Hard work :-)
Phew. We've been back two days and we're still knackered. I guess it's our age - mid-forties. Fortunately the dp is off work for the rest of the week, so he can recover at leisure. That said, we've got another show this weekend, but it's only a two-dayer and is just up the road from York.
Lincoln, over the Bank Holiday, was an enjoyable show. The weather was very variable, but the crowds came out and were bright and interested. Even the media turned out, with the local paper and radio invading the castle. At some point on the Sunday afternoon, live on the wireless, I would have been heard to be wittering on about Roman pottery and women in the Roman Army. The radio chap was there the whole afternoon, and interviewed just about everybody. He was very pleasant and an excellent interviewer, so that even shy, retiring souls like myself were able to speak passably.
But this was the weekend when I learnt to use the bow. I was able to practise a goodly amount, though found that my arms became tired after a while. The spirit was willing, but the body was definitely not. Initially, I was told I wouldn't be able to shot in the main display, but was OK for the training display. However, since the group was low on numbers, I was able to take part in the main display without comment later on in the weekend. What seems to happen with virtually every show, is that people say they're coming but drop out at the last minute. This can be due to a variety of reasons, the main one being dying cars. This weekend it reached a chronic level, so that those of us actually there had to work very hard indeed.
And when we started to pack up on Monday, our hired van decided not to start. Already knackered and wanting to go home, our marathon continued. This is the seond time it's happened, and must be due to the fact that the van was just parked for the better part of four days. If the battery is low, it will run right down if left sitting. So next time, we will be taking the van for a run on the last camping evening, just to ensure the battery gets charged up.
This coming weekend should be easier. We're borrowing a car, and will be coming home in the evening. Meanwhile, we're tidying up our kit and I'm looking forward to another weekend shooting arrows :-)
posted by Alex Bordessa @ Wednesday, May 31, 2006
4 Comments:
Glad you had good weekend. I've not had a go with a bow and arrow for a few years. I used to be a dab hand at making them from a green stick and a bit of garden twine, but I imagine the ones you use are probably slightly more impressive than that ! Whereabouts are you this weekend ?
We're at Hayton. Wouldn't say my self-bow is impressive - only 30 pounds or so ... I have some wonderful scratches on my hands, and bruises from bow slap; all on the left hand/arm :-) We also have have recurve bows, as there is evidence for their use from several sites in Britain, including York.
Fascinating link to the Brougham cemetery report. Many thanks for that.
Congratulations on getting to use your bow! What sort of range will a 30-pound draw weight bow shoot over?
Bad luck with the van, and hope it doesn't happen again this weekend.
Women buried with horses and military equipment...
Go away, evil plotbunny. Shooo, off with you.
Ok, you can stay, but in the basement with the other plotbunnies, and don't expect me to feed you.
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