It isn't that often that we feel like getting up at the crack of dawn and disappearing into the mists and depths of the Sussex countryside to watch and participate in pagan rites however today we did. We were up at five a.m. then after a quick clean and feeding of the cats (and ourselves, I hasten to add!) we dashed down to Chanctonbury Ring, climbed hurriedly from the car park up to the top of the South Downs and waited for the Chanctonbury Ring Morris Men to arrive. It is their sixtieth anniversary and they were to perform at Chanctonbury Ring to celebrate May Day and to bring in the summer. Standing there at the top of the downs, shrouded in mist and with a very cold breeze blowing, it seemed like a very poor start to the summer but it was a very friendly bunch of people that we found ourselves amidst. Just down from the ring, a ewe had given birth to a lamb just a couple of minutes before we arrived (she still had the placenta tailing from her) and she was "chuckling" deep in her throat as she washed her newborn. The Morris struck up and along with several other photographers I was there to watch and capture the scene as this pagan rite went down. The audience (a dozen or so hardy souls) joined with the Morris to sing a traditional song to bring in the summer and then the Morris performed a new dance especially for us. It was all very magical and as the last notes from the accordion and flute fluttered away into the mist and the bells stopped their jingling, the sun showed briefly through the clouds and the newest born lamb struggled to its feet and made its way to the mother's udder. A totally magical moment and it made me wonder just how real paganism might actually be - or was it all just coincidence? Leaving the group to finish their conversations, Donna and I made it back down to the car before shooting off to Woking where we were due to meet with the Pain Management Team from the local NHS Hospital. They were holding a meeting at Woking Football Club's ground for their regular group of chronic pain sufferers. We had been invited along by one of our friends, who is part of this group of pain sufferers because they had been asked to come along with friends, relatives, supporters and work colleagues so that everyone could chip in with ideas on how chronic pain can be managed. It was a worthwhile session and I hope that our friend got as much out of it as I did. After that Donna and I risked a swift visit to Clandon House for a picnic lunch, talk and wander around the property before heading home. A long and weird day but one that has been strangely worthwhile. Comments are closed.
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May 2015
AuthorPaul Everest - Shining wit (at least that is what I think they said) |