Tug of War
This year I spent Christmas back in my hometown of Portsmouth on the South Coast of England. I love how many peculiar little traditions there are all over the country and the one I always try to catch is the Tug Of War between the divers and the fishermen over the water at Camber Docks in Old Portsmouth.
A rope is draped across the water from the Bridge Tavern on one side to the old fish market on the other side. As the game commences the divers take it in turns to shimmy along the rope into ndthe icy water as the rope is dunked into the water repeatedly. The contestant sees how long they can hold on or how far across the rope they can make it.
Afterwards everyone heads to the pub to warm up over some mulled wine or a good old fashioned pint.
So if you’re around the south coast on the 26th of December next year you should definitely try to make it to Camber Docks in Old Portsmouth for 11am, it’s something to see for sure!
It’s little eccentricities like that that make me miss Great Britain at times.
