Skanda Vale Hospice Fete 08

Photos from this years shenanigans!

There are not many places in the world where you get to see wild raggedy men and women dancing around a saucepan with a real live 2-tonne elephant in the audience. But you soon learn to expect the unexpected at the Skanda Vale Hospice Fete.

I should probably explain; the wildmen were Carreglas Morris Dancers, looking a bit like the blessed love children of Baron Samedi and the Wurzels. They rocked, wooped, jigged and bounced around all day long, they were great – we love these crazy Celtic party starters. The elephant was Valli, Skanda Vale’s long nosed matriarch. She took a break from bossing her monks about, to meet some adoring fans and munch a few bananas, much to everyone’s joy.

Then as if by magic... ELVIS!!!! Hoorah! What a studmuffin! A visceral slab of sequin encrusted permatan manflesh. He was here for one reason only; to remind us how it’s done. Jokes? He’s got ‘em! “Did you hear the one about the rabbi, the priest and the beefburger?” NO! Religion isn’t a laughing matter Elvis, stop it now or we’ll step on your shoes!

It wasn’t all burgers and bellylaughs though. The Mojas oozed beautiful laid-back latin jazz all over the main stage. Not sure how many favours we used to winch in this kind of talent, but lets hope they enjoyed it as much as we did and come back again next year. Have a listen for yourself at www.myspace.com/mojasmusic

Fair to say, all the stops were fully pulled out this year – incredible food, and loads of fun family activities. I can’t speak for everyone, but the locals I met were genuinely bemused by the friendliness, integrity and buzz of Skanda Vale. Who says a hospice or monastery can’t be an exciting place to be? The Fete helps to change people’s ideas of how love and care can be expressed – and that’s ‘unexpectedness’ in full swing.
 

Performers:

Mojas www.myspace.com/mojasmusic

Elvis  Dr Dandapat  rajadandapat@btinternet.com

Circusdayze   www.circusdayze.co.uk   circusdayze@hotmail.co.uk

Carreg-las Welsh Border Morris Dancers www.carreg-las.co.uk/

Theeko the clown   www.clowns-international.co.uk

Uma  Indian dance, Bollywood Dance, classical + tamil folk dance
 

Plants kindly donated by:
The Nurseries Cwmffrwd
Fronawel alpine nursery Cynwyl Elfed
Gwynfor Growers Pontgaireg www.gwynfor.co.uk
Penlan Perennials Rhydlewis www.penlanperennials.co.uk
Farmyard Nurseries Llandyssul www.farmyardnurseries.co.uk
Soames Plants Llanpumsaint
Trefhedyn Garden Centre
Newcastle Emlyn www.trefhedyn.co.uk
 

Raffle prices donated by:

Drill, RYOBI 750W impact Drive
http://www.readytoolhire.co.uk/ Ready Tool Hire, Carmarthen

110V Mini Angle Grinder, 750W with diamond disc http://www.jewson.co.uk Jewsons Hire Point, Carmarthen

DVD Player Phillips with USD & DivX Ultra Carmarthen Decorating Centre

500 Air mile Voucher Equals about ¾ of a Eurostar train trip to Paris
FOCUS £40 Gift Voucher, http://www.focusdiy.co.uk Focus, Carmarthen

HMV Gift Card, £20 http://hmv.com/hmvweb/home.do HMV, Carmarthen

Body Shop Gift Voucher £13 http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk Body Shop, Carmarthen

Gardening Kit ww.cpfltd.co.uk Carmarthen Farmers
 

3 set of porch lights
http://lamps-lights.co.uk/  Kingsbury Carmarthen

Bath gift set www.boots.com Boots, Carmarthen

Doggy Food + Doggy Brush + Doggy toy www.carmarthenvets.co.uk Carmarthen Veterinary Centre
 

Two mobility scooters for visitors where lent for the day by LTC mobility in Carmarthen