Fete Champetre-Stourhead

Miket · Post by **Miket** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:53 pm

I've just had the best evening for a very long time - kilted and approved. And what is more, I've a repeat performance tomorrow!

For those across the "pond", Stourhead is a large estate contolled by the National Trust in the UK. Charlie has mentioned it several times as a place for a good Sunday walk. Every two years they have a " Fete Champetre" - an evenings entertainment in the gardens, surrounding a lake, with about 5,000 people coming, bringing picnic suppers, tables, chairs and the silverware to enjoy an evening meal in the grounds, with a variety of entertainments, culminating in an impressive firework display above the lake.

In addition to the main, professional, singers and entertainers, they invite amateur groups to perform. My local drama/singing group, has performed for about 16 years at these events now and had a great spot to sing from this year. The theme was "a night with the stars" and so people dressed up as film stars. We sang a medley of "star" and "moon" based songs - moon River, Fly me to the Moon, etc, in close harmony.

Well, I had to wear a kilt, didn't I? The drama group were a bit surprised, but many favorable comments. I changed into pants (trousers) to sing with the group, but spent most of the evening in a comfortable and enjoyable state. There were a smattering of other kilts around, but not as many as I would have expected. Did you visit, Charlie? We really must get together one of these days.

I had a couple of propositions from ladies who should have known better, and one drunken old man accosted me; asked me about my Scots roots and then went on the tell some lavatorial jokes at the Englishes expense!

Altogether a great evening - and I do it all over again tomorrow. Can life get better? I'll try to post some photos after tomorrow evening to give some impression of the event.

Skirt Chaser · Post by **Skirt Chaser** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 7:38 am

Miket wrote:I changed into pants (trousers) to sing with the group, but spent most of the evening in a comfortable and enjoyable state.

Sounds like you had a great evening. I look forward to any photos you choose to post here.

Why did you change? Does the group have similar outfits so you had to be alike? If matching is important maybe you could convince them to start looking like you.

Quiet Mouse

Miket · Post by **Miket** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 10:51 pm

I tried to get them away from the traditional white shirt and black pants - but I don't think I'd get very far with them. I've included a picture of the group picnicing before singing.

The second night was just as good with a lot more people there. Very few comments at all - everyone was in some form of evening or fancy dress. Just a couple of drunks pretending to be Scots! I hope the photos show the scale and the beaty of the gardens.

The pictures of the fireworks were not worth posting.

Website · Post by **crfriend** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 11:32 pm

Nice photos, Mike! I can't for the life of me see why your co-singers would have given you grief over your kilt. It looks fine to me!

boca · Post by **boca** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 12:04 am

From the looks of photos it seems there were people who dressed more flashy than a guy in a kilt. Is that a pink wig someone is wearing? :cheer:

What I mean is this scene is definitally not the place for a rigid social dress code

Since1982 · Post by **Since1982** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 9:18 pm

I have 2 skirts that are very close to the same plaid pattern you have in that kilt. They are not in the Fraser collection but I like them a lot anyway. They're better for winter tho as they are wool.

Kilted_John · Post by **Kilted_John** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 7:14 am

Miket wrote:I tried to get them away from the traditional white shirt and black pants - but I don't think I'd get very far with them. I've included a picture of the group picnicing before singing.

The second night was just as good with a lot more people there. Very few comments at all - everyone was in some form of evening or fancy dress. Just a couple of drunks pretending to be Scots! I hope the photos show the scale and the beaty of the gardens.

The pictures of the fireworks were not worth posting.

Mike,

Looks good. Next time, don't bother changing out of the kilt. That said, if you do need to blend in more, maybe a black 21st Century Kilt with black hose would work better. One thing I would do, is wear off-white hose, if you have it. Less pipeband-ish...

-J

Charlie · Post by **Charlie** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 8:08 pm

Miket wrote:Well, I had to wear a kilt, didn't I? The drama group were a bit surprised, but many favorable comments. I changed into pants (trousers) to sing with the group, but spent most of the evening in a comfortable and enjoyable state. There were a smattering of other kilts around, but not as many as I would have expected. Did you visit, Charlie? We really must get together one of these days.

Unfortunately not, Miket. It sounds a really good evening and I'll try to make the next one. Those sorts of evening are great fun. It would be good to meet up - perhaps at Stourhead? It seems to be readily accessible to both of us, and this warm weather seems to be going on and on

.

I'd spent the day sweating my bits off at a wedding in Weymouth. When I returned to the B&B, I almost ripped off those damned trousers

But I defined convention and didn't wear a tie (shock horror).

The evening do was great - I wore a sarong :cheer: We had to walk all along the promenade from the B&B to the wedding hotel, and there was not one comment, positive or negative the whole evening

(there was a wolf whistle, but looking at some of the girls in their short skirts, I'd be surprised if it was intended for me

) Plus there was a very pleasant breeze.

Charlie

Skirt Chaser · Post by **Skirt Chaser** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 8:11 pm

Very dressy, very good looking Miket!

Wishing I had a pink wig,

Quiet Mouse

skirtcafe.org

Fete Champetre-Stourhead

Fete Champetre-Stourhead

Good shots!

Miket