( Border Morris in Youlgreave )

Interesting weekend this last couple of days. Wandered into town to buy the latest Discworld novel (which I have forbidden myself to read until the burrow is tidied. It's never really recovered from Whitby so it is kind of a priority!) and managed to get myself stung in the neck by a wasp! I realised I read to much sci-fi and fantasy when my first though was that someone had fired a dart at me but I'd forgotten just how much the bloody venom stings. It kind of put paid to fiddle practice for the day since the side of my neck swelled up and I spent Saturday and some of Sunday with my head tipped to the side. Fortunately for me if not for my neighbours it didn't affect my clarinet practice. Nor did it affect my Lord of the Rings marathon. Am on a bit of a Tolkien kick at the moment and am re-reading Lord of the Rings, which is my favourite book after Good Omens, which set me off watching the films again (I swear they are like someone filmed my brain!) and I realised that I've never really watched any of the extras so I have started doing that. Thinking about it, I should probably put that on hold until after I've cleaned the burrow as well...

Still a little confused about the new Poozies CD. I put in on my i-pod which, while it's happily imported it, doesn't know what it is and so has labelled all the tracks as 'Unknown Track 1', 'Unknown Track 2', etc which is fair enough. What I can't fathom is why it's labelled it as a Michael Jackson album... 

Oh well, rapper tonight.

( Read more... )


Will definitely be booking for this again next year. Just absolutely brilliant!
 

Oops. Due to me alternating between being ridiculously 'up' at weekends and then off the planet at all other times, have let this slide a little which I shouldn't have cause I've been up to lots of stuff that bears remembering.
Therefore, quick catch up.

( Reenactment )

( Rapper )
( Festivals )
( Edinburgh Fringe Festival )
( Wedding )

( Musical Instruments )

Have also done something about my wish to do Border Morris but that too deserves it's own post.   

Very hot last night so I kind of regretted not checking which T-shirt I put on as I left the burrow. My 'Great Big Sea T-Shirt'  while I love it very much, comes down to my knees and is just a little warm (Not to mention the ribbing I got for it!).
Practice was good last night. Stepping practice sounded really good but it all kind of fell apart when we tried to step in eights in Winlaton again. Still, we did a bit or work on some of the figures and you can sort of see it taking shape now. We had some good run throughs of our usual dance (which is a bit of a relief after the weekend) and there was a bit of discussion about mixing the new tumble further into the dance.

It looks like we might be dancing at some poor unsuspecting soul's party next Monday so that should be interesting and I was faced with a horrible dilemma when I found that Salkirk, which I missed last year (and really regretted) because I was at the Buittle Christmas gig once again clashes. I've said I'll go to Salkirk (cause I do really, really want to go cause, well, it's rapper!) but now I feel slightly guilty about missing the Borderers' event. Ah well. Speaking of The Borderers, I must get my kit together for this weekend. Please let it be slightly cooler than the last weekend up there.

Have been eyeing up stuff in the edinburgh Fringe. Definitely going to go and see the Poozies but I'll have to book over the phone since the online booking appears to have gone a little bit screwy (for me, anyway). Quite fancy seeing the Flanders and Swann thing again and Shakespeare for Breakfast. Should have a good look through tonight.  

( Dundee Tour )
I should probably have spent the rest of Sunday making an attempt to start tidying the burrow (and yes, it really does need tidying!) but Due South called  and I got sod all else done.

The dancing may not have been our best but it was a really good fun weekend (and a very weird mix of rapper and nostalgia for me) and I hope we tour Dundee again.  

Well, off to Dundee on Saturday. Really looking forward to it since I haven't really been to Dundee for ages so hoping to have a bit of a wander round before meeting up with the rest of Mons Meg.

Tonight, I really have to make the effort to tidy the Burrow. I know the sitting room floor is down there somewhere but it's under various layers of festival gear, reenactment gear (various periods) and dancing gear. I also have Buittle again the weekend after this and I would really, really like to find my eating knife. I miss it.

Have not been doing much at all this week since I am currently caught up in a Due South and Battlestar Gallactica phase (albeit on the laptop since I can't find the telly hidden behind all the reenactment gear.)
 
( Why I like 'em )

None of this bodes well for me tidying tonight

( Sunday )
Hugely impressed by the staff and organisation of the weekend. Everyone was friendly and helpful (especially the campsite manager), the campsite was well laid out, the programme was fantatstic and I didn't see a dud act all weekend. Will definitely be booking tickets for next year come hell or high water.

We were back at the Village Inn on Monday night. Winlaton seems to be coming along and we got to see Trina's video's of snark rapper that she took at the weekend. (Apparently this now means that something drastic is going to happen to all of us!). We had a couple of people who wanted to have a go having seen us dancing and we walked them through a couple of locks and a single guard and we didn't have any serious accidents which is always nice. Looking forward to dancing out in Dundee on Saturday.

Off to Vicki's for tea tonight.

What an absolutely fantastic weekend!

( Friday and Saturday )

( Work rant and a single bright spot )

Anyhow, thank the gods for rapper. We ended up dancing in Trina's kitchen this week where Andy channelled my usual ability with electrics and blew out one of the bulbs just by flicking the light switch (and it was the bulb above his glass of beer too). Trina also kept things exciting by putting talc on the floor to make it less sticky which she promptly had to sweep up as it turned the floor into an ice rink and set off my cough. We did some basic run throughs of both dances in and out of position which was fun and then we headed out into the garden so that Andy could have a go at forward tumbling using the wet grass as a crash mat. He hadn't quite managed it when we headed back in but it was damn close, everyone was in one piece and Trina's lawn now has some slightly odd impressions in it.
Ian managed to fix my mobile (by putting my sim card in one of his old phones) for which I am profoundly grateful (since it now means I can find out where rapper practices are again). New phone is a lot more complicated than dead phone (which, sadly, probably means that, since my ability to screw up technology increases with the level of said technology, it will go boom sooner rather than later) but I think I have worked out how to text (Even if I did have to ask everyone else what my mobile number was again!).
Anyhow, plans have now been made for a tour and workshop (not on the same day this time) around the end of July and we have the Dundee tour in a fortnight.

The Big Session starts on Friday. Have worked out my route (unfortunately, none of the train or coach times fit with mine so Roger it is), have checked my tent, have located my ticket, and, thanks to Ian, I have the ability to text Jenn when I get down there. Now if I could just get my washing dry (it's only been out since Friday!).
Very, very excited. John Jones will be doing his Reluctant Rambler thing (must take money for CD), it looks like Alan Prosser will be doing a separate gig bit too and I finally get to hear an Oysterband ceilidh (as opposed to the usual concert). Add to that The Demon Barbers, the Eliza Carthy Band and many, many more and, I don't care what the weather is like (which, according to the forecast, could be a good thing!), it's going to be a fantastic weekend!

We continued to hammer away at Winlaton at practice last night and realised that, having spent all our time dancing in 4's for our Number 1 dance, we now can't manage to dance in 8's for Winlaton. The figures are on the verge of getting there but the stepping is horrendous. This may be in part because we're concentrating on the figures rather than the footwork, it may be in part because we're not used to stepping in 8's full stop, it may even be in part because we're coping with the vagaries of Dot's kitchen floor, but, whatever it is, it now means that I have to up my stepping practice in 8's at home which means that I have to clear the burrow floor sooner rather than later (and possibly find some full stops for that last sentance!).
We're back in The Village Inn next week (probably) and we have Dundee in 2 weeks and the possibility of a side for the first weekend of Whitby Folk Week which would be nice. Add to this the fact that Phil wants to come up and do a workshop with us on Winlaton (which might be a chance to invite Hexham up as well. Just the rapper side, obviously, not the whole of Hexham.) and another possible workshop at Telford College (only without the evening tour) then the rapper fest continues. This is a good thing, you can never have too much rapper.

Not much else on this week. I think I'll leave the clearing until the weekend when I can really get stuck in and just try and catch up with my sleep (which has been getting away from me a bit) in the timebeing. Possibly catch up with my washing as well (cue the downpour. Looking back over some of my posts, I do seem to be developing an unhealthy obsession with getting my washing out.)

I'm half inclined to womble along to the cinema tonight. Don't really fancy anything new at the cinema but I think they're still showing Star Trek... 

( Neidpath Castle and Peebles )

( Leith Tattoo )
 
Another fantastic rapper weekend and am now looking forward to the end of June when we hit Dundee! Course, it's the Big Session first which I may be just a teensy bit excited about too...

Think I will have to forgo Northumberland next week cause the burrow is disappearing under reenactment gear and it would be nice to be able to find the gear I need for festivalling without having to dig through my knife collection.
But none of this matters cause it's back to Dot's tonight for more rapper practice!

Last Monday we ended up practicing in Dot's kitchen on what was a ridiculously hot day. Between various hayfever snuffling and my coughing, it's surprising we actually got much done. Which we did! Tried dancing our main dance (which we shall name at some point, it's only been 2 years after all!) with various people out of position which was fun and then we had a go at Winlaton which seems to be coming along nicely. We probably should have been practicing for the various paid events at the weekend but that never goes well and this was far more fun.

On Thursday, I spent the day (and I mean the whole day) as an election officer. A long, long day which started at 06.30 and finished (in my case, since I was on the van to take the boxes to Meadowbank) at 11.00pm. Normally the day clicks along as you're kept busy with people voting but, for most of the day, it was just dead for my polling station and, as a result, I was bored out of my tiny mind. Still, eventually we closed the doors and I headed off in the DHL van which was exciting since they seem to view the speed bumps as a challenge rather than a deterrent.
Never mind, all done now and the money is paying for Whitby.

Absolutely fantastic weekend even given the heat!

( Adventures in cooking )
Just a fantastic weekend despite the heat and it would be lovely if the summer continued in this vein (albeit with a bit more breeze). Would make camping a much more pleasant experience all round.

Rapper tonight at Dot's since the pub is booked and we'll be practicing for the weekend when we have both the Leith Festival and a wedding to dance at.

I'm having a mad hair day today. It won't lie down in any way shape or form and I look like I've been dragged backwards through a thicket. I tried a hairband to see if it would help and my hair broke it! So I gave up and am spending the day looking like a straggly, dark brown pom-pom. What the hell, it's a look.

Gorgeous, gorgeous weather outside, here's hoping it lasts all weekend. I don't think we'll get the crowds we did at Easter but, if the weather holds, it could be reasonably busy, which would be nice.
Am not exactly packed but I do know where everything is and I just have to nip home after work and put it all in the rucksack before dumping it all in Roger and heading west. Yaaay, Border Reiver weekend!

Had a really nice meal at Monster Mash last night. Never eaten there before but think I'd like to again. I had bangers and mash (made properly with butter and milk. And potato, obviously.) and gravy, a strawberry milkshake and a banana split. Came away feeling like I was 6.
Sat in The Meadows and chatted for a while afterwards and I realised I've never actually just sat in The Meadows. Have always been either walking through it to somewhere else or attending the circus during the fringe. Nice evening all round really.

Linens are washed for Buittle and my kirtle lacing and pins have been duly located (and will no doubt be mislaid again before Friday) Still have to find my knife though. Probably won't happen in time, mind, since I've inadvertently set myself off on a Dresden Files kick again and am re-reading the entire series.

Either tonight or next Thursday, I should really pop into town and buy some smaller shirts to adapt for rapper. The ones I have at the moment are huge and, if I'm caught in a gust of wind, inflate like a puffer fish (Only slighlty less spiky). Anyhow, probably won't be tonight since tonight I am planning to sleep (or read. Either way I'm heading to bed) so must remember to do this next Thursday.

I've developed what appears to be a bit of a cold. I think the cough is probably a legacy of the woodsmoke breathed in at the weekend (don't know what the wood was they gave us to burn but it did have an unusually acrid smoke) and the blocked nose, sore throat and sneezing just developed from there. Don't feel awful, just a bit run down so I think I might leave dancing alone on Thursday and have an evening of sleep (which I tried to do last night but failed to do because I found a puzzle book. Curse the atrraction of puzzle books, you can never do just one!). This means that the burrow still looks like someone emptied a C15th hovel over it and that I may have to dowithout my knife for Buittle. (May have a go at hunting for it when I get back in tonight, will see how late it is)

Going to Monster Mash with a dancing friend tonight. Never been before but I'm told they do banana splits (to which I happen to be just a bit partial). It's just a bit of a nuisance that I can't really taste anything (and that everyone will probably think I've got swine flu! Must not go 'Oink' after sneezing, must not go 'oink' after sneezing...). May go on to the cinema afterwards but not sure yet.

Anyhow, staying in on Thursday will give me a chance to pack in a leisurely fashion for Buittle and to ensure I know where my car keys are. Then, after Buittle, it's 2 weeks of rapper and then it's The Big Session! Getting just a bit excited.

Rapper was fun last night. My particular point of obsession seems to have drifted away from Flying Pixies and settled itself firmly on the end of the dance. I can see me dreaming about that in the next couple of weeks.
Kev took us over some of the points that he'd noticed from the videos of Holmfirth and then we tried Winlaton again. It's going to take a lot of work but we've got the basic shape of the dance down. Dot's now tumbling like a pro and it's nice to have John along as musician.
There was a minor panic when we suddenly realised that we may not have enough people for the second Leith thing, but arms are being twisted and possible ringers being contacted and all may be well. Fingers shall be kept crossed just in case!

Am now very aware of my sunburn which is really quite sore now (and a really defined shape. There goes any chance of looking dignified over the summer in anything other than that kirtle (and that's up for debate!)) and I think cool cloths may be in order tonight (once I've tidied the burrow and found my eating knife!)
Also need to wash my linens for Buittle and make sure that all my eating kit from the last weekend is properly cleaned and oiled so it's fit for use this weekend. This being the case, it would be nice if the weather would remain as it is so I can get stuff out on the line. Should probably wash the sleeping bag as well which is always fun.

( Linlithgow doings )


Got home around 21.00 completely knackered and sore around my shoulders. The burrow (which was starting to look presentable again) now looks like it's been hit by a bomb and I don't know when I'm going to get a chance to tidy it seeing as it's rapper tonight, out for tea with Alex on Wednesday, dancing on Thursday and then off to Buittle on Friday (yay, Border Reivery goodness!). I suppose that leaves Tuesday and I really am going to have to tidy the burrow to stand a chance of finding my eating knife. (Will be miffed if I can't!)

Friday proved to be a little more hellish than I thought it would be.

( A series of calamities )
Anyhow, got everything else in Roger and off I set and it's really weird to go to a reenactment event that I don't have to drive miles and miles for. Still, got to Linlithgow and then managed to drive straight past the palace because I didn't see it. Wasn't even dark at this point. Never mind, finally got Roger down the thin and winding path down to the camp by the loch (avoiding the large clan of suicidal bunnies in the grounds) and got unpacked.
Spent the rest of the evening drinking sloe gin and sitting round the fire before retiring to my tent around which, at around 3 in the morning, a gang of delinquent swans decided to do a war dance. I was not amused and after a few minutes it was a case of 'I can break a man's arm with my wing' be damned, one of them was going to become breakfast but they scarpered before I could get the tent open.
I also think that my little cheap tent has come to the end of it's life as it's starting to give in places. Still it's done well for the past 3 years, especially when you consider that it survived 2 weeks of heavy wind and rain at Kentwell.
Will probably be able to salvage the ground sheet and pegs from it.

Well, busy tonight. Have to call by the post office after work to pick up a parcel (books, please let it be books!) and then quickly nip home to get the bread dough ready and start the cheese and onion whatsits before off into town for the election training. After that, it's back home, put the bread in to bake, load up Roger and off to Linlithgow! Am hoping the weather stays nice since I'm taking the cheap single skinned tent since I have to take it down each day during the reenactment and it's far less fuss. Will be taking a sheepskin to sleep on rather than the air bed for a similar reason. Have all my sewing and my spinning and whatnot so will probably be busy enough for the weekend. The distaff experimentation continues. 

Went along to social dancing last night. Didn't dance over much but it was fun so new dance shoes it is (and fitness regime to be upped!). I suppose the thing about buying new dance shoes is that I will then feel like I have to dance which should bring me back after the summer break.

Apparently Mons Meg are now booked to dance at a wedding which is nice.  (Must remember to keep an eye on the fringe festival site).