050607
Today's blog is brought to you by the numbers 5, 6 and 7. Which interspaced alternatively with a few 0's gives you today's date. It's so cool.Since bemoaning my tragic existence on the anniversary of my arrival on these shores, I've actually had some very pleasant weekends. And here are the highlights:
Shepley Folk Festival
I've always had a slight fear of folk festivals, though i've never found any documentation to support it as an official phobia. They are events that attract a number of fairly geeky, socially awkward types who run about in strange clothes, displaying slightly obsessive compulsive behaviour with respect to their field of interest. However it was recently pointed out to me that in the past I was an active member of the SCA, and have attended many festivals where i ran about in strange clothes, exhibiting a slight obsession with respect to my chosen hobby. Also, my Bestest Girl recently attended the National Folk Festival in Canberra and gave the experience a thumbs up. So when Dr. TBF invited me to attend the Shepley Folk Festival a few weeks ago, I thought i'd check it out. AND... IT WAS FUN!!
Shepley is a small village in West Yorkshire that agreed to be inundated with folkies for the weekend, resulting in a real local feel to the whole festival. I spent most of the weekend wandering around the village, encountering random musicians, dancers and cake stalls, ducking in and out of tents with bands playing, and generally having a marvellous time. The highlight of the weekend for me that everywhere I went, it seemed the Barnsley Samba Band would follow. I went mad in the carpark of a pub where they were playing; dancing and jumping around like a crazy women to the infectious south american beats. So! Much! Fun! And I discovered that fanta, a coffee and a vodka smoothie - in that specific order - is a tailor-made custom-designed hangover cure *giggle*
Oh, and I got to go to a Céilidh, which is essentially the English version of bush-dancing. I did manage to fall on my arse spectacularly at least once, but apart from that it was a fairly successful and rather enjoyable evening. I even learnt to polka!
The Grand Old Tour of York
On the bank holiday weekend my sister (London) and brother(in-law) came up to York to visit. They finally escaped London and got to see some of England, two places which i maintain are completely seperate entities. When Cate got off the train the first thing she said was "It's so green!" and I know what she means. There's green, and then there is the amazing brilliant breathtaking colour of English fields. Simply gorgeous.
We did all (well, most) of the Ye Olde Touristey Attractions of York, and I reckon I've got my tour guide routine downpat. Stroll along the walls, visit the Abbey ruins, take a tour of the 'Minister, climb up Clifford's Tower, and have a pint of real English Ale to finish. Though I may offer my mother the option of a cup of real English Tea to finish when she's here *giggle*
Highlights included a pub crawl of York that ended up in the tragic 80's nightspot, and going to the train museum. Yes you heard right, I really enjoyed the train museum.
Stratford Upon Avon
Sometime last October, Cazandy and I booked tickets to see Sir Ian McKellen as King Lear, performing with the RSC in Stratford. Luckily come June, when the date of the show finally arrived, we were all still talking to each other, and all had a rather pleasant mini-break together in Shakespeare land. The production was absolutely amazing, I studied the play for year 12 English and was really surprised that I remembered so many of the speeches. Some might say that the most sensational thing about this production was the scene in which King Lear descends into madness and nudity, which culminated in a full frontal visage of little Sir Ian (who's euphemistic name is entirely misleading). Personally I was more shocked by the casting of Romola Garai as Cordelia; I don't care if she's going to be the next Keira Knightley, her performance was so wet I could end Victoria's water shortage with her limp, pallid performance. Apparently they are touring to Melbourne, so do catch them if you can! Despite Ms Garai's worst efforts, it was an entirely worthy production, with a special mention to Ben Meyjes as Edgar.
(And in case you're wondering, this is a retrospective addition to my blog collection. I found the draft of this post hiding in the backwaters of time and thought to resurrect it)
posted by Dr Krystal @ 6:40 pm
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