Solstice Morning

Ignoring all the Mayan hype, the fact of the matter is it's a bright, shiny, Solstice morning - albeit a bit damp underfoot. So my advice is to stay on hard-standing areas and, especially, keep off the grass.

As is usual on a Midwinter Solstice, the key time is sunset. We'll gather in the Moot House at 4pm for some traditional Icelandic chanting, then as the day draws to an end we'll walk out into the apocalyptic wasteland of the onion patch and look sadly south-west.

The Gibbon Folk, wearing ponchos and shaking maracas, will rush screaming into the Wildwood as the darkness-fear settles upon us.

A noble rebel, the Wicker Person will be lit - standing proud against a screaming sky.

And then we'll nip back to the Great House for our solsticial Sherry Reception and pikelets.

Just a quiet solstice, really. I just hope the Piper at the Gates of Dawn doesn't turn up and confuse us all.