Well it’s been far too long since I updated my blog so seeing as we had a very hectic weekend I thought it only too right to update you all on our two main events of the weekend.
So it started with hubby taking the kids out for the morning so I could get on with preparing the food for Sat night. It was my oldest daughter’s 21st birthday and yes we were having a party! She’d told me that there were about 35 coming so on went the oven and timings were worked out (these later went out of the window). By 6 o’clock the food was ready and I was just about ready, kids were dressed and yes of course we were late. Quick text to say we were setting off soon and just last few bits to sort. Food was packed carefully in the car and off we went. I had to keep reminding hubby that there was food in the boot as he went over bumps and round the corners. “Oh yeah I forgot” was all I kept getting.
Arrived at the pub to find my parents and daughter there with her latest boyfriend. Set up the food, still running late. Her dad and his girlfriend arrived and just plonked the cakes on the floor for us to set up – grrrr, men!
We all sat around for about an hour and realised that the only other people coming were some of her dad’s family. So yeah that’s right none of her “friends” that she’d invited could be bothered to come and help her celebrate, no text, phone calls or nothing. Despite this we had a good time and yes we did all the silly dances, much to the amusement of the others. We left my daughter dancing the night away because we were going to the Royal Armouries the next day and the littlies were falling asleep.
So onto Sun and the day of the Interpretation Department’s big send off at the Royal Armouries.
If you don’t know the Interpretation Dept is being disbanded very quietly on 31st March after 15years of showing us their fantastic skills at bringing history to life. Well they’re going as quietly as several men and a woman can in armour with swords, poll axes and loud voices. It is such a shame as they do a fantastic job and make history interesting and real for children and adults alike.
Well there were 14 performances on Sunday, there’s normally only about 4-6, and so you can see how much extra work was involved. Our dilemma – which ones to go and see?
I know one of the men in the team so I wanted to finally see him in action after only chatting to him on facebook occasionally because we were at school together. Due an injury though he wouldn’t be doing any fighting but I certainly wasn’t disappointed in his 2 performances as Britain’s most brutal executioner, Jack Ketch and then as British Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger.
My two nephews were with us too so it had to be the battles as the other choices – the two-handed sword combat, “The Soul of the Samurai” and the poll axe combat. Again, excellent performances from all involved.
It is such a shame that such an important part of the Armouries is going to vanish and I really don’t think the management have thought about the long-term effect this loss will have on the museum. As my friend said – it is not an interactive museum but the interpretation team certainly make it interactive. We can only hope that the management realise the error of their ways and bring back this fantastic team of people.
So if you find yourself in Leeds, before 31st March, wondering what to do, then please take a trip down to the Armouries and see the last few interpretations before it’s too late and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
