Trigg Blog

Half of all July's rain fell in a few hours today, the radio said.
I watched it out the window during work but didn't worry.
I was determined to get out dancing tonight.
I couldn't get into Cornwall last Thursday night. There had been a crash at Notter Bridge and I would have had to queue for hours for a ferry.
Fellow Trigg evacuee Ben was pleased. He had a 2 night holiday stop off at my place & instead of abandoning him to dance with Trigg, I stayed home.
We were like two 17 year olds discussing & swapping music.
Have you heard this one?

Tonight, the rain was still hammering down when I left, with soggy flowers in my hat. By Liskeard the skies started to clear. From Dobwalls to Padstow I was driving with the sun in my eyes. Amazingly, again, we had a lovely evening for dancing.

The first gig was at the Harlyn Inn, Harlyn Bay. http://www.harlyn-inn.co.uk/
It was a nice pub, made even nicer by the landlord being generous with beer for the Morris Dancers. Thanks landlord. There was plenty of space for the dancers at the pub end of a large car park, and a large and curious crowd gathered on the patio to watch us.
I danced Wenford Bridge, but wasn't quick enough to get up for Jug by the Ear. It was funny watching it from the 'outside'. It was one of the first dances I learned and I don't recall ever 'standing out' during the last seven years.
I did get a couple of good photos though!

When Vandals hey came around, it looked (was?) chaotic, so the crowd cheered enthusiastically when everyone made it home!
I never remember which dance is which, so when Old Carew was announced, the team was up before I worked out if I knew it. Daft bugger! Ian made me part of the team demonstrating it at my very first Ring Meeting. I remember now!

It was only a short run to the Cornish Arms at St Merryn.
http://www.staustellbrewery.co.uk/st-austell-brewery-pubs/cornish-arms---st-merryn.html
The rain stayed away, and it was a beautiful spot for a dusk performance.
A good crowd watched the dancing and it was nice to chat to locals and visitors.
I met a chap from Aberdeen. We discussed how come a fellow Scot (me!) found himself doing English Traditional Dancing in Cornwall.
"Well. Its not really England", I explained.
"And the origins of the dancing probably aren't English either!".
In fact, after spending years with the Scottish and Irish Folk traditions, it's been wonderful for me to discover, and be allowed to share in, the wonderful range of Cornish traditional music and song.
I was a bit close to a lady when we did Bean Planting.
"You won't hit me with stick?", she asked.
"I might shoot you!", I said.
Another young lady became very serious when Vic and I discussed the possible fertility related consequences of her wearing my hat.
Things became much less serious, when Ian led me astray (again!).
While the team danced Banks of the Dee, we waited until they all faced the other way and rushed to the end of each row, sitting on high bar stools right up against them when they turned around. Each time they faced away, we slipped a bit closer! Luckily, none of the dancers had sticks!
A call for Ring of Bells raised plenty of volunteers but, with the main stick bag 'absent without leave', we only had the 12 spare sticks when we needed 16.
The decision by Pete Philps to do Vandals of Hammerwich again, instead, allowed comparison with the team who did it earlier.
In contrast to Harlyn Bay, we danced beautifully (what?). The hey was so good, that Ian made us do it again because he thought we looked too smug!
In fact, having all the dancers in the right places took away all the danger and excitement. The crowd response was nothing like as good as the first version. Maybe it was just the crowd!
It was getting dark as we closed with Headington Off and snaked our way through the crowd and out into the car park.

It was difficult to find space inside the pub, but eventually the musicians and singers were spread out at the far end. I was tucked away at at the back. I don't know if anybody 'heard' me but I'm pretty sure they could 'feel' my bass.
There was a good mixture of music and styles.
It was lovely to hear Viv in good voice with Country Roads but she also sang one of my favourites, My Young Man. In fact, I spent the evening with 'her young man', Phil, beside me! Good tambourine Phil!
I need to point out how good Pete Marlows singing was tonight. I also need to tell you that he was probably singing on other occasions when I neglected to give him a mention in Trigg Blog. Will that do, Pete?
Vic mentioned to the crowd when we sang 'The Padstow Drinking Song' that it has strong connections with the area and this pub in particular. If we dismiss later references to the 'Sussex Drinking Song' we can trace it back to the sixties in Padstow. It was originally a favourite in the Caledonian (now gone) on the harbourside in Padstow. Tommy Morrisey and Charlie Pitman learned it there but gained most fame singing it in the Cornish Arms, the latter fact now recorded in art for posterity.

Once we stopped singing, the locals started!
I left the pub still bouncing to the sound of local folk songs.
I did the remaining half of tonights one hundred mile return trip with Bob Dylan and Janice Long chatting to me, and entertaining me with good music.
Another good night out with Trigg.
I think of the words
"Give to me the girl I love, and the key to the cellar door".
And the appropriateness of
" forward my brave boy."!
Maybe that's just my experience.

Jim.