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| work work work |
| 05.31.04 (8:41 am) [edit] |
|
So it's a holiday today, it's sunny and warm and there is an interloper in my little rose garden, a rogue rose. Wild roses have suddenly come to live with the Westerland and the english Tea roses. And now there is this pretty littl single petal pale pink wild roses as well. How lucky can one be? th ebig question is how did it get there?It wasn't there last year but the stalk that the new roses are coming from was, how wierd is that can roses hybrid on their own or whenthey've had enough of being pretty do they just revert into their wild self? This morning's coffee was spent in front of the computer trying to soft through the backlog mess. it's a mess. It's actually a big mess but I got some very good healthy advice from Mistress Jaella at DW and that was, "every Signet has tried to sort the back log out, and every signet has failed so don't make thatyour goal, just do what you can and try to make sure it doesn't get worse. Kinda hard with Kings like E around but what can you do? It's very discouraging to look at the huge numbrs of BL scrolls but in the end it was worse. Now I also know that after we move I will once again have a lot of free time on my hands and can do a lot more then. I hope. Last night I finished a big scroll and settled in to do the next one, am making a couple of books too, one will be blank and the other another book of hours style book as a gift. I am running out of time but somehow it all gets done. I also want to fix the %*%^$$%% pavillion as well and re do the bloody doors. I hope that today will be a noodle around the house day get stuff done and relax a bit. The weather will change and the sun will go away. Buth that's okay the plants all need water anyway. now to go make some books until then, be excellent to each other |
| the long weekend ahead |
| 05.29.04 (8:08 am) [edit] |
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I always sit down to write some thing fairly specific here and I always end up writing something else. A short and sweet almost always turns into something else. It's just weird. So it's a gorgeous saturday morning and I am up super early becaue marcus forgot to turn off the alarm clock and while he can sleep through it, I can't. But this is not a bad thing. I get up , it's super quiet except for the little black birds who are singing their hearts out, and the planes that are now landing in Hamburg airport ( they circle in a landing pattern over us) and the sheep from the small house farm thing across the way. I get my coffee and I read through my emails and my favourite website / online comics and blogs. It's the modern day equivilant of newspaper reading I guess. I must admit I am quite glad this week is over. It has been hecktic and stressful. Work is a little bit on the good grief whatnow stage. For a simple job, it gets made very complicated and the suits keep changing things...."well maybe it will work better if we do it THIS way." and so on. so we had another massive change this week which was for us a good thing but for one team member not so good. This person is chaos in a body. I don't think I have ever seen anyopne work in such a way and he has kind of backed himself into a corner. No matter how much help he gets from how ever many people the work doesn't get done and there are quite literally piles of paper, equipment, broken stuff that needs to be swapped ALL OVER THE PLACE, every single free surface gets used to put something on it. He's very resistant to change of any sort and the problem is that while the company has had amazing growth and so the returns are also larger in number he has not adjusted to the volumn of stuff. And no one knows how to deal with it. He doesn't want to integrate into our team because he feels that's a demotion and at the same time he complains that people don't trust him any more. It's a strange situation. I hope it comes together properly because I like this person a lot personality wise but his work habits are really bad and now he sits in a place were everyone sees the mess. This is not a good thing. The main problem is the lack of integration. He feels he is his own team, his stuff is separate from our stuff and that's not the case any more. But if you don't accept the changes how can you grow? resistance is pretty useless as the Borg say. I hope it all comes together and he gets himself sorted out soon because I am scared if he doesn't accept the changes they will find a way to get rid of him. And that woudl simply suck. ---- meanwhile on the home front, the weekend ahead lays open, with lots of projects, a couple of big scrolls to finish and a book to make, dremel tool set to buy ( I love having a job) and a tent to sort out. It survived the huge storm no worries at all inspite of the rotten design of the doors ( live and learn) and I will be fixing that this weekend. I am working on this huge scroll project and it's huge, the biggest I have ever done. It will look stunning( says Marcus) when it's done. I am excited about it. We have all sorts of plans this summer and I am hoping we get to go to Kingdom university which is in a castle in Austria this year, I'll probably teach book making if we can swing it. It sounds like a lot of fun at least. And this next reign will be soooooooooooooooooo much fun!!!!! Ele's favourite knight has won our hearts completely. They are both amazing and fun and hate all the contrivances and silly politics that seem to go on and on and on. I so look forward to the next six months. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, it's sunny and beautiful out and I need to get my day started..... more later until then , be excellent to each other. |
| House Blackwood and other unmentionables |
| 05.26.04 (9:07 pm) [edit] |
|
so the great thing about being a tree is you are automatically branded nuts. Camping in sweden is nuts. camping in sweden in May during hurrican force wind gusts with freezing night temps and horefrost.... is extreme nuts. House blackwood has a LONG history and many ups and downs, highs and lows comings and goings. But in the end it is a family and like most families I know not everything runs smoothly and not every one always agrees or even likes each other all the time, but we do talk to one another, contrary to popular beliefe and we have our own language in doing so, like most families seem to do. The house was founded by Cape Bretoners so... you know like Celtic blood, runs hot hard and deep. We like to run a bit amok and sometimes we go mad. This DW was a good, no, great house event in many ways, not because we camped together and sang happy happy joy joy songs, we didn't. Infact the only song that got sung by a HB member was one verse and the chorus of General taylor. We didn't camp together because the tent blowing away episodes made that not really possible... and we all did our own things much of the time but it was a great event in that we all banded together for the first time in a while and that was good. WE have all been so drat blasted deep up to our necks in getting this $%^*& shire on the go that the house got left behind and rightly so, ya can't have both. Six founding members of the shrie were six house members somethig needs to give so the house did for a while, let the shire grow and the house will settle back into it's foundation again. Now the shire is growing and the newbies do their own thing some mix well, some don't but each offers their input in their own way and that's also good, however the house which has been left to one side while business is attended to can now reform itself. And it did. Leo authorised, this was a HUGE big thing and we were all there except Skarf who couldn't make it this year, an Mi who doesn't reside in country any longer. We watched and cheered and took a TON of photos which at some point during our lifetimes we will try to get developed, (*sheesh) and then because he is now an authorised house blackwood fighter, leo gets the tabbard. This tabbard is a house treasure. I was given it oh so many years ago when i authorised and it was made by Foxworthy. Now leo wears it , proudly I might add. It was good to bring it with! I finally finished Ele's house badge..last one to go before I remake one for me, that one was given to Mi. Phew and we talk now more about house meetings and movie nights fun and adventure. Long chats and discussions about the stuff this past winter and some stuff that has been happening in a language quite unique but to the point. And the ultimate discovery that it is our differences and our feiery nature that somehow make it all special, that and a decent cup of coffee in the freezing cold AM. Families argue and get stinky and do some strange things but if the foundadtion is solid they still love one another anyway despite the failings and the faults, the annoying little tics and traits. and everything that goes with it. Leo authorised and all Ican say is WHOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOO!!!!! bring it on! be good, you know the drill. |
| Back from the double wars |
| 05.26.04 (6:58 am) [edit] |
|
I love Sweden. I love it absolutely. It is a magical beautiful place. We drove up after midnight on Tuesday that magical nighttime drive and everything went smooth until we got to th ecamp site, by which timn ewe were very tired and hungry. All was quiet...everyone was asleep, unlike last year where folks were up and about and we were not any earlier. Then after wandering around teh site looking for Ele and finding only the wobbly geteld sort of still standing and a pile of fabric and the remains of the umbrella beside it we all sort of looked at each other and went hmmmmmm. Afer heading back to the car to drink the remains of the thermos coffee and ponder about the distinct amount of moisture that seeemed to be leaking from the sky, Ele awoke and and got out of her very not period tent and saw us. Her first words amounted to something like "it's a disaster." and aparantly while sleeping in her newly self made umbrella tent ( don't ask) during a wild strm the first of two, her tent was whisked away and she was almost GONE with the wind. Don't you dare call her Scarlett ( we do anyway). So... we hmd and haw and shared out hot coffee with her. Eventually we were joined by Master B and Agnes, and together we all decided where to camp that is we wandered about looking for a good place. Where Ele used to be was NOT a good place, it was the swamp on the other side of the hill. The we spied Mistress C and the next to be king and queen John and Honor who i ned to say are astoundingly wonderful. "camp here." says Honor. "Coffee." says John. "lots of space, fill her boots" or something to that effect so we camped down the backside of the hill behind them. they had found this lovely spot up on a hill surrounded on all sides but one by trees and were camped downstairs beside master B. The art of setting up our pavilion is based on the reliance of help from others, and Richard was there ...Richard who is soft spoken but has a wicked sense of humour I thankyou sooo much. I might add no cars were allowed on the period site which after storm number two had non period tents on it as well, so you drove to the farm hours, then borrowed the wheeled cart to schlep from point A to point B then carried all the stuff by hand from point B up and over and down the hill to point C...in the rain... this was Wednesday. We got set up the rain subsided the sun came out and the wind picked up and we basically spent the day baby sittingthe pavillion as gale force 12 winds can do a lot of damage, on wednesday 6 tents went down. After hours of this.no sleep, although we tried( sleeping in the pavillion was akin to sleeping on a very creaky old wooden ship at a high storm on the sea) we buggered off to get some hot food and escape fromthe cool biting windy wind. All I can say is I am glad I speak lite lite svenska. To make a long night short the pavillion survived and since I have bitched for several events now about the factthat the doors are sewn on totally wrong, I will before Coronation fix them. We can't close the tent up right due to a serious design flaw, the flaw being no plans when I sewed the thing so I guessed and I guessed wrong. Live and learn. Ele, who had lost two tents had bought a new mundane one and so our Birthday gift to her ( it was her birthday on saturday) was that we will help her make a round pavillion with proper doors and everything. We know that this design withstands hurricane force winds. The rest of the event was for Marcus lots of fun, for me so so. as expected I got my period and a migrain( was prepared so the cramps etc... were soon dulled by modern medicine. I was in invisable mode and mainly stayed out of everyone's wayto relax and recover. Hung out with John and Honor, caitrin and the rest of the crew. We ate a couple of times in the mundane tent site and thatw as super nice then we went into town and bought our selves a primus stove and I had the first truely hot cup of tea with milk on the Friday. awwwwwwwwwww bliss. It was bitterly cold at night with horefrost on the grounds in the am. It rained the day before we left and the moring of the tear down was just enough sun to dry some of the wet canvas. At the one court I went to there was one scroll given out and Elffin didn't show it. :( The tavern was nice and warm and the musicians were AMAZING!!!!! I was eternally glad to be going home with the plotting and planning for how the heck we are going to get all the way from Swizterland up there next year in our heads. next comes coronation and I can't wait.... so much on the to do list and not enough time... thankyou the powers that be for the long weekend coming up!!! more to follow I promise... until then be excellent to each other. |
| going going gone |
| 05.18.04 (8:20 am) [edit] |
|
Okay so the car was not as expensive as we were led to believe, that is it was 6 euro inder the 800, euro mark and that means we get to go to Double wars. It stretches out budget to the bread and water line but what the hell? Better brakes than work and an empty purse than faulty brakes. I am battling GERD ( gastroesophageal reflux diseas) it's not really a diseas more like a chronic annoyance that borders on good grief.... painful,uncomfortable and mostly really annoying. Lots of bland food, fibre, water and ant-acids..pepto bismol is my very best friend. Nothing like being ill to make feeling well more amazing. I hope it calms down for the camping event is all I can say. Camping events... = browsing flea markets.... we did the Famila flea market last sunday and goo grief what finds... a cast iron cooking cauldren, ( very period) 3 euros, two pure wool , thick and warm matrass liners, oh sleeping will be warm warm warm, for 5 euros each, ren style curtains, various pewrter stuffs, and a copper bed warmer ( you know looks like a huge Copper pill). Gonna be warm this time around. Then there was the garb making session, in 24 hrs the list is as follows, 3 googles, 1 norman riding coat, 1 pair of pants, 3 full t-tunic style dresses, an over tunic and a gates of hell sideless surcoat done in heraldic colours. Nothing like a deadline to get one's ass in gear. Busy day. Lots of blank scrolls and some half finished that will be dragged along to DW because the Backlog King from hell will be there. Today is finish up and pack day. We meet with leo at 1:30 am and drive up to Sweden together. He won't be bringing the kiddies this time just one of the newbees. I wasn't excited about all of this , toop sick but now after the garb making marathon I am looking forward to it. Meeting old friends, seeing new ones. It will be nice, though I personally lane to bring some good books and just spend my time relaxing and reading. The first part of this holiday was not so relaxing so the 2nd part should be better. then on Monday it's back to work and if you can believe it I am looking forward to it. anyway , we won't be very communicative for the next 5 days or so.... so untile then be excellent to each other. |
| The Winter Blues |
| 05.13.04 (8:49 am) [edit] |
|
You know I thought i had it licked. This SAD thing, seasonally affected disorder, sounds really awful and it is. The really ikky thing is that I never figure it out till spring comes and then it's like oh, I don't want to shoot myself in th ehead any more, sunlight??!!?? what's that great big yellow bright thing in the sky. THis was a bad winter for me and I don't knwo why. Lots of changes I suspect and very little light. I am hopingthat this will change a bit after the move to Lugano where winters are not as long and the days don't get as short. Because this sensation of just wanting to not exist any more is really sucky. I am so glad spring is here, albeit it very wet and that I have work to keep my mind busy. The best thing in the past few days is new ink, oak-iron ink from Boesner...not expensive and really beautiful rich deep colour. Suddenly Boesner has yeah bookmaking supplies and calligraphy stuff galore. You annot ask for better than that. It's been ages since I felt any sort of spark of joy in anything I did and it was so nice to sit down and calligraph with new beautiful velvety ink. Been working on figuring out how to do really period seals and we hav ethe way , the bees wax etc.. just need to manufacture the little wooden cups that hold everything in place. This is exciting. Planning coins, and just stuff.... though no plans for tents... we wentthrough that nightmare once and that was enough, this pavillion will have to last forever! next step on the weekend will be garb for marcus and more scrolls...... the eurovision song contest will happen Saturday but we have plans to go to a belly dance fest thing.... and it will be good to get the ^&(* out of the house, I spend way too much time at home. Conny came by yesterday and it was so awesome to see her. We had lots to talk about and lots to plan time is short... 8 months and the countdown continues. anyway double wars is approaching and Coronation is not far behind..... lots to do.... until then be excellent to each othre |
| working holiday |
| 05.10.04 (5:07 pm) [edit] |
|
yay two weeks off, two weeks free wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee how excellent is that, now I have time duringthe day to do scrolls lots and lots of scrolls. I have a new flavour of gold I am dying to try out ( very rich slightly reddish colour) and some megga scrolls to decorate. oh boy oh boy oh boy. It's always cool when there's lots on the list. I bought two fantabulous books today with birthday money saved up from my birthday. both on the middle ages one specifcally on knights ( Ritter) and the other a general encyclopedia of the middle ages mostly exquisite colour pictures and lots of them. great for doccumentation. apart from that it's going to be fairly busy around here. We have lost of stuff to do in thehouse, we want to also maybe get some garb done and the car fixed and the laundry and and and.... then marcus will probably go up to Double Wars in Sweden while I relax at home for a few days on my own but this is not set in stone yet. Either way it's nice to have some time off and get some other work done, mostly very awesome stuff I have been looking forwar to for a while now. Backlog stuff and so on. A chance to try different things and get stuff sorted out. In a month or so the reign will change and the next king and queen are a bit more organised, scroll and signet wise. That is to say they actually communicate with the signet office. Then there is the move thing, already people are starting to relocate it's just a bit weird to think that in 8 months and counting + or- a few days we too will be down in amongst the Alps, learning Italian, looking at some gorgeous lake eating pasta and fresh fruit. Glorious. My biggest night mare is how are we gonna get all this stuff we have up here down there. I am so glad I don't have to do the moving part myself. Anyway, it's marcus's birthday today and we are celebrating our usual way some shopping some food and some tv. Go figure! I hope that spring finds everyone soon and for those of you that live in a place where it's just always warm, enjoy! until then, be excellent to each other. |
| the news |
| 05.06.04 (8:31 pm) [edit] |
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So because supper is coming soon, I am starving and we have like so no time here is the news in short. Lugano is very beautiful It rained most of the time we were there We stayed at a hotel posing as an old folks home really scarey...all german retiree tourists who travel in busses and eat speak and breath german stuff. We were like in the italian part of swizerland and all I heard was germans. The mountains are jeezerly big! did I meantion Lugano is gorgeous? expensive very expensive clean though. lots of watch shops and little ristorente-pizzarie. We got lost of photos which we willpost on a webpage but mostly what you see is mist, rain, fog, low clouds....drizzle.... you get the picture I know A. it sounds a LOT like st. John's raindrizzlefog It reminded me a bit of it as well, cept in the distance you have the Alps with a poop load of snow on em. so that's the news. I am pooper Ryan air was crazy. the hour long wait for the rental car was also crazy especialy since it came without gas. EEEEP. naja it was an okay trip. Switzerland is cool lots of stuff. okay enough until then be excellent to each other |
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moon phases |