Jack in the Green
Well today started out cold and overcast but it get sunnier and then in the afternoon it was very warm. I phoned my son in Cardiff to wish him a happy birthday, 34 today. He was busy filling up a 12' paddling pool in his garden for his nephews.
Later today I watched the Jack in the Green parade up the road, to the merry beating of sticks and drums. I didn't follow them to the common to see his demise, but it was good fun. One of the green clad & painted followers, a tiny woman with flaming red hair, with a folige green crown, called out to me. We're old friends. And this time I looked at the faces underneath the green paint a little harder, and saw many faces I saw at the Morris dancing at May Morn at 4am on Tuesday. They stopped outside the Golden Lion for a short rest and a sup, but they had run out of the green paint they paint the noses of passers by with. A pity as I was looking forward to getting mine done. Tis lucky you see! lol But one of the stick beaters gave me a blessing for the summer, which must be as good.
Then I had a phone call saying that the pub we hold our pagan meeting in has been sold and is now closed. We knew they were trying to sell it and we asked them straight if they were, and they accussed us of spreading rumours, then guarenteed they would tell us if this should be true. They claim that this happened so quick that they couldn't tell us, funny that they had already arranged their leaving party for tonight! Mmm not impressed. It's no great loss, we can grow and change to fit the new circumstances. We can meet in beer gardens during the summer until we find a home for winter. It would be nice if we found a pub that could offer us a room or a garden for our meetings. This would be better when we get our speakers in. Still I see we can have loads of picnics at special places and discuss what we are going to do during them. So I see no need for panic.