Why Are Men in Armor so Sexy?
Can’t believe how long it’s been since last I blogged, but August has been a helluva month. I thought I’d have lots of time to sit and relax, think about my novel, do lots of writing…generally move things forward with the help of cake and no ‘day job’ work. How dumb was that? Instead, it seemed to get fuller and fuller of ‘day job’ essentials. And the fact I’m on various Boards of arts organisations doesn’t help either, as you’re duty bound to help if requested to do so.
But it hasn’t been all work and no play. On the pretext of historical research, I finally managed to get up to Leeds to visit the Royal Armouries, to take a closer look at their collection of medieval weaponry and indulge in my passion for swords. Yes, I have a small collection of sharps, gathered over the years since my re-enactment days; not a really serious collection, but I enjoy the look of surprise on visitor’s faces when I unsheathe one of them and start talking about the balance between blade and hilt etc. (Better stop now in case you all start thinking I really am bonkers!).
Anyway, there I was up in Leeds on a warm and sunny week-end mid-month and visiting the Armouries. The actual content of this purpose-built museum was excellent – you wouldn’t expect anything else, really, would you? Considering how much Lottery money was spent on building it. But the building itself was a total disaster…unquestionably one of the WORST designed museums I’ve ever been to, nationally or internationally. Everything had been shipped up from the Tower of London and other Historic Palaces to this purpose-built black brick mausoleum in what had been a derelict industrial estate next to a scummy stretch of canal. No signage outside meant you couldn’t find the entrance, and poor signage inside meant you could find anything inside either. Plus, little real thought had gone into the mediocre shop, cafes and restaurant. A classic case of corporate funding going hand-in-hand with unimaginative local authority planning, and coming up with the worst of all possible worlds. Which is a real shame, as it should have been world class instead of being world crass.
But it was free entry, and it being a Friday during school holidays there were about a million kids there all having a great time at the Knight School (which cost extra), and at the Jousting (also extra). Now, as some of you may know, I’m a proper sucker for a man in armour (yes, I know I’m weird that way) and LOVE Jousting, so happily paid my dues to watch the Red Knight fight the Green Knight to rapturous applause and much booking and/or cheering.
This was theatrical jousting, as opposed to Full Metal Jousting (see Challenge TV Mondays at 10.00 p.m.), which is much fiercer and more authentic judging by the injuries. There was no un-horsing or blood-shed, but there was plenty of very fine horsemanship and some excellent trick riding. And as far as I was concerned the Red and Green Knights were both sex on legs in their full body armor, so the expedition was not an entirely unhappy experience.
I also enjoyed the selection of weaponry on display from early Celtic onwards (though not interested in the guns or modern day machinery of war), plus items covering many different cultures including Japan, China and India. The full-scale model of an Indian war-elephant covered in armor was truly impressive and certainly not the kind of thing you’d want to meet on a dark night in Leeds or anywhere else.
Fully armoured war elephant
Apart from that I spent the rest of the weekend with my lovely friends, Olivia and Howard, eating too much, enjoying lots of great conversation, and loving being out of London for a change.
Now, it’s back to the grindstone of preparing for the first Loose Muse event of the year on September 11th, featuring a selection of members of Highgate Poets. Check the events page for up-to-date information on that and also on the two Anthology launches. Until then, enjoy the remains of the summer and the gentle drift into autumn, and…
Come share the passion, share the joy,
Agnes
Loose Muse 
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