26th May 2014 - Of Mantles and Music

Thought for the day: "Always borrow money from a pessimist. He won't expect it back."

After a rotten weekend, I really did not hold out much hope for a good day today - and it started pretty bleak ! But as the day has unfolded I think I may have got myself some sunburn - certainly overheated in my Monk's garb - but I am ahead of myself ...

An early start (for me anything before 10 am classes as early and this was at least an hour and a half before that !) and chickens released, dogs exercised (let out the dog door) and tea poured for comatose wife.. and self !!, emails sorted, birthday cards posted and ready for the off!!

It is a Bank Holiday Monday meaning that I am spoiled for choices... Go back to bed was high on the lists if I am to be completely honest, but the Bothy called!!!

So, armed only with the autoharp (as the latest acquisition) and traveling guitar being the most suitable for a full reenactment where they may be critical of "stuff" that is not based in 1414, I headed off down the motorway again ..

Called in on Caerphilly castle to see friends with Pig in the Bun  and the Companye of Chivalrye - but as I had parked on the moat approach I thought I should not stay too long....

And on to Cosmeston Medieval village - a place I had heard of for many years but never actually managed to attend.... Parking the Bothy proved a problem - the car park was full and it was quite busy by the time I got there, but twice around the car park and bloody mindedness found me a space... I think it was the Coach turning circle but I couldn't see any coaches and I had no complaints at the end of the day !!

Based upon the leaving temperature - I had taken the Grey fleece - double warm cassock and surplice for my Monk attire - this would proved to be a bad idea - for it was now Hot !! But I found the Stagger Inn - or its equivalent... In the mud from the previous day !

It seems that the main paths had been closed off so the bar could not operate in its proper form .... but I found the ale in the Bakers, which would have been its traditional place of operations as they used the same yeast ...  and managed a few songs there - but did not scare too many customers aware .. Seems I was designated as the early English juke box ....

But they have done a lovely job on the medieval buildings and they are each set up with a vignette inside to display their original use, the baker, the bar, the scriptorium. Most are thatched and I understand that they have been recently re-thatched . Talking with one of the custodians, he tells me that when the thatcher came in to do the last pieces of restoration, he strolled in and made the random comment, "So you have had a close relation with Canada then?? "  to which the response was pretty blank. "The thatch" the thatcher insisted... "Is local " says the custodian ...   To which the thatcher says "Oh really ?  " Strolls up to the rooking and examines the reeds carefully - " Nope - Canadian Reed !"

The Custodian then states that after looking up the previous accounts and invoices.. he discovers that in the 80's, when the village was last upgraded, it was cheaper to import reed from canada by ship than to buy locally ..... the guy was correct and had discerned the source from yards away ....

But a good time was had by all.. Well maybe except those who volunteered to face the arrows in the archer demonstration ...

A nice action shot I was quite pleased with !!

So as I watched the Falconry display, in this case one which claims to be more historically authentic than current more specialised training methods.. after the falcon was brought down - and enticed by the lure, she sat on the ground over the lure and raised her wings in a protective manner. It was explained by the young lady doing the demonstration that this was known as "Mantling". The bird - having brought down her prey was aware that others above might see her dinner and swoop down and steal it..  Therefore she raises her wings to hide her kill.. And that is where we get the term Mantle - for a bolero top for a costume, or Mantlepiece - which will cover the fireplace...

So a new term learned today...

But I was also traveling and when I travel I start to think of lyrics to well known songs!!

And so this evening I have written down the words to that famous and incomprehensible  song "Welcome to the Coast of Caledonia"... I am sure that I shall post it into Youtube and share it here in due course...
And then, coming home , I have the germ of an idea for the Hero Song for the expedition this year - The West Awakes!!

Well with a little bit of knowledge and two songs to develop...
Glass of Scotch I think ....and so to bed...
Oh - just to recap - this young lady came into my life - I have no idea who she is - but had to take a photo..

Cheers!