Cornish people being impervious to driving winds, lashing rain and unsatisfactory fireworks in their pursuit of a knees-up, the fancily dressed crowds again fell upon the coastal paths in their droves to parade in a magnificent display of costumery
(Reportedly slightly smaller droves than in years past but it looked pretty busy from where I was standing).
And once again I dreamed of my little fancy dressing emporium only to watch thousands of impressive home made costumes troop past, a testament to unnecessity being the stepmother of invention:
As I mentioned, the Cornish are hardy folk and so able to brave the January nights clad in a tutu and a comedy wig, but attendants from more weakly stock need to focus on costumes that integrate warmth, waterproofing and imaginative theming. Notable success in this field:
(that last one is me)
At New Year in St Ives, people seek out strangers, feed them hot toddies, sling an arm around their shoulders and sing songs.
It’s difficult to know if this unusually sociable crowd is the result of the costumes, the cider or the bonhomie engendered by leaving London. A key moment for the meeting of minds might be, for example – finding your brother/sister-in-costume:
Being especially impressed with an outfit passing by: (look! Its the Invisible man!)
Identifying the costume (these are actually terracotta warriors, a triumph in cardboard knitting if not necessarily in verisimilitude)
Or Zombie attack:
So the advice from me for St Ives is to find yourself a costume with interactive potential as well as warmth and head coverage:• Santa Claus (although beware the fact that this is a FAMILY event and try not to ruin the dreams of thousands of small people with your drinking/ smoking/ vomiting antics)
• Bobsleigh/ Slalom team
• Queen’s Guard
