Paula Lofting's Blog, page 6
September 22, 2012
This Week and Other Things
Well, back again after some abscence. It's really difficult keeping up with 3 blogs and writing a novel and a fulltime job, being a Mum and a reenactor. This week I have been doing my best to write posts for them all, my latest one was for my Threads to The Past blog, the 2nd in a series of posts about the relationships between Edward the Confessor, Godwin, Earl of Wessex and Robert Champart,the Archbishop of Canterbury. Today I thought I'd just re-cap on what I've been doing over the week. I've had a terrrible bout of illness this last fortnight and am beginning to turn the corner now and getting better. Firstly a fortnight ago today I did my first booksigning in Waterstones in Crawley (see me left standing in front ot the 50 Shades of Grey!). It was a lovely event and the girls and guys in Crawley Waterstones made me feel comfortable and welcome. I managed to hand-sell 12 of the 15 books they'd ordered which I was told was very impressive for an Indie author on a not so busy day.
photo by Alison OfferWhat followed was an awful week of feeling really unwell with some kind of kidney thing. Last week I managed to attend Wychurst, which is the site for Regia Anglorum 's Saxon Longhall. I had written a scenario for the wekend show which was called A Game of Thegns (a pun on the Game of Thrones series) in which an English thegn and a Danish Thegn organise a wedding to create peace between the two communities in the tense times after the death of Archbishop Alfeah at the hands of the Danish invaders. Each thegn has their own agenda and one's was not so honest. The Scenario was filmed and the links can be found at the bottom of this page. To the right is a picture of the players with me sitting on the bench with the madder tunic and green bag. Needless to say we had so much fun but scenarios are only just some of the things Regia is about. One of the sad things that has happened this week is my daughter fleeing the coup and going odd to Kent University to do her Psychology degree. Although it is an exciting time for her, I know she is feeling out of it a bit, missing her family and her boyfriend, as we all miss her. Hopefully she will settle in soon and she will start to feel more at home. I've been trying to sort her room out today and can't really get used to the idea that she's gone, even if its only a short distance in the grand scheme of things. Not to hear her quirky little voice as she jokes and plays mischievously with me fills me with sadness. I worry about her, but I know she will be alright. We all want to keep our little birds safe, but there comes a time when you have to let them go. I pray that she will find a sense of peace and joy as she takes on her new role in life as a student. Love you my darling beautiful little girl
Links to the Re-enactment Scenarios
Marital Mayhem Part 1
Marital Mayhem part 2
August 30, 2012
Military Odyssey, a piece in the local rag and a coming Book-signing
Hi all! What a fabulous weekend I've had. As always, the Military Odyssey in Kent has turned out to be one of the best shows for a re-enactor to attend this year. With so many other re-enactment societies participating, there is something for everyone, from the Ancient Greek Hopplites and Roman legions to World War I & 11. The fact that on Saturday morning it poured down on several warriors at training, many wearing maille armour and metal helmets, and caused us to squelch obscenely in our period shoes did nothing to dampen the spirits throughout each camp. By the time the afternoon came, the sun made up for the terrible down pour and the weather remained dry for the rest of the weekend.
Such is the Military Odyssey: fiercely inspiring, heart-wrenching, side-splitting and thoroughly educational. I've been doing this show for some years now and have seen many of the re-enactments, but this year was the first time I had ventured into the amazing camp that belonged to the 10th Essex re-enactment society. This fabulously talented and innovative group of men and women created an experience for interested members of the public that took them into the world of WWI by simulating the tunnel that was used in the Messine Ridge Offensive. This structure was produced to give the sense that you were 75ft underground where the 19 explosives that were to be detonated on the 7th June 1917 were kept in the mines. The target of the offensive was the Messines Ridge, an important German stronghold southeast of Ypres. When the mines were detonated it basically obliterated the German camp and so loud was the explosion that even Lloyd George could hear it in his Downing Street study. This part of the experience, which was repeated every half an hour on their site, followed a short skit given by the men of the flying core
http://www.10thessex.org/military-odyssey-2012.html
Then there was the Battle of Hattin performed by the members of the fabulously flambouyant Crusade Re-enactment society and Draum Broedr who are an amazing combat and living history outfit. Some of my own fellow members of Regia Anglorum participated and next year I would love to be able to join them and be a Saracen. These guys are some of the best show fighters I've ever seen. My friend Rich Price has video-ed the battle if any of you are interested here is the Link.
Regia Anglorum generally don't re-enact battles at Detling as such but rather a competitve combat from the dateline given to us which was 1087 this year. Our brief was that Bishop Odo, Earl of Kent and famous episcopal brother of Willliam the Conqueror, had rebelled against the new King, William Rufus, son of the former. This was an actual event that had happened. The battle we performed was a portrayal of what might have happened. Our policy is that if we re-enacted battles that have happened, it would take out the fun competitive element of our hobby and so this is how we do our shows. The first two days of the Odyssey saw Rufu's troops beating Odo's retainers and mercenaries. On the third day Odo's army was victorious. Here is a Link to the Regia Battle. you can see me somewhere in there too.
Yesterday I was in the local paper. Yes! I've finally made the big time! Well not quite but exciting nonetheless. Just a small piece about me and my novel Sons of the Wolf and my up coming book-signing next Saturday 8th of September in Waterstones, Crawley the Martletts. I'm very excited to be doing that and hope that lots of you will pop in and say hi if you're in the Crawley/West Sussex area.
Well thats all for now! Enjoy the rest of your week!
Such is the Military Odyssey: fiercely inspiring, heart-wrenching, side-splitting and thoroughly educational. I've been doing this show for some years now and have seen many of the re-enactments, but this year was the first time I had ventured into the amazing camp that belonged to the 10th Essex re-enactment society. This fabulously talented and innovative group of men and women created an experience for interested members of the public that took them into the world of WWI by simulating the tunnel that was used in the Messine Ridge Offensive. This structure was produced to give the sense that you were 75ft underground where the 19 explosives that were to be detonated on the 7th June 1917 were kept in the mines. The target of the offensive was the Messines Ridge, an important German stronghold southeast of Ypres. When the mines were detonated it basically obliterated the German camp and so loud was the explosion that even Lloyd George could hear it in his Downing Street study. This part of the experience, which was repeated every half an hour on their site, followed a short skit given by the men of the flying core
http://www.10thessex.org/military-odyssey-2012.html
Then there was the Battle of Hattin performed by the members of the fabulously flambouyant Crusade Re-enactment society and Draum Broedr who are an amazing combat and living history outfit. Some of my own fellow members of Regia Anglorum participated and next year I would love to be able to join them and be a Saracen. These guys are some of the best show fighters I've ever seen. My friend Rich Price has video-ed the battle if any of you are interested here is the Link.
Regia Anglorum generally don't re-enact battles at Detling as such but rather a competitve combat from the dateline given to us which was 1087 this year. Our brief was that Bishop Odo, Earl of Kent and famous episcopal brother of Willliam the Conqueror, had rebelled against the new King, William Rufus, son of the former. This was an actual event that had happened. The battle we performed was a portrayal of what might have happened. Our policy is that if we re-enacted battles that have happened, it would take out the fun competitive element of our hobby and so this is how we do our shows. The first two days of the Odyssey saw Rufu's troops beating Odo's retainers and mercenaries. On the third day Odo's army was victorious. Here is a Link to the Regia Battle. you can see me somewhere in there too.
Yesterday I was in the local paper. Yes! I've finally made the big time! Well not quite but exciting nonetheless. Just a small piece about me and my novel Sons of the Wolf and my up coming book-signing next Saturday 8th of September in Waterstones, Crawley the Martletts. I'm very excited to be doing that and hope that lots of you will pop in and say hi if you're in the Crawley/West Sussex area.
Well thats all for now! Enjoy the rest of your week!
August 10, 2012
July 29, 2012
Guest Spot: Bobbie Coelho, writer of beautiful poetry
Welcome Poet, Bobbie Coelho to my Guest Blogspot Finding the LightYou are born in the dark of the morning And you think it’s your destiny light As you age, you realise it’s a false one Artificial, easily switched out In older age, the day breaks And you blink at the glint of the morn The pieces of your life fit together That is the day you are born (from Bobbie's beautiful book of the same name) Tell us about yourself, Bobbie, and how you came to write your book Finding The Light I have always liked poetry, but somebody said she thought I was a true visionary poet, so I started to write.My first poem was written at school, though.I had just read the diary of Anne Frank and it affected me very much.We had to write about a cowboy, so I did, but although he was in a bad position, he had a vision of Anne and he realised he wasn’t so bad.My first poem as an adult was “Island Girl” and I just kept on writing.I think it has saved me from the bitterness I prayed not to become. Your poems are very poignant, are they based on your own experiences? Some are, like “Island Girl” and “Freak”, but not all of them, most have a story behind them, though. For instance, “White Flowers” is about the Beslan School siege and “Premature” was written after seeing a programme about it premature babies. I want to write poems that make people think. Which is your favourite poem and what does it mean to you? If you mean my poems, I would have to say it would be “What is a Soldier to Me?” They do a wonderful job and protect us, they are the best. I feel a great thrill that the blood which won the battles of Crecy and Agincourt is still flowing through our soldiers today. “Freak” I like because it was the first time I felt really different. When people stare and point it is heartbreaking. English people do not ask, do they? They just point and stare. It doesn’t bother me so much now. but still feel I should make a badge which stays “Don’t Stare, Please Ask!”White Flowers is very emotional: it is about the Beslan School siege and it affected me more than you would ever know. Are there any famous poems that you really love and do you have a favourite poet? I have many “favourites”, but I really love “Miracle on St David’s Day” by Gillian Clarke. I would encourage everyone to read it. In my opinion it is a masterpiece. I also love “Not Waving but Drowning”, which reminds me of my life and “Crossing the Bar“ by Tennyson, “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou and “Invictus” by Henley. I would have to say that Gillian Clarke is my favourite, she is brilliant. I know you have a debilitating condition Bobbie, how do you find it affects your writing? Does it inspire you to know that you have overcome an illness to write such a beautiful menagerie of poetry?I have Parkinson’s, which has taught me that life is so short, love is the most important thing in life, but most people don’t realise this. I also wanted to raise awareness of Parkinson’s which I am proud to say I have done. Do you like to read novels and if so, what are some of your favourites and why? I love Neville Shute, but he is old fashioned, his most famous book is “A Town Like Alice”. I love his writing because it shows the good that people do. When I read “Requiem for a Wren”, I realised that for some, the Second World War was the happiest time of their lives – I had never considered that before.“To Kill a Mockingbird”, Harper Leebrilliant for many reasons – everyone should read it.“Road of Bones”, Fergal Keane - just brilliant. About Kohima “Pride and Prejudice”, Jane Austin – brilliant observation “Notes from a Small Island “,Bill Bryson – an American who understands the British Psyche “The Vanishing Act of Esme Lomax” by Maggie O’Farrell, made me angry. So many more, I could write all night! If you could be with anyone famous, in the past or present, who would that be and why?Richard III!!! I want to know the truth about the princes in the tower!! Do you have any more plans to write more poetry or a novel perhaps?I don’t have any immediate plans to publish, but I will always write poetry. Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years time? Hopefully with better medication for my condition. I have been very lucky in that I have achieved the ambition I always wanted – to love and be loved.
Here is one of my favourite poems inspired by this picture
[image error]*This picture is a famous one from WW2, showing the invasion of the Sudetenland, and shows a woman saluting with one hand and a handkerchief in other, crying.The Woman in the Picture*The picture came from the past Washed with disturbing emotion From the largest tidal wave Changing the world forever As if the very film Which captured the image Was laced with the sorrow she felt What happened to that woman? Does anybody know? The world saw it happening Stood by and did nothing The world is so tiny, really There’s no such thing as “A land far away of which we know nothing” She’s my sister and my mother My father and my brother Affecting us all, good or bad We must stick together The woman in the picture Has haunted me for years
When I look at her face
I am always reminded
What a broken heart looks like
How potently I see it
And how passionately
it speaks to me.
Bobbie's book can be found here on Amazon and at SilverWoods books
