We’ve been ‘moving in’ to our new Bishops Castle home for a month now; more an ongoing state of flux than a settling in. There’s a lot to do and for months ahead, including work on roof and chimneys. And so not a little frazzled, it was a relief to abandon the house and head for the streets.
Yesterday was Michaelmas Fair day. Time to find out what kind of a town we’d moved to. Time to mingle with our new community and connect. After all, it’s what humans most need beyond basic sustenance – connection. And when we think we don’t (because there’s just too much to do), it’s probably when we need it most.
Proceedings kicked off at noon with street stalls and roaming performers, bands on the Town Hall stage; classic cars lined up on the High Street – primped and prepped; fleet of steam traction engines huffing coaly steam in the cattle market, waiting on the 3 o’ clock grand parade.
But as you can see, it was a dull old day – autumnal mist and drizzle plus intermittent showers, so we dipped in and out of the afternoon’s programme, met some new neighbours, reprised earlier introductions (yes, I do remember your name), bought a very fine rudbeckia, caught the Shropshire Bedlams Morris Dancers, but then listened to Jane the town’s singing florist (much amplified) while installing the new plant in the front garden. It was the evening’s events we wanted to go to.
The Lantern Procession began at 7.45. We stood at the top of the town to welcome it, wondering why the street was so sparse in humanity. (Was everyone in the pub? It surely looked like it. The nearby Vaults inn was full to bursting). And then down the hill the drumming began. Then out of the gloaming, the sinuous twists and twirls of the Hung Gar Light Dragon. And strung out behind him, the town’s lantern-bearing children and all their friends and relations.
Now we understood. Most of Bishops Castle had been busy making lanterns in the Church Barn. They were all in the procession. What a throng.
And so as the dragon and Chinese drummers climbed the hill, so the Broseley Beats Samba Band struck up at the top. (I wish we’d discovered them when were living Broseley). A drumming play off then, the beats ripping from toe to crown. No choice. The body says, DANCE!
Then just when we thought the show over, the dragon came whiffling back round the Town Hall, heading off down the hill. Followed by the samba band. Followed by us and everyone else, the descent choreographed by the drummers, stopping at intervals to give a bravado performance.
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When we reached the King’s Head at the bottom of the town, we (somewhat astonished) came on a line-up of several steaming traction engines outside the pub door. What a hoot, and literally too. One owner was a tad whistle-happy. I trust he wasn’t driving home.
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So there you have it, a fine finale to the Michaelmas Fair. All good spirits restored. And a taste of good things to come? I should think so.
Lens-Artists: recharge This week Egidio sets the theme as he hikes Colorado’s fabulous trails.
You seem to have moved into a vibrant and energetic community. No wonder your batteries are being recharged!
It was certainly an eye-opener, Margaret. So much creative stuff going on.
Shropshire seems to be like that. I’ve been impressed.
What a quaint and fun town you’ve moved into Tish. I think there’s more good times to come.
Thank you, Anne. I think we may well have made a good choice 🙂
I agree and I’m looking forward to seeing more.
The less we think we have time for, the more we need it Tish! You chose the perfect opportunity to “get away from it all” and how special that it was in your own backyard!! It looks like a great time was had by all, especially the participants! Terrific post for the challenge.
Many thanks, Tina. It was a fun evening.
Tish, how fun this must have been. Your photos show a lot about the event. Great captures. Thanks for sharing and being a part of this week’s Lens-Artists challenge.
Many thanks, Egidio. You came up with a very thoughtful challenge.
What a lovely start both to the autumn and to your lives in Bishop’s Castle, Tish!
You would think that the necessity of community and connection and the Commons is something everyone knows about. Imagine then my sadness when my new neighbour (30’s) thanked me in astonishment for my (ordinary) neighbourliness. Neighbour on the other side (30’s) denied that our species is defined by community and altruism among other things. Something has changed.
So I am very glad for your Michaelmas festivities and all…….
Many thanks for your comment, Sarah.
It’s maybe a simplistic conclusion, or maybe spot-on, but it seems to me that the generations below us think they’re connecting via their smart phones. But obviously (to us) it simply isn’t the same as physical contact/interaction. The social network forum is anyway always remote, and in every sense.
Just been watching some on-line series on trauma and anxiety, and the neuro-scientists come back to it again and again: human well being – mental, physical and spiritual requires positive social/community interaction in order to heal and thrive. If we lose this connective facility, or fail to see the value, we’re prey to those who would manipulate us from politicians down.
and a good time was had by all
Very definitely it was, Thom. The local taverns did a good trade too. Apparently the Six Bells at the bottom of the hill was drunk dry by 9 pm, the first time in living memory. They still brew their own too.
I am so glad you are feeling “at home”. Fun time seem to be part of the new.
Many thanks, Beverly.
Just what the doctor ordered! Not one but two Chinese dragons dancing up a storm. Go Tish! Go Graham! Work will keep till tomorrow.
Cheers. Jo. Communing with dragons: there’s much to be said for it 🙂
🤣🐉🩷
What a wonderful and high energy welcome
This was a grand and wonderful way to meet your community and enjoy a celebration. It sounds like a perfect day!
It was a happy day, Jennie.
I’m so glad!
what a jolly! Looks like a good spot you’ve chosen to settle (after the upheavals of moving in and putting right) – lots of community. (I have to rehearse names in my head after introductions and still they can slip away!)
p.s. was intrigued by the dragon. At first I thought it was one that had crept over the border from Wales but Hung Gar dragon is one of the animal qigong moves. I’m wondering what the oriental twist to the story is.
The Hung Gar dragon – I’m only guessing, Laura, but I think it might reside at Dragon’s Lair Chinese-Thai restaurant in the Market Square.
beware takeaways in 2024 then – year of the dragon – my birth sign!
Ha! Warning noted.
And now I’ve found it’s my birth year too. The Wood Dragon it seems in 2024.
as its our Ben Ming Nian birth year animal we should wear red underwear for luck – beyond that I have not gone!!
Red knickers – that’s more than enough to ponder on 😉
What a fabulous event to welcome you to your new town, full of colour and tradition! I’m guessing this time next year you’ll be making lanterns in the barn too 🙂
I think you may well be right about the lantern making, Sarah 🙂
So there you have it indeed! A tidy way to see what the town and community are like just like that. Looks fantastic. (Much amplified.) like what you said about needing the contact of others especially when we think we don’t. There’s a kernel of wisdom I’ll cover for some time. Thanks for sharing this gorgeous Sunday scene with us Tish!
Many thanks, Bill. Happy new week to you.
That’s a rather nice way to get acquainted with the town. I didn’t know Michaelmas was such a big thing.
I don’t think it usually is a big thing, I.J. – apart from in elite academic institutions wherein Michaelmas term is the first term of the teaching year. I’m guessing though that in the past rural farming communities may well have had Michaelmas related activities. For one thing, I think it was a commonly established rent payment day, like Lady Day at the end of March.
A wonderful way to get a good feel for a community. Traditional events are great to experience but difficult to photograph. You’ve done well.
Many thanks, Sofia. And yes, lots of difficulties on the photographing front, bad light not the least of them. But then the shots ended up with a dreamy look which seems appropriate.
What a brilliant event, Tish, and a great post to show it off. You’ve definitely made a great move!
Thanks, Sue. And yes. I think we made a good choice 🙂
Which is always a relief…I did, when I moved here
Glad you found a good spot too, Sue.
Thanks, Tish
what a charming and definitely fun town you moved into! loved the dragon dance video!
Thanks, Lola. That Light Dragon was quite something to behold on the High Street 🙂
Oh what fun! I would absolutely love this. What a welcome to your new town.
Alison
It was a good welcome, Alison.
Great photos. Dragons are magical.
Dragons are definitely magical, John 🙂
oh gosh! I smiled and laughed through this whole read. This first time at Michalemas Fair will surely be your favorite, as the surprises will never be the same, but oooooo what you have to look forward to. I believe you have made the connections you needed. My favorite photo was the people with the bells on their knees. Loved it all, Tish. A great addition to what recharges us.
Many thanks, Donna, for that lovely, affirming comment.
So colorful, Tish! It looks like a fun event.
It was a fun intro to our new home town, Siobhan.