Kentwell at Michaelmas

All this year we have been meaning to get to Kentwell to the tudor reenactments having heard so much bout them. various things got in the way, camping, canada, my family visiting etc, all good/fantastic/brilliant etc but left us with one opportunity to go, this last weekend for Michaelmas. Got there pretty easily as easily found and parked the car off the lovely winding tree lined drive and had a brunch before going in to save the i am ravenous as soon as in approach we also picked up a geocache right be the gate and dropped of a geocoin.

we then went in, confusing everyone by having paid with in advance and showing them the email on the iphone. did get sorted and in though the shop looked tempting, and had to promise a fossil to bb to get beyond the shop Nice to be welcomed in tudor english on the other side, and have some tudor peddlar wares just ouside to view. Then we set off, I think we talked to most people, and got a really thorough feel for tudor, and the re-enactors were all v friendly. favourites to talk to were the heraldic man, the alchemist [v much so], dairy and the corn favours ladies. mostly due to the amount of time they were happy to talk, and going beyond what we asked as well. particularly the corn lady, but all were good. SB most impressed with alchemist, corn favours weaving and the still room, both for their manner and the jobs they were doing. she offered herself up to work in the still room, but has to be of 14 summers – some while yet then! I loved the alchemist, as he made me laugh and was slightly bonkers and genuinely interesting and also in no order, the dairy, dyers, weaver, corn dollies and lutanist. but apart from the cotte, where i think there was some in-joking going on that made us feel a bit intrusive – everyone answered loads of questions and were very enthusiastic. We looked round everywhere, had a great lunch in the barn of some yummy soup and adored the carved tree. there was a little bit of drama, with a catholic relic being escorted back to bury st edmunds, and did like the idea of life moving forwards rather than being static. we only left as it was closing, with an icecream from the shop and a drive home. we really enjoyed ourselves and will encourage other families to visit too.

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not to lose out on educational opportunities, we listened to our island story, but both girls fell asleep.

very tempted now to be a tudor myself and buy a rebec and early music recorder. must not give into temptation!

when we got home both girls enjoyed reading some of a series of books we have had for a while – graphic non fiction. must have got from the book people. think they are excellent!