Shoulder to Shoulder

It was impossible to tell how many people were there at the demonstration of solidarity with refugees and immigrants, but I'd say several hundred or so. The red band played. That's Union Steve/Communist Steve in the Red Band t -shirt. He plays the drum. That's Doina Cornell, former leader of Stroud District Council, in the Aye  Welcome Refugees t-shirt, making the final speech of many. I felt that we had some something, however small, by turning up. More is to come. 

I rushed home afterwards because friend Russell was arriving from Sussex. We got changed into party clobber, and set for Uplands, on the other side of Stroud, for a three-gardens party. Camilla, who had organised the local trip to India, was one of the hosts. Russell had been on the India trip with me in January, and Munsie from the US was also there (and here ). 

It was a fun party. Lots of chatting, great food, and kids rushing around on a treasure hunt in the three gardens. My favourite moment was hearing a guy playing the digeridoo.  I went to investigate, and it was an Indian guy with very long, shiny black hair which I had admired earlier (not only that, but he'd brought hot samosas as well)! 

Steve came along later, after his market day, and we left at about 8.45. Russell came in much later as I was watching a Scandi drama and Steve was snoozing over the Olympics. All in all, a Grand Day of sunshine and solidarity.