Medieval Times

Anna is studying Medieval History in school.

Which was all the excuse we needed to practice a spot of swordfighting.

And have a medieval meal. And a joust in the back yard.

And wear flouncy dresses. Or armour.

Because, let's face it, it's not everyday you get to be called M'lady all day long by your kids, who insist you sit and watch the fighting from a seat of honour while they vanquish the imaginary enemy.

And because it's fun to eat without a fork - the messier the better, and it gave us a reason to bake bread.

And because wine does taste better from a goblet.

And because it was a beautiful day and I didn't want to spend it indoors editing on the computer anyway. We had far more fun, and I'm so impressed with the number of facts they all know about the Medieval Period. Most of them bloody and gory, of course.

The only note of inauthenticity came after dinner when I bade my serfs clear the tables and load up that most medieval (or not) of devices: the dishwasher.