One day to go..

One day to go but I'm not going to Kentwell - I've over committed and so will be going somewhere else - and about 100 years earlier.
Just hope the weather will stay kind!

dartmouth

Pirates - a different kind of event at Dartmouth castle for the regetta.. A medieval murder mystery where the public were the detectives and the day finished with a court of enquiry where the murderer was revealed. We slept in the castle - it was really good.. i wonder if it would work at kentwell?

Spent most of the weekends of the summer re-enacting - managed to squeeze in even more periods than previously - another 1940s event
some more medieval _ tewkesbury, Bosworth and even an appearance as an 18th cent person at kelmarsh ( a large multi-period event). However just in case you were worried that I make katherine spend all her time dressed up as a historic child - here is a picture of us on holiday in France

Some colourful tudors from 1578 this year

my sister at kentwell

what a long time - oops!

Well katherine, my sister, my mum and I all did kentwell this year through some of the hottest weather of the year. We had a lovely time - most of it spent outside so that Katherine had enough room for playing with horsey and I could at least make some attempt to talk to the children and the public

bodices

Decided to make the most of a bank holiday at home - and try get some stuff done. Managed to do most of the construction work on my sister's bodice last night - just got trimmings etc to do now - which of course the bit that takes time. It's a lovely bricky red trimmed with a dull green.
Just got mine, Katherine's and several kids ones to do. That will be fine obviously.
She also tried on a 1940s dress which has fits - hurrah!

shifts part two

Hurrah have made a teeny shift for daughter- just need to blackwork the collar and cuffs whch I can add later.
Been trying to find something out about the person that I am this year - Anne Clopton (nee Barnardiston, d1607) of Liston Hall: wife of William Clopton (c1540-1612). Daughter of Sir Thomas Barnardiston of Ketton (c1510-1551) and Mary Walsingham is all I know really. Not sure of her date of birth although I think she has a fair number of children!

shifts

How does the maths on this work then? I have made at least two shifts every year since say 1990 or there abouts which means that I should have around 30 now - allowing for natural wastage say 1 shift every three years (5); losing them at the same rate (5) and throwing out anything that wasn't made of linen ( probably about 5). That still means I should have about 15 instead I have three so where do they all go? - and can I have them back please?

How long??

I am sorry -crocodile/dog/elephant ate my password and I just couldn't log on at all. Although haven't that much re-enactment since October (too cold)
Did a medieval event at Lincoln over the Easter Holidays - and it was fairly cold at night. Apart from that have been doing sewing although still have tonnes of clothing to make (me - new doublet bodice, kirtle, another 1940's frock, a couple of medieval kirtles; daughter - two medieval kirtles - one linen, one wool 16th cent - loose gown, linen kirtle, about a million shifts, coifs; sister - a new 16th cent bodice, kirtle and a couple of other kids outfits)

day before

polishing more polishing and yet more polishing - difficult to do when baby wants to help!
checking all my facts to make sure that my persona of Section leader Scott is all present and correct. I always get a sick feeling in my stomach before I do this in case I get anything wrong/upset people

stockings, socks

I tried on the lisle stockings - they're so horrible to wear and certainly not attractive no wonder some people wore ankle socks almost the whole time. I suppose I could always go for the ankle sock and wellie boot combo that my sister sported so winningly in August! However I am sure that even with wartime rationning this is not a look that many waaf officers would have worn.
I am going to try making a couple of Maguerite Pattern's cakes from one of her Ministry of Food leaflets so I have dug out all the treacle and wholemeal flour etc that has been lurking at the back of my cupboard and am now trying to decide whether I am really good and use egg substitute or whether I decide that as a vegetarian (my grandmother was one all through the war and got extra cheese and eggs on her ration book)I might have had a couple of extra eggs and use them - yes I know you can make perfectly good cakes without eggs it's just easier with them.
Once that's done I've got my sister'.s dress to finijsh since my sewing machine decided now was a good time to stop working so it's got to be done by hand and all the polishing to be done on my buttons and shoes etc. Still at least I don't have to do that all the time.