Startling

Startling that, after a day of stress and hectic and nothing working out quite as desired, after unfulfilled plans, after half-hearted attempts at relaxation, after a compromise that works but is unsatisfying, after an evening spent with guests instead of spent in togetherness, after a short time together that rushed away all too swiftly, after bliss ungained in spite of all attempts,
that bliss lies in the simple phrase, "I'm happy with you."

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( Merkwürdig )

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Seems to be RenFaire week.

So, the Medieval Festival in Remscheid.
Since we couldn't make it there on Saturday, I went there yesterday with my parents. I even convinced my mom to dress up for it!
We arrived around noon, so we missed all of the archery contest, but we could watch the finals of the Viking Tent Race World Championship. Unfortunately, my favorite team only won second place - the gold medal winner was a bunch of guys in ordinary t-shirts who were running in the name of some political party. Highly inappropriate. Gah.

Then we had lunch, and the food was really good. Usually, even on medieval markets you only get Bratwurst or Falafel; but this time they had a really broad range of foods. I had a bannock with feta chesse, my mom had a bannock with cream, leech and bacon, and my dad had the viking stew (beans, salsify, beef, onions). We kept switching our food so everyone could get a bit of everything.

The market stands were also really interesting - if I had had the money, I'd probably have bought a bow and some arrows, and medieval boots, and a beautiful athame. As it was, I didn't have the money, but I bought a little clay flask with a leather holder to attach it to my belt, and some incense and benzoe.
There also was the bathing tent that had been there for the medieval Christmas market, too - but it was somewhat more frequented this time...

Then we went to watch the tournament of the Bergische Lehnsritter, which was quite amazing. They competed in mounted archery, jousting, swordsmanship, ring jousting and helmet-hitting (I have no idea how it's called in English, really). The latter means that around the tournament ground there were helmets set up on wooden pins, and they had to hit the pins so the helmets came off, but not the helmets. In the end, the "Count of Wuerttemberg" became tournament champion. The guy playing the Count of Berg, whose house held the lordship over this area from the 12th to early 17th century (and founded Düsseldorf, which was, of course, a mistake), failed rather tragically, though. That is, he was doing alright except for the fact that he screwed up the helmet hitting thingy because he apparently didn't get his sword lifted. Eventually, his horse lost a horseshoe and that was the end of the contest for him. Tah. Fine liege lord we have there.
Some idiots next to me complained that no one got pushed off their horses during the joust. I dryly pointed out that there are certain safety regulations and that "Cause of Death: Hit of a lance to breastbone" is rather inacceptable nowadays. Doctors in any hospital around would look rather strange if they had to peel their patient out of a chainmail coat before operating. [They would. They already look strange if they have to peel their patient out of a jûdô uniform.]
"But they really did at the Spectaculum."
"Yes. They also wore tournament armour at the Spectaculum."
"But they really did and got hurt and stuff in the Middle ages!!!"
"Yes. However, legal positions were somewhat different in the Middle ages, too."
Really. Fourteen, fat, and expecting people to seriously risk their life for their amusement. *sick*

I don't know what it is with people in Remscheid that doesn't get them going. If cheers and applause are called for, people, one is expected to cheer and applause, not to half-heartedly clap one's hands a few times and think that's enough. ARGH. And they even teach you some cheers so you don't have to make up anything yourself. But it took until late afternoon until the broad masses finally dared to chime in with the cheers of the few LARP- and RenFaire-proved visitors.

The jugglers and bards competing for the audience's grace were quite cool, too. But we had come so late that there had been no more coins for us (visitors got two coins, one for a bard, one for a juggler, to give to the one they liked best). Else, Little Ben the juggler would have gotten mine. He was really cool, and only around twelve years old.
I don't know who of them won the competition, eventually, because I had to leave to help prepare the fondue and salad because we were expecting guests for the evening. *sigh*

But a wonderful afternoon, and a lot of fun!

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( Huld, Huld, Jubel! )

Good Grief

There is a George W. Bush fanlisting?

I'm officially dying now.

Why there are fanlistings for any politics at all goes, to speak with C-3PO, far beyond my capacity.

Eru H. tapdancing Ilúvatar.

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( Heilige Scheiße )