Retreat to the Shadows
I have noticed over the last few months that I have a rather irritating tendency to use the word "fabulous" a lot. I believe I picked this up from Pamperd, who uses it all the time, or perhaps it's my way of retaining some of the atmospheric campness from my time in Brighton, where everything is Fabulous Dahling. Whatever the reason, I have just spent a good five minutes or so attempting to think of a word to describe the last week that doesn't begin in "fab" and end in "ous" with an "ul" in the middle... and completely failed. The week was fabulous, live with it!
Apart from the F word, it is incredibly difficult to think of a way to begin a description of the week that has just passed. To start with, I was sleeping and shooting in a mansion, the location of which we have been asked not to disclose. Well, yes, I have stayed in a castle and a mansion before through previous Fozfests, but I'm afraid these now pale in comparison, because neither of them were in possession of a full sized dalek. Did I hear you just choke on your tea? Yes, you read that right, there was a dalek, and what was even better than the simple existence of a dalek in the top bathroom was the fact that it came apart and there was room to stand in it. I had not previously had "get into a dalek naked" on my "things I must do before I die" list, but it's on there now and has a great big tick and a smiley face next to it. What is more, I will have the photos to prove it in a week or so! :D
Delighted though I was by the dalek in particular, the house was a treasure trove of props, locations and general points of interest. There were original pieces of artwork everywhere, artifacts from various cultures scattered eccentrically around the house and a different theme for every room. I shared the Indian Bedroom with toxicara, which was decorated in red and gold and, being on the top floor, had the most amazing view of the Welsh mountains. Although it would be difficult to pinpoint a favourite room in the house, I think the one everyone gravitated towards was the smoking room (even for us non-smokers), which was a green and mahogony based study. On the second night we managed to do a rather fun Cluedo style shoot, for which I played Miss Scarlet. The setting was perfect, and we had nearly all the props to hand, including revolvers, heavy candlesticks and rope (courtesy of Fozzie of course). Speaking of rope, this week saw my first foray into ropework. Fozzie hog-tied me and had several models standing around me with knives and forks looking hungry (a rather throwaway wacky idea of his, which actually materialised after dinner one night) and a bit later on, a somewhat more glamorous shoot involving a rope corset on the front lawn. Fozzie was in his element this week; you could tell the models he'd managed to tie up and suspend from things by the rope marks which seem to last for ages!
We also had Screams of Cold Winter playing on Sunday night on the front lawn of the mansion, which was rather good. It was possibly the best (if most surreal) setting for a gig I have ever seen, and the band themselves were utterly fabulous! (Oh dear, that word again!)
The social element was perhaps the best part of the week for me, however. It was wonderful to see some old friends and get to know some new people. Everyone got on brilliantly and there were some incredibly inspiring people around for the week; I look forward to seeing them again in future! I have made various plots for later on the year involving trips around the country to see people. I have a lot to look forward to this year. :) I also loved spending the week with toxicara, who is simply wonderful. :)
So... back in Northampton today. Although I was incredibly reluctant to leave my mansion (it's only a matter of time before I convince the owner to give it to me!), it's kinda nice to be back. Luckily Michelle_S has been in touch to invite me on a ghost hunt tonight, which has given me something exciting to do other than sit around and wish I were looking at Welsh mountains or playing with daleks. I suppose I should unpack soon and get some laundry done. Why does the end of the adventure have to be so mundane?
Apart from the F word, it is incredibly difficult to think of a way to begin a description of the week that has just passed. To start with, I was sleeping and shooting in a mansion, the location of which we have been asked not to disclose. Well, yes, I have stayed in a castle and a mansion before through previous Fozfests, but I'm afraid these now pale in comparison, because neither of them were in possession of a full sized dalek. Did I hear you just choke on your tea? Yes, you read that right, there was a dalek, and what was even better than the simple existence of a dalek in the top bathroom was the fact that it came apart and there was room to stand in it. I had not previously had "get into a dalek naked" on my "things I must do before I die" list, but it's on there now and has a great big tick and a smiley face next to it. What is more, I will have the photos to prove it in a week or so! :D
Delighted though I was by the dalek in particular, the house was a treasure trove of props, locations and general points of interest. There were original pieces of artwork everywhere, artifacts from various cultures scattered eccentrically around the house and a different theme for every room. I shared the Indian Bedroom with toxicara, which was decorated in red and gold and, being on the top floor, had the most amazing view of the Welsh mountains. Although it would be difficult to pinpoint a favourite room in the house, I think the one everyone gravitated towards was the smoking room (even for us non-smokers), which was a green and mahogony based study. On the second night we managed to do a rather fun Cluedo style shoot, for which I played Miss Scarlet. The setting was perfect, and we had nearly all the props to hand, including revolvers, heavy candlesticks and rope (courtesy of Fozzie of course). Speaking of rope, this week saw my first foray into ropework. Fozzie hog-tied me and had several models standing around me with knives and forks looking hungry (a rather throwaway wacky idea of his, which actually materialised after dinner one night) and a bit later on, a somewhat more glamorous shoot involving a rope corset on the front lawn. Fozzie was in his element this week; you could tell the models he'd managed to tie up and suspend from things by the rope marks which seem to last for ages!
We also had Screams of Cold Winter playing on Sunday night on the front lawn of the mansion, which was rather good. It was possibly the best (if most surreal) setting for a gig I have ever seen, and the band themselves were utterly fabulous! (Oh dear, that word again!)
The social element was perhaps the best part of the week for me, however. It was wonderful to see some old friends and get to know some new people. Everyone got on brilliantly and there were some incredibly inspiring people around for the week; I look forward to seeing them again in future! I have made various plots for later on the year involving trips around the country to see people. I have a lot to look forward to this year. :) I also loved spending the week with toxicara, who is simply wonderful. :)
So... back in Northampton today. Although I was incredibly reluctant to leave my mansion (it's only a matter of time before I convince the owner to give it to me!), it's kinda nice to be back. Luckily Michelle_S has been in touch to invite me on a ghost hunt tonight, which has given me something exciting to do other than sit around and wish I were looking at Welsh mountains or playing with daleks. I suppose I should unpack soon and get some laundry done. Why does the end of the adventure have to be so mundane?