On Friday I joined the Pop-Up Opera team to participate in the Borders Book Festival, which took place in the heart of Melrose, which is south of Edinburgh.
Just off St Mary’s road, Harmony Garden was home to marquees filled with events for both adults and children, a pop-up bookshop with some authors present to sign the books bought by visitors to the festival, and the ticket booth.
We were parked in a great spot between Harmony Garden and the Orchard where a delightful collection of Food and Drink trucks were situated decorated in bunting and festive twinkly lights. As well as delicious and artisanal food to nibble on, there were stretch tents and tipis for shaded cover – on what turned out to be a miraculously sunny day!
I thoroughly enjoyed being part of the festival and between shows, I took time to explore the stands and enjoying hunting for treats and oddities.
Then on Saturday and Sunday, we set up the trailer at the tranquil Archerfield Walled Garden in North Berwick. The beautiful grounds host a Garden Cafe where the chefs in the kitchen use local produce to create scrumptious dishes for all tastes. Not only was there a soup of the day, but also a scone of the day.
On Sunday it was Father’s Day (Love you Dad) and the cafe celebrated by offering a deal to Dad’s, a burger and a locally brewed beer! Yum! On-site there is also a farm shop, Knops microbrewery, and amazing trails to walk peacefully alone or with your friends, family, and dogs.
One walk that enticed the company, in particular, was the fairy walk! So we decided to treat our stage management and instrumental crew to fairy wings from the shop and prance around the grounds in our Iolanthe costumes. The setting was so beautiful and we had a great time.
Ali Biggs with her new wings 
Ross Stenhouse was on the bike.
Robbie Fraser, Me, Laura Cioffi, Ali Biggs, Sharron Griffiths, and Aiden Edwards
Next week you can catch up with us in Callander, and the following week in Banff, Aboyne, and the Haddington Show.
Oh my gosh.. fairy wings! I am thinking this had to be so much fun. So much to do. So much to see AND to be able to be fairies at the same time. Charming, simply charming.
Spending time with our inner child, I always wanted to be a fairy as you can tell hehe. I loved the wishing well too, if I had a garden I’d want one in it.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
I love these (fairy) vibes!!! This was such a lovely short post – really enjoyed your photos! x
Thank you, it was a delightful day full of fun thanks for visiting and your lovely message.
Best wishes
Charlotte
What a great time, Charlotte. The Gif of you all jumping to fly was terrific.
One day John I’m going to be attached to something that actually makes me fly into the air hehe.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Take plenty of photos. 😁
You are having a lot of fun, and that’s the way it should be. I like the gif of you all jumping, trying to fly. Is that a wishing well? I see a church in the background in one photo. Do you ever perform in old churches? We saw and heard some of the most fantastic performances and concerts in old churches and castle ruins in Spain. When I was performing with a group from the Canary Islands, we gave a concert at the base of the aqueduct in Segovia under a full moon one night. It was magic.
Doing things just for the fun of it is a great release between shows and the landscape there was just lovely. Yes I used to perform a lot in churches when I lived at home. I have a few bookings later this year and I’m planning a couple of new programs to offer. Were you singing Timothy or playing an instrument in your group? That sounds just magical.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
I play guitar. I studied flamenco guitar in Spain, but I learned to play traditional Canarias folk music with the group. I was told to show up and play with the group by a dear old lady with a lot of authority that no one could say no too. The group was hesitant to allow a stranger off the street, let alone a foreigner, join the group. When I walked in on their practice, I noticed all the stringed instruments were out of tune, and told them I would tune their instruments if they gave me the tunings. The players wrote the tunings on napkins, piled a dozen stringed instruments with anything from 5 to 15 strings on the table in front of me, and for the next 45 minutes I tuned all their instruments, while they took a break.
When I was done tuning, they were so impressed with having tuned instruments, they handed me a folder of music and I joined in on the practice. They decided I was a good enough guitarist that they fit me into a costume, and told me I was playing with them at a concert the next night.
I played with the group for two years after that. The first thing I did before each practice and performance was tune all the stringed instruments. As an outsider, I didn’t expect them to be overjoyed having me show up to practice and simply be allowed to play with them, especially since I knew nothing about folk music from the Canary Islands; therefore, I figured if I made myself useful, it would be easier to justify myself crashing in on their group.
I’m a terrible singer. Check out some of my music on my blog if you want to verify that for yourself.
Wow, congrats , great !!!! Wish you the best !!
Nous nous sommes perdus dans le paysage. Bonne journee bon amusement.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
What a fantastic time your having, it all looks tremendous 😁😘
You know Gill I’d have fun just walking around the gardens having photos with the children making them think fairies are real, never grown up lol.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
What a wonderful time. dear Charlotte! Good luck with your trip!
We should have been singing Tripping hither, tripping thither. Thank you Maria 😊.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Oh, charming fairies! You should! 🙂 The Midsummer night is coming! Queen Titania & King Oberon are arranging a party! 🙂
If they invite me i’ll be there at the party 🎉 🥳
Sounds and looks like a lot of fun!
I’ve really enjoyed these three little shows, especially the Iolanthe and working with the same cast for two months is a treat.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Really cool, man! Very nice…! :))))
Thank you 😊
Best wishes
Charlotte
Looks fabulous Charlotte,
Great photo’s as always, you all look like your having such a good time .😘👏🏻👏🏻
So much seriousness in the World today its nice to escape and have a bit of fun 😊.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Dear Charlotte,
I hope you were able to spend time with your Dad, on Father’s Day. What a wonderful daughter your Dad raised. May the Lord bless you richly my Beloved.
Sadly I didn’t get chance to go home with working but we face-timed and my eldest brother Matt visited my parents from London, I’d remembered to send a card and gift.
Thank you, all my best wishes
Charlotte
Marvelous fun! Enjoy every moment!!
I’ve only got my fairy wings for another week and a half so I’m making the most of them 😊.
All my best wishes Sheila,
Charlotte
Simple food sometime is the best. It looks like that was the best part of Father’s day you had.
Yes I missed my Dad sadly but we got chance to facetime. Simple food is definitely the best.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
I love fairies
I love fairies too Aanshi I used to get fairy letters when my baby teeth fell out and I have a childhood collection of fairy’s at my parents home 😊. Thanks for stopping by.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Oh, what fun, Charlotte!
I’ve had a lovely day today singing for lots of primary school children, they drew us pictures of flowers because they heard opera singers got flowers at the end of a performance. They were very involved and one little girl coloured me a unicorn 🦄 (my favourite creature 😊). I was asked did I always want to be funny and make people laugh. What could be better than a compliment like that! 😀
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Wonderful! Such a rewarding experience!
I don’t think you can become a fairy without pixie dust. ..or is that a common misconception?
Everyone can be a fairy and dance and sing when I’m around so I must have the magic dust hehe.
All my best wishes Eric,
Charlotte
What a lovely and fun post 🙂
Such a great tour, the shows are lovely, we were singing for primary school children today such a fabulous group, they made my day with pictures and great questions.
All my best wishes
Charlotte 😊
That really comes across 🙂
Looks like great fun!
Great fun. I’ve seen so many places in Scotland I could write a tourist guide :). Just such a beautiful Country.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Charlotte, you make everything fun. Yes, I know it was fairies, but if it was gnomes, it would still be fun.
Lol! Could you call a Pop Up Opera a Poperea? Just having some fun! 😀
Quite true, who doesn’t love a cute gnome :). If I ever put on my show I’ll remember ‘Poperea’. Hectic today I’m full of nervous excitement, just having a quick pit stop and cup of tea.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
It is amazing and useful.
You are welcome in London.
Best wishes
Thank you, I’ll be returning home to London this weekend 🙂
Thank you for visiting
All my best wishes
Charlotte