Guardians of The Lambsfoot!

[cigarrodog]

Thanks Harvey, the performances don't last long, and we managed to find a spot where we could see the play, standing on a wall. There were so many people in front of us though, that it made taking photos difficult, and we were also a long way off. Those taking photos usually either get themselves a perch, or kneel down at the front, but this year, one amateur snapper, who turned up halfway through, elbowed his way to the front, and then stood way out in front of everyone else, close to the players, throughout. There was no way to avoid him unfortunately, and it was impossible to get a good photo with him there. He must have spoilt the view for a lot of the kids. I did manage to crop him out of a few pics, but that meant cropping some of the players out too.

Looks like a great end to the week Taylor

Good morning Guardians, I hope everyone is having a fine weekend, and if you haven't seen it, make sure you check out Steve @draggat 's generous Hartshead Barlow giveaway I'm heading out for a short hike with my slingshot, so I need to get a shave, and get my things together. I'll hopefully, catch up with y'all later in the day, but have a great Saturday I'm carrying some stag and Damascus

Hard to ignore and work around the rude individual. I do these days, because you never know what confrontation will result. Stunning portrait of your Barlow and Coin, Jack. Have a good one.

Good Morning Guardians
Another rainy day here, which is GREAT!

I bet you’re singing in that much needed rain, Splendid image of your Charlie Lamb, John,

Good Morning Guardians

 

[WhittlinAway]

Good Morning Guardians

So much more than breakfast right there!

Like my friend JohnDF said, it's been raining and I'm not complaining!

 

[JohnDF]

Splendid image of your Charlie Lamb, John,

Thank you, Harvey.

Fantastic picture, Harvey.
And I can have donuts again... Now I really want one!

Indeeded and needed.
Great shot of your Lambsfoot, Greg.

 

[Jack Black]

Looks like you had a very interesting day Jack. Very nice photo of your HHB too.

Good morning Guardians. Cooler temperatures to start the day here in southern coastal NC. Going to take an overnight trip tomorrow to Raleigh with the wife and friends. Taking in a baseball game at the Bull's stadium and some fine dining. Good way to celebrate the holiday. I may not be posting for a few days. Going to have my HHB with me for sure.
View attachment 1794084

Thanks Bill, I love to get out there I usually combine visiting Pace-egg with a good hike, but this year, I fancied just going round the Hebden antique shops It sounds like you have a pretty nice weekend planned yourself my friend I'm sure your Hartshead Barlow is going to enjoy tagging along

Lovely Lambsfoot, pretty picture, and cool coin... Trifecta!

Thanks a lot John

Good Morning Guardians
Another rainy day here, which is GREAT!

Glad you're getting the rain when you want it buddy Your WCLF is starting to look nicely lived-in

Looking good Kevin! Great to see you here pal! Hope you're doing OK, and that you have a great weekend

It's always nice to have a Kevin sighting.

Hard to ignore and work around the rude individual. I do these days, because you never know what confrontation will result. Stunning portrait of your Barlow and Coin, Jack. Have a good one.

True Harvey Many thanks my friend

I bet you’re singing in that much needed rain, Splendid image of your Charlie Lamb, John,

Good Morning Guardians

Fabulous photo Harvey Two slices of this cake, and coffee cost me £13 ($17), and the cake looks better than it tasted! At least I got a pic!

Hope everyone is having a great day I enjoyed my short hike, and slingshot practice, and I even got a pint (more pics tomorrow)

 

[Jack Black]

Like my friend JohnDF said, it's been raining and I'm not complaining!

View attachment 1794244

Ace pic Greg

 

[JohnDF]

Your WCLF is starting to look nicely lived-in

It gets no special treatment from me.

Great picture, Jack.
Glad you were able to get out and have a good time.

 

[Jack Black]

Great picture, Jack.
Glad you were able to get out and have a good time.

Thanks pal, I'll try to get fully caught up tomorrow

 

[cigarrodog]

Really, people?

So much more than breakfast right there!

Thank you Greg. All the food groups, right?

Like my friend JohnDF said, it's been raining and I'm not complaining!

Love the look of your Lambfoot against the wet rock outcropping.

Fantastic picture, Harvey.
And I can have donuts again... Now I really want one!

Thank you John. Let us know when you get one.

Fabulous photo Harvey Two slices of this cake, and coffee cost me £13 ($17), and the cake looks better than it tasted! At least I got a pic!

Thank you Jack. Must be an optical illusion, because it looks very tasty. Handsomely decorated back of your Lambfoot. Cheers!

 

[donn]

Evenin' all, (as an old TV copper used to say when I was a kid ) I hope that everyone has had a good day I had an enjoyable trip out to Heptonstall, and the Pace-egg Play was fun, though some of the old players have now been replaced, one having sadly passed away, and others retired or moved elsewhere. We arrived a little late to get a good spot, and I didn't get any good pics, but I'll try to post a few soon. After a pint in the pub, we headed down to the antique shops of Hebden Bridge, and I scoffed a couple of sausage rolls en route! All the hills have tired me out, but the weather was good, and I'm hoping to get out again tomorrow too Have a great Easter weekend Guardians

Well that's weird. I recognize the lass on the far left; I'm thinking a nurse or an OT I worked with when I lived in York.
Anyway, a great photo Jack; looks real fun.

 

[Jack Black]

Thank you Jack. Must be an optical illusion, because it looks very tasty. Handsomely decorated back of your Lambfoot. Cheers!

LOL! Thank you my friend, it had the texture of a cake which had been frozen, and not defrosted properly, and very little flavour We live and learn eh?!

Well that's weird. I recognize the lass on the far left; I'm thinking a nurse or an OT I worked with when I lived in York.
Anyway, a great photo Jack; looks real fun.

Really David? Well it is certainly a small world my friend Cheers pal

 

[donn]

Really David? Well it is certainly a small world my friend Chers pal

Indeed it is.
Enjoy the wine.

 

[Jack Black]

Indeed it is.
Enjoy the wine.

Thanks David

 

[Jack Black]

 

[Pt-Luso]

 

[Onebigbill]

Thanks Bill, I love to get out there I usually combine visiting Pace-egg with a good hike, but this year, I fancied just going round the Hebden antique shops It sounds like you have a pretty nice weekend planned yourself my friend I'm sure your Hartshead Barlow is going to enjoy tagging along

Thanks a lot John

Glad you're getting the rain when you want it buddy Your WCLF is starting to look nicely lived-in

Looking good Kevin! Great to see you here pal! Hope you're doing OK, and that you have a great weekend



True Harvey Many thanks my friend

Fabulous photo Harvey Two slices of this cake, and coffee cost me £13 ($17), and the cake looks better than it tasted! At least I got a pic!

Hope everyone is having a great day I enjoyed my short hike, and slingshot practice, and I even got a pint (more pics tomorrow)

Thanks pal, I'll try to get fully caught up tomorrow

Some very nice photos and some great looking stag too. Especially your HHB my friend. Have a great Easter.

 

[Pt-Luso]

 

[Jack Black]

Some very nice photos and some great looking stag too. Especially your HHB my friend. Have a great Easter.

Thank you very much Bill

Good morning Guardians, I hope everyone is having a great weekend, and that you have a lovely day today I thought I'd treat myself to a Double Lambsfoot Day!

 

[Jack Black]

Here's some photos from my trip to Heptonstall and Hebden Bridge on Friday

Heptonstall is situated at the top of a high, and improbably steep, hill, and while I've climbed that hill many times in my younger days, I'm not so daft now The hill defeated invading forces during the English Civil War, and I'm thankful for the small half-hourly bus, which winds its way up the vertiginous cobbled road, like a mountain goat. Having arrived at the well-kept old fashioned train station in Hebden Bridge though, we missed the bus, so walked into the pretty town, alongside the canal.

We came across another Pace-egg play, but these were not the Heptonstall players, and so we boarded the next bus to Heptonstall.

As the bus climbs the hill in low-gear, with increasingly spectacular views, of the valley below, I always wonder that it can actually make the journey. A few folks, younger, and hardier, than myself, were making their way, on foot, up the steep hillside, clearly heading for the Heptonstall Pace-egg play, which is a much-loved local tradition (see my previously posted links). We were running a little later than usual, and as we alighted the bus, we saw the players walk out of one of the many village 'snickets', and begin to assemble for their walk up the steep cobbled main street to Weaver's Square.

Cheers went up as the company entered the square for another year, to perform the first Pace-egg play since 2019. Sadly, not all of the players had made it through what has been a difficult time for everyone. The longstanding 'King of Egypt' had passed away just a few weeks back, and applause followed a brief announcement. Pace-egg is very much about renewal, and celebrating the birth of Spring, after the darkness of Winter, a time to get together with friends again, in the open air, and look forward to better days ahead.

After their traditional opening parade and sing-song, the new master of ceremonies, addressed the crowd, before the play began. Each year, money is raised for both a local charity, and an overseas one, and this year the focus was on Ukraine.

With a few subtle changes, usually reflecting some national or international topic (Vladimir Putin's ears must have been burning this year!), the play follows the same form each year. The crowd know the form, and react as to a traditional pantomime, with exaggerated cheers and groans, participating in the chants and jokes, which are the same every year. In the play, 'Saint George' takes on a series of challengers, the first being 'Bold Slasher', who is despatched after much impressive, and exaggerated, sword-play.

The crowd moan, in pity for the fallen warrior, and lamenting, St George calls for a doctor, who duly steps forward, producing from his pocket, a bottle of 'Nip Nap' elixir. This is administered to the fallen Slasher, and to the cheers of the crowd, he is revived.

...

 

[Jack Black]

The next challenger is 'The Black Prince of Paradine', who after another comic display, some old jokes, and the clashing of swords, Saint George also dispatches.

There are no calls for Nip Nap as the Prince's father, 'The King of Egypt' soon appears. He demands vengeance, but being too long in the tooth himself, he needs a champion. Full of bravado and boastfulness, 'Hector' steps forward, but after squaring up to Saint George, he decides that discretion is the better part of valour, and retires.

There is one more character though, the fool, 'Old Toss Pot', who runs around the audience, traditionally, in pre-Covid times, hoping to exchange Easter eggs for kisses, but his horse-play has had to be reigned-in.

With a final rousing anthem, the company give their good wishes to the audience, and adjourn to the pub, until their next performance.

 

[Jack Black]

Easter Sunday Sausage Sammich!