Poetting at the 2022 Kennet & Avon Summer Floating Fayre

And so to the summer floating market on the Kennet and Avon canal, this time on Darlington Wharf in Bath. (They call it the floating fayre these days, but I like floating market, as it sends me straight to Neil Gaiman's 'Neverwhere'.) 

We weren't entirely sure whether we should take Cwtch with us or not; she's had a sheltered life so far, especially during her formative months, being a lockdown pup, and she was quite nervous at the Christmas floating market in Bradford-on-Avon, but she took it all in her stride this time. (Apart from some bloke we met asking if she was a husky ... 😂 )

We had a cup of coffee with Dru and Jinny on the towpath next to NB Eve. (It was so good to see Jinny back at the west end of the K&A and to be able to give her a hug at last.) Then Dru mentioned the poetry reading taking place at the buskers' spot and how I could read and I said I had no poems with me to read (despite having the Satchel of Poetry on me) and Dru said you've got one in the book and put a copy of 'Poets Afloat' in my hands and the Northerner said I lit up like a Christmas tree - in summer! - and that was that. 

Here's Jinny, Dru and Mitch reading their poems. 

The 2016 Kennet & Avon Canal Floating Market Summer

We went to the Floating Market earlier today.

'Lovely fresh dreams. First-class nightmares. We got 'em. Get yer lovely nightmares here.'

'Weapons! Arm yourself! Defend your cellar, cave, or hole! You want to hit 'em? We got 'em. Come on darling, come on over here ... '

'Rubbish!' screamed a fat, elderly woman, in Richard's ear, as he passed her malodorous stall. 'Junk!' she continued. 'Garbage! Trash! Offal! Debris! Come and get it! Nothing whole or undamaged! Crap, tripe, and useless piles of shit. You know you want it.'

No, not the Floating Market in the London Below of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere; this one was on the Kennet and Avon canal in Bradford-on-Avon.

And we weren't forced to venture over Night's Bridge to get there either. 

Though having parked at Avoncliff, we did have to cross the aqueduct over the River Avon, but it wasn't anywhere near as dark or scary. 

We then had a pleasant wander the mile and a half or so along the canal to the lock at Bradford on Avon.

The throng of people on the towpath started to thicken by the tithe barn so I decided to sit with Ted, who, like many collies, is averse to crowds, in the adjoining field while the Northerner went on to sample wares.  

The juxtaposition of Civil War Re-Enacters with members of the public made for some interesting vignettes. It all looked quite convincing ... 

 

... though the quest for historical authenticity clearly didn't extend to eschewing water tanks ... 

... or portaloos.

The Northerner came back to say that it wasn't as crowded as he'd feared so Ted and I ventured back up onto the towpath.

And oh look, Sturmey Archer spoken here, it's got to be Dru ... 

Alongside were Chris and Jinny of Skyravenwolf and I was vexed when I got home to discover that I'd been so busy chatting to them that I hadn't taken any pictures of their work, and I can't photograph the things I bought because they're presents for people who might read this blog.  But here's a link to their Facebook page.   Such stunning work!  I'm on their waiting list for a present for the Northerner but I think I need to agitate for him to get onto the waiting list for a present for me. 

Jinny very kindly checked when the Re-Enacters were due to start firing their cannons in their planned skirmish on the town's mediaeval bridge, and as it was only half an hour away, we decided that for the sake of our noise-sensitive Ted, we'd do well to head back towards Avoncliff and a pint in the Crossed Guns. 

So we did. 

Make Good Art

You can tell I'm confined to base, apart from going to funerals and petrol stations ...

You can listen to the entire speech here.