Flower Parade is a respite from the grief of the events in the last couple of stories. Kristoph takes Marion and Lily away from a dreary, sad day on Gallifrey to find some sunshine, picking up Li from Earth and Remonte and Rika from Ventura on the way.

Problem number one with that, of course, is that Li is an exile and Remonte is a bit of a stickler for rules – apart from the one about adultery, that is.

Problem number two is I have completely muddled up the time it takes to get from Gallifrey to Earth. In previous stories it took hours. In this one it seems to be a pit stop. And then they go to Ventura before finally arriving at Haollstrom. I think I’ll just have to put that down to the vagaries of time travel. Sometimes it takes hours, other times it takes no time at all.

The Flower Festival on Haollstrom isn’t really based on any particular tradition, though I have always liked parades. When I was young, we lived in Leyland, Lancashire, which had a parade and a huge festival on the park every June. The parade would be really long with ‘floats’, dancers, bands etc. and the festival went on until midnight. I think it probably still happens, but I always miss it. I have a strong suspicion anyway that it wouldn’t feel as exciting as it did when I was ten.

Flowers made of spun sugar come from a different family tradition. My mum worked at the Coronation Rock Company in Blackpool before she was married and everyone in my home knew exactly how the letters were put into rock and how the most delicate of confections were made. It always amazed me that other people didn’t know how it was done. I never had the slightest inclination to work in such a factory, though. Apparently you AREN’T allowed to eat the produce.

Anyway, a respite for Marion and Lily, just what they and the readers needed.

http://www.leylandhistoricalsociety.co.uk/festival%20index.htm