A Year in the Life . . . Preparation

Training

Well, things have moved on apace since writing my last entry. Training has continued on a regular basis at The Lookout. Attendance has been sporadic due to inclement weather and a marriage, but there have been a couple of good bashes. Things will quieten down in the summer as the vast number of events will make training sessions redundant. But also there's often a training session at every major show and even a "National Training weekend" at Shrewsbury (which I attended - but more on that later).

Shopping

Winter seems to be a time for sanding spears, scraping layers of mud and paint off shields, making clothes and more importantly, buying stuff. At the time of writing this entry, there are two re-enactment fayres held at Blackbird Leys Leisure centre in Cowley (near Oxford) in the March and November of each year. They are good times to buy, not because they are any cheaper (they aren't) but because you are able to meet up with your mates and shop at leisure without worrying about rushing back to the living history encampment.

There is a myth that the good stuff is held back until these occasions, but I'm not too sure of that!

If you cannot make it to Blackbird Leys, then go to a major show (such as Kirby Hall, or Hastings) and you'll find most of the same people there - they're like camp followers, of a sort.

Since my last shopping expedition, Carole, my wife kindly manufactured for me a woollen over-tunic, a pair of trousers and a linen undertunic. At £5 a Metre, it wasn't too expensive - though the favours I now owe my wife may take quite a while to repay.

My purchase this time was merely intended to be some wool for a cloak and a Scramsaex. I ended up spending much more.

Yes, I found the wool for my cloak and I did get my Scramsaex, but I also found a bone spoon, a leather pouch to carry it in (as well as my valuables), a silver cross (my Regia character is a good Christian, even if I ain't!) and a rather good book about Anglo-Saxon weapons and combat (by Richard Underwood) Oh, and a sword (an impulse buy). I mean, I haven't even passed my spear test. But I wanted one to at least practise with, and with my wife heavily pregnant, I might not have the money to spare/waste in the future!

At a later date I also bought another, somewhat more vital piece of kit, for "eventing". A tent.

As it will be some time before little Owen is hardy enough to survive a night in a tent (let alone drag Carole out in one) a two-berth tent was the order of the day. Throw in one portable gas stove, a kettle and saucepan, and apart from something to sleep in (which I already had) and food, that's all you need to survive. Time will tell if I missed out something important.

There is always the option of sharing, but sometimes you just can't wait for other, sleepier fellows to wake up before you have your early morning cuppa.