Off to Italy

Tonight we are all travelling to here..............

The small Italian town of Morimondo........
To do this.........
There will be a kitchen, of course - we have to eat!........... 'What's for dinner, Vintner?'
And soldiers from many, many different countries taking part....
But, being British - show us a field and we'll always manage to scratch up a cricket game.........'huzzah, my lord!!'I can't wait - three days in Morimondo and one day in Milan........not bad for my first trip to Italy....
And speaking of My Lord Hungerford, we have yet to hear from His Importance on Naomi's Question....
For me it is a very simple thing.
Though I was born into the twentieth century I have never fitted into the role that modern society has seen fit to place me. I am constantly baffled by modern society and it's need to quantify and qualify. To cope, as I imagine most people do, I hide myself in a shell of conformity. Re-enactment provides me with a safe environment amongst the friends I care about; in which to be myself. When I step into character at whatever level I get the chance to explore another facet of my being; something that is good for the soul.
What else has it given me?
A vast array of obscure knowledge, comradeship, self esteem; and maybe I'm a little bit more tolerant of other people.
Thank you Gary, aka Lord Thomas Hungerford.

cq

photos taken from the Company of Chivalry gallery from the last couple of years.

Stuff and Thoughts

Crikey!! I just caught sight of my clicker and saw it has been exactly 7 months since I had a cigarette.
According to the experts I should have no more cravings - wrong...the cravings are still there.
According to the experts I should be less out of breath - wrong...still wheezing and out of breath.

I have done this before (I lasted 18 months last time) which is why I am not presuming to refer to myself as a non-smoker or even an ex-smoker. I am and always will be a recovering smoker. I could dump this tomorrow and buy a pack o' tabs.

In the meantime, my kit has been dropped off for the lorry. And we have just been told by the Italians we will be dropped back in Milan 9 hours before the flight home - any ideas to kill 9hrs, you jetsetting bunch??

And some more thoughts on re-enactment:
Mrs Aginoth:
like the others, lots of reasons: the historical side of things is interesting, researching & learning about how things were done. And learning to do stuff myself - so much more interesting than doing a history course at college And along those lines, the fact that it is interactive with the public - brings out the teacher in me and the gossip it's a good reason to spend my weekends playing instead of doing mundane 21st cetury things.
It's a way of seeing new places, new people, learning about new things.
It gets the kids outside every weekend instead of whinging about playing on the wii! It gives them an interest in history, and therefore an understanding of the way the world works and hopefully an interest in the world as it is tody, and will be tomorrow! It teaches them how to research, and why it's important to understand the whole issue in any situation, rather than just do it because we do it.
And fundamentally, because its fun.

and she asked Master Aginoth why he enjoys it:
So I can do nice things - like fighting.
It's better than playing on the wii, because it's real life.
Computers are not real life, so doing is better than playing.
Also, because its good to learn things, and knights and fighting are good things to learn about.

cq

More Thoughts on Re-Enactment

More answers to Naomi's question.........this is getting to be quite fun - I have had lots of responses......
What do you think it is about the Re-enactments that attracts? As an actress, I can understand the idea of "playing a part"..but, this is so much more than that..there is History...there is living there as if in that time period....I am fascinated by everyone's committment...!

I thought this was a good question, so asked it on our re-enactment company forum!

First one up, my master Peter:
I like re-enactment because I feel that in this day and age there are very few skills left in this country. What with industry and science it is no longer necessary to excell at anything. In medieval times people spent their whole lives doing the same job and in my opinion did better jobs than modern machinery does today.
I also enjoy the art of combat as it was a skill, again nowadays anyone can pick up a gun and point it, or press a button to shoot a rocket. It was survival of the fittest. Science in medieval times is also underated, some of the structures they built have lasted for centuries but have been built in ways that would never have got past the modern planning office. I remember seeing a cathedral where the dome is just a mish mash of wooden beams that appear to be in no order but have held it up for hundreds of years.
To answer this question fully would take hours and probably earn me a history degree but I hope this gives some indication as to why I do it.
Oh and I nearly forgot, when you do an event your everyday life gets completely left behind. Any stresses or worries are left only hitting you again when you pack up to go home.

And Simon:
It kind of all goes to back to my childhood... I've always been interested in history. It was my favourite subject at school.
I wasn't allowed to take it for GCSE and have been trying to make up for it ever since. I've always liked "dressing up". On a school visit to Carisbroke Castle (Isle of Wight) I was first in line to try on the armour and the hold the weapons. I spent many happy summer days wandering the fields and woods near home with my wooden sword and cloak made out of curtains.
Then of course there's the fireside boozing, the singing, the anecdotes about past events and the company of likeminded people with a similar outlook on life and weird sense of humour. Basically re-enactment is ace. It's also highly addictive, if I don't go to any events for too long I get withdrawl symptoms.

You know - there's quite a bit in here I would agree with......and I've only been doing it a couple of months.........

More tomorrow......

cq

Done It!!

It's 10.15pm and I have finally finished my outfits for medieval re-enactment in Italy.......

One long shift made from scratch (including a complete new neckline to correct my disastrous first effort!)

One linen underdress unpicked and resewn as a kirtle

One wool kirtle lengthened by 4inches

- so two complete outfits, for all weathers!

And my bags are packed ready for the lorry and all the kit is in the car for transportation to the lorry pick up point after work tomorrow....

So, time for the first answer to Naomi's question:
What do you think it is about the Re-enactments that attracts? As an actress, I can understand the idea of "playing a part"..but, this is so much more than that..there is History...there is living there as if in that time period....I am fascinated by everyone's committment...!

I thought this was a good question, so asked it on our re-enactment company forum!

First response is from H, aka Beatrice de Roos:
Because it makes me feel whole. when I get to an event I feel like I have come home. I've always loved the past and when I was a little girl I was always being told that I belonged in the past! With re-enactment this is the closest I can get. I love learning new things and have learnt so much in the last 5 or 6 years I've been re-enacting. basically it makes me complete. In re-enactment you belong to a world that a lot of people have lost - that is a world where your friends are your family and everyone looks out for you. It strange I almost can put my finger on why I love it so much , it's a part of who I am and is now firmly in my blood.

interesting - more insights tomorrow......

cq

How to Scare the 'Hubby' 101

MB has gone to a weekend long track event today with his precious kitcar on the trailer, driving a friend's 4X4. Which means I have the weekend to myself - good thing too, as I am trying to pull together some hot weather re-enactment kit for Morimondo in Italy next weekend.

While the lads were partaking of their 'post-packing coffee' I took the chance to show MB's friend the video on Mrs A's blog here, which is an excellent example of what we do in Italy, and even has footage of life in camp.

MB froze momentarily as he heard the clashing of swords and banging of shields and I said 'I will be on that battlefield, helping with armour and giving out water'.......

Despite the fact he has told all his pals about my new hobby, I really don't think he has either listened to me or thought the whole thing through. Guess he has a lot to think about while he's at Barkston Heath.

Update Saturday - the underdress I unpicked to get a pattern for my new summer shift has been sewn back together again. I'm not dying it for now - it's cream linen and cream it will stay - good for hot sunny weather! My new summer shift is all but done (my Young Lord will be relieved he won't be seeing my ankles any more!), just the neck to sort out (well, I mucked it up, so I have to debate how to make it good). So I just have to stick a few inches of material on the hem of my red dress and I'm good to go.

They're not perfect, but they are wearable and will do while I learn. After Italy they may get unpicked again and resewn when I have more time to fiddle around.

Oh, and I have posted the excellent question from Naomi on the Company of Chivalry forums to get the answers from the people who have been re-enacting longer than me for a more rounded response.

cq

Caerphilly

So - how was my weekend in 14c Caerphilly Castle?
I've been home since Monday, but have not been very well - and today my tonsils are swollen [cough]
Sunday in Caerphilly was amazingly windy but mostly sunny, if a little chilly. We set up the market outside and made the most of the slow gate.

Sunday night was driving rain and howling winds all night, causing everything to be damp and cold (one of the drawbacks of canvas tents!) including my sleeping bag and pretty much all my clothes.

On Monday we woke to a grey day.......

with rain drizzling down on a sodden castle.....
and a wind still blowing a gale.......

so we moved the market stalls into the great hall....it was so cool.....very medieval!
I persuaded Rhiannon to take my photo - make the most of this - I definitely won't be having any more of these done.......! :-(
And I'd like to introduce you to my new 'fella' - this is 'Bob'......actually 'Kate, short for Bob'....(it's a Blackadder joke see this link) who is my current love interest in the 14c - I like 'him' cos he's young, cute and blonde, and 'he' likes me because I am......um......strong :-)
(we call this her R2D2 photo!)

cq

(of course, this wouldn't be a full report without mentioning my latest injuries...skinned and bruised fingers from dropping the stocks on them, sunburn on my neck from a day hammering coins in the sun, a blue foot from the coin die dropping on it, and a burn on my leg the size of a 10p piece (half-dollar, perhaps?) caused by my dropping the scalding hot whistle off the kettle onto it.)

Walking in Spring

This week I went for a walk.

To see how I would cope with the Race for Life (see sidebar) I went for a four mile roundtrip walk.

I saw some lovely things......I was intrigued by a pedestrian crossing for horses - first clue I live in the country??

Then I turned up the main road and saw some magnificent young bullocks in the field.....I love cows, they are so restful - and they always come over to say hello :-)

Then I turned to photograph where I had walked - which gives a nice idea of my locale....

(we live about two miles to the left of the photo!)

I couldn't resist taking this photo of the meadow I passed.....

Isn't it amazing how resilient flowers are? I loved these two little flowers pushing through the concrete of these walls......
Then I reached the halfway point and turned down the footpath through the fields that would lead back to my home......

And this weekend I am going here:

to do this:

a nice weekend in 14C Caerphilly Castle..... :-)

See you back in the 21C on Monday night....

cq

Dreamscape

I had the weirdest dream last night......

I dreamt I had started smoking again and was suffering terrible pangs of guilt that I hadn't turned off the clicker on my blog.

I hasten to add; I haven't - not one cigarette since 10pm on the 15th October.

But why did I have this dream?

cq

Sunday

Well, yesterday was good. The bread came out ok (still learning!) and a loaf went to the Aginoths.
I didn't get any archery practice 'cos Vic didn't bring her bow and the draw is too heavy for me on the other longbows they have.
But a nice afternoon chatting followed by a bit of a barbeque and then some adult time chatting in the lounge made for a lovely time anyway - and gives my bruises more time to heal!

The sun is shining here, the Sunday dinner is all done and I'm about to start the ironing. Then I'm off to see 'Next' tonight with the gang. I'm not a huge fan of Nicolas Cage, although he is ok, but the film has had positive reviews. Anything has to be better than 'Blades of Glory'!

Next week is my last full week in the office for about three weeks - I have scrounged a week or so off, including time off around the Italy trip. I intend to sleep a lot..... :-)

cq

Another Busy Weekend....

You know, since I started this Living History thing - my life just isn't mine any more......and it's fab!
This morning it's a flurry of laundry, tidying and making bread (by hand, of course) before heading off to the Aginoths' again for my second archery lesson this afternoon.
My bruises are nearly healed and I have been told in no uncertain terms to use a bracer!! Also, I nicked Cyberkitten's dumbbells and have been exercising my triceps all week........

I also got a cancellation place for the renactment trip to Italy in three weeks' time - so now I'm stressing out about that! :-)

Tomorrow it's the usual Sunday stuff with a visit to the cinema thrown in. RCA is coming to town (yippee!! - we hardly see her now she's toddled off to London to live with her darling K!) so the gang is heading out to see.......er, sorry - what are we seeing, guys??

I went out with my much loved Bobkat this week just gone. A magical evening of chat and pizza, only marred by the..........um........truly AWFUL film we actually chose to see!! Trust me, people, Blades of Glory is possible one of the worst films I have ever seen.....never, ever trust the combination of Will Ferrell and Ben Stiller (unless you're only ten, of course!).
We have agreed - if we walk into another theatre and the audience is predominantly male and in their late teens/twenties - we are asking for a refund!!

But, on the plus side, we did see trailers for a couple of good films in the future.......including Simpsons and Pirates (how eclectic are we!?!)

Nearly time to get my bread out of the airing cupboard......

cq

WICOE

WICOE (Women In Charge Of Everything) is proud to announce the opening of its

EVENING CLASSES FOR MEN!

OPEN TO MEN ONLY

ALL ARE WELCOME

Note: due to the complexity and level of difficulty, each course will accept a maximum of eight participants

The course covers two days, and topics covered in this course include:

DAY ONE

HOW TO FILL ICE CUBE TRAYS

Step by step guide with slide presentation

TOILET ROLLS- DO THEY GROW ON THE HOLDERS?

Roundtable discussion

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LAUNDRY BASKET & FLOOR

Practicing with hamper (Pictures and graphics)

DISHES & SILVERWARE; DO THEY LEVITATE/FLY TO KITCHEN SINK OR DISHWASHER BY THEMSELVES?

Debate among a panel of experts.

REMOTE CONTROL

Losing the remote control - Help line and support groups

LEARNING HOW TO FIND THINGS

Starting with looking in the right place instead of turning the house upside down while screaming - Open forum

DAY TWO

EMPTY MILK CARTONS; DO THEY BELONG IN THE FRIDGE OR THE BIN?

Group discussion and role play

HEALTH WATCH; BRINGING HER FLOWERS IS NOT HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH PowerPoint presentation

REAL MEN ASK FOR DIRECTIONS WHEN LOST

Real life testimonial from the one man who did

IS IT GENETICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SIT QUIETLY AS SHE PARALLEL PARKS? Driving simulation

LIVING WITH ADULTS; BASIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR PARTNER

Online class and role playing

HOW TO BE THE IDEAL SHOPPING COMPANION

Relaxation exercises, meditation and breathing techniques

REMEMBERING IMPORTANT DATES & CALLING WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE

Bring your calendar or PDA to class

GETTING OVER IT; LEARNING HOW TO LIVE WITH BEING WRONG ALL THE TIME

Individual counsellors available

Rachel Mills

Occupational Therapy Assistant

[blame david - he asked for something for men!]
[chuckle]

cq

Black and Blue.....and green and violet....

Here is the inside of my elbow now.......one ice pack and two days later, bruising brought to the surface:

and the inside of my wrist.........

They look awful, but are not that painful - although the bruising on my wrist is making my carpal tunnel swell slightly and making my hand tingle a bit. In fact, tonight I forgot I had them 'til I caught sight of my wrist.

Tonight I saw 'Curse of the Golden Flower' - Shakespeare meets Chinese Folk Tale.....the only words are Sumptuous and Tragedic.

cq

Busy Day at the Palace

It's a busy day at the Palace today, trying to cram my chores into the morning - 'cos this afternoon I am strolling down the M5 to see the Aginoths and take part in some archery practice.....should be interesting, I haven't drawn a bow since I was about ten!!

Update: I hit the target - a lot so [wrinkles nose] still ok :-)........
but I have suffered apprentice archer's arm.......

If you look carefully, you can see the striations where the bowstring bounced off my arm.....does it hurt? Oh yessssss.........

More practice required!! But first - I must heal a bit!

Then Mr and Mrs A are having a long overdue night out together - and I am staying to look after the Aglets......

Meanwhile, here is Part Two (Part One here) of the 100 Signs You Are A Re-Enactor.....

51. You describe your company's logo to the printer's shop using heraldic terms.
52. Instead of having dreams about being out in public with no clothes on, you have dreams about being at an event in mundane clothing.
53. You catch yourself thinking "'Gules, three chevrons’ or ‘Nice tabard. Classic Anglo-Norman style, easily visible.’ Oh! I guess it'd better be visible, he's a road repair worker!
54. You go running up the stairs at work and reach down to hold the hem of your underdress up so as not to trip over it... and you're wearing trousers.
55. You can make a loaf of bread faster than you can program a bread machine.
56. You make all your own bread and you don't own a bread pan.
57. Your mundane friends wangle invitations for Sunday supper so they can sample the feast leftovers.
58. A student greets you in a Monday morning class by asking "So, did your wife kill anyone this weekend?"
59. Your friend invites you to a "dress nice" party, and you realize that your best looking clothes are your banqueting kit.
60. Your friend tells you her new boyfriend works in a fabric store and your first thought is "How cool!"
61. The only time you can see your living room floor is when your van is packed for an event.
62. You see a mother tenderly picking a splinter out of her son's hand with a shortsword.
63. You pull out a wax tablet to write down someone's email address at an event
64. You buy a bottle of booze just for the neat pouch.
65. Your buying black walnuts and ferrous sulfate from a health food store mean a new "dye" not a new "diet".
66. You have to find something else to wear on Halloween, because your kit just doesn't feel like a costume anymore.
67. "Dining room large enough for a dozen scribes and all their equipment" or "garden big enough to hold a battle practice" appears on the must-have list for your new house.
68. You go to the hardware store and ask for a drawknife for shaving rattan, only to have them explain that no one makes them anymore.
69. You plan your car-trip vacations around events happening in other areas and even pack accordingly.
70. You're male and you see an attractive woman in a skin-tight black velvet dress, and your primary thought is "Wow!! What I wouldn't give for ten yards of that!"
71. You're babysitting and you wonder if they'd give you the curtains as pay
72. The gynecologist asks "When is your period?", and you answer "Early 14th century (or whenever)".
73. You go to a funeral and spend your time looking at the great pavilion over the grave site and wonder where they got it
74. Cleaning your knives (and axes, and swords and spears) is not only an entire evening's work, but an entire evening's entertainment!
75. You start wearing your tankard and belt pouch around with your mundanes, because it's so darn convenient.
76. Your future husband's wedding garb costs more than yours, and has more trim.
77. "Two helmets, Anglo-Norman style preferred" appears on your wedding registry.
78. You've called your dorm ahead of time to ask if it's OK to keep swords in your room.
79. You realize you've used porta-loos more often than "flushies" recently.
80. A gift certificate at an upholstery store was one of your favorite birthday gifts this year.
81. The worst news you've had all year is that the leather store near you is closing!
82. You're disappointed that your British Literature textbook doesn't have Beowulf in parallel text.
83. You enter your lady's boudoir for the first time, and the first words to escape your lips are "Nice sewing machine!"
84. Costumed people going into Rocky Horror have asked you about your "funny clothes".
85. You show up for work on Monday with the most interesting bruises. (Or possibly a mail weave sunburn).
86. A man says "whoa! Nice legs! Hubba hubba!" and he's talking about your armor.
87. You rattle when you walk, because you're wearing a mail shirt under your shirt to save carrying it.
88. If you're bruised black and blue every Monday morning.... and you enjoyed getting that way.
89. You're wearing mail to the office hidden under your jumper because you need to get used to moving round in it.
90. You sneer at sword fights in films because any fool can tell they're not within striking distance of their opponents
91. Dessert is served in stainless steel dishes; you start speculating on how easy they would be to beat into shield bosses.
92. You were asked to find a broom handle to work a jack with and couldn't find a broom but came back with a longaxe and a spear.
93. You can't raise your arms above horizontal on a Monday morning.
94. You're daft enough to lock the keys in your van, but you managed to pry a window open with your sword.
95. You find yourself incapable of small hand motions and can only move your whole arm, or at best, wrist flicks.
96. You're female and "You're so aggressive!" is a compliment!
97. After an event, while getting dressed in mundanes, you don your swordbelt and weapons.
98. Your sweatpants have holes in the knees and rust stains, because you wore your armor over/under them.
99. You've ruined your deep fat fryer using it to melt wax.
100. After viewing this list, your mundane significant other chuckles for days, while you mutter to yourself "I don't see what's so funny about that."

I will be sending interview questions to Naomi, Uisce, Cyberkitten, Mrs A and Michele (nominated by Pat AND Colleen - poor Michele!) tomorrow.
Let's just say it's been a difficult week.

'til the Aglets are sleeping tonight, my friends....

cq

Is it Me, is it You?

[pulled up to the top, 'cos it's fun!]

Here's a meme with a difference - an interview meme...

The Rules (well, there has to be SOME rules!)
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your weblog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Okay - here are my questions from the lovely LadyBug...

1. If you could do it all over, what would you be when you grow up?
I don't know. I would assume if I do it all over, I will make the same decisions as before - which would land me in the same position. Or do I have second sight? If you're looking for the 'ideal', I guess I would have lived up to my family's expectations and become a teacher.

2. Who is your best friend and for how long?
Amongst my friends I actually have several 'best friends'.
Aginoth is my best friend, my pseudo-brother. He and I are very similar and I am also very close to his family and adore them. We have been friends since A Jnr was a baby - so about 6yrs.

Cyberkitten is my alternate ego, we think and say the same things - usually at the same time! We have been friends for 8yrs.

Bobkat is my bestest girly pal, and I love her to bits. We have been friends for 3yrs (? looks at Bobkat).

If I had to choose a night out with one of these, it would probably be Bobkat (sorry boys).

3. How did you meet your spouse/significant other?
I met MB at work. I started in a new office and he was my manager in the office. I didn't like him at first, but he liked me. Then one day he took me to the pub for lunch and it hit me like a thunderbolt - I was in love with this lovely man.

4. If you could live anywhere, where would you choose to live?
In rural Cornwall. I hate city life and, income permitting, try to live as close to the country as possible. I am part Cornish, so would like to return to the area around St Columb and live a simple life. This is where I intend to retire to........of course, I haven't mentioned this to MB yet!

5. Silver or Gold?
Whichever, it has to be pure and not plate, 'cos I'm allergic to nickel and other base alloys. I have a lovely solid silver 'dragon' pendant I wear all the time. I find silver far more beautiful than gold.

So - go on......who wants to be interviewed by the Queen of the Crazies??

cq

Happy 100th Birthday!

Where would we be without that hundred year old miracle - the bra.........?

Known during my youth in the UK as 'an over the shoulder boulder holder' (now that's a blast from the past!)....

1907
THE first concept of a brassiere - from the old French word "arm protector" - appears in US Vogue.
1911
THE Oxford English Dictionary includes the word "brassiere" for the first time.
1913
AMERICAN socialite Mary Phelps Jacob, 19, buys a sheer evening dress and, annoyed at the bones protruding out of the corset, fashions her own underwear from two silk handkerchiefs and some ribbon. She is granted the first US patent for the brassiere the following year.
1914
PHELPS patents her design under the name Caresse Crosby, and describes her invention as a backless brassiere. She sells the rights to Warner Brothers for £750 - a patent later valued at £7.5million.
1914-18
DURING the First World War, the Germans denounce Parisian underwear as unGerman and dangerous.
1923
RUSSIAN immigrant Ida Rosenthal and her husband William found Maidenform. In years to come she will pioneer the idea of different cup sizes for different women, as well as patent a bra strap fastener.
1925
ENTER the shaped bra - the Kestos, fashioned from two triangular pieces of fabric, with elastic shoulders, a crossover back and buttons at the front to create two distinct cups.
1935
WARNER'S creates the cup sizing system from A, B, C and D - nicknamed egg cup, tea cup, coffee cup and challenge cup.
1937
NYLON adds practicality to the bras. Until now they have been made using just padding and wiring.
1939
JUDY Garland wears a breast-binding device in the Wizard Of Oz to make her look childish.
1943
BILLIONAIRE and aviator Howard Hughes designs a push-up bra for Jane Russell to wear under a tight silk blouse in the film The Outlaw. Jane Russell later claims she never wore it.
1945
A WARTIME Berlei ad tells women that letting their figure go is "bad for morale and bad for efficiency, too". As women take on major roles in the hostilities, bras become more utilitarian and ugly.
1947
THE end of the war marks the freedom of lingerie which becomes lacier and racier.
1959
LYCRA fibre is invented by scientists at DuPont. Adding this stretchy manmade fibre to the mix means bras fit comfortably.
1964
CANADIAN company Canadelle invents the Wonderbra, designed to "lift and separate" the bust. It still causes a stir 30 years later when Eva Herzigova stars in the "Hello Boys" ad.
1967
TRIUMPH'S Doreen bra - a supportive, non-underwired style - goes on sale. It is the bestselling bra in the world today.
1967
JANET Leigh's black bra was deemed too indecent for audiences in the 1960 movie Psycho but by 1967 there are no such qualms. Anne Bancroft reveals her lace bra in The Graduate and a generation swoons.
1968
A DEMONSTRATION by radical feminists at the Miss America pageant leads to one of the most famous urban legends - that of the burning bra. The truth is no bras are burnt, instead they are dumped into a rubbish bin in protest. But a newspaper report mentions a bra burning and the image sticks.
1977
HINDA Miller, Lisa Lindahl and Polly Smith sew two jockstraps together and call it the Jogbra. It is the first sports bra.
1990
UNDERWEAR-as-outerwear - Jean Paul Gaultier creates a conical bra for Madonna's Blonde Ambition tour.
1997
ITALIAN manufacturer Santoni develops a circular knitting machine that allows a bra to be knitted in one go. This leads to today's seamless, tagless bras.
2007
LINGERIE goes green as Hanro, Chantelle and Ballet are among the brands offering bras in eco-friendly bamboo-blend fabrics.

Anyone for a bamboo bra?

cq

36 days

A man is being remembered by friends and colleagues around the world holding daily vigils and prayer meetings.

Alan Johnson was kidnapped on the 12 March in Gaza and has not been seen since. Claims have been made that he has been murdered.

The parents of BBC Gaza reporter Alan Johnston have said they are desperately worried after Palestinian militants claimed to have killed their son.
In a statement, the BBC said it could not confirm the claims by the Tawhid and Jihad brigades, describing the story as a rumour without verification.
In a separate statement, Graham and Margaret Johnston appealed for anyone with information to make contact.
Journalists rallied in Beirut, Brussels and at BBC premises to show support.
In Beirut dozens of demonstrators held portraits of the journalist, who was seized at gunpoint in Gaza City on 12 March.
Others gathered outside the European Commission building in Brussels.
The corporation's Director General Mark Thompson said the BBC was still seeking clarification of the reporter's condition.
He praised Mr Johnston's family, calling the wait for news "agonising" for them.
On Sunday the Tawhid and Jihad brigades (The Brigades of Holy War and Unity), a previously unheard of group, said it had killed Mr Johnston, linking his purported killing to the plight of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
A spokesman for UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said the government was investigating the reports.
"We are working closely with the Palestinian Authority and are urgently seeking information from them and other sources," he said.
In the latest of almost daily demonstrations in the wake of Mr Johnston's abduction, journalists gathered outside the Lebanese Press Syndicate building in Beirut to press for his release.
"We would like to appeal today to whoever is holding [Alan Johnston] to release him today unharmed," the BBC's Beirut correspondent, Kim Ghattas, told media.
Our correspondent said Mr Johnston had continued to do his job professionally, despite the risks.
But, more than a month since his abduction, there was concern about Mr Johnston's mental health and physical state, she said.
Another demonstrator, Lebanese TV reporter Diana Moukalled, said it was very important "to show our solidarity with any colleague that's harmed because of his job.
"Because we, ourselves, have suffered a lot in Lebanon, we have a long history of targeting journalists, some of them were killed, others kidnapped, some of them were tortured.
"It's unfortunate for journalists to be targeted just because they are doing their job."
Parents' plea
Earlier, Mr Johnston's parents Graham and Margaret Johnston issued a statement, saying it was a "desperately worrying time".
They added: "We make a heartfelt appeal to anyone who may have knowledge of Alan's situation and well-being to contact the authorities in Gaza.
"Our son has lived and worked among the people of Gaza for the last three years to bring their story to the outside world and we ask every one of them to help end this ordeal."
Mr Johnston, from Scotland, joined the BBC World Service in 1991 and has spent eight of the last 16 years as a correspondent, including periods in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.
He has lived and worked in Gaza for three years and was the only Western reporter permanently based in the often violent and lawless territory.
His posting in Gaza had been due to end in late March.
Story from BBC NEWS: here Published: 2007/04/16 13:23:24 GMT© BBC MMVII

I join my voice to theirs - let him go......or let him have a proper farewell.

cq

Lest We Forget

While remembering the people stolen from us in the current political climate - let us not forget those who died in previous generations because of Man's inhumanity to Man in pursuit of power.....

Today is the anniversary of the relief of Belsen by British troops in 1945.

When the British advanced near the camp in 1945, the German army negotiated an exclusion zone around it to prevent the spread of typhus. Hungarian and regular German troops guarding the camp returned to German lines after the engagement. Some SS guards also fled the camp; however, a number remained wearing white armbands as a sign of surrender.
When British and Canadian troops liberated the camp on April 15, 1945, they found thousands of bodies unburied, and forced the remaining SS personnel to bury them. The surviving prisoners were moved to a nearby German Panzer army camp. Bergen-Belsen was then burned to the ground by flamethrowers because of a typhus epidemic and louse infestation. Subsequent accounts of Belsen after this time refer to events at the nearby army camp.
In spite of great efforts to help the survivors, about another 9,000 died in April. By the end of June of 1945 another 4,000 had died. The total number of deaths at Bergen-Belsen from 1943 to June 1945 was about 50,000.
Although the camp was burned to the ground, the site is today open to the public, featuring a visitors' center, a monument to the dead, and a "House of Silence" for reflection.
On 15 April 2005 there was a commemorative ceremony there and many ex-prisoners and ex-liberating troops went there.

-from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belsen

"Israel and the world shall remember thirty thousand Jews exterminated in the concentration camp of Bergen-Belsen at the hands of the murderous Nazis.

EARTH CONCEAL NOT THE BLOOD SHED ON THEE!

First anniversary of Liberation 15th April 1946 "

(from the monument)

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100 Signs that you're a Re-enactor - Part I

(Picture of Mrs Aginoth, LMB & LMD by Aginoth)

1 - 50...

1. You and your mates stand on a street corner on the route of a historical procession, and people ask you if you're part of said procession.
2. You and your friends have wandered down the road and into the pub, only to be asked if you're invading, which brand of mead you'd prefer, and if you could you mind where you're putting those spears, please.
3. When a lecturer fails to show up, and somebody grabs the long board pointer to use as a spear, your mate takes it off him, and proceeds to demonstrate a typical advance with a spear - only to meet you coming at him with the short board pointer wielded like a langseax. And the rest of the lecture hall swear that the two of you look better at this than they do in the films.
4. You can't pass the scrap skip outside the local sheet metal shop without raiding it for raw materials
5. Your "first car" is a transit van.
6. You can work out, accurately, how many crossbow bolts, arrows, etc. you need for a weekend, but believe that a tin of Ravioli will feed you for three days
7. You close every curtain in your house before getting changed, but will happily undress to get into kit in the middle of a public carpark.
8. You use a scramseax as a door wedge.
9. You use a Moniac Mead bottle to prop open your window.
10. You buy reproduction 14th Cheamware pots and use them as normal everyday coffee cups.
11. You use the phrase "Bugger this for a game of soldiers" other than metaphorically.
12. You can sleep through drunken singing, gaming and three part harmony snoring echoing off castle walls.
13. You recognise people in battle scenes in TV programmes and films.
14. You have weapons stacked in the living room.
15. After getting back from an event you pop out of the house to post a letter and are halfway down the road before you realise you're still barefoot.
16. You get completely confused when packing for a camping trip that isn't a reenactment event and have this nagging suspicion all weekend that you've forgotten something.
17. You can't sing without a drink in your hand.
18. You drive by some open land and think "What a great place for a battle!"
19. Your idea of a fun weekend is sleeping outside in the rain.
20. You can spot 100% wool at 30 yards.
21. You have a whole room of your house given over as an armoury.
22. You've ever said the words "only X more days 'til (some event)!".
23. You've received cuts, burns, pulled out thorns, got poison ivy, and still look forward to camping at events.
24. Your dinner guests see your kit and ask if you're in a play.
25. In the middle of summer, you dread wearing a short sleeved shirt in your air conditioned office, but you can't wait to get to the next event, where you can dress in three layers of wool and sit round a campfire.
26. You've worn wool when the temperature tops 100 degrees Fahrenheit, repeatedly.
27. People greet you on Monday morning with "So did you kill anyone this weekend?".
28. You can't use your dining table because it's covered in half finished mail.
29. You have a table specifically for making mail so it doesn't take up your dining table.
30. You suffer from post-battle depression.
31. You know every line in Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail by heart.
32. You've stopped watching Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail because you know every line by heart.
33. Bad fighting and/or costuming has ruined an otherwise decent movie for you.
34. You're a burly guy who looks like a Hell's Angel, but you do embroidery in public.
35. At a formal dinner party, you politely grab your sleeve to keep it from dropping in the food, only to realize you're wearing a suit.
36. You can eat equally well with a dagger or a fork.
37. You've decorated a cake in Celtic knotwork.
38. You return to work after a weekend event, only to find you left all your money in your belt pouch.
39. After a party you ask yourself "Hm. Now where are my clothes?" and you're stone sober and fully dressed.
40. You can and do curse in Gaelic, but you aren't Scottish
41. You have more kit than clothes and the kit is in better condition.
42. You visit a period castle, notice the draperies and bedspreads, and think of what lovely clothing they would make.
43. Your immediate family consists of only two rather small, thin people, but you justify your purchase of a full-sized van/pickup truck saying "We'll need the extra space for events!"
44. Your reference section on your field of interest is better than the equivalent section in the local library.
45. Your idea of a packed lunch is mince-meat pie, cold mulled cider and wafers left over from the feast the week-end before.
46. Your hobby takes more of your time than your job.
47. You name your pets after obscure historical figures.
48. You name your children after obscure historical figures.
49. People assume that you're an exchange student/recent immigrant because they hear people calling you by the most outlandish names.
50. You take a medieval history course in college, and find out you already own the textbooks.

More in Part Two!

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Insomnia Means...

..visiting my entire blogroll.........

[phew]

and it's still only 4.40am!!

cq

Moneyer and a Giggle

The final tally for the coin die over the weekend was £168 for two days, so that means that I hammered 336 coins (give or take the dozen or so Jonno hammered).

Quite a target for me to better at Caerphilly Castle next month.....

Meanwhile, a bit of fun.......:

go to this link

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps

Click on 'Get Directions'

Enter 'New York'

to 'Paris, France'

then click on 'Get Directions'

Then check out serial 23....

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Money Maker

I am sore and aching, with a fuzzy head........but I had a good weekend!

The castle arrangement was strange, as we weren't allowed to camp inside the castle, but pitched our tents outside and lugged everything into the castle through the entrance - which meant up the lane, through the car park, through the gift shop and then up here (follow the pink lines) up a pretty sheer incline:

Doesn't sound the end of the world - but a complete medieval market is an awful lot of heavy wood and canvas.

I helped set up on Sunday morning and then debated what I was going to do for the day...Mr and Mrs A had lots of helpers with Mistress Vic and the three children so I was free to learn a new trade.

I watched Jonno hammer out a coin and thought 'I could do that!'. Boy, could I ever! That was a real money maker (we don't usually sell things at these events) literally (I know, cool pun!). I had a stream of children and adults at my mint wanting my 'pretty silver pennies'. The secret to hammering coins is firstly to make it look good, and secondly to make the coin with a single hit. It was a double edged die - which meant you put the blank between two moulds and hit it firmly once with a heavy hammer, impressing the mould on both sides of the coin at once. More than one hit runs the risk of double imprinting, which explains the faulty coins sometimes dug up by archeologists. The children loved the silver pennies and the theatrics, the adults were intrigued by the process and the poverty-stricken individual desperately trying to earn enough to pay for some shoes.

I could even flash my black toenail (got elsewhere!) and say sorrowfully 'I dropped the die on my foot yesterday'....they lapped it up.......several came back for more talk and more silver pennies.

The sergeant at arms made a point of spending time looking over my shoulder to ensure I wasn't forging or diddling our Lordship out of money.....that added to the appeal for the public.

The money flowed in. One child would inch shyly over and offer his money saying 'can I have a silver penny please?', so I would beckon them over and begin showing them the die and the blank coins - by then Mum and Dad would be listening attentively. One strike of my mallet and the parents would be asking for coins for the whole family!

I got used to hearing (in a strong Liverpudlian accent) 'Mum! Mum! This lady's making MONEY!'

(example of a period coin from the Web)

Sunday was hot and sunny and I made £91 - so at 50p a coin I hammered 182 coins....Monday was rainy and cold but I was still hammering coins all day, I think I pulled in another £40 or so - I left Vintner to count the money as I was cold and poorly by 3.30.....

The company are taking the coin die to Caerphilly next month, so I'm off to research Edward III silver pennies so I can sound more knowledgeable.

cq

Happy Easter

Today I am travelling back to 1370.
Actually, today we are going here:


This is Conwy Castle in North Wales and will be my home for the next couple of days.


I have my kit (see here) all ready and two loaves of fresh hand made bread. We will be camping just outside the castle in our reproduction 14C tents (no plastic groundsheets here!) and will be spending our days inside the castle being watched and filmed by several thousand holiday makers.
Two days with no spectacles and no shoes - such freedom.......

This is a couple of firsts for me - my first re-enactment as a signed up member of The Company of Chivary, my first Easter away from home and MB.

I will be back on Tuesday. Wish me luck!!

cq

Blog Fodder #16

Blog Fodder ~ fighting blogger's block one post at a time!

This week, we're going all the way to Canada to visit Chrysalis!
Hi Chrysalis!
Let’s see who can get the most people to participate! Is there a prize, d'you think??
Ready, set, go!

What are your top 10 reasons to blog?

1. I want to......

2. I have stuff I really want to say.

3. It helps me to see my own life more clearly.

4. I like to brag, but only a little bit.

5. There are such nice people out in t'internet land.

6. It's a great way to unwind.

7. I see it kinda like a diary.

8. 'cos it's public I am not able to blog (and therefore talk) about work - which is good!

9. It's a (mostly) family-free environment, which is good too.....

10. 'Blogito, ergo sum' - I blog, therefore I am...... :-)

What about you? What are your ten reasons to blog? Go on [smiles encouragingly] have a go.......oh and don't forget to drop in on Blog Fodder Hub and say hello! :-)

cq

Race for Life 2007

[follow the links in bold for the full picture!]
[This will remain at the top of my bloggie for a couple of weeks - read on down for newer stuff!]

I have made a big decision and, thanks to talking to my blogsistah last night, I have worked out how to include all myblogbuddies.....

I have registered to do the Race For Life this year, although I admit it will probably be a Walk For Life given my physical condition!! So far, I am one of 324,189 entrants!

What is Race For Life?

Since it started in 1994, Race for Life has grown to become the UK’s biggest women-only fundraising event. All the money raised by our participants helps fund the crucial work of Cancer Research UK – the world’s leading independent organisation dedicated to cancer research.
So far, over two million women of all ages have run, walked or jogged to raise over £140 million in sponsorship for the charity. This year we hope to raise £60 million for our life-saving work by bringing an amazing 800,000 women together to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

My inspiration to do this event is Minerva over at Womanly Parts. Her brave battle with cancer has encouraged me to do my little bit to help out.

I will be walking the race on the 16th June at Lydiard Park, Swindon. Or I might be gently jogging by then :-)

Thanks to the wonders of modern technology you can sponsor me online (if you wish). Click here if you want to help out. I have been modest in my forecast of sponsorship - I would love to exceed it!

Update: as the sponsorship has started to roll in from generous bloggers, I have increased my target!

I have a little bit of a persuader -

the blogger who sponsors the most money will have their blog URL emblazoned across the chest of my t'shirt on the big day. All the other bloggers who donate will also have their blognames written on my t'shirt - but smaller :-)

Friends who donate will also get a mention somewhere on my clothing.....

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Can You Smell It?

Bread.

2nd attempt.

Straight from the oven..........

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'Our Friend' Jim

I am sad.



I have only just heard that Jim Cronin MBE died a couple of weeks ago in his home New York after losing a battle with liver cancer.

20yrs ago Jim and and his beloved wife Alison opened Monkey World in Dorset here in the UK on an abandoned pig farm.

Their first monkey was chimpanzee Charlie, who has become the epitome of Monkey World's ethos and Jim's devotion to his animals. Charlie was a beach chimp who, when rescued, was hooked on drugs, suffered terrible injuries (including a serious head injury and having all his teeth but three removed) and didn't know how to behave like a chimp.

For 20yrs Jim and Alison have travelled the world, rescuing apes from horrific conditions and giving them homes at Monkey World. They have battled against bureaucracy and highlighted the evils of the international live animal trade.Wherever possible they have brought the animals to a world of peace and caring, where they all learn to be apes again. Chimps, Orangs, Woolly monkeys, Ugly monkeys, Lemurs, Capuchins - you name it. Watching that process on the TV programme 'Monkey Business' was an honour.
Jim - you are and always will be a King amongst men and will never be forgotten. And I will be adding another name to my Race For Life - Jim Cronin.

cq