The Society of the Open Rope
The Italian experience takes different re-enactors in different ways - here is the product of one set of idle hours on the coach back in 2004

The Ballad Of The Siege Of Canelli
Canelli's coat of arms
There's an Italian town called Canelli that's famed for it's battles and sun.
And Tino said we are invited, So we were asked "Please will you come?"
The emails they sped through the ether, "But mine just won't work," said small Dan.
"So please will you print me a copy? And then I will come if I can."
Responses came back then quite quickly. The Cawthrays said "Lets bring young Jon!"
"I don't see why not," was the answer," Ursula's coming along."
So soon there were thirty-one persons riding the bus down through France,
And on their arrival in Italy a granny grabbed Bob Scott to dance.
The Coach
The wine and the beer it flowed freely: the food, it pleased some but not all.
But on Saturday just after lunchtime we formed up outside the sports hall.
We marched with those drums, waving kindly at children watching us all,
But the gates they were stoutly defended - So we shouted insults o'er the wall.
The battle was high on the hilltop, "Too hot and too far!" Came the cry
"It's all right I've laid on some buses", The Duc de Savoy did reply.
On board with all of their weapons, the musketeers all did agree,
"We're too old for all of this marching!" The pike block said "Yes we can see!"
Il Duco
The battle went well in the evening, For artillery musket and pike,
And the Scots, mid the shouting and barking, Till 'twas said "You can stop if you like."
But there were no serious wounded, so that evening, we thought we should go
Shopping for soap and some goodies - and beer at the Bar Torino.
On Sunday more drums and more marching - "My feet are quite sore!" Jono cried
"So's my finger!"(our leader was wounded),"Look you can see right down inside."
But at last the gates were flung open: We fought and we died (once again)
Lying there in the road looking skywards, and thinking "It's going to rain."
A wetter year than usual
But soon it was time for our dinner, and accolades to one and all.
Urs and small person got medals, and then the rain started to fall.
The following day to the vineyard, George carefully rounded all bends.
We all tried all of the samples, and some even bought some for friends!		  
Then the long journey back to old England; the ferry (a chance for more beer)
And we waved our goodbyes to each other, shouting "See you same time next year!"

By Chris Haggis (with apologies)