May Day 2005

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 27 Apr 05 - 04:58 PM

Edinburgh beltane festival on the 30th, through to watching the dawn come up on Arthurs Seat on May day.

Bunnahbahin

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: DG&D Dave
Date: 27 Apr 05 - 05:06 PM

Breedon on t' hill with MBSLynne and Packington Morris.

Love Dave.

I Learned to dance when I was a boy ...

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Snuffy
Date: 27 Apr 05 - 07:46 PM

Sue

Alanww and myself will be at Upton for the weekend, but Morris men seldom take the easy option: we shall be rising long before dawn to drive back home to Stratford-upon-Avon to dance at sunrise with the rest of Shakespeare Morris Men.

SMM have a full day's programme planned with other local sides, but we will leave them to return to Upton for lunchtime to continue singing with the Shellback Chorus.

May even get the chance to join you at 6 one evening.

WassaiL! V

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: GUEST,Cats
Date: 28 Apr 05 - 07:49 AM

It's a very long time since I saw May Day up on Breedon Hill.... early 1970's when I lived in Ashby de la Zouch...

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Little Robyn
Date: 29 Apr 05 - 06:03 PM

For all those home-sick Padstonians and curious catters, have a look and listen here:
Blue Ribbon Obby Oss site

Select the Maysong link and start dancing!
Oss Oss!
Robyn

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Cats
Date: 02 May 05 - 01:11 PM

Breezy - no new song, night singing still used the same Night Song, same Day Song, and John Buckingham knows nothing about a 'new song'...so, what new song are you on about? Is it one about the night singing or about May Day? Is it 'Singing in the May'? Please enlighten me.

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: *Laura*
Date: 02 May 05 - 01:55 PM

Home from Padstow - so sad.
I liked the way it bleedin' rained at midnight!!!!! (Probably complaining that it's actually not the 1st of may!)

Enjoy the session in the Ringers tonight if you're still in Padstow!

xLx

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: *Laura*
Date: 02 May 05 - 02:32 PM

I was sitting in the Ring O'Bells on Saturday night and wondering how many people were in the room who I talk to on here.
I know I met a few Catters.
So were you there!?

xLx

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 May 05 - 02:55 PM

Well, CatsPhiddle was true to her word, and was up at Dawn along with Micca, Sponge, Ned Ludd, Limpit and myself, so the Mudcat was well represented at the Ladies Parlour, Hastings. We had a breezy journey with two giants, from our indoor campsite to the Parlour, but it was a novel experience walking downhill to the castle!

LTS

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: GUEST,Little Robyn (through the back door)
Date: 02 May 05 - 03:33 PM

We had 2 phone calls from Padstow, the first to hear the Blue Oss come out of the Institute and to catch up on news, and the second call when we talked to Jim Bassett who lurks here.
They were starting the day as we were thinking of bed!
The Osses should still be out dancing right at this moment, tho' it's now Tuesday breakfast time here!
OSS OSS
Keep 'er ga in'!
Robyn

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: MBSLynne
Date: 02 May 05 - 04:22 PM

Very misty up on Breedon Hill at dawn. We got there at 5.00am and could hardly find anywhere to park! Didn't actually see the sunrise, but it was still as wonderful an atmosphere as it always is.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 02 May 05 - 05:26 PM

An absolutey wonderful weekend at Hastings including much singing in the Stag, finishing with the Parade through the old town today with the Giants and many morris teams. It was lovely to see so many catters there including Lady P, Parker, Manitas, Limpit, LtS, Ned Ludd, Sponge, Bassic and Rock Chick. Being up at dawn was interesting as we had only had an hour and a half sleep...I think it would have been better not to go to sleep. The weather was lovely and we have come home with a red tinge to our skin!!

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 03 May 05 - 03:18 AM

Sunday morning at the Pudding Stone in the village of Standon.

A lone fiddler played a slow tune in the semi darkness. Then the tempo changed and the Morris men appeared. Sprigs of May and peices of cake were distributed to all.

They danced at the stone , the church and both pubs as the darkness was banished.
The beer was flowing at said pubs well before 6AM

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 May 05 - 03:41 AM

A red tinge Cats? Surely you mean GREEN!!!!

LTS

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From:
Date: 03 May 05 - 04:15 AM

No definately red....however green was the colour I went witnessing a motorbike riding head on into a car last night on the way home...

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: GUEST,Lady P On Holiday
Date: 03 May 05 - 10:32 AM

Liz, the green tinge has definitely gorn and (not that I want to put anyone off their tea) I cannot wear a bra today as it cuts straight across the Very Red Bits that make up my cleavage! Tch, it's feast or famine at Hastings, last year it was so cold my cleavage retreated into my dress and refused to come out! Ah well, at least I haven't got a smiley face sun burnt into it this year........

I may have finally sobered up, but I'll soon put that right. I'm sat in an internet cafe whilst Parker's typing notes out for an interview. But he's promised it's only for an hour and then we can go paddling......

TTFN Lady P.

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: JennyO
Date: 03 May 05 - 12:44 PM

I got up at 4.30 on Sunday morning to meet the Morris Men an hour before dawn in the Botanical Gardens in Sydney. To anyone who knows me and my habits, this is above and beyond the call of duty. I am more likely to be discovered going to bed at that time. I must admit I had a bit of help. Earlybird John woke me up.

Anyway, it was worth it. The Sydney Morris men alternated with a women's side, Albion Fair, who were dancing as the sun came up.

I got to be the Maid of the Mill, although I'm far from being a maid!

Hours later, we had walked/danced/sung our way round to Circular Quay and the Rocks, where we finally had breakfast in the Lord Nelson Pub.

Many pubs/beers/songs/dances later, I finally arrived home some time after 3 in the afternoon, having well and truly "done" Mayday.

Jenny

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: running.hare
Date: 03 May 05 - 03:44 PM

With out putting my life at risk I had a fab mayday in Oxford by avoiding town and the idiots on / under magdalin bridge.

Alarm at 4:30
up at 4:45 and in to britches, long empire line dress, and tail coat (ribbons & flowers into button hole)
5:10: 1st Breakfast
5:30 2 of the people I'm driving out to the Vicky Arms arrive.
5:45 planned leaving time
6:am load up the car with instuments as the 2 Ians have finnally surfaced. The singing from the tower acctually sounds far better outside the back door of the 1/2Moon than from near the bridge (where I was last year.)

A loverly sunny day up at the VickyArms followed compleate with a lampost maypole (the water table didn't allow for the pole to be sunk into the grass.) we planed to move on to the Rose & Crown at about 1pm but were having 2mutch fun where we were so stayed till about 3:30 pm & then headed home (in Taxi) in need of a quiet night in - didn't even make it to the Sun eve session at the moon!

Of course having left the car behind the next morning we were forced to make the most pleasant walk up the cherwell & revisit the scene the next lunch time! ohh it's a hard life ;¬) *ggl*

LIZABEE

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: GUEST
Date: 03 May 05 - 07:45 PM

Saw May in at Girvan festival, in the Southfield Hotel where there was a great singers' session.
Apart from "Hail, hail the first of may" we had "I'm a nine stone toyboy" and "Nellie the Elephant" sung to the tune of "The Dark Island"!

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: GUEST,Tattie Bogle
Date: 03 May 05 - 07:46 PM

I'm not a guest, I've just lost my cookie - and my marbles, probably!
TB

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 03 May 05 - 07:48 PM

Cookie reset!

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Hawker
Date: 03 May 05 - 07:50 PM

Danced in the May on Floras Green at The Lost Gardens Of Heligan, Cornwall, on the 1st It was magical, then went to Padstow - obviously on Monday. Saw Breezy busking on the quayside and joined him in a song or two. I feel I had 2 may days this year, so its going to be a cracking summer!!!!!
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 May 05 - 03:47 AM

TAtie - you have GOT to post the words of 'Nine Stone Toyboy'... pleeeeeeeeeeeese?

LTS

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: breezy
Date: 04 May 05 - 05:08 AM

The new song was heard at the Cornish Arms where it was very well received with everyone joining with the chorus.

Dave Webber sang his may song on the Quay on the Sunday with Anni, thanks for that, didnt those youngsters from Nottingham sing heartily and how did they know the song so well and later they strutted their stuff too and very exciting they were.

John Hills from Elsies band joined us for a goodly while and for that -thanks- and thanks for the Railway days too.

Dave Toye , bring it with you next year.

Jez Luton, if you're good enough for Tom Paxton you're good enough to back me too! Now go and research Steve's song Coz jak.

Thanks Moses for your support too.
Your getting the hang of it.

Laura, Graham and Lucy and Kevin, thanks for stopping by and saying hello.

What a voice that banjo player Roy has!!

Sound system by Unicorn sound who do the Cecil Sharp House song links plus others

Please see the Windward , Spotlight and El Greko threads

Can anyone report here on Cyril's funeral please?

Whit week?

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 May 05 - 06:10 AM

Here's a set of pictures from Standon in Hertfordshire, where the street is closed and the whole village is transformed.

Last year had been a wash out, with floods of rain - "We were there, but no one else was" a Morris Man recalled. But this year was spendid.

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Cats
Date: 04 May 05 - 01:04 PM

Breezy - you made it sound as if it was a new night song, not a new song....

Said hi to you and you ignored me.....

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: *Laura*
Date: 04 May 05 - 03:02 PM

Breezy - did you ever find out about Tone in the 70's!?

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 04 May 05 - 07:47 PM

Sorry I don't know all the words of the Nine-stone toyboy: it was someone with a strong North-Eastern accent who sang it (?Geordie or maybe Durham accent). I would be equally happy to get hands on the words!
TB

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: breezy
Date: 05 May 05 - 08:24 AM

oops cats , big SORRY, why was that , you didnt introduce yourself,

was I in mid song? I dont normally stop once I started

Gis a clu if you like.

I'm not a mind reader - yet

Guiness??
Psalter??

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Cats
Date: 05 May 05 - 01:58 PM

No, you weren't singing, just wandering about, as one does. Anyway, Cllr introduced us last year and we found we knew each other anyway....Perhaps I should wear a big rosette with cats on it?? Give you a clue, we're Cornwall Songwriters too!

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: breezy
Date: 05 May 05 - 08:24 PM

u r J H and Iclaim my prize

I cant remember faces in the dark, and at midnight from a year ago, just cos you remember me.

I will be down Whit week , we ougfht to meet up, and you can buy the first round.Just dont 'slop' all around.

its late , the Anchor Byfleet was well attended 2nite 30+ for John McCormick

nite nite