No shit, there I was...
warning- this is going to be an extremely long post that I will put under a cut for those of you who do not wish to read of my adventures this past weekend at Canterbury Faire. In amongst my writing I will be including pictures and videos for your enjoyment! Have fun!
It started out very early in the morning, though not as early as I normally have to get up, with being picked up by Cynthia (who had already packed up her car with everything needed except for the stuff that I was bringing with me). We drove to Wellington and the ferry, stopping at a grocery store to pick up some food, which we ate as we waited to be able to load onto the ferry.
Once on the ferry, I was warned that it may be a rough ride - the straight being known for its rough waters. But, surprisingly, we had clear sailing the entire way- a beautiful blue sky and amazing scenery.
We arrived in Picton after our three hour ferry ride and immediately drove towards Waipara... a good chunk of driving made worse by the fact that it pissed down rain. It did not matter much though as the scenery was still gorgeous and I even got to see a ton of seals on the way there! Usually I am not excited by seals, but there were just so many of them, it was quite nifty. The rain eventually let off as we neared the site (getting there about 6 pm, pretty much 12 hours from when we initially started out... was SO tired) and we were able to set up camp on only vaguely damp ground. We were a bit rushed as dinner was being served and being that we were on the meal plan (and rather hungry by this point) we decided to finish setting up later and instead throw on some garb and go get food!
Man, was I glad that we chose to do that. Now, the meal plan was something like $45 NZ and included porridge for breakfast every day we were there, lunch that generally was a selection of cold meats, buns, cheese, salad and fruit and dinners that varied each and every night (except for Saturday, the night of the feast, which was separate and I missed out on buying a ticket for). The only other thing we had to do was volunteer two shifts in the kitchen doing anything from cleaning to cooking (I chose cooking). It. Was. Awesome!
To give you an idea of how we ate the ENTIRE time, this is what we had on the FIRST NIGHT THERE (keep in mind, this is not the feast, which was even more impressive)
First Course:
Bellaria (almonds, honey, sesame seeds, poppy seeds)
Bread
Olives
Fried Beaks
Salad
Second Course:
Fried Sardines
Roast Fish with Green Relish
Stewed Tuna
Stewed Chickpeas
Stewed Cabbage
Risi e Bisi (Venetian Rice with peas)
Third Course:
Rice in Almonds
Stewed Fruit
Fresh Fruit
Nuts and Dried Fruit.
Now, i am sure that many of you know the way to Ash's heart, but for those of you who are not aware... I am a HUGE sucker for Fruit. I ate SO much fruit this weekend and it just kept coming and coming! *glee* It was awesome!
So, with dinner said and done I decided to head back to my tent to finish setting up before it got too late, which I did before heading off to The Mangy Mongol Tavern/Cafe.
Best. Idea. Ever. Have a tavern that also serves Turkish coffee and teas- for $12 you can have your very own cup that can be used for unlimited coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
No, I am not kidding- this is the cup you get (looks bigger than it actually was, but you could keep getting it filled up, so really, no complaints!)
Unfortunately, I found myself feeling rather out of sorts - being that it was the first night and I an incredibly new face, I found it difficult to find people who would let me into their conversations or groups. It was strange as I usually do not have a problem with this... and of course this got me thinking of all of my SCA friends back home and how much I missed them and eventing with them. Well, I decided that maybe it would be best for me to go back to my tent and just go to bed and thus head back in that direction. On the way I met a lovely Lord who just simply said hello to me... I said hello back and we both hesitated for a split second. Being me, I jumped in immediately with a "how are you" and thus, the conversation was started and I was lucky enough to meet the first of a very lovely group of people. Taztorien, as was this good gentle's name, invited me back to his encampment, having both of us decided that going to the Mong was not a preferable choice for the moment.
We ended up chatting for most of the night and probably would have gone well into the morning if I had not been so very tired. We were joined eventually by Vigo and Stefan. I found myself quickly in the company of this dastardly group of rogues who, strangely enough, were not even SCA, being a part of a local steel group. We chatted and had a good time, eventually deciding on heading to bed (which really, was a good idea as I had been up far too late by that point!)
The next day included many good things such as some amazing war scenarios (which I hope to get the information of for all of you who may be interested.) My personal favourite was where, after the heavies fought, they let all of the children run onto the field to loot the corpses. The kids had to collect red ribbons and then they could exchance the ribbons for candy - I was VERY amused!
After the fighting and lunch there was a lovely little merchants market, where I found many delectable items to drool over (and drool I did).
In fact, I have collected information of a very awesome potter who is more than happy to ship to Canada and who has INCREDIBLY nice stuff! I also have a price list *grins* It is all good. The market was busy and after purchasing a few small items (and having a lovely bracelet bought for me by Calach - another of the Steel Group) I decided to leave the crowded area and head back towards the field.
I had the bonus of meeting this fine young boy, by the name of Ethan, who had been running around all day challenging various other children. In fact, I do not think that he took his armour off for most of the event!
He also ended up fighting the King of Lochac, Alfar... which I did happen to catch on video:
The king also fought Sir Phillipe de Tournee, who was a traveller like myself... though he hailed from ... somewhere in California. Though he did not fare as well as young Ethan.
I found myself having to run away in the afternoon, due to having promised to help in the kitchen for the feast (if you can't be a part of the feast you may as well help with it!) and I had an absolutely lovely time working in the kitchen helping stir, cut and organize trays:
My favourite was the desert of fresh strawberries and lovely little marzipan hedgehogs!
When all was said and done, I went outside and climbed a small hill, being told that it was an absolutely breathtaking view...and it was.
Of course, I had the bonus of hitting it JUST at the right time... it was such a gorgeous sunset with such vibrant colours all around me. My photo does not really do it justice, but, it gives you a good idea!
After the feast I escaped to spend time with the lovely group that decided to adopt me and we drank and caroused and had a general good time until I realized that it would be best for me to get some sleep if I wanted to be in good form for fighting the next day.
Unfortunately, I was not in fabulous form...
I fought the Baroness of Ildhafn (Cecilia) and did not even present a challenge to her, though she is also a very good fighter!
I got to fight twice and I died twice... by the time I died the second time I was feeling ready to go, until I realized that it was a double elimination and I was out of the tournament!
So, a very sad Celeste waited around until afterwards where we did a ton of pick-up fights, which made for a very happy Celeste as i did not suck as much then! That and I began to realize little things that I had either been forgetting or neglecting, which was really neat. At least I realized what I was doing wrong! Just a matter of not having had much practice. I also acquired a new nickname: Cookie.
Again, any of you who know me, know that I have a penchant for bursting it to song and it is not my fault that when asked my name I replied "Celeste" and immediately the person said "C is for..." and I burst into "Cookie, that's good enough for me!"
*rolls eyes*
I decided, at one point, to try for offhand ladle, but I don't think that they would actually let me fight with that...
So...this brings me to Sunday evening where I got to enjoy the most wonderfully put on Half Circle Theatre! Acting and singing and playing of musical instruments- all outside and under the stars, lit by candles and with much laughter and joy. I got to be a part of the cheap seats (because I was too cheap to buy a ticket) and thus sat on the ground to watch the show(s). I have to admit that one of the funniest parts was actually in the middle of one of the plays, when these two small girls walked behind the set carrying a very large matress. hee hee hee
Later on in the evening I convened with the steel group and we decided that we should form a household! A very exciting moment really... probably partially brought on in the beginning, by much drinking (mmm...wine...) and the sugar rush from candy beaten out of a pinata at the House Amberley Toga party. We tried to come up with names, devices and all manner of other things, but then ended up concentrating more on drinking and the stars and chatting about all manner of great things.
Which, heh, ended up with me staying up way too late, and drinking far too much!
Still, somehow I managed to get myself up in time for breakfast in the morning (don't ask me how I did it, I have no clue) and be really really bouncy and chipper.
I was bouncy and chipper right up until my second bout in the rapier melee - I had really set myself up for it, had done a few pick-up fights beforehand to get myself warmed up and was doing a lot better than I had the day before. (I still died, but i was dying with much more style and putting up more of a fight!)
That is, until the second bout where right before I was to make a good blow I felt a wave of sickness and heat wash over me, making me hesitate and stop long enough to be killed quite thoroughly. I stepped off the field and realized within ten seconds that I would not be able to fight any more- a combination of heat and dehydration making me unfit for play. (You would think that I would know better, having been a water bearer for most of my years within the SCA *sighs and shakes her head* Silly me!) I was looked after quite thoroughly, drank lots of water and took it easy for the rest of the morning/afternoon like a good girl, sadly missing out on the rest of the melee (and being a girl, I cried. It has been pointed out to me that I do not take disappointment well and it is very very true.)
So, instead, I took great joy in helping cook dinner! Spent a good chunk of time in the kitchen getting to chat with Tetsu (yet another of the lovely group) and being informed that the household/mercenary group finally had a name: (correct me if I am wrong) the Band of Gryphons (heh, we all spell Gryphon differently)
But you get the drift! So, here we are:
(From left to right starting at the back and then the front)
Tetsu, Calach, Taztorien, Vigo, Roz
Stefan, Celeste, Lukas
By the by... one of the largest households - Amberley - has about ten actual members and have been together for quite a long time. For just getting together over the weekend I think that we have done a fabulous job! *grins* We are indeed a mischievous group (i fit right in!) and we are also known to be the all-singing, all-fighting, all...drinking? Mercenary Band who takes over taverns and probably a bunch of other things that I should not mention here ;)
*grins cheekily*
At some point we wanderred up to the great hall to watch the very intriguing Tassle Kicking competition (complete with live band). I cannot really explain it, so I taped it!
Needless to say, I had a most wonderful time! Friday was soon forgotten and its spot in my memory was replaced with new friends, lots of hugs and an amazingly good time. I have not begun to mention half of the people that I met at the event, there truly were too many to mention! There are a few who stand out in my mind, of course, such as Edward Long-hair (who is pretty much the offical photographer of the event and whom I could see lurking around everything that was happening at any given time. I swear, that man seemed to be everywhere at once!) There is also so much that I could mention... I have not even started on talking about the fighter auction, the herald auction, the amazing war scenarios... *sighs happily*
But, this lj post, like the event and many other good things, must end and I must find some food to eat. Also, it would be nice to enjoy the sun as while I got much sun this weekend I still want to take advantage of the nice weather while I have it.
I have been informed that I -am- coming back next year (there is no try, there is only do or do not) and Vigo, you were right, you did not need to say more.
All for one
One for All
It started out very early in the morning, though not as early as I normally have to get up, with being picked up by Cynthia (who had already packed up her car with everything needed except for the stuff that I was bringing with me). We drove to Wellington and the ferry, stopping at a grocery store to pick up some food, which we ate as we waited to be able to load onto the ferry.
Once on the ferry, I was warned that it may be a rough ride - the straight being known for its rough waters. But, surprisingly, we had clear sailing the entire way- a beautiful blue sky and amazing scenery.
We arrived in Picton after our three hour ferry ride and immediately drove towards Waipara... a good chunk of driving made worse by the fact that it pissed down rain. It did not matter much though as the scenery was still gorgeous and I even got to see a ton of seals on the way there! Usually I am not excited by seals, but there were just so many of them, it was quite nifty. The rain eventually let off as we neared the site (getting there about 6 pm, pretty much 12 hours from when we initially started out... was SO tired) and we were able to set up camp on only vaguely damp ground. We were a bit rushed as dinner was being served and being that we were on the meal plan (and rather hungry by this point) we decided to finish setting up later and instead throw on some garb and go get food!
Man, was I glad that we chose to do that. Now, the meal plan was something like $45 NZ and included porridge for breakfast every day we were there, lunch that generally was a selection of cold meats, buns, cheese, salad and fruit and dinners that varied each and every night (except for Saturday, the night of the feast, which was separate and I missed out on buying a ticket for). The only other thing we had to do was volunteer two shifts in the kitchen doing anything from cleaning to cooking (I chose cooking). It. Was. Awesome!
To give you an idea of how we ate the ENTIRE time, this is what we had on the FIRST NIGHT THERE (keep in mind, this is not the feast, which was even more impressive)
First Course:
Bellaria (almonds, honey, sesame seeds, poppy seeds)
Bread
Olives
Fried Beaks
Salad
Second Course:
Fried Sardines
Roast Fish with Green Relish
Stewed Tuna
Stewed Chickpeas
Stewed Cabbage
Risi e Bisi (Venetian Rice with peas)
Third Course:
Rice in Almonds
Stewed Fruit
Fresh Fruit
Nuts and Dried Fruit.
Now, i am sure that many of you know the way to Ash's heart, but for those of you who are not aware... I am a HUGE sucker for Fruit. I ate SO much fruit this weekend and it just kept coming and coming! *glee* It was awesome!
So, with dinner said and done I decided to head back to my tent to finish setting up before it got too late, which I did before heading off to The Mangy Mongol Tavern/Cafe.
Best. Idea. Ever. Have a tavern that also serves Turkish coffee and teas- for $12 you can have your very own cup that can be used for unlimited coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
No, I am not kidding- this is the cup you get (looks bigger than it actually was, but you could keep getting it filled up, so really, no complaints!)
Unfortunately, I found myself feeling rather out of sorts - being that it was the first night and I an incredibly new face, I found it difficult to find people who would let me into their conversations or groups. It was strange as I usually do not have a problem with this... and of course this got me thinking of all of my SCA friends back home and how much I missed them and eventing with them. Well, I decided that maybe it would be best for me to go back to my tent and just go to bed and thus head back in that direction. On the way I met a lovely Lord who just simply said hello to me... I said hello back and we both hesitated for a split second. Being me, I jumped in immediately with a "how are you" and thus, the conversation was started and I was lucky enough to meet the first of a very lovely group of people. Taztorien, as was this good gentle's name, invited me back to his encampment, having both of us decided that going to the Mong was not a preferable choice for the moment.
We ended up chatting for most of the night and probably would have gone well into the morning if I had not been so very tired. We were joined eventually by Vigo and Stefan. I found myself quickly in the company of this dastardly group of rogues who, strangely enough, were not even SCA, being a part of a local steel group. We chatted and had a good time, eventually deciding on heading to bed (which really, was a good idea as I had been up far too late by that point!)
The next day included many good things such as some amazing war scenarios (which I hope to get the information of for all of you who may be interested.) My personal favourite was where, after the heavies fought, they let all of the children run onto the field to loot the corpses. The kids had to collect red ribbons and then they could exchance the ribbons for candy - I was VERY amused!
After the fighting and lunch there was a lovely little merchants market, where I found many delectable items to drool over (and drool I did).
In fact, I have collected information of a very awesome potter who is more than happy to ship to Canada and who has INCREDIBLY nice stuff! I also have a price list *grins* It is all good. The market was busy and after purchasing a few small items (and having a lovely bracelet bought for me by Calach - another of the Steel Group) I decided to leave the crowded area and head back towards the field.
I had the bonus of meeting this fine young boy, by the name of Ethan, who had been running around all day challenging various other children. In fact, I do not think that he took his armour off for most of the event!
He also ended up fighting the King of Lochac, Alfar... which I did happen to catch on video:
The king also fought Sir Phillipe de Tournee, who was a traveller like myself... though he hailed from ... somewhere in California. Though he did not fare as well as young Ethan.
I found myself having to run away in the afternoon, due to having promised to help in the kitchen for the feast (if you can't be a part of the feast you may as well help with it!) and I had an absolutely lovely time working in the kitchen helping stir, cut and organize trays:
My favourite was the desert of fresh strawberries and lovely little marzipan hedgehogs!
When all was said and done, I went outside and climbed a small hill, being told that it was an absolutely breathtaking view...and it was.
Of course, I had the bonus of hitting it JUST at the right time... it was such a gorgeous sunset with such vibrant colours all around me. My photo does not really do it justice, but, it gives you a good idea!
After the feast I escaped to spend time with the lovely group that decided to adopt me and we drank and caroused and had a general good time until I realized that it would be best for me to get some sleep if I wanted to be in good form for fighting the next day.
Unfortunately, I was not in fabulous form...
I fought the Baroness of Ildhafn (Cecilia) and did not even present a challenge to her, though she is also a very good fighter!
I got to fight twice and I died twice... by the time I died the second time I was feeling ready to go, until I realized that it was a double elimination and I was out of the tournament!
So, a very sad Celeste waited around until afterwards where we did a ton of pick-up fights, which made for a very happy Celeste as i did not suck as much then! That and I began to realize little things that I had either been forgetting or neglecting, which was really neat. At least I realized what I was doing wrong! Just a matter of not having had much practice. I also acquired a new nickname: Cookie.
Again, any of you who know me, know that I have a penchant for bursting it to song and it is not my fault that when asked my name I replied "Celeste" and immediately the person said "C is for..." and I burst into "Cookie, that's good enough for me!"
*rolls eyes*
I decided, at one point, to try for offhand ladle, but I don't think that they would actually let me fight with that...
So...this brings me to Sunday evening where I got to enjoy the most wonderfully put on Half Circle Theatre! Acting and singing and playing of musical instruments- all outside and under the stars, lit by candles and with much laughter and joy. I got to be a part of the cheap seats (because I was too cheap to buy a ticket) and thus sat on the ground to watch the show(s). I have to admit that one of the funniest parts was actually in the middle of one of the plays, when these two small girls walked behind the set carrying a very large matress. hee hee hee
Later on in the evening I convened with the steel group and we decided that we should form a household! A very exciting moment really... probably partially brought on in the beginning, by much drinking (mmm...wine...) and the sugar rush from candy beaten out of a pinata at the House Amberley Toga party. We tried to come up with names, devices and all manner of other things, but then ended up concentrating more on drinking and the stars and chatting about all manner of great things.
Which, heh, ended up with me staying up way too late, and drinking far too much!
Still, somehow I managed to get myself up in time for breakfast in the morning (don't ask me how I did it, I have no clue) and be really really bouncy and chipper.
I was bouncy and chipper right up until my second bout in the rapier melee - I had really set myself up for it, had done a few pick-up fights beforehand to get myself warmed up and was doing a lot better than I had the day before. (I still died, but i was dying with much more style and putting up more of a fight!)
That is, until the second bout where right before I was to make a good blow I felt a wave of sickness and heat wash over me, making me hesitate and stop long enough to be killed quite thoroughly. I stepped off the field and realized within ten seconds that I would not be able to fight any more- a combination of heat and dehydration making me unfit for play. (You would think that I would know better, having been a water bearer for most of my years within the SCA *sighs and shakes her head* Silly me!) I was looked after quite thoroughly, drank lots of water and took it easy for the rest of the morning/afternoon like a good girl, sadly missing out on the rest of the melee (and being a girl, I cried. It has been pointed out to me that I do not take disappointment well and it is very very true.)
So, instead, I took great joy in helping cook dinner! Spent a good chunk of time in the kitchen getting to chat with Tetsu (yet another of the lovely group) and being informed that the household/mercenary group finally had a name: (correct me if I am wrong) the Band of Gryphons (heh, we all spell Gryphon differently)
But you get the drift! So, here we are:
(From left to right starting at the back and then the front)
Tetsu, Calach, Taztorien, Vigo, Roz
Stefan, Celeste, Lukas
By the by... one of the largest households - Amberley - has about ten actual members and have been together for quite a long time. For just getting together over the weekend I think that we have done a fabulous job! *grins* We are indeed a mischievous group (i fit right in!) and we are also known to be the all-singing, all-fighting, all...drinking? Mercenary Band who takes over taverns and probably a bunch of other things that I should not mention here ;)
*grins cheekily*
At some point we wanderred up to the great hall to watch the very intriguing Tassle Kicking competition (complete with live band). I cannot really explain it, so I taped it!
Needless to say, I had a most wonderful time! Friday was soon forgotten and its spot in my memory was replaced with new friends, lots of hugs and an amazingly good time. I have not begun to mention half of the people that I met at the event, there truly were too many to mention! There are a few who stand out in my mind, of course, such as Edward Long-hair (who is pretty much the offical photographer of the event and whom I could see lurking around everything that was happening at any given time. I swear, that man seemed to be everywhere at once!) There is also so much that I could mention... I have not even started on talking about the fighter auction, the herald auction, the amazing war scenarios... *sighs happily*
But, this lj post, like the event and many other good things, must end and I must find some food to eat. Also, it would be nice to enjoy the sun as while I got much sun this weekend I still want to take advantage of the nice weather while I have it.
I have been informed that I -am- coming back next year (there is no try, there is only do or do not) and Vigo, you were right, you did not need to say more.
All for one
One for All