Bobnessuk

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Colchester Medieval Festival - June 2012

Due to the wonders of the Queen's Golden Jubilee, the festival this year took place over 4 rather wet days at the beginning of June. Still a little rain (and mud) wasn't going to stop the fun.

In Colchester Park we were introduced to the wonders of this festival with a bright little piece from some of the players.

It was a very pleasant start for the day - but don't take my word for it, here is one of my shaky renderings. I'm desperately trying to avoid the young wives with prams, kids and assorted other distractions but failing dismally. Mind you the accompanying bird-song is quite sweet.

I should warn you, I'm afraid there is more to come of this.

So let us wander down to the festival itself and see what is on.

Here are Melford hys Companie. They even performed Chaucer's 'Millers Tale', which is rather rude.

And then we had a Puppeteer - The Theatre of the Small and a Story Teller - The Yarnsmith of Norwich .

Let's return to the Musicians, shall we?

Ahhh,, isn't that sweet?

Meanwhile in another part of the festival, the Combat and Tourney was taking place. Here members of the community re-enacted combat from medieval times. Dressed up in chain mail uniforms, they then proceeded to knock the crap out of each other. This proved to be very popular, especially with the younger crowd - here getting some quick lessons on how to use the famous English Quarter Staff.

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In a more peaceful mode we had a very spectacular display of falconry from the 'Out on a Wing' team

The flying demonstration was truly spectacular, as one of the trained falcons disappeared into to the trees only to swoop down on the dangled bait being held by its handler. Made even more interesting by the local seagulls, who began to swarm and shriek warnings as they detected the presence of this bird of prey.

That was it. Well worth the visit. Hopefully I'll be there again, next year.

We have to finish with a tune..Here are the wonderful musicians playing us out with a Merry Melody and a flourish at the end.

Wednesday, 12 September 2012

Copperas Bay & Holbrook Bay - Easter Time in Essex

5th April 2012

Well, during Easter in Essex we didn't just drink. We did some walking as well. Here, Kate and myself wandered down the river Stour estuary from the outskirts of Harwich to Mistley. As usual we have the mixture of colour digital and grainy black and whites. Actually if you look very carefully you will notice that some B&W were taken with the digital in B&W mode. What was that? Talking to the wrong person? Need to find someone who gives a fuck?......

Just starting off we crossed a field between Great Oakley and Ramsay

The Windmill at Ramsey

Another piccie of the Windmil using my swanky new zoom lnes.

Here's some arty farty piccies of Copperas Wood

Kate is not impressed

Out onto the Estuary

Slightly inland, this is Wrabness Church with the temporary Bell Shed

..temporary since the 17th century!!

Ploughed field on the outskirts of Mistley

In Mistley there are two towers - here's one of them - but no main building in a Crematorium

For some reason loads of Swans seem to have made Mistley their holiday home.

They've even created this delightful Statue to celebrate it. Um.. luvly isn't it?

Ethan didn't join us, I guess the wellies were a little too big for him.

Tuesday, 17 April 2012

Mersea Beer Festival

Bloody Hell wot an alcholic eh?

That's me of course, not Kate. Here we are at another Beer Festival

A rather attractive Pub by the Mersea Island Bus stop

Walking along the Coast, we encountered what seemed like an infinite number of Bath Houses..

I guess as it was such a beautiful day and a luvley walk along the bay to the Vineyard, we didn't drink too much.

Here's my contribution.

Mersea Monkeys - Stout Porter with liquorice flavour - 4.5

Delvin End - Pheasent Plucker - Dry Cider - 7.0!! but one of the best ciders I've ever tasted

Paglesham - Pagelesham Punch - Dry Cider - 6.5 - not a patch on the Plucker.

Sticklegs - KS Stout - Full Bodied with roast Barley taste - 4.4

Farmer's Ales - Dark Horse - Smooth but Strong - 6.6!

Harwich Town - Bay Bitter - Nice Hoppy Bitter - 3.6

Colchester Brewery - Metropolis - Another Hoppy Bitter - 3.9

Kate was too grumpy to bother with recording her drinks. She doesn't seem too bad though.

Sunday, 22 January 2012

Colchester Beer Festival - Jan 2012

A very mellow experience at the Colchester Winter Beer Festival.

Before we got down to the serious stuff, I noticed this interesting sign in the converted church.

I wonder if they still honour this. Maybe we should ask the local MP?

But enough frivolity. I bet you'd like to know wot I drank..course you do.

Drink	Brewer	Name	SP
Cider	Millwhites	Rioja Cask	6.7%
Cider	Crones	Rum Cask	7.5%
Beer	Saffron	Ramblers Tipple	3.9%
Beer	Mighty Oak	Fangs for the Memory	3.6%
Beer	Mersea	Yo Boy	3.8%
Beer	Mersea	Mersea Mud	3.8%
Beer	Bishop Nick	Ridley's Rite	3.6%
Beer	Harwich	Bathside Battery Bitter	4.2%
Beer	Fat Cat	Fat Cat Stout Cat	4.6%
Beer	Greenjack	Red Herring	5.0%

By the way, these are half-pint measures - I'm not that bad.

Nevertheless.......this is wot happened...

Oh dear.. I knew I should have stayed clear of the cider....

Monday, 5 December 2011

Walks - Mid 2011

Jobless, going into debt..ah what the hell. It hasn't stopped us from still having load of walks. Here are a few more shots of around Colchester, South Downs and the Thames Valley.