Chap Olympiad

So, it's been some time since our last post mainly because we've had a rather busy summer with lots of friends and family traveling across the pond to visit, which has been great! It gives us a little taste of home and lets us remember the people and places we're most familiar with, and we'll write about some of our travels and outings with them in a bit. This post, however, has very little to do with reminiscing about home and is more about fully immersing one's self in British culture. Yes, what I'm talking about is the Chap Olympiad! Where manners are prized, leisureliness is expected, mustachios are groomed, hats are doffed, pipes are lit and gin, that most prized of spirits, is never spilled. Laura and I did our best to represent the American brand of dandyism at this years events and what follows is a chronicle of our efforts (without showing too much exuberance of course) to bask, with grace and composure, in the English summer sunshine with the most debonair chaps and stylish ladies Britain had to offer.

One of the judges is taken aback by his beverage--a martini jointly concocted by four people during the martini relay event.

A chap prepares for battle, waving the Union Jack, just before pedaling towards his opponent in the bicycle umbrella jousting event.

Applying and preparing the mustachio for the mustachio tug of war. It is crucial, in this event, that the mustachio be both well combed and then waxed so that not a single hair comes out of place as this may weaken the mustachio and cause it to split.

Laura and I enjoying the day on our picnic blanket under a tree.

Our friends Aöne and Sevrin dancing on the main stage during a break in the events.

Laura, atop her steed (me), objects to a false start during the steeple chase.

A bit blurry, but this is Laura spurring me on with my own hat.

The view from Aöne's mount (Sevrin) during the steeple chase.

Finally, Sevrin and I looking quite serious (since it is a most serious event) at our picnic spot. I'm wearing a pith hat I borrowed for the occasion from a fellow chap.