Christmas - The countdown begins!

1st December - the day of our Christmas fete. Lots of the stalls were inside the church and it was too dim and far too crowded for photos. I did manage to get a photo of my lovely friend Rachel striking a very silly pose, she makes 100's of wreaths every year and she had a table in the entrance taking orders.

The Bell Inn Brass Band played jolly festive music, Cath (in the Christmas hat) played and then had to do a quick change in the ladies loo to join in the Crooked Steeple slot. It was sooo cold today!

Poor Rob could hardly play, his hands were numb with cold!

Santa was in his grotto, and was going to turn the lights on at 4pm, we didn't stay this year though. We needed to get in to the warmth.

Here is the view down the street to the Market Hall and church, past the local butchers.

Punch & Judy and various stalls were in the Market Hall, but again I didn't take photos. However, here are a couple of photos of our Millennium Embroidery - isn't it fab? Every organisation in the town took part in supplying something for this piece and it hangs in the Market Hall. I did the black and white paper shop in freestyle cross stitch. Soon afterwards the owners retired and it closed, so it is already a little piece of history. I love the Church and the view underneath.

Did I mention it was cold today? So glad we got a fire in, and just as we got home it started to rain.

And finally, I saw the lady who organized the Christmas box wrapping - she told me the final number we managed to ship was 1,325!!!!!!!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.

Upton On Severn

Upton On Severn Folk Festival 2007. What a wonderful day we had. It kicked off with a grand procession through the town, about 40 or so 'sides' all dancing, huge crowds and an amazing atmosphere. Once we had all processed we ended up outside 'The Swan' pub on the banks of theRiver Severn. Here there was dancing all afternoon, each side vieing for a 'spot' with lots of good banter and fun.

I have put a few photos up, some of my favourites, I have just noticed that most of them have blackened faces, whereas most of the sides didn't - that must say something about me!??

These guys were really good fun, one or two of us ended up with black on our faces from having a kiss or two!

This lot were one of the best sides in my opinion, really good, colourful, musical - and funny.

And here we are - Don't we look good? and now you can see the trollen cords where they belong. I'm not going to tell you which one I am!

This is the first of what I hope to be many dance-outs for our side. It is all very english and perhaps just a little bit mad.

A Good Weekend

Well our first local dance out happened on Saturday. It was not very good as one of us (not me thank goodness!) had stage fright and completely blanked out on all the moves. However, inspite of that (or perhaps because of it) we had a lovely applause and a good laugh. I may get some photos later this week and if I feel very brave I shall post one. Our next appearance is next Sunday for a 70th birthday party and then the week after at Upton On Severn for a Morris Dancing Festival.


Sunday dawned damp and I nearly decided not to attend the first Car Boot here. But by 1.30pm it was a bit brighter and so off I went and very pleased I am that I did. I got a beautiful embroidered tablecloth which I will boil up and see what happens. Some paperweights to re-do, a sweet cottage picture (I offered a pound for this one but the lady said no, have it for 50p because the frame is tatty! Didn't need to be told twice!). I also got this little embroidered picture because she looked lonely in a box under a table. A lot of work went into this, does anyone know a 'U' who would appreciate it?


I came home to attend the tommy toes, yes they are growing in buckets this year. Gardeners Delight and Ailsa Craig, 9 in all. I haven't grown Ailsa Craig before so don't know what to expect from them. Finally, thought I would post a piccy of the local free range eggs, they are double yockers at the moment. The farmers wife keeps an honesty box at the farmgate, £1.70 per dozen, utterly yummy.