Clutching at Straws

Went out to Whittlesey/Whittlesea (take your pick with the spelling: there's a point just before/after the BR station where it's possible to see two signs each with a different spelling) to see the burning of the bear at The Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival. Caught a handful of performances: sworddancers, Appalachian style dancers (very loose-limbed tap type dancing) and a group from New Jersay. We didn't see any of the German Bears but their clowns made an almost deafening contribution to the burning ceremony with many wooden rattles. Lots of folk music, a very fine euphonium player (Looby Loo was especially fascinated by him). Next year we'll get there on the Saturday as well and see the procession.

We came away from the burning (not a huge or lasting specatcle what with the nature of the materials and the strong winds) with a few wisps of straw--for luck--which we feel ought to be buried somewhere in either the garden or the plot to encourage new growth.