Playtime

The power of advertising - or perhaps a resurgence of enthusiasm for communal recreation as the memory of Covid fades - or even a determination to celebrate the endless summer days, despite the morning rain and threatening skies. The beer festival was busy - and the concentration of us old blokes with beards was gratifyingly lower than usual; lots of young people and children, laughter and party atmosphere. One person told us that the event had been plugged by local radio show every day this week. Another, who spends their summer helping at folk music festivals, said they are all sold out in advance this year

This event has been running since 1994 and over that time has raised almost half a million pounds. Half of that goes to local organisations and charities; the rest to Bloodwise - the sister of the brewery MD died of lukaemia as a teenager

This catches some of the mood, I think; there is certainly a lot going on. I don't think I caught anyone canoodling (where did that word get dragged back from - the 1950s?!) It also shows that the stable roof was almost fixed while the sun shone, and the gable window in our straw kitchen is just above the tent on the left

Earlier, we did some honey harvesting and extraction. Spinning a centrifuge by hand in today's heat and humidity was thirsty work - but the rather abstract (aka out-of-focus) extra is the honey, not my brow. My inclusive half-pint of Gladiator dark ale - from a brewery close to my childhood home - was well earned