A visit to the Templecombe Medieval Pageant today - great fun but very hot.
Loads of folk there (a large field outside the village) and quite a gathering of Medieval Societies from across the UK, including Norfolk, Plymouth, and the Hospitalers from Ireland. Most were dressed medievally (!)
a lot of multi-coloured dyed fabrics and plenty of exotic headgear. Four "roads" of stalls selling everything from spiced pickles to amulets to blacksmith crafted tools and ornaments.
For entertainment we had a wandering hurdy-gurdy man playing and singing folk-songs, a harpist, The World Famous Devil-Stick Pete
who was a very clever acrobat and illusionist, and in the main arena a demonstration of ancient cannons (several fires had to be put out
) and a falconry display (kestrel, buzzard and lanner falcon). It was so hot in the sun, though, we didn't stay for the jousting
home for a large of mug of tea and a snooze .....