[TheForge] Barleycorn- A Great Event ;-)

[Phlip]

I want to thank Sir Edward and all the folks of Northpass for another very
pleasant event ;-)

I spent the entire weekend in the company of pleasant, nice people, with
people who did a great job of learning on my forge, and who were very
careful and followed instructions properly. We had a couple of fighters come
over to use my tools, one teaching the other how to fix the dented bars of
his helm (I watched that myself, so I can help someone else in the future),
my apprentice, Alaron worked hard and well all day and the next morning,
doing a couple of projects I had for him, to help develop his skills, and
even earned himself a proper pair of real cotton garb pants, doing one
project for a couple, and he and another gentle turned out a good supply of
rebar tent stakes and a poker. I'll admit I had them do it the hard way, and
it was great to watch their hammer skills improve. I also had a blind
gentleman come over and engage in some conversation, and it was fun showing
him how we shaped the metal and used the tools. I also had a great student,
who had never done anything like this before, who, while he was rather slow
to learn- no innate talent- was very good about not only persisting, but,
once he did learn how to do something, learned it and did it very well. I
think, if he chooses in the future to persist, he'll be an excellent smith.

We also had a pair of young couples, who were observant Jews, who were
unable to play on the forge Saturday, it being the Sabbath, but who were
excellent with not only explaining some of their beliefs, and the little
stories (is "pilpul" the word?) that go along with them, but were wonderful
helps Sunday, when I was tearing down.. They're brand new to the SCA- one
girl's first event was Pennsic, for the other three, this was their very
first event- and I look forward to them becoming experienced SCAdians. I
think they'll eventually be great people to have in our Game ;-)

 The feast was quite tasty, the entertainment throughout feast varied and
interesting, I understand the dancers had a good time as well. Myself, I
thoroughly enjoyed the pleasant conversation and tasty brews at the
gathering we had up in the merchant area- lots of good people, and great
conversation.

Barleycorn is an excellent event. For those of you who enjoy a laid-back
event with quality fighting (I was in an excellent position not only to keep
an eye on things as CiC, but to see much of the fighting, both Heavy and
Rapier) and very pleasant people, at a very nice new site, I strongly
recommend it to you in future years ;-)

Saint Phlip,
CoD

"When in doubt, heat it up and hit it with a hammer."
 Blacksmith's credo.

 If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is probably not a
cat.

Never a horse that cain't be rode,
And never a rider who cain't be throwed....