April Announcements

Good morning everybody (he says through a mild hangover).
Thank you to everyone who could get to us last night, and especially to Daniel for making us all think!

We assume by now that everyone knows about the demise of New Aeon Books in Manchester. For those who don't, New Aeon has sadly gone into liquidation after 15 years of business, three addresses and one IRA bomb. It's definitely the end of an era, although some feel that there may be a phoenix hiding in New Aeon's ashes.
Meanwhile, please find and support your local Pagan and hippy shops, like Crystal Poppy and The Coven.

So here are the announcements for April:

The Next Two Moots

The next moot, on Tues 12th May will be a poetry Moot to celebrate our post-Bealtaine creativity. Please bring a poem you've written yourself, preferably on some kind of Pagan theme. It can be an ode, sonnet, villainelle, dirty limerick, free verse - whatever you want - and it doesn't have to rival Yeats or Whitman. Go on, give it a go. You know you really want to!

On Tues 9th June we'll be having a social barbecue Moot. Please bring along some food! We're open to offers of fuel and equipment too.

Coming Up

There's a moot we've recently heard about going on in Chorley. If anybody fancies that the next one is on Tues 28th April. Send an email to Jo for more info.

For anyone who fancies going the the Clun Green Man Festival is happening across the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Closer to home (and the day after World Naked Gardening Day), our annual Bealtaine Wicker Man party will be happening on Sunday 3rd May from 8pm. We'll have lots of Maytime goodness including a bonfire, a wicker man to burn, a maypole (sort of) with live music, and the original film with singalong sheets as well. Kids are welcome and we'll even let you keep your clothes on - if you really want to!

The next day 4th May (Bank Holiday Monday) sees the Frog Parade. Please check it out, it's great fun. It starts at 10:30 from Smithy Bridge, opposite the Farmers Arms pub on Radcliffe Road, Darcy Lever. For more details ring 01204 334343 or email: rangers@bolton.gov.uk.

Womble has told us about a talk on the Pendle Witches at the Octagon in Bolton. Assuming tickets are still available it's on the 7th May and costs a fiver.

If anyone fancies a weekend of Bealtaine camping, there's one at Silverdale on the weekend beginning 8th May. It costs £25 per person and we have a phone number for more details. I'm not happy about putting private numbers on the web, so if you fancy going let us know and we'll give you the number ourselves.

Finally for May - On Friday 22nd we are definitely going to ARA. We're going to ARA this time if we have to bloody walk! Anyone who wants to join us in a good old goth-fest will be very welcome, and probably cuddled a lot. Now whatever am I going to wear?

Advance Stuff

The Pagan Wheel Moot on the first Monday in June is hosting a talk entitled Metaphysics, by Mark Black. More details from us if you want 'em.

Please, please, please come to Manchester to support your local leg of the World Naked Bike Ride. Your humble host is one of this year's organisers, so if you want to join in please tell me. We're riding on the evening of Friday 12th June. More details to follow.

The University of Bolton is holding a Folk Music workshop from 10 -4 on Tues 23rd June, taught by the tutor of Britain's only Folk-Music degree. It's primarily for staff and students, but any extra places will be up for grabs, I think.

Bolton will be holding a Victorian fete-thingy around Churchgate on Sat 27th June. Stars of the show will include the famous Rivington Morris - they take no prisoners! - who have at least three connections to our lovely moot that I'm aware of.

And well in advance - this year's Pagancon will be on Sat 4th July, at Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Club. Apparently Janet Farrar's going to be there - calm down boys!

Finally!

Lastly, I'm going to be plugging this until people start hitting me out of boredom - partly because I'm involved but mostly because (especially in light of recent events) it's important, worthwhile and fun.
The Bolton Knitting Noras are producing a charity Naked Knitting Calendar, with the proceeds going to Christies. Everyone is giving their time and skills for free - including the photographer, Laurie Jeffery. He's good! He's very, very good!
Please pre-order your copy. Right now!


Okay, that's enough. Can I go back to bed now please?

Love,
Seán