Here’s a cartoon plus artist’s statement that pretty well sums up my feelings about the affair.

Found via The Apostate, a very entertaining blog about (among other things) not being a Muslim any more.

One reason why my society wouldn’t do mass displays with others- too many nutters out there.

Yes, they did fire arrows at each other- I saw some hit shields.  They weren’t moving very fast, because they fired from a good distance away,

Maybe they were using blunt tips like the ones used on flu-flus.

Yes, they did fire arrows at each other- I saw some hit shields.  They weren’t moving very fast, because they fired from a good distance away, and I suspect they weren’t sharp, but it was still a bit intimidating.

That’s of course an open invite to contact me.

I went to the doctor with a scar.
How did you get that?
I got hit by a sword.
How did you get hit by a sword?
I was trying to get out the way of a spear.

Though the society has strict safety rules, old hands who know each other well often do things outside the rules. Unfortunately on this occasion they didn’t see me. Even though the weapons are blunt, a sword is still a 3 ft iron bar.

Are you sure they fire sharps (or any thing) at each other? Archery in such volleys are always (alledgedly) at a piece of rough ground that should be empty. Of course occasionally someone misses the safety script briefing…  Some ACW societies do not use ramrod, instead banging the butt against the ground.  There is historical evidence for this, but mostly its because there is then no chance of leaving a rod in a barrel by accident.

Hussar- thanks for the invitation.  I would love to chew the fat with you over a pint.  I don’t know when I’ll be in the Home Counties again, but I’ll let you know when I am.  The same goes for you, of course, if you ever happen to come out this way.  And you’re right about Mrs. SEB- I don’t know how Les can put up with such an uppity woman

About reenactment:  the best I ever saw (no, I watched from a safe distance) was in Leeds, a recreation of one of the skirmishes between the French and English around the time of Agincourt.  I had previously talked with a couple of the participants, who were reminiscing about wounds they’d received in such battles.  I had thought they were exaggerating until the fight started.  Not only were they really clashing swords, but they were really shooting arrows, with points, at one another.  One fellow had to be taken away with the ambulance, which was standing nearby.  Very entertaining, but I’ll stick with music.

cubiclegrrl- pumpkin wine?  Now I’ve heard everything.  Yes, York is beautiful.  But you needn’t be jealous of us in the Old Countries- while there’s lots of ambience, we have our share of problems too.  Of course, if you and your hubby should be in Vienna, drop me a line.

mmm, mead- is there any good thing that you and your partner in crime do not make, cubiclegrrl?

We haven’t tried our hand at anything bubbly—well, at least not intentionally.  (A chamomile half-mead blew out corks *quite* emphatically—about four of ‘em at pretty much the same time.  It was like the wine rack fired broadside at the basement wall.  More than a little disturbing, that…)

But we’ve pulled a few clinkers, too.  There’s a blackberry wine that I’ll use to stew tomatoes, but I d—n sho’ won’t drink.  At least the pumpkin pie wine turned out alright—weird, but alright—because it made about two dozen bottles.

I am soooo jealous of you and LH in particular, though, being able to knock back a pint in that kind of ambiance.  The best bit of our vacation in the UK (for me) was a quiet cider next to a crackling fire in an early 15th century house in York.  That was one of the most magic moments of my life, when nearly six centuries rolled away in the lull of conversation.  [Purr….]

MMMmmmmmmm Mead.  When I was a Dark Age re-enactor mead was required drinking. We drank it like beer, though it’s 12-14% by volume (similar to wine) My thegn’s habit was to take the stopper out and throw it over his shoulder, into the candle shadows where it couldn’t be found with “we won’t need that again”.  He said he never saw anyone agressive on mead, just happy drunk- he opined the sugar base had something to do with that.

Zilch- If ever you get as far south as the Home Counties we will have to try and meet for a beer. Aylesbury has well over a 1000 years of history, though much of it has been ruined by ‘modernisation’ in the 60s and 70s (“More poured concrete- yes, I’m sure that’s the answer”). (Just thought- “What have you been doing”, “I’ve just invited an American living in Austria for a beer down the Kings Head”).

The Farmers Bar has been re-decorated in a lighter, more modern style, though it manages to stay cozy. Not only do I get the odd luchtime drink in down there, when work has been particually annoying, but my stag do ended there, where we were joined by the ladies hockey team in the courtyard.  A couple of years ago my wargame club were invited to put on a demo game as part of a beer festival/history weekend celebrating the history of the place.  We refought the Battle of Tewkesbury with 15mm figures in one of the stables, while staying suitably refreshed.

Have you noticed MrsSEB coming in and going completely off topic by insisting on addressing the thread heading! How very dare she!

mmm, mead- is there any good thing that you and your partner in crime do not make, cubiclegrrl?

LH:  Very interesting about ginger beer—I’ll mention that to my partner-in-crime.  I can just see this spiraling completely out of hand, but I like ginger, too. 

zilch:  Cyser is just hard cider made with honey instead of white sugar.  We keep two hives of bees, but every mead we’ve made has taken sooooo long to ferment (thereby tying up carboys) that we make the (relatively) quick-hitters like cysers or honey-based fruit wines, just so we’re not swimming in the embarrassment of riches that our ladies supply.