The re-Imagined Village

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Jack Blandiver
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 (off with the fairies)
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: Jack Blandiver
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 (off with the fairies)
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 (off with the fairies)
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 (off with the fairies)
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 (off with the fairies)
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: Jack Blandiver
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: Stu
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 (off with the fairies)
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: Jack Blandiver
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: Jack Blandiver
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: Jack Blandiver
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: Stu
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 05:39 AM

I missed the bonny! Anyone go Souling?

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
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: Jack Blandiver
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: Jack Blandiver
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.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: theleveller
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 08:20 AM

"Anyone going to the Re-Imagined Village bonfire tonight?"

Depends who we're burning this year - hopefully not that nice man who tried to rid us of the king and his cronies. How about someone from the BNP or, failing that, a UKIP MEP - actually, I know just the person......

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 08:15 AM

Can't we just toast marshmallows, whilst singing Cob-a-Coaling..?

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 07:56 AM

Anyone going to the Re-Imagined Village bonfire tonight? We're having a hedgehog-roast in the embers once it's died down a bit - cooked up in balls of clay in the traditional manner, with lots of ingans, neeps and taters. Yum yum! Mrs Prosser and her Coven from the WI have promised us a repeat demonstration of their sky-clad circle-dancing which proved so popular last year, though several elderly gentlemen weren't so sure. As Colonel Golightly said afterwards: "Don't know what they were wearing but they needed a damn good iron!"

See you there!

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 11:03 AM

East Rivington Neighbourhood Watch
Newsletter October 2009

Since the shocking revelations of the gory murder of one Miss Lucinda Wan were lately revealed by police, reports of local events on the thread which is home to the re-imagined village of East Rivington, appeared to go suspiciously quiet for several weeks. A bearded homeless man, was however very recently observed loitering around the area, making sound recordings on a small hand-held electronic device. When questioned by a local interfering busybody, he claimed to be merely 'listening to curlews'. He was also observed in the company of a bare footed woman, with dreadfully "dirty toes", and worryingly, amongst a number of allegedly stolen items, she was also seen to be carrying a "sharp knife".

We have also received a number of phone-calls from residents concerned that the Man in the Moon has suddenly disappeared. On clear nights he is usually to be seen taking his regular constitutional stroll across the starry sky. Police are keen to question the bare-footed woman in connection with his disappearance. Local police are also keen to question NASA concerning the sudden disappearance.

Anyone with any further information on any of these matters, or indeed any other suspicious sightings in the re-Imagined village, should please contact "The re-Imagined village" thread directly.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 06:35 AM

And the only sound is the curlew's plaintive cry...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws7jH6wNKN4

Now that's what I call music.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 11:26 AM

Jack, I'm quoting Steve Knightley, from the booklet notes for the Witness CD and it definitely says Chilean Cuatro

Charlotte Olivia Robertson
player of an English mandocello and an American guitar

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 11:06 AM

Lesser Rivington Murder Latest

It was announced earlier this afternoon that the legs and lower torso of a woman named as Miss Lucinda Wan were discovered in the cellar of the house owned by her brother George in the village of Lesser Rivington which has latterly become famous as the setting for the fantasy forum thread The re-Imagine Village. Such was the relationship between the wayward society siblings that the villagers didn't question their claims to be man and wife, however so reclusive and otherwise anti-social in their eccentricity.

Child

Forensic report that Miss Wan was some three months pregnant at the time of her brutal death at the hands of her brother George who was also the father of the child. A bloodied sword was discovered in the kitchen of the 17th century house, and presented to George earlier today whilst under questioning by the police. He is said to have thrice denied the murder of his sister, claiming the blood was the result of having lately despatched his horse, hound and hawk. Only on it being pointed out that the blood was too red, clear and indeed sweet to belong to any of these beasts, George finally confessed to Lucinda's murder.

Dismember

It seems the row overheard by neighbours in the early evening of the 31st of August was the result of Lucinda having told George that as a result of their ill-advised love-making she was presently carrying their child. In the ensuing fracas Mr Wan drew his sword, first decapitating Lucinda in a single blow, before proceeding to dismember her corpse. In his panic he disposed of the head somewhat rashly, the discovery of which lead to the present inquiry. When asked what he was going to do when his father found out about the unfortunate business, Mr Wan replied somewhat enigmatically that it was his intention was to "...sail the seas in a bottomless boat..." and that he wouldn't return until "...the sun and the moon danced on the hillside.". Police are confident that a plea of diminished responsibility on the grounds of insanity is most likely at this stage.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 04:47 AM

Further Remains Discovered

Youngsters playing by the canal his morning made the rather horrific discovery of a human upper torso and arms caught up in the weeping willows on the bank-side opposite the public house known as The Siberian Khatru. Police reports say the remains are most definitely female, clothed as they were in a blue satin ball gown, severed below the rib-cage and with much of the neck remaining.

Single Blow

When asked if this morning's discovery is in any way connected to last night's gruesome assemblage on the village green, a spokesman said that it was very likely on account of the matching jewellery: earrings, necklace (still in situ on the torso) and bracelets. Also, the wounds to both head and body are consistent with a single blow from a heavy sharp blade, and a handbag was found containing a Chanel No 5 perfume bottle and an iPod containing music of a folk pop variety - including several songs from Show of Hands' controversial experimental gothic album Albion Sacrifice. Though the identity of the young woman had not yet officially been disclosed, it was announced earlier that a man is helping the police with their inquiries.

Unholy Row

A neighbour commented: "They're from off - George and Lucinda as we know 'em - they come up most weekends - keep themselves to themselves - always well dressed - flash car - Porsche 911 - very posh - suits and ball gowns - lots of drugs, champagne and you-know-what - at it all hours they are - making a right unholy row - a bit of a screamer she is - or was - assuming it's her. Poor thing. Not a picking on her either. Arrive on Friday night - leave on Sunday night - except on Blank Holidays when they leave on the Monday - not this Monday though - lots of shouting this Monday - yesterday. What time? Oh - around eightish I'd say - time they usually set off - great big bloody row it was - just like you see on Eastenders - which, come to think of it, we were watching at the time so that starts at eight on Mondays. Then it all went silent, which was nice for the final of Only Connect. See anything? No. Rainy night in with the telly - just glad of the peace and quiet."

No Surname

Search parties are out on this bright September morning scouring both the village and surrounding countryside in the hope of discovering the rest of the young lady believed be the aforementioned Lucinda, though no surname has as yet been announced. The youngsters who made the discovery (the grandchildren of a local couple, up from Birmingham for the Summer Holiday) were said to be delighted that their holidays had taken a turn for the better, considering life in the re-imagined village to be well tedious.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Jack Campin
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 07:08 PM

I thought Steve Knightley played a Puerto Rican cuatro? (It looked like mine in a publicity picture I now can't find on the web).   Is there such a thing as a Chilean one?

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 06:54 PM

A rainy night in the village; a weary copper, one PC Bernie Cribbins (no relation) stumbles across something truly macabre in a Sainsbury's shopping bag left hanging from the bent-cane handle of a large old gamp driven into the green. The nearest Sainsbury's is over 40 miles away; he knows this because some of the weekenders do their shopping there en route to their holiday homes, causing comment amongst the villagers regarding the health of the local economy, in particular that of the village shop which could do with the custom - the village pub likewise, which is down on mead sales since the mysterious disappearance of one of its most valued customers.

Anyway, despite the traumas of very recent decapitation, the young lady looks rather tranquil, something of a smile playing about her crimson lips, parted to reveal a set of near perfect teeth. The tiara is not paste; the perfume is Chanel No 5; the make-up stunning; the long lustrous golden hair matted with blood. Also in the bag, an unopened tin of Sainsbury's Dandelion and Burdock, a Show of Hands CD, a box of chalks, and a DVD of the Will Hay film Old Bones of the River (1938). Waiting for the SOCOs to arrive, PC Cribbins chuckles to recall a joke in which a naked young woman is found tied to a railway track by a chap who unfastens her bonds, takes her home, cleans her up, providing a nice hot Radox bath, clean sheets and other such comforts in prelude to a night of passionate love-making. The punchline is not a pleasant one, but it is funny, and fitting, oh dear yes; there will be laughter tonight and no mistake.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Jamming With Ollie Beak (inactive)
Date: 28 Aug 09 - 03:32 PM

Now here's a slice of England for you, courtesy of Show of Hands
the track The Falmouth Packet/Haul away Joe from their CD Witness was played on the following:

A Chilean Cuatro, an American Mandolin and German fiddle

driving along a Cornish sea chanty with Afro-Celt heartbeats
- An English Acoustic Eclectic Orchestra!

Thanks to Steve Knightley for the CD booklet notes.

Steve Knightley is an Englishman from Southampton, Hampshire

Charlotte Olivia Reynolds (Ms)
a very multicultural person

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: theleveller
Date: 27 Aug 09 - 12:03 PM

"extreme disinfected hanky waver "

I read that first as 'extreme disaffected hanky waver'

BTW, the Folk Police inspector is called, appropriately, Maurice 'Hanky' Hancock.

If you happen to have a Public Hygiene Certificate you don't need to get the offically disinfected hankies - you can get a Morris Hanky Waver Waiver.

(I'll get me coat!)

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Jamming With Ollie Beak (inactive)
Date: 27 Aug 09 - 11:08 AM

"As a precaution against swine flu, the government has issued a directive to Morris teams that all hankies must have been laundered and disinfected by an approved source and must be taken from a sterile wrapping immediately before each performance. Anyone found with a bogie on their hanky will be barred from performing for five years."
- theleveller

That's snot funny *LOL*

Charlotte Olivia Robertson (Ms)
extreme disinfected hanky waver

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: theleveller
Date: 27 Aug 09 - 11:06 AM

...further, the Folk Police have formed the Morris Hanky Inspectorate to enforce this.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: theleveller
Date: 27 Aug 09 - 11:02 AM

"extreme hanky waver"


As a precaution against swine flu, the government has issued a directive to Morris teams that all hankies must have been laundered and disinfected by an approved source and must be taken from a sterile wrapping immediately before each performance. Anyone found with a bogie on their hanky will be barred from performing for five years.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Jamming With Ollie Beak (inactive)
Date: 27 Aug 09 - 09:54 AM

Suibhne O'Piobaireachd ,
There's alot of really great morris and rapper videos on Youtube including a rare bit with Chris Leslie, he of Fairport Convention and the Adderbury Morris actually dancing rather than playing the fiddle. Like John Kirkpatrick (Shropshire Bedlams/Martha Roden's Tuppenny Dish)Chris feels he's getting a bit long in the tooth for extreme hanky waving and bell ringing

Charlotte Olivia Robertson (Ms)
extreme hanky waver

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 27 Aug 09 - 08:33 AM

It's a belter for sure, Ed - but for my true feelings see the dreaded Does Folk Exist? thread, where I call it up as Exhibit A in my post of 27 Aug 09 - 04:29 AM Mudcat Time which spawns some interesting chat thereafter.

*

Miss Maud Tamtimmerton celebrates her 100th birthday today with a reception tea in the church hall at 4.30pm. She was one of the dancers featured in the above linked footage filmed when she was a tender 20-years-old. Even now Maud regularly plays her taborers-pipe for the ladies Country Dancing Club, though no longer has the puff for her prized crumhorn, which hangs pride of place above the mantelpiece upon which are displayed her many trophies.

Robbed of her speech by a stroke last year, Maud was unavailable for comment, but gave us a tootle of London Pride on her tiny brass three-hole pipe with a girlish twinkle in her eye.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 27 Aug 09 - 07:48 AM

A lovely, lovely film, Suibhne O'Piobaireachd

Thank you

Ed

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 27 Aug 09 - 07:36 AM

I think maybe it's because it was filmed outside; there is a lag in the synchronisation but I don't think it's dubbed.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Will Fly
Date: 27 Aug 09 - 07:07 AM

What an interesting YouTube clip. The sound was amazingly good for 1929 when, even with new electrical recording techniques, most sound studios were enormously cumbersome affairs. I just wonder if the sound has been dubbed on after.

Anyway, great to see it.

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 27 Aug 09 - 04:31 AM

I say you chaps, spiffing day for a spot of the old Rapper Dancing, what?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuqhEix8lGY

Subject: RE: The re-Imagined Village
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 27 Aug 09 - 04:10 AM

We'll have to arrange a look one day, Ron - could be a nice project for the upcoming festivities actually...

I see WAV has been putting his hands all over things he knows nothing about,

Looks like the result of an auto-spamming device; WAV hasn't even looked at the page to see that the previous two comments are also his - albeit from previous years - the preceding one containing the same poem! So much for meaningful communication...