Photos approx 80K each to
downloadWe arrived at about 10.30, after first putting some entries in the Ashford Honey Show at Bilsington Abbey, conveniently on the same day and more or less in the same direction .... and met up with the rest of the West Hill Side on a sunny morning, despite the clouds above threatening rain.
We had enough Dancers, but the Music was a bit light, as both Ralph and Stuart, our accordion players, weren't around. Nothing daunted, we set sail with Bob the Flute and Dave the Violin and me, Greg the Mandolin. Things were going fine, and on the basis that if you play enough notes, some are bound to be right, we alternated dances with the Oast 'Ouse 'Oppers, and got appreciative applause from the crowd..
Photos approx 80K each to
download
Some coffees arrived, courtesy of Mrs Greg, who also took some photos (above) and obtained garlands of Hops to complement the mood of the occasion.
There were plenty of sides and lots of people watching - and some of the crowd also pushing impolitely through both Dancers and Music on their way to the joys of Tesco's. This caused our valiant minstrels to muddle their P's and Q's and thus their A's and B's, causing the Music get crotchety. But the dancers leapt into the occasion, and took it all in their stride.
Despite the hilarity, the Music were glad when they could have a rest for lunch, the Side having strategically placed themselves by that time on a pitch outside the Chimney Boy.
Certain persons (unnamed - but we have the photos) were observed going into the pub to see if the complementary drinks tickets would function, and returned carrying pints of Foaming Ale accordingly. Having to drive later, I declined all but one, and compensated by feasting on a large pack of Fish 'n' Chips from an emporium conveniently to hand.
Thus fortified, we renewed our dancing endeavours outside the next pub, waving our hankies cheerfully in time to the Music, and determined to ignore the echoes of some noisy drumming from a rowdy Border Morris side further down the street. Again, success and applause from the crowd (thank goodness they've stopped).
After a few dances, we passed through the main square and regrouped just off the High Street, just along from a Morris side in a curiously Turkish style of mode of dress, complete with fez.
But we never saw them in action, as the our bold Dancers and Music performed the last two dances of the day, interrupted only by some odd looking persons going into the a doorway leading into what seemed to be a Chinese betting shop in an ordinary house .... I kid you not ...
So we bade our farewells to all on this successful day, with Music a little wiser, Dancers a little footsore, and the rain having held off all day.
We drove back to Bilsington, where I was pleasantly surprised to find two 2nd Prizes awaiting me at the Honey Show.
Conclusion - Morris and Beekeeping CAN coexist !!!
Greg - 2 Sep 2000