Simple Favourite Sights, Sounds of 'Home'?

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

The vacuum of the front gate... sucking you inside to wonders for the senses.  The smell of cooking... incense... the clashing colors filling you sight like a maddened rainbow.  The feel of the air... the watery sunshine, hinting at fall.  The noise of the crowd... the "g'day Mi-lord" heard from every corner... the hawkers raucous calls... the laughter of children... the wink of a beautiful woman.

The feeling of belonging...of fitting in... the sense of coming home at last.

[Yrose]

My favs are waking up with folgers in your cup at camp and watch everyone starting to move. Being at the gate for cannon and entering the fair wondering in the early quite time as most are still watching the proclamations. Later not being able to walk more than a few feet without a hail and well met from some one you know. The meet and greet at the POW and seeing all the RF friends, the Sea Devil and craziness and finally back at camp for nights of laughter and fun till you can't stand it anymore.

[Blue66669]

Sitting in the back, putting on your face, and readying yourself for the onslaught to come.
Hearing cannon, and realizing that you're in it for the long haul
Hearing cannon, and waiting for the patrons to funnel back to where your shop/section is
Smelling the roasted nuts and hearing the naughty things they say to go with it
That smell of fresh damp earth and the sounds of HUZZAH and sweet music that seem to permeate the very air we breathe

Damn... it's gonna be tough, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!

[Captain Kilian]

Some how the long (LONG) walk from Celtic Rogue camp to the front gate, making you ponder if all these things on your belt are worth it - getting through the gate, past the picture and program people, and smack into the bottle neck of folks - the sights, sounds, smells, all rush in on you, and someone (Always, but I don't know why) asks where we want to go first. But you hug the right side wall, get in line for breakfast, usually quiche for the wife and scotch egg for myself. Eatting at the tables accross the road, near the hot coco store, and watching everyone roll in with the same enthusiasm as you.

And then head to the Prinse of Whales pub for real breakfast! (I hope they have sam smith's oatmeal stout in this year...breakfast of champions!)

[SirRichardBear]

The smell of wood smoke from everyones camp fire,  the morning mist hanging over the camp grounds, bag pipes playin in that mist.  Hearing the bells ring over of the faire from Cloister.  The smell of the candied nuts, sitting in the shade eating scotch eggs.

[brooke]

walking through the front arch to get that first glimpse and sound of a true fantasy 

[paul42]

Most important of all
friends & more friends

[ragged tiger]

The smell of sizzling bacon as we prepare an early morning breakfast at the campsite.  The strike of 10:00AM when we fill our wooden mugs with the day's first beer.  The determined walk from the front gate straight to the POW, to greet Lady Michelle and the gang.  The leisurely walk down to the Sea Devil, and onto Sherwood Forest where the sound of axes and knives hitting wood grows louder as we approach.  Pipe music from a nearby Tartanic show filling the air...and well...you get the picture.

[shelly1978us]

I love walking in the gate and opening my eyes to see a whole new world.  Imaging that Ive stepped thru time to this magical place.  The smells, the dirt or mud, and seeing everyone in their garb.
Oh I cannot wait until Saturday morn!

[*Teach*]

Walking about the lanes with my Lovely Lady's hand in mind as we get lost in the moment of faire

*and the rum... there be lots of rum there*

[eloquentXI]

Just that smell, that smell that is nothing but wonderful, the earthiness, it smells like home.

Opening Weekend, seeing everyone for the first time since last season, that feeling of running up and giving hugs and catching up. Being pulled in a thousand directions to get to see everyone and everything.

The crowd of people at the Sea Devil and ending up staying there for a couple hours bouncing between different friends.

Seeing people that I know during parade and having them stop to come over and give me hell or a kiss before trotting on.