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vampyresheepAlas, the final day. :-( Finalised our packing, got tarted up and checked out of hotel. Got down to the Drill Hall a tad early, so headed over to the Riverside Gardens with a few more hotel evacuee's to kill some time chatting by the river. Somehow managed to lose track of time and missed Gwylim's talk on airships - oops! total fail on my part to make it to any talks or workshops then.
Instead we hung round the Riverside Gardens a bit more to watch the Morris Dancers. Quite political in tone but very colourful and some great routines.
Before we knew it, was time for our Expedition to England! A little group of about 20-30 steampunks, mostly suitably attired in safari/explorer outfits, were led across the river by Andy Dingley (the organiser),
Rob crossing the border back to his homeland!
.......to a little garden within which was housed "The Smallest Opera House in the World" Words cannot begin to describe just how fun this was :-)
the "opera" was staged in two sittings, so while the first group went in, we sat out in the garden on an eclectic range of thrones and chairs. Soon it was our turn to enter - a tiny little caravan, decked out with theatre seating and all sorts of show paraphenelia on the walls. The curtains opened to reveal a tiny little stage with glittery backdrop, piano and singer, Karl Daymond. He proceeded to present an hilarious runthrough of the history of opera, audience participation obligatory (usually I'd run in terror at any form of participation but this was so much FUN!)
The original plan was to have a picnic here but there was a small rainshower which put paid to that, so everyone headed back to the Riverside Gardens instead.
Rob reaches the "border control" back to Wales
To finish the weekend, all of us remaining headed into the Drill Hall for a final mooch round the stalls, raffle, prize giving and general thanks to the organisers.
and then it was all over - all of us hoping they'll take leave of their sanity enough to organise a sequel next year! :-)
All the rest of my photos can be seen on Facebook and here
Instead we hung round the Riverside Gardens a bit more to watch the Morris Dancers. Quite political in tone but very colourful and some great routines.
Before we knew it, was time for our Expedition to England! A little group of about 20-30 steampunks, mostly suitably attired in safari/explorer outfits, were led across the river by Andy Dingley (the organiser),
Rob crossing the border back to his homeland!
.......to a little garden within which was housed "The Smallest Opera House in the World" Words cannot begin to describe just how fun this was :-)
the "opera" was staged in two sittings, so while the first group went in, we sat out in the garden on an eclectic range of thrones and chairs. Soon it was our turn to enter - a tiny little caravan, decked out with theatre seating and all sorts of show paraphenelia on the walls. The curtains opened to reveal a tiny little stage with glittery backdrop, piano and singer, Karl Daymond. He proceeded to present an hilarious runthrough of the history of opera, audience participation obligatory (usually I'd run in terror at any form of participation but this was so much FUN!)
The original plan was to have a picnic here but there was a small rainshower which put paid to that, so everyone headed back to the Riverside Gardens instead.
Rob reaches the "border control" back to Wales
To finish the weekend, all of us remaining headed into the Drill Hall for a final mooch round the stalls, raffle, prize giving and general thanks to the organisers.
and then it was all over - all of us hoping they'll take leave of their sanity enough to organise a sequel next year! :-)
All the rest of my photos can be seen on Facebook and here
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no subject
Date: 18 May 2011 13:23 (UTC)no subject
Date: 18 May 2011 13:25 (UTC)no subject
Date: 18 May 2011 13:27 (UTC)no subject
Date: 18 May 2011 13:29 (UTC)Lots of people are asking them to organise another event next year, maybe when they get over the stress of this years' they might consider it! :-) Poor Rachel hardly got to enjoy herself over the weekend as she was too busy trying to make sure everything was going to plan.