Time, at last, to write up some of the things that have happened over the last few weeks, before I forget about them completely.
I’ll start with Standsted Castle, which offers authentic 11th century views of the final approach. They call it Mountfitchet Castle these days, they can’t compete on equal terms with a modern airport.
This was a surprising find, we chose it because it was halfway-ish between London and Cambridge. Upon arrival it seemed like it was aimed rather toward kids, and I was fearing a Disneyland style plastic and mouseears rollercoastered medieval theme park. We passed through the ‘time tunnel’, back into the 11th century.
They’ve taken a castle mound and built fortifications on top of the earthworks, along with a small settlement within the perimeter. The new huts clearly aren’t working huts, they’re filled with exhibits showing and describing life in those times rather than real people doing real things. They’d done quite a neat trick with motion sensors and pre-recorded speeches from the occupants.
Running around in the grounds were a number of animals, all of which were extremely friendly, to the point that Clover, the deer, followed us inside some of the buildings, seeming just wanting companionship rather than demanding food or anything.
On the same site as the castle, up a narrow, windy path (complete with talking tree) there is the toy museum. The museum contains a lot of toys and games from the past hundred or so years. Sadly most of them were couped up in glass display cabinets (probably a good idea, all things considered), but a few of the old arcade games had been converted to take modern coins and are still playable. Nice to spot some things I remember from my youth, though I’m not sure I still have any of them.
A top day out, though I suspect it might get a little tiresome if it were really full of children….Some pictures.
Then last Friday was the BMovie Club, down at the Water Rats, KingsX. I’ve not been out in the smoke for a good while, and it shows. It started as something of a slow night, without many faces I recognised. Things picked up a little later, even if most of the night did involved being introduced to the new (and not so new) partners of cute girls I remember from when I was last regularly out in the capital. Oh well, at least they all seem like good guys.
They yesterday we went to Castle Rising, but I’m going to write that up later.