Mayday Eve, Lewannick

Instead of dancing up the dawn on Mayday, we celebrated Mayday Eve at one of our favourite pubs, the Archer Arms in Lewannick. Despite a finger-freezingly cold evening, the stalwarts of the village came out to watch us as they always do, and our hosts Linda and Peter made us as welcome as ever with food and their excellent beer (which is served straight from the barrel at cellar temperature......perfect!)

The Swan, Dawlish

The perfect morris pub, with good beer and a dancing area that could have been built for the purpose. Sadly an ill-timed shower turned it into a skidpan, and both sides slithered and slipped their way round, leading to some interesting variations in the dances! The mishaps culminated with a glass of beer being accidentally tipped over the dog. Poor Sam doesn't even like beer (he says could we make it cider next time).

It was nonetheless an excellent warm-up for the season,  a fine performance from Becky on her first dance out with us, and a good time was had by all. As usual, Cat and Mark  from Beltane laid on a wonderful spread for us afterwards...thanks, Cat and Mark.

Black Prince

Those who didn't know the processional tune at 11am in Millbrook certainly knew it by 4pm in Cawsand. A lovely sunny May Bank Holiday Monday spent in the company of several morris sides and lots of old friends (and some young ones!). Crowds of people turned out to watch the procession and the dancing, and it really felt like the start of summer.   

At 4pm the flowerboat was launched into the sea to carry away the winter. At that point the sun gave way to a heavy drizzle.....let's hope this was not an omen!

Diary 2008 - Part 1