October rainbow challenge - Week 4: People - Friday: Blue
Very much a challenge this weekend to keep to my self-imposed double challenge - hey ho, will have a few duff thumbnails. Here Sue Harris and Gareth Kiddier from the band Polkaworks, in their blue jeans, take a breather during one of the floor spots at Halsway Manor.
A day off so that I could set off earlyish for Somerset and my music weekend at Halsway Manor – at Home with Polkaworks. The train was the most ridiculously busy train I have ever had the misfortune to travel in – with people not just standing in the doorways, as you sometimes see, but all along the length of most of the carriages, like a tube train. And this for a nigh-on two-hour journey. I couldn’t even get to the buffet car, having to give up half way due to the sheer volume of people, and was not best pleased as I only had a bit of fruit with me.
Things calmed down when I got off at Taunton and found the bus stop on the platform for my onward journey to Halsway Manor on the road to Minehead. Only a few kids waiting at the bus stop. I panicked ever so slightly when the bus driver hadn’t heard of the bus stop I’d been told to ask for – but twas possibly because I pronounced it oddly, because he soon seemed to think he knew where it was. I kept an eye out anyway and soon saw the sign to the manor and was let off the bus in what seemed to be the middle of nowhere. I followed the tiny, quiet lane up to the manor – not a soul or car in sight after I left the main road. Was unsure which way to turn as I reached a t-junction, but a tall maypole seemed to point in the right direction and I found a beautiful stone manor house with gargoyles and battlements and a croquet lawn. Didn’t have time during the weekend to look at the history but apparently it dates from William the Conqueror’s time.
Inside, the entrance hall was very inviting – dark wood-panelled walls, wooden rafters and a roaring fire. My double ensuite room was very cosy and after unpacking, I went down to the bar to make small talk and enjoy a glass of red wine. Nobody much there I knew but everybody was friendly. Full board was included in the price which made for ultimately quite a cheap weekend. The food tended towards the school-dinnerish comfort food end of the spectrum, which was very acceptable. Tonight was tomato soup, broccoli and cheese bake with veg and an extremely yummy citrus (as they called it as opposed to the more usual citron) tart.
After dinner, we had an informal session in the hall with the band and guests taking turns to play, sing and call dances. Evening finished with a short music session in the bar.
26 October 2012
Halsway Manor, near Crowcombe, Somerset
