Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 23 Apr 00 - 08:25 PM

Nope, the Green Man is not the same as the green knight...

Look around on the net, you'll find a little info if ya pull the carpet back far enough...

{~`

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: Kelida
Date: 23 Apr 00 - 10:14 PM

Mbo--30 inches isn't so big. They're really very comfortable. I got paint all over my 36-inch bellbottoms, so they're not really presentable enough for a date, otherwise I would be wearing those. Of course, I might still, since I seriously doubt that I'll have a date. . . Don't knock bellbottoms till you've worn them yourself, m' boy--most comfortable pants ever--I know I swear by them. No shorts for me. . . and no "fertile writhing" either--sounds like something earthworms do in a compost pile. . .

Peace--Keli

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: Mbo
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 12:42 AM

Well Brig, don't know about the bellbottoms, but all my parts are big and baggy now...I've dropped 20 lbs since Feb 1st, and know all my clothes are huge! But I do have this Carolina Panthers shirt with silicon joint compound and #2202C Block Printing ink all over it!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 12:53 AM

EXCUSE ME MBO...ALL YOUR PARTS ARE BIG AND BAGGY!!!??? Why you little braggart you!

Who was it that said "There are no small parts, only small actors".

Rick (with average parts)

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: Mbo
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 12:58 AM

ARRRRG! I'm so embarrassed!!! It was supposed to say "pants"!! And don't worry K--I've never had a date in my life and I'm doin' fine!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 02:12 AM

Eluned, glad I wasn't the only one in a tither. Thanks for putting me right on the acronym - should have remembered that from BB days.

Snuffy, I'm ever so pleased to hear you won't be straining to drain 25 pints, you'ld have to strain your potatoes untold times to reduce fluid levels. But, please let us know how the Pebworthy's survive. It will be a Songworthy event, I'm sure. Here's a feeble attempt at a chorus.

Twenty-five pints apiece?
Aye-lads..(shouted in mock shock)
Twenty-five pints'a piss!
The Pebworthy Morris Men went to the Pub
And drank twenty-five pints apiece
Of Piss? (mock-whisper in reverential tones)

In deference to those of USofA extraction, I am not insinuating, that the worthys of Pebworthy are into what is so fetchingly called "Watersports". In Godzone, Oz, and I think the UK, the term Piss, is a colloquialism for Beer (or booze in general) - as well as many other things, which you will find in one of my posts somewhere in the Mudcat Labyrinth.

Snuffy, it's a pity your haven is Avon, home of THE Bard, not in the bard-lands of Wales. Oh, the things one could do with the Pebworthy's "taking a leek". Please give the Peb-worthys my support on Mayday. I truss they wear it at all times.

[Signed] Jock Strap

AKA - Sam or samwholovestwistingtheenglishlanguageintoformsitshouldntbebentto

NO apologies kat/katlaughing - I absolutely adore some of your sign-offs...;)

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: Wavestar
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 06:35 PM

Beltaine... the one holiday I feel singularly unprepared for at the moment. I'll be working the annual Beltaine Faire and Feast that my local SCA group does on the Saturday before, but for May Day itself, I'll either be working my ass off or spending it in the company of friends in the lovely weather... hopefully the latter. I don't think there will be any fertile writhing for me either, this year... My writhing partener is not only far overseas, but recently ex from me... and whatever other offers I may have had would probably disturb the friend I have visiting... well, maybe not disturb, but dear as he is, I don't think I could deal with him joining in... I guess Clinton Hammond will have to writhe extra to make up for the rest of us! may it give you joy to see each other again, Clinton, although I'm sure that won't be a problem... *sigh**grin* Look forward to a Happy Beltaine, everyone, and Happy May Day... Keli's right, Spring is a beautiful time to be alive.

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: Caitrin
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 06:37 PM

Keli, you're absolutely right about bellbottoms! I wear them virtually all the time. I also swear by my sandals...my friends are almost certain I don't own any other shoes. (Actually, I do, just not many...it's hard to find a 10 1/2 narrow!)

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: Amergin
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 07:16 PM

Eluned, if you want to share my poem with your lusty female friends and your husband, then by all means do so. It always makes me feel so good whenever I find out that my work is appreciated.

Kat and LeeJ, the line for your towels begins here, it's first come first served.

Amergin

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: Mbo
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 07:49 PM

Good gravy Caitrin! I only wear an 8 1/2!!! Bellbottoms and sandals too, eh? Should known you were a groovy chick! **BG**

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 08:19 PM

Bell bottoms And sandals?!?!

Geeze... Frigg'n hippies! LOL!!

"The old rocker wore his hair too long
Wore his trouser cuffs to tight
Unfashionable to the end
Drank his ale too light"
-Too Old To Rock And Roll, Too Young to Die-

LOL!!

Whatever blows yer hair back eh!
{~`

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: Caitrin
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 09:02 PM

That's because you're a dwarf, Mbo. *bg* I'm 5'10"...if I had little feet, I'd be balanced funny. Probably wouldn't be able to walk.

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: Mbo
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 09:13 PM

Well, I'm ONLY an 1 1/2 inches shorter! Definately NOT a dwarf...maybe a troll, but definately NOT a dwarf! Don't have the big beard!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: Eluned
Date: 28 Apr 00 - 08:01 PM

Thanks Amergin! I'm probably going to have to work on Mayday, but if I read that bit of poetry to my sweetie, either early in the AM before we go to bed or late that night after he gets home from work, I think we'll have a FINE may day celebration!,br.
Mbo, Clinton is right that the green man and the green knight are not the same thing, but there has been speculation that they are PART of the same thing, so to speak. Try looking up the Fisher King, also; another aspect of the Green Man, according to some. And, yes, the movie that uses that title IS referring to the same Fisher King that I am....mostly.

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: DougR
Date: 29 Apr 00 - 01:33 PM

Pardon my woeful lack of knowledge, but what is the significance of Morris men, Morris women, Morris?

DougR

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 29 Apr 00 - 01:52 PM

Doug:

Have a look at the  Open Morris website, which has all sorts of information and links to more.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 29 Apr 00 - 02:47 PM

Well, there are two days to go until our annual May Celebration in Conifer, and this year promises to out-do even last year's festival. The feature this year will be a no-holds-barred Battle Royale between our local faction of Pagans(The Rocky Mountain Association of Centaurs), and armed members of the congregation of the Conifer Lutheran Church. The battle will take place on the baseball field at the High School, followed by a pot luck presented by the Communist Workers Party of Evergreen's Ladies Auxiliary. At two o'clock in the afternoon, the Miss Sheel-na-gig Contest promises to keep everyone entertained. At three o'clock, the annual Communist Mayday Parade will head down the main street. This year's theme is "Welcome Home Elian!", and we at Radio Shack have high hopes for our float Re-build the Berlin Wall!, which features heroic local school children assembling a large wall made entirely of daisies, while a rose-petal Stalin smiles down on them. The parade will terminate in front of the City Hall, where a large wicker-structure has been erected from the leftover wood used to build the new Temple of the Sacred Oak, on Bradford Lane. The losers of the Christian/Pagan Battle Royale will be incinerated within this Wicker Man in a ceremony that the local Chamber of Commerce promises "will light up the night!"

Have a happy May Day!

LEJ

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: DougR
Date: 29 Apr 00 - 03:55 PM

Malcolm Douglas: Thank you for enlightening me through that link you provided.

DougR

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: JenEllen
Date: 29 Apr 00 - 11:20 PM

I'm not exactly sure just what the day will bring. Never am, really. I've just made myself a promise to be aware and thankful, and that's the best I can do. Love to you all, no matter how you are celebrating. ~Elle
* I go through about a pair of work boots a year, and a little FYI--guys shoe sizes tend to run numerically about 2 smaller than gals. So, Dwarf and Giant, your grass smashers are about the same size! luv ya, E*

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: GUEST,firehair28
Date: 30 Apr 00 - 10:41 AM

LEJ, I may not know everyone on this thread, but I sure wasn't born yesterday. Had me going for a while, though!

Being a pagan myself, as well as up to my ears in pagans around me, we are celebrating all this weekend; Had maypoles yesterday (in deference to the work week - alas!) Tonight we are having an all-night vigil, to honor Walburga's Night, May Eve. There will be games, storytelling contests (I might borrow your posts to read, LEJ), and of course singing, as we all try desperately to keep each other (and the neighbors, cats, and assorted wildlife) awake.

At dawn we'll go trooping off to the misty bay lands to watch our local Morris troop bring in the May the old-fashioned way. Then to the local eatery for a hearty breakfast, and then those of us that couldn't get the day off will go to work. Wheeee!

And that's how we do it in foggy San Francisco (or thereabouts)

Happy Beltane, all! Fiona

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: Eluned
Date: 30 Apr 00 - 11:44 AM

Hey, Lonesome, you and Garrison Keiller should get together!!! Conifer sounds like a twisted version of Lake Woebegon (Love that name!)!

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: GUEST,Okiemockbird
Date: 01 May 00 - 05:13 PM

Here is Thomas Morton's account of how he (an Anglican) introduced the maypole to New England in 1628 or so, and the reaction he got from the "precise separatists" of Plymouth.

T.

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do youcelebrate?
From: Petr
Date: 01 May 00 - 09:26 PM

Just came from a Beltaine celebration yesterday. Its an annual tradition. Held on the country estate of a fiddle playing archaelogy prof. and attended by many musicians, morris dancers, and many pagan type characters. etc. It begins with a mini play followed by the Quest in which you walk through the woods and interact with characters from the play (this year was Pandora's box) There is the planting of the maypole (Im sure there is a meaning there) followed by the dance. There is also a fire to jump over. Interspersed with music and good food, and good folks. A great time had by all.

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: running.hare
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 07:09 PM

*re-refreshes the thread 3 yrs on.*


A Friend & I are planing on a bit of a party down the pub Wednessday night, B4 trouping up to the woods to Build a bower, & bedeck outselves. Have gained much inspiration here. alass the chances of a Green man are remote.

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: kendall
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 07:16 PM

Invite Micca, he looks great in green.

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: Hester
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 07:20 PM

Generally, I start on May Eve (which is my birthday).

On rising next morning, I go outside, gather the dew from the lawn, and wash my face with it. Later, I make myself a chaplet of leaves and flowers from my garden to wear in my hair. If I'm feeling particularly spiritual that day, I might cast a circle and do a bit of solitary pagan ritual.

And, I usually post some special May Day lore on-line at my Robin Hood discussion group, The Greenwood.

This year, I'll be watching Morris dancers at dawn in the local park, then going to breakfast with a friend (if we can find a restaurant open that early).

Cheers, Hester

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: Gareth
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 07:26 PM

It 's election day in South Wales, I shall be running the Labour Party Central Committee room (Control) in Caerphilly that day !

Sorry, the National Assembly election is more important that folk customs. Thouh I would like to see a old Irish election day custom introduced " Vote Republican - Vote Frequently "

And BTW if proper pre election day organisation had been applied in Florida, well GWB2 would not have been elected.

Gareth

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: PageOfCups
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 07:51 PM

Well, the one thing I WON'T be doing is paying our local "Earth-Centered Spirituality Circle" $5 for the privilege of jumping over a candle. Same group was charging $10 a ticket for its Solstice ritual. Since I couldn't determine if the Goddess was getting a cut of the gate, I declined to attend.

PoC,
annoyed when pagans go commercial

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 05:10 AM

Going to Hastings Jack in the Green for our Celebrations....Kendall...almost everone at Hastings is Greened....so Micca pretty much blends in!!!

Bright Blessings!!!

Cat

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 01:05 PM

Sort of mucked up these days by the fact that the May day holiday is now on the first Monday rather than May 1st so its work as usual. When it falls on a weekend Geoff and I take a walk up to the highest point around and watch the dawn break weather permitting.

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: Schantieman
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 02:46 PM

Up just before dawn, into Southport town centre to watch/play for the Southport Swords dancing the sun up (usually about 0520). A few songs - including 'Hal an Tow' and Dave Webber's 'May Song' and then into the Scarisbrick Hotel for a bacon buttie, a cup of coffee and a pint. (Their beer festival starts at 6 a.m. on May Day!). More dancing & singing inside.

Decent breakfast and off to work to sleep it all off (first day of term!). Out to a cocktail party in the evening!! (Not usually, I might add)

Steve

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: Peg
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 03:36 PM

well, I might actually make it to Beltane on the Charles this year. A buch of loosely-affiliated fok get together before dawn on the riverbank and as people arrive there is Morris dancing (which is usually good) and then soem singing of songs with lyric sheets passed out (which is usually pretty lame). A portable Maypole is held aloft and then brought to another spot in the Harvard dorm courtyards...my friends usually go for breakfast afterwards and then off to work...I will have Thursday off so I will spend May Eve at a friend's house who lives nearby (otherwise it is impossible for me to get there in time) and may even stay up all night to make sure I make it (since I have been staying up til 4 am lately anyway...

I usually start the day bathing my face in the dew, too!

my coven will be having our usual festival on Saturday the 3rd but I will be in New York City...

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: Micca
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 03:42 PM

I will be remembering My beloved sister,( and fellow Mudcatter) Fin ( Fionnuala Mary Nakamura of Pearl City Hawaii), who died on 29th April last year(which is May eve local time here in England)and all the good things she gave me.

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 03:43 PM

Oh Mr. Schantieman, I can't wait. It's gonna be a long day!

Sal

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: Pushkin
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 06:31 PM

The Orc and I will be going to Hastings where we will be hiding from Morris dancers, drinking far too much beer and watching Cat and Micca having to climb the very tall hill to the castle, whilst we relax and take in the full beauty of watching others suffer:-) Seriously Cat and Micca, we will have a drink waiting for you at the top of the hill (if the Orc doesn't drik it first).

Of course living in London we have the lovely May Day riots to look forward to....

Peace and lurveeeeeeee

Pushkin (the Orc refuses to put his name to these sentiments, other than the beer).

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 07:49 PM

Going to need a beer me thinks Pushkin!!!! Looking forward to it!!!...See you on Saturday...possibley after I've been tattoo'd!!!

Have fun!!

Cat

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 27 Apr 03 - 05:59 PM

I usually start on 30 April by serving drinks at a May Eve folk dance. On the day I go out marching with my union, then go on to listen to a folk session in a village nearby. However, as the May Eve dance tends to go on a bit, items 2 and 3 were usually slept through the last few years. So this year I'm skipping the dance ...

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: LesB
Date: 27 Apr 03 - 07:06 PM

Same as Schantieman, but i'll be doing some dancing. Oh! and miss out the cocktail party.
See you there Steve
Les

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: Snuffy
Date: 28 Apr 03 - 09:04 AM

Dance at dawn in Stratford 5.20 - 7.00, good breakfast at a hotel. Off to work, then dance again in the evening at Offenham maypole celebrations and then at the pub.

WassaiL! V

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Apr 03 - 02:26 AM

Pushkin, there better be more than one beer, Micca isn't the only Catter climbing that hill, and he probably won't be carrying a giant! Those that are, don't have the option of getting on the funicular (or funny colour) railway either!

I know of at least 4 other Catters, 2 with giants, who are going up that hill, and there are bound to be more whose names I don't connect..... best be waiting with a barrel!

LTS

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 29 Apr 03 - 12:59 PM

Don't have to be carrying a Giant. We are all there to have fun and celebrate the coming of Summer!!....Anyhow its Puskin's and Steve's round!!!!

See you Saturday Nikki and Steve!

Love

Khatt and the Hairy One!

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: Peg
Date: 30 Apr 03 - 09:10 AM

Have fun with those giants Cat and Micca! Wish I could make it there! (I WILL come to the UK for Beltane one day)

Be sure to send a nice pic to Witchvox!

love
peg

Subject: RE: Bealtaine/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 30 Apr 03 - 11:53 AM

there have been several threads of this nature on Mudcat, and somehow I never noticed them in past years.

When I was growing up I heard about maypoles and I heard a couple of songs such as "now to the maypole haste away ...". It wasn't part of my own experience - though it sounded very pleasant - and I always associated such customs with May days in England.

As a young adult, I thought of May Day as a workers' holiday. The Christian churches are the only organisations to co-opt pagan festivals! Some years I have gone to the local annual trade union rally. It is not well attended.

It is not May Day that we celebrate now so much as the nearest weekend, as we have a Monday bank holiday. This is THE weekend for festivals. Mudcat gathering in Groningen was never a starter for me for I knew I'd be spoiled for choice nearer home. Jazz festival here in Derry, Girvan folk fest in Ayrshire, Scandinavian fiddle workshop in Yorkshire, Irish traditional music fests with workshops in Counties Donegal and Mayo (and no doubt several other places), Joe Heany commemortative sean-nós weekend in Conamara, etc. These events don't have any specific Bealtaine focus, though they are probably in the general spirit (any fertility rites are held in private, however).

Old people in Derry city have told me of hanging yellow gorse flowers over their doors on May Day to ward off evil spirits; the custom has died out. The Irish language choir and children in some of the schools sing Thugamar Féin an Samhradh Linn. The religious folk in the area of Doon Well in Donegal gather together there. One association is that this is when Mary is supposed to have conceived Jesus.

I don't know of anyone lighting fires, intentionally, on the day. I've heard Bealtaine means the fire of the god Baal ("tine", with two syllables, means "fire")

This year a friend told me she's going to a May-Day well dressing in Scotland, and she reminded me of the significance of the song "Thugamar Féin an Samhradh Linn". And I heard Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin's album "An Dealg Óir", which includes two Irish songs associated with May Day processions, and came across a Beltane Night song based on "Sí Beag Sí Mór". So now I am noticing the Mudcat May Day threads, posting regular songs and information, and thinking of organising a local May Day folklore evening next year. Not on the May holiday weekend of course; there's too much else on!

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: Felipa
Date: 30 Apr 03 - 07:36 PM

While several people have mentioned the connection between May Day and organised labour, I haven't noticed specific mention of anti-globalisation protests tomorrow.
also: http://www.mayweek.ab.ca/
(useful summary of May Day heritage)

This is my favourite time of year. The days are getting longer, the birds singing more. Despite the infernal call of the cuckoo, I really miss Skye at this time of year. I spent two years there before returning to city life. Still, there is enough greenery around me here to appreciate the fresh pale green leaves on trees, the flowering of cherry, blackthorn, horse chestnut, lilac, laburnum, azalea, & the first "rhodys" of the season. (are there any songs about hay fever?)

Somewhere in this thread - or in a similar one - someone in Australia pointed out that
seasons are opposite in the southern hemisphere. Even as a child I sometimes pondered whether people in the south had snow motifs on their Christmas cards, but now I am starting to think more about the topic. We have a lot of Christian celebrations superimposed on older festivals. The older pagan festivals were closely related to seasonal changes, contrasted with Christian commemorations of particular events or saint's days - which are then transported to other regions of the earth on the same date. Thus Christmas isn't celebrated on the southern winter solstice, but in December (or Jan. in some churches). I suppose for the smaller festivals, observation of the fests are more localised and people can all celebrate their own special saints. So I wouldn't expect May Day to be a big event in Argentina (but I could be wrong).

By the way, I was in Ghana Dec. 1989. Ghana is just north of the equator and the daylength doesn''t vary much. They have wet and dry seasons rather than hot and cold or short days and long. I noticed huge banana fronds outside the market stalls. When I asked, I was told these were Christas trees. I wonder are they used for palm Sunday as well.

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: Felipa
Date: 30 Apr 03 - 07:41 PM

also I will wash my face with the May Morning Dew (an aid to eternal youthfulness??)

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: vectis
Date: 30 Apr 03 - 07:47 PM

Eastbourne for the dawn. Upton for the weekend.
Happy Summer everybody :-)

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: Micca
Date: 07 May 03 - 03:11 PM

For anyone curious as to the answer to the question posed in the title see Here

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 07 May 03 - 03:35 PM

We depend on a friend with a house in the country for Beltane festivities: May pole, dancing, bonfire, pot luck, lots of music, a wee dram or several.

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 07 May 03 - 03:36 PM

Grand piccies!!...It was a good weekend and lots of alcohol was consumed and Liz got a war wound from a bottle of wine!!!

Subject: RE: Beltane/May Day-How do you celebrate?
From: JennyO
Date: 08 May 03 - 12:09 PM

Even though we are actually in the wrong hemisphere and should have been celebrating All Hallows Eve, some of us went to watch the Sydney Morris Men dancing at Mrs Macquarie's chair in the Domain at dawn on May 1. It rained heavily for most of the time.

Then we walked round past the Opera House and Circular Quay where all the drab power-suited people were streaming off the ferry to work. What a sight we were - hats adorned with flowers and bells jingling and singing "Yo ho, yo ho, it's off to work we go!". It struck me then how rich my life is, even though I don't have much of material things.

Finally breakfast at the Lord Nelson pub in The Rocks, a sing, another pub, a drink and another sing, and the Morris Men danced again on the footpath outside. And all this before lunch. Life is good!