Post from Summerisle

A smile lit up my face today when a CD that I'd ordered via a seller on Amazon arrived. Not just for a CD that was 1950s & 60s Halloween Rock'N'Roll tracks but also for the humour of the sender with his packaging!

Friday 31st August 2012

Dymchurch Day Of Syn 2012

I meant to put some photos of Monday's Day of Syn on here a bit sooner, but other events have taken priority. Anyway here's a small selection of the 60+ photos that I took.

This year I thought was possibly the best Day of Syn in a long long time. It still retains the charm of a small village fair i.e. it hasn't succumbed to over-commercialisation. Yet this year, despite the unsettled weather, there were just those few extra things that made the day somehow more spectacular.

The morning high tide had meant that the battle on the beach was slightly later and this meant that I was able to get to see everything I wanted to rather than struggling to get from one end of the village to the other and missing bits such as the Morris Dancing or just to have an unhurried look around the shops. Also having a trio sing sea shanties half way along the high street, and having the art exhibition in the village hall meant that at practically every turn there was something else to take in and enjoy.

Having the Dr Syn character more vocal this time through the working use of some sort of microphone and speaker under his mask and costume also added an interaction lacking in previous years and the actor this year seemed to get into the spirit a bit more and seemed more willing to engage with the public and have his picture taken with the kids.

On a purist's note, can we please get rid of the Jack Sparrow character who plays no part in the Dr Syn mythology and is a bit of shameless cashing in on the Pirates Of The Caribbean films. However there were quite a few wry smiles when he minced along (rather than a Johnny Depp swagger!) I'm uncertain whether the gentleman concerned is playing the part for a laugh of suffers from a self delusion of character accuracy. Saying that the kids seemed to enjoy his presence and the adults could snigger behind his back... so I think the jury may be out on his worth to the event.

Thursday 30th August 2012

The Devil in 3D

Back in the late 1800s stereocards were popular offering 3D views when looked at through a viewer. I won't even attempt to do justice in describing a process that was popular from the 1850s to the early 1900s - you can look it up if you're that interested!

However I did find these two images dating from c1860-70. They are stereoviews from a French series called 'Les Diableries.' So if you have a portable viewer you should be able to view these on this page.

The first is called 'La Lotterrie Infernale' and the second 'Cabinet D'étude de Satan.'

The last image is nothing to do with the French stereocards but just a view I found entitled 'The orphans at their mother's grave.' This must use some form of double exposure technique to get the ghostly figure.

Tuesday 7th August 2012