Regency Buck 1

 Greetings

Here is a new piece of computer art.

I have several versions of this one...

Until next time

Adieu

Shipwrecked 1

 Greetings

Here is a new painting that I have just completed.

This was based on a coloured pencil picture from my sketchbook (which I blogged about previously)

I think the painting came out a bit better than the drawing. His britches look wetter, I was able to get a bit of 'wet shirt clinging to flesh' effect and the face has more intensity.

Until next time

Adieu

Calligraphy 5

 Greetings

Here is another payer that I have added to my breviary.

This one extorts St Michael to cast down the devil and his minions ( The Bishop is an Ecclesiastical Knight of the order of St Michael).

As this was quite a long payer for my rather small book, I had to spread it over two pages.

Supplicesdeprecamur is currently the longest Latin word I have written out- and worked out how to actually say...

You will also note I split some words to fit more on the page. Where possible I've done this in a way that is an aid to their pronunciation.

Until next time

Adieu

Amersham

 Greetings

I have recently attended my last show for this re-enactment season.

I have done this show for many years. It is only one day and reasonably relaxing, although it is always on a Sunday, so was a little less convenient when I was working full time.

I made sure all my kit was loaded into the car by close of play on Saturday. I was giving my friend Sandy a lift, so set off bright and early once she arrived.

The journey went well and I even remembered to do the 'All round the houses' route once we reached Amersham, so we didn't drive through the middle of the old town ( as in previous years) , as they had requested.

There were only a few of us there. Mat had brought the arming tent, I had my awning and Gary had a small tent. We set these up and got the cars off site as soon as possible.

We had a guest/possible new member. Paul had decided to join us. He had resigned from the group whose member had nearly injured me at Hever. He had not been at Hever, but he had seen footage of the blow that hit me in the face.  He also told me that the footage showed the same person doing dangerous blows against another fighter.

When he realised that the group had no intention of doing anything about this, he decided he didn't want to be associated with them any more.

Gary and Deejay had come on direct from another event and, unfortunately, Deejay had a hand injury and,Paul , whilst an experienced fighter, wanted to have a chance to do a bit of sparring with us before fighting in tourney.

Consequently, the only fighters were me and Gary.( though Paul did volunteer to be one of the commanders in the Kiddies Battle- brave man. He got out alive...)

I volunteered to be the one armed in 'Arming the Knight' and then did three consecutive fights with Gary, pacing my self as much as I could ( I tend to overheat if I not careful)

We started off with arming sword and heater shield and then switched to just arming sword, As usual, Gary ( who is a few years younger than me and can fight on for longer ) looked more dominant.

I then took a water break and came back with hand-and-a-half sword. Now I am better at this than Gary is and , hence, got more blows in. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep going for very long and gave him an opening to put me down and end the fight.

I think that is the longest I've had to fight near-continuously for quite some time...

We had a reasonable crowd and they obviously enjoyed the fight .

Here is a picture of me waiting my turn in a previous tourney at Amersham, with my lord of Lancaster acting as marshal.

As we had brought less with us, it did not take long to pack down and I had a good journey back.

Until next time

Adieu

Calligraphy 4

 Greetings

Here is a new payer I have just finished.asking for the forgiveness of our enemies sins.

I have used a small amount of gold leaf in the capital.

I think this one looks rather nice.

Until next time

Adieu

Hever 2024

 Greetings

I attended the 'Hever in History' event over the August Bank Holiday.

As I knew we could not get access to the site until 2.30,I packed up all the kit into the car on the Friday morning and drove down after lunch. The traffic was reasonable, but there were seveal unexplained delays and one long roadworks and I got there around 4.00.

The only hic-up was that all  the numbers had worn off the key-pad at the gate and my guesses at the code did not seem to open the gate. Fortunately, someone tried to drive out and, in the space afforded by the very slow gate opening, I was able to drive in.

There were enough other Paladins already on site for me to get the inital help I needed to put up the tent and, being told that rain was expected, I got everything inside and battened down the hatches.

I also opted to ignore the site instructions telling me to park in the plastic camping (meaning a longish walk back and then again to collect the car at the end) and secreted it amongst those of the Vikings who parked just up hill from their camp.

That night was very wet and it then proceeded to rain heavily all day Saturday. We had all noted that the ground was very hard when putting up the tents and, unfortunately this led to the upper foot or so becoming saturated and the wet spreading out horizonally under the tent.

My plastic ground sheet never quite aligns with the tent and I usually use lighter sheets and a rubberbacked mat to fill in the holes. These became soaked and spread the wet to the other mats and sheepskins.

I was left with an island of dry , which (luckily) include the bit with my bed on it.

Fortunately, I had opted to hang most of the weapons from the cartwheel and the armour was safe in its oak chest.

Needless to say, we did not fight on Saturday, but we still had a few members of the public to talk to, which shows they are even madder than we are.

Sunday dawned clear , if slightly cloudy, and was a good day with a quite reasonable battle, though I decided to sit out the final clash.

Here is a picture of my tent and awning taken on the Sunday. You can see my great helm being displayed with the new crest I carved for the first time.

Here is a picture of me as the Bishop ( this was taken by my fellow-Paladin, Ann-Marie, at the event in Samwich earlier this year and is use with permission)

 

The Monday was also dry and overcaste and the battle went well- right up until the idiot hit me in the face ( I have covered this in my previous blog ' Hever- by the sword')

We started the pack-down about 5.30 , but it was getting on for 8.00 before I was finished ( and that was with Sandy and Frederika generously helping me) .  I

I rang Teddy telling him I was about to leave and gave an estimate of an hour and half, based on the delays I'd had coming in. 

I had no delays at all and was home  in about an hour.

I'd say it was mixed event. Rubbish on Saturday; good on Sunday; spoiled by the near-blinding on Monday.

Ho Hum

Untill next time

Adieu

Calligraphy 3

 Greetings

Here is an 'Ave Maria' that I have recently added to my Breviary.

Until next time

Adieu