Feeling hot, hot, hot!

Not here as we are now back to the lovely Yorkshire rain ! However Spain was very, very hot so we did little but read and swim during the day but had some lovely evenings out as the sun went down.

We went over to the local town of Guardamar one evening for their Moors and Christians’ parade – a couple of years ago we went to the biggest one in Spain at Alcoy – this was a lot smaller but still very, very loud – even the kids who are used to cannon going off had to retreat when the gunners started!

There were some lovely lights and the costumes were excellent – no close up pics unfortunately as it was very crowded.

The street lights for the festival
The street lights for the festival
The Christian King and Queen
The Christian King and Queen
The Christian King and Queen - rear view!
The Christian King and Queen - rear view!
The Moorish King and Queen
The Moorish King and Queen

It was my grandmother’s 97th birthday the day before we got to Spain so we went out for a meal with family and friends to celebrate – here she is with Jake and Ellie at her favourite Chinese in Guardamar which does an excellent 3 course meal with half bottle of wine for around 4 euros!

My Nana Evelyn at 97 years young!
My Nana Evelyn at 97 years young!

Ellie has discovered she likes sangria – especially when it is served looking like a proper holiday drink with the requisite decorations – here she is with a very large glass!

The biggest wine glass in Spain
The biggest wine glass in Spain

We are off to Asby de la Zouche Castle in Leicestershire for another show this weekend so will post pics from Berkeley when I can. That was a lovely event – bit wet but we had a great time at a stunning location.

Tewkesbury and the King’s goldwork !

Am posting this from my sister’s house (by the miracles of modern technology if I can get to grips with her picture editing software!) We are having some very nice R and R in between Tewkesbury and our next event at Berkeley Castle this coming weekend. Ellen hopes to go to University here in Worcester in Sept (fingers crossed if A level grades are ok which they should be) so today we are going for another look round the Uni.

We had a fab weekend again at the event which re-enacts the 1471 War of the Roses battle. As usual some of the guys had new armour and kit. This is Luke with his very shiny new 15th century helm (bought from E-bay with brass decorations added by him).

Luke in his shiny new helmet
Luke in his shiny new helmet
Paul was fighting for the first time at Tewkesbury and he had painted a new surcoat. He is a very talented graphic artist and he has painted our new group banners as well.
William de Bohun in his new surcoat
William de Bohun in his new surcoat

 

Ellie was on the battlefield as usual but this time as a banner bearer which meant on the Sunday she got to go and stand with all the banners during the King’s parlay with the Prince. Here she is with the guys before they went on to battle and with our group flag.

At muster before the battle
At muster before the battle
Ellie with the Order of Fighting Knights banner
Ellie with the Order of Fighting Knights' banner

She is wearing her new turquoise dress that I recently finished. On Saturday night we went to a friend’s camp and as it was raining heavily ended up all being in Andrea and Mick’s tent sheltering.

 Andrea does a demonstration of medieval surgery and was showing us some of her props. Having just watched a couple of episodes of Casualty 1909 things had not moved on that far by then!

Andrea with her bag of surgical instruments
Andrea with her bag of surgical instruments
Andrea's amputation saw!
Andrea's amputation saw!

I also managed to get some pics of the King’s (Edward IV) goldwork on his surcoat and cloak before the battle on Sunday. This is Simon de Montfort of the Sun in Splendour group in his wonderful outfit.

LOve the sun glinting off the helmet in this pic!
Love the sun glinting off the helmet in this pic!
A close up of the fleur de lys on the surcoat
A close up of the fleur de lys on the surcoat
The Order of the Garter emblem on his cloak
The Order of the Garter emblem on his cloak

A brill weekend – we were all very glad to get to Jackie’s on Monday for some rest before we head off to Berkeley Castle this Thursday. Here is Jake playing the littlest hobo resting on the bags at the train station.

Jake resting!
Jake resting!

 Will post again in a couple of weeks – after Berkeley am straight off to Spain.