Posted by Jill Bowen on Fri 10th August 2007 at 03:09 AM, Filed in September
Do you like your men clean-shaven? Or does a little bit of designer stubble turn you on? Whatever your predilection you can’t fail to be intrigued by the biennial World Beard and Moustache Championship. These hirsute men have made facial hair into an art form.
2007’s event will be held in Brighton (Sussex UK) on September 1st. You’ve left it a bit late to enter this year’s competition, but you might gain inspiration for the next championship if you go along to view these ‘works of art’.
The objectives of the event are:
• To promote a good relationship between members of moustache and beard clubs throughout the world and to foster networks in the interests of friendship, conviviality and fun.
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Posted by Jill Bowen on Thu 12th July 2007 at 03:18 AM, Filed in September
Pulling your leg; pulling the other one; pulling a crowd; pulling a fast one; pulling birds. All strange English expressions - I’m not aware that any of these have a day devoted to them.
However, in the small Cumbria town of Egremont every September (this year Saturday 15th) one form of ‘pulling’ is worthy of having a day devoted to it! The World Championship Gurning Festival is part of Egremont Crab Apple fair. What is gurning? It’s the ‘art’ of contorting the face into weird, grotesque shapes with your head stuck through a horse’s braffin or collar! Don’t even think about entering if you’ve had a face-lift or botox - you need supple skin. Don’t delude yourself if you believe you are naturally ugly that this will give you an advantage - contestants are judged on their before and after transformations! Actually, the better looking you are the more chance you have of winning. Amateurs rarely make it to the final round – a lot of practising in front of a mirror is needed!
The Crab Fair starts on the Friday evening when fancy dress wheelbarrow races are held on the main street. To add to the fun those in the adult race are required to drink half a pint of beer at every public house along the route. The children’s race follows the same route…. but they only get fruit cordial!
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Posted by Jill Bowen on Sat 14th April 2007 at 11:44 PM, Filed in Europe, September
Fly me to the moon…or maybe just a few feet into the air – if I’m very lucky!
The Icarus Cup (Coupe Icarus) is held at the end of each summer at St Hilaire du Touvet – this year 20th September – 23rd September 2007. A truly spectacular event, the biggest free flight event in the world that attracts over 8,000 pilots and 75,000 visitors each year. Totally motor- free bids for the skies that attracts the most amazing ‘flights of fancy’
Competitors spend months designing their elaborate machines, attached to para-gliders. The judges award points for the length of the flights, the ergonomics, and the design of the machine. The competition for the best disguise is the highpoint of the Coupe Icare. Just imagine a six metre long dragonfly, a four metre high Eiffel Tower and a giant magic carpet…. this will give you an idea of the imagination of the competitors! We will have to wait until September to what incredible ideas this year’s entrants have in store for us, each year they are more complex and astounding. No wonder the population increases from its normal 1300 inhabitants to 20 times this amount during the four days of the event!
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