Achy Legs

After a madly fabulous weekend of dancing my legs are letting me know today that they've had quite enough exercise for now thank you.

Going back to the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival after a three year hiatus [Mythago has still been there every year] has been a personal revelation. On the previous occasions my anxiety played havoc with my pre performance nerves and I swore I would never do it again. However, these days I simply don't get stressed if I make a mistake here or there and a small frisson of adrenaline is to be expected, so we have already booked the hotel for next year!

Wherever possible I tried to get a little taste of what was happening between our sets, but photos were few and far between. However, I did manage to snatch a couple of this rather magnificent beast who I glimpsed in the distance when we were lining up for the parade yesterday. I rushed back to photograph it later on when it came to a stop at the showground. The dragon is a new addition this year and is the work of an artist called Matthew King.

Unlucky for some.

Apologies for the patchy blogging service this week. I really need to spend some time at home, but hey-ho we're off again for another weekend of Pimms, dancing and merriment living the high life and spending the TYM's inheritance. Another stay in a hotel....here's hoping that the room is a little bigger than the No 13 Harry Potteresque cupboard under the stairs I saw in the hotel last week. I have to say I liked their humorous take immensely!

Hope you all have a good break and speak soon.

Arilx

Wish List

Some people have wish lists they have created on Amazon. I have one too [not on Amazon], but mine is rather different. Instead in my head I have a handful of birds I have seen, but would like Mr GBT to be able to get a photo of [my camera is not sophisticated enough] which prove a devil to capture. Over the lifetime of this blog my list has gradually dwindled as we've been able to cross off wrens, coaltits, greater spotted woodpeckers [green ones are very elusive], gold finches and most recently the skylark. The jay continues to taunt me....whenever we see one we are never prepared even when the cheeky beggar landed briefly on our bird table recently. I am confident that my time will come though!

Whilst nosing around Glastonbury Abbey I stood in awe at the swallows swooping and diving after insects on the lawns behind. "That's one we're definitely never going to be able to take off the list" I muttered to Mr GBT. Thankfully the old universe knows a thing or two about putting this moaning minnie in her place. Ta-dah!

We were standing in a barn in Smallhythe on Saturday when we looked up to see this one just above our heads. There was a nest up in the eaves and one of the fledglings sitting tight upon one of the rafters in the corner. This adult bird swooped in several times and landed on this perch or next to the fledgling in a bid to get it to venture out. It was mid sulk and having none of it! I've never been able to observe one at such close quarters before.

Arilx

Horse's Brawl

I joined friends at a local tavern last night to eavesdrop on Mythago's last music practice before we heave our carcases off to the massive Medieval Festival happening this coming weekend at Tewkesbury. Fortunately Mr GBT opted to drive as he wanted a clear head for playing, so I was able to enjoy a couple of halves of the guest ales they had on as an added bonus.

This is a familiar tune, but one which I have never heard the side play before. It's a 16th century tune called Horse's Brawl which has an accompanying dance from the same period. Great fun if there's loads of you up and joining in. Thoroughly enjoyed hearing it again. I've popped up The Albion band's version for anyone who fancies a listen.

Arilx

The birthday boy.

So Mr GBT's 60th birthday has passed and we celebrated in the way he chose. This is what we got up to on the big day itself.

Over to East Sussex we went brandishing our swords and NT cards to gain entry to his castle of choice. First of all we had to get past the vicious wyrm....

And then tackle the Knight on our side of the moat. That plume on top of his head with the horse face makes him even friendlier looking....

Thankfully the archers had the day off so the parapets were quiet and the staff who normally man the murder holes were also conspicuous by their absence. No boiling oil to contend with today.

Just to ensure our good fortune stayed with us we dropped a lucky penny in the well before undertaking our quest.

One of the views from the top of the castle [I am not good with heights so I stayed firmly at the bottom on terra firma!]. Even if you are King of the Castle though if there are bats it doesn't matter who you are....entry is denied!

We spent a sunny day enjoying the delights of Bodiam Castle which to my mind is the perfect example of how every castle should still look!

Arilx

Relaxing

"The time to relax is when you don't have time to."

Jim Goodwin

Have a glorious weekend doing what you love!

Arilx

Birthday Suit

There I was rummaging through one of my notebooks last night when I reread the origin of the term "birthday suit". It didn't start out as meaning to be completely naked. Instead it was the special clothes you wore to court pre 1800 on the occasion of the Monarch's birthday. Today it is the King of Gnat Bottom Towers 60th birthday so I shall don my new-to-me £5.50 charity shop skirt.

We're off to nose around Kent for the day. There will be the partaking of cake and bubbles and still a celebratory birthday plan to look forwards to this weekend.

Arilx