Tales of everyday life in the coastal village of Amble Bay
Nice little cafe isn’t it?Coffees all round Masie, please.
Masie’s twelve-year-old daughter is May Queen this year.
I was saying, your Violet is this year's May Queen Masie
She can’t hear over that hissing coffee machine, or see us through all that steam! Violet and her princesses will tour the village in a horse and carriage. Then she'll be crowned, plonked on a throne, then sit, bored, while her friends have fun!
We have two maypoles. One has four ribbons and the other twelve. The kids skip around plaiting them down the pole. Last year Charlotte took a wrong turn and got tied in a knot with Harry. It caused chaos!
Funny wasn't it Masie?
She still can't hear me. Arthur provides the music with his accordion; often the wrong tune but that's normal.
Have you seen Morris Dancing? Grown men and women hopping around in funny costumes banging sticks? Well, Arthur provides the music for them too.
There's also face painting, a coconut shy and rides on Greasy Gary’s miniature steam railway. Talking of steam...
... how long’s that coffee going to be Masie?
... how long’s that coffee going to be Masie?
I took this at my local May Fayre last year - honestly!
*As we have no challenge Sunday I have written 100 words in a totally different style to prove I really can be serious if I put my mind to it! It's called Picture in a Frame and it's right HERE
I'm on Neighbourhood Watch duty Monday, and you are coming with me! Don't be late!
To read a brief description of Amble Bay and see a scribbled map just click HERE
May Day is no longer celebrated here as it was when I was a child. We loved filling tiny decorated baskets with candy and leaving them on the doorsteps for our friends to find. I miss those simple joys of childhood, everything is so much more complicated and expensive now.
ReplyDeleteHappily, it still is in my town. It's one of my favourite days of the year.
DeleteHi Keith - it's good to see some villages keeping up our traditions of yore. Wonderful story telling here again - I don't think I've ever seen a maypole dance ... but the thought of them is so much fun ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeletehttp://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/m-is-for-melton-mowbray-market-national.html
Bexhill Old Town has a May Fair complete with a maypole (hence my photo!) but I've not seen it advertised so far this year. I hope it'still happening.
DeleteI was just about to ask if May Day is still celebrated with may poles etc, when I scrolled down to the picture. It's good that 'quaint' traditions have survived. I like those connections to the past.
ReplyDeleteThey certainly do still exist in villages all over the UK, and long may (no pun intended) they do so!
DeleteWe celebrate May Day in a very different way here in South Africa. For us, May 1 is a political holiday, when businesses close for the day. Happy Easter! M is for Marketing Methods as you Build a Better Blog. #AtoZchallenge.
ReplyDeleteI didn't kmow that! So no dancing round a pole for you then!
DeleteLovely, happy times. And the steam from the coffee machine is just hilarious. And she just keeps talking. Maybe Maisie is not listening on purpose.
ReplyDeleteKnowing Masie you could be right! Cheers Val
DeleteNice! I have to ask, what is a coconut shy? Happy Blogging!
ReplyDeletehttp://darlamsands.blogspot.com/
It's a traditional game that we always play at fetes and fairs. You have a row of coconuts on metal posts and you get 3 wooden balls to throw at them. Any you knock off, you keep! Fancy a go?
DeleteThis reminded me of all the fall festivals I attended as a child. Girl Who Reads
ReplyDeleteThey are still such an important feature of country life here, not just in May but the year round. Thanks Donna.
DeleteTaking me back to memories of dancing round the May Pole. Those coffees took a while. This one's got lots of sugar in it. Balances the strength of the coffee. Didn't dare ask for a cappuccino.
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying popping by Amble Bay.
Of course you can be serious, that's a great story too. Enjoy tomorrow, see you Monday.
Nice to take coffee with you! Do you not still dance around maypoles?!! I'm pleased you are enjoying Amble Bay. Not the prettiest village but it's got character - and characters!
DeleteI always wanted to dance around a maypole. Now I want to attend this May Fair. How Fun!
ReplyDeleteTrudy @ Reel Focus
Food in Film: Meatloaf
You are in luck Trudy - there is one spare ribbon! Cheers!
DeleteSuch a fun village :-) Happy A-to-Z-ing.
ReplyDeleteWe do like a bitta' fun! Thanks Ronel
DeleteWill have to come back and read your other post when I get through all these email notifications! :D
ReplyDeleteCalen~
Impromptu Promptlings
A to Z Challenge Letter L
Drive you mad don't they! Cheers Calen~
DeleteMorris Dancing. Just plain weird. See you Monday!
ReplyDeleteI used to have them perform in my pub garden regularly. In the winter they performed Mummers Plays in the bar - equally wierd!
DeleteWe never really celebrated May Day while I was growing up. My mother used to tell me about the activities they has when she was a kid. We really could use more fun holidays!
ReplyDelete~Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
#AtoZChallenge 1970's Billboard Hits
We should never allow those old traditions to die out. The kids here love it, and we could all do with a bit of light relief in these troubled times
DeleteYour story is rife with atmosphere. I can just picture the whole scene! May Day celebrations were big in Germany when I lived there, but here in North America, there's little of that going on, except in ethnic neighbourhoods. Happy Long Weekend!
ReplyDeleteDebbie @ THE DOGLADY'S DEN
Latest Post: MAMY BLUE: When true love bloomed
Thank you so much for reading my bog and for yor comment which is very interesting.
DeleteGreat post. I love flash fiction. You don't hear much about May Day nowadays, but I have a daughter who celebrates it.
ReplyDeleteLong may she do so. It's a wonderful tradition.
DeleteI have never seen May Day celebrated, nor Morris dancing. Sounds super energetic and fun. Off to check out your other post now.
ReplyDeleteNilanjana
Madly-in-Verse
Morris Dancing is crazy! It's a rural tradition that goes back in history. It's performed at fetes, fairs and on just about every country pub car park at sonetime during each summer.
DeleteAh, where has the Maypole gone. I remember we used to have one at school, but not anymore. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteYou need to start a campaign to get them restored Jacqui!
DeleteWe don't have the fun of a Maypole here, the tradition never quite caught on. It does sound like fun, tough.
ReplyDeleteUm, sorry, it should read "that does sound like fun, though." It's one of those times i hit enter too fast, sorry.
DeleteIt is fun and the kids so enjoy it. May it never die out here.
DeleteAt my day job, we have something that steams drinks and this reminded me of how loud it is. It's like a banshee wail. LOL
ReplyDelete~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author
A perfect descripion Patricia! The drinks are always nice though.
Deletethis is a lovely tradition and I always enjoy reading about it in every book it is mentioned as well as watching it (so far only on TV or online sadly)..
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful to watch. Not long to go now! Thanks For dropping by.
DeleteMay Fair is buzzing with fun and excitement. Maypole... that's interesting, wonder why we dont have such a thing in our part of the world.
ReplyDeleteDancing round maypole was originally anancient fertility ritual. Perhaps it was never deemed necessary in your country! Thanks Shilpa
DeleteIs there any property coming on the market in Amble Bay? I'm ready to move in!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I can find you a cottage! Cheers John.
Deleteohh that's nice - we have a May Day - which is a labour day and a general holiday!
ReplyDeleteTina
It's also known as Pinch Bum Day here!Thanks Tina
DeleteA traditional May Fair - what fun! I've seen Morris Dancers - the dancing is actually very skillful - once you get past smiling and wincing at their costumes! :)
ReplyDeleteSusan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
DeleteIt is quite fun though I can't imagine doing it myself!
I live in a village, too - the May Fayre is always held at the primary school and raises much needed funds... it is held in conjunction with the dick peace where hundreds of yellow, plastic ducks, some decorated for a competition by villagers, some decorated by the businesses in the village, are thrown into the brook running outside the school. First to the bridge is the winner. The maypole happens at the end of the fair -the village fair takes place later in the year without maypole but with steam in the form of engines which often play music... it is fun, village life!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lizbrownleepoet.com Extraordinary women
That's amazing! I love village life, and being the landlord of the only pub meant I was right in the centre of everything that happened, fron bonfire night to hunt. Thanks for reminding me of the tadional way to spell Fayre, even though you got dick and duck confused!
DeleteOh, my goodness - the dick piece, that sounds positively disgusting. I meant, of course the duck race. Blooming autocorrect.
ReplyDeleteAutocorrect...can't live without it, can't live with it!
DeleteI think our local Ren Faire has a May Pole, even though it's not open in May.
ReplyDeleteSandra Ulbrich Almazan, Science Fiction/Fantasy Author
I need to investigate the Ren Faire. Not heard of that one. Thanks for drpoping in Sandra.
DeleteLovely that your village keeps up that tradition! I can't remember when I last saw a maypole. We do have the annual Gala Day, like many Scottish towns, with a Gala Queen and court. They tour the town in cars, not carriages, but it's a great day out.
ReplyDeleteI can only speak for the south east of England but it is still a feature of many a villages year here. I'm in Scotland next month, I must ask my daughter if they have a Gala Day in her village! I'd love to learn more about it
DeleteMay day is so different in our country. Never have we celebrated so beautifully.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing
Well, there an idea for you! Thanks DeeDee
DeleteMay fairs are fun! We do maypole dancing in Sweden too. No Morris dancing, but there is the frog dance...
ReplyDeleteA to Z 2017: Magical and Medicinal Herbs
I'll swap with you! Cheers Sara.
DeleteSomehow I missed this on Saturday, but I've always thought a May Fair would be fun - well, at least I did as a kid.
ReplyDeleteThey are - even for adults! Cheers Denise
ReplyDelete