Civil War

 Greetings

We went to visit our friend Karen in Chicago in 2010.

We all went to an American Civil War re-enactment at Napier Settlement. We had been told we would be going , so had brought appropriate clothing.

She recently came across some pictures of us( used with consent).

and here's one of Teddy- being silly...

Until next time

Adieu

To The Yield 20

 Greetings

Here's the new version of this computer I'll soon be applying the usual censorship...

Until next time

Adieu

To The Yield 19

 Greetings

Here is another version of the computer art.

We went to the Biannual re-enactors' markets yesterday. I am trying to gather enough suitable silver metal buttons to replace the plastic fake-metal ones on my 18th hussar uniform. Then I'll be able to have it dry cleaned.

There are 18x4 buttons on The waistcoat, dolman and pellisse each have eighteen rows of buttons across.  So that's a lot of buttons.

I only rarely wear the pelisse and its away from my body, so I'm leaving that as it is,

I've already managed to find the eighteen full round buttons for 'active' buttons of the dolman, but I still need about forty more half round buttons. Unfortunately the stall I bought thirty odd buttons from at the previous market wasn't there this time...

The buttons for the waistcoat are just domed( which are a bit easier to find) and I think I might have enough now- or possibly nearly enough...

Apart from not finding buttons (Drat!), I didn't spend too much.

I found a nice set of alternative shoe buckles for my Regancy shoes; a spare fan ( It's hot dancing in two layers of wool);a rather nice snuff box set with mother of pearl chips; a reduced end of roll of tartan(enough to make ar a new small kilt), some £5 a meter silk for a new waistcoat; a few bottles of interesting alcohol

 -and my most unexpected purchase -a small anvil, so I don't have to keep risking my cobblers anvil when re-riviting bits of armour ( it only weighs 9lbs( 4kg odd), but its big enough withut being too big, came ready set on a wood block and only cost £35).

On the plus side, I left my old hounskull bassinet helm to be passed on to the chap I've sold it to and met up with one of my fellow Paladins tto sell him the mail hauberk Idon't wear anymore.

So all in- sucessful.

Until next time

Adieu

To The Yield 18

 Greetings

Here is another variation on my latest computer art.

I am currently working on a new piece of computer art.

Until next time

Adieu

To The Yield 17

 Greetings

Here is the latest version of this computer art

Until next time

Adieu

Wintertide Ball 2026

 Greetings

Last Saturday we attended the Wintertide Ball in Reading. 

We gave a lift to our friend Melusine and diverted to Kew to pick up Cecile( who also attends the dance classes in Surbiton)

I wore my Horse Artillary uniform including my Tarleton helmet. I made sure thwt Teddy took a picture, but, unfortunately, his camera failed him and both shots were too blurry to use. I am hoping that we will find another attendee who has an image of me.

In the meantime, here are some pictures that I took of the event.

As yiou can see in the last image, Teddy wore his wedding suit again.

On this occasion , I was the only one in uniform, so , when one dance required us to shout "Huzzar",

I declined to change my branch of the military and shouted "Artillary".

I danced all the dances before supper, including Mother Goose, The Fir Tree, Winter Walk and The Merry Party and only stood out for Queen Pulkawalka'S Waltz( a Triolet) after supper.

I danced with Melusine for Mother Goose, Maid with a Bosom of Snow and Hunt the Squirel and  with Cecile for Sir Roger de Coverley

Once again, it was a very enjoyable event, athough , with the diversion to Kew) we didn't get home unil the small hours Sunday.

Until next time

Adieu

To The Yield 16

 Greetings

Here is a new version of this computer art

Until next time

Adieu

To The Yield 15

 Greetings

Here is the latest version of this computer art

Until next time

Adieu

To The Yield 14

 Greetings

Here is the next version of this computer art

Until next time

Adieu

To The Yield 13

 Greetings

Here is the next version of this piece of computer art.

Until next time

Adieu

To The Yield 12

 Greetings

Here is another version of this computer art.

Until next time

Adieu

Ensign

 Greetings

I have now finshed a new acrylic painting.

I am calling this one Ensign.

An ensign was the lowest  British offcer rank in the Napoleaonic Wars. They were often reposnsible for carrying one of the Regimental colours.

Until Next time

Adieu

To the Yield 11

 Greetings

Last weekend Teddy and I went to the annual British Filkcon.

For the uninitiated, Filk is music about Science Fiction, Fantasy and fannish life.

It was a bit of a trek to get there ,as the convention was in Norfolk again, but the journy to and from went quite well.

I did not have a set this year, as I had a set last year and didn't have any new songs..

We had a great time and heard many excellent serious and silly songs. I particularly liked a song about genetic manipulation called "My Homework Ate The Dog".

As usual, going to the Con triggered my creativity. I have written a new song, completed an unfinished one I found in my file, checked I'm happy with two I previously written but never performed and have started a new idea.

That reminds me, I must have another look at the one I started last year and left to percolate, as I could quite settle it.

I think I'm going to ask for a set next year.

Here is another version of my computer art

Until next time

Adieu

New Regency 2

 Greetings

Many many years ago I made a Regency fantasy costume called the Purple Pimpernel.

This was a Regency suit in goth colours. It had black britches, a black shirt and stock with black and gold lace, a cut-away coat in crush purple velvet and a silk grosgrain waistcoat. This had a broad chequer board edge to it which I used for the lapels.

Unfortunatly, thirty years of fighting in armour has caused my shoulders to get wider and , whilst the coat fit beautifully across the back, this effect was ruined when I raised my arm and recvealed four inches of wrist, so I sold the coat on.

The waistcoat still fit, howecver. Well... nearly. 

I had a choice. I could move the buttons, or I could make the waistcoat wider. I checked my fabric stash and found that I had a fair bit of the silk left, so I decided that , not only would I make the waistcoat wider, but I would also use more of the chequerboard silk on the facing of my new coat.

This way I would not have to make a new waistcoat for my new Regency suit.

I, therefore added two silk panels to the side seams of the waistcoat.

This alteration will be invisible from the front and I was rather pleased now neatly the grain lined up.

Here's a close up showing the chequerboard grain on the lapels and collar

I will post again when more progress has been made.

Until next time

Adieu

Alton Ball 2

 Greetings

Here are some more pictures from the Regency Ball at Alton.

It was an enjoyable event and several people complimented me on my dancing, which was nice.

Until next time

Adieu

To The Yeild 10

 Greetings

Here is the next version of this computer art.

Until next time

Adieu

Alton Ball 1

 Greetings

Last weekend we attended  the Jane Austin Birthday Ball at the Assembly Rooms in Alton.

As circumstances have conpired to ensure we have not made much more progress on our new coats, I attended the ball dress of my 18th Hussar uniform and Teddy wore his wedding suit.

This time, however, I elected to wear my fur cap and pelisse.

Here's one of us both.

and a close up

Soon after this was taken, we (of course) left our hats and my pelisse in the cloakroom.

The event was quite well attended and this made it a little cramped on occasion while dancing.

I will post more later.

Until next time

Adieu

To The Yield 9

 Greetings

Here is another version of my latest computer art.

Until next time

Adieu

To The Yield 8

 Greetings

Here is the next version of this computer art

Until next time

Adieu

Christmas 4

 Greetings

I celebrate Christmas in the medieval tradition.

Christmas starts at Martinmas (11 November) and ends at Candlemas (2 February).

I tend to put up decorations well after Martinmas, as that date has now aquired other significance, but I don't take all my decoartions down at 12th Night.

I have two meals. One on Christmas Day and the other at 12th Night.

Here is the setting for my 12th Night meal this year.

These meals are the rare occasions that this table is not coved by two tablecloths ( one heat protective; one waterproof).

I use my favourite Royal Worcester china , cut-glass wine glasses and silver cutlery.

The table mats show parts of the Bayeaux Tapestry.

Once 12th Night has passed, I sometimes start to put away bits of decoration. In any event, the last bit to be taken down is the wreath on my front door, which stays there till Candlemas.

Until next time

Adieu

To The Yield 7

 Greetings

Here is the next version of the computer art.

Until next time

Adieu

New Regency 1

 Greetings

Teddy and I started work on our new Regency kit after Boxing Day.

He currenty only has his wedding suit and, whilst I have three or four outfits, they are all uniforms.

We have been collecting various period patterns and chose what seemed the best from amongst them.

We copied our respective sizes onto clear plastic sheet and then cut out calico mock-ups.

We then spent two days trying to work out why the sleeves were not sitting right.

We tried several different fixes, before deciding that the base of the sleeve was set too low.

The pattern has now been adjusted.

In the meantime, I had realised I didn't have enough backing canvas, or enough suitable lining, so we had to put in a cloth order.

We also realise that we did not have physical space to  follow the instructions for pre-shrinking the wool. The instructions said to do this even if you were going to dry clean the finished kit, as dry cleaning can shrink wool..

Teddy had the idea of contacting the people who do our dry cleaning and see if they woiuld dry clean and press the wool before we cut it out.  After a bit of to-ing and fro-ing, they agreed to do this.

The cloth order has now arrived and  the dry cleaned wool also come back to us.

I will post again when further progress has been made.

until next time

Adieu

Christmas 3

 Greetings

I always like to make an effort at Christmas.

The meal must be just so and that includes the table setting.

I have duck for myt main course and Teddy does not eat bird, so we normally eat at different times, but this year ( after a lot of mathmatical calculations) we manage to get our meals ready at the same time.

Hence this adjustment to my usual table setting.

Until next time

Adieu