and he knows it

Natural beauty.

A long day at Warwick castle - boy was it cold!!!!! Regardless, we saw some cool history, lifelike waxworks, very funny Horrible Histories actors, birds of prey, a Merlin thing (never seen it on TV, but the girls liked it), a HUGE trebuchet firing a rock a very long way, and tons more. A great visit, but better in the warm I reckon. Highlight for me was being asked to be a Viking warrior and demonstrating a shield technique - all OK until I was asked to do my best battle-cry in front of the crowd!!! Jnr Jnr was the dunce, hat and all, in the Victorian classroom. Jnr Snr was picked out by the Merlin dragon in the interactive bit. Come to think if it, Mrs H got away lightly today, but she was pestered for a Rolo by an actor dressed in ghoulish attire - I've never seen her part with chocolate so readily!!!!

The thing I've been wondering all day is what the hell is that 'castle smell' that seems to be present at most medieval tourist attractions? That kind of musty, slightly repellent one. I think the Jorvik Centre started all this smell-based experience in the 80's (or is it just me that remembers that Blue Peter episode?) - but now this particular smell seems to be present at them all. I never smell it anywhere else. Perhaps there is no manufactured smell and it's the aroma of history and castles?!?