Waltz 2012

Waltz on the Wye 2012, this time we booked full weekend tickets and boy are we glad we did. Living 45 miles from Chepstow we decded to commute the distance making things like costume changes and sleeping in our own comfortable bed much easier. Friday we arrived. Collected our wristbands and we were off. There was a welcome 'BBQ' at the Three Turns next to Chepstow Castle. (and first a Moan-after all my blog is called Grumble). A BBQ to me is a outdoor event where food is grilled and sold on. This was Bar Meal Burgers, at £3 for a plain Burger and £7 for a burger with a bit of potato salad, coleslaw and green salad. We were all starving so we had 4x full burgers and for £7 a head I would expect food on a plate with a knife and fork, not food on a paper plate with a plastic fork....Ok moan over, Its not the organisers fault and if anyone is to blame its the pub. Saying this we met some lovley people within minutes of arriving at the Three Turns, who admired the Wheelchair and our outfits. After we had eaten we were off to the Drill Hall where most of the events were held, and to see the Morgan and West Magic show. All very Derren Brown mind reading, card trickery type stuff and of course I was the first one chosen from the audience to participate in a 'simple' trick, I picked a card from a pack (the Ace of Spades), Told the Magicians who split the pack into two, where I eliminated half the cards, then they split the remaining cards into two again, where I eliminanted half again and so on and so on until there was just one card in each magicians hand. my final guess the magician turned the card to reveal which one I had picked. Thinkng about it it may be less of the Derren Brown style manipulation and more of a simple switch the card trick. The rest of the show was just as slick and amazing, Will went up on stage to assist with a trick. And the finale a mathmatical square where all the numers added up horizontaly, verticaly, diagonally ect to 55 would have sent a sodoku lover into nirvarna. There were bands playing after the Magicians, but with the kids we napped off home. Sat was the big day, I dressed in my Watson outfit and we went off with our Contraption to exhibit, the painted Big Trax. It held its own against the rest of the exhibits but the ante has really been upped and i'm already thinking about next years exhibits. We chatted to Mark Condroy of Mark Condroy creations who makes props professioanly and has made props featured in Dr Who...fanboy moment :) Where he complimented us on Rubys jetpack. Down to the bandstand where we picnicked for a hour and then tried the crumpets from the Strumets with Crumpets stand, And who was in the Crumpet Que behind me? Professor Elemental (in civvies) thats who. Then another circuit of the Drill hall. Prof E was doing a chap hop workshop that Wills attended while Ruby and myself went back up to the Castle and thoroughly explored it all. By then it was 4pm Wills had finished the Workshop so we decided to take the kids back home. We shot home, treated ourselves to a KFC and started to get ready for the Ball. A change of clothes into our Wedding outfits (Which fitted us both a lot better than when we got married. Back to Chestow by 7pm a bit of a rush but we made it. Getting back to the Drill Hall, finding a parking spot, we needn't have rushed so much as the band Pocketwatch were soundchecking. For the first half of the ball we were sat near the front. Lily Belle compered, The ball ran like a old time music hall cabaret, short varied acts, Can Can girls, Rob Flame Juggler, Hula Hoop, Steampunk musical songs, Rob Flame again this time Juggling in the pitch black with illuiminated clubs, and while the first half was plagued with problems with the sound, All the acts soliderd on, it didnt really detract from the evening. Then Pocketwatch came on, the the first half of the hall was cleared of chairs. We went outside to join the rest of the smokers and chatted to Prof E for a while. When Pocketwatch finished we went back inside and got a spot on the rear wall. Prof E had a few problems with the sound but carried on. After the Prof there was a Disco with Gwyliam Games playing a selection of steam and then proper punk music..watching a gentlman in a top hat and a exlorer in a pith helmet pogoing to 'God save the queen.' was a surreal experience, We were treated to some quite fantastic SKA dancing by a well dressed man. Too soon the music had to end, and we gave Gwyliam a lift to Bridgend. Sunday, we were back again this time with Lorraine and Mike, we blagged them into the Castle so they could see the contraptions, and they had a good long walk around the indoor market, then down to the riverside for a couple of crumpets and a walk along the river. The day wound up at 2:30 and we collected the Big Track from the exebition, and headed home. Next year (if it runs), the ante has definetly been upped, I'm already kicking around a couple of ideas in my head for a new exebition piece. And as for outfits.....much work will be needed. :)