My whole `life' flashed before my eyes...

[purpletigron]

... when I tried to access LiveJournal at around 15:00 GMT today, Sun 2 Jun, and nothing was working. I'm delighted to see everything back up again so quickly.

This morning, we did a whistle-stop tour of the Riverside Community Market (almost a `farmers market', but not quite) with our houseguest, then carried on to Caerphilly Castle. She was duly impressed by what is described as the largest castle in Britain (I think you have to cheat and include the `town fort' island), with (just about?) the largest (extant?) water defenses of any castle in Europe. The siege engines were fired, which is always dramatic to watch - the expert commentator now recognizes us as groupies! - and The Company of Chivalry did re-enactment demonstrations in the Inner Ward. We met a `real' camp follower, complete with red-and-white broad stripped hood, and `penis-and-vagina' broach!

We had to rush for the 14:39 train from Newport to Reading, but she made it, and then we came home to chill out...

Comments

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

*boggle* What on earth is a 'penis-and-vagina' broach?

As for the functionality of livejournal, you can always go here and find out what's wrong when things are down. Very useful.

-J

[webbob.livejournal.com]

Maybe it has something to do with the penis broaching the vagina? Or possibly it's the homonymic synonym of "brooch," which sometimes causes confusion ("...Mind if we call you Brooch instead?").

Jewel(le)ry depicting the named parts; given it's Britain, probably not depicted in active coital engagement, though perhaps they have a grandfather clause.

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

It's a symbolic ornament, which would be worn pinned to the camp follower's hood, displaying in graphic form the profession of the wearer. There are versions with a wing-ed penis, but I think this one was `standing' on its testicles, heading horizontally straight for the (relatively) huge vagina. Strangely, I can't find any representations on the Web, but the construction is the same as these pilgrim badges (http://www.pewterreplicas.co.uk/pilgrim%20badges.html).

Such badges are widely available in re-enactment circles, so I can't imagine that they fall foul of any `public decency' legislation. They are moderately stylized.

[purplejavatroll.livejournal.com]

Siege engine groupies! Now, there's an odd thought!!

pjt