This weekend, a holiday leading up to July 14th French National Day, I am taking part in a medieval pageant at our local chateau. The chateau has parts going back to the ninth century, and it has been taken over by a Trust who are excavating the earliest remains and have turned part of the grounds into a bird sanctuary. Every summer they hold some special events, tours and open days, and this pageant is part of their schedule. It is called 'The Revenge of Charlemagne' and is based on a true story about the Lord of the Manor back in very early times. My roles are not very demanding - in different scenes I play a basket weaver, a peasant and someone following a cart, but it is fun. We rehearsed last weekend and I got bitten to pieces by mosquitoes as I was wearing open toed sandals and short trousers, but in my full costume I think I will be better protected. Sadly we are not allowed to carry cameras or phones or any modern stuff so I wll not get pix.