Little Aston
August 2000

Saturday

Rain rain rain. That'll be the August Bank Holiday muster then. Turned up in Mark B's car, as I still can't drive, to find - surprise, surprise - five fields full of tents and the obligatory mud. Put my new tent up in the rain (I acutally bought it over 3 months ago, but you know how it is). Whereupon the rain stopped and the sun came out.

The Guard Gate started to tell people that the road was too muddy to make it to the Northern section, and sent everyone into Palatine's. Two hours later the stream burst its banks, and flooded the Palatine's camping area, and people quickly discovered that you could get a car up the track, and did so, rapidly. I can't finish the paragraph without mentioning the thunderstorms. One day, Dave Pavely will learn to appreciate a good thunderstorm without feeling the need to celebrate it by dashing off to the nearest beer tent.

Saturday Evening

Bob celebrated the fact it had stopped raining by dancing with every man, woman and child and chair in the beer tent. Mr Rabbitts went one better, and not only danced with every man, woman, child and chair in the place, but also attached himself by his pelvis to Shortstraw, and then tried to chat up a young brunette in a gymslip, only to find out that it was Curly Dave who was not best pleased.

Sunday

Drilled vigorously. Well, those not too hungover did, heroically avoiding the frogs hiding in the grass. Back to camp, and Neil and Curly Dave started a sword school. Escaped with limbs intact, soley due to the fact that I wasn't allowed to play because of the Warfarin. Got back from Traders' to find everyone formed up and ready to go down to the battlefield, and Henry discovering the reason that he hadn't had a hangover when he woke up in the morning because he was still drunk. The hangover hit around lunchtime...

It was only after everyone had gone that the rain came back, organising itself with miliatary precision. One minute blue skies, next "Hup two three four! HUP two three four!" along came the clouds, and down came the rain. Sat in Jo's tent and re-wrote Castle Howard, having previously written it whilst in hospital out of my mind on drugs. I hereby disclaim any responsibility of any quotes mentioning blue rabbits.

Quote of the day came from one of the commentators. "While we're waiting for the Armies to appear, I would like to draw your attention to the safety lines, where there is a gentleman... no, sorry, it's actually a man..." I want what he was on.

Sunday Evening

Everyone sat around and discussed the battle. Not having seen any of it - being safely ensconced in the caravan with G and Jo, I listened intently. The general consensus was this - 3 hours of boredom, finalised by a big bang. Hmmm, sounds familiar...

The enthusiastic (and hungry) went off to the local pub, while the rest sat around a gas light and played "pass the port" which is getting to be a Bank Holiday tradition, and sang lewd songs. The pub group, however, had been planning their evening for days. They played "blindfold someone and guess the other person by feeling from Knees to Neck" - a game which may be cited in divorce courts after Liz failed to recognise G, after he swapped clothes with Jason, and added some snazzy accessories. Zoe failed to recognise anyone, but enjoyed herself anyway, and judging by the looks on the faces of those being fondled, so did they! Anyway, as was later observed - everyone got groped, and not necessarily on Sunday night!

Monday

Drill was good. The Pike block almost caught a dragon, although after a short period of stalemate both backed down. The walking gazebo was ... um ... eye-catching, although the anthropod on the rear left-hand corner was subjected to much scrutiny and a discussion of the merits of body waxing followed as soon as he was out of ear-shot.

I think that a special mention should be made of two people - Sarah Pavely for being given an award from Living History, who were impressed by her depth of knowledge on the subject of the Civil Wars and made her a goblet and commemorative card, and Mark Bennett, whi was awarded the first George Pitman Memorial Trophy, for his dedication to the Musket block, and getting his kit and act together. Well done to both, and don't forget to bring back the trophy next year Mark!

Monday Afternoon

Distinct lack of followers - Karen and Jenny having left at some ridiculously early hour of the morning. Lyn recovered from her hangover sufficiently enough to go on, and G stepped into Liz's shoes - (literally), grabbed a water bottle and called himself Charlotte. Penny - and I feel this is such a momentous occasion that I have to mention it - broke with tradition and followed Musket!

G actually caught the attention of the Parlimentarian Goodwife who had a total sense of humour breakdown and banned him as a follower. I would just like to point out that G was so far away from the crowd line that the only way I could see him was through a pair of binoculars! Penny promptly pointed out that we are the only regiment which turns out all followers in boy kit.