I have been lucky in my life to have had the opportunity to undertake something of a Morris odyssey. It started when, at the age of 25, I started dancing for Kirtlington. I have to point out that at the time I was a thrash guitarist for a Goth industrial band at the time and had no experience of the folk genre at all. This sea change was due to meeting a girl called Cat Radford and then her father Tim. Having cut my teeth with one of the nicest trad revival sides you'll ever come across I moved away and thus started my, almost accidental, association and involvement with 5 sides, including the magnificently inventive Great Western and latterly Morris Offspring.

I have danced outside a beer drinking dance outside 'the bell' with Adderbury Village (a ring side so 'traditional' you have to have been born or lived in the village to dance with them. I have danced Great Western's Mrs Casey on the Towersey stage in a cyberman costume. I have danced the entirely invented 'Harberton Navy Flag Dance' at Chippenham. And, I have had the pleasure to dance the amazing ideas of Laurel Swift as a part of Morris Offspring.

My odyssey has taken me from dancing to one man and his dog outside a pub in Devon so obscure even the locals didn't know it existed to dancing in front of a 20,000 strong crowd at Cropredy festival to the music of Ashley Hutchings. I like to think I have a wide experience of what constitutes the contemporary Morris scene.

So, which is best?

The answer....all of them. Because for me it is not about making a statement, showing off or ticking the right boxes. For me it is about the people I have had the pleasure of dancing with. All of which I count as my friends and all of which have taught me something in one way or another.

I continue to dance for all the sides mentioned because they are so much fun to be with. And, as long as they want me around I will be happy to dance with them, be it outside another pub time forgot or on the moon.



Paulie



P.S. I realise that I have started not one, but two whole sentences with a conjunction, which (for those traditionalists out there) I apologise.