227/365 "Great War Weekend"

A member of the 7th Dragoon Guards demonstrates charging at the enemy (in this case, a melon) with sword extended as part of a fabulous display at The Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey. (The melon bought it!) Oliver joined his re-enactment group, The Russians, for his second event while I took far too many photos, as usual ;0) Collage necessary.

132/365 Oliver's birthday

Oliver turned 11 years old today and we surprised him with his very own deactivated bolt action Mosin Nagant 1938 carbine. Its the genuine article, the real deal, from Russia, via The Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House (where it was deactivated) and the arms dealer we bought it from. He was thrilled! So he's got all kitted out for his re-enactment hobby rather swiftly (see 108/365) with help from MC & co from The Russians who have been brilliant. The next event is on the 24th May at Whittington, near Lichfield and Oliver can't wait. С Днем Рождения (Happy Birthday)

108/365 A Russian for the day

Oliver took part in a re-enactment event near York today. We could not have been made more welcome by MC who I had contacted several weeks ago with a view to Oliver getting involved. Now Oliver wants to join, M & C have given him some kit to get him started and Oliver has already been browsing decomissioned weapons on the internet! This shot shows him with a borrowed weapon. There will be an album on Picasa soon of the whole day - we had a fantastic time. Many thanks to MC for everything, and to brothers C & C as well for looking after him all day. See you at Whittington! Brilliant!

See http://www.orlik.org.uk/HOMEPAGE.htm for details of the group, The Russians, a la Dr Zhivago.

59/365 WWII Re-enactment Event

A WWII re-enactment enthusiast shows Oliver how to tune in the radio, listening for enemy or friendly broadcasts. ("Can you get Radio 2?" I asked.) There wasn't much actual re-enacting going on, but there were lots of re-enactors dressed the part and lots of stalls selling everything you need to look authentic, and many of the items were genuine. Eras included all combatants of the two World Wars as well as the Jacobite Rebellion of the 18th Century (see http://www.lacewars.co.uk/ and http://www.13thfoot.co.uk/) and even earlier than that - armour and broadswords, knights and castles! Oliver has a passion for history so was a bit like me at Focus, like a kid in a sweetshop with only one sixpence! I think Oliver would enjoy getting involved in re-enactment so we'll have to see what we can find local to home.