Midsummer Revels

22 June 2025 (Sunday)

Woke up and remembered what day it was… and the long day ahead!

In truth, both Vanessa and myself are a tad exhausted at the moment, and Midsummer Revels at the For Earth’s Sake Orchard was always going to be a long day… so both Richard and myself were up early, well before the 7am alarm, and doing stuff - he on his phone and me at my desk.

After tea, breakfast, and several loo trips we got into Fenella and started the drive down to Vanessa, leaving around 9.15am. I guess in some ways not surprisingly, but the journey was without many delays, despite the A3 north of the Wisley Junction being shut… we veritably sailed through without a hitch and were with Vanessa at For Earth’s Sake by shortly after 10.30am.

We’d always known one of the team couldn’t make it today, though two others were also not now coming, having given rather short notice of this. It meant the day was down to Vanessa, myself and Richard, so, as soon as we arrived, there was stuff to do…

Put up tables for Spanakopita, vegan sausage rolls and sweet treats to be sold from the orchard, check all drinks were in the fridge (nice and cold - as it was pretty warm still), get the SumUp payment link up and working from the orchard, sort a water jug with tap water, put two HUGE umbrellas over the said food tables to give shade… and then safety pin and tie them together when they decided to blow wildly around. Then a float for outside, scales and till on in the shop for sales inside - as we were keeping the drinks inside the shop in the fridge. Tidy, hoover, tidy outside including cutting back some growth on the parking area…

We had fifty or so people booked, and last year the same number had turned up without booking, so we were expecting a little crowd. Hook Eagle Morris all turned up (they are the best!!!), and we were ready… and waited… and waited!

By noon, with no cars showing, I got an anxious feeling I’d forgotten to change a time…

You see, we were originally doing this event from 3pm, though about four or five months ago Vanessa was keen to change this to noon. At that point we had two sets of reserved tickets (this has been a free event… so far!), so I immediately contacted them before I made the changes and made sure they were aware of the time change - four months ahead! However, with anxiety running I thought I’d made a mistake and not changed the ticket reservation side of things, and maybe everyone would turn up at 3pm rather than noon… and… and… OMG!!!

Heart pounding, I checked… and everything clearly said a noon start time. With huge relief, I then spied the first customers arriving in their car.

The event was fabulous, and Hook Eagle Morris just superb (as always!), though sadly we think the hot weather over the past few days had turned off some customers who’d reserved tickets, as the turnout was low and nowhere near the number expected. However, those who turned up loved the event, with some asking when the Wassail would be and “You will do Midsummer Revels again next year… won’t you?”… The answer, I think, is yes, though we may charge an entrance fee next time, one that can be fully redeemed against a purchase from the shop - as most buy at least a cold drink. Our thought is that by offering this as a free event some might cry off as they’ve nothing to lose - other than a good time! However, if people have to fork out a little bit of dosh… we will think on.

After clearing everything away, and with all the fabulous members of Hook Eagle Morris departed, Vanessa put the kettle on and we enjoyed a quiet cuppa just chilling out by the bench at the side of the renovated pond. And then after a little more chat in the shade of the Great Green Barn, it was time to wend our way home - thankfully, a not too difficult journey home, which I was very glad of.


Weather: Definitely cooler, with generally sunny breaks through lightly overcast skies - around 27°, though the breeze did really pick up by early afternoon.

Breakfast: Lidl Rye with Flora ProActiv, yeast extract and peanut butter
Lunch: Spanakopita, Hummus and pitta (from The Life Goddess)
Supper: Hummus (ours), plus Hummus from The Life Goddess, olives, tomato, basil, radish, cucumber and crackers