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Trigg
Blog 27 May 2010 |
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Trigg Blog 27 May 2010
Tonight, Trigg were due to
meet up with some very special visitors, but it came as a surprise to
me because I hadn’t been paying attention . . again!
But first we had to get to
our spot at Rescorla.
I knew time was tight coming
all the way from Plymouth but there was a good chance we’d make
it by 8pm to this little village just outside St Austell in Cornwall.
It turns out that we were very lucky because it was actually on
Tom-Tom on my iPhone. Most of the dancers couldn’t find it on
their sat-navs. It could have been a bit tricky otherwise because it
didn’t appear on ANY road signs until we actually entered the
village! We’d also been a bit confused to discover that nearby
Bowling Green was the name of a village and not a . . erm . . bowling green!
We arrived to see the
dancers already assembling on the hill, with the sun behind them. It
was clear from the shouting that they wouldn’t start Wenford
Bridge without me! I was told to leave my bells until after the dance
& they said they’d jingle louder to make up for me! I did
realise once I was dancing though that I had committed an even
greater Morris Sin. I still had my sunglasses on! Tough! They were
prescription sunglasses so I had to keep them on until I got a minute
to go back to the car. Although I got my bells on quickly, I still
didn’t get to change my glasses yet, because I was needed right
after for Jug by the Ear. One of my favourites.
With only time for The Black
Joke to restore my vision, I was soon back up for Dearest Dickie.
There was the usual enthusiasm to get the ‘swagger’ just
right, but Dave seemed to ‘mince’ it so well that he
decided to show it off again next verse as well! Since we did have
our ‘clock’ this time, I was right back up to do one of our
8 man dances, The Clock. I danced opposite novice, Trevor, and
although I was in a different position to usual, soon had him
clapping, waving and getting off in the right direction for the hey.
There seemed little time for
breath so I appreciated it when Ian, the Squire, took time to explain
to the audience about our baldrics. A simple green cross, with green
and gold rosettes to represent Cornwall, he explained how we all had
a personal badge on the back, but that the front had gold embroidered
patterns taken from Celtic crosses, dotted around Cornwall. He also
explained that these patterns were only awarded once a novice had
mastered enough of the basics and that this frequently took three
years or longer! (Ian also introduced the novices, without
embroidery, and suggested that the audience DON’T watch them to
see if they made mistakes!)
With the Headington Off
dance finally taking us safely off the road, we had time to chat and
to have photos taken with our hosts and audience.
Rescorla is one of our
‘Dry’ venues this season. A few years ago we were
discussing how we had danced almost everywhere in mid-Cornwall when
someone pointed out that we never danced in villages with no pub!
Since it wouldn’t be right for Morris Dancers to perform without
beer our kind sponsors, Cornish brewers, Skinners come to the rescue
by providing beer to take with us!
Finally we headed off along
narrow lanes to The Kings Arms at Luxulyan.
I wondered why we were
parking in the lane instead of continuing to the car park but
realised as I opened the door to get out of the car. The road beside
the pub was filled with the music and colour of visiting Sompting
Village Morris. http://s-v-m.moonfruit.com/
Sompting field both mens and
womens sides, and came supported by youngsters and great musicians.
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The men had been dancing for
many hours, so Trigg and the Sompting ladies had most of the
stage. Sompting men were great to watch when they did get up though,
with fast, interesting and noisy dances!
My highlights of the Trigg
dances were probably Vandals where we seem to have finally figured
out ‘heading up’! and Brighton Camp where we danced
alongside the Sompting ladies team.
After a bit of teasing,
Sompting men got up again, only to be frustrated when the musicians
tried to play one tune while they danced another! Then it was time
again for the ‘Off’ dance. Bonny Green is a great
opportunity for the audience to join in. I tried to explain to the
Russian girl opposite me how the ’magic’ was in the wavers
I loaned her. Her English was way better than my Russian!
It was busy inside the pub
and even although most of our musicians were back it was a great
night for singing from both teams. Lyn had the rest of her ladies to
join in The First of May, Mick got to sing about his ‘Cock’
but clearly has to practice the “Na na na na na na na na”!
We got to ‘Ramble in the New Mown Hay’ and Syd had us all
Baa’ing as ‘Poor Little Lambs’ again. I’m not
sure if I was more worried by Vic playing ‘Nancy’ or when
Chris launched into The Rolling Stones, ‘Brown Sugar’ on
the accordion, signalling the beginning of a RocknRoll selection in
our programme.
We left, later than planned,
with lovely voices singing ‘Once upon a time, there was a
Tavern’. I was tired but luckily the car knew its own way to get
me safely home to bed.
Some members of Trigg will
get out with Sompting Morris this weekend but, sadly, I can’t
make it. I am looking forward though, to next Thursday when we start
at the St Kew Inn, finishing up at one of my favourite spots at Port
Gaverne. I’ll see you there!
Jim.
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Trigg
Blog 3rd June 2010 |
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Trigg Blog. 3
June 2010.
I raised a
few eyebrows at work today, when I walked in with my bass guitar and
a hat with feathers in it. Luckily, I’d already checked the
place out and spotted the rhododendrons in the garden, just crying
out to be cut and arranged on a Morris Mans hat!
Tonight I was
really looking forward to dancing at Port Gaverne while the sun went
down behind us. First we had to get to St Kew, and both venues were a
long long way from Plymouth! I knew I didn’t have time to go
home from work before I picked Darren up, so I had packed all the
gear in the boot of the car ready for tonight.
Again, we had
a beautiful drive from Plymouth to the North coast of Cornwall and we
arrived at the St Kew Inn in plenty of time. I didn’t put my
bells on tonight because I’d injured my ribs last week and the
doctor had banned me from waving big sticks (or even hankies) around
again until further notice. Tonight I would be official Trigg Groupie
and unofficial photographer!
With several
other team injuries, and many of the team saving themselves for a
massed Morris Ring Meeting in Thaxted this weekend, tonight would be
a night of opportunities for the new boys! Darren & Trevor were
straight up for the first dance, Young Collins.
Nutting Girl
went ahead without me but I think it was my first chance in many
years to watch from the wings. Apart from a bit of bullying by the
Squire it went very well! After Sheriffs Ride, I was a bit worried
seeing newcomers in Old Woman Tossed Up (Bucknell) but I needn’t
have worried. Trevor pulled off a tremendous leap that even showed
opposite Rob Chisman!
After The
Rose, and Brighton Camp (dull – no injuries again!) Trigger had
everybody's attention for the off-dance, Princess Royal. Of course,
he did have to chase people about first!
It was a
lovely drive to Port Gaverne and, once again, we got there in time
for the sunset.
It was
dusk and the sun was just going down. The timing was a bit different
this year so the position of the sun didn’t lend itself to our
usual ‘posed’ photo but I did get several of the team in
the wonderful failing light. The Port Gaverne Hotel is always one of
our busiest, but I reckon it was the largest audience we’d seen
here yet. There were many holidaymakers, including some who’d
turned up in their pyjamas (to save time later?).
Trigg always
respond well to a good crowd and tonight they were on form. They were
energetic, enthusiastic and lines were beautiful! Well done boys.
With
Greensleeves, Room for the Cuckold and Abnals under our belt, I
realised Trigger, the horse, was causing trouble in the crowd again!
We continued
with Old Woman Tossed Up (Fieldtown this time), Shepherds Hey and
(not very) Constant Billy. It seemed like no time until the audience
were once more volunteered to join in the off-dance, Bonny Green.
Some of us went inside for a singsong, some audience stopped outside
for a fag, and most younger audience members went home to bed!
When we’d
stuck our heads in earlier, everybody was eating & it wasn’t
obvious that we’d be able to find space, but now the lounge was
almost empty. They’d all gone outside to watch the dancing! We
had their seats now and possession being nine tenths of the law, as
they say . . .
With no
doctors warning, I was finally able to settle down & do something
constructive, so cleared some more space with my acoustic bass guitar!
The singing
was great and once again, we got to sing Cornish folksongs with the
whole pub joining in. Vic, Pete & Viv were in particularly good
voice leading the traditional songs,. Mick managed ‘The
Cock’ successfully this time, Chris sang first with Lyn and then
had the pub singing ‘Yogi Bear’. Ian changed the emphasis
with ‘Spirit in the Sky’ and the very famous Trigg Morris
‘Banana Song’, and lead musician, Chris found excuses to
bring out The Rolling Stones, ‘Brown Sugar’ and, giving me
the signal, we launched into ‘The Price of Love’. Chris
uses The Everly Brothers 1965 version as his model but it fits
wonderfully with the 1969 Status Quo version I play the bassline for!
I love playing bass here because the acoustics are superb, and
getting to play Status Quo at a folk event? Well. It works for me!
With a
weekend away ahead of them, the band thinned quite quickly and soon
Darren & I were on our way back to Plymouth.
Next week we
play at The Rashleigh Inn at Polkerris, then head up to The New Inn
in Tywardreath. This bar has a lot to answer for. One night in 2001 I
wandered into my local for a quiet pint. A bunch of Morris Men had
finished dancing and were playing folk music in the bar. I spoke to
them about joining in the music sessions & they invited me along
to their practice evening.
“Why
don’t you have a go at dancing?” Roger said.
“No.
You’re allright!” I answered.
“Go
on!“ . . he said . . . .
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Trigg
Blog 10th June 2010 |
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Trigg Blog. 10 June 2010.
It’s true there were
dark storm clouds, heavy, dark and pendulous, towards which we were
driving. It’s true also that the spare tyres we were carrying,
were badly in need of some proper exercise, but we, being normal kids
. . on a night out, well we weren’t going to let a storm spoil
the rest of our evening, were we? It was a night out we were going to
remember . . erm . . until next week!
We didn’t worry about
the weather because the wind and dark skies had been hanging around
in the background all day, yet even the wind was hot & there was
no sign of rain as we headed for Polkerris and Tywardreath.
As we approached the top of
the hill at Penpillick we had that beautiful view of the headlands
overlooking Carlyon Bay before I swung left and scared Darren as I
rattled in towards Tywardreath, the back way. It was dusk but there
was no evidence of the bats I described to him, that might swoop over
the car as we drove through the tunnels of overhanging trees.
We made it to The Rashleigh
Inn at Polkerris in perfect time AND managed to get into the pub car
park. Some late surfers were still on the water but there was a good
crowd assembling to watch us. The smell of food hung in the air from
the restaurant and pub.
Trigg had a good turnout,
but there were still enough injuries around (me included) to prevent
us fielding more than one team at a time. It did mean that the new
boys would get a chance and Darren was straight in there for Balance
the Straw. Maurice the Morris Man was here tonight in his
distinctively designed outfit and was up for Valentine and Princess
Royal among others. With a bit more time and bravery under his belt
than Darren, Trevor was up there with both sticks doing Bodmin Riding.
Pretty soon though we had to
wiggle back out of the car park and head to the New Inn in
Tywardreath (pointing out, on the way past, the field where local
pharmacist Geoff Evans kept his Lamas – segue for Ian!).
I lived in Tywardreath many
years ago, and foolishly spoke to some musicians and entertainers in
my local one night. It was good to be back with them tonight.
The pub was looking prettier
than ever & Chris, Steve & the rest of the staff gave us a
great ‘local’ welcome. The audience outside seemed
unusually enthusiastic but I soon discovered the reason why.
Tywardreath now has its own mixed Morris team who, with enthusiasm
(and input from Trigg members) were there to cheer and to perform if
we asked them up with us. We did and they were very good indeed!
The whole dance session was very good with highlights such as
Vandals and The Clock (and this week Vic DID have the clock with him!)
Although it was getting dark
now it was still warm and we chatted outside, being buzzed
occasionally by one of the bats I’d described to Darren earlier.
Word of food on the table
got us inside faster than you could shake a stick, and we settled in
the back room, drawing the audience in as we played and sang.
Locals Holly and James are
getting married in a couple of weeks time and, unfortunately, this
gave us our targets XX sorry . . that should be ‘theme’,
for the evening. Some of it was very nice, for instance Vivs lovely
rendition of ‘My Young Man’ but this paled beside the much
funnier recitation by Roger of ‘The Wedding that Never Was’,
and many songs ranging from ‘Jenny Wren Bride’ (Now
I’m just off on me honeymoon, I don’t know what happens
tonight, but I’ve spoke to a few who declare that they do, and
they swear she’s a bit of allright!) through to ‘The Town
of Ballybay’ (She said she couldn’t dance unless she had
her wellies on, but when she had them on she danced as good as
anyone. She wouldn’t go to bed unless she had her shimmy on, but
when she had it on sure she’d go to bed with anyone!). I
wasn’t sure that ‘Long Black Veil’ was a cheerful
choice but the whole pub was swelling, singing the chorus! Yet when
Chris said “The Hens March to the Midden. Do we want that?”
There was a resounding “NO!”
The audience were squeezed
in doorways and every available space as Sydney sang some classics
before our singsong became more raucous. ‘Da Doo Ron Ron’
led into a RocknRoll session but dancers were already leaving to get
into the taxi bus as we were still ending with ‘Put your Sweet
Lips’ as our parting shot.
It wasn’t such a long
drive home tonight and the music stayed with us all the way.
We hope to see you next
Thursday night at the Molesworth Arms in Wadebridge then at the
Maltsters Arms in Chapel Amble.
Goodnight all.
Jim.
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Trigg
Blog 17th June 2010 |
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As we raced towards
Wadebridge tonight, we had no idea that tonight would be an evening
of maids, mishaps and mistaken identities, but nights out with the
Trigg Morris team are NEVER uneventful!
The weather was glorious and
we arrived at the Molesworth Arms to find the Saffron Maids and Trigg
Morris Men squaring up outside the pub in Molesworth Street. There
was a good turnout of dancers (and everyone was in good spirits) and
we performed to a small but enthusiastic audience.
Dancing with another team
lets us alternate dances & get our breath back (and it’s
good fun heckling the other team!) I danced a (not very) Constant
Billy opposite Pete P and hardly put him off at all! After Shepherds
Hey and 3 dances by the ladies, it was time to head off into the
countryside for our next stint at the Maltsters at Chapel Amble. The
Saffron Maids were very polite but still declined our invitation to
spend the rest of the evening with us. Another time! J
As we parked up in Chapel
Amble, the views over the countryside were breathtaking and I stopped
to take photographs before joining the others in front of the pub.
The setting was brilliant, there was a large and enthusiastic
audience and when the landlord sent out jugs of beer for the dancers,
we knew we had all the ingredients for a great night!
I joined in Greensleeves to
begin with, but it was when the team danced Old Carew that things
became more interesting. Ian has vast experience as Squire so it was
‘probably’ deliberate when he decided to vary the usual
Home – Away – Away – Home sequence to make the dance
more interesting to the rest of the team around him! (Note: I can now
hear my name going in the little black ‘Mug of the Year’
book . . . again!). While dancing and swaggering Dearest Dickie, I
realised that the air was full of gnats. Not for long though, the air
was also full of swallows and they swooped through our formation as
we danced. After Room for the Cuckold (I heard someone asking if they
knew what a cuckold was . . but didn’t stick around for the
answer), I was back up for one of my favourites, Jug by the Ear. Phil
encouraged Darren to get up and talked him through the ear pulling
and shouting to a very respectable performance. Another one under
your belt Darren! We were now ready to climax with Lass of Richmond
Hill. It was all going so well. When we got to the leapfrogs,
it’s quite normal for Pete P to launch into a high one over Pete
M. Ian expected Terry to be a bit lower. In fact Ian expected Terry
to be MUCH lower and they crashed to the ground together! They did
the right thing though. They picked themselves up, dusted themselves
down and did it all over again. Terry took no chances. He was so low
that I thought he was saying a quick prayer! This time there were no
injuries. (Perhaps Roger should keep this incident in mind for the
risk assessments we have to complete for some of the venues!).
After the Bonny Green off
dance with the audience, the team came inside the pub, but very
slowly indeed. Well. It was a nice night and there was still beer in
the jugs! It was a bit tight but we settled in the front bar for our singsong.
When Mick launched into the
“Come my friends be bright and jolly . . . “ of ‘When
we Meet Together’ I knew it was going to be another good one.
“We’ll end the day as we begun, we’ll end it all in
pleasure” J
We had a good mix of songs
which wound through the “Leave off your lamentations . . .”
of Vics ‘White Cockade,’ Micks ‘Woolamalloo’
(sp?) and ‘Lily the Pink’ from Ian. There was a
‘ploughboy’ selection which led, finally to an opportunity
for me to, not only, hear the ‘Hens March to the
Midden’ but also to join in with the chicken noises! We had fine
songs tonight from Lyn, Pat, both Chris’s, Viv and Peter M.
Guests included Morris Ring (& Saddleworth) Squire Richard
Hankinson borrowing Micks accordion for an interesting version of
Princess Royal, and another chap who agreed to sing ‘in
dialect’ “ . . “as long as it’s Cornish!” I
enjoyed Chris leading “Oh Lord it’s hard to be humble . .
“. I always thought it was written for me but everyone else knew
the words too!
We finished with a mixture
of songs, with ‘Liverpool Lou’ prompting the comment “.
. makes me feel homesick, and I live in Bodmin!”.
Finally, as we packed away
our tired instruments, one regular said “ You know, I’ve
known Vic Legg for 40 years from the Garland Ox, and in all that time
I’ve never known him play the guitar before!” . . .
“That’s not Vic!” he was told. “That’s Pat!
. . Vic’s over there!”
We spilled out of the pub
laughing and went home in great spirits yet again!
Next week the team dances at
the Who’d have Thought it? in St Dominick before moving on to
the Cross House Inn in Metherell. It’ll be great to have
you along.
Jim.
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Trigg
Blog 24th June 2010 |
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Trigg Blog for 24th June 2010
Your usual blogger (not sure
about all these neologisms – not proper are they?), Jim, has
bloggered off to Glastonbury again. Someone must have a word with him
– it's for young people. Still looks like he has had good
weather for a change.
Anyroadup, as they say in
Birmingham, me and Auntie Vera picked up Father Abraham and set off
away from the sunset. On the way we were overtaken by the gardener,
but cut him up at St Dominick while he studied a map. Some thing we
didn't feel we needed. Arriving at the “Who Would Have Thought
It” with enough time to spare to upset the local bingo players
by walking through the pub to order a sarsaparilla shandy. Outside,
the sun shone gloriously and the River Tamar glinted in the near
distance. Unfortunately our Squire had been viciously injured last
week by the Deputy Squire in an attempt to make an early takeover of
the Squireship and was unable to take part in the dancing.
As it happened, it didn't
matter. No-one was watching. The bingo players closed the windows to
shut out the noise; which must have made the room even hotter. Two
German tourists snuck outside for a fag and looked bemused at the
spectacle. After some explanation from our multi-linguist (is that
right), they looked more bemused and vowed to give up smoking. In
actual fact the only real spectator was a large brown and white horse
named Dobbin.
We made our way to
“The Cross House Inn” at Metherell, snaking our way in
convoy through the lanes. On arrival Auntie Vera announced that she
had left her Trigg Smock back at the WWHTI. I immediately volunteered
to go back and face the bingo players once more. Looking in the
garden for the smock I was beckoned in by a bingo man and a finger
was pointed to a distant chair with a green coat hanging on it. I
bowed, mouthed the words “thank you” and left in without
making a sound. During this brief interlude the caller continued
without pause, hesitation or deviation.
A good set of dancing with
an enthusiastic crowd cheering us on was followed by a music and
singing session. It was good to get a contribution from Mike and
Rosie. We were made welcome with a drink and some lovely food, on the
house. We were actually thanked by a number of people who had stayed
to the end. Presumably they had enjoyed themselves. We certainly had.
The only downside was the long drive home afterwards – however,
we managed this within an hour. And so to bed.
Back to you Jim.
Uncle Yogi.
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Trigg
Blog 1st July 2010 |
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Trigg Blog. 1 July 2010.
Who would have thought that
I’d ever plan my garden around suitable flowers to wear in my
hat? (Actually, Phil & Viv suggested as much when I joined Trigg
in 2001). My planning is rubbish though! I needed flowers this week
and the wallflowers and clematis have finished before the geraniums
are ready!
I never liked geraniums! But
they and, perhaps surprisingly, sweet peas are great fresh flowers to
use in Trigg Morris Mens hats on a Thursday night.
I realised, though, that I
was working next to a florists today & a trip next door to
‘Triffids’ produced a wonderful (and free!) bunch of
flowers for my straw hat tonight. Thanks Mark!
I was in such a rush to get
to Cornwall for 8pm that I raced out of work leaving my iPhone on the
bench. Darren teased me because I depend on it for so many things.
Tonight we couldn’t get directions or estimate our arrival time
because I have an app for that. I couldn’t take photos because I
have an app for that! He thought it was funny but soon said
“Where’s the usual music Jim?” Yep. On my iPhone!
We were driving through
heavy rain but I reassured him we never cancel and would simply dance
indoors if necessary.
We did get to the Queen &
Railway Inn on time and soon took over the darts area to dance in.
There was a small audience of regulars who looked on in amazement as
their pub was filled with Morris Dancing. I was straight up for (not
very) Constant Billy. It was tight at times and we were bashing into
each other during the heys and back to back. I held my own though! We
did Old Black Joe, Abnals and Old Carew, and then I was back up for
Shepherds Hey and Greensleeves. It had all gone well with locals and
dancers enjoying the indoor Morris when Ian announced Headington Off.
Surprising few of us, Ian led the dance around the pub once then shot
out the front door into the street. We legged it around the side and
managed to come in the back door with the musicians still playing!
Well done everybody! We did have a good time and need to thank the
Queen & Railway for a lovely welcome and for putting photos and a
silent movie(?) http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=190851&id=86525186486&ref=mf
on their Facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Columb-Major/The-Queen-Railway-Inn/86525186486
I have no idea how we got to
The Pheasant in Newlyn East as I had no sat-nav and was simply trying
to follow the others in the rain and falling darkness. I wasn’t
fully convinced we were following the right person but thankfully we
did arrive at the pub safely, and on time for Roger to direct me into
the last parking space! Thanks. This was a lovely good sized pub with
a lovely good sized audience and we did a recce to decide where to
dance. Viv made friends with a couple who let us move their table to
clear an area to dance in. The floor space was going to be fine. The
roof space was another matter and a large wooden beam cut right
through our dancing area. No worries! We danced anyway. I danced
Balance the Straw, missing Room for the Cuckold and Valentine before
joining in a squashed, 8 man, Vandals in the cramped space. I
didn’t have any problem with the beam but it was funny to watch
Ian and the other bigger blokes keep ducking as they ran around in
the dances. Since it would be stupid to invite even more people to
join us dancing in the cramped space, it was always going to happen.
As usual we got members of the audience up for our off dance, Bonny Green.
The Pheasant was generous
with ale for the dancers and we had barely started our music session
in a busy front bar when hot food arrived too. Thank you landlord!
There was a good crowd and we settled into a session with good folk
classics such as ‘Let Union Be’ and ‘A Miners
Life’. The first we sometimes disagree on the exact wording, but
whereas ‘Mudcat’ records “Let union be in all our
hearts, Let all our hearts be joined as one, We’ll end the day
as we begun, We’ll end it all in pleasure.” They also
suggest the original words were “Let union be in all our farms,
Let all our farms be joined as one.” I reckon there’s
probably a good story behind the song. Keeping the union theme, the
latter is getting a big chorus now of “Keep your hands upon your
wages, and your eye upon the scale” as the whole pub sings along
each week.
With Vic and Pat missing
tonight, there was space for Viv and Mick to lead the bulk of the
singing wonderfully, but with songs from many others including Colin
in the crowd. Thanks Colin. Chris was still trying out some new
material but I preferred the familiar including our accordion and
acoustic bass guitar version of ‘The Price of Love’.
The night went quickly again
and soon Darren and I were on our long drive home to Plymouth.
Next week sees us back in
Boscastle for the whole evening.
Trigg and Boscastle go back
a long way and we can normally look forward to a wonderful welcome back.
Perhaps we’ll see you there.
Jim.
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Trigg
Blog 8th July 2010 |
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Trigg Blog. 8 July 2010.
Oops! Terry gets hit!
For once I was organised and
after a great drive up to the North coast, we got to Boscastle in
plenty of time. The Napoleon is a lovely setting to dance and,
blessed with beautiful weather again, we had a great audience. The
bunting was up, and the little bit road in front of the pub was ideal
for dancing. Ideal, that is, once the only traffic who happened to
come that way had Chris move his chair and let . . erm . . me drive through!
I was straight up for
Greensleeves, but retired to my camera to let the others grunt and
grab their bits in Shepherds Hey! Dearest Dickie found some elegance
without me but I was soon back up for Sheriffs Ride. After Jug by the
Ear, I stepped into position for Brighton Camp with a big stick in my
hand. There have been several broken fingers and bumps on heads over
the years and Brighton Camp, with its constant turning and complex
crashing of sticks, has been the main culprit. I chatted to Elsie in
the audience, perched upon her sit-on walking frame. Since she’d
reached 88 (or perhaps 89 . . ) I wanted her to be safe. I also
reassured Terry that I wouldn’t hit him. Turns out I lied!
Oops!. As we raced and turned, I swung around to find Terry facing
the other way with his stick held over his head for me to hit. My
stick already had momentum when he pre-empted the music and took his
stick away ready to dash to his next position. Luckily I wasn’t
already looking to my new position and tried, but unsuccessfully, NOT
to hit him. With some reduction in force, I couldn’t help but
skelp him squarely in the middle of his head with my large stick!
Oops. Sorry Terry! Luckily, on this occasion, there was no blood or
concussion or anything. Terry said it didn’t hurt. Good job it
was only his head!
After Headington Off we
headed down the hill to park up, and the team flowed through the
village to our regular spot at the bridge. Trigg have danced
regularly at Boscastle for well over 25 years and the bridge was
always our favourite dance spot. Before the phone box was washed
away, the competition to see how many Morris Men you could fit in
(& on) a phone box was a feature of the visit! There’s no
longer a phone box but by the time we were ready to dance, Elsie had
already taken up position where she could watch us properly.
“I’d like to dance with the Morris Men!” She told me.
“I used to be a dancer you know!”
I was straight up for
Wenford Bridge and Nutting Girl but had no puff left for
Ring’o’Bells. I tried to get out of ‘The Rose’
but everyone knows I need the practice if I’m ever to stop
falling over when we spin around! Once again I found myself opposite
Phil for The (8 man!) Clock (well . . 9 if you include Vic with the .
. erm . . clock!). New boy, Darrens excuses to avoid the teams
signature tune, Bodmin Riding, were ignored and he was back up as I
hid again behind my camera. The time had come to choose members of
the audience to invite up to dance Bonny Green so who else could I
choose but Elsie! With a little bit of help, we can make this an
equal opportunities dance and in the past audience members have been
encouraged with wheelchairs or, on this very spot a few years ago,
without their guide dog! (In 2008, Dereks guide dog Brian looked on
in puzzlement as his owner swung around the dance, guided by Trigg
and grinning from ear to ear!) Elsie had been tapping her way through
the programme and was determined to be up out of her seat and
dancing. Holding hands, we danced forward and back, did a whole gip
and a gypsy! Having done the hard bits, we exited gracefully and
watched the others circle off and finish the dance. Thank you Elsie.
You were a lovely partner! x
We also had in the audience,
a New Zealand lady Morris Dancer, Janet from Taranaki Folk Club. I
chatted to her as we walked. She enjoyed the evening very much and
recognised many dances although her ladies team have their own lyrics
where we sing “Here’s to the ladies we love them so well,
though some are regular tartars. Off with their knickers and off with
their bras and off with their bonny green garters!”
We settled easily into the
Cobweb and with a drink on the house (Thank you landlord!) and after
some wonderful home-made sandwiches we settled properly into our
music session. The Cobweb always seems to have an audience singing
heartily back at us and the pub was swelling to the regular selection
of, many Cornish, folk songs. As always we had singers in the
audience and John led a rousing version of Paddy lay Back. Thanks
John. The evening whisked away particularly fast tonight and it
seemed way too soon when we’d finished with our rocknroll
numbers and were inviting the audience to put their “sweet lips
a little closer to the phone” because, sadly, it was “time
to go”.
Another great night with Trigg!
Next week we dance again at
Lostwithiel Carnival. You’ll normally find us near the bridge
around 8pm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaCvbnBe4rs&feature=player_embedded
then we’ll head to the
Earl of Chatham to finish off.
We hope to see you all.
Jim.
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Trigg
Blog 22nd July 2010 |
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Do you want
your old lobby washed down?
The programme
said The Rising Sun at Altarnun.
Altarnun is a
small village, I thought “How hard can it be to find the pub?”
On our third
trip through the village, we were stopped by potential audience
members who couldn’t find the Rising Sun either!
We all got
there eventually and, despite our early arrival in the nearby village
of Altarnun, Trigg were already up dancing. Darren and I quickly got
our bells and wavers sorted out to join in. I caught some photos as
Trigg followed The Black Joke with Old Black Joe, Duke of Grafton and
Abnals but put my camera down to join in Shepherds Hey (The Fieldtown
one, NOT that RUDE Bucknell one!). It was good to see Lyn back among
the musicians with her gammy leg held out in front of her wheelchair!
After Brannel we had a good audience to bow to, as we did the
Headington Off.
I was
comfortable heading off to the next gig using the sat-nav on my
phone, but the road signs disagreed and pointed a different way to
North Hill. I turned and, as the phone caught up with me!, found a
lovely route through Cornish lanes & across farmyards, which
brought us to The Racehorse Inn before the rest of the team. This was
lucky because it turned out I had a mini convoy following me too!
Some team members were still arriving as we set up on the road. It
seemed like it might rain but since the musicians stood confidently
out in the open, who were we dancers to complain!
The rain
never came, we had a good audience tonight, and few interruptions
from traffic wanting by. One lady driver seemed disappointed when we
finished our dance and waved her through! After taking it easy at The
Rising Sun, I made up for it by getting up to dance many of the
Squires selections. We were making our way through a programme of
Wenford Bridge, Blue Eyed Stranger and Sheriffs Ride, when I noticed
that one audience member had TWO video cameras recording everything.
I didn’t catch his name but apparently he was from a Horrabridge
(nr Tavistock) team and was getting on record that Morris Dancers
don’t all have their heads up their arses and they and the
audiences DO have a lot of fun! After Greensleeves and Old Woman
Tossed Up I was part of a team that I think did one of our best ever
performances of Brighton Camp.
I hope he
caught it on video! I didn’t smack anyone on the head with my
stick this week. Come to think of it . . Terry was missing this week. Hmmm.
With an
audience itching to get up and dance with us, the plan was changed
and Bonny Green Garters saw us to the end of our dancing session,
when we all made our way inside for the singsong.
We had plenty
space to set up but had barely started when the food arrived, and
kept coming. Lovely. All of it! Thanks landlord.
With Lyn
sitting with her leg up, we found our starting theme. After a few
suggestions, the evening commenced appropriately with ‘Hopping
Down in Kent!’ “With the tee-I-ay, tee-I-ay, tee-I-ee-I-ay!
I wonder what “the TIA” is?
The singing
was great tonight and the audience included some very keen children
whose faces alternated between pure joy and utter confusion as they
danced the evening away to our repertoire. Viv again led with
‘Young Banker’ and everyone chorused loudly “Young
banker he had such a handsome face, and all around his hat he wore a
band of lace. Beside such an handsome head of hair, For my young
banker I will go there”. I chuckled at Do you want your old
lobby washed down? And we all joined in Chris’s ‘There was
an old woman’ . . a better choice for the children than some of
our usual songs! The Australians were catered for with Woollamalloo
and Black Velvet Band and then Vic and I dabbled with Summertime
Blues to let the rest of the musicians try it out. (Sounding good!).
We finished
with our ‘This’ll be the Last Time’, medley with
everyone at the bar singing along at the end of a great night. Next
week’ll probably be the ‘Last Time’ all over again!
Funny that! J
Darren was
nervous as we whizzed home along the Cornish lanes. Perhaps I
shouldn’t warn him about next weeks drive past Porthpean and
down Pentewan Hill into the village square!
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Trigg
Blog 29th July 2010 |
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If Darren was
scared he didn’t show it!
I knew time
was tight to try to get to Pentewan for 8pm when we didn’t get
away from Plymouth until after 7. But I knew a shortcut. Instead of
getting stuck in the through traffic after the Charlestown turn off,
I swung left to follow The Whip by Porthpean & Lobb’s Shop
to get to Pentewan. The sun was shining but the lanes got narrower
and narrower until we flew round, over the brow of the hill, to drop
quickly into Pentewan.
There was a
huge crowd and the bunting was out for the Pentewan Gala weekend.
The music had
started and Trigg were already doing Balance the Straw as we rushed
to put on our bells and wavers, and remembered to take off our hats.
After Room for the Cuckold I was up quickly as two teams were called
for Valentine. It’s a graceful dance, but we did our best! I
stayed up after and growled my way into Vandals with the others and,
just as I really needed to breathe, Nutting Girl was called. Two
teams again. It was wonderful to dance and I’d warmed up now! I
like Bodmin Riding but it really was time to catch my breath and I
took some photos instead. I’d chatted to a young lady from The
Kingdom of Fife, in Scotland, near where my family live so when we
needed audience ‘volunteers’ for our off dance, Bonny
Green, I asked her up, lending her my wavers (because they have the
‘magic’ in them!). Shush! Please don’t tell anyone
about Scottish people doing English Folk Dancing.
Triggs final
job at the Pentewan Gala each year is the Drawing, of the Raffle and
we mingled with the crowd chatting and enjoying the lovely evening.
Trigger, our horse, on the other hand, disappeared under a sea of
smiling children. Serves you right Trigger!
It was dusk
as we headed up past the Lost Gardens of Heligan to our second spot
at St Ewe. I found a place in the large, overflowing car park and we
settled outside ready to dance. While we get a wonderful audience,
the disadvantage of such a busy venue is the difficulty getting Trigg
all together inside later for our singsong. We always seem to manage
though, and we got on with the dancing meantime. The audience
gathered as the light fell and the team danced Young Collins. A swift
segue into Shepherds Hey was prevented when a small dog suddenly lay
down, in peaceful demonstration, at Pete Philps feet waiting to
have his tummy tickled!
(The dog, not
Pete!). I danced Ring o Bells (losing my way only once in the hey!)
and cleared the way when they announced a switch to the Bucknell
version of Old Woman Tossed Up. I enjoyed The Clock (and yes, Vic had
the clock this week!) dancing opposite Chris who wasn’t himself
without Lyn to keep him right this week. I stood out for Constant
Billy but novice dancer, Darren was going to be part of the team.
Darren and Phil had hatched a plan. Since the squire, Ian, always
pointed out that the novices had no decorations on their baldrics and
told the audience NOT to watch the new guy in case he made any
mistakes, Ian and Phil swapped baldrics! The dance was about to start
and Ian was already talking to the audience when he suddenly noticed!
“Aaah!” He announced, “Newcomer, Darren, now has a
decorated baldric symbolising all the dances he has learned.
Let’s watch him and see just how well he’s learned them!”
Darren did
absolutely fine and, having only joined at the beginning of the
season, is a great example of just how quickly you can start dancing
and having fun at Morris Dancing. There was a surprise in store for
the team and audience before the Princess Royal off dance. A Trigg
member from many years ago, Simon was visiting and made it in time to
give us a solo jig as night fell, before we danced off and into the
pub for a singsong.
It was a
lovely pub and we musicians even managed to find a corner to settle
in and entertain ourselves and the audience. It was busy though, and
by the time I’d managed to get something to drink, they’d
finished Black Velvet Band and Vic had the pub singing along to Molly
Malone. The Irish theme continued with Biddy Mulligan and Whisky in
the Jar among others to take us to a wonderful supper provided by The
Crown. Thank you landlord. As we emptied several large plates of
sandwiches and chicken wings, the accordions etc were first to strike
up the music again. I asked the song titles but with Bonny Kate,
Colonel something and the Senopod Squaredance, given, I wasn’t
sure I had good copy for the blog!
Ian led us in
Triggs famous Banana Song with the audience finding the chorus and
joining in (especially local girls Zena and Hannah who remained at
the front for the rest of the evening, singing and dancing along to
the music. Thanks girls.) With South Australia and Woolamalloo under
our belt, Viv slowed things down with a lovely Country Roads. Ian
spoiled the calm with a raucous Lily the Pink and Spirit in the Sky.
A medley with Blueberry Hill and Livin’ Doll led us to the
rocknroll session and Tutti Frutti. After Bad Moon Rising we finally
slowed and ended the evening with “Put your sweet lips a little
closer to the phone . . “
Phew! Another
great evening with Trigg Morris Men.
See you next
week at Polperro.
Jim.
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Trigg
Blog 5th August 2010 |
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Trigg Blog. Thursday 5
August 2010.
For once Darren and I made
it to the dance spot early. Everything came together and we were
among the first to come down the hill and into the car park at the
top of Polperro. It was a long walk down through the village to our
dance spot, but it was a nice evening and I followed the others
down as I chatted to Dave & Tina. Tina was describing how
they’d been involved in a slight traffic accident on the way
home from Morris Dancing last week. She was stressed but Dave got out
of the car to discuss the incident with the other couple involved.
Tina suddenly noticed the couple looking at the way Dave was dressed
as he stood there with his shirt undone & pulled out of his knee
length trousers, and his knee high socks rolled down to his ankles.
That was enough. “Dave” she said, “get back in the
car”. “Dave! Please! Just get back in the car!”
We met up at our regular
spot down by the harbor and a good crowd gathered as we assembled.
One of our team, Rob, was resplendent [from resplendere to shine
brightly, from re- + splendere to shine; see splendour] in a sort of
green frock with a big pharmacy cross on the front. I thought he
would have looked good with a wizards pointy hat but he insisted that
this was his official attire as current Mayor of Polperro. Rob
explained that it is a great honour to have this role (which goes
back to the 17th century when the village used to elect the local
drunk or tramp to the title!)
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I was up for the first
dance, Greensleeves and our audience filled the spaces around us. By
the time I took some photos during Old Black Joe (everyone finished
facing the correct way! Yay!) and got back up to mince (sorry,
strut!) in Dearest Dickie, we discovered extra audience in the
windows around us on both sides of the harbor. As the team got up to
dance Jug by the Ear, there was some nervousness in the ‘props
department’. The team (and, once prompted, the audience,)
scanned the sky for suspicious looking seagulls following the
incident last year when the plastic ear was thrown humorously into
the air as part of the routine, and a seagull swooped down to snatch
it! Following a good Brighton Camp we had lots of audience volunteers
to join us for our off dance, Bonny Green.
Instead of retiring into a
pub, it was a lovely evening to chat to the audience and to each
other with tankards filled with beer from The Pilchard.
As darkness fell and the
lights gradually came on, the harbor looked beautiful. Soon though,
it was 9 o’clock and time for our second spot in the same place.
There was still a large audience with some new faces who’d
missed the earlier dances. The team were in good spirits and we soon
had Wenford Bridge and Blue Eyed Stranger under our belt. But then it
was time for Abnals. This 8-man Lichfield dance isn’t our
strongest but does look good! Several of us however were thinking how
we should have paid more attention during the practice season! Never
mind, it’ll be October soon. (Why don’t you join us?). I
didn’t get up for The Rose this week but do finally seem to have
found my feet in this dance, managing not to fall over any more. Full
of (it seems, misplaced) confidence I got up for Old Carew. I started
well but was trying to answer a question from my ‘oppo’ on
my moves and totally missed the timing for my corner to dance out to
the centre and back home to my corner again. With lots of
encouragement (I think it was encouragement!) from the team and
audience I did manage to finish in the right place following a sort
of ‘corner-wiggle-corner’ movement! It was clear that I
should leave Room for the Cuckold to the experts, and I satisfied
myself by finishing with Headington Off.
On such a nice evening, we
were in no hurry to rush off but, with the crowd slowly dispersing,
we finally wandered through the village to settle down in The Ship
for our regular sing-song. Darren & I had to bid our farewells
and head off early but it looked like it was going to be another
great music session.
Never mind. We’ll stay
for the whole evening next week at The Red Lion in St Columb Major
and The Falcon Inn at St Mawgan. Why don’t you join us?
Jim.
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Trigg
Blog 12th August 2010 |
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Trigg Blog. Thursday 12th
August 2010.
We arrived on time at The
Red Lion at St Columb, to discover that the party had started without
us! To be precise, the party (St Columb Carnival) had started on the
7th and was now clearly picking up pace! It felt like the end of an
‘all day session’ rather than the beginning of a summer
evening. We squeezed the car through the crowd and abandoned it with
the others, joining the happy throng as we pulled on our bells and
wavers. I did have a hat with flowers but it quickly disappeared onto
a revellers head, although I spotted it periodically in the crowd
during our spot.
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Ian called two teams for
balance the straw so I was straight up, most of us doing our warm up
during the first verse, as usual! I decided to get my breath back and
take some photos during Room for the Cuckold but discovered I’d
left my camera on the kitchen table! Oops! (The camera on my phone
did come to the rescue though! . . apologies for the quality). I
wasn’t up for Valentine but stepped into the number six position
as the, eight man, Vandals was announced. I stayed in position six
for the lovely, but fast and very tiring, Nutting Girl but stepping
dizzily aside at the end decided I should sit Bodmin Riding out to
get my breath back for the off dance. Ian again called for two teams
but when we discovered we didn’t have the 24 sticks we needed, I
thought I’d got away with it. Ian gave the new boys a test. They
were sent into the audience (risky!) to find props to use instead of
sticks. Darren did well, quickly appearing back with two large
inflatable hammers. Trevor had more of a challenge but this dance was
clearly going to be performed tonight with a large helium filled
helicopter as well!
As I was called up to be the
twelfth dancer, Chris decided to give me his sticks (and to prevent
me stealing Lyns recorder. Sorry Lyn . . nice to have you with us
tonight again though!) and find other props to dance with as well.
Thanks Chris. For the ‘off dance’ we were sent into the
fray . . sorry, audience . . for volunteers (we had actually been
trying to keep enthusiastic . . well, drunk people . . safely out of
range during our stick dances all evening!), I was dispatched to
invite the lovely Lily Williams of Tywardreath, up to dance Bonny
Green with us. She quickly demonstrated a talent for dancing, smiling
and waving the hankies. Watch out Tywardreath Morris!
Leaving the crowd laughing,
singing, cheering and . . erm . . scrapping!, we delicately reversed
out onto the road and made our way to the Falcon at St Mawgan for our
final set tonight. Despite the failing light there was a huge
enthusiastic crowd waiting for us and we once again defied the local
traffic as we took control of the main thoroughfare! After sitting
out Young Collins, I got up for Shepherds Hey desperately trying to
remember which one it was. Too late, I realised that I’d only
danced it once or twice many years ago so would have to relearn it as
I went along. Grunting, gripping, kicking and waving, I gradually
found my way through with my best ever performance of the dance. I
was still rubbish, but it was a personal best! J After Ring of Bells,
I managed a break during Old Woman Tossed Up before returning,
opposite Terry, for The Clock. (It was reassuring to be opposite
Terry again. I hadn’t seen him since I hit him on the head at
Boscastle!). I stayed up for Constant Billy, dancing opposite Darren.
With some very fast complex sticking, I gave Darren the advice the
more experienced dancers gave me when I was a novice. “ Hold the
stick still and let me time the hits to the butt and tip”.
It’s difficult not to try though, and Darren was soon waving his
stick around frantically, wondering why he was hitting my stick with
his knuckles! Sorry Darren! With the audience joining our second
performance of Bonny Green, we danced off into the pub!
With jugs of beer appearing
throughout the evening (thanks landlord!) and a Welsh contingent in
our midst, it was destined to be a good night for singing.
After inviting the landlord
to go “down to your cellar and bring up a barrel” we soon
had Sydney up for a classic.
How well do you know Trigg
Morris? Now. Try to imagine them as “poor little lambs,
who’ve lost our way”! No? Me neither!
But hey! Watch this!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI_sfN6iCso The irony of Micks
“water drinkers are dull arses!” in When we Meet Together
came to me when he reluctantly requested a soft drink later because
he was driving. What about orange juice? It was great to have John
(Taffy) with us tonight too, and we had the chance to get the whole
pub belting out Delilah with us once again. With songs from Pat,
Chris, Vic, Mick and Ian, as well as Nigels rendition of “Keep
your hands upon your wages” from the audience, we wound our way
to the end of the evening with Goodnight Irene and This’ll be
the Last Time. As I was leaving, there was still some singing going
on, but I understand that’s normal when Nigel’s in the audience!
Thanks everyone for another
great night.
We’ll see you next week
on the quay at Mevagissey.
Jim.
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Trigg
Blog 2nd Sep 2010 |
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Trigg Blog. Thursday 2nd
September 2010.
Hi chums. Sorry I missed you
the past couple of weeks. I had hoped to see you at Mevagissey but
missed it when I had to rebook my cancelled Edinburgh flights. Anyway
I’m home from my holiday in Scotland and trying to remember to
speak slowly enough to be understood again.
Darren and I actually
arrived at Bodinnick early tonight. There’s a first! As we came
close we could see Fowey on the other side of the river looking
lovely in the fading sunlight. I’ve been to Fowey many times but
this was my first time on the other bank. We found the team
assembling outside The Old Ferry Inn but we had to drive past them
and all the way up the hill to park. The views as we walked back down
were amazing.
I took the chance to look
out over the busy estuary watching the ferry, gigs and sailing boats
moving on the dark water, against the Fowey town lights. We were
dancing on the steep hill and I was straight in for Balance the
Straw. I reckon gravity pulled all of us down the hill as the dance
went on. I joined the gathering audience as the light finally faded
while the team danced Old Black Joe and Dearest Dickie before I got
up again for Sheriffs Ride. Afterwards we made sure Darren got up for
Jug by the Ear which again proved pretty tricky on the slope. I did
Brighton Camp before we finished with Bonny Green, the audience
members proving most unenthusiastic to join us dancing on such a
steep hill. After we made our farewells we really discovered how long
and steep the hill was as we felt like roping ourselves together for
the long climb back up the hill to our cars.
I left from the top of the
village but discovered that if you don’t reset your sat-nav,
it’ll keep trying to bring you back to the same place! Soon
though we were in a convoy heading to Lanreath. We nearly came a
cropper as we swung into the car park and pulled up sharp behind Rob
who was scrabbling on the slope. He hasn’t crashed into me yet
this season. I thought my time had come.
The Punchbowl is a coaching
inn dating back to 1620. I like the ‘feel’ as we dance
outside with the huge sign creaking and the dark church towering over
us in the gloom. Darby and Joan – like, Lyn and Chris R were
abandoned in darkness on the pavement opposite.
Hand in hand when our life
was May
Hand in hand when our hair
is grey
Shadow and sun for every one,
As the years roll on;
Hand in hand when the long
night tide
Gently covers us side by side–
Ah! lad, though we know not when,
Love will be with us forever then:
Always the same, Darby my own,
Always the same to your old
wife Joan.
(Weatherby).
Actually, they’re not
married to each other at all but we just thought it looked funny!
They were soon joined by the rest of the musicians and we got the
dancing underway with Wenford Bridge and Blue Eyed Stranger before I
too was up for the 8-man Lichfield dance, Abnals. After Old Carew,
Ian called for two teams for Bodmin Riding. I stood up but was
initially rejected as I wasn’t one of the men chosen to do the
demonstration dance in St Austell town centre at the Ring Meeting on
Saturday. In fact several of the ‘chosen’ were missing and
I was one of several ‘second best’ dancers that Ian had to
make do with. I reckon I danced it perfectly! We had a good
audience and since local lady, Janets visitors Eliza, Emily and Kate
from Melbourne seemed keen to try it, we switched our off dance to
Bonny Green (from Princess Royal) to give them the chance to join us.
They were also close in support as we headed into the pub for our sing-song.
Our dance night before a
ring meeting is often quiet as we save energy (and try to keep enough
clean shirts, wavers and socks!) but we had a good turnout tonight.
Vic and Mick were both missing though and I miss their strength in
singing many of the traditional Cornish songs. Viv once again took a
strong lead in this though and the pub gave loud chorus. We had a
great singsong led at times by Pete, both Chris’s, Ian and Pat,
and finally Roger produced an appropriate recitation for our new
Australian friends.
It was soon time to go again
though and I got into the car, abandoning Darren to Ian so he could
help prepare for the Ring Meeting, and drove home alone, already
thinking ahead to the weekend.
It was a lovely night, but
this weekend promises even more fun with a host of Morris Dancers
from all over England joining us in St Austell for a weekend of
drinking, dancing, music & mayhem. Perhaps we’ll see you there.
Jim.
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