The Deity of the Heavens Valley

...at the Trinity Rooms. Another delightfully Stroudie evening. 

I've been having awful headaches lately, so I was lying down for quite a while, but I roused myself to change our go out with V, first to our pub where we had a swift drink, then followed the procession led by the hand-made willow sculpture of the Deity and the  Stroud's Red Band. When we got to the Trinity rooms, there was a full and varied programme of poetry, song, Boss Morris dance, culminating in a DJ set by the Donnelly sisters (from Stroud)? The event was a fundraiser for the Heavens valley, a 103-acre site immediately behind our back garden that used to have a tenant farmer. The site was put up for sale earlier this year, leading to fears that at least part of it could be built on (it's an AONB) or otherwise developed. This green  field and woodland site is much loved by generations of Stroud and was especially popular during lockdown, when some discovered it for the first time. It's the main reason we bought our house in this part of Stroud. My nephews and nieces played on the rope swing and in the stream during their childhoods. 

The good news is that an action group was formed, and enough people have donated or bought shares to secure the purchase, in the nick of time. Of course there are loans that have to be repaid, but it's great
news. I learned a lot from the various speakers, and was pleased to be in the company of doi many poets and historians that I've known for almost thirty years now. We're getting older, but in a good way. ...

We danced until the DJs called time, and walked home. My headache remained at bay because I'd taken painkillers. A good night was had by all.