Last weekend we went back in time at the St Ives Medieval Faire. There was jousting – actual jousting.
The people fascinated me and not just because they were hundreds of years old… Who are these wonderfully quirky people who spend their weekends dressed in handmade linen garb, drinking mead and talking about their feudal lord? Who camp out lying on straw and who wouldn’t dream of bringing a 15th century sword to a 14th century hawking afternoon? Who are they?
Well, they are patient and kind, for a start. Everyone was so generous with their time and their craft, letting the kids don their helmets, taste their oven baked bread and spin their lamb’s wool. They took time to tell us about each period of medieval times and how their particular fascination came to be. I was particularly taken with the craftsmen and women – the blacksmith, the wood turner, the weaver and the musicians. Beautiful, olde worlde crafts being practised and kept like a living memory.
Oh to be this generous and clever and interesting (the trinity of good people if you ask me). To have such passion and a willingness to just let go for a while and have a bloody good time.
The regal chap above got into the whole scene through his girlfriend. She was working at The Good Guys one Saturday afternoon when a fellow walked in and queried whether a certain machine would be good for washing chain mail. That actually happened.
Life is wonderful like that, don’t you think?
Experience more mornings |
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A morning in the life of Glenworth Valley
A morning in the life of Balmoral
Mandy, Barbie Bieber and Beyond says
I know a few people that went to that this year!! I might have to go next year, looks like fun!!
Maxabella says
It was a super family day out, Mandy. You will love. x
Jo @Countrylifeexperiment says
We went to ironfest in Lithgow a few years back – it was amazing! It looks similar. The world champion jouster was there. I was totally unaware that Jousting was still practiced, much less that there was a world championship!
Maxabella says
I know, right! Jousting has apparently never gone away… x
Lilybett says
We used to have a fellow living with us who made his own chain mail. He had an anvil in the backyard and used to walk about the house with his Burmese cat draped across his shoulders. He did quite a few of these faires in his day. They’re great fun, although the reality would be far less amusing.
Maxabella says
What an interesting flatmate, Lilybett! I quite miss the days of random flatmates… such fascinating people to meet and live with! x
Helen K says
That looks fantastic! Do they run it every year? (may have to make the trek up north for it!)
Maxabella says
This year was the first, but I believe it’s going to be an annual thing. Definitely worth the trip, Helen.