Beltane Rituals

[Amethyst_Dream]

Hello all,

So it looks like Beltane is coming up on the first. I was wondering
if anyone has a Beltane ritual for a solitary that I can use, or if
anyone could express some ideas of what I can do to make my own.

The help would be great! Thanks,

[Margaridinah]

I do something a little different every year. This year I am lighting like 5 different colored candles, and I am doing a ritual that I wrote myself. You can go to my website to check it out. Here is the address: www.angelfire.com/magic2/margaridinah/beltane.html :p

My kids will make rainbow hats and a daisy wreath. I got those ideas out of Circle Round . :colorful:

If you would like more info, feel free to send me a private message. :chatty:

[MoonDust]

This will be my second Beltane :D Last year's was the first Sabbat I ever celebrated! My plans are not exactly in ritual form though.
I planning a ritual/cleansing bath, light candles all through my home, transplant a baby rose bush I plan to get for the occasion, and dance by the moon light.

Nothing too structured. Beltane hits a cord with me and makes me so lighthearted that I don't feel I could express myself and have that connection in a ritual that overly structured.

I'm just going to enjoy it all. :D

[Gala]

I just hope I remember to collect some May water this year.
My teachers, always caught the first rain water of May to use in rituals, but I can never remember to catch some. !
I don't know what I'll do. Friday night, hubby will be home so maybe we will do something. He doesn't always participate, as he claims to be a christian, but he is very open

As far as a solitary ritual. I would just do like Moon Dust said.
bake something yummy and round. Have some wine(if you can, milk if you can't)
Flowers for your altar and your hair. Just have fun, and feel wonderful!

[MoonDust]

I'm walking around in my braids with flowers at the ends you can count on that ;)

[Rowan MoonDragon]

What a positively beautiful idea MoonDust. That's really lovely!

[MoonDust]

thank you!

[Romani Vixen]

I'm going to at least do a few flowers... and may dew if I can...

[mucgwyrt]

MayDay is an old fertility festival, so after I go up into the woods to the old Enclosure and say a few thanks or possibly go to Avebury stone circle, I'm gonna go home and have some rumpy-pumpy to honour the magic of creation :D

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

:lol: That's a nice way of putting it Macha. But I agree that's in my plans as well. And we're also planning on planting a nice May Bough, then decorating it and attatching our wishes to it. As for anything else I'm not sure. If the weather is nice, maybe a barbeque or something. And of course some time with the gods.

[mucgwyrt]

:lol: That's a nice way of putting it Macha. But I agree that's in my plans as well.


Ya, even my non-witch boyfriend didn't complain at that suggestion :D



And we're also planning on planting a nice May Bough, then decorating it and attatching our wishes to it. As for anything else I'm not sure. If the weather is nice, maybe a barbeque or something. And of course some time with the gods.

Thats a nice idea :)

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

I thought so. We're going cut a branch from either the holly tree or birch out front (if they'll let us of course, and really any flowering tree will do, so if they won't maybe one of the dogwoods or the pear down back will be nice enough), probably just put it in some water and rocks, because his mother just by being near it will probably kill it (she killed my jade plant that way - it was perfectly healthy til we brought it here and it was dead in three months), tie colored blown eggs to it, and then colored ribbons that hold our wishes. :smile:

[mucgwyrt]

I guess Birch would be really appropriate if you could wangle it, as thats the traditional wood used for the May Pole :smile:
I have to admit to being awful with plants too, though my baby Rowan is doing surprisingly well. I guess because I give it so much energy, I say hello to it every day *glee*. I was gonna try n meditate in the garden one night when its drier, and see if Rowan-Spirit will say hello!

[skilly-nilly]

rumpy-pumpy :D ?? :heybaby:


My plans as well... :hearthear It is also my hand-fasted other and my's anniversary (10yrs) and so significant. We celebrate on May 2nd, however, because of starting off with a year and a day and so as to have the religious holiday and the anniversary on different days.

For (other) ritual, I smudge all of my trees awake and have a chat. I also smudge them asleep on Samhein, so this is balance. All there is for flowers yet here are a few buds of crocus and some Siberian Blue-Sky. Why? Because Canada and Siberia have a lot in common, sometimes. :bundled: ,skilly-nilly

[13thChylde]

I stopped by an abandoned house last weekend, and found a perfect piece of wood to put next to my stone circle. I plan on "planting" this tree (which looks like a driftwood tree) and making wishes on colored scraps of fabric and tying them to the tree. It's not big enough to be a maypole....I'd like to dance around a maypole, but the group I sometimes attend is having their circle on Sunday, and I'll be at the zoo.

I'm going to make some May~Day wine with my woodruff plant, and something else...just don't know what. I've been working hard in the garden, so perhaps the faeries will stop by for some milk + honey.

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

I guess Birch would be really appropriate if you could wangle it, as thats the traditional wood used for the May Pole :smile:
I have to admit to being awful with plants too, though my baby Rowan is doing surprisingly well. I guess because I give it so much energy, I say hello to it every day *glee*. I was gonna try n meditate in the garden one night when its drier, and see if Rowan-Spirit will say hello!

Probably would be really appropriate, but it's a weeping birch so I'm not sure how it'll work.

[13thChylde]

Oh, I also have a weeping pussy willow in a pot that I'd like to decorate somehow....she's such a pretty little tree. She sits next to my bench.

I'M GIDDY WITH GLEE!!!!!!!!!

[mucgwyrt]

Perhaps I'll tie some wish-ribbons and Birch twigs onto my Stang, I really like the idea of wish ribbons now! :D
I'd karma poke you all, but it says I've poked too many people already :rolleyes:

edit: what colours do you think would be appropriate? Green? I forget what our local May Pole usually has... (yes, living in hickville-Britain we do actually have a local maypole which gets used every year, complete with Morris Dancers...)

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Any spring colors really. Yellow, green, pink, lavendar, a soft blue. Maybe even red to symbolize menstrual blood and fertility.

[mucgwyrt]

Any spring colors really. Yellow, green, pink, lavendar, a soft blue. Maybe even red to symbolize menstrual blood and fertility.

Good thinking Batman :)

edit: perhaps I'll write my wishes in runes, or just pick the appropriate ones (e.g. health?) and write a single rune per ribbon... I'd use Ogham, but there are no vowels *doh*

[LittlePerson]

Thank you to all of you and your posts. I've read through and cannot wait to celebrate. I am working Saturday though, half a day and having bbq with some friends and it's not sabbat related. :( But I am going to try to get in some celebration time, maybe put out some flowers or something to that effect. I'm still such a new pagan and this will be the first Sabbat I'll get to truly celebrate.
I'm going to take the wheel of the year class to help. Hopefully, I will learn so much I won't be struggling for ideas and have to take other peoples. I will be able to come up with my own.
We had a spring equonox celebration at my uu church. It was pagan so technically this won't be my first, but it'll be my first to celebrate solitary. I am a solitary pagan. Maybe my hubby with help. Though we can't do a real fertility ritual. :( Wrong time of the month. :) Anyway, thanks for all the ideas and everyone have fun.
We should have a sabbat section on the board that's just for sabbats and esbats and the wheel.
Blessed Be.

[mucgwyrt]

Thank you to all of you and your posts. I've read through and cannot wait to celebrate. I am working Saturday though, half a day and having bbq with some friends and it's not sabbat related. :( But I am going to try to get in some celebration time, maybe put out some flowers or something to that effect. I'm still such a new pagan and this will be the first Sabbat I'll get to truly celebrate.
I'm going to take the wheel of the year class to help. Hopefully, I will learn so much I won't be struggling for ideas and have to take other peoples. I will be able to come up with my own.
We had a spring equonox celebration at my uu church. It was pagan so technically this won't be my first, but it'll be my first to celebrate solitary. I am a solitary pagan. Maybe my hubby with help. Though we can't do a real fertility ritual. :( Wrong time of the month. :) Anyway, thanks for all the ideas and everyone have fun.
We should have a sabbat section on the board that's just for sabbats and esbats and the wheel.
Blessed Be.
Some people (naming-no-names-me) think it is even more magical to have a fertility ritual during your moon time. Just use a towel :D

[mothwench]

I stopped by an abandoned house last weekend, and found a perfect piece of wood to put next to my stone circle. I plan on "planting" this tree (which looks like a driftwood tree) and making wishes on colored scraps of fabric and tying them to the tree. It's not big enough to be a maypole....I'd like to dance around a maypole, but the group I sometimes attend is having their circle on Sunday, and I'll be at the zoo.

I'm going to make some May~Day wine with my woodruff plant, and something else...just don't know what. I've been working hard in the garden, so perhaps the faeries will stop by for some milk + honey.
didya see my woodruff thread in the green room? :boing: i put a recipe for may wine in there. :drinking: i'm making mine tomorrow morning, so it'll be ready by the evening. :)

[Kitfox]

Wow, that's great chant/poem you've got on your webpage, Margaridinah! I think I might incorporate it on my Beltane walk/ritual. I'm going to a local park with two friends for a hike and a picnic. We're going to have some fun and then have a small little ritual. None of us are very formal so we're going to do whatever we feel like.

I'm also going to a large gathering later, but I wanted to do a more personal one with my two closest friends.

[mucgwyrt]

didya see my woodruff thread in the green room? :boing: i put a recipe for may wine in there. :drinking: i'm making mine tomorrow morning, so it'll be ready by the evening. :)

Oooo I wish I had woodruff so I could try that one :(
Maybe next year :D

[mothwench]

:foh: do you reckon it's too late to send you some? i've got a dried bunch here that i picked three days ago, so it should be alright for using when it gets to you...

[mucgwyrt]

I doubt it will get here by monday, but any time is a good time for wine, mayday or not :D

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

How about trying some syllabub instead? It's another may tradition. Breakfast no less.

Ingrediants:
1/3 cup sherry
1/2 teaspoon amaretto liqueur (or almond extract)
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
6 tablespoons sugar
2 cups heavy cream
12-18 amaretti cookies
6 wine or sundae glasses

Directions:
1) Blend sherry, liqueur or extract, lemon zest and juice, and sugar in large mixing bowl
2) Add cream and whip until the mixture has soft peaks
3) Crumble 2-3 cookies at the bottom of each glass, spoon cream mixture on top
4) Chill several hours and serve

Don't forget to leave some milk or cream for the faeries first though. :smile:

[mucgwyrt]

bloody hell, breakfast? I'd be back in bed by 10 if I had that for brekkie! :rotfl:

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Hey don't ask me. Apparently the Irish originally milked the cow straight into the bowl of sherry. :foh:

[Elfa Wylde]

I'd like to dance around a maypole.....
How the heck do you make one? I can only find instructions for little table-top replicas.


I'm going to make some May~Day wine with my woodruff plant, and something else...just don't know what.
My recipe is a bottle of wine.. 12 sprigs woodruff... sliced strawberries...slices raspberries (or fresh pinapple.) you mix it all and let it sit over night in the frige. Then strain and discard the fruit (they taste pretty bad afterward too). When you serve, tuck thin slices or orange into the glass then fill it up.

[Elfa Wylde]

I agree with Macha! Hon.. there's NEVER really a "wrong time"

[mucgwyrt]

LMAO
wouldn't surprise me!

[Elfa Wylde]

Hey don't ask me. Apparently the Irish originally milked the cow straight into the bowl of sherry. :foh:


they really knew how to do it right!! :graduate: sorry... grew up on a farm... i'd take the porridge out with me and shoot a little milk right in.. eat while i worked :floating: maybe kids are just weird that way. or maybe it's just me? :hehehehe:

[13thChylde]

Italy: The people of ancient Rome honored Flora, the goddess of flowers and springtime, with a festival called Florialia. The goddess was represented by a small statue wreathed in garlands. A procession of singers and dancers carried the statue past a sacred blossom-decked tree. Later, festivals of this kind spread to other lands conquered by the Romans. Today May Day is known as the happiest day of the year in Italy. All varieties of flowers are placed in and around places of worship. Boys often serenade their sweethearts on this day.

Switzerland: In Switzerland, a May pine tree is often placed under a girl's window.

Germany: German boys often secretly plant May trees in front of the windows of their sweethearts.

Czechoslovakia: At night, boys at night place maypoles before their sweethearts' windows.

England: The festivals begun in Italy reached their height in England during the Middle Ages. On the first day of May, English villagers awakened at daybreak to roam the countryside gathering blossoming flowers and branches. A towering maypole was set up on the village green. This pole, usually made of the trunk of a tall birch tree, was decorated with bright field flowers. The villagers then danced and sang around the maypole, accompanied by a piper. Usually the Morris dance was performed by dancers wearing bells on their colorful costumes. Often the fairest maiden of the village was chosen queen of the May. Sometimes a May king was also chosen. These two led the village dancers and ruled over the festivities. In Elizabethan times, the king and queen were called Robin Hood and Maid Marian. Maypoles were usually set up for the day in small towns, but in London and the larger towns they were erected permanently. They were considered heathen eyesores by the Puritans. May Day festivals became so gay and wild that the Puritans were able to force the government to forbid them. They soon sprang up again, however, and still continue in many English villages. Today in London children go from house to house bringing flowers in return for pennies. After the pennies are collected, they are thrown into a wishing well. Special wishes are made with hopes they will be granted. The pennies are later collected and given to different charitable organizations. The traditional English chant used when handing out May baskets is:

Please to smell my garland 'cause it is the first of May.
A branch of May I have brought you, and at your door I stand;
It is but a sprout, but it's well budded out,
The work of our Lady's hand.

France: Since the French considered the month of May to be sacred to the Virgin Mary, they enshrined young girls as May queens in their churches and May queens led processions in honor of the Virgin. Cows also play important roles in French May Day festivals, and bunches of flowers are tied and draped around their tails as they are led in parades. Everyone tries to touch the cows because it is believed to be good luck. On May Day morning, everyone drinks milk still warm from the milking to assure good luck during the year.

Greece: Greek children set out early in the morning to search for the first swallow of spring. When the bird is located, the children go from door to door singing songs of spring. For their efforts, neighbors offer special treats to eat, such as fruits, nuts, and cakes. United States: The Puritans frowned on May Day and brought that attitude along to the New World, so it has never been celebrated with as much enthusiasm in the U.S. as in Great Britain. But May Day is celebrated by dancing and singing around a maypole tied with colorful streamers or ribbons. The dancers twist the streamers around the pole to make a pretty pattern to be enjoyed by all. On college campuses a May queen is often chosen and the old dances are performed around a maypole. Children often gather spring flowers, place them in handmade paper May baskets and hang them on the doorknobs of relatives and friends--they ring the doorbells and run away, leaving their flowers as a surprise. At May Day parties children select May queens, dance around the maypole, and sing May Day songs. These festivals often occur in parks or schools.

[13thChylde]

How the heck do you make one? I can only find instructions for little table-top replicas.


My recipe is a bottle of wine.. 12 sprigs woodruff... sliced strawberries...slices raspberries (or fresh pinapple.) you mix it all and let it sit over night in the frige. Then strain and discard the fruit (they taste pretty bad afterward too). When you serve, tuck thin slices or orange into the glass then fill it up.
Well, I've been to circles where they used the same pole from the year before, and ones where they send the men out into the forest to find a (pre)selected pole and they bring that in with the King or Consort straddling it :lol:

This year, since I can't make the circle on Sunday which will have the dancing, I'm just going to plant this tree-pole that I found and tie ribbons on it that I've embued with my wishes and prayers. I'm gonna miss the dancing, though....it's always my fave part.

And my recipe is very similar :)

[Nantonos]

didya see my woodruff thread in the green room? :boing: i put a recipe for may wine in there. :drinking: i'm making mine tomorrow morning, so it'll be ready by the evening. :)

Yes I did. For some reason it reminded me of meadowsweet and hawthorn flowers to, some sort of common thread in the smell of all three.

It reminded me of some of the things I miss living where I do - tangled hederows teeming with new green life; rich loamy deep green temperate woodland; smelling the hawthorn flowers at Beltane, looking for lammas leaves on oaks at Lammas, shuffling through deep beech woodland around Samhain; frost and silver birch at Imbolc. Having always grown up in a temperate zone, moving to a mediterranean zone with entirely different plants and seasons it took me a few years to readjust and not feel cut off from the land.

I was in Holland last week and walked past a flowering May tree on my way to the train station, and smiled.

[Gala]

How about trying some syllabub instead? It's another may tradition. Breakfast no less.

Ingrediants:
1/3 cup sherry
1/2 teaspoon amaretto liqueur (or almond extract)
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
6 tablespoons sugar
2 cups heavy cream
12-18 amaretti cookies
6 wine or sundae glasses

Directions:
1) Blend sherry, liqueur or extract, lemon zest and juice, and sugar in large mixing bowl
2) Add cream and whip until the mixture has soft peaks
3) Crumble 2-3 cookies at the bottom of each glass, spoon cream mixture on top
4) Chill several hours and serve

Don't forget to leave some milk or cream for the faeries first though. :smile:

[Gala]

How about trying some syllabub instead? It's another may tradition. Breakfast no less.



Don't forget to leave some milk or cream for the faeries first though. :smile:

Yep I'd be snockered in a heart beat. I've never milked an animal, cept me of course. but I'd really like to try my hand a goat cheese.
I am just too tired to think about doing anything.
do you think it would be ok to do it tomorrow?

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

I don't know why not. Just have it for an after dinner treat instead of breakfast. Might get you all nice and free for um....fertility celebrations. :D

[Gala]

:hehehehe:

[grnpuffer]

No one's doing a beltaine fire?

This is our much anticipated event-
The drumming frenzy from hell, and the biggest bon fires we can manage. Had about 100 last year. Of course folks wanting to jump the fires are strongly encouraged to be clothing optional.

Of course Much feasting... and afterwards.... ; )

[MoonDust]

No fertility celebrations for me.... not this year anyway :T

So I've transplanted my flowers (daisies instead of the mini rosses I'd planned to use)
I'm making some Oatmeal Rasin Cranberry Mix nut cookies right now to hand out to everyone and to use a few as my offering to the Goddess alloong with a cup of milk.
My bath will be later on when all have gone to bed and then off I go to dance with the flowers and stars!

Recipe for cookies (you can cut it in 1/2 if you feel it's too much. I have lot's of people I've got to give 'em too!):
6 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
2 eggs
2 tablespoons water
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups rolled oats
1/4 cup rasins
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup mixed chopped nuts -I just bought the bag of the stuff

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a cookie sheet. Using a mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter, brown sugar, honey, egg and water thoroughly. Sift together the dry ingredients then stir in the oats. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix. Add rasins, cranberries, and nuts. Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto the cookie sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

[cheddarsox]

If the weather cooperates...And it doesn't look good, We have a huge party planned with fertility games for all ages! Cherry pie eating contests, Cream the fertility goddess, eat the suspended twinkie, egg battles, and a mini-marshmallow cannon! Oh, of course, the May pole, and lots of other fun for all! It is one of my favorite holidays.

In spite of the heavy rain, I will spend all of today continuing my preparations, and if we get rained out, I will have to console myself with may wine...

[Gala]

I set out a container last night and caught some first of May rain water.
Gonna strain the dirt out of it and bottle it and bless it to save for using the rest of the year.
This is the first time I've gotten, or remembered to do it.

I am making some bread and hope to use some tonight in a ritual.
After the storm last night I don't know about any flowers being left on the ground, but I shall try.

[Morr]

I'm just going to cast my circle, invite the god & goddess, the guardians & the fairies.. I'm gonna do a short meditation, light lots of candles, incense, then play Madonna's "Holiday", dance around and hop over a candle!

I live by the beach but its really scary and freaky there at night and sorta dangoured to be alone... I'd love to go out there and watch the stars.. but nah.. not this year.. its still kinda chilly out too..

[13thChylde]

BAH!!! It's pouring down rain here, off and on through Monday. So I'm rearranging my plans.

I think I'll bake some bread....to go along with my milk and honey offerings to the Fae this evening. And since I'm stuck inside, I'm cleaning house since the Fae abhor clutter and mess. And I'll have more time to make my ribbons for my Maypole, which will have to be planted later.

Oh yeah....still have the May Wine to drink. And I did wash my face with dew when I woke up, so the whole day hasn't been a wash-out, hahaha.

[Nantonos]

BAH!!! It's pouring down rain here, off and on through Monday. So I'm rearranging my plans.

The weather here has been unseasonably wet, too - overcast and unpleasant. Today there was a break in the clouds it weas sunny mid afternoon and people were sitting outside cafes drinking coffee and chatting. Lets hope it lasts.

There were also some folk selling bunches of muget (lily of the valley), which seems to be associated with May Day in France. ~ goes of to research why that is so ~


And since I'm stuck inside, I'm cleaning house since the Fae abhor clutter and mess.

Now there is an idea (surveys mess and wonders ...)


And I'll have more time to make my ribbons for my Maypole, which will have to be planted later.

Somewhere I have photos of the maypole at Barwick in Elmet, Yorkshire, UK which is famous for being old (some say the oldest in England), verytall (26.8 metres / 88 feet) and also for a tradition of people climbing it; and another tradition of a neighboring village stealing it. Its the usual spiral painted design with four crown garlands near the top. There is a weathercock on top to show which way the wind blows, in this case with a fox not a cock.

Analog photos not digital, though.... ah but of course some enterprising soul has a web page about it

http://www.hjsmith.clara.co.uk/maypicts.htm
http://www.otleymaypole.org.uk/yorks_maypoles.htm

[Nantonos]

Now discouraged for 'health and safety' (ie litigation) reasons, a picture from the 1970s showing someone climbing the maypole.

http://www.hjsmith.clara.co.uk/mayclimb.htm

[Nantonos]

Discovered I did have some maypole pictures, taken in München (Munich), Bayern (Bavaria), Germany. Not on May Day, the maypole is left up all year as it is in England.

I put the pics in my photo album as they are a bit tall to put here:
http://www.mysticwicks.com/photoalbum/index.php?cat=18360

[mothwench]

Now discouraged for 'health and safety' (ie litigation) reasons, a picture from the 1970s showing someone climbing the maypole.

http://www.hjsmith.clara.co.uk/mayclimb.htm
:lol: that reminds me of a festival they do in bunyol, spain. they have this pole, which gets covered in grease, and they hang a big chunk of meat on the top end, and then the younger men of the village try and climb up this greasy pole to get the meat, which can look quite amusing. :hehehehe: this is supposedly also a fertility rite, but i can't remember what time of year they did it. i'm thinking it was later, some time in summer.

[GreenCrone]

Beltane fire, if the rain holds off. Eats for the garden fairies and enjoying the smell of roses and honeysuckle in the evening air.

[mucgwyrt]

:lol: that reminds me of a festival they do in bunyol, spain. they have this pole, which gets covered in grease, and they hang a big chunk of meat on the top end, and then the younger men of the village try and climb up this greasy pole to get the meat, which can look quite amusing. :hehehehe: this is supposedly also a fertility rite, but i can't remember what time of year they did it. i'm thinking it was later, some time in summer.

Ewwww...
We have a local Maypole which is still in use (tho probably not this year due to the rain), but its totally vegetarian :sick:

[mothwench]

:rotfl: they eat vegetarians in spain. ;)

[mucgwyrt]

I dont doubt it.
I remember going to a "pub" (or the closest approximation to) in Madrid, and it was horrible - there were joints of pork hanging from above the bar and people smoking all round, and then the barman just sliced some of it off and handed it to us with our booze *erk* :sick:

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Now that's what I call smoked meat. :smoke:

[mucgwyrt]

:sick: :sick: :sick:

[Nantonos]

Now that's what I call smoked meat. :smoke:

I would rather have air dried ham cut fresh off the bone and recognisably from an animal than an anonymous pale piink slab of polyphosphates and water held together with taseless reconstituted ham-like substance, any day.

The ciggy smoke would be better omitted, though (have to be careful there, British English words for that are interpreted differently by Americans lol)

[mothwench]

I dont doubt it.
I remember going to a "pub" (or the closest approximation to) in Madrid, and it was horrible - there were joints of pork hanging from above the bar and people smoking all round, and then the barman just sliced some of it off and handed it to us with our booze *erk* :sick:

aaah, spain, just how i like it. it just ain't the same without the ratty bars. :lol:

nantonos: LMAO. that same thing just happened to me over beltaine. "where's me fags?" i said to banondraig. :hehehehe: luckily she's spent some time in the UK and knew what i was on about!

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

I would rather have air dried ham cut fresh off the bone and recognisably from an animal than an anonymous pale piink slab of polyphosphates and water held together with taseless reconstituted ham-like substance, any day.

The ciggy smoke would be better omitted, though (have to be careful there, British English words for that are interpreted differently by Americans lol)

Oh I agree completely. I like my meat fresh. Preferabbly if I've been invloved in the skinning and butchering thereof. Boy do I miss venison. ~sniff-sniff~

That's okay, I generally understand British English. Generally. :lol: