Now, while we were lining up for Odd Sheepskins and I was talking incessantly like I do, somebody asked me if I am Sorrel’s sister, which I am. This also went faultlessly so I delegated the next dance to Chris, who suggested his own dance Odd Sheepskins. While the other teams were dancing, I asked Linda what she would like to dance next and she suggested STC, so I asked her to find a set for it and include me. Wytchwood Morris outside the Opera House later in the day because I didn’t get any photos in the Pavilion Gardens.
![wytchwood jar wytchwood jar](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1989/0299/files/IMG_7660_1000x.jpg)
Well, almost: not-at-all-Newbie-Pete pulled a muscle and put himself out of action for the rest of the day but otherwise it was faultless.
![wytchwood jar wytchwood jar](http://www.northeasttackle.co.uk/images/products/medium/1314180599-65088000.jpg)
I asked the two sets to amble (or shamble) on, looking like we had no idea what we were doing and then snap into place, which worked well and we were really sharp throughout the dance and, at the end, where we run at the crowd, we managed to scare most of the children in the audience. We were following Wytchwood, which meant we had to raise our game and raise it we did. I was nervous as well and so found my fingers refusing to obey my brain but I did my best and played along and, as it turned out, that was to be the only time I played Jeffrey all day.Īfter a while I had to leave him and organise the Crows for the first dance, which, in a break from tradition, was Ragged Crow. We had one of those “Do you know the piano’s on my foot?” “No but you hum it and I’ll play it” moments because I still don’t know many of the names of the tunes. As we arrived, the melodeon player for Black Dog was having a little warm up and, as I had Jeffrey with me in his new backpack (which looks suspiciously like a jetpack when I’m wearing it), I got him out and joined in. Our first spot was at the Pavilion Gardens and we were sharing it with Black Dog Molly, Harthill Morris and Wytchwood Morris. The sun was shining and I had left my sunglasses in my car, which was parked on our good friend Mark’s drive miles away, as he had kindly driven Greg and me to Buxton.
![wytchwood jar wytchwood jar](https://diszkontital2.cdn.shoprenter.hu/custom/diszkontital2/image/cache/w750h750wt1/product/Sor/Premium/idrinks-wychwood-beer-pack-2020-2.jpg)
The thought of raining didn’t even begin to even think about crossing the mind of whatever it is that determines the weather in Buxton. This might have put many people off but I am made of sterner stuff and, seeing as I got a jar of very nice home-made jam as an apology for the bruised fingers, I thought I’d give Buxton a second chance. Last year we danced at Buxton and I got wet and my fingers got bruised (see my account here). We have done a couple of gigs since Ravenglass (Leyland Festival and Moulton Crow Fair ) and I have worked one or two Saturdays and seen my kids on my spare weekends and here we are well through July. I’ve been a very busy dark Morris dancer recently: so busy I haven’t really had a chance to blog, so I really need to make an effort while I have a few spare minutes.