FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: alanww
Date: 08 Jan 03 - 08:07 AM

Don't worry, the weather forecast says it'll be warmer by Friday ...!

In terms of saying hello, I've a grey beard, I'll be wearing a rag coat, a black hat with a feather or two in it, and will be playing an english concertina and singing when I get a chance. Oh and I'll have my "alanww" mudcatter badge on too!

"I fell in love with a Limehouse lass ...!"
Alan

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: My guru always said
Date: 08 Jan 03 - 11:07 AM

Alanww: I wonder if I already know you from previous Straw Bears! From your description I wonder if you don't bear repetion?

Hil

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: Gervase
Date: 08 Jan 03 - 11:15 AM

Wot, no blue toenails, Alan?
Still, in this weather, they wouldn't be the only blue appendages!

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: alanww
Date: 08 Jan 03 - 12:28 PM

See you there, Gervase? Will you be going to a particular session? How will I recognise you, My guru and Rhiannon & Mick ?

"A shake of the foresheet pays for all ...!"
Alan

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: My guru always said
Date: 08 Jan 03 - 04:03 PM

Alan: If you get a beer in the Boat with Derek & Mary, then I'll recognise you, especially late on.

You may remember that I usually sing the song which ends and anyway my Guru says - no! If not, I'll just have to sing it again!

If you're in the B or the Boat we'll make ourselves known to you! Watch the Ice!

AnyCat else going to make themselves obvious to us?

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: GUEST,Rhiannon
Date: 08 Jan 03 - 04:47 PM

Alan, I would hesitate to describe myself!!!! You might know Mick though, he is Mick Pearce - does that ring a bell?


Rhiannon
>^..^<

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: vectis
Date: 08 Jan 03 - 07:40 PM

Happy New Year Folks!!!

Enjoy yourselves you lucky, lucky lot. Zing zummat for I and I'll see you all later on in the year.

Mary

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: Gervase
Date: 09 Jan 03 - 05:42 AM

Don't think I'll be able to make it, sadly. Chiz, curses! Another year...

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: treewind
Date: 09 Jan 03 - 05:47 AM

We're cutting down our visit to the afternoon only now. Probably see the display in the market square and retire to the pub behind it for a music session with the White Rose Morris musicians and others in the afternoon, if we can get in.

Anahata

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: My guru always said
Date: 09 Jan 03 - 07:58 AM

Anahata & Mary: See you in the George then after the finale :-) That pub didn't seem brill over the past few years although I have high hopes this year!

Will try to get a listen at the Falcon session on the Saturday afternoon, that's usually 'lull' time for us!

Does anyone know if there'll be fire dancers this year? Or if Pig Dyke will be doing a pantomime? I tend to miss these events as I've never managed to find a programme, does anyone know where to get one?

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: GUEST,Harmony Angel
Date: 09 Jan 03 - 11:09 AM

I'm going too... don't forget me !!!

SIG

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: Emma B
Date: 09 Jan 03 - 01:16 PM

Going for the first time this year! Have taken all the advice about thermals etc Any other useful hints 'must visit' pubs . . . Warning any mudcatter hanging around in the bar during the Cajun Dance may be dragged onto the floor or might even be requested to dance!! Thanks Christine for the postcard notifying change of venue

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: My guru always said
Date: 09 Jan 03 - 01:45 PM

Hey Little Mo, anyone trying to drag me onto the floor to dance may end up phoning an ambulance! I'll just enjoy watching if we get over to it!

Have just made a bag for my song-book out of a jeans leg & stuck a Mudcat patch on it. Mine's a pint!!!

Hil

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: My guru always said
Date: 10 Jan 03 - 05:19 AM

Hi All, am getting ready to set off, a bit slow due to the bad back but I'm sure I can get around with a little help from my friends. Looking forward to see/hearing you all there!

Alanww: Looks like you were right about the weather but hope your campervan's nice & snug anyway!

LTS: Hope to hear you in a singaround somewhere, good journey & watch out for ice! Will look out for East Saxon Sword & admire footwork!

IanC: Aiming for the Fish & Chip shop at 10.30 tomorrow!

AllCats: Singaroung at the B tonight, unless things have altered drastically since last year. And then at the Boat tomorrow night!

Have a Brill weekend all, hope you're all steady on your pins :-)

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: My guru always said
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 05:27 AM

Straw Bear was survived & throughly enjoyed by me although it was all a bit tricky with a bad back, very difficult to get through the crowds!

Yes, it was colder than a very cold thing this weekend in the Wilds of the Fens. Thankfully the Fenland Mountain Rescue Team did not have to effect any rescues on this occasion :-)

My name is MUD I'm sure as the singaround on the Friday in the B pub did not happen! But our hosts had very kindly moved it to the upstairs room of the George (this session was mentioned earlier in this thread by Phil H, thanks) & provided us with a non-smoking venue which was much appreciated! I just hope that any Catters with their wits about them will have asked the appropriate BarPersons and been directed the the new venue accordingly! My apologies!

I was hobbling around with Rhiannon & Mick Pearce and GUEST, Harmony Angel (who also just happens to be GUEST, My Guru Always Said's Husband) & we came together with friends & new friends throughout the weekend.

Manitas was pointed out to me during the procession, but I did't get a peek at LtS nor yet the famed Bratling which was a disappointment. Didn't catch sight of Mary Humphreys and Anahata, although I may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time which is so easy to do!

Alanww was exactly who I thought & his Campervan was admired from the window of the Boat while he was studying his wheels!

The singaround in the Boat on the Saturday was expertly skippered by Derek & Mary of Banbury (click here for their Canalside Folk Festival 10 - 12th October which I hope they'll update soon)
& I lost count of the number of performers in the circle. They arranged for our bar to be non-smoking which was wonderful (& so necessary too don't you think?).

My non-music or dance high point was getting that extra pair of socks and the best advice I can give to anyone is: Don't drink too much on the Friday!

Did you go?

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: Noreen
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 10:36 AM

Thanks, my guru, I was wondering how it had gone.

Couldn't be there his year (as couldn't Liz) and it's good to hear of familiar places & peeps.

I remember the cold Fenland wind!

Noreen

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: My guru always said
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 11:03 AM

Sorry you couldn't get there this year Noreen, maybe next? It'll be the 25th year next January! BTW, were you there last year singing in the Boat? I recall a Noreen with a lovely voice, was that you?

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: Noreen
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 11:42 AM

I was indeed there singing last year my dear, will I remember you?

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: alanww
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 12:07 PM

'Twas a great event - and bl**dy cold as usual! Quite apart from the usual Straw Bear and dancing activities during the day, there was a great sing in The Boat on the Saturday night, including such notables as Mick Pearce and Lynne Herand. But got lost on Friday night and didn't find the upstairs song session in The George and instead enjoyed a music session at The Bricklayers - before the song session at the Boat which started at midnight, that is!

Great to see several Mudcatters ... hope see you all again next year and places in between no doubt!

" Pray gentle maiden ...!"
Alan

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: My guru always said
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 02:11 PM

Noreen: Thought it may have been you, looking forward to hearing you next year then!

As for me I'm quite unremarkable really so I doubt you'd recall me from that night. Female, 40ish, not slim, curly longish hair, may have sung: After the Goldrush, Anderson's Coast, My Guru Always Said, False Bride or False Knight perhaps.

Didn't know that many songs then, but I was a mere babe-in-arms & I've been growing slowly in folk through this year! See you next Straw Bear or before.

Hilary
May you always have music :-)

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: GUEST,Will
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 08:13 PM

So, as a Straw Bear Newbie, what's the connection with Thaxted, Essex?

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: alanww
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 05:56 AM

Will: Thaxted isn't connected, as far as I know. But you could email the organisers at [e-mail] and check. However, I do know that one or two Thaxted Morris Men attend it and dance for different molly sides, including Dave Brewster, who is the Bagman of the annual Morris Ring Meeting at Thaxted and who played for the Good Easter Molly Dancers at the Straw Bear festival. Did any of the Thaxted MM folkies help establish the revival in 1980?

"Tis my delight on a shining night in the season of the year ...!"
Alan

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: My guru always said
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 05:56 AM

Hmmm, Will - not sure I get a connection, what makes you ask?

I've just scanned the programme & two teams came from Essex: The Molly Gang from Good Easter & East Saxon Sword. Was that it?

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: My guru always said
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 06:00 AM

Ha Alanww, we just cross-posted!

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: IanC
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 06:03 AM

I don't think there's any Thaxted connection at all. Straw bear was revived almost singlehandedly by Brian Kell (ex Stevenage Sword, ex Sallyport etc. etc.) when he moved to Whittlesey from Stevenage.

Thaxted has a big Morris Ring meeting, but Straw Bear isn't a Morris Ring do (in fact, most of the Molly sides belong to Open Morris).

:-)

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 08:25 AM

Funnily enough East Saxon Sword aren't from Essex as currently defined although Newham was orginally part of Essex.

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: My guru always said
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 09:10 AM

Aha - Manitas, then the program is a bit wrong then! Hope you had a brill weekend & managed to keep your feet warm by dancing :-)

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: treewind
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 10:12 AM

We met up about lunchtime with Nick Barber (muso from White Rose Morris and a good friend who I first met at a previous Straw Bear) and various circumstances propelled us to the New Crown, where we sat all afternoon playing tunes. We left in the earlyh evening but according to Nick the session continued till 4am.

Sorry we missed you Hil & co.

Anahata

Subject: RE: FF: Who's going to Straw Bear, UK ??
From: My guru always said
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 11:42 AM

Anahata: well, that explains it, we didn't get as far as the nEw Crown at all this year. Glad you guys had a good session anyway, shame, would have liked to have listened! Ah well, there's always next year & we'll see you around before then methinks :-)