HELP! I'm trapped! And it's not by cats....

Trumpets, cornets and trombones are taking over the world and I cannot escape :(, even my four legged friend is too afraid of the big bass drum to sledge me out of here

I'm having a shocking flare from my waist to the tips of my toes, so shank's pony is ruled out. The roads are closed so my car is stuck in a rut, and still the trumpets play!

Has anyone seen the film Brassed Off? With Ewan McGregor and Pete Postlethwaite? With the drama of the colliery Brass Band entering a big contest in a quaint group of villages oop north, called Saddleworth? Well that is where I now live, and I've been away for 15 years and had forgotten about how serious it all was. It is set to go on until Sunday. I'm hoping to get out later this evening to one of the villages as it's a really social event, but it is standing only, and you have to walk there and back, so there is only a slim chance. Do you know, it's so serious, Saddleworth has it's own extra bank holiday today :). When I was a kid, it was an extra 2 week holiday to mark the occasion, but the likes of Mr Gove wouldn't allow that now

Does anyone have strange goings on where they live that are unique to the area? We have Yanks weekend, Yorkshire Day, and Rushcart Weekend which are all a bit bonkers, but no bank holiday at least

X

Photo of my 2 nephews (flag bearer and little one behind flag bearer) marching with Beavers behind the brass bands, which is the age old tradition to kick proceedings off this morning)

[Hidden]

I understand that in Gornall, when most households had a pig They used to put the pig on the wall to watch the parade go by.

There is a pub in Gornall called `The pig on the wall`

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Was the pig supposed to be their eyes and ears and watching for them, or did they hold a genuine belief that the pig would enjoy the parade? X

[rosewine in reply to Hidden]

Unfortunately, it is no more it is now a McDonalds!

[Hidden]

Hi Rosewine

You just pipped me to it your right about the pub being McDonald's. X

[Hidden]

does that mean we are all in the same area and if I stand at the top of the hill I can wave to you.

I am near the top of the Rowley hills. in Tividale.

[fenbadger]

Hungerford had their Tutti man a couple of weeks ago. A man goes in and out of every business in town .It's bad luck not to let him in and he usually gets plenty of kisses.

[hamble99b]

my Dad used to tell us about when he was little and the church band parade went around the village. As they went around the roads they skirted 2 sides of a farmers field.

the cows followed the band up one side then along the top lane side.

both my Mum and Dad used to quote "put pig on wall. let him watch band go by." we're lancashire born.

[TheAuthor]

I am so sorry to read that you are having such a bad flare, and I genuinely hope that you feel better soon.

Take care

Ken x