Seemed to do a lot of running round today. Set off for the organic stall and thought I'd go via the fab town hall (built in 1938) as it was open as part of Open House. Very few people there, no queues and a totally uninterested doorman (who locked us out briefly while the guide was showing us the exterior - some emergency we presumed) but the guide was very helpful and took us around the well-preserved interiors with original light fittings and wood furnishings.
I then headed off towards the organic stall via the village - only to be waylaid by the church which was also open. Now I've seen the church before but they were doing tours of the tower. So that had to be done - a stop off at the first floor landing where they ring the bells then up the very steep winding spiral staircase that, at the top, uncannily narrowed to exactly the same width as my bottom. I feared remaining there forever. But once at the top, the view was outstanding - all early morning mist gone and clear skies - you could literally see for miles - all the way to the QEII bridge - the Shard does seem to look quite well alongside the rest of the London skyline now. And could see the Olympic park quite easily of course.
Finally got to the organic stall and then turned about to come home but was again waylaid by a performance by the Walthamstow Acoustic Massive in the town square - massed banjos, fiddles and ukuleles, plus a choir. We all joined in with Hotel California - what a ghastly song that is ...
Later that evening, headed out again with Dave to catch the Nic Jones show at Cecil Sharp House and see him collect the gold badge of the English Folk Dance and Song Society. Nic Jones was a stunningly talented singer of traditional songs and guitarist and a seminal influence for other singers and guitarists, but in 1982 he was in a horrific car crash which smashed him up so completely he was in hospital for 6 months, every bone in his body broken apparently. Up until very recently he'd totally given up performing quite understandably. But very gradually, with the support of the folk community that have staged tribute concerts where's he started out guesting in a small way, he's started to sing more again with his son on guitar and Belinda O'Hooley on piano - and amazingly even with his frailty and obvious issues with memory and mobility - that enchanting golden voice is still recognisable after all the years and trauma.
