Sunday that’s my fun day (@ Wickham Festival)
Notes and jottings from Wickham Festival this Sunday.
Firstly, the weather - excellent well done weather:
At one point rain was threatened but fortunately a Jester bounded about the place doing a rain dance. What was he about? I am doing a rain dance, he explained joyously, to keep off the rain. Errrr. Do you think a sun dance may work better - I didn’t enquire but fortunately apart from a light drizzle , sunshine returned to save the day that dissolved eventually into a most glorious sunset of turquoise and golds.
Two tents to mention:
The Elemental Tent - if you haven’t found, it is a little oasis of calm when the throbbing base of the bands get too much. Run by our local community, it dishes out tea/coffee and cakes to all who pass by. Better yet - it was possible to sink into comfy sofa’s,enjoy a hand massage, take part in a simple and short church service reflecting on Harvest Festival. A timely theme as the festival takes place on agricultural land that directly supplies McCarthy’s our local green grocers and farm shop.
The Travelling Talesman held forth in the most beautiful tepee. I was jealous of his tent and fantasised how I could run away with it and not get caught. Fortunately the story teller told a ferocious legend of St Martin who grants his fellow travellers a wish. One can wish for whatever they want and his companion will have the same twice over. His fellow travellers are so envious they are unable to benefit from his generous gift. It does not end well. The children were spellbound. The teller waved his arms. As he spoke they turned into the black raven wings of the messenger of the gods that brought both fortune and just rough justice to his characters.
Shopping
Shopping is great - from hats to paintings- your creative side may run wild amongst the quirky stands selling anything from fairy wings to fine art. Fortunately there was an tent selling books as well as festival CDs. Fantastic. I have two - Hampshire & the Isle of Wight Folk Tales and ditto Ghost Tales by Michael O’Leary . I look forward to reviewing them for you soon… I also bought hat - husband mystified.
Food
Fantastic -there is no dud food at this festival.
The People were magnificent. A woman sat and stitched her embroidery as music swirled around her. I spotted Christmas hats and a tree in the crowd. What’s going on? A family tradition stemming from when their children were small. The children would never lose them in the crowd as the tree and hats were stand out landmarks. Where are your children now? Grown up and emigrated - but still the Christmas Tree shines out as a beacon to them. Love not stopping. Happy New Year to Them and a glorious reverse Narnia where it is always Christmas and never winter.
The Music
Oh yes - some music taking place. Its all over the shop - but always good. This festival has not survived in such great shape by serving up indifferent fare and its music is widely reviewed online. Fire & Dust was outstanding with a moving tribute to Woodie Guthrie My take out song for the evening was Kate Rusby’s Beyond the Lines - a song of hope and courage that travelled miles as it flowed out from the main tent and made its way into calm evening air that is Enchanted England.
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