1066 and all that

Another couple of days of frenzied activity as we prepare for that mecca in the average Viking's calender - Hastings!! For those normal folk who aren't sure, it was fought on 14th October so the annual re-enactment is usually the weekend before (or after) depending on how close. This year it's a Wednesday so I guess it could have been either, but we've got this one and as the forecast looks OK I'm not complaining! (After the biblical rain of Wednesday it's settled down to being clear skies and downright cold - not exactly freezing, but after a very balmy and dry September it might as well be!) So, I've been frantically mending shoes, patching kirtles (tunics) and trying to get odd bits of hand-sewing and nahlbinding done to the point that I took Jerry's socks with me for a cuppa with Sally!! However much time I think I've got there's always something I never get finished and this time it's my linen coif-of-sorts - to wear under my wimple, hiding very inauthentic hair and pierced ears.

Nahlbinding's strangely awesome. Dark age knitting, if you like, but not like any knitting or crochet you can imagine. The nearest I could suggest is a close weave blanket stitch that just goes around and around (and occasionally forwards and backwards) creating wonderfully thick and chunky socks and gloves. I have a yen to nahlbind a phone sock as well. BUT it's slow going - unlike knitting and crochet, which work along the yarn, with nahlbinding the yarn has to be pulled through (like sewing) every time and this makes it a more arduous task. Folks have tried to develop techniques for speeding it up but the end result is the same more often than not. Jerry's socks have come about as a solution to the problem of Dave-the-Vegan's boots which we bought off him after he left - the boots are a size 12 and Jerry's a size 10 so the gap has been filled with heel stiffeners (also made by me) and a monster pair of nettle green wool socks. He won't get cold!!!

Other chores to be done are packing Marigold (our campervan) with all the trappings of the modern Viking: canvas campaign tent (17' long - the stripped spruce poles have to go on the roof bars); sea chest containing costume or "kit"; baskets of cups, bowls and horn spoons; a cauldron and tripod; swords, axe, shields and helmet; pondliner groundsheet (it will be cold and wet!!); camping chairs; airbeds; cozy sleeping bags and mead!! And beer and wine and chocolate and cake and any small creature comforts to help through the chilly evenings - once the public have gone!

I also need to make some authentic bread - flat and round, but kneaded in the bread maker and buy a few pledges from Morrisons. The whole group divvies up the menu for the weekend so that everyone brings something(s) and hopefully no one goes without - though occasionally we've had things like the person who pledges the breakfast eggs not turn up until later in the morning etc! This isn't a problem - a small raiding party descend on the nearest supermarket for a quick pillage with their debit cards tucked safely in their leather pouches.

The kits are strangely comfortable and become part of you over the weekend - layers of natural linen and pure wool, col in summer, warm in winter. Makes you wonder why polyester was ever invented!! The kids look so cute in their mini kits and Saffron has decided that boy kit is the way forward for her - none of this silly girly stuff!! She dons a helmet and gets out onto the battle field carting a huge horn of water to tend to the troops. I could easily live in my kit - it's just so comfortable - though no the MOST attractive set of garments I possess!!

By the end of the weekend we might be slightly damp, but not stinky as the woodsmoke masks everything!!! As long as I have clean undies and a packet of baby wipes I'm happy!!! One of the best bits is the hot soak on Sunday night... ooooooooh, I can almost feel it now. See you Monday!!