'HOMELAND', GLASGOW
Continued from Homeland 2...
HOMELAND, PART 3 (abridged)
SUNDAY/MONDAY ) After breakfast, Penny and I went to the Masquerade
rehearsal. I came back to the same room a little later to catch most of the
live sword demonstation from four keen and very skilled Scotsmen. Here is a
picture of the man in charge, one Jim Fleming. Charming, tall, witty and very
attractive. He made quite an impression on several ladies over the weekend -
and they know who they are, so I'm sparing their blushes!
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We had broadswords, claymores and axes. Sparks flew from
blades, feet and arms whirled hard and fast up and down the room. The gentleman
with the large axe got so carried away whirling and hitting the wooden shield of
his opponent that he chopped a huge chunk off it! Afterwards the audience were
invited to come up and have a go. Most people were very timid (I don't blame
them - the guys were fast, menacing and LOUD!). I decided to 'go for it' - I
knew there was no way that I would get even close to my opponent, but I was
willing to pitch what little skill I had as well as I could against him. He
noticed that I had some 'moves' and I revealed that I'd done foil, but I was
finding out fast that a broadsword is a lot heavier and less agile in the hand!
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We next had the auction, in which the Duncan McClanger I'd knitted, stuffed
and kilted went for £10. Here are two 'normal' Clangers....
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I missed most of Valentine reading from the classics, unfortunately, due
to the Masquerade rehearsal. I came in just before he read the whole of the
last battle and the disposal of Excalibur from Mallory's Morte D'Arthur. It was
so good, he had me close to tears. At the autograph session, I thanked
Valentine for his rendition. He said something to the effect that it was a nice
co-incidence that I lived in Glastonbury and life is funny like that. I
thought, 'If only you knew.....!!!' I said something fairly prosaic to Michel,
but remembered to add 'Merci!' when he handed my books back. Jim was looking a
tadge....shell-shocked, since he'd been up in the bar the previous night. I said
warmly, 'We had a late night last night, didn't we?!?' He smiled and chuckled
in agreement, took the trouble to personalise my daughter's autograph book and
that was about that.
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Anyone interested was asked to attend the Handfasting of
Christy and Neil. They were wearing 'Jane Austen' type costume - Christy's dress
a delicate, beautiful creation in white. Neil was in fawn/biscuit, with a white
shirt and black boots. I am up to speed in Handfastings in general - a lot of
our local Traveller friends like to have theirs somewhere on the Tor. This was
the first time I'd seen a Scottish one (which counts as a legal marriage under
Scots law). Steve the Elf made a guarding circle first, by walking around
with his sword. The happy couple exchanged similar vows and promises to a
'regular' marriage service; bread, water, salt and mead were shared between
them. Bread to ward against hunger, water to ward against thirst, salt that the
union should always have savour and mead for sweetness. A ribbon was tied in a
bow and secured with a second ribbon, that the bond of love between them might
never come undone. They were told that the union holds for seven years - if at
the end of that time they want to disslove the vows, EVERYONE present in that
room must be re-assembled at THEIR expense! Did I give a joining gift? Yes -
two packets of Highlander crisps!! Here is a picture of the happy couple. |
Now to the Masquerade! I don't think I can remember everyone, but we had:
Darth Vader, Beetlejuice and lady friend (Jimmy who portrayed him stayed in
character complete with voice ALL NIGHT!); Neil and Christy; a lady Mimbari
ambassador for Glasgow, a comic Centari ambassador for Glasgow, dispensing
Fererro Roche sweets!; a genie; a woman and daughter in 18th century dress;
MacWench the barmaid; Thickear the Mimbari and a refugee from South Park; The
Four HorseWOMEN of the Apocalypse with a very familiar-looking gentleman
opponent....and Xena and Gabrielle .
- The Centari won best humour prize
- The Mimbari lady and the woman and daughter shared best workmanship
- Beetlejuice won best representation from the movies
- The four horsewomen won best overall costume prize
- And Penny and I were absolutely gob-smacked to win best costume based on a
tv series!
The Four Horsewomen of the Apocalypse................and Maroussia
Xena and Gabrielle!
When we went up on stage, Jim said to me "Thank-you for doing that for
us." and I said "We *enjoyed* doing it for you!" I remembered to
say 'Merci' again to Michel and the other handshakes passed in a blur of smiles.
Penny and I called the lift later and there was Jim. Penny said 'Do you
feel safe with Gabby and Xena?!' - apparently Jim did! He asked what floor we
ewanted - which was 'E' (yes, I know...). I commented that it was a strange name
for a floor. Penny quipped 'E for ecstasy!' Jim twinkled at us (at close
range, this is quite something....) and said 'Well, the night is young....!' and
I retorted with an answering twinkle, 'And hopes are high!', which he evidently
appreciated!!!
There was a 'formal' disco tonight, after the informal one on Saturday. I
went in and danced for a bit - they put on 'What a feeling' - so I did my best
'Flashdance' impersonation, but no back-flips! Filk came next. I was
suddenly nervous - I didn't turn a hair doing the dance as Xena with Penny, I
was cool yet elated when we came to shake the guest stars' hands. But these
words were (mostly) mine - the songs are my babies and I just went tense.
Aaarghhhhh!
We repaired eventually to the Ailsa bar where large quantities of alcohol
were being consumed. I found myself at one point with two pints of cider to get
down!!! Jim, Penny and some of the talkative Scottish ladies were having a
whale of a time swapping anecdotes at the speed of light. I could have
contributed, but I was brought up not to interrupt, plus the banter was great
fun just to experience! I also had the delight of watching Penny and Jim swap
'leg' stories - "Do you have trouble buying shoes?" "Do I have
trouble....?! Let me tell you...." and so on..... The bar also dispensed
'hot nuts' - which I'm pretty certain were peanuts with a slightly spicy
coating, served warm and very more-ish. These things came in little tubs. Jim
had a personal supply within easy reach. One lady reached over and snaffled one
or two from Jim's pot. The phrase "Stop nibbling Jim's nuts!!" is
probably going to haunt me to my dying day.......
YKWYBWTMLMW....(courtesy of Maroussia, who heard Jim and coined it) You go
to a HL convention and hear Jim at the bar uttering the immortal (sorry) words
'Duncan, can I buy you a drink?' On such golden moments are conventions
built.....
