magic of powertools...

[abendgules]

When I joined the SCA as a student, I went to a shield-making weekend and some form of communal meal, and was introduced to the wonders of shield presses, power tools (especially jigsaws) and shield edgings. At the time in the MK, shields for Crown tourney had to be no longer than your chest-to-fingertip length (resulting in a laughably small one for me), and edged with padding and a slit rubber tire or garden hose. Only the madly keen bothered covering the edging for appearances' sake.

On Saturday, Robert and I went to Vitus and Giuliette's family home, to cut shields and BBQ foodstuffs. In some ways, not much has changed. :-)

We do now make more authentic shields: I don't know how the rules have changed, but there's less fuss over edge padding now, and Vitus demonstrated an excellent method of edging with rawhide (sourced from doggie chews). His ply shields last 1-2 years, which sounds pretty good to me.

We also eat better; G. produced a range of side dishes to complement fabulous venison burgers. Nom nom nom nom...

On Sunday I continued on the power tool theme by testing my jigsaw skills on our plywood, soon-to-be benchbox.

There is something satisfying about playing with powertools - big noise, little bits fly away, you see results immediately. I can see why thems that love them find them so, well, powerful. I can't sustain my own interest past getting the desired task done, but I can appreciate the attraction.

I have a bit more cutting to do this week; this evening I'm hoping for a short run, and return to my scribing desk...

Other small accomplishments: a run on the linens at Classic Textiles, one of my favourite shops in London, introducing some new Thamesreachers to its pleasures; and testing out the new washing machine laundering said linens. The old machine is now sitting outside the flat waiting council pickup. I'm curious if it will actually last til then, or if it will have wandered off by the time I get home this evening.

One disappointment this weekend: my chocolate cake for Robert's b-day failed - not cooked through, and still very baking-soda-ish, like the chemical reaction of baking didn't finish. Humph.

In other news: I have serious Pennsic envy. I both want to hear it all, and don't want to hear it, at the same time!