We’re back from 2016’s Weekend at the Asylum in Lincoln. It was our first time, and we had fun, met new friends, hooked up with people I only know from the internet, and were inspired by the astonishing creativity all around us.
Here are a few pics of us in our finery, plus a couple of some others…I won’t flood this page with images, but will include a couple of links further on which will lead you to loads!
Day 1: we arrived in our B&B, togged up, and caught a cab into Lincoln [we were staying about 8 miles outside the centre, which had its disadvantages! We collected out wristbands and programmes, had a short walk round, then tried to get a cab back to change for the evening. Ahem. It seems you needed to book three hours ahead. A fraught period ensued, trying to find our way to a bus station and find a bus to the B&B…very hot and stressful. To my surprise and delight, I was recognised twice by my bustle, and again because of my lovely wife! [Although she was rather nonplussed by people rushing up and saying ‘You’re the missus aren’t you?’]
A quick shower and change, and we dashed back in a cab for Dinner with Her Majesty. As it turned out, we needn’t have rushed, as we had to hang about in a queue for well over an hour before we were finally seated. We did make new friends though, shout out to Ali and Andy! Seating was crowded, the room airless, and thank gawd for fans!
Everyone looked splendid though, and Her Majesty was present throughout the proceedings, which included a murder mystery. We snagged pics afterwards with Her Maj, and Mr Brown
Dawn was rather more respectful than me…
Taxi back just before we turned into pumpkins, and we hit the hay, absolutely shattered.
Day 2: We slept in, and missed breakfast. We then got all disorganised and out of sorts, and didn’t get our backsides into gear until rather late in the afternoon, thus missing most of the fun and games on Saturday. Poor show! Taxis were all booked ahead this time though, so it wasn’t as rushed. We went in for some afternoon shenanigans, came back for a chill out and some time spent on glue-sticking my eyebrows into Ming-like splendour, and headed off for the evening’s Flash Gordon-themed entertainment.
The evening included interpretative dance, and an audience participation screening of Flash Gordon. [A dreadfully cheesey film from 1980, in case you didn’t know.]
Much crazy heckling ensued. Unfortunately, it all over-ran by about an hour, so we had to leave to get our taxi way before the end. Poop.
Day 3: Sunday best. We’d met some lovely ladies from Denmark [Dorte, Emma and Stine- excuse spelling ladies!] who were staying at out B&B, so we shared a cab in, and were bang on time to muster for the Queen’s Parade. I was marching with the Steamstress Squadron [find them on Facebook], and we had some great sashes to identify us. I wore my Armistice Blouse and skirt with red accessories, and felt very swish and cool. Dawn was dapper in purple moleskin and tartan trews. I purchased a red leather hipflask holder, Dawn had a custom made walking stick holster, made there on the spot. Very impressive!
Posing by the poppies from ‘The Wave’, originally on display at the Tower of London.
The talented and funny ladies of the Steamstress Squadron.
We had a good roam round the market, had tea and cake, watched the steampunk Bellydancers [huge fun] and then we were shattered again. We withdrew to the foodcourt and had crepes and icecream, then bumped into lovely Ali and Andy again.
We all went off to their hotel lounge, where all these talented singers and guitarists [including Dawn of course] took turns entertaining us. Very cool! Mind you, this meant we missed the Wacky Races, Nerf Gun Shoot Out, and several other things. Sigh. On the way to meet up with our Danish friends, I went down like a ton of bricks on the cobbles, and twisted my ankle. Sigh.
I got as far as Zoot cafe, where I had a reviving light meal [corsets you know] and a glass of delicious Picpoul de Pinet, which did me the power of good!
I’m afraid that was pretty much the end of our shenanigans though, as my ankle got more and more painful, and we were so tired we couldn’t rouse ourselves to travel back for the burlesque show in the evening. Dawn watched a programme about cats, and her hormones dictated that we return home immediately after breakfast on Monday, without returning to the Asylum festivities. Double sigh.
We were home by lunchtime, eating fish and chips, which can’t be bad though, AND I’ve already bought tickets for our next major steampunk fun and games: Steampunks in Space, at the National Space Centre in November! Woohoo!
My Six Napoleon dress is still unworn, as it was intended for Sunday night. Not to worry, it won’t lie unused for long!
Here’s a link to a Lincoln newspaper article about the Asylum, with some cool photographs.
Oh, I wish I was there! Lincoln is lovely, and the cathedral absolutely amazing. Having the area flooded with steampunks must have been absolutely brilliant.
How is your ankle? And where did you stay? I suddenly got visions of the lovely B&B I stayed in last year, flooded with people in costumes.
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And totally forgot to say that you both looked great! And Her Majesty too, how fab that they have someone who fit the role as QV.
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She apparently plays the role every year, and maintains a po face throughout!
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We stayed outside the city itself, and it was further than I’d expected! Mind you, at least we weren’t disturbed by noisy revellers!
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Glad you had a great weekend in spite of the ankle, which I hope is now feeling better. You both looked very “swish”, all the hard work really paid off.
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So did I. In a more suburban area.
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Gordon’s aliiiiiiiiive!
What fabulous outfits!
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Apparently they asked Brian Blessed to join us. He didn’t but did send a letter, which the compere read out in appropriate style!
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Looks like great fun, and your outfits are stupendous! I somehow never saw the 1980 FLash Gordon film. When I was in 6th or 7th grade, we watched an old Flash Gordon series of movies at school, which when I look it up seems to have been made in the 1930s!
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I knew nothing of Lincoln or its sites (and want to go now). What a good idea to hold a festival. Is this something that’s been picked up after the success of Whitby (again, somewhere I’ve not been)? Do you have extra large luggage to accommodate these voluminous outfits? I can imagine you (or a porter) wheeling a trunk to your B&B!
I know the film well and particularly remember seeing it for the first time because Ornella Muti was a big star in Croatian media. I was always really, really miffed because I wasn’t able to fancy the actor playing Flash.
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The Lincoln festival has been running for 8 years, and isn’t connected to Whitby, although many people go to both and their style bridges the gap!
Our luggage requirements were pretty major, although not as much as the people who have loads of guns and spaceships and time travel machines…we took 8 garment bags [each stuffed to bursting], a large suitcase, a gigantic box of hats, and several small bags, plus our own clothes rail. Nothing compared to some!
I personally go a bundle on Ornella, and General Kala [always love a villain] but big blonde men leave me cold lol
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That looks like a very entertaining weekend – and you both looked fabulous throughout!
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Always dahlink
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That Steamstress Squadron look a formidable lot – you’d need to have your raw edges neatened and finished……
Brilliant and fun way to spend a Bank holiday weekend and wear your fabulous clothes.
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Fun, and utterly exhausting. I don’t think I have the stamina for 4 days of fun anymore, we’ll cut it short in future!
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Looks like an incredible fun time. I am tired just listening to your itinerary. Very lovely outfits and you & the missus look great. I love your “Ming” eyebrows. Xx
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