By: Blonde Two
OK, I know, I have got my songs muddled up here, the one about Widecombe Fair should mention a grey mare and the one about attendance should be about Scarborough. I am, however, asking a genuine question.
But I am not asking you the question, I am asking the Two Blondes. This might seem weird to you because I am one of the Two Blondes but even I don’t know the answer yet.
We Blondes have been trying to get to Widecombe Fair for a few years now. We have the same problem every year … just a little thing … it is the day-job! We don’t have the type of job where you can ask for an day off or even finish a bit early and work tends to spread well into the evening at this time of year. Which is why, the Two Blondes have been tucked away inside this weekend (well for some of it) getting as far ahead as possible with the day-job so that we can make a late break tomorrow to catch the end of the shenannigans.
The odds are against us but we are the Two Blondes and we will give our best go … again. If we don’t make it, well that is ok, Widecombe Fair has been around for a very long time and we will retire from the day-job one day!
The song has a dirge-like tune and is addressed to Tom Pearce. It includes a list of people (Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davey, Dan’l Widdon, Harry Hawk and Uncle Tom Cobley, and all) which is one reason I’ve stayed out of the West Country. My nightmare would be to come upon any one of them, drunk in a pub, and be forced to listen to what they no doubt regard as as bucolic wisdom. In particular I’d hate to meet the anonymous lot (“and all”) because I sense they’d be the most boring.
Must we now part brass rags?
Are you joking?? There are some fascinating characters on Dartmoor with amazing stories to tell!!
You are absolutely right, and stories make the world go around!
We can part brass rags but only if you have all of the rags because I don’t really like polishing any more. Better that we still stay friends I would say, but you must promise never to dis (you won’t like that one) Uncle Tom Cobley again. There was a blog post about him ages ago, I had a real Uncle Tom with whom I used to sing the song and promised myself that I would actually go to the fair one day (this was when I lived over your way). He is no longer with us and much missed.
I had an Uncle Tom too! He was very jolly with shiny red cheeks! 😀
Mine was a giant (I think) 🙂
He was gorgeous when he was young, too. I don’t remember meeting Ann Dall, but lots of people sing about her.
Everybody fancied Uncle Tom … it is true, all of my female next generations uppers … think I may have missed out on something there. He was just Uncle Tom to me!
Hope you make it! If you do, come and say hi to the Dartmoor Hill Pony Display Team.
By the way, I’m the one who accosted you in the Fox Tor Cafe toilets 😀
Looking good so far … we will come and say hello 🙂
Hope to see you there then!
Looking good at the moment 🙂
Is that the song that features the famous racing car driver Dan Gurney?
No but his horse racing great, great, grandfather did feature!