I almost forgot to update you all: I succeeded in upholding my tradition. The village of Longhope in Gloucestershire had a visit from a new force in Pagan neo-tradition. Yes I ran through the village wearing only a cycling cape at around 00.30am Sunday 4th April (Saturday night).

This post is an update to: Neo Paganism

It was, I'll admit, more difficult than last year. Firstly I wasn't as drunk. Last years had been the spur of the moment idiocy of a drunk man, this year, though I'd had a few, it was pre planned. I was actually dreading it in the run up and had started making increasingly desperate excuses to get out of it. Right up to the last minute I wasn't going to do it.

Secondly there were more people there. Last time there were four of us. I was the most drunk and the nudity was generally ignored so as not to encourage any further madness. This time there were twelve of us and at least three of the girls decided to chase me and try and steal my cape. Unfortunately I was caught - I was feeling a bit asthmatic - and my nakedness was put on show for a passing car; no honk - bastard - it was cold, it's what you do with it, and besides I'm a grower not a shower.

The thing which made it more doable was that my friend Wendy had a baby the night before. What better time then for a traditional fertility festival thingy. My mate Wendy is amazing, we saw her in the pub at 11pm (not drinking) she cycled the fifteen minute bike ride home to her house boat and had had the baby by around 4am. Her first baby in three and a half hours!

We'd popped round that Saturday morning to see the newby and he was amazing - we bought them (among many other things) cocktail sausages and a water Lilly to chuck off the side of the boat, mark the spot kind of thing. (The cocktail sausages, because I thought she might need the meat, I was right, I'm super sensitive). So there you go - a festival of new life in every sense of the word! (Unless you were one of the pigs that went into the sausages).

See you all there next year. (The girls are bringing wipping sticks!)