Abbey Museum Medieval Fair

Last weekend we attended the Abbey Museum Medieval Fair held in Caboolture, Qld. It was a much larger event than I had anticipated, and as a lover of history, medieval times in particular and artisanship and textile handcrafts specifically, I was in heaven.

The Fair even hosts a respected jousting competition, where men and women joust on horseback wearing traditional armour. Unfortunately there was one injury requiring St John's ambulance assistance, but that was in the jousting session later in the afternoon. The session we attended (with much cheering "Huzzah") was well run and the Emcee was amazing. The kids were enthralled and I have to say, with great glee, that the ladies on horseback kicked BUTT! Hee hee.

There were swordfight reenactments, siege engines and large cannons that were regularly exploding in front of the large two story castle. There were Vikings, gypsies, Ottoman Turks and Knights Templar regularly parading the large grounds. There were encampments where amazingly devoted re-enactors live for the weekend in authentic, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th century style. 

There were demonstrations of candle-making, writing with quill and ink, dying, spinning, milling flour, a blacksmith and forge, cooking with clay pots, just to name a few! 

Gypsies wandered around offering fortunes for sale, peddlars with hand drawn wagons offered a variety of goods for a number of "gold coins", and the food and drinks were close to authentic. No fries or coke here. Lamb shanks (for the meat eaters) and vegetable broth with rye bread, strawberries and cream, toffee apples, elderflower cordials and then there was the mulled wine and honey mead. Mmmmm.

All in all, we had a truly magnificent day! The children were fascinated with the taxidermist's wares of skins and furs (ugh, gross) and the beautiful leatherwork and silver jewellery ... William bought a tail of some poor dead thing as he loved the feel of the fur and Lily used her own pocket money she had saved and bought a leatherbound, jewel encrusted journal for her to record precious moments of our trip.  Geo and I thoroughly enjoyed the immersion of the day, but finally relented and bought a memento to take with us on the trip; a flag for the van with a striking dragon flying on a field of yellow and blue.

All in all, an experience I highly recommend (if the weather is fine) and I take my hat off in recognition of the efforts and passion of all those who have contributed to making the fair so educational, inspiring and enjoyable!

Keeping busy

The last few weeks have been so much calmer. I have given the kids a few weeks off homeschooling so they can catch up with friends over the holidays. We have slept in, stayed in our PJs till late in the morning, sometimes even the whole day!  We've had picnics by the lake to feed the geese.

We have baked, and been to the library, we have watched movies as a family both here and in the cinema. We have planned and researched our trip - at least the first part, and managed to catch up with some friends. 

But it's hard being stuck in a small space with nowhere to go ... just waiting.

Waiting for Geo to tie up the business loose ends that have been tying up funds we'd like before we leave. Waiting for the chance to spend a few days with the van somewhere re-organising and packing shelves properly, etc.Waiting for Geo to finish the work on his truck that he wants done before we leave. Waiting for doctor's specialists appointments which for some reason take months to set up!? Are there that many sick people? Or is there just not enough medical practitioners in specialised fields? I've not had much experience so I'm a bit of a noodlehead when it comes to this stuff. Anyhoo.  Waiting for Geo to give the green light - business stuff finished, accounts finalised and sorted, truck and van ready for the road. 

In the meantime I am crocheting granny squares, making patchwork blocks out of the leftover fabrics, and if I get some time at my machine tomorrow, I might even make more winter pjs for the kids! It has turned cold up here. For Qld, it's positively freezing. (Having lived in NZ I am aware that Qld freezing is not the same as NZ freezing, ok? LOL)

I am also keen to start making sourdough. Geo says he knows how. (Surprises me not, the man has a surprising amount of knowledge stored in that computer brain of his - must be where my Lil gets it!) So I crocheted a sourdough starter jar cover.

Then a spare one, in case the other one needs washing.

And then I crocheted a coaster for the jar to sit on. (I love crocheting these mandalas - they are like meditation for me.) As you can see, I've been keeping busy. If I had a bigger bank balance I would be driving all over the countryside visiting all my dear ones. But am stuck here on the cold cold Gold Coast so keeping my fingers warm is a necessity!(inbetween freezing park visits to keep the kids worn out!)

Mum's peg basket broke, so I quickly designed up a couple of peg bags that would fit on some leftover childrens coat hangers. I made one for her, and one for me. Hope it will be a nice surprise when she gets back! 

We plan to head north the first weekend in August. If we don't leave then we will have to stay somewhere in the van for a few months then go south. Fingers crossed! So many hiccups as we try to make this Round Oz Trip a reality. Then again, we did only decide to do it in January. Most people I have talked to plan and save for years before doing it. We're not the sensible. We're kinda spurofthemoment-crashtestdummies-flybytheseatofourpants-batshitcrazy kind of people. 

Hope you are rugged up and warm wherever you are!