Bringing in the May

Today is Walpurgisnacht, or May eve. Tomorrow comes the May. Beltane fires will burn in Edinburgh; ‘Obby osses will parade in Padstow. In Birmingham, someone may remark upon the rain.

There appears to be something of a dearth of traditional festival celebrations in the second city and immediate surrounds. It’s a tad depressing, really. All I’m asking for is a big bonfire, a bit of May blossom and a ruckus on the village green. Instead, I shall settle for a candle lit to ward away the evil spirits (that whiskey isn’t getting back out until the weekend!).

The herald of May means, of course, that April is all but done. It was pretty wet, except for one freakishly warm week. In this month I presented what will probably turn out to be the last of my local history talks on ‘Prostitution in Victorian Lichfield’ – unless, of course, there is any demand for a more general, shorter version, which might be attactive to, say, steampunks, for example. I also went to see the band Marillion. They’ve been around for some time – since the early 80’s at least – and I went to accompany a friend rather than out of my own choice. But you know what? They were a blimming good live act. Singer Steve Hogarth’s voice is just too big to be contained on a recording. Live music is often much better recorded music for this very reason – less clinical, more energetic. Get out and see a live act or two, and see if you agree! (Some music with my Beltane bonfire & village green ruckus would also be much appreciated…).

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Marillion – yes, the name does come from Tolkein’s ‘Silmarillion’.

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Walpurgisnacht Moon – today’s painting attempt

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Marillion again – view from the gods (no soup, though)* *Soup of the Gods – This is Jinsy