Viceroy in Surrey

Just some quick observations, before I forget them entirely:

Interesting site! (brought to you by edith_hedingham , though actually organised by Flintheath and maredudd1066  ). It's a medieval barn and farm outbuildings, with the former 'chicken shed' now converted into a furnished hall, with kitchen, toilets and mats for crashing. I don't know if we could have managed a lot more people than were there, but it worked well for the attendance of the day.

The weather was a blessing: misty foggy morning, burning off into a very pleasant warm autumn day. If it had poured rain it would have been a very different experience! a much muddier one, for starters. We definitely lucked out.

Though a 'barn' sounds large, it was actually well filled by a horseshoe shape of about 5 tables at the low end of the hall, plus 3 tables at the high end (just a few steps in between). With Matthew Bakers decorative shields and hangings, it grew quite handsome, if a bit rough-hewn-looking.

Giano worked wonders in the kitchen, cooking recipes from a 15th c. Arab cookbook, sourced from Cairo, he said. He's a keen researcher, who spends as much time on sauces and dressings as he does on preparing the meat and starch. The portions were just right: generous in the first course, modest in the second, providing just a taste of each dish to round out the meal.

His kitchen is calm - no drama, no bellowing, just steady work throughout the day. He retired almost immediately after finishing serving, and putting in an appearance at the feast, but I think he earned it!

Unfortunately maredudd1066  had to declare himself infirm midweek before the event, so milady Agatha bravely stepped into the fore to keep the event running.

And yet...it felt like one of the smoothest and easiest-going events I'd attended recently.

I was really struck by this: though the early part of the schedule was a bit of a loss (9.30am court is just too ambitious, esp when folks are day-tripping!) the rest of the day ran itself fairly smoothly.

The hall was already decorated when we arrived. Robert heralded for Vitus' court, and played his blartiphone flourishes during the tournament; I announced the procession, the bouts and the salutes; Odo ran the tournament; HG Allessandre Melusine and maryf kept the tournament straight. Giano and Catelin (new arrival, PhD person from Aetenveldt, I think) served lunch; the meetings and classes happened; the pickup fighting went on, etc. etc. No event is entirely effortless, but Stuff Happened, with a minimum of drama.

(We dodged most of the cleanup this time, as day-trippers!)

It made me wonder, and think: Maredudd announced his change of plans, and as a result several people stepped forward to keep things on track. It felt like there was less asking 'who's in charge?' and figuring out how to help - more just going ahead with the familiar bits.

Knowing that the event was in the hands of someone relatively new, we arrived willing and prepared to help, rather than waiting to be asked.

Maybe the difference is just between my ears:  that I arrived ready to help. I'd like to think I usually show up ready to help at events, but somehow this felt different. And perhaps, since we were prepared on the lookout for problems, when it rolled on cheerfully by itself, we (I?) were pleased and cheerful.

Maybe it was just the glorious warm day. Don't know.

Eight couples in the tourney made it feel like a good turnout, with a spread of skill levels. With 2/3 round robin format, it was definitely plenty of fighting to determine the winner. Sir Liam acted as the destructive bye fighter, and smiled cheerfully as he made everyone work for their bye fight.

When pogbody 's husband Gyles withdrew from the tourney, Sir Liam stayed in, so the listmistresses wouldn't have to rearrange their chart. Sir Liam was happy to keep fighting, and the entrants 'won' their second bye fight (where their bout with Gyles had been). Liam looked just happy to be there - out, fighting new folks, on a glorious day.

It was a red-letter day for edith_hedingham : Vitus and Guliette presented her with her award of arms in the morning, and HE Ursula presented her with a token for her fine embroidery in the A&S display in the afternoon.  Well earned recognition, I thought!

Vitus and Guliette also gave very generous gifts to the scribes - pieces of real goatskin parchment to work on. I've puttered on my small scraps so far, but hope to play some more on a slightly larger piece - try some penwork maybe. They're a bit thick (possibly originally intended for bookbinding) but well worth testing out!