Medieval Days

The heyday of the Valley of the Dropt was the Medieval Ages and thus, there are a series of touring events every summer to celebrate. Issigeac's turn is the 2nd Sunday in August. What is lovely is that each village's event is different. It's definitely not Disney's version of the Middle Ages. There are certainly more serfs and raunchy peasants than chivalrous knights and damsels in distress - in fact, I didn't see any of the latter. It was a terrific day and highly recommended to anyone who can plan a summer visit. There was dancing, music, pony rides, facepainting, street theatre, and a fantastic open air supper with performances (only 20 Euros wine included) - but too late and too meaty for us. Seb wanted a costume so we made one from brown paper with pink washing up gloves as gauntlets! There are a few "Medieval Days" more this week, and we hope Seb will get to experience another one with George & Lorraine, when they visit next week.

We have been trying to dream up a way to reward and encourage Seb's good behaviour. He is very taken by the knights and so we have come up with a game over the next couple of weeks. He is a knight in training (k-i-t)! There are 4 stages:

1- Bravery : 4 nights of falling asleep on his own means he is BRAVE and can get a knight's costume

2-:Honesty - by telling the truth, playing fair, etc, a K-i-t can receive a set of jousters (not jesters) who always play by the rules.

3- Cooperation: showing cooperation means he will be rewarded a shield - with his own home-designed crest (we're voting for a maple leaf).

4 - Respect: the ultimate test. This is the final step where a (foam) sword is awarded when a k-i-t can demonstrate that he knows how to channel his anger positively.

He has the stages all written up and drawn out on the wall of his room, so he can remember. It's going really well (today he got mad at Mike and decided to block the door to the ruin with his ride-on toys, and then apologised). We gave him two Playmobil figurines to kick off the challenge and he loves to have hand-hand fighting, as well as cooperatively track dragons and build castles.We've also explained that the council of knights can always strip a knight of his sword and shield if he does not live up to a knights' code of conduct. We have to figure out some proactive female role modelling as all the figurines are male (unless a princess in distress or wedding dress) and some cooperation angle (I think the castle's ruler will be a council of elders instead of a monarch. Suggestions are welcome!

There will be loads more photos to share over the coming weeks, no doubt.