So - this year, how did the Chinewrde Carnival Collective do it?
Step 1:
As usual, we got a group of silly people together (and 1 bossy one)
Step 2:
We met up, had some tea and biscuits and started to come up with some ideas, and then…
…2 of us got confused and misinterpreted each other while the rest of the group were talking about ideas.
Louise thought that Jac was talking about Miners who were Morris dancing, and Jac thought Louise was talking about Morris Miners (the cars) or was it the other way around? Anyway, we started laughing and the idea was born…
The Chinewrde Morris Miners – preparations were under way!
Step 3:
We downloaded a form from http://www.kenilworthcarnival.org.uk/carnival-day-events/
And filled it in, and conducted a risk assessment
Step 4:
We had a few meetings / socials / ‘rehearsals’ (a-hem – one rehearsal, oops!) and we had lots of FUN
Step 5:
We collected outfits, builder’s hats, and made some props and costumes
(oh and had more FUN)
Step 6:
We prepared for walking – well we thought about preparing (oops)
Step 7:
Friday evening – we finished our costumes, finished our props and had our chippy tea
Step 8:
THE DAY
We got up ridiculously early
Had our bacon sandwiches!
The whole time, feeling as though we have all the time in the world… oooh I want ketchup on mine!!
Some of the group attached the dead canaries to the car, and worked on getting the sound system in place.
Then it was all hands to the decks as we realised that we were not at all ready, haven’t rehearsed our dance routine for the judging and OMG we had to move it!
So, we got into our costumes, had our make-up applied and then…
…everybody ran around screaming at each other in a blind panic because we didn’t think we would get to the Brays in time – AAAARRRRGH! It’s far too early!
Why can’t it be 2pm like it used to be!!!!!
And then,
calmly we got to the Brays performing as we ‘danced’ past the judges in all our
glory….
A-hem, the judges
were late so that was a wasted routine!
Then the
judges Came round to us and we performed effortlessly and perfectly and then it
started to dawn on us that we probably should have rehearsed a bit more because
actually Morris dancing is a lot harder than it looks – oops! (Luckily, since
we are professionals I don’t think it showed!
FOR IT was
CARNIVAL DAY, CARNIVAL DAY C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C- CARNIVAL DAY!!
Oh, yeah – we won
the cup too!
