House of Fairy Tales / 童話之屋

我和嘉蕊在陰雨綿綿的週六搭火車到肯特郡的貝克斯里小鎮，參加童話之屋的活動和主辦藝術家蓋文及黛伯拉的婚禮。

Jazel and I took the train to go to Bexley in Kent on a rainy Saturday for the latest events of House of Fairy Tales and the wedding of Gavin and Deborah.

貝克斯里民風純樸，連我去郵局寄信，行員用的是傳統的天秤量信件重量，隊伍裡的阿姨看到嘉蕊打簡訊如閃電般的速度，還湊過來聊天。

Like most towns away from London, people are rather approachable. The clerk in the post office used the traditional balance to weigh my letter. A lady behind us in the queuing line couldn't help commenting on Jazel's lightning speed of composing a text.

我們在風雨裡掙扎，看到這個地方感覺有辦婚禮的感覺。

We struggled in the wind and the rain. When we spotted Hall Place, it did feel like a place for holding a wedding banquet. 

接待人員問我們是志工還是賓客，我解釋了很久，把自己定義成賓客，但是我當然不在宴客名單上，但他們很善良地把我們加進去。

The receptionists asked if we were volunteers or guests. It took me long to explain, and in the end I defined myself as a guest. Well, but I could imagine that I wasn't on the guest list. Still, they were very nice to add us. 

還給了我們婚宴的餐飲券。

We also got the vouchers for the food in the wedding. 

大會廳有室內的展覽空間，還有非常美麗的花園。

There is indoor space for exhibitions in Hall Place. Also, the garden is fantabulous. 

今天活動之一的主題是有個沉睡的食人魔被喚醒了，小朋友的任務就是拿著地圖去完成上面的任務，讓大怪獸再度沉睡。

One of the games today was to put to sleep the Apathy Ogre. Children had to finish the tasks listed on the map. 

這個活動是由蓋文、黛伯拉和一群創意團隊設計，他們充分利用大會廳的每一個小角落，活動中包括了培養小朋友的設計概念。

This activity was designed by Gavin, Deborah and their creative team. They make full use of every corner in Hall Place. Take the Code Breaker task for example. it involves the development of design concepts. 

小朋友趕著去找答案！

The children were on their way to look for answers. 

例如說，當小朋友來到花園這一區，就要仔細閱讀每一顆樹木修剪成的動物，因為牠們代表英國各區各王朝。

For example, when children come to this part of the garden, they have to read carefully the signs for the topiary animals for they represent different parts and dynasties of Great Britain. 

活動也傳遞很正面的人生價值，我們在這個狀似迷宮的圈圈裡走來走去，到了中心就大喊：我無所不能！我們兩個應該是最認真達成任務的大人。

The game also incorporates very positive life value. We walked around in the round labyrinth, and when we reached the center, we shouted, "We can do anything!" We two must be the two adults that enjoyed most the tasks. 

在花園裡晃的時候我們發現今天的婚禮應該是有打扮主題的。

While we were strolling in the garden, we found that there should be a theme for the wedding. 

花園春天的景致美不勝收。

The garden in spring is dazzlingly beautiful...

這一邊則是婚宴的場地。

This side of the garden was the venue for the wedding. 

我們在帳蓬內找不到黛伯拉，只好先找位置坐下，因為賓客幾乎都是藝術家和設計師，所以每一桌都有可以做手工的東西。我們那一桌是拼貼，主辦的女士在倫敦大學教戲劇服裝和舞台設計。

We couldn't find Deborah in the tent, so we decided to sit down first. Because most of the guests are either artists or designers, there were many workshops going on. The theme of our table was collage, and the lady in charge teaches stage costume and set design in University of London. 

婚宴的烤豬。

The hog roast. 

帳蓬外響起電影般的吟唱，原來是可移動的鋼琴人！

Outside the tent was the poetic singing like in a movie. It was Mr. Mobile Piano! 

新郎蓋文是圖中穿金色條紋褲的先生。

Gavin was in the middle of the photo in black trousers with the golden stripe. 

圖中速寫的藝術家很有明星架勢。

The artist that was sketching all the time reminded me of a star in every way. 

婚禮在大廳舉行，我們在帳蓬內看轉播。黛伯拉身上穿的禮袍是用顏料畫上去的。

The wedding ceremony took place in the hall while we were watching it on TV in the tent. Deborah's wedding gown was colored with paints. 

之後有戶外的婚禮遊行。

There was an outdoor marriage procession afterwards. 

現場賓客都在頭頂上大作文章，我們兩個很努力地利用現場花材和彩帶變出點東西。

The guests wore really amazing hats with all kinds of designs. We two did our best to conjure up something by using the flowers and ribbons we could lay our lands on. 

很有上進心的嘉蕊妹去學做花環。

Jazel, interested in handicrafts, took up wreath-making lessons. 

我則跑去跳舞。

I went for dancing with everyone. 

還有詩人和樂手表演。

There were also poets and musicians performing. 

雖然作業完全沒碰到，但參加了一場超童話的婚禮，我們帶著幸福的花環大搖大擺地回倫敦去了！

Though I didn't get to interview anyone, I was more than glad to attend a super fairy-tale-like wedding. We went back to  London at the end of the day happily with the fresh wreaths of love...