Hattie and I doing selfies
I've had the best of nights last night!!!
The folk weekend in Trelawnyd is something I've never done before, so I pulled up my bra straps and took myself off by myself to see what all the fun was about.
I had just bought myself a cider ( I never drink cider!!!) when a Scottish fiddle player Ryan Young and a guitar player Jenn Butterworth started a traditional duelling banjo type of set.
It was magical
I was transported immediately to that scene in Whisky Galore when Gordon Jackson's straight laced mother attended a ceiligh and as the music built in its intensity she drank the whisky left out on the shelf and enjoyed herself.
I downed another cider,...
As the pace of the fiddle increased, the crowd stamped their feet on the village hall's floor, and I stamped too, loving every minute of it, especially liking the experience as I recognised the crowd as " my people" , a few hundred scruffy bastards dancing and clapping under the felt bunting without guile and with a great deal of good humour
I saw lots of people I knew. Cameron, his mum and dad, The Manley's...Pippa ( who complained she could hear the harp!) and eventually met my fellow choir member Hattie who took me by the hand and told me I had to stand at the front of the crowd to listen to Sam Kelly and The Lost Boys who sang a collection of songs which included Cornish language ballads, Welsh and Irish foot tappers and a lovely Canadian Greenland Whale shanty.
After this Cameron's mum told me she had some news for the blog
She had a 5 foot foxglove in her garden
I told her I would photograph it today xx
The night finished around eleven after Cameron had bounced around dancing with a dozen others in
front of the stage and the air was cool and refreshing on the village green after the confines of the concert.
Hattie waved her goodbyes as I sat for a moment on the benches my Flower Show bought for the village to use some years ago now.
And I let the night's dew cool my face
And I thought......to myself ...with some slightly drunken pride....
I am home......
I had just bought myself a cider ( I never drink cider!!!) when a Scottish fiddle player Ryan Young and a guitar player Jenn Butterworth started a traditional duelling banjo type of set.
It was magical
I was transported immediately to that scene in Whisky Galore when Gordon Jackson's straight laced mother attended a ceiligh and as the music built in its intensity she drank the whisky left out on the shelf and enjoyed herself.
I downed another cider,...
As the pace of the fiddle increased, the crowd stamped their feet on the village hall's floor, and I stamped too, loving every minute of it, especially liking the experience as I recognised the crowd as " my people" , a few hundred scruffy bastards dancing and clapping under the felt bunting without guile and with a great deal of good humour
I saw lots of people I knew. Cameron, his mum and dad, The Manley's...Pippa ( who complained she could hear the harp!) and eventually met my fellow choir member Hattie who took me by the hand and told me I had to stand at the front of the crowd to listen to Sam Kelly and The Lost Boys who sang a collection of songs which included Cornish language ballads, Welsh and Irish foot tappers and a lovely Canadian Greenland Whale shanty.
After this Cameron's mum told me she had some news for the blog
She had a 5 foot foxglove in her garden
I told her I would photograph it today xx
The night finished around eleven after Cameron had bounced around dancing with a dozen others in
front of the stage and the air was cool and refreshing on the village green after the confines of the concert.
Hattie waved her goodbyes as I sat for a moment on the benches my Flower Show bought for the village to use some years ago now.
And I let the night's dew cool my face
And I thought......to myself ...with some slightly drunken pride....
I am home......
It was lovely to read that you enjoyed yourself and had a good time! It seems your village has taken you into their heart and thus you are home! And it is that way for your blog readers too: you are home with us!
ReplyDeleteIt could not have come at a better time Mary x
DeleteThe unexpected is always the best. I love folk music and it is impossible not to tap your toes and have great time.
ReplyDeleteYou are home, John, but you always knew that.
Bravo, John.
ReplyDeleteYou are indeed home.
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant 'do'. Good music, cider, and great company - so good that you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteMichelle in Wellington, NZ
Beautiful. Recognizing happiness is as important as finding it.
ReplyDeleteWow I love that toe tapping music John what a fun event and that sense of belonging as you said among your people a feeling of home, nothing better than that I reckon.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good Celt core in ya, John.
ReplyDeleteThis may not be true for you but realising you've been living a lie for years comes as a shock (accompanied by a feeling of relief) for many many people.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you made down the twisty turny rocky road to a place called home.
How bloody marvelous to hear you sounding so ebullient, buoyant, effervescent, and all the other 'ents.' Not only are you home but YOU are back as well. Good on ya!
ReplyDeleteYou needed that John. I just love your writing. The imagery! Teardrops now.
ReplyDeleteHome is a good place to be:)
ReplyDeleteLovely !
ReplyDeleteI am so happy you are doing these great things !
parsnip xx
Yes! Oh yes!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that looks and sounds!
ReplyDeleteYou are home and you are loved more than you can know x when I get some holidays I would love to come and meet you x
ReplyDeleteAnd this is why you shouldn't leave; you'd miss it all too much.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I thought the prof sounded too prissy and image conscious for you. Life is to enjoy whenever we can. Congratulations on having fun.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think your comment is insulting to both John and his husband. I assume you never met John's husband. You should remember that he was exactly that, his husband, a man he married because they were in love. How would you like it if someone called your husband "prissy and image conscious"?
Delete
ReplyDeleteYou are at home, and it feels wonderful. you deserve it
.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful place to call home. Your happiness is infectious ... I felt like I was right beside you with a cider in hand and stomping my feet to the music as I read this post. Enjoyed the music clips. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to find our people. And to recognize it!
ReplyDeleteThat was a pleasant evening.
ReplyDeleteMakes me wish I had someplace like yours to call home!
ReplyDeleteAnd the certainty of that will push you forward
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you went and enjoyed the folk music in your amazing village, your home.
ReplyDeleteWhisky Galore is a particular favourite film of my husbands and mine.
A few tears, happy ones for you, as I read this. x
ReplyDeleteAlison from Shropshire.
I wish I'd been there. Sounds like my kind of night.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping you will find a way to stay there, if you want to. Simply can't imagine you anywhere else. Janxx
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! x
ReplyDeleteMy oh my! Really letting your hair down! Now DO give a warning if you're going to let anything else down! :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat feeling, being part of a crowd of good natured people having a great time - especially when they are YOUR people. Do you get more tonight?
ReplyDeleteI wanted to join you......
ReplyDeleteSounds like a really fun evening, so glad for you. x
ReplyDeleteThis sounded like a really fun evening.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like it was a great night!
ReplyDeleteSomebody commented that the unexpected is always more fun and they may be right. Glad you had fun 😎
XoXo
Gosh John, that brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes. You've found your people ... they are usually found in unexpected moments and places. ♥️
ReplyDeleteI would have loved that concert. Kudos to the organisers! And yes - you certainly are "home" in Trelawnyd. With the new hospice job you need to fight to stay in your cottage.
ReplyDeleteFor the village, there lies within your heart.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a magical evening. So glad you went and so glad you’re a part of that.
ReplyDeleteEuphoric music! Thanks for the clips. A place you've embraced and put heart into (the Flower Show), where you feel truly at home, accepted, and can be yourself among friends, a blessing indeed. xx
ReplyDeleteLovely post. And thanks for the Whisky Galore reference. A movie I loved and now want to see again.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Home amongst your folk... what better place to be.
ReplyDeleteLXX
"I am home" ... what a perfect ending. The very ending we expect of any self respecting fairy tale.
ReplyDeleteCan I ask you a question which sort of begs for an answer: Unless it's a trick of the light why is your hand (assuming it is your hand with the wrist band) so blue and bruised?
U
Ask an innocent question, get a loaded answer.
DeleteI have often wondered why gays are called "fairies" when their humour (at least among themselves) appears to be pretty robust.
U
how very dare you mave!
DeleteThere's nothing like a folk festival for good, clean, rousing fun!
ReplyDeleteAh, John xx
ReplyDeleteNothing better than a good jig!! Welcome back, John!
ReplyDeleteAh, such a pleasure to read and be transported there in our imaginations. All elements perfectly aligned, and simple fun, good music, craic and great company affecting to remind you of important truths. Smashing
ReplyDeleteThis makes my heart happy for you.
ReplyDeleteSimply lovely. Not everyone gets to feel at home. Some will never know the feeling.
ReplyDeletethat music calls to my welsh roots! does this mean you are staying in the cottage? i know it sounds weird but i think a lot of us wish you will stay there.
ReplyDeleteThose videos are brilliant. I enjoyed your writing about the event along with the videos - it was a 5 minute visit and I wish it could have been longer.
ReplyDeletethank you jill
DeleteWhat a delight to venture out and to find you're having a whale of a good time with many like-minded friends! Toe tapping music, indeed.
ReplyDeleteIt's bliss to find yourself surrounded by home.
Hugs!
Life is fleeting. At those moments at the end you so aptly describe, it's good to be alive!! So very happy you enjoyed a well deserved great evening. May there be many more! I, too, hope with all my heart that it means you'll be staying in your home.
ReplyDeletestill watch this space ruth
DeleteWe're all watching, John! Don't keep us in suspense! :)
DeleteForty years ago I moved to a small village next to the army base where my husband was posted. Now, two husbands are gone, my children are grown. My grandchildren are having children. My only family is 250 miles away, but I AM HOME. Home is where we love. Sometimes a night like yours shows us.
ReplyDeleteit also shows the importance of trying something new eh?
DeleteIt's good to be home.
ReplyDeleteThat's where I want to be.
Thank you Hattie for dragging John out on the floor.
ReplyDeleteIt's a real pleasure to see you having fun and loving life again. And things are going to keep going up from here--wait and see. In another year or two I predict that you'll be living your best life yet!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI just hate going to things on my own but now I live in a small community it is getting easier.
ReplyDeleteThis reminded me of the Barn Dances we used to go to. We would both be up A&E now if we attempted one whirl, lol
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
Being home is the best feeling of all.
ReplyDeleteJohn - I am sending you a hug.
ReplyDeleteAnd may to you remain among your people for many more years.
ReplyDeleteNice. Live music has a way of stirring your heart. There is something primal of being with a group of people enjoying good tunes.
ReplyDeleteA good live music show can do just this -- unite the crowd in a sense of common, positive feeling. Sounds like a wonderful evening. I'm glad you're among your people.
ReplyDeleteReally glad for you. Jxx
ReplyDeleteTrying new things is so good for the soul. Cider indeed!! I love folk music, it is in our genes. I wish I had the confidence to play my flute at a folk festival. Maybe one day. x
ReplyDeleteYou can always mentor us for this years flower show
ReplyDeleteWonderful! My type of evening x
ReplyDelete