Cotton wool in the lead-up to Cropredy

[StephenB]

Yesterday evening I was leading a horse out of a field when I stumbled, and quickly pulled myself up again, no harm done - except that I instantly realised I'd done something to my ankle, and couldn't realy stand on it. No big harm done (could have been stamped on by a horse...), except that I've been in big pain since and only able to hobble, and certainly can't drive for a few days. Went to A&E this evening and told me as I suspected, that I'd just (!) sprained a ligament - nothing that a week's rest and hobbling won't cure.

So what's that got to do with Talkawhile, Cropredy, etc?, I hear you asking. Well the thing is, it was a random occurrence during an everyday (for me) task. And if it had randomly happened 12 days ago I would have missed Cropredy. So in a way right now I'm thinking ha ha, what the hell, sh*t happens, and still wallowing in the warm glow of Cropredy '17. But the reality is that in the weeks/days leading up to Cropredy I nearly always try to wrap myself in cotton wool, dreading that one random slip/bit of bad luck that could in an instant just wipe out Cropredy for the year, after all the preparation and anticipation.

So I guess my question is, does anyone else go into "wrapping in cotton wool and watching every step" mode as Cropredy looms?

[MarkV]

I can't say that i do, about the only thing that events like Cropredy cause me to do is to make sure i have everything i need to take sorted out beforehand.

[Pugwash]

Actually I'm with you and the cottonwool. I've been given Go Ape vouchers (please no more) to go leaping off trees etc and wouldn't dream of using them before Crop, major holidays, any holidays, Ames' birthday, &&$$#mas, well you get the idea...

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[Nick Reg]

A broken ankle for Mrs Reg pre Crop 2014 and for me 2015 . Gareth asked us to keep clear of him in 2016!! Mrs Reg was in plaster for 2014 but having attended a Fotheringay gig and the Acoustic Fest in a wheelchair I was out of plaster for 2015 but only recovered enough to drive the van by a couple of days. Stoll needed crutches for the mosh pit though.

[Nick]

One of our party developed an ear infection during the Friday which left him with vertigo. Was so bad that he was forced to struggle back to his tent just before RT came on stage. The next morning he was in an ambulance up to the first aid tent. Then another of our party (who had come over from USA to be there) had to drive him home.

So, yes, **** can happen with the worst timing.

Cheers

Nick

[Neil]

One of our party developed an ear infection during the Friday which left him with vertigo. Was so bad that he was forced to struggle back to his tent just before RT came on stage. The next morning he was in an ambulance up to the first aid tent. Then another of our party (who had come over from USA to be there) had to drive him home.

So, yes, **** can happen with the worst timing.

Cheers

Nick

I was wondering how to bring this up, stuff happens all of the time. Our philosophy has been to just go for it, there is not much that stops us attending things we want to go see, and it impossible to guarantee what may happen so why worry.

This is particularly true with international travel and all the problems that brings with it nowadays. Hours after our visit to the British Musuem last year there was a knife attack where we had been stnading moments before.

It was tough leaving to take Paul home but you do what you have to for friends, it meant I missed almost all I had been looking forward to, although I made it back for Fairport, missing Jude, Plainsong and much of Morris On.

The funnest thing though was walking onto the field to Hogarth's hilarious out of control meanderings, made me feel quite at home.

Stuff happens you can't plan for it and you adapt. This is my travelling mantra that got us through the 16 hour delay leaving Manchester.

Neil