OK Kelmarsh

When I finished work last friday, we very slowly got off to camp at Wicksteed park. this was good – in that it was a tenner a night, and bad – in that SB kept up a permanent running commentary on how she wanted to go on this and that ride. obviously we weren’t going on any, just using the campsite. Although we said ad nauseum we would be back, she just couldn’t help it. When I finally lost my temper about it – as she was going on about it IN THE DARK – I said that any more negative whinges and we would def not come back, otherwise we would try to arrange to come back with friends. Clever girl, I thin had hours of – I am so looking forward to going on such and such ride, it will be so exciting, I should really try it out first so I can tell my firends, but … SO not whiney, but still a stuck record. Rather funnily, she did ask me towards the end whether her positive bits were now longer than her whingy bits – rofl. poor girl.

ANyway, Got there, tent up, portaloos on the stinky side – there are ‘real’ loos at a further walk, and after first night I did the walk, with BB in a fireman’s lift over shoulder, as although she had potty and nappy, she insisted on coming, but after 10m or so would collapse dramatically on the ground as it was so far.

but a friendly easy place to camp, and would camp there again.

I was smited down by migraine – getting borin in a painful way, so we were late leaving on the sat for kelmarsh as i rehydrated and swigged potions. wwhen we got there, we were parked near the deep enders, so all walking in together and towards the childrens zone. WOW is the first word really. it was well organised, very streamlined, minimal delay/fuss or queue, well set out and signposted. impossible really without the programme – ?5 extra.

We started off watching a fab play about robin hood – one of SB’s fav stories, and then SB joined in with some quadrilles and drumming in the music tent. we lost the deependers temporarily at that point, as they were romaning. Got to see some knights on horseback demonstrate their prowess at tilting and more cabbage bashing [I guess that is the best use for a cabbage for some blogring members! Yes you who has advised me that it is the lentils in the diet causing migraine!!] We caught up with those from the manor born, and ate some lunch and generally chatted. Nice civil war re-enactment guns in the backround – i am sure my heart stopped for a second!

We wandered up to catch the next children’s play – Nelson’s last hoorah. a really fab theatre company [of 2 people!] and SB loved it. we wandered around some of the re-enactors tents, and SB and chloe quizzed as many people as poss. SB rather likes the spindles and the carding of wool, so lots of looking at that, and they both bought some natural dyed silk from a lady, and we discussed making natural dyes, mordants and so-on. A huge hit was the armourer looking lonely, who asked the girls what they would like to try on – answer = everything, and for the next 20 mins, he took them [and us!] through all that he had. Marcus quite liked the beer maker, and SB smelled the golden hop flowers and indentified them as the source of beer. hmm!!

Time to watch some jousting – rather good, and CHloe and SB had good views upon their own steeds [nearly wrote stallions, but would give entirely the wrong impression] before wandering down to the ‘other side’ and the world war bits, the tea tent – fantastic! ANother ‘flyboys’ display, and a really awsome grand parade out. we were stood with the romans – i rather like romans! some had v v short skirts! and watched them cheer out the other reenactors. particularly funny were the romano british walking like cockneys, and then riding imaginary horses [a la monty python]. I quite liked also the home eddiness, of SB and chloe shouting sinestra dextra at the roman soldiers marching.
We wandered through the ‘village’ and the romano british sailed their coracle, and we had a long chat in the inn. SB flagging, as was BB, so time to go home. Met up with the deep enders, for a restorative cup of tea by their car before going back to the tent.

That was the jokeevening. SB thinks she is a dab hand at jokes, and is now teaching BB execrable knock knock jokes. like – knock knock, who’s there? orange, orange who? knock knock, who’s there? orange, orange who?knock knock, who’s there? banana, banana who? bet your glad I didn’t say orange
girls slept well v quickly, and adults not long behind – heard via twitter that chris is not now the only pole forgetterer – though not really a sport in which he wished to be joined.

Next day migraine epic, had considered just throwing myselfg intolake, but chris packed up tent, and suitably fortified we got to kelmarsh – too late for the roman display i fancied though. We did sort of see a viking vs norman battle, but the rain poured down at that point, so mostly under the mat! i think both girlsmore fragile due to long day previously, and I was not any better! SO we had a gentle wander around the civil war encampment and a restorative icecream [there went the roman games display!] SB again v interested with the spinning and carding of wool. there was also a lady doing wood turning, who gave SB a practice one, so she was v happy with that, and a good demonstration of tools as well.

it seemed sensible to be relaxed and enjoy rather than try and see the bits we had missed the day before, so we went to the family zone, SB got to do some elizabethan dancing – she loves dancing and music, and then both girls got to decorate a crown and do some colouring. We had a good look at the ‘flyboys’ which i found v moving, then a last company performance – don’t mess with bess – and SB finally got picked to perorm, and was Will SHakespeare – and was v proud. we should do more theatre again with her, I don;t know why she didn’t like stagecoach when we tried that out? DOes remind me that she brought the barefoot book of stories shakespeare used for her bedtime stories, and chose the romeo and juliet one for the first night – cue much wailing at unhappy ending! As you like it did better for the second night. as a bit of insight, she asked why they always used someone else to kill snowdrop/snow white etc. ‘if you want it done, you should really just do it yourself’

Both BB and SB said lots of blogable things i have forgotten. that is why i blog!! ANyway, we had a short final drink with deep enders as all children had need of calm down and bed! [and me] and we stopped off at little chef on way back – which actually was quite good again, and children ate well. BB played a cute game with the sauce packets.

And that is that, just need to sort out hundreds of photos of men in costume!

oh yes SB – a century is a large slice of time