thanks, Rob.

Wadebridge Folk Festival

We danced in Molesworth Street with Trigg Morris and were also accompanied by Max Fire (www.maxfire.net), one of the best street entertainers you will find around.....fire-juggling, unicycling, coathanger wrestling, the lot, all delivered with clever humour and some brilliantly funny lines. He's a local lad as well.

Plume of Feathers

Is there anything as bleak as Dartmoor Prison in the rain? Fortunately, there is nothing bleak about the Plume of Feathers, but it did rain, and most of it fell on Cat’s Eye, during the last figure of Beetlecrusher to be precise. It was alright for the musicians as they had a nice bit of roof to stand under, but that didn't stop them getting  unseasonably frozen fingers. Now we know why Dartmoor Border wear those big tattercoats.....I'll bet they all wear woolly vests as well.

Who’d Have Thought It

We danced here as guests of Lodestone, and otherwise we probably would never have known the place existed...perhaps that's how the pub got it its name. Milton Combe is a lovely little village tucked away in the depths of the Tamar Valley, and the pub serves good beer and what looked like good food as well. At this time of the year its getting a bit dark in the evenings for dancing outside, but we all managed not to fall over or hit anybody over the head, and I think anybody watching got the general idea of what was going on.  We played a few tunes and sang a few songs afterwards, and a good time was had by all.