Is there an apt number plate of the year award?
. . . . walk this way for a wild goose chase . . .
You may have noticed in a previous TBTE this striking newcomer to the Besom Fleet (pronounced 'Buzzen' locally) - the Strontium Dog, a trimaran recently relaunched after a lengthy rebuild: you can find out more about her here and here (hit the appropriate news button on the right-hand side of the page).
A bit more catching up: on Sunday 3rd May, I took my girls to The Sunday Service - no, nothing to do with going to church, I'm afraid, but one of a series of musical afternoons hosted by the Love Bistro at the Minories in Colchester.In the blossom-filled Minories gardens, and against the picturesque backdrop of the eighteenth-century folly, six local musicians entertained a relaxed, 200-strong audience for three hours.
There was a lovely inclusive atmosphere, with an excellent barbecue, a bar and plenty of tea and cakes - something for everyone, from dancing toddlers to persons of maturer years (ie even more mature than mine!) reclining on tartan blankets.
Tony Gibson - trombonist with Colchester Ska/Reggae Band the New Town Kings , but playing here in his singer-songwriter guise, was accompanied by Andrew Poonian on tabla and joined for a couple of songs by singer Adrian Johnson.
It's so wonderful to see the garden and folly being put to such good use. Altogether a jolly good way to spend a Sunday afternoon, albeit a disappointingly chilly one (but that's May bank holiday weekends - at least it wasn't tipping down with rain).
The next Sunday Service at the Minories - and let's hope it's bathed in summer sunshine - is on Sunday 31st May at 3 pm and will feature Ragged String Band, Dionysus (Rob, Chris and Tony from the New Town Kings playing dub), Animal Noise and Tony Gibson. Andrew Poonian will be providing an African drum workshop, too. Tickets are £5 on the door. See you there!
If you've visited Musings before, you will probably be familiar with our splendid Mersea beach huts, subject of many a point-click session of mine (eg here, here and here) as well as providing endless inspiration for island artists.
Last week some 30 of the West Mersea huts were broken into and four of them burned completely to the ground in the early hours of the morning. 
It seems that this wasn't the usual 'mindless vandalism' which, sadly, we have to endure as much any other neighbourhood, but part of a planned operation by a gang targeting beach huts all along the east coast.
