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Crown tourneys and Coronations are some of my favourite events - I've enjoyed attending them for the drama on the field, and the pleasure of the ceremony. And I've loved being steward of them - enabling all that good stuff to happen.
But I think, honestly, Gwenllian and I and our respective shires of Mynydd Gwyn and Thamesreach did a really good job, and our good work was made glorious, absolutely glorious, by the venue and the beautiful weather.
Thank goodness for an unexpected and delightful mild, sunny weekend in south Wales - it would have been a different experience in 2 degrees C and drizzle, which I what I'd banked on and and told people to dress for! It was sunny enough that people's faces and bare shoulders had caught sun by the afternoon. In October, in Wales? It had to be magic.
The warm weather meant people could explore the castle at their leisure; they could sit comfortably to watch the tourney in the sun; we weren't continually closing doors to keep out drafts.
In the evening, Sir Vitus lit a fire in a firebowl, and folks sat around the fire for hours into the night. It made for a wonderful atmosphere full of happy people who were willing to be pleased; it was all I could hope for.
Several people stopped me through the day to say what a wonderful event it was. I was pleased, of course; I realised most of the commenters had not been to Caerphilly before, while for folks in southern Insulae Draconis the castle, a bit like Raglan, had become just another venue. I was taking for granted all that was so pleasing to the guests. It was a reminder to step back and remind yourself; this is cool. It's a medieval event in a castle.
Time seemed to run away from me - every time I checked, it was half an hour to an hour later than I expected. I felt like I'd barely finished lunch when we had to start laying out tables for feast and setting up for court. By 8.30pm on the other hand, it had turned around and felt like midnight.
But I think, honestly, Gwenllian and I and our respective shires of Mynydd Gwyn and Thamesreach did a really good job, and our good work was made glorious, absolutely glorious, by the venue and the beautiful weather.
Thank goodness for an unexpected and delightful mild, sunny weekend in south Wales - it would have been a different experience in 2 degrees C and drizzle, which I what I'd banked on and and told people to dress for! It was sunny enough that people's faces and bare shoulders had caught sun by the afternoon. In October, in Wales? It had to be magic.
The warm weather meant people could explore the castle at their leisure; they could sit comfortably to watch the tourney in the sun; we weren't continually closing doors to keep out drafts.
In the evening, Sir Vitus lit a fire in a firebowl, and folks sat around the fire for hours into the night. It made for a wonderful atmosphere full of happy people who were willing to be pleased; it was all I could hope for.
Several people stopped me through the day to say what a wonderful event it was. I was pleased, of course; I realised most of the commenters had not been to Caerphilly before, while for folks in southern Insulae Draconis the castle, a bit like Raglan, had become just another venue. I was taking for granted all that was so pleasing to the guests. It was a reminder to step back and remind yourself; this is cool. It's a medieval event in a castle.
Time seemed to run away from me - every time I checked, it was half an hour to an hour later than I expected. I felt like I'd barely finished lunch when we had to start laying out tables for feast and setting up for court. By 8.30pm on the other hand, it had turned around and felt like midnight.
