Down from a "high".
I'm back home. Have been since Sunday, but hit the ground running with housework and work-work.
Tam's talk on Thursday went swimmingly well. She got to speak with some old colleagues from when she was a student at Dal, and spent most of the day at the University. I went to visit the SCA gang at the MFRC, which I think is a brilliant locale. Bigger than the basement we practiced in. Then over to J.J. and Kelly's for a night cap and conversation ('til 2am!)
Friday, Tam and I went for a walk. I love Halifax. As a visitor, knowing that just about everything is within reasonable walking distance makes a big difference when you want to see stuff. Too bad it decided to rain on the one day we had to ourselves to go sight-seeing and do some Christmas shopping for family back home. Had some really good food at O'Carroll's Irish Pub for lunch.
Saturday was the event. I enttered my "first" ever A&S competition, with absolutely NO expectations to win anything, but was really looking forward to getting some feedback from the judges (or anyone else interested in giving me their impression). I knew the mead would go over well, and had very little hope for the leather garters, but the Pelican scroll I made for Gavlinne was something I was really hoping to get some critique on. I was happy to have had the chance to speak with the judges at the end of the day, and will definitely make use of their observations in my future projects. The fighting was a LOT of fun. I haven't had a chance to swing a stick since my bout with Bronchitis last month, so I had no expectations there either, but I think I did okay considering my lack of activity this fall. I am VERY fortunate to have such a great friend as Cairn to have transported my armour from Montreal for me. I think the icing on the cake came from Guthfrith who e-mailed me to thank me personally for having had the chance to spar with him, and for going out of my way to fight the "locals" as they seldom get a chance to practice with outsiders. Court was an emotional rollercoaster ride. Between the Baron and Baroness stepping down and saying their goodbyes, our "protectorship" of the lands of Ruantallan, and the new awards given out (Cairn got his long overdue Silver Crescent), accompanied by the fabulous FEAST to end all feasts, I don't think I could have taken much more. ;o)
Couple of things:
(1) Lugg had only just walked into the hall, having trolled in, when I walked straight up to him and asked "Are you fighting today? No? What are your plans? None? Really? Well, I've got just the thing for you!" I explained that Lady Cornelia was in charge of organising the Queen's guard for the event, but she seemed to be short on staff, so I asked if he would be willing to help out until relieved. The look of terror in his eyes was priceless! Now, you have to understand that Lugg looks like a 6'8" bald barrel-chested lumberjack. What I DIDN'T expect was for him to spend almost the entire day standing vigil behind her! This was his first time back to the SCA after a twelve or so year hiatus, and I felt a little guilty at first for having thrust him into this position. However, not only did he get a QHD for his service at the event, but he was also formally invited into the Queen's Guard! Good for him! Now you have to understand that since I kinda thrust him into the limelight the way I did, I felt that the "least" I could do was offer him my own prized posession : the Queen's Guard baldric that was given to me as a gift by Duchess Anna when she stepped down as Queen. Just before leaving the site that evening, evilnicola came to me and gave the "two thumbs up" on my choice of Guard for Alethea. Lugg made my event. If no-one snatches him up, I may just have to do something about it.
(2) After great deliberation, much cattle-prodding, and a good "talk", I feel that I have made the right choice for a new protégé. Lady Evangeline's ceremony will likely be taking place in July, place to be determined. The ball is in her court, as she needs to juggle vacation time and her time off on account of her wedding. I don't know what it is about me that make the folks in Ruantallan swarm in my direction. Either way, I'm honoured to be of service if they feel I have something to offer.
(3) My current and only protégé, Toqtamish, got a QHD for helping out fair Queen when she was in distress with an earache. He drove her to the hospital, and spent several hours with her. That's just the kind of guy he is.
Yup. If I had a choice to live anywhere, I think Halifax definitely makes the "short list".
Tam's talk on Thursday went swimmingly well. She got to speak with some old colleagues from when she was a student at Dal, and spent most of the day at the University. I went to visit the SCA gang at the MFRC, which I think is a brilliant locale. Bigger than the basement we practiced in. Then over to J.J. and Kelly's for a night cap and conversation ('til 2am!)
Friday, Tam and I went for a walk. I love Halifax. As a visitor, knowing that just about everything is within reasonable walking distance makes a big difference when you want to see stuff. Too bad it decided to rain on the one day we had to ourselves to go sight-seeing and do some Christmas shopping for family back home. Had some really good food at O'Carroll's Irish Pub for lunch.
Saturday was the event. I enttered my "first" ever A&S competition, with absolutely NO expectations to win anything, but was really looking forward to getting some feedback from the judges (or anyone else interested in giving me their impression). I knew the mead would go over well, and had very little hope for the leather garters, but the Pelican scroll I made for Gavlinne was something I was really hoping to get some critique on. I was happy to have had the chance to speak with the judges at the end of the day, and will definitely make use of their observations in my future projects. The fighting was a LOT of fun. I haven't had a chance to swing a stick since my bout with Bronchitis last month, so I had no expectations there either, but I think I did okay considering my lack of activity this fall. I am VERY fortunate to have such a great friend as Cairn to have transported my armour from Montreal for me. I think the icing on the cake came from Guthfrith who e-mailed me to thank me personally for having had the chance to spar with him, and for going out of my way to fight the "locals" as they seldom get a chance to practice with outsiders. Court was an emotional rollercoaster ride. Between the Baron and Baroness stepping down and saying their goodbyes, our "protectorship" of the lands of Ruantallan, and the new awards given out (Cairn got his long overdue Silver Crescent), accompanied by the fabulous FEAST to end all feasts, I don't think I could have taken much more. ;o)
Couple of things:
(1) Lugg had only just walked into the hall, having trolled in, when I walked straight up to him and asked "Are you fighting today? No? What are your plans? None? Really? Well, I've got just the thing for you!" I explained that Lady Cornelia was in charge of organising the Queen's guard for the event, but she seemed to be short on staff, so I asked if he would be willing to help out until relieved. The look of terror in his eyes was priceless! Now, you have to understand that Lugg looks like a 6'8" bald barrel-chested lumberjack. What I DIDN'T expect was for him to spend almost the entire day standing vigil behind her! This was his first time back to the SCA after a twelve or so year hiatus, and I felt a little guilty at first for having thrust him into this position. However, not only did he get a QHD for his service at the event, but he was also formally invited into the Queen's Guard! Good for him! Now you have to understand that since I kinda thrust him into the limelight the way I did, I felt that the "least" I could do was offer him my own prized posession : the Queen's Guard baldric that was given to me as a gift by Duchess Anna when she stepped down as Queen. Just before leaving the site that evening, evilnicola came to me and gave the "two thumbs up" on my choice of Guard for Alethea. Lugg made my event. If no-one snatches him up, I may just have to do something about it.
(2) After great deliberation, much cattle-prodding, and a good "talk", I feel that I have made the right choice for a new protégé. Lady Evangeline's ceremony will likely be taking place in July, place to be determined. The ball is in her court, as she needs to juggle vacation time and her time off on account of her wedding. I don't know what it is about me that make the folks in Ruantallan swarm in my direction. Either way, I'm honoured to be of service if they feel I have something to offer.
(3) My current and only protégé, Toqtamish, got a QHD for helping out fair Queen when she was in distress with an earache. He drove her to the hospital, and spent several hours with her. That's just the kind of guy he is.
Yup. If I had a choice to live anywhere, I think Halifax definitely makes the "short list".