Tewkesbury Medieval Festival. 13th July 2013.

On the hottest day of the year so far I went to Tewkesbury Medieval Festival. (that's not me, by the way.)

I've never been to the festival before for one reason or another. As you come into the festival you can walk through the encampment where the battle re-enactors are preparing for the main event. This is a re-enactment of the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471.

You can find out more here: http://www.tewkesburymedievalfestival.org/aboutus.htm

Here are a few photos...

Archers Practicing

Encampment

This is Europe's biggest event of this kind and I get the impression that a lot of the people involved may travel throughout the summer. I imagine the encampment gets lively once the battle is over and the punters have gone.

On the way through to the main festival site there are many stalls with wonderful handcrafted items...

Kegs

Hawks keeping cool

Tall Knight

Band

Preparing for battle

Must be hot in those costumes!

The first archery rounds

It got too hot for me..and I had to go and get some refreshments. I can't imagine how hot they got on the battlefield in those costumes. I have to admire their efforts and commitment.

This is a friendly, inviting and uncynical free event and I'll definitely go again.

London - 17th-19th of May 2013. Little Annie & Baby Dee...and The Residents.

Old and new.

A trip to London to welcome home a prodigal friend and to see some peculiar sights.

My friend Chris Cundy had a gig with Little Annie and Baby Dee who have been touring in Europe. The timing was good as they were in London playing at a lovely venue, Cafe Oto

Chris has worked on their excellent recent album, State of Grace. Find out more here: http://littleanxietyannie.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/little-annie-baby-dee-state-of-grace/

And the gig was wonderful.

Little Annie & Baby Dee.

Candle-glass at Cafe Oto.

The following day involved a slow wander before the Residents gig that evening. Stopped off at the Coach and Horses in Soho for some fine ales and excellent vegetarian food. http://www.coachandhorsessoho.co.uk/



Coach and Horses, Soho.



It's a proper pub though too and it has an interesting history. I noticed lots of pictures of Peter O'Toole on the walls. He starred in the play 'Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell' which is set in the Coach and Horses.

Find out more here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coach_and_Horses,_Soho



They also serve a wide variety of flavoured pickled eggs.

We were with a friend who said he'd like to pop into the National Portrait Gallery to say hello to his relation... Sir John William Allcock, an aviator who made the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic. Find out more here:

http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp00062/sir-john-william-alcock

Sir John William Allcock.

A shocked monkey near Trafalgar Square.

London Eye.

Then headed to the Barbican for the Residents gig.

Barbican.

Here is The Residents website.... http://www.residents.com/home/

This tour is to celebrate 40 years of The Residents and it's called the Wonder of Weird tour.

Randy.... in santa outfit.

Christmassy inflatables - it's May.

Eyeball Christmas Tree.

It's snowing!

St Paul's at night.

A quick trip to the British Museum the following day.

Bye bye for now London.

 

St Fagans National History Museum. 3rd April 2013

I paid a visit to the St Fagans National History Museum near Cardiff, also known as the Museum of Welsh Life.

Since opening in 1948 over 40 historic buildings from across Wales have been dismantled, brought to the museum and re-erected in 100 acre grounds.
You can find out more here: http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/stfagans/historic-buildings/

Here are some pictures... (you can click to see them bigger.)


Kennixton Farmhouse

The earliest part of this farmhose dates from about 1610. The furnishings are mainly 18th century.

Beams



Irons.

Circular stone pig-sty. C 1800.



Corn Mill Water-wheel

St Teilo's Church

Reconstruction of an Iron-Age roundhouse.

One of my favourite buildings was the Oakdale Workmen's Institute.

Library at the Oakdale Workmen's Institute

Window at Oakdale Workmen's Institute.



Upstairs at Gwalia Stores.



I am reading Pandaemonum 1660 - 1886 by Humphrey Jennings at the moment. The subtitle is 'The coming of the machine as seen by contemporary observers'. It's a collection of first hand accounts, letters, poems and notes from witnesses to the industrial revolution. (The book inspired the opening ceremony of the Olympics). This museum also offers a visual insight into the radical changes that took place during this period and how they affected the way people lived. ...(and live)

A row of 6 ironworkers terraced houses at the museum have been furnished and adapted to show different periods of occupation. They were occupied from 1795 to 1985! More info here: http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/stfagans/buildings/rhydycar/

A plate in the Rhyd-y-car Terrace



Mirror in the 1955 Rhyd-y-Car Terrace



Living-Shed.

Yard at Rhyd-y-Car Terrace.



Roller-Skates.



Anvil at the Smithy.



Cilewent Farmhouse. A longhouse which would have housed cattle at one end.



Byre-floor.



Window - Cilewent Farmhouse.

Nant Wallter Cottage - C 1770



A pig enjoying a rare bit of sunshine.

A wonderful museum...so much to see...and it's free!