Accidental Tricorne and Other Stories
Had a very good birthday weekend.
Went along to the Isis Session on Friday and had a great time.
Saturday I went along to the markets and, despite being held up at the 2nd market due to narrow access road being blocked by some poor bugger who managed to tip into the ditch, (I wasn't too bothered, I had the kindle with all G R R Martin's books on it which I'm happily re-reading before starting book(s) 5 which I haven't read yet) had a really good day.
I managed to get a couple of things that I've wanted for years and never gotten round to buying, namely a woven reed hat from Crafty Beggars and a pilgrim's flask from Jim the Pot (for which I need to find some wood to whittle a stopper from). I also bought some period playing cards and a book of card games, lots of jerky (which got eaten in a very short space of time. ahem) and 5 metres of Buckram from Bernie the Bolt. All fine and good. Also ran into some old friends who I haven't seen in ages and it was lovely to see them and chat to them again.
I have a habit, at the markets, of always managing to buy one item that I'm never going to use. Always! This year I outdid myself. I was walking past one of the hat stalls and thought 'Ooh, cool, tricorne' and by the time I'd walked past, I owned one. I don't do C18th, I never have and, even if I did, women didn't wear them! Still it's a nice hat amd I do love my hats. I will find somewhere to wear it. Have spotted 2 items that I need to save up for at the market next November. One is a tall Elizabethan hat and the other is a leather bottle flask. For the March markets, seeing as it looks like I'll be able to make it to the Kentwell Open days after all, I'll see what I need for the year in question if I get accepted.
On Sunday I wombled off to that there London for Thrales day. Because Thrales day co-incides with Rememberance Sunday, I usually find myself passing Westminster at around 11.00 so I usually stand there for the silence. Some people keep walking but everyone is quiet. This year, as everyone hushed, this american sounding woman immediatly started asking all the silent people around her what was going on, why was everyone being quiet and, when, unsurprisingly, no-one answered, started complaining about how rude everyone was in this country. Some people should not be let out by themselves.
Apart from that I had a lovely day of dancing. Mabels did 2 dances and managed to muck up the 1st one (although we did manage to keep going and unknit ourselves without too much fuss) but the 2nd one was reasonable. Lots of new all female sides and a fantastic Westmoreland clog dancer. He was truly impressive.
Went off to Reading last night to go and see Bellowhead at the Hexagon. Was interestting trying to find the place. The instructions from the website said to head towards the Civic Centre. An instruction that kind of relies on you knowing where the Civic Centre is or, even, what it looks like... Anyhow, found it in the end and met up with Anna and we had a merry time in the queue cheerfully informing all the people who strode past us to shake all the doors that the doors didn't open till 7pm as it said on the ticket. Why did all these people think we were just standing there? Very odd. Anyhow, made it through the rigourous (but friendly) security and got into the hall where we met up with various other Spi-bods and Armaleggan folks (suspect practice was severely depleted last night...) right at the front which is only fit and proper.
The warm-up act were really good. Mama Rosin were a trio of swiss Zydeco musicians and they were very bouncy and a huge amount of fun with a cheerful disregard for their percussion instruments which got flung over their shoulders every time they'd finished with them.
Bellowhead were absolutely awesome. The sound was great and they played 'If You Will Not Have Me'. Always guaranteed to make my night that one. Benji managed to come in to early in Lillibulero at one point and Squeezy did some very pointed lillibuleroing in Paul's direction when he apparently forgot to join in at all but it was just a great evening and it was lovely to be in an incredibly enthusiastically bouncing front line.
This weekend, Chris is coming down to teach Mabels how to do Swallwell (which I'm really looking forward to), we're touring in Oxford on Saturday night and then we're going through some of our dances on Sunday. Huzzah for Rapper! Just a bit excited...
Went along to the Isis Session on Friday and had a great time.
Saturday I went along to the markets and, despite being held up at the 2nd market due to narrow access road being blocked by some poor bugger who managed to tip into the ditch, (I wasn't too bothered, I had the kindle with all G R R Martin's books on it which I'm happily re-reading before starting book(s) 5 which I haven't read yet) had a really good day.
I managed to get a couple of things that I've wanted for years and never gotten round to buying, namely a woven reed hat from Crafty Beggars and a pilgrim's flask from Jim the Pot (for which I need to find some wood to whittle a stopper from). I also bought some period playing cards and a book of card games, lots of jerky (which got eaten in a very short space of time. ahem) and 5 metres of Buckram from Bernie the Bolt. All fine and good. Also ran into some old friends who I haven't seen in ages and it was lovely to see them and chat to them again.
I have a habit, at the markets, of always managing to buy one item that I'm never going to use. Always! This year I outdid myself. I was walking past one of the hat stalls and thought 'Ooh, cool, tricorne' and by the time I'd walked past, I owned one. I don't do C18th, I never have and, even if I did, women didn't wear them! Still it's a nice hat amd I do love my hats. I will find somewhere to wear it. Have spotted 2 items that I need to save up for at the market next November. One is a tall Elizabethan hat and the other is a leather bottle flask. For the March markets, seeing as it looks like I'll be able to make it to the Kentwell Open days after all, I'll see what I need for the year in question if I get accepted.
On Sunday I wombled off to that there London for Thrales day. Because Thrales day co-incides with Rememberance Sunday, I usually find myself passing Westminster at around 11.00 so I usually stand there for the silence. Some people keep walking but everyone is quiet. This year, as everyone hushed, this american sounding woman immediatly started asking all the silent people around her what was going on, why was everyone being quiet and, when, unsurprisingly, no-one answered, started complaining about how rude everyone was in this country. Some people should not be let out by themselves.
Apart from that I had a lovely day of dancing. Mabels did 2 dances and managed to muck up the 1st one (although we did manage to keep going and unknit ourselves without too much fuss) but the 2nd one was reasonable. Lots of new all female sides and a fantastic Westmoreland clog dancer. He was truly impressive.
Went off to Reading last night to go and see Bellowhead at the Hexagon. Was interestting trying to find the place. The instructions from the website said to head towards the Civic Centre. An instruction that kind of relies on you knowing where the Civic Centre is or, even, what it looks like... Anyhow, found it in the end and met up with Anna and we had a merry time in the queue cheerfully informing all the people who strode past us to shake all the doors that the doors didn't open till 7pm as it said on the ticket. Why did all these people think we were just standing there? Very odd. Anyhow, made it through the rigourous (but friendly) security and got into the hall where we met up with various other Spi-bods and Armaleggan folks (suspect practice was severely depleted last night...) right at the front which is only fit and proper.
The warm-up act were really good. Mama Rosin were a trio of swiss Zydeco musicians and they were very bouncy and a huge amount of fun with a cheerful disregard for their percussion instruments which got flung over their shoulders every time they'd finished with them.
Bellowhead were absolutely awesome. The sound was great and they played 'If You Will Not Have Me'. Always guaranteed to make my night that one. Benji managed to come in to early in Lillibulero at one point and Squeezy did some very pointed lillibuleroing in Paul's direction when he apparently forgot to join in at all but it was just a great evening and it was lovely to be in an incredibly enthusiastically bouncing front line.
This weekend, Chris is coming down to teach Mabels how to do Swallwell (which I'm really looking forward to), we're touring in Oxford on Saturday night and then we're going through some of our dances on Sunday. Huzzah for Rapper! Just a bit excited...