Trifolium: Fortunately, they're not all like that!

Our band, Long Meg, doesn't do the number of public ceilidhs we would like, so we do a succession of private parties, fundraisers and weddings. Weddings are either great fun, or a total pain, but either way, they take a great deal more time and trouble than the average village hall do, when you turn up at six, set up, sound check, play for three and a half hours, pack up, and leave about twelve thirty.

Setting up in the pretty white marquee beside Coniston Water

The cake was bang on theme with red and white spots and checks

Most weddings have what band leader Paul calls "the embuggeration factor": you turn up at any time between one and four, try to set up, negotiating with caterers, hotel staff, best men, mothers in law, nervous brides and drunken friends; get told that you are contravening the venue's health and safety rules; be told you must not make that terrible noise (sound check up the spout); be unable to play for several hours while speeches take place and fifteen courses are served; have to play the bride's mother's favourite song through your PA, and finally get to play for a couple of hour if you're lucky; pack up and leave at about one, tripping over the cables of the disco man they've neglected to tell you they've booked in case their younger guests don't like your music! (In fact it's usually the other way round: young people love our mix of traditional tunes with blues/rock rhythms, and older people often like old pop music)

Fortunately, not all weddings are like that, and sometimes they are wonderful: you feel caught up in a happy event and share and contribute to the joy. yesterday' was one such.

OK, so we turned up at four- after a long drive- but we did drive through some of the most beautiful long and winding roads in England, to the heart of the high fells by Coniston Water and The Old Man, where a marquee filled with light- and red and white bunting- waited in the afternoon sunlight.

New Long Meg line-up- Liz, Neil, Mike, Paul, Joe

This could have been a sad gig for us, as it was the last for our drummer Joe. However we got caught up in the joy of the afternoon, and were surrounded by the enthusiasm and warmth of Liz and Lucy, and their family and friends.

After our other veteran band member, fiddler Pete Crofts, recently retired, we thought we'd never find the sound again, but Liz, seen below with guest fiddler Neil, makes a great sound, gutsy yet precise. So Long Meg is still Long Meg- but a bit different!

We are still sad that Joe has left us, but also confident that we can lure him back for the odd gig or two. We wish him luck and look forward to his next exhibition: Joe is a talented artist, as you can see from his website.