Winging it in...Boston!

I meant to come sooner. I'm sorry I did not. I've been kept occupied.
So I hear: amusing the king.

I know Halloween is still a good few weeks away, but having gotten so excited about costumes and dressing up this weekend provided an opportunity to try and get it out of my system. Saturday, as hoped, was a bright and sunny day, and when the sun was out (which was most of the day) a very pleasant temperature, which meant it was perfect weather for King Richard’s Faire! Having been to renaissance festivals in the past I was more than a little excited at the prospect of going again- and to a the New England one.

Not only can you get dressed up in any number or varieties of costume- they really don’t have to be linked to any kind of renaissance in any way, Robin Hood, Victorian finery, stilt walking leprechauns, large headed unicorns, devils, and cyborgs to name but a few - you can buy garlands of flowers to adorn your hair (yes, I did. I buy them every year), watch the jousting, swoon over medieval knights- although I have a suspicion one of them was called Eric, watch numerous beggars compete in mud drinking competitions and enjoy wenching songs. Really, there is something for everyone.

The whole festival is set up around a village showground- it has real buildings and pathways, but it is only in use for eight weekends a year. It includes artisan stalls and shops and lots of food on sticks- well at least they say it is… I was most disappointed to see it served on plates and with plastic eating implements. Amoung the non stick related food you can and will be parted form your money by fantastic glass blowing, portrait painting, hand-spun pottery, sword making, sparkly jewelry- with a lot of celtic themes-, leather and armor, period clothing, moccasins, perfumes and scented oils, face painting, and psychic readings. Don’t be fooled by the Psychic- they are less psychic than you might think. Although with a name like Joyce Smith I should have seen that one coming- but then I don’t claim to be psychic!

I did however; get so excited at the prospect of costumes and fancy dress that I procured a pirate outfit at the Halloween costume store on the way home. It was intended for fancy dress day at school just before Halloween, but on closer inspection is a little shorter than the image on the front of the package suggests- I am now wondering if I can just wear stripy leggings underneath it for work- after all it is Halloween, people should be prepared to be scared, so I think I’ll give it a go.