Lymm Dickensian 2021 Saturday 11th Dec

Lymm Dickensian Christmas Festival is usually a very grand affair and one of the highlights of the village’s busy calendar. Covid-19 saw the 2020 event off, and as with so many public events, it just couldn’t happen.

2021 was a rather different matter. although Covid-19 was still very much present, thanks to vaccines it went ahead – albeit in a rather lower manner.

 

Not many photos I’m afraid, I was musicianing for the Morris, it’s damned near impossible to play music whilst manhandling a camera.

There are loads of photos here, on the festival’s FB page.

Summer Solstice 2020, Alderley Edge 20th June 2020

For the last few years I’ve walked up to Alderley Edge, home of Wizards, Witches, King Arthur & his Knights, The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, footballers etc, to celebrate the Summer Solstice – the longest day of the year.

Summer Solstice 2018 

Summer Solstice 2019

This year the Solstice fell on 20th June.
I usually camp out, but this year camping wasn’t possible, Covid-19 and all that. So….

At 3.40am (that’s the 3.40am in the morning) I drove to Alderley Edge and met up with fellow members of Bollin Morris, and some new(ish) and older friends who know the area, both above and below ground, rather well.

You might want to read about the very fine Derbyshire Caving Club's very significant involvement in Alderley Edge's mines, caves and it's history.

Sunrise was due at 4.41am but a bit of inconveniently placed cloud meant that the sun’s golden orb wasn’t visible until a couple of minutes later.

No matter.

It was incredibly peaceful, the silence only disturbed by a not very loud morning chorus.

 Suzanne celebrating the Solstice Sunrise

When the sun made it’s glorious appearance the moment was celebrated by the blowing of a horn. It was all quite magical, very special – witnessing it all was very much a privilege.

The slight mist became illuminated before slowly burning of in the warming light.

As the sun rose long shadows appeared on the lower ground. colours changed, it was what photographers call the golden hour. Not much use to me, I’m a rubbish photographer – not like Rob who’s photos are always imaginative and catch the eye. And they’re in focus and exposed properly. 

Nowt like mine then.

The Morris danced, songs were sung, and stories were told. 

 Rob's video of Bollin Morris dancing on The Edge

It was a very happy and quite extraordinary occasion – you really had to be there to appreciate it.

Alderley Edge is riddled with tunnels and caves, the side has in invitation to dance underground at some time in the future - now that really WILL be fun!

Many thanks to everyone who turned out, and to Suzanne, Steve and friends for being so welcoming!

Photos of the day, from Me, Rob, Patrick, Vanessa, Suzanna, Hannah, maybe more…I’ve lost count.

Suzanne’s Hearth of Albion blog – WELL worth a gander.

Saturday 17th January, Wassail at Dunham Massey

Wassailing is a bit of an old English tradition dating back to pagan times. In times gone by it was very common in apple-growing areas of England - particularly Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and so on. In fact if you produced cider it's highly likely that you would have been very familiar with the ritual of Wassailing. The general idea is to ensure a good crop of apples (and therefore a decent lot of cider) by scaring off any evil spirits by firing shotguns close to the tree. I don't know about evil spirits but if someone fired a shotgun that close it would scare the living daylights out of me.

The trees are encouraged to grow by hanging slices of toast in the branches. There's nowt like a nice bit of toast and marmalade, all washed down with a nice cuppa. Or cider in this case.

Rick, Les, Richard and meself were delighted to be asked to perform at a Wassail at The Dunham Massey Apple Company's orchards, not very far from Timperley. We dragged the Morris side down as well, they weren't doing anything special and we thought it would do them good to get out once in a while.

Photos courtesy of Rob Phillips, YouTube clip by Bob Sweet.

31st December 2014, New Year’s Eve in Mobberley

Edited: New photographs added*

The Plan was to put a New Year’s Eve Ceilidh together for 2013 but it was left far too late for A Plan to be formulated and implemented. The organising of an event like this doesn’t happen overnight, but in 2014 it DID happen:
A lot of work went into making this happen. It took me a couple of days to recover from playing all evening, but it was a huge success. There’ll be one in 2015 – the hall has already been hired.

 Just part of the band: L>R:  Marian, The Snowman, John McN, me

Karen, one of our drummers

Rob – a very fine caller

A very enthusiastic audience danced the night away until midnight when proceeding were halted for The Big Ben Bongs…..then the dancing started all over again.

Gill, busy calling the dances in fine style

And being as wot it was a Bollin Morris event it would be rude not to include a photograph or two of the side in action at stupid o’clock that evening….or was it the morning?

All the photographs were taken by Rob or his very tolerant wife, Mrs Rob. Rob was a busy lad that night. When he wasn’t calling dances he was either playing his box in the band, taking photographs, or somehow managing to spend some fleeting moments with Mrs Rob. We apologise loads to Mrs Rob for keeping her husband from her for most of the evening – but he did a splendid job!
We had a brill evening.

*the added photographs were taken by Paul Middlehurst