A short story left over from the last post

I was going to add this story at the end of the last post but got cut short by the library computers time allowance.

When we were praising Quba for his ability to fetch Alison told us a story about another dog. This dog's owner was taken ill in the bath and sent his dog to get help. As taught the dog went to the neighbour's house and attracted their attention and they called an ambulance. The dog, realising that something was still wrong from all the commotion going on around him, and unnoticed by the adults who were now in charge  proceeded to work his way through a list of other commonly used commands and by the time the ambulance arrived had rounded up the mobile phone, the TV remote and a four pack of lager and laid them out neatly by the bath.

Quiet summer

It's been a quiet summer thanks to our "friends" at TVP but nevertheless we've been out a few times to organised events, but no roughing it on the streets. 

Morris dancing at Holy Trinity, Headington.





Firstly was Holy Trinity fete. After missing for a couple of years due to calendar clashes we were back this year and pleased to be there. The day started dull and damp but a window in the clouds from just after one till about five gave us a dry afternoon.  All the usual stalls for a church fete with the Morris dancers giving a good performance.





At the end of the afternoon we got an invitation to a street party the following weekend just a few yards up the road. Another fine afternoon in spite of the forecast.

Finally another good day at Banbury, down on Castle Quay along with the roundabout and bouncy castle. We were collecting for the mayor's charity "Dogs for the disabled"

http://www.dogsforthedisabled.org/



Quba

 Takings were noticeably up all the time we had one of their helpers.

In the morning it was Quba who made himself extremely useful fetching back any leaflets that blew away in the wind, something many of the dogs do for their owners. 

... Got to go, out of time at the library. another picture and a story to add some other time.  



Jubilee Weekend

Botley (West Oxford

First time out since Christmas and altogether a busy weekend. After a final tweak to the tuning on Thursday she sounded absolutely awful in the morning while I was loading the car, that’s what comes of tuning in the lounge on a sunny afternoon then leaving her in the entrance overnight. Never mind, worst case scenario see what happens when we get there and deal with the worst of it on the spot.

Friday afternoon we were at the West Oxford Community Centre for the Farmer’s and Community Market. This is a new venture on this site, the weather held up and Rosie behaved. A quick test and she sounded perfect , no need for any attention. Set up and take a tea break. 

Congratulations to the organisers, this venture deserves to succeed. Maybe not too many stalls but that will increase as word gets round and those that were there were first class, quality produce and goods. Other similar ventures could learn from here though to be fair the other market I know well, at Oxford Castle, is pretty good too. Others rate a diplomatic silence though I haven’t actually been to that many.

 

Sunday was intended to be a day out busking on the street, probably in Headington, but morning rain made me think twice about it and in the end a good book and hot bath in the afternoon won out.

 

Blockley

  
On Monday we were at Blockley, a beautiful village near Morton in the Marsh. Although we had covering to work under the rain kept off and it wasn’t really needed. As an ex music teacher I liked the kids singing – WELL DONE. The dog show must have been good but I didn’t get to look in. Lots of happy looking dogs and owners about though. 

Plenty of stalls,  good food and drink and a parade to kick it all off. No pictures of the parade as I was too busy watching and forgot to take any.  I did manage this shot of the “Queen” and a friend later on, also one of the “Queen” turning the handle. Rosie – by Royal Appointment.

 Sunningwell

Tuesday was Sunningwell Festival,

http://www.sunningwell.com/index.php/Festival/

which is actually much longer than just the Jubilee weekend. The weather wasn’t kind but the gazebo provided kept the show on the road. See their own web site for more about the festival as a whole. Tuesday  was devoted to watching the Service on a large screen followed by lunch, unfortunately indoors because of the reign. Another dog show in the afternoon which again I missed as we were earning our keep outside the village hall but lots of happy wagging later on says this one too went well. The dogs didn't seem to mind the rain. Sorry, no pictures as I left the camera behind but another good day. The evening concert, Spiers and Boden on the pond was first class. Not my usual style but makes me wonder what I’ve been missing. Look them up if they’re near you.

http://www.spiersandboden.com/index1.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiers_and_Boden

Warming up for the season

The best laid plans and so on...

Rosie has had her "annual" - all minor repair made, paintwork and polish touched up and tuning done. All ready for the new season and we'd planned to get out a bit at the weekends while the weather was good. Well, it's all our fault, every day we considered going out since then it has rained. Now it's always been our boast that we've never been rained off so we need to word this boast carefully in future. We've never been rained off on the day for any booked appearance, not going out in the first place for a bit of impromptu busking is another matter.

A few changes to the diary.
Livestock festival has been called off for this year. a pity because it sounded right up our street.
Bloxham isn't Bloxham at all it's Blockley, Glos. Blame it on my memory, trying to write this in the library without the diary to consult. the date was right though, June 4th.

Summingwell is still on on the 5th, and we've a possible locally for the 3rd, but nothing confirmed yet..

We're hoping to be at a couple of BOGA events http://www.melright.com/boga/ and at Banbury in September. Other than that local event are still in the planning stage but if invited we'll be there. apart from that look out for us on a street corner in the Oxford area.

No real organ news. Rosie has been taking a rest. Apart from a few "tarting up" jobs early in the new year nothing much has been done. I've a few litte jobs on the list but plenty of time yet before our first booking of the year.

Look out for us over the bank holiday weekend in June. Monday 4th at a street party in Bloxham and Tuesday 5th at the festival in Sunningwell (near Abingdon). 

Later in the year we'll be at the "Livestock Festival on Sunday 5th August.  http://www.livestockfestival.co.uk/.
Check their website, it's not about sheep and cattle though I believe there will  be llamas.

"Putting the boot into boutique festival, Livestock is a musical grand tour.

"A lazy weekend’s hoedown in a field. Fine food, local ales and great company.

"Exceptional performers from around the world.

"A heap of fun for kids, with all kinds of activities, animals and old tractors.

"Get off the beaten track and join us. Tickets available here soon."

I've updated the page for Beauty4Brokenness. Our friend Jenny has just reurned to South Africa for a while and sent the news letter appended here.