Monday, September 22, 2008

Week 25: The Best Not-Wedding Ever

Finally, something eventful to fill the blog with.

I'm not able to call the event that happened this past weekend the "Best Wedding of the Century" because it has been billed as a not-wedding the whole time.

The week leading up to the event was set aside as Earthworm's September Work Week and some work unrelated to the not-wedding was completed but for the most part we were busily preparing for the weekend. With an expected 300+ attendees (based on RSVP), there was loads to do: clearing more camping space, erecting compost loos and straw bale womyn's urinals, raising marquees; not to mention the logistics considerations of Friday's ceremony.

I say Friday's ceremony specifically because it had some special considerations to Saturday's ceremony. On Friday morning, a huge portion of the not-wedding guests piled in vehicles and hopped onto bicycles heading over to Ludlow, a nearby town, 8-10 miles away depending on the chosen route. I decided to be part of the bike posse which meant a ten mile ride along single lane back roads up and down hills, surrounded by the rural landscape of the West Midlands (much recommended).

After a short break at Ludlow's organic shop, Myriad, we turned on the stereo in the bike trailer and created a mini critical mass as we made our way through the town to the local Shell station, which is where we were holding Friday's ceremony. Unfortunately, the stereo is on it's last legs, so the music was intermittent and when it was attempted to be utilized for Hymn 666 during the ceremony, it obstinately refused. That was fine though because the protest/not-wedding guests, with hymn sheets in hand, sung beautifully without assistance.

A leaflet was handed out that explains the need for the action. It is available here.

Back to the ceremony: we all piled around the pumps (making sure not to trap any cars in) and made it impossible for any petrol business to transpire while we were there. One "gentleman" did try to undo our efforts, driving up dangerously close to people holding banners and muscled his way through to grab a hose. It was no matter though because he soon found out, despite his aggressive efforts, the pumps had been shut off and locked off when we first arrived.

It was a very chill action; Veggies set up a a catering table of samosas, pasties, tea and coffee, people held up banners and a few other people handed out leaflets to vehicles and townsfolk passing by.

We all had settled into place and the ceremony proceeded with readings from friends and singalongs of two hymns: Dancing on the Ruins of Multinational Corporations and The World Turned Upside Down. The ceremony was concluded with a tearful d-lock joining through pump handles. Once that was completed, it was time for us all to disperse in opposite directions. Getting a block away, a group of us realized that heading directly back to Earthworm wasn't ideal; we had to go to a pub first. So we turned around and headed in the opposite direction. We went to the same pub that I had went to with Joe and Same on my birthday back in June which overlooks the River Teme. Just like the day back in June, Friday was also sunny; leisurely, we sipped our pints and chatted away. Others had the same idea as us because the not-bride and groom and some of their close family members had beat us there and after us four more from the bike posse arrived.

Finishing our pints, it was agreed that we should take the scenic route back and stop by another pub in a closer village, a few miles from Earthworm. Alas, being a Friday afternoon, the pubs were closed during lunch and supper. The only option we were left with was to wander down to the local shop, buy a bottle of local cider and perry and enjoy them in the local millennium park. The rest in the park really did me in causing me to bike the final leg much slower than I had earlier and I required a nap when we got back.

Somewhat rejuvenated, I returned to the liquid courage and mingled. My evening was split between sitting around the fire, watching the open mic show in the marquee and trips to the storeroom to stock my fists with beer. During a lucid moment later that night I remember trying to explain something to someone and the words flowed out in a drunken dyslexic jumble. I definitely paid the price the next morning. Even after sleeping in, a killer headache and a general blah feeling over didn't subside until sometime in the afternoon.

But now we are onto Saturday, which means last minute preparations for the second ceremony. It went over beautifully with an explanation about why it was a not-wedding ("The celebration is about the bonds we have with each other and our network of families and friends; it is about our place in the world around us and we hope that what we are planning reflects our aspirations as well. This is an open invitation to everyone to take part."), more readings from friends and then ten promises brought forth by friends and family for Cath and Donal and for all the friends and family in attendance. Having agreed all but one of the promises (not to work past midnight), Cath and Donal passed through the arches of bolt croppers, spoon, spanner and outstretched arms (which is quite a feat when you consider that directly beside their faces are some of the hairiest, undeodorized anarchist armpits in the country). The couple then slipped away to have a private cry and cuddle before continuing on with the events.

Next up, after we gorged ourselves on an amazing feast prepared by the Anarchist Teapot, was the speeches. Unfortunately, I missed the majority of the speeches, only catching the last couple which were quite moving and funny (I'm assured the other speeches were as well).

Much credit has to be given to the children (and probably adults) because all through the day the tables in the cake tent had been filling up with tantalizing treats which were to e left untouched until after the speeches. I was a bit slow heading over, still full from the feast served a couple hours before, so I missed out on the "best" cakes but the chocolaty treats that I did try were amazing.

Then, the entertainment for the evening began: two ceilidh bands and then DJing into the early hours of Sunday. Although I didn't participate in the ceilidh, which seemed to be quite a lot of fun for those who did, I feel I made up for it by dancing my ass off the rest of the night (my strained back muscles will attest to it) right up until people cut the power sometime after 4am. Somewhere around 2 or 3 I decided to indulge in a few magic mushrooms with the intent of enjoying the sunrise from the hot tub in sensory bliss. but I was getting very tired and after chatting with mates a bit, seeing dawn start to peak at 6:30, I decided to call it a night... morning?

I'm not sure what everyone else did Sunday (I heard the drinking started quite early or maybe it just continued) but I slept most of it away. The majority of people left through the day but there were still some keeping the party alive (waking up to Sex Pistols at 4am was fun). And Monday was devoted to taking marquees down, returning rented tables/chairs, etc.

It was an amazing weekend and much love needs to go out to Cath and Donal for initiating it, as well as to everyone who made it happen.

Peace,
Kasza




Photos

Friday

Banner


More banner


Rocky, very much at ease at the pulpit, educating the onlookers to Shell's transgressions in Rossport


Friends and family sing along to hymn 666


The ceremonious d-locking of pumps


You may now kiss the not-bride


Local constabulary


More local constabulary


Saturday

Cakes


More cakes


You don't want to mess with this doorman


Or this one


We gather


And the ceremony begins


Mothers welcome children to respective families


The promises begin; a rope will be wrapped around their clasped hands for each promise agreed


The rope is wound some more as they agree to another promise


Promises complete, hands bound, you may kiss the not-bride... again


And we all cheer


Passing through the arches onto a bright future


The first dance


Alcohol makes Ollie recede back to a child

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Week 23: Who Doesn't Love British Weather?

Oops, I guess this post is a bit late. I must have been having too much fun being rained on constantly. Honestly, I'm pretty sure that this much rain is not necessary. Can somebody please turn off the tap or whatever.

OB, Steve and I had to return a lorry to Hereford, yesterday, that Dave and Sarah had rented for their move to Earthworm. Because it was a 7 tonne truck, we figured that we could ignore the "Road Closed" signs. We were right but it was still funny to be driving on a road that looks like a river. I guess the upside to it is that there's no traffic.

The EF Gathering was a lot of fun. Thankfully there was no overt police presence (can't rule out if they were just hiding in the bushes) and I was able to attend a lot of really cool workshops. I didn't take many photos that week because there was a no camera policy at the event (for security reasons). The most interesting/scary thing that I learned while I was there was how insecure cell phones are.

Apparently, recently a gangster in the States was sent to prison based on things that was picked up and recorded via his cell phone. The fucked up part is that he had removed the battery and SIM card. So, a phone that should be off and have no power source was remotely activated and used to listen in on this guy. Fair enough, that's really unlikely to happen to any of us law abiding citizens but it's still creepy to know that it's possible and how easy it is for our governments to track our calls.

- Kasza



Photos


We call that river the road


Trucks kick out awesome wakes


I guess the Land Rover can be considered an amphibious vehicle


A post modern art piece created with the assistance of magic mushrooms and lack of sleep


This is what it looks like when you don't have an overt police presence


And this is what it likes when you do


Peacefully trying to walk down a road meeting an obstacle


My new buddy "Mike"


Speaks for itself