A great weekend all round, with a reasonable sprinkling of Catters considering there was also the Yorkshire gathering.

Many thanks to 'Catters Mrs Lemon and Trevor for organising it, and Col K for stewarding the campsite.

I also met alanww, Noreen, Mr Red, Llanfair, Old Bones (disguised as a morris man), but I'm afraid I didn't come across Watson, perhaps because I was at all three shanty sessions! (Or did we meet unknowingly?)

The morning coffee singarounds at the Poppy House made a good contrast to the shanties, with the added bonus of unscheduled appearances by Bayou Seco (Sat) and Julie Felix (Sun). Mostly quieter, more reflective stuff, certainly no yells and hollers.

And the singing in both rooms of the Six Bells was surely mixed enough for most tastes.

As to why three booked shanty sessions, you'd have to ask Sally or Trevor for their reasons. But if that's what the programme says, you just have to go with it, or find somewhere else.

It was a wonderful first festival, which I hope will continue in future years, but I guess it won't be the Bishop's Castle International Maritime Festival next year!

WassaiL! V