Handfasting 2

 Greetings

Our friends Annie and Chris had their Handfasting in the woods somewhere in the wilds beyond Lincoln.

The camp site had several log buildings, including a mead hall, and a fire pit surrounded by a circle of trees.

The Handfasting took place at the firepit and was conducted by Bill and Brenda Sutton, two of our American friends ( who we have often run into at Filkcons). They had come over for the ceremony (and a bit of a holiday).

I have not been to a Handfasting before and it was an interesting experience, including sanctifying a circle  and the exchange of vows.

I took part in the sword arch at the end, which went perfectly, even though we'd only done two quick rehearsals.  The swords all rose smoothly as the couple advanced and fell again behind them( nobody died....yay!).

We then all went to the mead hall for too much food and a similar amount of mead.

Here are some pictures of the cake.

We paid for an excellent cooked breakfast on Sunday morning and had a much easier journey home, getting back at about 4Pm to two most disapproving cats.

They were so put out that, when Teddy went to speak to one of our neighbours, they both followed him complaining loudly until he came back to our house.

Until next time

Adieu

Leaning Judge 5

 Greetings

Here is a further version of this piece

Until next time

Adieu

Handfasting 1

 Greetings

The weekend of the 9th September was the Handfasting of our two friends, Annie ( mother of my Godchildren Jared and Elie) and Chris

 This, unfortunately, meant I couldn't attend a one-day Paladin's event at Amersham, but c'est la vie... 

 As the event was  camping in the wood somewhere in the wilds beyond Lincoln, we elected to travel up on Friday and say over at a Travelodge just south of Lincoln.

The journey up was much delayed by numerous traffic problems, but we got there in the end and were up early enough to set off for the site in good time. 

Our friend Lissa had sent us lots of maps and instructions ( including the nearest practical postcode) , but we were still going to have to locate a track of a very minor road. 

We trusted in the Sat Nav and proceeded on several very twisty and bumpy roads, many of which were causeways over streams and marshy ground.

When we were nearly there, I noticed there was a car behind us and suddenly realised it was Lissa and her daughter. So we were in the right place... 

We set up the medieval tent in the woods.

As you can see, we were not the only ones to bring a medieval tent... 

I am usually the sole occupant of our tent, but I worked out a way to get two single camp beds in. 

The walls of my tent are in two sections that hook onto the roof and lace closed at the back and front. I usually lace the back laced closed, but , with two of us it made sense to use both the front and back doors.

We set the beds off-centre, leaving space for other kit.

This arrangement is a bit cramped, but otherwise works very well.

I will post more on the handfasting later.

Until next time

Adieu

, so 

Leaning Judge 4

 Greetings

Here is another version of this computer art.

Until next time

Adieu

Hever 2023 part 2

 Greetings

Another busy time coming up, so I am posting very early again...

Here's the second part of the event at Hever Castle...

I  had not overindulged on Saturday night, so was in reasonable shape to sing a mass on Sunday morning.

I  then helped M'lord de Spencer and his lady learn some medieval dance and took part in the dance display.

It was a little rainy, but it did not last long and cleared up before we had to take to the field.

I had been asked to command one side in the battle in the afternoon, as the commentator thought it would be fun for me, as  the Bishop of L'Aquila to be on one side, with a chap who plays the Bishop of Durham to command the other.

We decided our dispute would be over who had had to hear the longest confession and- of course- which of the three popes was the true pope.

Durham claimed M'lady de Spencer's confession to be the longest, but I had the notorious Lord de Spencer on my side, so trumped this claim.. I did not even have to add M'lord Neville's confession...

The format had been changed to two advances, then a combat of three champions, then a  melee.

M'lord Spencer, M'lord Neville and championed our side; Durham and two others championed the other.

It was meant o be inconclusive and, Durham and I took turns thumping each other in the middle of the field, slowly sinking to our knees and gradually winding down...

It all went very well, with the Bishop of Durham playing off me very well, culminating in me coming up behind him in the final melee, saying "I am now going to be unchristian" and stabbing him in the back.

This left me, M'lord Neville and one more of my retinue. I was judged to be triumphant and  took part in the parade ( as shown below) representing the Church Militant.

Here are some pictures kindly taken by my fellow Paladin, Frederike Gunzel and used with consent.

Once more, I practiced moderation in the evening and was bright eyed and bushy tailed on Monday morning,

I decided that I would close the tent, so that I could begin packing down early, but I also wanted to take part in the battle.

M'lord de Spencer and M'lord Neville commanded and the format was the same as the day previous.

I had had a quiet word with Durham and, sure enough he happily slaughtered me in the early stages of the final melee.

I decided pack down was more important than the parade , but, even with all the preparation, it was still getting on for eight in the evening before I was packed up and leaving the site.

As usual, it was a most enjoyable event, though I am starting to notice it now takes me longer to recover from longer re-enactments...

Until next time

Adieu

Leaning Judge 3

 Greetings

Here is another version of this piece.

Until next time

Adieu

Hever 2023

 Greetings

Last weekend was the August Bank Holiday and, as usual, I took part in the Hever Festival of History.

I packed the car on Thursday and drove down on Friday after lunch, arriving about 2.30.

It was good weather and I was able to set the tent up before it started to get dark.

Here are some pictures of my tent and other parts of the encampment.

The weather was still good on Saturday (if a little hot) and we had a reasonable number of public visiting our camp. I took part in the dancing and the battle in the afternoon, which was a little over -reliant on fights between champions, but otherwise fine.

It wasn't overly hot and I was able to fight in full plate , including the brigandine.

I part disarmed and took part in the parade, carrying my standard.

I didn't stay up overly late that evening and was relatively moderate with the mead.

I sang a mass on Sunday morning as usual, which went well

I will post more later.

Until next time

Adieu

Elf Regard 2

 Greetings

Here is another version of this computer art

Until next time

Adieu

Leaning Judge 2

 Greetings

Here is the second variation of my new computer art

I expect to be kept quite busy for the next few days, so I'm posting very early..

Further versions will be forthcoming...

Until next time

Adieu

Elf Regard 1

Greetings

Here is the first version of another piece of computer art.

I will post the other versions anon...

Until next time

Adieu

 

Leaning Judge 1

 Greetings

Here is the first of the other versions of this piece.

Until next time

Adieu

Fox

 Greetings

I have just finished another painting.

This one is definitely in the "letting my subconscious out for a jog" category

I am calling this "Sly"

Until next time

Adieu

Leaning Judge

 Greetings

This is a new piece of computer art.

I will post other versions of this one later

Until next time

Adieu

Swimmer

 Greetings

I have now finished my new acrylic painting.

This sort-of falls into the "letting my subconscious out for a jog" camp.

It was inspired by the main figure in my earlier piece " Body of Water"

Until next time

Adieu

Stourhead House

 Greetings

I have just done a weekend show with my fellow Paladins of Chivalry at Stourhead House in Wiltshire.

Anyone who knows this National Trust property will wonder why we were there instead of a Regency group.

It was all due to archaeology. They have been excavating the old fortified manor house, which is dated to about 1400.

We couldn't set up till after 4PM, so ( having packed most of my  kit the day before) I finished packing the car and set off about 2.30 ( after lunch of course).

The A303 turned out to be constructed entirely with traffic jams in mind and the Sat Nav's estimated two and a half hours soon turned into nearly four.

But I got there in the end and then spent a merry half hour trying to make sense of the map and instructions they had given us

Once I worked out I had to drive under the archway that told me not to, I reached the campsite , unloaded and  started setting up. This, as usual took quite a long time, but I got most of it done before I started to lose the light.

Saturday went quite well, despite the weather being a bit drizzly and occasionally rainy.

I didn't do the Kids Battle, but took part in the dancing, when we managed to persuade a reasonable number of public to take part in two of the easier dances.

Lunch was, unfortunately, late and, by the time I realised this, I had to grab some cold food and only had time to eat a little before I had to hurry to get armed for the tourney.

I had no-one to help me and, in the end, had to accept help from a helpful member of the public.

I was still late to the field and was set straight in against Alex with his Hungarian sabre. I chose hammer and heater shield.

Normally, this would be no problem, but, unfortunately, during one close encounter, my hammer became hooked into his scale corslet, so I was defeated. Rats, as they say.

I then sought to fight young Gus, but the marshal over ruled me and set me against De Spencer.

I chose sword and dagger , as I know how he loves facing two weapons, but , being both younger and less gentlemanly than my good self, he still contrived to win.

It was then time for the melee and Sir Ralph Neville and I disposed of Gus,

Unfortunately, as Neville then dealt with Alex, this left me facing De Spencer again. I got a few good blows in ( including an incident where we both got head shot in and had to decide which of our three opponents was the real one), but , once again he as triumphant.

All in all a good tourney.

It was very wet overnight and  damp, drizzly and rainy the next day.

By popular request, I sang a mass in the morning under my awning.

I captained one side for the Kids Battle  and got out with my life- just.

The dance show had to cancelled, as did the tourney( for safety) so we did an Arming of the Knight, with Sir Juan de Castille as the lucky volunteer. I then went on in helm, jack and gauntlets and we did a brief fight demonstration. He had falchion and buckler  and I proceed to beat him up with my hand and a half sword.

Here is a picture of me doing something similar at a previous event.

As the wind was blowing rain directly at my tent doorway, I made the early decision not to show my tent display and close up. This also gave me a head start on pack down.

However, even with this and with some help from some of the others, it was still getting on when I finally got everything into the car.

I didn't realise this until I had been helping with the van loading and dropping the main shelter for some time. I  then notice that it was after 6.30 and realised that, even if I had no delays, I wouldn't get home until about 9, which would be stretching it in terms of me getting my supper before going hypo.

I, therefore,bid my adieus and left.

Lucklily,  the journey home was much closer to the Sat Nav estimate.

 All in all, it was a good show, but I could have done without the delays on the way out and the 'orrible weather on Saturday night and Sunday.

Until next time

Adieu

Bound Elf

 Greetings

I am currently working on a new acrylic painting, but it's not finished yet.

So, here is a picture of an elf in bondage to be going on with...

I was also at a re-enactment event over the weekend , which I will blog about later.

Until next time

Adieu

Sword Tourney

 Greetings

This is a new drawing from my sketchbook.

This is inspired by the picture of a young man tying the waist strings of his speedo that I showed in an earlier blog.

I had finished the earlier picture and suddenly noted that the position was viable for a knight adjusting  the inner points of his cuisse( upper leg harness). This is laced with points to a quilted suspender belt.

As he has his foot up on the stone that has the famous sword in it, he is clearly preparing to fight in a tourney for the right to try to draw it.

He is also wearing  his padded jack, which has points to lace on his upper canons and vambraces ( arm harness) and either spaulders, or pauldrons to protect his shoulders above them.

He is already wearing a mail-covered standard to protect his throat.

The armour shown is Fifteenth Century and the picture is in the  spirit of  Malory's Morte D'Athur.

Until next time

Adieu

Arm stretch

 Greetings

Here is a new drawing from my sketch book.

Until next time

Adieu

Speedo ties

 Greetings

Here is a new drawing from my sketchbook.

This is of a young man tying the waist strings of his speedo.

Until next time

Adieu

Hever Battle

 Greetings

I was going to doing my first Paladins event today ( just a one day event at a local fair), but it's been cancelled due to the weather.

I'd even been organised. I'd already packed the awning and banners and  poles and furniture from the shed and dug out my light harness from the Lower Armory ( cupboard under the stairs) and tried it on to make sure everything was working and no straps need replacing.

In fact, I had everything ready for a fast pack this morning...

Now, I've had to put it all away again.

Ho Hum...

Here is an image I have found (and  artistically altered) of me fighting Tony at Hever last year.

The polearm is a voulge ( very popular in France), but I call it Peter's Pence, as ( for me) it's a clerical bill.

Until next time

Adieu

Voiders

 Greetings

Here is a picture a came across in my portfolio.

This young man is in the foundation layer for Fifteenth Century harness.

He has a thin jack without a shirt under it.

Instead of a mail hauberk , he has mail voiders laced to cover the armpits ,underarm and inside the elbows( which can't be covered by plate).

His boots stretch up to  mid thigh and a are held up with a suspender belt.

He would now ready for the plate to be pointed on.

Until next time

Adieu

Imperial 1

 Greetings

Here is another version of my latest computer art 

Until next time

Adieu

Fox bed

 Greetings

I was doing some sorting at my father's house the other day and happened to glance out of the kitchen window.

I just had to take a picture...

In case you didn't spot it immediately., here is a close up...

Trust a young fox to find a new use for a planter...

Until next time

Adieu

Imperial

 Greetings

Here is a new piece if computer art.

I did this one in Photoshop.

Until next time

Adieu

Long-hair beau

 Greetings

I am posting early, as I expect tomorrow to be a busy day..

I am continuing to try out my new graphics pad.

This new picture was done using Paint.

I am still trying out different effects, particularly for smooth transitions in skin tones.

I think that this one has come out rather well...

Until next time

Adieu

Rapier and dagger

 Greetings

I have recently acquired a graphics pad and stylus.

I have been experimenting with it.

Prior to this, all my computer art had been done using a mouse.

Here is a new picture I made using Paint.

Until next time

Adieu

Spaceport 7

 Greetings

Here is the last version of my new computer art

Until next time

Adieu

Spaceport 6

 Greetings

Here is another version of my latest computer art

Until next time

Adieu

Spaceport 5

 Greetings

Here is the next version of my latest computer art

Until next time

Adieu

Spaceport 4

 Greetings

Here is a further version of my new computer art

Until next time

Adieu

Spaceport 3

 Greetings

Here is another version of my new computer artwork

Until next time

Adieu

Lurk

 Greetings

Partly due to the amount I'm still dealing with after Dad's death, I ended up taking part in No Mow May.

This is meant to be good for insects.

My cat Malfeasance, however, decided that it was for his benefit.

Here he is practicing lurking in the long grass.

I  mowed the lawn  a few days later and he was greatly disappointed.

Life is unfair to cats.

Until next time

Adieu

Spaceport 2

 Greetings

Here is the second version of my new computer art.

Until next time

Adieu

Spaceport 1

 Greetings

Here is the second version of my new computer art.

Until next tuime

Adieu

Spaceport

 Greetings

Here is a new piece of computer art that I have just completed.

I have done several versions of this, which I will post later.

Until next time

Adieu

Lost View

 Greetings

I am spending quite a lot of time sorting out things at my father's house.

My parents had some of my work displayed.

The largest picture is about a metre square and was hung on the staircase wall.

This is acrylic on board and was painted from the roof of the old Wimbledon Art School Annex at Palmeston Road in the early 1980's.

This view no longer exists, as the Annex has been demolished and replaced with flats.

Also, Wimbledon Theatre (right background) has been restored and now has the cupola and angel-on- orb replaced . They had been removed during World War II, as German bombers we using them as landmark.

The blocky modern building in the left background ( I think it was a supermarket- I forget which) has also been demolished.

Just behind that, you can just see the Borough flag flying over the Town Hall.

The Council later moved out of this building and it was turned into part of Centre Court Shopping Centre.

It must have been a very clear day, as ( very faintly) you can see the spire of St Mary's Wimbledon, up on the hill, in the far distance , just up and to the right of the supermarket building.

Until next time

Adieu

Artshow

 Greetings

I was clearing old pictures off my mobile the other day and came upon these pictures that I'd taken of my artshow space at Eastercon.

I had been given five boards and had managed to fit  in all the pictures and little sculptures I had brought with me.

I also had to achieve a harmonious look to the arrangement of pictures and leave enough space for the title/ price tickets

As you can see, it was then something of a challenge getting the whole space into a photo- especially as it was only about four paces away from a wall...

Until next time

Adieu