Return to Liepzig.

 Leipzig!  My first foreign reenactment back in 2013, then 2018, now 2023. Will I go in 2028? I really don't know. 

I had a pleasant day and a half to stay in a hotel and mooch around the city before getting the tram out to the bivouac at Torhaus Dolitz. Then here are some highlights, the hots and nots! 

Nots.  Pouring down on the Saturday morning accompanied by a cold wind, fortunately it soon blew itself out and stopped raining too! By 11 am the sun was coming out. 

Liepzig security not knowing what to make of my Doctors tourniquet and getting a policeman to look who clearly pondered if it could be used as a cosh.  Everything was fine and I went to get my delayed plane, just making the connection. 

No one but soldiers on the field. There are apparently two comittees that run the battle of Leipzig who take turns, this one decided that only fighting soldiers were to go on the field beyond the rear lines. Part of this was to limit the number of civilians taking pictures, which is kind of understandible but I found myself with other Prussian medical staff who would have been on the field.. confined to a hospital area that was for 'proper' first aid with two ambulances (German equivelent of St Johns) and a jolly Doctor in surgeons kit running the operation. We had three patients, treatment included a free beer! 

If I'd have known I would have stuck to the Westphälische Landwehr (a fine bunch, green facings) I'd marched up with and gone into the battle. 

Hots!  It is all good after that. The march to the field as the sun was coming out was enjoyable, although it turned out to be only to the other campsite where upon we were bussed to Liebertvölkvitz. (Sic).

The night after the battle the (UK) Prussian artillery stayed at the battlefield to do a cannon firing show. 

Not feeling inclined to build a fire just for one vegischnitzel I ventured over to the saxon artillery and asked to use their fire. 

Not only did they naturally say yes but supplied me with more food and drink.

I stayed with them for the evening, joining in a colourful schnapps based drinking game for quite a large bit of it and sitting at the fire.

I would really like to meet up with them again.

I apparently missed a horse falling asleep on the absinthe bar on Thursday night, but nevermind. Friday with the Lovely UK Prussians was a good time.

(The lazarette, by this time the battle had moved off into the near distance).

And so what of the future? Sitting here on New years eve, I don't know.  This year other than Liepzig things seemed a bit meh. I liked Stansted park but feel I need a break, events are just a bit samey. 

I have a lot of good friends I mainly see at events and that has been a big draw, the social side is one of the great features of reenactment, a dozen or more 45e sitting drunkenly singing around a fire will always be a warm memory.  

And so onwards, have a great new year!