Five evenings, and the season decides one of them
A learners' bench twice a week, a deliberately slow Thursday, a busy Friday, a crayfish run Saturday and a long Sunday. Monday and Tuesday the shed is dark.
Evening by evening
Why Saturdays change with the season
When the season is open and the boats are running, Saturday is built around the unload: the board goes up late, the kitchen goes hard until nine and the hall fills with people who have been on the water since four in the morning.
Out of season the same evening is a different animal — line fish on the board, half the noise, and the ladder tables get the room to themselves.
Either way there is no entry fee for anything and no money changes hands over a table. The ladder is a name chalked on a tally board and a round of applause.
In season
Late board, loud hall, lobster while it lasts.
Out of season
Line fish, quiet room, tables get more space.
Second Saturday
Social ladder, no entry fee, no prize money.