You are currently browsing the monthly archive for July 2009.
Not here as we are now back to the lovely Yorkshire rain ! However Spain was very, very hot so we did little but read and swim during the day but had some lovely evenings out as the sun went down.
We went over to the local town of Guardamar one evening for their Moors and Christians’ parade – a couple of years ago we went to the biggest one in Spain at Alcoy – this was a lot smaller but still very, very loud – even the kids who are used to cannon going off had to retreat when the gunners started!
There were some lovely lights and the costumes were excellent – no close up pics unfortunately as it was very crowded.
The street lights for the festival
The Christian King and Queen
The Christian King and Queen - rear view!
The Moorish King and Queen
It was my grandmother’s 97th birthday the day before we got to Spain so we went out for a meal with family and friends to celebrate – here she is with Jake and Ellie at her favourite Chinese in Guardamar which does an excellent 3 course meal with half bottle of wine for around 4 euros!
My Nana Evelyn at 97 years young!
Ellie has discovered she likes sangria – especially when it is served looking like a proper holiday drink with the requisite decorations – here she is with a very large glass!
The biggest wine glass in Spain
We are off to Asby de la Zouche Castle in Leicestershire for another show this weekend so will post pics from Berkeley when I can. That was a lovely event – bit wet but we had a great time at a stunning location.
Am posting this from my sister’s house (by the miracles of modern technology if I can get to grips with her picture editing software!) We are having some very nice R and R in between Tewkesbury and our next event at Berkeley Castle this coming weekend. Ellen hopes to go to University here in Worcester in Sept (fingers crossed if A level grades are ok which they should be) so today we are going for another look round the Uni.
We had a fab weekend again at the event which re-enacts the 1471 War of the Roses battle. As usual some of the guys had new armour and kit. This is Luke with his very shiny new 15th century helm (bought from E-bay with brass decorations added by him).
- Luke in his shiny new helmet
Paul was fighting for the first time at Tewkesbury and he had painted a new surcoat. He is a very talented graphic artist and he has painted our new group banners as well.
William de Bohun in his new surcoat
Ellie was on the battlefield as usual but this time as a banner bearer which meant on the Sunday she got to go and stand with all the banners during the King’s parlay with the Prince. Here she is with the guys before they went on to battle and with our group flag.
At muster before the battle
Ellie with the Order of Fighting Knights' banner
She is wearing her new turquoise dress that I recently finished and I did get Stefon’s new outfit finished in time and it fitted! Here he is wearing the new houppleande (gown) and chaperon (hat). Apologies for the quality of the pic it was wet on Sat night and the light was not good – will have to get him to do some poses that really show the gown off well. You can just see the blue lining of the hat – the sleeves are slit mid way and the same blue is used for the lining there.
Stefon in his new outfit
You can just see the goldwork pouch hanging from his belt – that is the one I made him for Xmas with an initial S on. Saturday was our first anniversary and we went to celebrate it at a friend’s encampment. Thanks to Dickie, Zoe, Myk and Andrea for a lovely evening.In this pic you can see Stefon’s new purchase – knee high black leather boots.
Stefon with his lovely new boots!
Andrea does a demonstration of medieval surgery and was showing us some of her props. Having just watched a couple of episodes of Casualty 1909 things had not moved on that far by then!
Andrea with her bag of surgical instruments
Andrea's amputation saw!
I also managed to get some pics of the King’s (Edward IV) goldwork on his surcoat and cloak before the battle on Sunday. This is Simon de Montfort of the Sun in Splendour group in his wonderful outfit.
Love the sun glinting off the helmet in this pic!
A close up of the fleur de lys on the surcoat
The Order of the Garter emblem on his cloak
A brill weekend – we were all very glad to get to Jackie’s on Monday for some rest before we head off to Berkeley Castle this Thursday. Here is Jake playing the littlest hobo resting on the bags at the train station.
Jake resting!
Will post again in a couple of weeks – after Berkeley am straight off to Spain.
A very busy week this week – the reason that I am posting so late is that I have been frantically trying to finish Stefon’s new outfit for the coming show at Tewkesbury this weekend. As you may remember I made him a black velvet bag for Christmas and promised him an outfit to go with it. It is nearly done – have just about finished the hat tonight , finished most of the gown last night just need to sew on buttons and fur in the next couple of days and it will be done.
I have made him a houpplande style gown and a chaperon hat. There are many different versions of these outfits which are 15th century costumes but these pics gives you a rough idea of the style.
Houppelande man's gown
Chaperon hat
You will see pics of the real thing on Stefon in a couple of weeks – fingers crossed that I finish everything on time!
The week started very well with my birthday and went out for a lovely meal at one of my favourite restaurants and then came back and sat outside in the garden round the fire pit which was lovely. The kids had bought me a very nice cake in the shape of a champagne bottle.
Stefon and I out for birthday meal .....
With the lovely kids!
My lovely cake!
Most of my presents I will get at Tewkesbury as I have asked for some more medieval stuff from the market and Ellie has organised me a day out which we will be doing later in the summer but I did get a very useful wind up torch which also doubles as a charger for my mobile phone – very useful for someone who spends as much time in a field as I do!
This past weekend we went to my good friend Maggie’s for a bbq to celebrate my birthday and her birthday which was recently. We had a fab evening – apologies cos the pics are a bit dark – in true British tradition it was a bit of a rainy do!
Out on Maggie's patio
Ellie looking very glam at the BBQ
Maggie has recently had an extension to her house to give her an extra bedroom, garden room / lounge and an upstairs craft room/ studio . It is a lovely space and I am very envious. Here is the view from the room.
View from Maggie's room
She is due to start a part time degree in Creative Practice in Sept and now has a lovely space in which to be creative!
Downstairs in the garden room she has put the most wonderful light – it was very interesting to see the reaction of the women at the party who all commented on how beautiful it was and what wonderful shadows it threw.
Maggie’s husband Peter doesn’t really like the light as it is not very ‘functional’ and does not give off much direct light for tasks. He did get agreement on this – from a couple of the men!
Maggie's light
Here is the light – what do you think?
I am very much looking forward to this weekend as it is mine and Stefon’s first anniversary. Not only do we have a lovely event to go to – Tewkesbury is the biggest and best event of the year- but also we get to celebrate a fab year together – he is as always wonderful, gorgeous, supportive, caring and a joy to be with!
This will be my last post for a couple of weeks – after Tewkesbury we are off to stay with my sister then to another medieval event in Berkeley in Gloucestershire then we fly off to sunny Spain to see Granny for a week. Will have lots of pics to post when I get back!
