The re-Imagined Village

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Crow Sister
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 02:09 PM

Ah, I seem to have taken fresh inspiration from this thread! Have even started re-reading it (though only so far as SO'P's reminiscences of "liquid Germolene" served with Big Mac's, as yet).

Earlier today me and Mr.Crow went hunting (unsuccessfully, though I've seen it before) for a local pub called "The Cats", which after failed local putterings in our wee banger I eventually hunted down on t'internet here: Scroll down to sixth 'cat' pub listed.

Now I'm not normally a fan of modern revised pub names (like "Frog and Ferrit" or "Slug and Pumpkin", but this one is so genuinely eccentric and charming (an extraordinarily large black cat figure sitting amidst the marigolds and dhalias out front, plus another more quietly perched on the roof) that it earns all due respect.

What's more I'd like to import it into the re-Iv, if no-body minds, and use it to house my late batty and also somewhat wayward, though highly hospitable (as is the Irish way) mother. She was the classic cat lady, always a battered roll-up hanging out the corner of her mouth, a hot cuppa tea dangerously dribbling streams of hot liquid onto the floor as she relentlessly chattered away. And she eternally housed local waifs and strays and general good-fer-nuthings - including psychotic cats that no-one else would dare touch with a barge pole. We all said she'd come into her prime at 80, but she died just over a year ago at fifty four (outliving both her parents by seven years.)

In the re-Iv however, Busy Lizzy (as she was known) will do what she always wanted to do, and will (almost) run The Cats as a mixture of B&B (where waifs and stray's will inevitably still take advantage of her hospitable nature - as she serves them bacon & eggs, and lamb & leek stew everyday for breakfast and tea) and cat rescue centre - where otherwise impossible creatures will be homed and successfully theraped by her own intuitive form of white witchery - however much they piss on the beds, scratch the furniture, shit in the vegetable patch, slaughter the neighbours prize carrier pigeons and generally terrorise the locals - and that's just the humans..

It was of course Busy Lizzy that gave the re-Iv Round Table their idea to hold an Official Illegal Rave, after regaling them with tales of the classic and celebrated Weeley Rock Festival of 1971 (not long before I was born).

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 12:54 PM

...or only with some kind of handicap.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 12:43 PM

Just don't let Thing (and I knew TL's pic. was coming) enter the knife throwing event - that would be a lay down misere!

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Crow Sister
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 12:02 PM

After this years annual Serpent Fayre went so splendidly well (despite the unfortunate demise of Mr. O' Houlihan, who it seems was ravaged to death by some unknown wild animal and had to be identified by his dental records) the village has been quite contentedly slowing down for Winter.

The recent autumnal winds have rendered the orchard tree's barren of their last remaining leaves, while local Mushrooming enthusiasts wander through Lesser Rivingtons woods foraging for Blewits, Chicken of the Woods and Amanita Muscaria (the latter once baked dry, is said my Mrs. Prosser to make a "delightful shamanic tea, ideal for Sabbats").

After excitement from the Serpent Fayre has finally died down, and the weather becomes increasingly chill (so much so that the WI Coven are compelled to don balaclavas and woolen mittens & scarves during their sky-clad rites around the Mother Stone) everyone feels a little wistful at the passing of Summer, so it is with much chatter and excitement that the latest news from the RIV chronicle is received in the village.

In fact - Oh Goody! - I've just read in my own copy (delivered a little late by Rev. Pete's wiry haired and rather wayward son "...but better late than a broken window", think I) that the re-Imagined village Round Table are planning to host a "Winter Warmer" event over the Solstice! Amongst other entertainments (including a tombola, raffle and knife throwing event), Tomlin has been booked to DJ an evening's Psy-Trance (a small add, including a grainy B&W photo of the ever-smiling Landlord's Daughter and "E's, Whizz & Acid can be purchased on the Door!" in bold type underneath).

The Round Table, keen to encourage the village's young people have advertised this years Solstice Winter Warmer as "The re-Imagined village's first official Illegal Rave: be there or be square!"

A couple of delapidated buses belonging to dreadlocked New-Age travelers have already parked up on the old Quire's land, but as the Squire is now a thoroughly friendly and egalitarian Gloucester Old Spot, no-body minds in the slightest.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: theleveller
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 09:41 AM

What I forgot to mention is that I believe the first story to be true as I heard it "first hand" whilst I was employed as John Astin's stand-in. Here's the evidence:

Gomez stand-in

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: theleveller
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 09:28 AM

Some say that the Mrs O'Houlihan's severed arm was buried in the    graveyard to await the rest of its owner at the appointed time but that, impatient for that moment to arrive, on moonlit nights it could be seen pushing out of the ground and walking through the village on search of its owner. Until, that is, a visiting American actor – one John Astin – caught sight of it and, after some negotiaton, persuaded the limb to accompany him back to the USA where it found fame in the role of Thing in The Addams Family.

Others, however, maintain that the owner pickled it in salt, pepper and vervain, dried it out, and now uses it like the infamous Hand of Glory, to maintain her anonymity while she performs nefarious night-time deeds in the houses of various residents of surrounding villages.

The truth of either of these legends will only be disproven when the owner herself is laid to rest – with or without her gruesome appendage.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 08:13 AM

The Adams family started-up shop yesterday - they have American accents, and there seems to be a lot of recycled Whitby-jet jewellery on offer..? (They don't need another hand.)

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Crow Sister
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 12:36 PM

"My hands aren't in the least bit artistic; they're rough and gnarled, rugged as any vagabond or woodsman thus giving testimony to a life of hard rural journeyman labour; soil-stained from the tatties and blistered by the plough; blood-stained from lamb-delivery and pig-slaughter; torn by both tooth and thorn; cut with both axe and bill-hook; leather-hard by the wind and the rain; cracked by the ice and the snow; fire burned at hearth and forge and still smarting from the strap and tawse of childhood...."

Blimey, sounds like a thoroughly terrible affliction to suffer from every day! Poor Mrs. SO'P..

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 12:07 PM

It's actually the council who now own a second-hand shop on Dragon's Lane - to be managed by a Mr. and Mrs. Adams, and called "Yours for a Song."

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Suibhne O'Piobaireachd
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 11:37 AM

My hands aren't in the least bit artistic; they're rough and gnarled, rugged as any vagabond or woodsman thus giving testimony to a life of hard rural journeyman labour; soil-stained from the tatties and blistered by the plough; blood-stained from lamb-delivery and pig-slaughter; torn by both tooth and thorn; cut with both axe and bill-hook; leather-hard by the wind and the rain; cracked by the ice and the snow; fire burned at hearth and forge and still smarting from the strap and tawse of childhood....

Seamus Ennis had beautiful hands though, though maybe not quite as beautiful as his music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF3fW4Nox9U

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Crow Sister
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 10:45 AM

Sorry, not me WaV!
Thanks for such a kindly fantasy tho', alway's happy to help a stranger.

Perhaps SO'P's elegantly musical and artistic hands may be available for ..what exactly was it again?

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 10:17 AM

...you planning to lend them a hand, CS?

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Crow Sister
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 10:09 AM

"the posh jewellers on Doors/Dragon's Lane, The Ring of Fire, has been sold off"

Well I doubt anyone's exactly exactly surprised WaV! Tsk, what on earth were they thinking! A posh jewellers in a village?

Hopefully the second-hand shop will do rather better.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 09:12 AM

The latest, RIV Chronicle, by the way, mentions that the posh jewellers on Doors/Dragon's Lane, The Ring of Fire, has been sold off to some kind of second-hand merchant - due to open before Christmas...

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Crow Sister
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 09:04 AM

Directly after Sunday's dragon pie luncheon (please arrive by 11:30am at the latest as Reverend Pete will be giving a talk on Serpent Cults in Dravidian India) to be held in the caves below Worm Hill, Mrs. Proctors WI Coven have also promised to perform an artistic and 'tasteful' sky-clad theatrical dance piece in the village hall during the afternoon. Traditionally choreographed around the Ballad of the Laily Worm, providing a fresh twist this year will be backing music from newly formed D'n'B Ballading duo Dragonlines. Polly will also be providing body paint and glitter services to the otherwise naked dancing Coven ladies, though the stage paint and sparkles unfortunately seem to accentuate rather than diminish their un-ironed appearance.

Everyone hopes that there will not be a repeat fatality this year, but as Mrs Proctor says with usual her usual indomitable spirit "The show must go on!", before adding stoically "And of course, sacrifices must be made sometimes.." Mrs. O' is quietly praying to the BMV, that her aching arm be relieved of it's conjugal duties, and that the entirety of Mr. O' (rather than merely his abundant seed) might be deemed a fitting offering this year. Especially as liberal minded Lucia has it appears developed a keen interest in her husbands' ex-paramour this Summer, which also (thank Mary, Jesus and Joseph) means that Mrs. O' need not suffer the worry of any resulting unwanted pregnancies from their delightful trysts (which are conducted after hours every Tuesday and Thursday beneath the great yew in the abandoned Catholic Church's Graveyard.)

A self avowed "erotic gourmet", Lucia finds Mrs. O's stump "Quite beautiful!".

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Suibhne O'Piobaireachd
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 08:14 AM

also has a wicked grin and an arm like a Blacksmith.

Mrs O'Houlihan - actually a great-granddaughter of legendary Irish Showman Turlough O'Carrageen - lost her right arm when an attempt at recreating one of her great-grandfather's more daring spectacles when horribly awry. Not the first to have lost a limb (and worse) in O'Carrageen's notorious Tumblesword, Mrs O' displays her stump with pride and has developed aforementioned arm like a Blacksmith through her dedication to tennis, weight-lifting, shot-putting, and keeping the boys in order, although it is said that her formidable arm is the result of the sort of conjugalities she provided for her husband having decided seven boys was more than enough - contraception being out of the question on account of their devout Catholicism. If not the actual result, then it must certainly come in handy assuaging Mr O'Houlihan's somewhat rampant carnal needs (five times a day in winter, eight in summer) the copious results of such exploits Mrs O' keeps in a large stone jar which she ceremonially pours into the hole of The Mother Stone of Rivington Ring on the night of the full moon by way of a sacred offering.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: theleveller
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 07:39 AM

"The Lair of the White Worm which I haven't seen for too long" I have a first edition of the original Bram Stoker novel which I'll donate to the RIV lbrary - it has some wonderful illustrations.

Must rush now; I'll be back later.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Smedley
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 07:21 AM

I have nothing to add, just a pathetic craving to be the 800th post on a thread.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Crow Sister
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 07:12 AM

Dorothy Dodge, the cricket tea-lady has also commented that the paper-boy's Mother one Mrs O'Houlihan "an extremely handsome woman, with a formidable bosom", settled Irish traveler and Mum of seven strapping lads, also has a wicked grin and an arm like a Blacksmith. While the local trendy CofE vicar (who still likes to wear the beads he collected while trecking through India many years ago) has the most heathen, wild and wiry locks..

In other villages there would have been quite a scandal, but as this is the re-Imagined village the locals generally look indulgently upon the Vicar's liason. It is also fortunate that his wife Lucia (who he met in India while also buying beads shorty after she had been expelled from Cheltenham Ladies College) is a believer in polyamoury.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Suibhne O'Piobaireachd
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 06:05 AM

The Lair of The White Worm takes a similar approach to Folk Music as The Wicker Man:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDcWgbUrAzI

Maybe a double bill is in order???

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 05:26 AM

There's been complaints about the new bicycled paper-boy: last week, 3 cottages went without the RIV Chronicle; and 2 front windows were broken, plus one carton of soya; Dorothy Dodge, who has been cricket tea-lady for as long as anyone cares to remember, says he's as fit as the butcher's dog (which often seems to follow him round), but has a wicked smile, an arm like a blacksmith, and hair like Bob Willis.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: mandotim
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 05:21 AM

The Lair of the White Worm; there's a blast from the past! Amanda Donohoe in vamp mode, Peter Capaldi and a very young Hugh Grant, when he was an actor. The opening tracking shot of the lair is actually Thor's Cave in the Manifold Valley, about half a mile from where I live. Perhaps we could hold our pie-eating feast in the cave?

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Suibhne O'Piobaireachd
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 03:36 AM

Dragon Lines is the name of an experimental duo featuring hitherto unaccompanied folk song & ballad singer Polly Vaughan who's recently hooked up with young Drum & Bass turntable-wiz Tomlin to produce some quite stunning & darkly wyrd jams weaving beats, drones, loops and supernatural balladry. I hear they're performing tonight in on of the village pubs but I'm not sure which one as yet.

Interesting to note, for those who are concerned about such matters, that Drum & Bass originated in England. I was, & remain, especially fond of artists such as Photek, and detect his inspiration in the work of Tomlin.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 05:19 PM

Here be Dragon's Lane - we can simply rename Doors Lane, which runs behind the Early Doors Pub, toward Wormhill, where one can either soak in the view of our village green or, of course, dragon spot.

And we need to start re-learning our Early Doors carols, by the way.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Darowyn
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 01:31 PM

I'm not sure about Dragon's Line, but we used to live on Dragon's Lane (near Malvern).
I'm sure the Re-Im Village should have a lane with that name.
When very young, I lived with my family in Dragonby, which might be a good name for an imaginary village too
Cheers
Dave.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Crow Sister
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 01:24 PM

A vegan version? Yes I reckon WaV, especially as the Landlord's Daughter's best mate also happens to work at the village bakers.

Fortunately, it just so happens that the re-Imagined village's Serpent Fayre attracts all kinds of sandal wearing, tankard touting, oddballs and nutcutlets.. And so the village baker supplies these same regular curious incomers with a mighty healthy herby vegan version of Dragon Pie, baked by the Landord's Daughter's mate's own fair hand!

It's a mighty fine raised pie, made with a mix of whole-wheat and white flour, filled with all manner of savoury spiced goodies and topped with a delightful coil of pastry representing the local mythic-serpent. Those less inclined to seasonal Dragon Hunting might prefer spinach instead of the usual local greens, but otherwise the vegan version is just as good as the 'faux croc' (spicy turkey) filling found in the regular meaty version.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Suibhne O'Piobaireachd
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 01:20 PM

Ask Phil T. about his brother's legendary vegan dragon Xmas dinners, WAV - I narrowly missed out on one when we shared a flat at Brancepeth Castle a decade ago, preferring to spend the season with Rapunzel who was living at Worth Abbey at the time, where we feasted on non-vegan Lamb. We're having vegan dragon & pineapple curry tonight though, complete with vintage 78rpm poppadoms and peshwari naans.

The Guest below by the way was none other than our very own Sailor Ron, who rang last night to confirm the truth of most of what he wrote there, which ties in so beautifully with the young men bursting forth from blazing barrels having rolled down Copper's Fell. Uncanny.

Where there is a Worm Hill, invariably it stands on a Dragon Line, and there you will find it topped with a church of St Michael to s/lay it - as with Glastonbury Tor and St. Michael's Mount and all points in between. There are a few exceptions I can think of, like Worm Hill in Fatfield, one time home of the Lambton Worm, and Spindlestone Heugh in Northumberlanmd where the Laidley Worm has its lair. Worms and lairs! Now there's a cracking film - The Lair of the White Worm which I haven't seen for too long. Can someone arrange a showing at the village hall, please??

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 12:35 PM

...is there a vegan version of "Dragon Pie", please, CS?

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Crow Sister
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 11:31 AM

Seeing as this is of course the re-Imagined village, can we please have a re-Imagine Wormhill? Where local amateur dowsers come to the pub that is probably at the bottom of it (wot's it called again) and have some local specially baked 'Dragon Pie' (I'll have to come up with a spicy recipe) and Snake-Bite?
It's a local tradition at the Serpent Fayre where of course there's folk music and stuff along with the Dragon Pies and Snake-Bite.

The pub has a small field where enthusiasts camp out and go Dragon Spotting after a few spliffs or mushrooms (in fact the hill itself is a great magic mushroom hunting location, especially in late Summer).
If there's no joy to be found on the hill however, the Landlords Daughter (had to), supplies this prime Skunk-Weed from seeds she gets by mail-order from the Netherlands that she grows in Dad's loft..

And of course there's always the regular Saturday Kurryoke Night to be relied upon for top entertainment. On Kurryoke Night during Serpent Fayre, it's fancy dress and the curry is extra firey, and only songs or bands that feature snakes are deemed appropriate..
Of course it tends to be a soft rock evening, but everyone still thoroughly enjoys themselves. Especially as everyone declares that the Landlords Daughter's harvest is top notch this year.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Crow Sister
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 10:44 AM

And here's a piccy of a stained glass window in the local church depicted the knight and dragon: Wormingford Worm
Though my guess by looking at the creature, it's probably a modern literal interpretation.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Crow Sister
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 10:31 AM

Interesting stuff Guest..

Further to serpents and dragons, at Wormingford in Essex, we have the story of how a pet crocodile was brought back from the crusades, escaped into the eponymous ford and started well, killing sheep and people and stuff basically. Apparently the villagers were so dismayed by the dragon that they started offering it virgins for tea in an attempt to mollify it's blood-lust (good old cosy rustics - echoes of TWM her methinks!). When the villagers eventually ran out of virgins, they called upon a knight to dispatch the beasty, which he duly did without too much fuss.

Later earth-mysteries have been appended to the original dragon-myth, and the hill is said to be home to a 'dragon line' that Smorg-like coils in slumber around the lonely hill-top. The location, is quite atmospheric, and even mildly forbidding. Though I've not visited it with dowsing rods myself, to see if a dragon really sleeps there.

I rather like to imagine, that if there wasn't a dragon *before* the villages started making their blood sacrifices, then there very probably was one afterwards... The village Church has some interesting stuff on the story anyhoo. Though I don't know if there are any village traditions associated to it.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 07:02 AM

In St. Margaret's chapel, within the parish church upon her feast day, it has been recorded, that a vuper's skin is left upon the feet of the statue of the saint, though this custom seems to have died out in the early 1800s, perhaps due to the then rector the Rev. James Calvin Grant D.D. hatred of anything that smacked at 'popery'. It has however been noted that in recent years colour drawings ofsnakes and/dragons have been left there. Though no one, as far as I know, will admit to revising this custom.
For those who do not know, St Margaret of Antioch [not to be confused with St. Margaret of Scotland] was swallowed by a serpant/dragon/crocodile, and used the pointed ent of her cross to piece its belly from the inside and so escape.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Crow Sister
Date: 16 Nov 09 - 10:12 AM

Aye, they're a hardy lot alright, the re-Imagined village lads and lasses! Far too cold and wet out there for me to dream of any kind of licentiousness or naked erupting youths, however charmingly Mithraic.

Mind you I suppose it beats hanging out at the re-Imagined village bus stop..

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Suibhne O'Piobaireachd
Date: 16 Nov 09 - 07:31 AM

St. Margaret's Day (November 16th) is marked by barrel rolling on Copper's Fell, Lesser Rivington, in which seven of the braver (and fitter) young adolescent men of the village are sealed naked in barrels which are then set on fire before being sent on their way down the steep hillside. An impressive spectacle, especially as the barrels are left to blaze at the bottom until the wood becomes brittle enough for said young men to burst naked from within in a gesture of Mithraic Rebirth. Teams of village girls are on hand with a herbal salve of witch-hazel, hyssop and lavender with which to rub on any burns thus incurred, though this practise in itself has developed a certain licentiousness far removed from its original intention.      

Otherwise, on this day:

* 1384 – Jadwiga is crowned King of Poland, although she is a woman.
* 1821 – American Old West: Missouri trader William Becknell arrives in Santa Fe, New Mexico over a route that became known as the Santa Fe Trail.
* 1938 – LSD is first synthesized by Swiss chemist Dr. Albert Hofmann at the Sandoz Laboratories in Basel, Switzerland.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Sugarfoot Jack
Date: 07 Nov 09 - 05:45 AM

Not sure if this is really a ghost story as I always thought it might be a genius loci, but here goes.

When our collie dog was younger my wife and I would often take turns walking her in Macclesfield Forest, a largely cultivated patch of woodland (mainly non-native softwoods with increasing patches of native broad-leaves) on the edge of the Peak District that occupies the head of a valley and affords quite spectacular views of this corner of England and in the far distance North Wales. The forest is dotted with derelict farms and criss-crossed by stone walls with the occasional leafy spring hidden in damp green corners.

After a walk one day I was heading down the hill back to the car with the dog trotting ahead when a few yards away in the forest a green mist, about the size of a person rose up in front of me. I kid you not, it lingered for a few minutes as I approached then dispersed. It was definitely green, and it was a warm day totally without the mists which cling to the trees some days. I wasn't unnerved, just dismayed. I went to the patch where the mist rose and there was nothing there but grass; I thought it could have been pollen but it was very localised and not a hint remained in the seconds it took me to get there. In truth, it simply didn't look like pollen and I've never seen anything like it in 15 years of walking around the local countryside on a daily basis.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 07 Nov 09 - 04:48 AM

Doug Pantry, a devout entomologist since his days at Eton, who steadfastly refuses to attend Bonfire Nights, sparked a right old row at the Early Doors pub the other night - he wants half our village green cordoned off for nothing but nettles. His only supporter was Nelly Beaton, who fancies nettle soup with...some kind of pie.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: theleveller
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 12:11 PM

Ooooooh! CS, was there some sort of processional 'cursus' there in the past?

We had a strange experience whe we moved into our present house (a station house built un 1847). mrsleveller kept hearing the noise of heavy, laboured breathing (no, it wasn't me!)and we later found out that the husband of the lady we had bought the house from had died of asbestosis. A while later, while we were sat in the living room with some friends, she felt water dripping on her head and her hair got quite wet. There were no water pipes anywhere near or in the floor above and no damp patches on the ceiling. There haven't been any other happenings for quite a few years now so maybe our ghost just 'pissed off'. (No, seriously, it actually happened.)

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Crow Sister
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 11:23 AM

With all this talk of souls and purgatory, and general spookiness of the season, this might be an appropriate point of relating an anecdote of me & my bf testing our tent in the garden one night, just prior to setting off for a hiking holiday.

We were snug abed in our sleeping bags (for purely scientific research purposes of course) when in a drowsy state I "heard" the announcement like a train approaching a platform "Incoming!" then I experienced the most bizarre sensation of a stream of odd ghostly creatures dancing along through the tent, like the flotsam and jetsam of a child's imagination. This continued until another "announcement" was made (I can't recall the words) and the caravan of dancing spirit entities passed upon their journey..

In the morning when we awoke, my fella recounted to me this striking 'dream' he'd had in the night (which he wasn't really sure was a dream at all, or if he was awake) where a bizarre train of entities danced through the tent during the middle of the night...

We were both quite impressed that we'd both totally unexpectedly had a virtually identical experience! >cue twilight zone music<

Well.. it seems that my house being in direct line between a Church and a Beacon point, has (perhaps) by virtue of it's location what was once known as a 'ghost road' running through - where lost spirits would reputedly travel in procession from the graveyard upon certain nights...

Despite having camped in numerous graveyards over the years, neither of us have ever experienced the phenomena either before or since (though to be honest I've not had cause to camp in the garden since either). Can't recall what the date was either unfortunately, or I could check if it associated to a lighting of the beacon, but it remains for me one of those little fortean mysteries, which possibly connects in some fashion to our ancestors pragmatic folk-rites for the dead...

Any more 'ghost stories' for the re-Imagined village fortean archive?

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: theleveller
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 11:06 AM

hmmmmm...think I'll stick to woodies. Once, many years ago, I decided to make a rook pie and a shooting friend of mine gave me a sack full of rooks. You can only eat the breast meat so after hours of dissecting I ended up with about half a pound of meat and a big pile of corpses, which I put in the dustbin. Sometime later, a rumour got back to me that we were part of a satanic cult.....I wondered why we got such strange looks from the dustman.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Suibhne O'Piobaireachd
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 10:12 AM

Thing to remember with magpie is to hang it at least a week or so before marinading it in a half-decent Merlot. One for sorrow, two for joy; good with blackberries and mustard. For best results cook slow. I hear the eyes make an excellent caviare substitute, but you need rather a lot of them to get the effect.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: theleveller
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 09:53 AM

Yes, good night. The boorsron were good but I'm still picking spines out of my teeth (nearly said 'pricks' there). The squirrels and pigeons were eaten in retaliation for them feeding on my apples and cobnuts. Just looking round for a magpie recipe (now that rooks are scarce).

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Suibhne O'Piobaireachd
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 09:43 AM

And on the same page you might read the following (for Ron's benefit who knows a certain problem with links):

the custom prevailing among the Roman Catholics of lighting fires upon the hills on All Saints'night, the Eve of All Souls, scarcely needs explaining, fire being, even among the Pagans, an emblem of immortality, and well calculated to typify the ascent of the soul to heaven.
A correspondent of the same periodical (1788, vol. lviii. p. 602) alludes to a custom observed in some parts of the kingdom among the Papists, of illuminating some of their grounds upon the eve of All Souls, by bearing round them straw, or other fit materials, kindled into a blaze. This ceremony is called a Tinley, said to represent an emblematical lighting of souls out of purgatory.

*

Good night last night. All our hedgehogs were fresh roadkill by the way, not too mashed up. Shame to let the blighters go to waste!

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 08:47 AM

I agree, S. - it's a good e-book; by the way, Guy Fawkes night, and soul-cakes, SJ, are at #0510 on the list of contents.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Suibhne O'Piobaireachd
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 06:33 AM

Thanks for that, CS - that's the rest of my day accounted for!

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Sugarfoot Jack
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 05:39 AM

I missed the bonny! Anyone go Souling?

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Crow Sister
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 04:46 AM

Hutton.. wish I could find it!
However rummaging in the re-Imagined village on-line library van, I did find:

British Popular Customs Present And Past - Customs, practices & rituals from the traditions & folklore of the British Isles.
Arranged According To The Calendar Days Of The Year.
By Rev T. F. Thiselton-dyer, M.A. Pembroke College, Oxon
Published By George Bell & Sons London Circa 1900

Which I thought was rather nice.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Suibhne O'Piobaireachd
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 10:10 AM

Consulting my handy copy of Hutton's Stations of the Sun I see that Samhaine's a bit bogus for the re-Imagined Village. Purgatory Field is real enough though, where the Teanlowe Fires were lit in direct consequence of the reformation which robbed us of that immediate link with the family dead.

Arriving late? Not a bit of it! Tonight we'll be looking forward to MARTINMASS which is Old Hollantide - 11th November - so get carving your neeps!

Hop-tu-naa – This is old Hollantide night:
Trolla-laa,– The moon shines bright.
Hop-tu-naa – Cock of the hens;
Trolla-laa –Supper of heifer;
Hop-tu-naa – Which heifer to kill?
Trolla-laa –The little speckled heifer.
Hop-tu-naa – The fore-quarter,
Trolla-laa – We'll put in the pot for you.
Hop-tu-naa – The little hind quarter,
Trolla-laa – Give to us, give to us.
Hop-tu-naa – I tasted the broth,
Trolla-laa – I scalded my tongue,
Hop-tu-naa – I went to the well,
Trolla-laa,– And drank my fill;
Hop-tu-naa – On my way back
Trolla-laa – I met a witch-cat;
Hop-tu-naa – The cat began to grin,
Trolla-laa – And I began to run.
Hop-tu-naa – Where did you run to?
Trolla-laa,– I ran to Scotland.
Hop-tu-naa – What were they doing there?
Trolla-laa,– Baking bannocks & roasting collops.
Hop-tu-naa – Trolla, laa!

If you are going to give us anything, give us it soon,
Or we'll be away by the light of the moon
Hop-tu-naa!

(Manx, from HERE - I might do this tonight actually, after all, there are strong links between the Isle of Man & Fleetwood; on a clear dear you can even see it from the Mount!)

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Sailor Ron
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 09:48 AM

The refugees from Poulton, driven out by parson & mayor, and newly arrived [late] for samaine in The Village have requested they may march round the bonfire carrying their Teanlowe Fires, and also request that the Village green be renamed Purgatory Field.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Suibhne O'Piobaireachd
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 09:26 AM

and I'll be bringing spatchcocked wood pigeons to grill and a selection of apples from my orchard.

That sounds just perfect! As chairman of this year's Bonfire Committee I've declared it a Guy-free Zone. Even as I speak an effigy of Gordon Brown is taking shape as part Miss Pringle's arts & crafts classes in the village school. There was discussion about burning the odd nationalist or two, but it's New Labour who've sold out the working classes thus allowing them to get as far as they have. Needless to say if they get any further we'll be off to New Zealand for sea, snakes & sunshine!

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: theleveller
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 08:29 AM

Oh, and I'll be bringing spatchcocked wood pigeons to grill and a selection of apples from my orchard.