Braveheart re-enactment at Cave Castle

We did a ceilidh at Cave Castle on a Wednesday night.  It was Hull University’s Drama Department’s end of year do to see the final year students off.  They had a “Grafter’s” award ceremony, which finished just after 10pm then we were due to play… only then, tradition has it, that all the men go to the lake in the grounds of Cave Castle for a cigar.  So off they toddled leaving us with a load of women on the dance floor with no male partners to dance with.

After 20 minutes (now after 10.30pm) we decided for drastic action.  Liz got her pipes out and  I, armed with darabouka and tambourine, went to pipe the boys back up to the dance floor.

This all worked very well.  Got to the 70ish lads near the lake, Liz started piping and we started drumming and sure enough they started to follow.  About half way up the hill to the castle we realised no one was following us.  We looked back, only to see two lines of men ready to charge at each other…  then followed the Braveheart re-enactment.

A great roar ensued and the two battle lines ran at each other, Liz kept piping and we kept drumming and the two sides clashed.  After skirmishing for a few minutes they dusted their tux’s down and proceeded to be piped up to the castle and on to the dance floor.  What a laugh!

Ceilidh yesterday

We did a ceilidh yesterday near York in a village hall in Sutton upon Derwent, a really lovely setting and atmosphere and we all very much enjoyed it as did the wedding guests. 

Liz really “did one” on the bagpipes! – she played for half an hour, really enjoyable (not only because it meant most of the band had some time off) but she really gets into the spirit and gets everyone jollying up there.  Quentin and Martin playing along on the djembe and darabouka made it hard for anyone not to clap along or dance!

Helen’s got some photo’s – will post them up soon.