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July 22, 2008
All shining faces and bright array in the Village.
The much heralded St Swithun's Fair filled the village with folk from as far away as the next village. Such fun was had by all and there weren't never a spot of rain though clouds scuttled by and the bunting danced as if Miss Sourdough from Grimly Hall was behind it with a stick. There was an exciting thatching event and Old Master Bedstraw and his team of lads should be finishing the Legge Cottage later this month. The bearded ladies danced to the tune of Tom Fiddler, the piper's son,outside the Chough and Spittle and then sat down to a kilderkin of fair Gascon wine. Mister Kipling displayed his bric a brac, more brac than bric but even Drab Eileen came away smiling. Barry Manilow items are much prized in this county.The Bishop was uncommonly decent and spent the morning in the stocks while ill mannered urchins threw sodden turfs at him. Fortunately he was positioned way beyond their range in the Rectory field with a mug of ale and the Church Times and therefore passed a pleasant enough morning.As usual the Jousting was the biggest attraction and in spite of the accidental overun into the art display by Sir Lightly Erratic, the crowd clapped and cheered till they were quite hoarse. I saw the old schoolmaster,bravely walking around the jousting green shovelling valuable horse products into a sack before wandering home smiling and nodding, dog patiently at his heels. His midden is the envy of the village.
The next fair won't be until Michaelmas. We must take our pleasures as they come.It's now time for the harvest to begin and we must slaughter our mutton. I haven't forgotten that I have promised to seek out some beeswax for the Knights' Round Table. However it entails a journey through the dark woods and I'm always nervous. You'll remember what befell Noddy all those years ago. However, while the days are still long enough I'll persuade Aunt Betsy to accompany me and we'll get to the beekeeper at World of Heather.
Posted by Martha at July 22, 2008 04:28 PM