Last night was the event that the whole blogland community has been waiting for, having been billed as the biggest gathering of Witches, Mice and PurpleCooers. I was honoured to be specially commissioned to report on the auspicious occasion of marking the Midsummer event and two month anniversary since the creation of the Purple Coo site by The Headmistress and Matron of the Skool. Every member of this substantial team pulled together to make this a night to remember. The organisation was executed to military precision which may have been helped by the input from several squaddies who have become rather close to this community..
When I first arrived at the venue I did encounter some resistence on the gate by the main entrance when I was towered overby a formidable woman of mammoth proportions, apparently known as Madame Grogonne. She proceeded to stop and interrogate everyone and appeared to take delight in ‘frisking’ everyone as they went past. She quite ruffled my Chicken Licken feathers.
Once I had convinced her of my reporters authenticity I witnessed two young ladies who were propped up by the wall. How they managed to get past the Madame I am not sure! Although it may have been that the one with a name labelaround her neck-‘Toady’, could have jumped the wall as she was crumpled up in a heap by the side of her drinking companion,Jaynebeth. The pair of them were working their way through the contents of a box containing several bottles. On closer investigation it appeared that this contained sloe gin, sloe pocine, bramble wine and elderflower champagne, a lethal combination which could explain their inebriated state. And I don't think this had been helped by Bodran's tree resin wine, a seemingly innocent but potent tincture. After spending rather more time than I perhaps should have I excused myself as Toady who had been drinking all day,started slurrily singing “Show me the way to go home...” .
I had to remind myself that I was invited to the venue on business, not pleasure but I fear my drink must have been spiked as the rest of the evening now seems to be rather a blur...
Of course as is always the highlight of any such occasion the clothes were the main focus of the evening. I can (just about) remember the attendees stepping off their broomsticks and bicycles onto the green carpet, stunningly manicured lawns, painstakingly tended by one Country Mousie, with help (or hindrance) from Tattie Weasel. Judging by some of the glittery and splangly numbers it was clear so see that everyone had gone to a huge effort for the extravaganza and the crowds simply gasped at the magnificance of some of the visions and creations...
The Headmistress was one of the first to arrive-it can only be said that it defies belief how anyone can get those warts to look so realistic...A stunning specimen.
It is hard to judge who the crowds favourite was; One of the most remarkable of the evening was Nanny Ogg, a woman of most generous proportions and a bulbous face who was dressed in black and looked every bit the star of the show.
However probably the one to steal the limelight from her was a nubile lady known only as ‘Faith’ who chose the ‘au naturel’ look and made a simple and fitting fashion statement most suitable for such an occasion.
The house was decorated with Purple fairy lights all over which Zoe had spent all day hanging and these twinkling purple hues set off to perfection, the backdrop of the dark grey austere building. As I entered the main building I was immediately ‘drawn’ to a door way on the left which was shrouded in mist. I popped my head around the door and blinked into a darkened room with a purpleswirling smoke billowing around. There, I was greeted by a stunning looking woman with silver hair and swathed in black velvet and chiffon-it was Mystic Crystal. Being a top investigative journalist it is usually my duty to be impartial and cynical about supernatural and fortune telling matters. However Mystic Crystal predicted that everyone would have a wonderful evening and suffer thick heads in the morning and I believe this was so likely to be accurate that I have no doubt as to her magical powers.
Entering the main hall I could hear the DJ-DJ ‘Jazzy’ Cait and her dulcit tones above the Rapping Nolan Sisters. When the MC Bucks Fizz started playing Suffolk Mum and Devonlife fair flew onto the dancefloor and started dancing round their handbags. ChrisH and JEP were already there with AnnaK and some of the others. They were quickly moved in on by a dancing cat. Yes, I said a ‘dancing cat’-a rather ‘cool’ looking dude called Dudley who could breakdance to Leo Sayer.
Sitting in a corner was the Country Craft Angel who was busy sitting like Cinderella most of the evening sewing up I’m a PurpleCoo Bag Lady Bags. In between though, she kept being dragged to do Karaoke by ‘Bill’ and they delighted everyone with their rendition of “You’re the one that I want..” and Country Craft Angel said she always wanted to be like Olivia Newton John.
Alternative activities had cleverly been organised bu SnailbeachShepherdess for those who preferred to be outdoors; there was a Purple Sheep Shearing Contest, although quite what her and Mountaineer were rubbing into the Australians...hem, hem...It seems it wasn’t the only ‘suspect goings on...I was told by Patsy, who was manning the Pimms tent not to go round the back of the tent as Blossom was showing a squaddie how to master ‘ painting by numbers’ and from where I was standing he looked enthralled.
And so to the spread. No, not centre spread, although after a few drinks, Faith was starting to pin her ribbons on anyone who was interested!
The food was a feast for the eyes...It could have stepped out of a BBC Good Food Magazine. The food had been toiled over and showed standards to shame Masterchef, such was the talent demonstrated by the PurpleCoo members.
There were the most wonderful Purple Ice Cream Sundaes by Muddy Boots which were flying off the tables. Presili Mags had made the most enormous Chocolate Cherry Trifle and had apparently had to improvise and make it in the paddling pool it was so large. Centre of the table was the most magnificent Smoked Salmon which was prepared by Bradan and looked exquisite. And a wonderful Syllabub from Fennie.
I was unable to resist a piece of Camilla’s Chocolate cake which was delicious, and washed down with her punch which I was told was non alcoholic, but again it was another drink which I fear was heavily spiked.
The alchol flowed freely, in fact rather too freely. The 700 bottles of Champagne that Elizabethd had so carefully organised to be shipped from France was tipped into the Coowarts pond and ladled out by the mugful into the mouths of the thirsty revellers.
As the evening drew to a close and all the food had disappeared from the plates and the pond was dry of Champagne the party revellers started to leave, probably before they were asked to help tidy up. Exmoor Jane was under the tables gathering empty boxes as she said they would come in very useful for the move.
And I was left with a sense of...of...belonging....yes, that’s why it was so good. I will leave it to another who can articulate better than me quite what this Community mean to each other. But suffice to say that I feel sure the Midsummer Parties will become a regular event at Coowarts....And I hope for one that I will be part of it all again next year...
So until next time, this is Chicken Licken, Top Reporter and Investigative Journalist signing off....and going to soak up this alcohol with some of Pondsides Pancakes and Maple Syrup...
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