Mumming sketty & killay

​After a cracking start to our mumming season at The Park Inn in Mumbles, our second tour of the year saw us in Sketty and Killay.  The evening almost got off to a tricky start, when the new landlords of the Vivian Arms at Sketty Cross hadn’t realised we were coming, but made us all welcome nonetheless.
 
We proceeded to the Village Inn in Killay, where I joined the group – rather dramatically, springing from the back of the pub where I had been waiting for the play to start – and almost throwing Old Father Christmas off his stroke.  A very friendly welcome awaited us, and several of us got chatting to some of the punters who stuck around to watch the crazy spectacle and listen to a few choons played by our lovely musicians.
 
A quick stop in The Black Boy, with a nice welcome and a decision (I think) to reduce the number of times the Valiant Knight was allowed to collapse/moan/roll around/pretend to die etc.  Much ad-libbing ensued, and then the entire company headed out into the night towards our final destination, the much loved Railway Inn.
 
It was here that events took a turn for the slightly surreal, as more pints were quaffed, engagement with other punters was super-friendly and the musicians (especially Siân, who kept going for ages) entertained the crowds with their extensive repertoires and virtuoso performances, to their delight and delectation.
 
The evening got slightly fuzzy after that, and Old Father Christmas slipped further into his fuzzy happy warm place (extremely warm, to be frank – that costume is seriously toasty, never mind the beard).  A straw had been procured at some point, which helped him sip his chosen tipple without messing up his profusion of facial hair, and the yarns got longer and longer, until none of us knew what was true, what was legend, and what was utter nonsense!
 
When finally we’d all had enough, the company dispersed and melted into the night, ready for some proper shut-eye after what had been a brilliant evening.  Many thanks to all the pubs who hosted us, and everyone who came out to support us and made such kind donations to the cause.
 
Words by Di Clark, Paul’s pics from last year’s tour.