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News
Barbel Bounty Results: a new record is set!
By Ponso Pondhopper A
grand night's fishing: altogether, 18 hobbits turned out for this first
contest fishing for barbel. In total 648 fish were caught, 42 of which
were barbel. It should be said here that 8 of those 42 were caught by
one hobbit: Mister Benjyman.  Prizes were awarded in the following categories: Weedy prize, for the most weeds caught, won by Miralith, with 7 bundles of pondweed Runners-up, winning a commemorative fishing rod: Miss Lina, Onionfarmer Pete, Miss Nimelia. 3rd prize (43 fish, 78 points): Miss Hollberye 2nd prize (40 fish, 79 points): Mister Benjyman 1st prize (39 fish, 91 points): Master Potty Barbel weigh-in Miralith
weighed in first with a huge barbel of 16 lb 10 oz, which looked to be a
winner. However, this was not to be: Miss Pogonia came up with a 19 lb
barbel, which enters the record books, as the officially largest barbel
caught in the Shire. Many thanks to all who
took part, especially Onionfarmer Pete and Potty for the music and Miss
Tibba for cooking up the catfish caught. A special mention also to
Mister Ozbourne for providing the prize money. This is the last fishing match of the year; the next will be after Yuletide. |
A Hobbit Yule Carol
By Nonette Shenanigan Greetings, fellow hobbits! As you all know, it’s almost that time of
year again – Yuletime! Many a hobbit will soon be busy wrapping various
mathoms for their myriad relations, setting aside the best of the
harvest for a great Yule feast, and decorating their burrows in true
Yule fashion. Some years ago, I wrote a play in celebration of
the season entitled Scrooge: A Hobbit Yule Carol. A few of you hobbits
may remember it, but if you don’t – FEAR NOT! This heart-warming tale of
transformation is coming back to Middle Earth for Yule 2018!  Even more exciting than that – how could anything be more exciting than that, you ask me, well let me tell you! – is that my uncle, the grey-haired grumbling grouch of the Green Dragon, the one-and-only Matzo Shenanigan himself, will be starring in the lead role of Scrooge! How did I get him to participate? What horrible secret must I be holding over his head for him to be so agreeable? No, nothing at all dreadful like that. I simply requested that he play a part in one of my theatrical creations as my gift for Yule this year. Now, he may have asked three or four dozen times for alternatives, but I have stayed strong my friends! (although my resolve wavered somewhat at his pledge of a month’s worth of his seasonal blackberry brew, scrumptious!) Needless to say, you hobbits will certainly owe me an ale or two in gratitude for your tremendous entertainment! Additionally, as a condition of his participation, Uncle Matzo has conscripted (rather against his will) the talents of Wiberic Tentoes, who was the last hobbit seen sitting in Matzo’s chair at the Green Dragon not long after his dinner went missing a few weeks ago. Uncle Matzo has chosen for Wiberic the role of Scrooge’s nephew (probably so he can spend a few weeks in rehearsals giving him the grump-eye and berating him on stage)! And so we are finally coming to it. To make this play the true masterpiece that it deserves to be, we will need more able actors to fill out pivotal roles such as the Narrator, the Three Spirits of Yule, old man Marlo, and more! In an effort to get a leg up on things (because as soon as my local taps its keg of seasonal ale, I’ll be rather indisposed thereafter), we are preparing to hold auditions for any hobbits who want to be part of this historic event! Dates and times will be announced once casting is complete. Please send a letter via the Quick Post to Wiberic or Matzo to express your interest! -Nonette Shenanigan |
Barbel Bounty - a Fishing Match
By Ponso Pondhopper The Barbel A fine fish is the
barbel! It’s none too common in the waters of the Shire but it’s a grand
fish to angle for. You see, this fellow likes the deep, slow-moving
waters in preference to the shallows and fast streams. But it needs the
water to be well aerated and a steady supply of insect larvae to feed
on. So, its perfect habitat is in the pools downstream of rapids and
waterfalls. And where better to find them than under the Little Delving
waterfall behind Sandson’s farm? It's the place the Evendim Hillbillies sing about in their song "Jewel Lake".  So, next
Saturday, the Shire Angling Club is hosting a Barbel Bounty Fishing
Match, with all the usual prizes and a special prize for the biggest
barbel pulled out of the water! Before we head off to the pool, I will
give a short talk in the yard of the Bird and Baby and answer any
questions you might have about this fine fish. Did you know, for example
that you can cook this fish, but that a part of it is poisonous? You
didn’t? Then come along and find out more about this cousin of the carp. We
shall meet at seven and a half bells on Saturday 3rd November in the
yard of the Bird and Baby, in Michel Delving. Bring a rod and be
prepared for a treat! Set yer tackle deep and be prepared for a fight!
This fish is stronger than it looks. Ponso Pondhopper Club President Shire Angling Club What: Fishing Match When: Saturday 3rd November 19:30 ((UK time, 20:30 CET, 15:30 Server time)) Where: Bird and Baby yard, Michel Delving |
Bree-land Wightseeing Tour 2018
By Pycella Woodberry  Hobbits love their peaceful lives, but they do like some exciting stories too. This time, we won’t share those tales by the warm fireplace or the campfire: we will visit some chilling places in the scary Bree-land! Who knows, we might see some wights along the way too!
Our scary stroll starts in Buckland, at the Old Forest
Tunnel. After a few welcome words, we will walk through the forest and stop by
Tom’s cabin to fill up our bellies and to listen to some scary tales and songs.
After that, we will continue our stroll to the Barrow-downs, where we might see
some skinny wights! From there, we will walk the not-so-scary roads of Bree-land
to an abandoned graveyard near the festival grounds, where we will have the
rest of our entertainment and enjoy foods and drink, supposing there is
something left. And, if we still have time, energy and courage, we will go and
visit the scary ruins nearby, where we can play a scary game of tag.
How to prepare for the walking tour and other notes:
Bree-land Wightseeing Tour 2018 Date: Sunday November 4 Time: 7:30 PM ((UK time, 2:30 PM servertime)) Location: Old Forest Tunnel, Buckland, Bree-land
See you on the fourth of November!
Spooky regards, Pycella Woodberry
(( OOC: |
An Exciting Story of Great Love fer the November OAKS
By Acorne Oakley Hiya! A BIG thank you to all of Polnolunie fer bringin the *Full Moon* ta shine down on all of us in the last OAKS *bows* Polnolunie has so much amazin talent among its members! Their selections include beautiful heart-touching lyrics like the song about the young lass waitin in vain fer her lad that bravely went ta drive the wolves out of the Shire... *wipes a tear from her cheek* as well as funny lyrics like the song about gettin lost in the Spring maze. *giggles* These incredible lyrics t'gether wit their awesum music have made many an audience very happy over the past five years they have been t'gether.. And the OAKS audience was definitely treated ta a thrillin concert as they played their best 30 songs from those years I hope they are still playin 5 years from now...maybe 15...maybee even 50! Thanks ta all of Polnolunie fer a truly amazin concert.... It was a honour celebratin their 5th Anniversary at the October OAKS! Fer those of ya who want ta hear it all agin...here be Miss Leddy's magick pictures... I started writin this announcement fer ya folks a bit earlier....and then there was a terrible storm! Really scary! I could hear thumps and bumps against the walls of my burrow...my sweet lil Butterfly was rolled up under my bed shakin And when the wind subsided and we could finally get outside agin..... * cries* It was HORRIBLE! That wind had blown in giant bushes all over the neighborhood! and blew so hard it planted them deep inta the ground! Our town square looks so cluttered and made me so sad :( If a storm could think & plan, I'd believe it were tryin ta sabotage the OAKS on purpose! My Papa says the gardening department be on strike cause Mayor Whitfoot is not willin ta pay fair wages! We in Oldfurlong cant have the OAKS audience playin hide-n-seek wit the stage! That cannot happen! There be a mighty spectacular OAKS comin up in November so I'm bringin in sum gardeners ta see if we can clear out the town square of Oldfurlong... AND the OAKS will go on! The November OAKS be a special treat fer everyone who luvs a love story or an excitin adventure .... I no that must be all of us...rite!?! This OAKS will be the tellin of a great love story :) Sum folks say it be the greatest love story of all of Middle Earth! It starts when a human lad and a lovely lady eluf first see each other...and then... well ya're just gonna have ta come see what excitin adventures they have after that...  It will be told wit the help of the sensational music of a tall & handsum fella name of Geoffroi! and the always awesum original lyrics of dear Hollyberye! them be two tall ones that can be seen ridin on the back of the great eagle Landroval every Sunday when they make music as part of Andune. Be sure ta come ta the Oldfurlong neighborhood on Saturday November 10 fer anuther awesum OAKS when the enthrallin Blue Silmarils tell the story of Beren and Lúthien! Bring that lass or fella ya likes ...maybee this love story will inspire them ta be yer sweetie *winks* where: the town square of the Oldfurlong neighborhood in the Shire homesteads (Altfurch auf Deutsch / Longuevieille en français) when: Saturday November 10th at eight bells in the evenin ( 20:00 UK time / 21:00 CET / 15:00 server time ) warm hugs ta all, Acorne |
Warning: clock fiddling coming up!
By Peppy Bristlebrush I've promised you to write about the subject of clock fiddling, so here it is.  First the practical things that are about to happen: the period of Daylight Saving Time for this year, is about to come to an end. When? Well, that depends on where you live. East of the Big Pond ((in Europe)) it will end in the night of October 27 to 28, but west of the Big Pond ((in the USA)) it ends in the night of November 3 to 4. This is important with regard to the clock we call Servertime ((which is in fact the time in Boston, Massachusetts)). At the moment, with everyone in Daylight Saving Time, the difference between East and West of the Pond is five hours. As soon as East ((Europe)) put their clocks one hour back, the difference is only four hours! This will be the case until West ((USA)) changes their clocks back one hour too. After that the difference will be what it was: five hours. For example: Green Dragon Friday on October 26 starts at 19:30 Bells ((19:30 UK time)), which is 14:30pm Servertime. Five hours difference. Green Dragon Friday on November 3 starts at 19:30 Bells, which is THEN 15:30 Servertime. Four hours difference. On the next Friday,Green Dragon Friday starts again at 14:30 Servertime, like most of the year. So take care in the period of October 28 to November 3! Now about new developments: Governments East of the Big Pond are planning to get rid of the half-yearly clock fiddling. Hooray! But wait.. Will they prefer to be in Daylight Saving Time all year, or in the more natural (Sun at highest point at twelve o'clock) time? It seems that they have decided that each region ((country)) can make up their own mind about that. If you think about that, it can lead to chaotic situations where you have to adjust your clock each time you cross bounds. So, good plan, bad execution! Anyway, whatever is decided, we at the Gazette will stick to the Michel Delving Bell tower ((UK time)) for our time indications. ((And what will happen after Brexit is anyone's guess: they may decide to keep the Daylight Saving Time, unlike Europe)) And what will the other side of the Big Pond do? Will they also abolish the clock fiddling? Or not. So don't get your hopes up too high! In future we still may have to deal with this phenomenon and have a discrepancy in the difference between Servertime and Michel Delving time. For now, remember the difference of four hours from October 28 until November 3! |
Gardening department on strike!
By Peppy Bristlebrush After a long period of negotiating over higher wages with the mayor, the hobbits of the Municipal Gardening Department have gone on strike! This leaves us with untidy roads and other places, where grass and bushes can now grow free and unattended. It's a mess, to be honest! Has the Mayor forgotten about history and about his duties towards the Kings of Arnor?? I quote: The Shire was a part of Arthedain, and as such a part of Arnor. The Hobbits obtained official permission from King Argeleb II at Norbury (Fornost)
to settle the lands, which were no longer populated and were seen as
the king's hunting grounds. The King stipulated three conditions to this
grant; that the hobbits should acknowledge his Lordship, that they
should maintain the roads within the Shire and finally that they should
aid his messengers. Worst case scenario would be we get kicked out of the Shire! This can no longer be tolerated! Best solution would be to give the Gardening Hobbits the wages they deserve, but until they go back to work, I think it is best to report all rogue bushes and patches of grass and flowers DIRECTLY to the Mayor. In other words: let's all complain loudly about this outrage which has turned our neat Shire into a wilderness. I myself will be complaining about the general situation, but more in particular about some stubborn bushes in my own garden in Bramblebury and about the field near our own Party Tree. I bet that in Oldfurlong they will go berserk, as this is the field where the monthly OAKS concerts are held!  Imagine this to be an OAKS concert! See if you can spot the stage. So stop weeding yourself (it's no good, they grow back the next day) and start writing in the strongest possible terms to Mayor Whitfoot. But keep it civil. ((OOC Since the last Update, number 23, the Shire looks untidy, too untidy with plants growing all over the place. Send your personal report to the forums and ask for it to be made undone. This would be a good thread: https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?667505-Issues-with-the-Update-23-Shire-landscape-update The quote is from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shire_(Middle-earth)#History)) |
UPDATE: Crop Reports Delayed Due to Long-windedness
By Pogonia Twoflops
Dear Readers,
I plan on leaving for the Green Dragon shortly after elevenses on
Friday, so please make sure the Quick Post gets yer report to me by
then.
Thank yer,
Pogonia Twoflops UPDATE: Crop Reports Delayed Due to Long-windedness Dear Readers, Due to the eagerly anticipated long-windedness of our Gaffers and local farmers, the crops reporting is being delayed and won't be presented this Friday. I hope to have an update for yer still at the Green Dragon though! Thank yer, Pogonia Twoflops |
Grand Order 11th anniversary party!
By Lina Willowwood Eleven(ty?) years! We've been around for eleven years! Oh dear... I suppose this means we have to celebrate? Yer right, we will! And we hope to see yer there! The hobbits of The Grand Order of the Lost Mathom have great delight in inviting our friends and acquaintances to a party of special magnificence on occasion of our eleventh anniversary! Date: Sunday October 7 Time: 7:30PM ((UK time, 2:30PM servertime)) Location: 4 Brookbank Street, Songburrow, Shire Homesteads.  A decade and then some The Grand Order of the Lost Mathom was founded on October 9th eleven years ago. This means it is time to celebrate! So, there will be a grand party including speeches, drinks, food, fireworks and entertainment. The kitchens in Songburrow are gearing up already, and there is sure to be a few unexpected surprises as well. Will Strollers or Badgers show up? Will there be brandy? Dancing bears? Grumpy gaffers? Games and competitions? Gifts for the guests? Perhaps! Just don't be surprised should you find some free-roaming oinkers in the village. Welcome to good friends, neighbours and acquaintances! We hope to see you in Songburrow! (( OOC: We would be delighted to extend our hospitality to the hobbits of the Shire, as well as to good friends among the dwarves and the big folk. The event will be held IC within a RP atmosphere ((so no OOC talk, even in brackets)). Weapons and armour should not be worn within the bounds of Songburrow; please dress for a social gathering or in traveling garb. Please leave your pets at home. )) Welcome friends! |
October OAKS 5/10/30
By Acorne Oakley Hiya! A BIG happy hobbity thanks from me ta all them in the Purple Pipeweed Parlor Band!! Ya folks were absolutely outstandin in the September OAKS!!!! This
was an anuther amazin concert...even if that purty Lady Lannith lost
her voice early in the concert and so no lyrics fer the rest of their
OAKS...but the audience had great fun dancin & certainly enjoyed
themselves listenin ta the lovely music.
From yer beginnin wit them lovely classical songs ..ta sum whimsical
music which reminded many of their childhood days...ta sum mighty lively
dancin tunes. ((Here be Miss Leddy's magick drawings as proof... https://youtu.be/71Inbg_GyxU ))
What a truly fun way ta welcome Autumn inta our Shire! Thanks bunches ta this wonderful band! As sum of yer folks no already...this is the fifth year of the OAKS or the Oldfurlong Amazin Koncert Series... But what ya may not no is that it has now been 5 years that very talented band Polnolunie has been t'gether and 10 years since the Brotherhood of the Wolf, the kin from which the members of the band come, was formed. what better way ta celebrate this than with their very best 30 songs from all them past 5 years? the October OAKS 5! 10! 30! woohoo! Polnolunie is composed of sum great folks that I am honoured
ta be able ta say have been my friends fer a long time. I have grown ta admire them more and more as time goes by....not just fer their truly amazin musical talent... but also what wonderful folks they be & how much luv and kindness they show me and so many others in Middle Earth... and how funny they can be *giggles* ya see Polnolunie ...and the Brotherhood of the Wolf...wanted ta enjoy celebratin this time ....so.... I had to find sum others ta play their music fer folks while they be drinkin and dancin wit the rest of us... and I found the perfect band! This band has folks that no all the songs of Polnolunie... No all their lyrics... And sing just like them.. Why ...as remarkable as this may sound...they even LOOK just like Polnolunie! The October OAKS will be under the.... Full Moon  Ya mite even see sum of Polnolunie join them on stage! ((Altfurch auf Deutsch / Longuevieille en français))
when: Saturday October 6th at seven and a half bells in the evenin (( 19:30 UK time / 20:30 CET / 14:30 server time )) Warm hugs ta all. Acorne |
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