Oh, the little joys in a village sport!

 

The Egg Dance

The Egg Dance History is a bloody horror. Between war, politics, brutality, plagues, intrigue, and so much other parts of inhumanity in post-Crusades, the common people suffered incredibly miserable and hard lives.

Very few times of pleasure and joy existed. Love, sex, family, and successful amounts of food to eat were about it. But there had to be more to life.

Communities pulled together in whatever hell was going on around them. With this unity and great imagination, they found other ways to raise their joy in different ways. 

The English are truly creative in this. I know that all countries are as well, but the information on the English is readily available. Crazy people, them.

Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling and Wake: Competitors must race down a steep hill, chasing and trying to catch a round of cheese (preferably a double Gloucester cheese) as it rolls and plummets to the bottom of the hill.

Dwile Flonking: Competitors use a pole to launch beer-soaked cloth at opponents. Missing a target twice results in the flonker must quickly down a pot/pint of ale before the opposing team can pass a soaked cloth to each other.

Ferret Legging: Ferrets are trapped in trousers worn by the participant. The winner is the last one to release his/her ferret.

Wellie Wanging: Competitors must hurl a Wellington boot as far as possible within boundary lines from a running or standing start.

Shin-Kicking or hacking or purring (from the early 17th century): Two contestants attempt to kick each other in the shins, to force their opponent to the ground. 

Numerous YouTube videos are available to elaborate on these games. Although these community games date back centuries, interest has resurged and have developed a following along with rules and awards.

YouTube Shin Kicking Championship 2019

hosted by Glouscester

So, the games that were designed by humble village people as a diversion for their lives have now developed as part of the 21st century. Not video games or dependence on electronics, but this involves interaction with real people in real time settings. 

History has taken some detours and games have evolved. Good or bad. But people have always known how to party.

This is a post from 2021, I think. I have to respect my hand and the surgery. So, I must post previous literary gems.

 

Listen to God

 Throughout my life, I have taken my own decisions and used them, instead of listening to and knowing that God was in charge of everything. It never went well. God protected me, keeping me safe through my ignorance.

Our body hurts as we grow older. Sometimes that pain is excruciating, sometimes because we will abuse our then young bodies. Oh, how stupid.

Basically, listen to..

multiple injuries

Your joints. We watch sports, some of which can be violently impacted and others are seemingly mild.   Have you watched how crazy some injuries are related to impact sports? Did you know that rodeo has the most horrible injuries? 

Probably the most dangerous sport ever

 Most people can't see the injuries of golf.  It is silent to enthusiasts, but do not see until a
player needs surgery on
every joint.

 

Your brain: There may be minor things, like your keys, but then that becomes bigger. It is so gradual until life shows that there is more going on. And then. Of the things of the list, this one I fear the most.

Your pain: Sounds odd, but it isn't. Diabetes, 
heart, kidneys, you name it. Watch those symptoms. Don't ignore them "Oh, it's just a twinge, just a pain, just a...And then. (Men are notorious for this.)

 

Merry Christmas, one and all.

  
We live in a community where all of the above are present. At a recent gathering, many elderly semi-joked about their entertainment is going from doctor to another, on the same day. "It's like a cheap date." Everyone nodded in understanding.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

It is that time of year.  Red Sox, Yankees, Blue Jays, Rays, and Orioles are battling it out as the American League Eastern, along with other parts of the country doing the same.  

The fans are passionate, really passionate.  There are sports jerseys on fans of all ages and sizes.  Being clueless, I did not even know there was any sort of competition at all, except sport bars showed little else.

Baseball passion goes deep.

How 3 year olds play ball

A three year old  races to home base.

22 month old at the practice cage

That's my boy! 

Indeed, baseball passion runs deep and it also starts early.  Toddlers are the best of any team ever.

California makes another step for education.

Wikipedia, God bless 'em

California likes to think of itself as ahead of the rest of the nation.  There is much pride when this is proclaimed at different life-changing events.

Today California’s Governor Jerry Brown signed an unusual piece of legislation:

"California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a controversial bill into law Monday afternoon allowing the state's transgender school students to choose which bathrooms they use and whether they participate in boy or girl sports."

Gov. Jerry Brown

More can be read about this topic; click on the caption above.

As a parent, grandparent, and retired teacher, I see nothing but trouble ahead for this new allowance.  It troubles me the events that may come to pass, the children who may be hurt, by this legislation. 

I have taught students for whom this was a struggle.  There was never a good solution, and I suspect this is not the solution. 

Any ideas out there?  I'd sure love to hear something...