Yule Feast 2016 - "Noël"

Yule was, as always, pretty fantastic!

Andy had the weekend off, so decided to join me in my trip up to Borealis. He doesn't play at all, so this was a really special treat for me! We were kindly hosted on Friday night by my Pelican, Coryn, and her husband Dirk. They wined and dined us and we had an extremely good time chatting with them and Bronwyn and Peregrine well into the night - nobody does hospitality like the Vanderzees, and that's a fact!

The event itself was really busy for me. I had a wonderful opportunity to judge a single A&S entry, which was a real privilege and honor for me. I was really touched and inspired by the passion and enthusiasm the artisans in Borealis show for every aspect of A&S in the Society, and it left me feeling really positive about the A&S community in Avacal as a whole.

Phillipe, the outgoing champion, gifted me with a bag of felting wool for my new hobby as a thank you. It was one of the nicest and most personal thank-you gifts I have ever received from anyone in the SCA and I was really moved. (The other was a tiny whisk and some small containers from Baroness Una for my cosmetics experiments - I use them regularly!)

Yule was also Caterina &tc.'s post-vigil, which we were kindly given space for by the event team. It was lovely to see so many people stop by and congratulate her, and although the offerings in terms of food and drink were not as ambitious as I originally hoped, I was happy that we were able to provide some gluten and lactose-free pasties for everybody to enjoy.

The feast was really awesome, too! It was a really ambitious undertaking by Mel, for whom this was her first event as feast steward. I cherish every opportunity I get to see the Borealis Culinary Guild in action, because I always take away at least one very important pointer every time! Lots of extremely period dishes with good flavors, and I enjoyed the company of Bjar, Peter and Brangwayn, and Drifa and her beau at dinner. Andy felt very welcomed and really enjoyed all of the dishes, but we sadly had to leave a little bit before the end of the meal to drive home.

I always, always enjoy Yule - one of the highlights of the Avacal calendar for me. A massive thank-you to all of those involved in its organization in 2016!

Samhain Feast 2016

Falling asleep standing up in my court garb...

So, Samhain finally came and went, and the entire Culinary Group survived successfully! I'm really proud of the whole team. As stressed as we were leading up to the big day, I definitely feel like we pulled it off.

Caterina &tc. likes to do this "GBU" thing for post-event reports - Good, Bad, and Ugly - and so I think I will do the same. I think I will phrase it as "good, not-so-good, and bad," though. I'm really going to be mostly speaking to my experiences with the feast preparation and how I think that went, since that's basically what I did all day.

The Good:
- We were really organized in terms of our schedule, to-do list, our recipes, etc. and that definitely helped make sure that we were on time almost all day long.
- The food which we prepared for the feast was tested twice, so we were really confident in our recipes and I think they went over well for the most part.
- On the whole, I think we worked really excellently as a team and everyone was very good-natured and pleasant with one another. Even when things started to get a little stressful towards service, we stayed on top of it and got it together.
- It was so lovely to hear from people that they enjoyed the food we made. It can be really hard to know what's going on outside from inside the kitchen, so we really appreciate it when people take the time to come up and let us know how everything was. Her Highness Princess Nasheeta took the time at the end of the night to personally thank us for our service, and it was really touching and really appreciated.
- We were able to organize ourselves in such a way that some of us were able to be a part of Caterina's elevation ceremony, which I cried all the way through like the mature adult I am. It was a real blessing to be able to take part, and it's only thanks to the efforts of those who stepped up to stay behind that we were able to do so. I am so grateful.
- There were people over and above who I thought would come help who worked super hard all day long in the kitchen! So amazing!
- My Pelican, Mistress Coryn, was able to attend from Borealis. Her words of support and advice throughout the day were sincerely appreciated and helped keep me grounded when things got tough!
- Baron James was present all day long, and was absolutely the key factor in our success. He brought almost every piece of equipment we had, helped us prep efficiently all day long, kept us organized, and mentored us so we'll all know what we're doing better next time.
- After hearing that the kitchen crew didn't have enough food to eat, Sir Kirk and Sir Varrus's group very, very kindly delivered some of their own food to us. We were incredibly touched by this generosity! We also ordered in pizza, so all's well that ends well.

The Not-So-Good:
- The way the tables were going to be set up in our heads (8 to a table, 10 tables) was not the reality of how the hall was set up due to space limitations (long rows of tables, 6 to a table) so that fundamentally changed the way our food was distributed. Completely not anyone's fault at all and totally understandable given the size of the hall, but it was a going concern in the kitchen!
- The kitchen was SO HOT. So hot. Having 14 crockpots in there and three ovens on all day and very little ventilation meant it was a real sauna!
- There were a few small hiccups with portions (not enough for the kitchen crew, for example) and one of our recipes took a lot longer than we had predicted to prepare, which meant we had a few problems getting out the second remove in a timely fashion.

The Bad: 
- I am really aching today from my head to my toes!
- 8:00am to 12:30am is really much too long of a day for anyone to be working non-stop. Many of the kitchen staff only got breaks so they could fulfill other responsibilities; some only brief stops for the bathroom or a glass of water. I'm not really sure if it's possible to resolve that except through a lot more clean-up assistance, but honestly the kitchen crew are the only ones who know what belongs to whom and where it goes, so it's kind of important that we stick around. It might be helpful in the future to program in a forced 30-minute break during a lull in preparation which everyone has to obey.
- Regrettably, there were a very small number of folks who were not very gentle or kind to the kitchen/event staff at a few times throughout the day, which put some of the crew in a pretty sour mood about the whole thing. We finished strong and I know that 95% of the people in attendance were satisfied, but it can't help but hurt your feelings when you're in a 40C kitchen all day long or running off your feet as a volunteer and people aren't as kind as you know they can be. Please know that anyone working hard to serve the populace at an SCA event is doing so out of love, and we are really trying our very best.

So, that was that! I had fun being in the kitchen and despite my nerves, I know it won't be long until I'm in there again. There is something really satisfying about a job well done! I love watching a feast come together from the planning stages to the big night.

The Fear of Being Responsible

Welcome to honesty hour on Alice's blog!

The first time I ever co-stewarded an event was Beltane 2015. Brangwayn the Ever-Present was the chief event steward, and I marveled at how calm and collected she was through the whole process - no matter what anybody wanted, no matter who had something "constructive" to say about the event, she was as cool as a cucumber. Whenever anyone asked me a question or had a concern, I quickly pointed them her way and worried about it for hours.

That same event, the Culinary Group had its first big foray into feast prep. We made appetizer platters for eight tables of ten, and I was an absolute wreck. Coordinating all the different elements of the platters, arguing with folks who said they'd be involved and then decided not to be, and making sure everything was done on time and plated properly made me terribly anxious. Baron James had time to be in the kitchen that day, and calmly walked us through the afternoon. It was incredible to me how reassuring he was and how confidently he was able to assess the situation and help us out.

When I stewarded my first event in a leading role - Twelfth Night 2016 - everything went well until the mid-afternoon. There were no garbage cans, the feast was late due to communication issues, the entertainment I'd planned didn't go quite as planned, kids were getting into trouble, and all kinds of other details started going haywire. I spent over an hour hiding in a room upstairs in tears. Drifa and Rosaline talked me off the proverbial ledge and gave me the strength to finish the event, but I swore to myself that I'd never run another one again.

At Grand TUA in Spring 2016, I was one part of a two-person team with Asa. I was beside myself worrying about if we had enough of this or enough of that, how to put things together and plate things properly, but her enthusiasm and determination to succeed got us through everything. The guidance of two much more experience feast stewards - Mistress Coryn and Mistress Joan - calmed everything right down and I learned so much from their grace under pressure.

When it comes right down to it, I get really scared of being in a leadership position. Every time I'm responsible for a task which has to go right, I spend weeks and weeks agonizing over every little detail which might go wrong. I don't understand what it takes to not be constantly terrified of what might happen! I don't yet understand how all of these people who I rely on so much have come to a place in their lives where they are able to take on responsibilities so calmly and gracefully.

I think a lot of things which I struggle with in my life come down to my fear of being responsible for things, of exposing myself to criticism, and opening myself to the possibility of failure. I worry and worry and worry in the hopes that somehow I'll be able to think myself out of any potential problem that might come my way, instead of just trusting that either I'll be able to deal with it myself or there will be people around me (as there always are!) who will be able to lend me the support I need.

Anxiety is always going to be a cold hand on my shoulder, I know that. It's not something I can really help, but I hope one day it will be something I can better keep under control.

"Thank you," "you're doing a good job," and other priceless awards

I was chatting to someone at an event recently, and the topic of longevity in the SCA came up. Since very shortly after I joined, I've been told that the average SCAdian lasts around 3-5 years before quitting. I've heard a few reasons for this - internal politics, failure to integrate into one group or another, event burnout, etc. - but this person had a slightly different perspective.

In your first 1-5 years in the Society, it's common to receive quite a lot of recognition fairly quickly for the things that you do. If you're active, you'll probably get an Award of Arms, maybe a baronial award for service, combat, and/or arts and sciences, and possibly even a kingdom-level award for the same. After that, there's quite a long gap. Everyone knows that you make beautiful clothes or run the best events around, and since you've been recognized for it, there's not much more to say - at least, unless you receive a peerage ten or fifteen years down the road for it. You start to feel forgotten or underappreciated after a while, which makes other small annoyances seem larger.

Now, I'm not sure that I totally agree with this person's perspective. (I'm not sure everyone is that bothered about how often they receive awards.) However, if people leaving the SCA is at least partially caused by feeling underappreciated by the community, it may be possible to fix it. It's good practice in general to express appreciation for the people around you.

At a recent meeting of the Montengarde Culinary Group, someone went out of their way to tell me that they thought I'd been doing a good job. I respect this person hugely, and that small comment was worth much more to me than any formal award I've received to this point. The simple courtesy of just saying "thank you," "you did a wonderful job," or even "I love how you do 'x'" in a meaningful, sincere way can be even more important than an award recommendation to someone whose energy is flagging.

Here are some of the ways I intend to show more gratitude and appreciation for others in the SCA in the future:

1. After eating my meal, I will make a point of thanking at least one member of the feast team for taking dozens of hours out of their busy schedule to cook for the populace.
2. When I check in at gate, I will thank whoever is sitting in the cold, wet, or blazing heat (the three seasons of Avacal) for taking the time out to check people in.
3. When I notice people moving tables, thrones, erics, or other heavy items, especially on a regular basis, I will thank them for the hard physical work that they do so that we can all enjoy the event. We don't get to see their bruises, sore muscles, and stubbed toes the next day - but we can all appreciate the ability to sit and watch court or take shelter under the pavilions they put up!
4. I will clean up after myself, and if possible, stay late to help the tear-down team. It's an incredibly difficult job, especially after a long day, and even one more set of hands makes it go so much faster. If I am unable to stay to clean up, I will thank the people tearing down for sacrificing their time to do it for the rest of us.
5. I will make a note to thank royalty and landed barons/baronesses for their incredibly important service at some point during their reign. Even though I have only a very little experience on retinue for Her Majesty Queen Inga, I have had a small glimpse into how very difficult it is to do these duties and how much of a sacrifice it is to serve the entire kingdom as a royal or landed peer.
6. I will thank officers as they step up and step down for their service. Their administrative work in the background makes it possible for us to organize ourselves and play this game. I promise to never say "poor you" or "what a sucker" when someone takes an office. I will not speak sarcastically about officer positions, complain about the fact that nobody has taken an office, or complain about an officer in a non-constructive fashion, and I will do my best to take on an office when time and energy allow.
7. I will thank people who regularly host activities in their own home, and those who organize activities, championships, prize competitions, and tournaments with their own time and energy. Without them, we wouldn't have fight practice, A&S practice, Polyphonia, archery practice, dance practice, Culinary Group, tavern, and many more things besides!
8. I will thank the event stewards every time I attend an event for all of the sleepless nights, hours planning, and stress around putting an event together. If I need to communicate with an event steward during the event planning process, I will speak to them with the kindness, gratefulness and respect that I would if someone was doing me a personal favor. They are doing everyone in the kingdom a personal favor by taking on the responsibility of hosting the event.
9. I will speak about the research, arts, martial activities, or service which other people enjoy with the greatest respect and enthusiasm. I will not fool myself into thinking that the activities and tasks I like to do in the SCA are more important, essential, or interesting than anyone else's. I will not suggest that what I enjoy should take more precedence than what someone else enjoys.
10. If I like what someone is doing, I will say so. If I appreciate what someone has done, I will say so. If someone has inspired me through their actions or words, I will tell them.

How do you show your appreciation for the people in your shire, barony, or kingdom? 

Trying New Things

When we join the SCA, I think it's fair to say that most people find what they like to do and who they like to do it with relatively quickly. However, I believe that it's important to allow yourself the opportunity to experience a wide range of activities and responsibilities in the SCA - you may not enjoy all of them, but it will definitely give you an appreciation for the hard work that other people do in disciplines and service areas that you don't regularly undertake!

Here's a little quiz I saw making the rounds on Facebook not too long ago - how many of these things have you done? If you haven't done many, why not set yourself a goal of trying some new things next year?

SCA BUCKET LIST

General

Been an officer? 
Yes! I was Montengarde's Family Activities Coordinator from 2014-2016.

Do you have an SCA name? 
Yes, Alice Percy.

Do you have an SCA persona? 
Sort of. I have a sort of storyline where there are several Alice Percys in the same family spanning many generations, which vaguely justifies my time travelling garb. I am interested in too many periods in history to pin myself down very well! They are all from the same region (West Sussex) and run from the 3rd century to the very end of the 16th century.

Changed persona because of different garb?
Not as such, I just sort of adapt my persona to fit what I'm wearing.

Been adopted by a person, household or clan? 
Yes, I'm a member of house Fines Lames.

Had a name and/or device accepted by the SCA College of Arms? 
Yes, both!

Had a name and/or device rejected by the SCA College of Arms? 
I had the name Alice Percy sent back because someone was very similar to me, so technically I am "Alice Percy of Montengarde."

Been taken as or taken an apprentice, protege or squire?
Yes, I am honored to be the protegee of Mistress Coryn of the Wode, OP.

Events

Been an Event Steward/Autocrat? 
Yes! I co-stewarded Twelfth Night 2016 with Sorcha de Lenche and Audrey Hampton, and I was Bronwyn the Ever-present's co-steward at Beltane 2015.

Cooked at an Event? 
Yep! I'm starting to get a little more experienced at helping in the kitchen, but I still feel really nervous every single time. When the Culinary Group was really new, we put on a small ticketed feast at a tavern we called the Feast of St. Cecilia in November 2014, and then we made appetizers for Beltane 2015. I've since cooked at a couple of Quad Wars, coordinated the Montengarde contribution for Spring TUA's feast in 2016, and helped Coryn with feeding folks at Silverwolf and Sergeantry Trials in 2016. I'm co-stewarding the feast at Samhain this year with the rest of the Culinary Group, too.

Taught a class at an event? 
Yep, I taught a "Quad Talk" on period cooking basics at Quad War 2015 and I taught a class on period cosmetics at Yule 2015.

Run an activity at an event? 
Sort of, I've run a couple of super soaker fights and other children's activities at events, but nothing for grown-ups!

Ever fought at an event? 
Nope!

Ever fought at Pennsic or another War? 
Nope!

Done a different martial art at an event? 
Nope!

Ever run a martial activity at an event? 
Nope!

Fought at an event tourney? Shot at an event tourney? 
Nope!

Ever fought in a Crown Tourney? 
Nope! I did have the honor of inspiring Muireann at Avacal's first Crown, though.

Won a tourney or contest at an event? 
Nope!

Made your own armor? 
Nope!

Made your own weapons?
Do badly-burnt wafers count?

Been a squire?
Nope!

Have rank as an archer?
Nope!

Have rank as a fencer? 
Nope!

Created a siege weapon? 
Nope!

Arts & Sciences

Have you ever entered an A&S contest? 
I entered my version of the hair powder and rose water mixture from the Trotula at Samhain 2013 just for comment, which was about a month after I joined the SCA. I've been meaning to enter a competition properly since then, but I always freak myself out before I get an entry together! If you count bardic, though, I did enter and win the Montengarde Bardic championship in 2014.

Have you ever won an A&S contest? 
Nope, unless you count bardic - see above.

Ever run an A&S contest? 
Nope, unless you count bardic, in which case I ran the championship to choose my successor in 2015.

Ever judge/critique items in an A&S contest? 
Yes, I've judged a few different A&S competitions, including Kingdom A&S in 2016.

Ever wordsmith a scroll? 
Nope!

Illuminated a scroll? 
No, but it looks really fun!

Done the Calligraphy for a scroll? 
No, I write like a ten-year-old boy.

Made your own paper?
Nope!

Made a book? 
Nope!

Make someone's order medallion?
Nope!

Write someone in for an award?
Yes, I try to make it a point to reflect on what I've seen and recommend people at least twice a year.

Have you ever sewn your own garb? 
Yes, badly!

Sewn Garb for others? 
No, my household is wise enough to keep me away from their garb.

Ever been sewing on the way to an event? 
Nope!

Ever finished an outfit before an event? 
No, because I'm in house Fines Lames, which means we're basically not allowed to wear fully finished clothes.

Researched and completed an outfit from said research? 
Yes, I really love researching, but my execution is extremely poor.

Ever taught a class on sewing? 
Nope!

Finished a hat? 
Yes, I made a simple coif once. Unfortunately it doesn't fit.

Do you know how to spin? 
No, but I really admire people who do spin.

Ever woven your own fabric? 
Nope, but I think it's a beautiful art.

Do you know how to knit? 
Nope!

Do you know how to crochet? 
Nope!

Have you ever dyed your own yarn or fabric?
Nope!

Embroidered a garment? 
I helped a little bit on some pockets.

Beaded a garment? 
Nope!

Ever entertained at a feast? 
Yes, also badly!

Ever ran a bardic circle?
Absolutely! I ran a few as part of my tenure as bardic champion.

Ever performed in a bardic circle? 
Yes! I really like bardic circles and I enjoy performing, but not solo. I still get terrible stage fright, which is an unfortunate quality in a bardic champion!

Had songs requested from you at such? 
Nope!

Ever competed in a formal bardic? 
Yes, see above.

Know any period songs? 
You bet! Many more since I've been hanging around with the Polyphonia folks.

BONUS: Have you ever translated a scroll? No, but wouldn't it be neat to be able to do that?

Court

Ran a court as Royalty? 
Nope!

Ran a court as Herald? 
Nope!

Heralded at Court? 
Nope!

Been an Attendant, Guard or Champion at court? 
Yes, as bardic champion.

Been called to court to receive an award? 
Yes! A Golden Link, two Rose Petals, and an AoA.

Been called to court to present something? 
Yes! Also one of the most embarrassing SCA moments in my life to date. It was the end of the night at the Twelfth Night I was running and feast and court had both gone extremely long, so I was exhausted. I was supposed to be announcing the winner of the Silk Road fashion show which was part of the event, but I missed being called and someone had to tell me I'd been called up. I kneeled in front of the baron and baroness, and we stared at each other for a full fifteen seconds before Baroness Una kindly informed me why I was up there...oh well.

Been called to court for punishment? 
No, but I was called up as part of the "Wheel of Court" at Samhain 2014, which was basically the greastest court schtick of all time.

Been part of a court "schtick"? 
Yes, see above!

Done something while watching court, e.g., spin, sew, embroider? 
No, that would be much too productive! Also I usually like to listen to what's going on, I quite like court most of the time.

Had a royal comment on what you're doing?
Sir Gunther (Prince Gunther at the time) once told me I had a nice smile, and I think that's very high praise indeed!

Have awards from more than one Kingdom?
Nope, though it would be neat to live somewhere else one day and see what it was like!

Travel

Ever traveled more than 8 hours each way for a one day event? 
No! I'm not that hardcore!

Gone to a different Kingdom for an event? 
Not yet!

Lived in a different Kingdom? 
Nope!

Have trailer hitch and trailer, mainly because of the SCA? 
No, my husband doesn't play so I have to keep things reasonable.

What ridiculous lengths you've gone to get to an event? 
I definitely haven't gone to ridiculous lengths to get to an event compared to a lot of people! The furthest I've ever been for an event was Sigelhundas, but I flew so I feel like it doesn't properly count somehow!

The Mundane

Run out of closet space because of garb/gear? 
I try to move things along if I find that I don't use them enough, but I did just get rid of a whole bunch of mundane clothes partially so I could have more SCA space!

Ever crammed more than 4 people into a hotel room? No, the most ever was 3 so far I think when Peter, Bronwyn and I got stuck in a snowstorm heading back from Snoweaters one year.

Met your future spouse at an SCA event? 
Nope! My husband doesn't play, although he is very supportive as long as I'm having fun and not spending our rent money.

Met most past significant others in an SCA setting?
Nope!

Have better research books than your public library?
That's the dream!

Is your tent bigger than your first apartment? 
No, I don't actually own a tent! My household and my Pelican are very kind and so I have never gone without somewhere to sleep.

How many sewing machines do you have? 
Just one!

Own an anvil? 
Nope!

Own a lucet? 
No, although it looks like a fun craft to do.

Own a period mug? 
Nope! Mine is a somewhat embarrassing German Oktoberfest looking ceramic thing that I got at Value Village for a dollar - I have to collect things slowly, I'll get there!

A Busy Summer

It's been a little while since I posted, but it's been a very eventful summer!

At Quad War, I was really honored to be taken as Coryn of the Wode's protégée in a short ceremony after we finished the annual Newcomer's Breakfast. We had decided that a yellow belt was an important sign of our formal relationship, and so she presented me with one (and a cute t-shirt she bought at 50 Year!) The wearing of a yellow belt isn't very typical in An Tir, but it is very common in Northshield and in many other kingdoms around the world.

I didn't really know what to say at the time, but I do take our relationship very seriously and I've already learned quite a lot from Mistress Coryn. I feel like there are many more years of learning to do. She has an approach to the game (and to life!) which I really respect.

There is a joy and energy that she brings to service that I really admire; she doesn't get bogged down in what other people are doing and what they think of what she's doing, she just focuses on doing a good job. She has a real calmness and ability to adapt quickly to changing situations with grace, which I think is really amazing. It's a real privilege to have the chance to learn from her.

During the ceremony, the king of Avacal, Arnsbjorn, tied on my yellow belt! My baron and baroness and the baron and baroness of Borealis were also present, so that was really special.

I had the opportunity to help Coryn out a bit at Sergeantry Trials, too - she provided a full menu for two days for the prospective and existing sergeants, plus the barons and baronesses in attendance. It was such a lovely, community-oriented event. It was really special to feel like you could personally sit and chat to every single person in attendance, and I got time to hang out with some people I don't normally see. There's sometimes a tendency to feel that bigger is always better with events, but there's a real charm to the smaller ones, too.

 Other highlights of the summer have included the Montengarde Culinary Group furiously planning for Samhain! We've taken on the responsibility for feast, and it's our first time ever working as a team to feed a whole event. There have been some very stressful moments, but I think things are coming together now. Frances is leading the team this time, and I think she has a really good eye for what works and what isn't going to work well. The menu is finalized and we're testing one more time in October before the big day. I'm in charge of making pea soup and apple galettes.

During this reign, I have had the really special opportunity to serve on retinue for the first time for Queen Inga. What an incredible person! She has so much experience and knowledge, but she is still so approachable and poised. I am really inspired by the love she shows for what she does, and it's been so special to learn a lot more about that aspect of the game from my time on retinue.

As I mentioned, I also joined Polyphonia, which is our local period singing group! I've never been part of anything similar, so I'm enjoying the challenge. I'm trying hard to learn as much as I can so I can join in at some performances!

Lastly, this week is my final week as Family Activities Coordinator in Montengarde. I served the full two years, and I feel like I learned a lot. It may be a little while before I take another office, but I feel much more informed and involved in how the SCA works as a result of my time on the council.

Polyphonia

Some of the slightly newer folks to Montengarde might not know that we have a resident period singing group, Polyphonia! They perform once or twice a year, and practice on every Wednesday that's not Tavern.

Polyphonia was actually one of the things that really made me fall in love with the SCA. My first ever event was a demo at Heritage Park (a local living history museum) for Halloween, as I've said before. Polyphonia performed at that demo - I remember they sang "Of All the Birds That Ever I See" and a few other pieces, and I was totally enchanted by them. To this day, whenever they're singing at an event, I absolutely have to stop and listen.

I was the Bardic champion before our current one, and so I really love to hear music at events. I can be pretty nervous about singing on my own in public, though. I decided that was no good at all, and if I liked to hear music at events, I should do something to hear more!

To that end, I recently joined Polyphonia and am working very hard to learn some of their repertoire in time for their next performance at Samhain. The current choir leader is Althea Tambourri, a dear friend and a very talented lady! Other members include Master Thorvald, Arnaut, Sorcha, Melody (a new member,) and recently Caterina &tc. has also joined back up.

Singing, hooray!

Deciding Whether Or Not To Do The Thing

Anybody with even a vague interest in service has almost definitely struggled with whether or not they should do the Thing.

Not this Thing.

The Thing can be anything - a shift at gate, stewarding an event, taking on an office, becoming part of retinue, making largesse - and it can be anything from an hour or two to a full-blown 4+ year commitment.

Regardless, whenever you agree to do a Thing, it means that you'll have a little less energy and time for something else (even if that something else is literally just sitting on your butt with a glass of wine - I'm not judging.)

Whether you're deciding if you can do one more gate shift or host one more meeting, it can be hard to say no once people have made it clear that they believe in you and think that you're a great fit for that Thing! It's a great compliment and it can feel like you're badly letting someone down if you say no.

Outside the SCA, it's not very common for folks to ask each other to volunteer in the same way that we do inside the SCA - there are simply not nearly so many volunteer-based tasks out there in an average life. So, none of us are really trained to say "no!" I think most of us also genuinely enjoy the tasks we undertake in the SCA, so if someone is asking you to devote more time to a thing you like, it's easy to say yes.

I certainly fall victim to "helium hand" from time to time, but I've received some pretty good advice that I want to compile here - mostly for myself, because I need reminders. I think it's important to really step back and think about what you can commit to, and what you can't commit to.

Not everybody is going to agree with all of these points, and that's totally fine - everybody has their own way of doing things. It's just a list of advice I've been given over the past couple years that is worth pondering on.

(Please note: everybody should be helping with tasks like set up and clean up because that's part of being in the SCA. You really should be helping with that whether or not you enjoy it, if you can. I'm not talking about universal tasks of helping out, I'm talking about specific personal responsibilities.)

1. Is the Thing something people actually need done?

I'm an ideas person, in that I have five thousand ideas and very little meaningful filtering system to decide what is a great idea and what is something that only I will enjoy. Some of that probably comes with experience (which I don't have all that much of.)

When you're deciding to do a Thing or even participate in a Thing, the first question you should probably ask yourself is whether or not it's something that people actually want done.

"Look guys, I found a new way to authentically spit-roast pigs in half the time! I'm bringing it to every event from now on!"

If you're volunteering to do something totally new - maybe a new event, or a new way to distribute site tokens, or whatever your brain has cooked up - make sure there is interest in what you're doing and good vibes about the way you want to go about it. Talk to some folks and see whether or not that's a niche that needs to be filled. Maybe someone else already does that thing, and you can join in with their project. Maybe somebody tried it ten years ago and it resulted in five fire trucks and a SWAT team showing up at an event. Who knows?

Also, if you really want to help out at an event, make sure you arrange that ahead of time. I guarantee that there will be a panicked cry for assistance on the Facebook page of whatever you're attending a week or two before the big day. That's your moment to jump in! You have absolute confirmation that somebody needs assistance. Hooray!

If you show up on the day of the event, poke your head into the kitchen, and see a team of ten up to their elbows in food prep and moving like a well-oiled machine, it's probably too late for you to help out in a useful way. Don't force yourself in there. There might be other stuff to help with later or elsewhere, but you need to really make sure that you're a useful body.

2. Can somebody else do the Thing?

When you've been playing for a while and feel really confident in your ability to do or run something, that's an awesome feeling. It's extra awesome if somebody believes in you enough to ask you to do something!

Before you agree, take a minute and consider whether or not there might be other folks who have the same skillset as you, but who haven't necessarily had the chance to get experience doing the Thing yet. If you're planning on stewarding an event, can you take a newer person under your wing as a co-steward and teach them the ropes? Is there an ambitious team of newbies who would like the chance to take a stab at organizing the feast? If you're always the one who does the Thing, that means nobody else has had the chance to learn how to do it. It's great to feel wanted and appreciated for what you do, but it might be a good opportunity for you to let somebody else try it or teach them how to do it.

On the other hand, if you're worried about saying no because you're afraid that nobody else will do your job the way you like it done, it's a good time to take a deep breath and step back for an event or two. You might be surprised at who will step up, but somebody will step up. Give them a chance to try it, even if it's not how you might have done it. (If you feel like nobody will step up and do it if you step back from doing your Thing, I doubly recommend it. The SCA has existed for 50 years and has branches all over the world - someone else will step up if they have to, because someone always has.)

You shouldn't always pass on doing things that you're good at, of course - if you enjoy it, that's great. Just think about ways you might be able to incorporate others.

3. Can I actually do the Thing? 

A very wise woman once told me that it's much worse to over-promise and under-deliver than it is to be honest and say no. Everyone understands if you're too busy to take something on and say so - it's definitely less good to agree to take something on, panic, and then drop it like a hot potato at the last minute and leave folks scrambling.

It's just as bad to agree to do something and then do a really mediocre job which doesn't represent how brilliant you are. (It's taken me a while to get my head around this one, but it's definitely true - a single task done incredibly well is a far better reflection of your potential than a thousand tasks done poorly.)

If you've found yourself in a swamp full of things you said "yes" to six months ago and now you don't know what to do, ask for help now. Right now. Immediately. Figure out what you might be able to pass along to someone willing, try to decide what you can let go of in the near future, and re-commit to doing the rest of what's on your plate with the energy it deserves. See if there are people who can help you accomplish the things you need to accomplish.

Some responsibilities are easy to pass off (a shift at gate or retinue or serving feast) and some responsibilities will directly impact the health of the game in your area if you drop out (being King/Queen, being the Baron/Baroness, doing an important office, running a major event.) Be very careful what you agree to, and make sure you have the support and time you need to see it through to the end.

It was at this moment that Jack realized his flamethrower pig-roast was a bad idea all along, and that he should have listened to Mistress Jill when she said so three months ago.

My least favorite sight at an event is the many generous and dedicated souls who have been run off their feet collapsed from heat stroke or hunger because they have way over-committed themselves. A lot of these folks haven't planned for their own comfort and don't even have a proper break for shade or a good meal in between all of the stuff they have to do. (That has been me. I'm pretty sure everyone has done that once or twice.)

Consider -  if you've taken on so much that somebody now has to take care of you and take on something you said you'd do but are now too sick to do, then you're not helping anybody. Leave yourself breaks, take care of yourself.

4. Am I willing to give up another Thing to do this one?

Following on the above, there is only a finite amount of time in anyone's life. Understand that every new Thing you take on will mean that you won't have time to do something else, even if that something else is just a quiet hour or two by yourself in the middle of a busy day. You may find that some activity you really love and value will slip away due to the little bits and pieces you picked up along the way which are now taking up a lot more time than you thought they would.

Weigh your time and priorities carefully and make sure you're not trading something you really love for something you could really have done without.

5. Do I enjoy the Thing? 

You know what I'm really great at? Data entry. You know what I really hate? Data entry. Just because you're good at something doesn't mean you have to do it all the time, and the same goes for service.

"Oh no, I'm fine. Everything's fine. I love being a field marshal. Really, I do." 

If you can't stand sitting at gate, don't take a three-hour shift at gate every two or three weeks. There's nothing worse than watching somebody deflate over the course of a few events because they've done nothing but a thing they really don't enjoy for the last six months.

The best thing about the SCA is that there are so many varied and interesting tasks to be done. If you like archery, I am sure you can find some ways to help make archery in your area run more smoothly. If you like rapier, I'm sure there are ways you can promote it! No matter what you enjoy, you should be able to find some way to help out which feels both purposeful and enjoyable.

That's not to say that you should NEVER help out with stuff you don't like to do - hey, somebody's got to take people's money for an event to run, and a shift there from time to time won't kill you. There are tasks that everyone should take a turn at from time to time in order for our Society to run.

However, you should definitely balance those tasks with activities and tasks which bring you joy. It's not a sprint or a marathon - there's no SCA finish line. It's your life. Do things that inspire you.

6. Do I really, honestly, and truly want to do the Thing? 

Is this something you feel like you "have to" do? Why do you feel that way? Is it a good reason? Talk to someone you trust about it if you're not sure.

Is someone pressuring you into doing something? Why do they feel it's so important that you do it at this time? Do they fully understand your other commitments at this time?

Are you saying "yes" for the wrong reasons? For example, are you hoping you'll gain positive attention for doing this, but have no other interest or skillset which suits the responsibility? Are you worried someone will be angry or upset at you if you say no? Have you spoken to this person about why it might not be a good idea right now?

Are you going to be bitter, angry, or resentful about your responsibilities three or six months down the road? Will it suck the enjoyment out of the SCA or a specific event for you if you feel like you can't do what you want as a result of agreeing to do something else?

Have you slept on it? Take a few days and really decide whether or not it's a good idea for you to do this right now. Tell whoever is asking that you can't commit right away and that you'll think about it. This takes some practice to learn to do, but it's worth it.

Are you hesitating because of some other reason? Do you doubt your abilities? Is there someone (or a group of people) you can talk to about getting help and support which will make you feel better?

If you've thought about these questions and you think it's still a good idea to do the Thing, go for it! Jump in with both feet and enjoy yourself! Don't forget that you can always ask people you trust and talk out your worries and concerns. 

Anyway, I hope this was helpful - I know it's a good exercise for me!

Attack of the Killer Linen!

So I've been working steadily on the underdress for a week and a half or so. Drifa kindly helped me draft the pattern and then left me alone to get to it - I have a dress now, but it was a series of "whoops" moments along the way!

My first "whoops" was not carefully picking apart the seams from when the fabric was a palla - I got impatient with the progress and started ripping the seams apart, which I can see now caused some structural weakness in the fabric. I realized about halfway through the project that I was working with handkerchief linen and not midweight, which means that any roughness is extra noticeable. I have a few little holes forming already, which will only grow if I can't figure out what to do with them.

My second "whoops" was ripping the fabric into shape rather than cutting it, which further weakened the fabric and caused some strange warping at the edges which bit me in the butt later. I understand that sometimes ripping linen works really well, and I think if I was working with a tighter weave it might have been okay, but I could see that it was going to fray like nuts and I still went ahead and kept ripping anyway! I also included the frayed edges in my total measurement, so I was a bit lacking in seam allowance overall.

My third "whoops" was basically just rushing my sewing, so I ended up having to unpick a whole lot of my seams. There's so much fray at the edges of my fabric that I'm really not sure how to finish the seams anymore - I might have to ask to borrow a serger! My hope was to finish it in a slightly more period manner, but that's a consequence of making so many mistakes along the way.

The linen is frayed almost right down to the seam already in some places.

On the bright side, I finished the neckline with bias tape (a first for me!) and faced the neck slit with Caterina's help, I'm reasonably happy with the fit (although that was mostly Drifa's drafting) and I think it looks fairly serviceable!

Or, at least it will look serviceable when it's all finished up - the sleeves and most of the seams need finishing (I've unpicked more since I took this photo) and the hem has to be done. I also have to make a surcote to go over it. I decided to do the neck in a Norse style, so that I can wear it with an apron dress if I like. That's a very fashionable style here in Avacal!

I'm not too discouraged with how it went. It may not feel like much of an achievement, but everything I do I gain a little more confidence and knowledge. Everyone has to start somewhere, and I'm not afraid to make mistakes if it means I've tried something new. Hopefully, the surcote will go smoother!

WORK IT. 

The Seven Heavenly Virtues, and Gentleness

Okay, so this is not strictly A&S related, but as this is a personal growth blog I'm sticking it here anyway. This forms a huge part of my philosophy and world view. You could call this my "credo."

As we get older, I think there's a tendency to kind of stop thinking about what we do and who we are as something which is changeable. There's a lot of research out there that suggests your personality is pretty much fixed at a very young age!

That might be true, but there are many things and aspects of my life which I am always trying to improve. There are many personality traits I'd really like to grow out of, and others that I'd really like to grow into. I am surrounded by people who I really admire with many traits I hope I can acquire as I get older and more mature.

I find that it can sometimes be a bit helpful to meditate on virtues, and how they might be better expressed in my life. I think self-reflection is pretty important. I think of these very often and consider them guiding principles.

One day, I'd really like to embroider the seven heavenly virtues onto something I can take with me everywhere I go (like a token or something) so I can remember them all the time.

Castitas - Purity of thought and action; faithfulness to family and friends in word, thought and deed; resistance to temptation, vindictiveness, or gossip

Temperantia - Restraint and temperance; avoidance of gluttony or over-indulgence; careful consideration of one's surroundings and the needs of others before speaking or giving advice; balancing one's own needs and the needs of others

Caritas - Generosity, charity, and self-sacrifice; unconditional (agape) love for the rest of humanity

Industria - Persistence, honesty, and diligence in one's chosen work; guarding one's self against laziness, dishonesty, misrepresentation or shoddy workmanship

Patientia - Endurance with grace, patience, and dignity; not taking out one's misfortunes or pains on others; working towards sentiments of peace, harmony and mutual respect, rather than sowing seeds of distrust and unkindness; showing boundless forgiveness and mercy and always leaving room for a chance to start over

Benevolentia - Compassion and kindness without seeking reward or personal gain; keeping a positive outlook and encouraging others; genuine good will and happiness for the successes of others, even when they come into conflict with your own desires

Humilitas - Modesty in speech, thought, action, and dress; ungrudging acceptance of thankless or unnoticed tasks; suspicion towards yourself and your own motives and charity towards those who may disagree with you; giving credit where credit is due and not accepting undue praise or attention; refraining from despair or anger which is based on the ego; respect and deference for the wisdom and experience of others

There's one more virtue which I really like to reflect on and strive for constantly, but which isn't really mentioned in the big lists most of the time.

That virtue is Gentleness. I think it's a really great expression of many of the other virtues and how they can be applied in the way we deal with other people. This is the virtue which I most associate with people who I consider role models in my life.

Gentleness - Doing the most good with the least harm to others; approaching others with love and openness, with a will to understand rather than to judge or rebuke. Courage without violence, strength without unkindness, and love without anger. A constant strength born from calm, serene patience, rather than the violent turmoil of anger or indignation.

So anyway, there you go!

Operation "Return Brigida's Garb"

In my last post, I mentioned that I was going to pull apart my Roman garb to get my hands on all that sweet, sweet linen.

Farewell, Roman outfit. I barely knew ye. I promise to do you better next time. 

After an evening of savaging my fabric with extreme prejudice, I have more of the blue than the yellow, for sure. However, the blue is in three pieces (front panel of the chiton, back panel of the chiton, and a really long piece left over from when I made it) and the yellow is in two pieces (the palla and about .5 metres left over from when I made it.)

I washed all the bits again last night, and then had to trim the ridiculous amount of spiderwebbing which occurred as a result. (Why do I never remember that's a thing that linen does?) Still, I ended up with enough fabric that I feel I can make a nice surcote and cote out of it, no problem. (Perhaps with some vaguely creative piecing, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.)

Voila! Fabric! 

So, given that I'm going to attempt to do a better job of dressing myself hereafter, I have to make a few decisions:

- What should I put on my head?

- What should I put on my feet?

- What should I put around my waist?

Headwear is an area in which I have historically not had all that much success. 

Dig that blue hair elastic! I'm sure I saw that in a woodcarving somewhere. 

Working my modern straw hat with stylish floral accent. Yas. 

Fortunately, the 14th century is a bit idiot-proof, since we're mostly dealing with lengths of linen being pinned and draped to shape your head, plus potentially a cap as a foundation. 

Sometimes this is called a St. Birgitta's Cap - it's a kind of a coif kept firmly on the head with a long wrapped tie

As far as I can tell, you can either use a similar cap as something to pin your veil (with or without wimple) to, or you want to use a fillet or fillet/barbette combo for a foundation.

Fillet (forehead thing) and barbette (chin thing,) this is from revivalclothing.com 

Then, all there is to do is decide on how to arrange your veil, whether or not you want a wimple, etc. Probably I will want to make a St. Birgitta's cap and just use that to pin my veil/wimple to if I want to scrub up nice. As far as I can tell, a wimple is just a long rectangle of fabric pinned on the front and up around the back of the head - the veil can be round, rectangular, or D-shaped, depending on the look you want.

Nun chic - it's real. (via ladymalina.com) 

Footwear, likewise, is not an area in which I have had much success. Largely, I wear either modern ankle booties in leather-esque, or straight-up sneakers if I'm going to be on my feet all day long. In the 14th century, though, it was all about the leather shoe (with or without hilarious pointy toes in the late 1300s - mid 1400s.)

Serving elf realness. 

I may just suck it up and buy a pair from a reputable re-enactment store online, since at some point I really should have some period shoes.

As for a belt, right now I have a super-wide, super-butch leather belt of the kind which is worn by a lot of folks in the SCA. As far as I can tell, I should be looking for a much skinnier belt, maybe even with a bit of shiny metal hardware.

My belt is on the right. The kind of belt I am looking for is on the left. (Except not green, because that is an Apprentice belt, and I am not an Apprentice. #scafashionfauxpas)

So anyway, that's the game plan with this outfit. Very happily for me, our baronial and kingdom A&S champion (same person - her artisanal kung-fu is strong) has agreed to sit down with me and work out how to cut and put together my outfit sometime this week. Hopefully, I'll have something new to wear by Dragonslayer in July!

Garb Woes

I am not a great sewer. The first time I ever put a stitch in anything was all the way back in Grade 8 Home Economics class - I made a pillowcase in an entire semester. The next year, I think I made novelty dice or something. In any case, after that point, I didn't touch a sewing machine until I joined the SCA at 24 years old.

The first time I went to an SCA event was when I was 17. My friend Nikki brought me and sewed me a cute little chemise with eyelet lace, a boned bodice, and a brown wool skirt. I loved it and wore it many times after, but never really got into the whole SCA thing. I was a little too young, and she had her two beautiful children shortly after and stopped playing. (She's sitting there next to me, but you can't see her face!)

Dragonslayer 2006, I believe!

I re-joined the SCA at the Ghoul's Night Out demo in 2013. I borrowed an outfit from a gentle whose name I can't recall - in a weird twist of fate, Bjar picked this same Houppelande-type-thing up for me at a recent Tavern Lost and Found auction.

The first garb I ever had was made for me by Bronwyn, who was the very first person I met in the SCA and who "adopted" me and made sure I had people to talk to and places to sit, etc. It was a bright pink underdress (this is affectionately called "the pink terror" in my household) and a yellow faux-linen apron dress. It was not an attractive look, and I wore it with visible socks and sneakers since it was a little too short - fortunately, no photo evidence remains. I still have the pink terror, though I dyed it a little bit darker so it's not quite so frightening.

The second dress Bronwyn made for me was a yellow linen-esque kirtle, and I have never ever been happier with a garment. It felt so special to have something of my very own that I didn't have to borrow! I definitely felt like I fit in much better. Unfortunately, over time it's started to fall apart a bit and it's now much too big. I still have great affection for it, though!

That apron is not linen. It is the cheapest synthetic linen imaginable - water literally beads off of it.
Note also the entirely too-small hat - I did make it, but I never manage to make one big enough
for my massive head. 

My next outfit was made by my very good friend and de-facto head of our household, Caterina (soon to be Laurelled) and was absolutely gorgeous - yellow silk stays, an Elizabethan kirtle and a rich green wool gown - but I've lost so much weight over the past two years that I can't even pretend that they fit now! Absolutely tragic. I know I would wear them much better now. I am not the soul of elegance, so I wore it kind of like I was a Viking in drag. Not a great overall look.

For your reference, everything is wrong about how I am wearing this outfit.
It should be closed, no big manly belt, and I should have some variety of hat.
See above note on giant head. 

I have helped with fittings for others, and helped with some construction - but, I have yet to really attempt any garb from beginning to end. I have such a difficult time knowing where to begin without a paper pattern. I managed to make a Regency dress out of the world's cheapest cotton broadcloth all by myself - however, that was with a commercial pattern with a healthy set of instructions.

The shawl is definitely a $2 curtain panel from Value Village. I literally did not even alter it at all.
I was quite delighted with my bangs though, that's a look that needs to come back in fashion straight away. 

For the past year, I've borrowed a couple of sets of basic garb from another very good friend, Brigida. I have loved wearing them. They are durable, comfortable, and light - a linen apron dress and underdress, and a simple short surcote. She has been so patient with me and has let me wear them for ages, but I feel bad keeping them for so long and feel like it's time to return them.

Last summer, I made a palla and a tunica - both Roman garments. I love Roman clothing, but the fabric I chose wasn't really quite right for the purpose and the palla ended up very heavy and quite unwieldy. I am hoping to pull these apart and make something a little bit more serviceable for heavy wear in the kitchen and at camping events, and simple enough that my changing size won't fundamentally alter their appearance.

My tunica/chiton/whatever and palla (I'm on the right)

I poked through the Medieval Tailor's Assistant a little and looked around at events a bit, and what I think I want is a basic cote and a sleeveless surcote. Most of the ladies who work regularly in the kitchen wear similar, since they are great for moving around, rolling up your sleeves, and are not so dear that you would cry if you slopped on them. They have the added bonus of requiring a head-covering, which is definitely way more sanitary in a kitchen setting.

My heart will always be in the Renaissance, but dipping back into the Medieval period for a bit is probably more practical for the moment! Hopefully, I will have enough fabric to make a cote in the lovely golden yellow color and a surcote in the dark blue. We'll see how it all turns out!

Wish me luck!

Like this, but less voluminous. Also, linen, not wool. (source: The Medieval Tailor's Assistant.)

What is a Perfect Feast?

If I'm going to be commenting on and considering the success of the feasts I participate in, I realize that I have to have some criteria which I think make a feast successful. This is true as of June 2016 - as I gain more experience, they may change and more may be added.

The Perfect Feast...

- Delicious
- Served on time
- Reflects unique, researched aspects of the pre-16th century period
- Evokes the season
- Inclusive of allergies and dietary restrictions (within reason)
- Prepared safely
- Served at the proper temperature
- Dishes with complementary flavor profiles
- Has a unified theme
- Tested beforehand
- Adheres to the budget
- Appetizing in appearance

The Perfect Service...

- Creates an immersive period experience
- Entertains the populace
- Moves dishes from kitchen to table quickly and unobtrusively
- Maintains food safety and avoids cross-contamination
- Attention to detail and beautiful plating, when possible

The Perfect Kitchen...

- Safe, clean, functioning appliances
- Industrial dishwasher/sanitizer
- High-pressure double sink for washing
- Ample counter space
- Professional gas ranges
- Large, professional fridge units
- Chest freezer
- Cleaning products
- Well-stocked with dishware, utensils, servingware, pots and pans, dish cloths and towels
- Ample hot water
- All recipes and serving order prominently displayed
- Handwashing station
- Staging area for plating either directly outside the kitchen or inside the kitchen

The Perfect Feast Team...

- Kind, respectful, and inclusive
- Self-motivated and responsible
- Communicative and punctual
- Organized
- Monitors themselves and others for the need to take a break, have water, and eat
- Hygienic and careful to maintain food safety
- Tidy, or willing to clean up after themselves
- Shares food and drink among the kitchen staff to maintain morale and energy
- Provides honest feedback and support when needed

Silverwolf 2016

I had a great time at Silverwolf. It was my first time ever attending this event, and I love the hall - the kitchen is spacious and very central, with a commercial oven and stove setup, large fridges, and ample counter space along with a proper dishwashing sink and sanitizer.

This time, I had the chance to work alongside the Borealis Culinary Guild as they prepared their German-themed carnival feast. It was very unusual, because the theory was that attendees would grab small bits of food and circulate, almost like a cocktail party.

Our job was to hand-make almost 300 pretzels. The recipe was very simple, but the labor involved was extreme! It's easy to underestimate how much time and effort something like this can take. We worked fairly solidly on the pretzels from around noon to 5:30.

I have been asked by Mistress Coryn to record what I liked and disliked about each feast I attend. I'm going to add notes on the kitchen and hall setup as well, since I think that's a big part of the success of any feast!

Mel showing that dough who's boss! 

Mel demonstrating the dough "window" that shows enough gluten has formed

Joe's cheese

Endless pretzels...

Mmm! Ready to eat! 

Positives:

- The entire Borealis Culinary Guild seems to work very well as a team, with lots of rapport and friendliness. I think it's great to have such a tight crew, since you can always count on everyone else to do their job and be supportive of your efforts.

- The food was excellent and almost universally well-received. Everyone got a whole lot of food and basically anyone who wanted to took leftovers home!

- The kitchen facilities themselves were nearly perfect for our needs. Everyone was able to spread out and have their own workspace without getting in anyone's way, and there was ample stove and oven space for everybody to cook at the same time. This made timing the dishes much easier than it had been at TUA.

- No need to plate! Things went out in large batches which were dished out by volunteers. That saved a whole lot of time and effort.

- So amazing working with Mel and Coryn. It makes any tough job so much more pleasant when you have good company working with you.

Other Comments:

- One of the Culinary Guild members was having a difficult day in terms of the execution of his dish. Since everyone is really very much independently responsible for their own dishes, it can be hard to help each other when things like that happen. If something bad happens, you have to save yourself; so, you either fail independently or succeed independently. Not that nobody helps each other - it's just ultimately up to each person to pull off their own dishes.

- Oh my goodness, was the water in this hall ever hot! It was dangerously hot in the kitchen, so much so that we had to be very careful.

- I'm not sure the intended vision of the feast came together all that well - it was much more like a regular feast served buffet-style than the casual, festival-style walk-and-socialize meal that I think was envisioned. There were a number of reasons for this - the weather was terrible, for starters, and the tables were set up just like a normal feast - but I do think that we could try again another time and it would work a bit better. A big improvement would be to separate the serving tables so that folks had to go visit one booth at a time.

- Some of the food went much, much faster than some of the other food. For example, we had tons more of the heathen pies than we had of the sausages. The sausages were all gone within about half an hour. Quantity management seems to be a really big part of feast prep.

Overall, I think this feast was above average and I was delighted to be allowed to help out.