zzzzzzzzz
I am so very tired today.
Yesterday was the Victorian Christmas Fayre at the local castle.
Got up at 8.00, dressed in my costume went down to the castle just before 9. Couple hours of setting up, the harpist, musicians et al were holed up in the guardroom as you walk into the castle it's off to the right. They play for the banquit evenings and were dressed in their medieval costumes. Then through the portculis and you enter the castle grounds. The "ice rink" was set up to the right in front of the giant chess board. It was one of those fake ice things with that special plastic surface, it was packed all day long. The bbq people were set up down under the east wall next to the castle bar/cafe then the mulled wine and mince pies were set out under a marquee along the wall from the portcullis. There was a childrens christmas trail based on hans christian anderson stories set up around the walls starting from the left side of the portculis and the steps up toward the banquiting hall, round past the cobb tower, the other gate/tower, the massive keep which is on a hill with a deep moat (santa's grotto had been parked in front of the keep with a pen for the reindeer) then on round to the woodstock tower where artists and childrens activities were taking place over the three floors which leads back toward the skating rink.
My sister and sarah were dressed as victorian ladies also, long skirts and shawls, and rachel was dressed like a chimney sweep, complete with brushes. The hippy guy selling beads hugged her which disconcerted her a little.
The M-Theatre company were putting on performances all day in various locations of "a christmas carol" The M-Theatre company stands for the Merther theatre company and their ghost of christmas present had a very strong merther accent which was brilliant.
There were ghost stories and rhoald dahl readings in the dungeon of the keep and bits of dramaticness and a jester walking round. The reindeer came with three baby reindeers....awwwww. Santa had a queue streaching right back to the skating rink, some people queued for over 2 hours!
There were lots of people dressed up and included three ladies in victorian costume playing croquet in the drizzle.
I was on mulled wine and mince pies which people were given free with their ticket entry. Which was mostley pouring the wine in, heating it up and dishing it out "carful cos it's hot" and "help yourself to mince pies". It rained a bit but not heavy and more toward the end of the evening. People disipated at around 6.15 so i went and kept santa company for a while. He's a local actor who also does a brilliant "Ships surgeon" talk among others. So we had a lovely natter while on the lookout for any children as santa had taken off his beard and was having a bite to eat.
Also had a lovely natter with one of the actors from the M-Theatre who's a mature student from uni glam, i was standing with my friend from the welsh college music and drama and when he found that out we were treated to a number of off the cuff performances including some from twelfth night, the tempest and a christmas carol as well as why he wants to be a drama teacher and his life story. Used to be an electrical engineer then his wife left him 5 and a half years ago for another woman and he has two children aged 9 and 12. He was BRILLIANT.
Outside the castle there was a massive marquee where lots of stall traders were all set up and around that lots of other little stalls and food places. Like a little village all camped outside the walls of the castle. Selling everything from meat to coffee, crepes, jewellry, cakes, olives and assorted nuts, carved wooden things, stone masons, scarfs, hemp clothing, alovera products, wicker things, books etc. There was a hog roast and hot chestnuts.
7.00 i went up to the banquiting hall to watch the second performance of a christmas carol. It was excellent. By now it was freezing and raining. That lasted till 8.30 when the rest of the public then left. Bit of tidying up then home at 9.15.
There are some pics to follow when i get a chance to download them and maybe even a video.
zzzzzzzzzzz
Yesterday was the Victorian Christmas Fayre at the local castle.
Got up at 8.00, dressed in my costume went down to the castle just before 9. Couple hours of setting up, the harpist, musicians et al were holed up in the guardroom as you walk into the castle it's off to the right. They play for the banquit evenings and were dressed in their medieval costumes. Then through the portculis and you enter the castle grounds. The "ice rink" was set up to the right in front of the giant chess board. It was one of those fake ice things with that special plastic surface, it was packed all day long. The bbq people were set up down under the east wall next to the castle bar/cafe then the mulled wine and mince pies were set out under a marquee along the wall from the portcullis. There was a childrens christmas trail based on hans christian anderson stories set up around the walls starting from the left side of the portculis and the steps up toward the banquiting hall, round past the cobb tower, the other gate/tower, the massive keep which is on a hill with a deep moat (santa's grotto had been parked in front of the keep with a pen for the reindeer) then on round to the woodstock tower where artists and childrens activities were taking place over the three floors which leads back toward the skating rink.
My sister and sarah were dressed as victorian ladies also, long skirts and shawls, and rachel was dressed like a chimney sweep, complete with brushes. The hippy guy selling beads hugged her which disconcerted her a little.
The M-Theatre company were putting on performances all day in various locations of "a christmas carol" The M-Theatre company stands for the Merther theatre company and their ghost of christmas present had a very strong merther accent which was brilliant.
There were ghost stories and rhoald dahl readings in the dungeon of the keep and bits of dramaticness and a jester walking round. The reindeer came with three baby reindeers....awwwww. Santa had a queue streaching right back to the skating rink, some people queued for over 2 hours!
There were lots of people dressed up and included three ladies in victorian costume playing croquet in the drizzle.
I was on mulled wine and mince pies which people were given free with their ticket entry. Which was mostley pouring the wine in, heating it up and dishing it out "carful cos it's hot" and "help yourself to mince pies". It rained a bit but not heavy and more toward the end of the evening. People disipated at around 6.15 so i went and kept santa company for a while. He's a local actor who also does a brilliant "Ships surgeon" talk among others. So we had a lovely natter while on the lookout for any children as santa had taken off his beard and was having a bite to eat.
Also had a lovely natter with one of the actors from the M-Theatre who's a mature student from uni glam, i was standing with my friend from the welsh college music and drama and when he found that out we were treated to a number of off the cuff performances including some from twelfth night, the tempest and a christmas carol as well as why he wants to be a drama teacher and his life story. Used to be an electrical engineer then his wife left him 5 and a half years ago for another woman and he has two children aged 9 and 12. He was BRILLIANT.
Outside the castle there was a massive marquee where lots of stall traders were all set up and around that lots of other little stalls and food places. Like a little village all camped outside the walls of the castle. Selling everything from meat to coffee, crepes, jewellry, cakes, olives and assorted nuts, carved wooden things, stone masons, scarfs, hemp clothing, alovera products, wicker things, books etc. There was a hog roast and hot chestnuts.
7.00 i went up to the banquiting hall to watch the second performance of a christmas carol. It was excellent. By now it was freezing and raining. That lasted till 8.30 when the rest of the public then left. Bit of tidying up then home at 9.15.
There are some pics to follow when i get a chance to download them and maybe even a video.
zzzzzzzzzzz