Well, that was Broadstairs Folk week that was. It started miserably for the campers with thunder, lightning, torrential rain and tent-busting winds. The technical team were at full stretch holding down flying tents - even the 500-seat concert marquee had to be double-stayed - and getting some 20 cars moved from under a large tree in danger of falling after a major branch had been torn off and dropped onto a Vauxhall Corsa. Fortunately the Corsa was an old dog which had already been damaged by a (different) tree falling onto it, so that was all right... The torchlight procession was cancelled, for only the second time in 40 years, as were most of the outside events over the first three days. The Hobby-horse club went ahead though, as the stalwarts who run it preferred performing without a PA whilst soaked to the skin to disappointing thousands of children. Fortunately the vast majority of the events were held indoors. All the pubs, clubs, schools, - even the Methodist church - were full to bursting and the entertainment was second to none.
High points, for me, were the brilliant Tim Edey (www.timedey.com) - people here remember him as an eight-year old hardly able to see over his melodeon in the workshops and now he's a world-class virtuoso - and the astonishing Mal Webb (www.malwebb.com), who can do more amazing things with his mouth than a thousand pound whore (and is much more fun to watch and listen to...)
Other notable events were the Black Voices acapella singers - even better than Sweet Honey in the Rock, and simply gorgeous - and a workshop teaching 'How to call a Reindeer without using Words', which was a hoot.

Deadbeat Games
A couple of deadbeat games have come to my attention since last month. Staircase sledding involves, as you would expect, sliding down on a mattress, sleeping bag or (for the brave and foolhardy) a tray.
Seagull tennis is a darker (probably illegal as well as cruel) game which can be played on any seafront with a bag of chips in one hand and a tennis racquet in the other... (please don't. Or don't blame me if you do).
Please keep 'em coming!

Story for the month:
This was told to me a long time ago, but hey..
There was a couple whose daughter was approaching her second birthday. Mummy wanted another child soon, so that the age gap between them wouldn't be too great. Daddy thought that they didn't have enough money until he got promoted, but mummy realised that there would always be a reason to delay. So taking matters into her own hands she sabotaged all the condoms in the house and had him away before noon on April 1st. Matters culminated with her chortling 'Ha ha, you've been had - April fool!'.
Nine months later (all but 5 days) and there I was...
I think this explains a lot.

Off to Headcorn now for the delicious Small World festy. Expecting rain, but your intrepid reporter will battle through.

Cheers

Deadbeat