-: Muncaster Monsters & Mintball Meetup :- A JaMelUK Trippie!

[JamelUK]

Gather around the campfire dear readers, and help yourself to a toffee apple, as I have a tale to tell.

It all started back at the end of July.

DIBBer Gill635, or more formerly "Gill" to all but her very closest friends, stuck a post up wondering if there was anybody nearby in the North West of our fair isle wanted to hook up for a DIBB meet.

I think it might have been a result of all the wonderful commerardery we all suddenly remembered we were capable of during the Olympics.

Whatever, it seemed like a wonderful idea and I was quick to respond suggesting that Mel and I had been thinking about organising some kind of "Notherners" meet for a while and would be keen to be included.

More DIBBers also expressed an interest.

Names were added to the list.

Dates were discussed.

Dates were dismissed.

Venues were discussed.

Venues were dismissed.

The August Bank Holiday weekend look favourable for a while - all getting together either on Blackpool Beach somewhere or more likely the park in Preston.

As that date drew nearer various events, circumstances and events all seem to transpire against us and, in particular, Gill.

She dropped me a line asking if I wouldnt mind taking on the challenge of organising. Given that I'd already been doing my best to maintain some small glimmer of enthusiasm for this event, I happily accepted.

So Mel and I sat one evening in Starbucks and, as regular readers of my ramblings will know, this often doubles as our Situation Room.

So, over another delicious Grande Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappucino with the extra choccy spray cream, we twiddled our thumbs and scratched our heads on what we could possibly do.

Well into August, and knowing we were away in DLP at the end of September, thoughts turned to October and the sudden realisation that maybe we could so something for Halloween.

You may remember that a couple of years ago Mel and I spent a wonderful evening in Muncaster on the delightful "Lil Ratty" - the local name for the Ravenglass & Eskdale Steam Railway. You can read all about it here.

Brilliant! Thats the perfect type of thing for DIBBers both young and old. Bit of a giggle, plenty of opportunity to chinwag, not expensive either.

Sadly though, for reasons best known to the team at The Ratty, they're only running their Halloween Special actually on Halloween night. Damn.

So what now?

Well, we also enjoyed the afternoon at the nearby Muncaster Castle and were very aware that they were gearing up for a wealth of spooky events just as we had to head out for the railway.

Some googling later and we found to our joy that Muncaster Castle were in deed running a full week of Halloween events again, including the weekend of the 27th October.

Ghost Tours, Illuminations on the Castle, Kids Entertainment and, for the brave, a "Creepy Maze". Mwahahaha! And all for a very reasonable pre-booked ticket price. Sorted!

So the suggestion went out and was very quickly picked up by several DIBBers who thought it sounded a brilliant idea.

This included good friends Libby (oh_darling) and Ben. Any excuse to play dress up or, lets be honest, to drink lots and those to are there.

Its just how they were going to get there.

We had agreed that we would go and collect them, meeting them half way and put them up for the night at our place. We were doing a run in their direction anyway to transport my Mum to vist her sister.

In September, we met up with Hannah (hannikins) and husband Adam in Cleveleys to watch what I think was the one and only Blackpool fireworks weekend this year that wasn't cancelled due to wind or rain. Hannah had also been twitter stalking me for mintballs, so I had agreed we should meet and exchange some. Even if she is perfectly capable of buying them from her local supermarket.

We discussed with Hannah how Libby and Ben would be joining us and how much she was looking forward to meeting them.

Like the spirits were watching us and plotting evil things against us, this also didn't happen.

For reasons which Ill leave Libby to explain if she chooses to, sadly they couldnt make it. Very dissapointed, but there were more important matters to be dealt with elsewhere.

So then, with just a week to go, it was time to double check the guest list. It would be...

Me (JaMelUK)
Mel (Melanie R)
Susannah (allycat228)
Alex (Susannah's 12 year old son)
Hannah (hannikins)
Claire (Tinks-Mum)
Isabelle (Claire's 6 year old daughter)

With tickets all booked, Saturday 27th October was soon upon us.

[JamelUK]

I got up early and, in the comfort of own bathroom, dealt with the 3xS.

It was then quickly off to the supermarket alone to pick up some last minute items whilst Mel regained her composure and humanity by imbibing herself with caffiene intrevenously.

All sorted, and ensuring we had both the tickets and my camera we set off up the M6.

Muncaster Castle is located in the Lake District.

The Lake District is around an hour or so from were we live near Blackburn.

However, Muncaster is then in one of the more remote, Western parts of the Lake District, not too far from Whitehaven.

As we wound our way around the bends, up and down the fells for the 90 minute journey from the M6 to Muncaster, Mel and I discussed whether we could possibly have picked anywhere more remote for this meet up! Those who made it, and found us, would be entered into a very special league of Dynamic DIBBers!

I used to live in the Lake District. For about 8 years in fact, near Greenood while my parents ran a pub there. As a result I know these roads very well and we made excellent time.

We arrived at Muncaster around lunchtime and of course we were both hungry and in need of something to eat.

Our original plan, what there was of it, had suggested we find a good local pub for some pub grub lunch.

Having driven past several known, excellent pubs along our journey, we had now arrived just down the road from Muncaster at Ravenglass.

The main pub at the station there is the Ratty Arms. It looks nice enough but, as you may remember from our adventures there two years ago, the food, ale and general ambience werent the best.

It's also were we planned to spend 3 weeks rather than 2 in Florida and also agreed to fly Aer Lingus so, fearful we might end up spending several thousand £'s more than just a ploughman's and a pint, we chose to eat elsewhere.

The thing was though, we had no spare cash on us. Literally only copper in the bottom of that little drinks holder type compartment everyone has somewhere in the front of their car and is used to hold loose change, chewing gum, Starbucks sugar sachets and occasionally and rather randomly, pieces of jigsaw.

We ventured in to the local little village of Ravenglass itself and asked a couple of locals if they new of a cashpoint.

The first pointed me to the Post Office. It was Saturday. It was a village Post Office. So of course, during potentially it's busiest day for eBayer traders, it's closed.

The second, more helpfully, suggested a local filling station about 10 minutes further up the road but which he warned me would charge me that outrageous £2.50 purely for doing what every other cashpoint does completely free of charge. Theiving bar stewards.

We take the hint and decide to head to Muncaster Castle, get in and eat at there rather wonderful little cafe.

Parked up in the free car park, we present our tickets at the entrance desk and are soon walking through the pretty forest trail towards the castle.

Along our route we spot some girls on a hen night, complete with traffic cones on their heads...


...and the last person who dared to call Disneyland Paris "EuroDisney" within lashing distance of me.


The cafe at Muncaster Castle is located inside what was the original Stable Yard and serves a great selection of food and drinks.

There are tables inside, but given it's a bright, sunny crisp autumn day and the chap has just lit the braziers, we opt to eat outside.

Mel's the one on the right.


Mel goes for a Hot Dog & Chips...


...washed down with a bottle of Mel's favourite Fentiman's Dandelion & Burdock


Im a little bit more adventurous and spot that they're serving up a delicious Hog Roast which smells fantastic.


It tasted mighty fine too.


Whilst eating we are delighted to see an old friend.

Many Disney fans have been worried and concerned about the whereabouts of the Dreamfinder, since he was kicked out of the Imagination pavillion in Epcot back in 1998.

Fear not.

He is alive and well and working at Muncaster Castle.


Although now he goes by the name of "Foppletwig the Genie Hunter" and he's bought along Figment's cousin, known as Ozric, a 312 year old Earth Dragon.

This chap is actually great fun and spend the afternoon enternaining kids of all ages with magic tricks and good humour.

A caramel shortbread and an almond slice later and we decide we should head around to the front of the castle as where they perform their Meet The Birds show.

[JamelUK]

On route I spot someone's Mother In Law making her own way there.


This is actually cleverly done with a wire suspended between two very tall trees. A quick photoshop job and you'd never know...!


The castle overlooks some stunning scenery of the Lakes and it's fells.


Muncaster also provided some other things for you to look out for this Halloween week too.


Think that was scary. That wasn't scary.

This is scary.


Luckily, the stocks have a spring loaded release meaning that despite Mel's best efforts, I could easily escape.


We had set up an official meet up place and time for later, but we had also arranged a more informal, earlier meet time at 2:30pm for the Meet the Birds show.

Muncaster Castle is home to the World Owl Trust, a conservation society that protects the populations of endangered owls until their habit can be restored.

We knew that Hannah should be meeting us there at 2:30pm but, as the show's narrator and the Trust's Head Keeper Wulf arrives, there is no sign of her.

We have a perfect spot, on a bench right in the centre of the gardens, but sadly looking directly into the fast setting autumn sun.

Wulf is an excellent public speaker and quickly engaged the audience.


He explains that he's not going to do a falconery display. He's here to show and tell su about the work they do at the World Owl Trust.

It's all about protecting the owl population, as well as looking after other birds of prey that have been rescued.

One such example of a rescued bird is Mortimer the buzzard.


Mortimer was rescued as a young chick from a well meaning family who thought it was a great idea and "cool" to have a buzzard as a pet. Yeah, okay...

Of course this has various issues, many which are just plain wrong.

But sadly what it has meant is that Mortimer has grown up socialised to being hand fed, not having to fend for or look after himself and is quite lazy.

More importantly though, given he was just sat on a perch in a cage all day, it means he has somewhat of a problem for a buzzard.

He's scared of heights!


Wulf explains that it was actually some years before he actually grew any "flight" feathers and even now he cant actually fly that far.


As Wulf takes his buzzard for a walk...


...we learn that a real buzzard would actually soar to several thousand feet and then use their amazing eye sight to spot prey on the ground.


Mortimer, on the other hand, is quite happy just to eat the meat which Wulf lays out on his glove!



About now, a familiar "Hiya!" tells us that Hannah has finally arrived. She apologies, having been cuaght in traffic, and takes the seat we had "spread" saved on our bench.

Next on display is our first owl.


Sparky, the Barn Owl


These birds used to be common place around Britain. Loding in the rafters of farm barns - hence their name.


Sadly their numbers have eroded to almost nothing. And, as you may have guessed, it's our fault.

Farmers have taken to growing Rape Seed rather than the more traditional long meadow grass. It's yeild is 3 times as much for a third of the effort, and can be turned over quicker too. They'd be silly not to.

Sadly however, this isn't good news for owls.


They like to eat field mice and vouls.

The mice and vouls like to live in the long meadow grass. They don't like to live in Rape Seed fields. Hence their numbers are dwindling, and as a result it's becoming harder for the owls to find food.

In fact believe it or not, this magnificent bird, once a familar friend we might see each evening at dusk, is now an endangered species.


Next up, we say hello to Dusk, a European Eagle Owl


Can you believe this behemoth is actually a youngster?!


Although not as endangered as the Barn Owl, the European Eagle Owl does have low numbers. Thankfully they've been able to reintroduce the breed into the wild in a couple of places, thanks to the work of the World Owl Trust and conservation efforts with their habitat.

[JamelUK]

We chat and catch up with Hannah before wandering slowly back to the Stable Yard where we had agreed to meet everyone else.

It's not long before we're spotted by both Susannah & Alex as well as Claire & Isabelle.


Sitting at a bench and grabbing a drink...


I find myself the unwitting victim of audience participation, and I am made to wear "The Fairy Cap"


Doesnt this remind you of someone?


Clutching on to a smelly old thigh bone like my life depended on it...


...this man manages to summon the song of the fairies (a weird warbling chime) from this copper chamber pot


He also manages to use this magic bag...


...to keep Alex happy with some jelly beans


and finishes off by demonstrating an old parlour trick, more commonly known now as the Ideo Motor Response, to Hannah.


(Google it. Anyone can do it and its a good after dinner stunt if the vino has been flowing )

After spending a while enjoying a wonderful cup cake and of course the inevitable Disney discussions, we all decide to go and visit the brilliant Owl aviaries they have here.

[JamelUK]

There now follows many gratuiotous images of cute fluffy things on sticks.




Mel tells Susannah that she is looking for Chocolate.


I sigh and remind her that she's supposed to be on a diet. Mel quickly explains that it's actually the name of one of the Eagle owls here and that her work colleague has sponsored it.




There are some lovely birds here.

[JamelUK]

As the sun finally disappears, we leave the owls and make our way around to the castle again, stopping for a quick group photo.

Left To Right = Mel (Melanie R), Isabelle (Claire's daughter), Susannah (allycat228), Alex (Susannah's son), Hannah (hannikins) & Claire (Tinks_Mum)


Muncaster Castle is famously haunted and tonight we have booked one of their highly reccomended ghost tours.

Im afraid photography is prohibited inside the castle, so we have no piccies from this part of the meet.

However, inside we are greeted by Joel. He explains that in the great tradition of the Castle, he is the current castle fool.

As he explains the significance of the fool, and how that links with Muncaster, he performs a couple of illusions. A mind reading trick in the Guards Room and then he moves us through to the Sitting Room where he performs a very clever slight of hand with a coin. Amazing stuff and he stunned the volunteers who he performed them on.

We are then taken upstairs by Peter Frost-Pennington, the current General Manager of Muncaster Castle and the husband of Iona Pennington. Her parents are the continuation of a long line of Penningtons who have owned and governed this castle for over 800 years.

He shows us this portrait of Tom Skelton


I cant help but notice that he's recently watched Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show at DLP.

Tom was the Castle Fool back in the 16th century.

He was also known to William Shakespeare and it is to him that we owe the phrase "Tom Foolery"

He's not exactly the type of guy you'd want round for your kid's party. He had somewhat of a twisted sense of humour.

Just outside the castle is an old tree. He would spend his days sitting under the tree and when travellers would ask for directions he would send them off over the quick sands at Grange & Morecambe Bay.

It is also said that Tom was responsible for the death of a carpenter at the castle. The carpenter wanted to marry the daughter of Sir William Pennington, Lord of the castle at that time. Hoping it would win him favour with his master, Tom hacked off the carpenter's head with the poor lad's own tools.

And so there is much death and horribleness which connects Muncaster with spooky events and hauntings. Many "experts" have been here to investigate, to study and to ghost sit every year.

We are told about the happenings the Pennington family themselves have encountered. Sleepless nights in the spare bedroom. Doors creaking. Footsteps down the hallway which sound like stone, even though it's carpeted.

Peter ends his very informative and interesting talk on a bit of a suprise. As he asked us to keep this a secret, I will.

[JamelUK]

Outside once more, we noticed that the Muncaster Illumination show has started on the front of the castle.

It uses lights and projectors to display images there.

Disney Dreams it most definately isn't but it's a reasonable sound to light show and Mel and I are particularly impressed with the use of many 80's classics including Steve Strange & Visage with Fade to Grey.

Sadly, without a tripod, my camera wasn't really set up to take a good snap shot, so here's one I borrowed from their website.


So now the time has come for the brave.

Should we, or shouldn't we risk entering the "Scary Maze". An attraction that warns you is suitable only for those over 12.

Sadly young Isabelle has a few years to grow yet, so mum Claire takes her back to the Stable Yard for chips and a toffee apple.

Meanwhile the rest of our brave gang head on, foolhardy, to the maze entrance.



We are soon ushered in by some strange sand man type character who welcomes us to the maze and he hopes we will die a quick, painless death. He then splits everyone into groups and allows them enter every few minutes.

Finally we're up and, with 3 quite apprehensive women to take charge of, I do what any sensible and gallant man would do.

I pushed 12 year old Alex in front of us as leader!

It's actually very good fun. Not actually that scary at all and all over quite quickly. There are lots of dangling things to spook you and various crew around to jump out and spook you, but not in a scream fest kind of way.

There is one particular effect though that I *think* was done by someone lying on their stomach of a giant moving spider. It moved slowly and very realistically and admittedly was a bit creepy.

Having survived the maze we say our good byes to Susannah and Alex who have to leave, and then catch up with Claire and Isabelle at the Stable Yard.


The last event for us on tonight's plan is to watch the final Fire Juggling performance.

We've had a brilliant day. It's been chilly but the sun has been shining through mainly clear skies.

However, just as we are heading to the lower field to watch the show, the rain starts.

Our juggler is excellent and quickly figures that nobody wants to get any more wet than they need to, so hurries through his act.

As the rain gets harder and heavier he does extremely well to pull of some very skillful throws and moves with three very big, very hot, flaming staffs which must have been wet and, without doubt, slippy.

He got a well deserved round of applause, but then everyone heads quickly to the exit and the car park.

We wave good bye to Claire and Isabelle as they would be heading in the opposite direction back to their caravan.

Mel and I head on through the darkness, trying to keep Hannah behind us as long as we can. A single woman, along in the Lake District with only a low powered Fiat to get her home. We were keen she didnt become the lead role in some Cumbrain inbred ripper movie.

Quickly and safely on to the M6 we were soon home after a truly memorable day.

Same again next year?

[lorrie36]

I'll be there if you do it again next year lol, as I'm only up the road.
Hope you had a fab time.

[lorrie36]

I'll be there if you do it again next year lol, as I'm only up the road.
Hope you had a fab time.

[Guest]

I would love to do this - we were already booked for the Warner Bros Studio Tour that weekend otherwise I would have been there!