Flora day

Been a busy week since my return to Cornwall. Found out the extent of the damage to the car, another one virtually written off by my ever considerate son. he smashed it into a granite post hard enough to smash in the front end, wing and crumple the bonnet. Airbag deployed so he must have been going at a fair rate.

Tuesday night after a few beers in town I fell up the stairs while carrying a pot of tea to my room before bed as the three light bulbs there were blown and had not been replaced. As the soon-to-be ex-wife (why it is still soon-to-be is beyond me at present) and son were over in the pub I had the childish idea that if they liked to live in the dark an not replace light bulbs then they could. I proceeded to remove all the bulbs in the downstairs rooms. Great fun to hear them stumbling around in the dark and cussing me for being home.

Wednesday was the pre Flora morris dancing by the bowling green performed by the Blue Anchor morris dancers, a collection of local professional people, my lawyer amongst them and other odd balls.

A fun evening and a few beers with mates in the Blue afterwards. Enjoyed myself so much I forgot the time and missed the last bus home. Ended up walking the 5 miles at around midnight. All the running on the treadmill in Islamabad has some benefits.

Thursday was the annual party in Helston - Flora Day. This happens every May 8th since forever, nobody really knows how long this ancient pagan ritual has been going, but safe to say probably over 1,000 years as it is a pre-christian ritual celebrating spring.

The locals dance through the streets led by the town band and the local dignitaries including the mayor Ronnie Williams. The early morning dances had the best of the weather so the children who dance at 11am and the midday dancers in their top hats and evening dresses were spared the worst. Here are some pictures from the 5pm dance. The guy waving is Chris a lad who once played football for me as a 12 year old and has probably been dancing the Flora since he was 5 years old.

Chris Cook waving

Helston Town Band

The Furry Dancers