Post by James Deval on May 26, 2022 13:03:02 GMT
Back home now, batteries charged from spending some time in the magical Vale of Avalon and removing stains from my velvet jacket from the hecklers in the crowd during the announcement of the “passing of the hood”. HM must be the only convention where it’s acceptable to bring along squashed and rancid cabbages.
In all seriousness though, thank you for the overwhelming support I received afterwards. It was humbling talking to people on Sunday night and getting your ideas. Some of which have stuck, some are being contemplated and some of which are just plain mad and will get me sued. But I can confirm that operation Tea-Trolley is a go (with a few caveats), and more importantly Operation Pineapple is a go. Agents to be confirmed and more recruited in due course. It’s not my intention to talk about the future here as there are important things to announce that deserve a post of their own.
There are so many people to thank, so apologies if I miss anyone out. First and foremost, my best friend Dave. He started the first six weeks of the year in a coma and it’s amazing he’s still here, let alone back helping me run the table and setting up the costumes. He missed out on the chats after around 7:30 in the evening as he had to retire early. Also helping me set up, a big thanks to Steve Weekes. I couldn’t have done it without you. Taking the whole lot down was hard as it marked the end of the weekend. Thanks to Dennis Collins for helping us pack up and load the van. And thanks to both Dennis and Lucy for again displaying Flaurus and the Ravenscar banner. For Tirza and Roeland who again loaned Solas, those two original Swords of Wayland made the Cauldron of Lucifer corner look superb. It would be great to get more of the original seven swords to the next event. I’m working on that.
Thank you to AJ for the gift of Abbot Hugo’s costume. Rest assured it will be looked after, displayed and labelled as we agreed. It is now an integral part of the largest collection of RoS costumes in the World, and will remain so.
Thank you to Jenny Kane for being the angel on my shoulder, counteracting the evil influence of the devil on my other shoulder whose name is Tony Lee. Devil he may be, but his wit and general naughtiness had me in stitches. Cheers Tony, and it was great meeting your brother in law. I hope he will come to HM40A.
Thanks to Oliver Tobias who was overwhelmed by the passion we have for the characters he played. Not only in RoS but those before and after that. I will see you in August with any luck, and look forward to it immensely. A special mention should also go to Jelly Freitag whose influence persuaded her father to be there in the first place. We all owe you immensely for that.
Sally Heaysman, I don’t know whether to thank you, or kick you square in the butt. If it wasn’t for Sally, having all these costumes together wouldn’t have happened in the first place…. and I’d have space in my house and a healthier bank account.
On the subject of costumes, big hugs to Adam Sinclair-Greenwood who is the guardian of Herne. Thank you for entrusting me with him. I missed you at the event, but hopefully 2024, yes? Annette M Furuyama for being Herne’s chauffeur and getting him safely back and forth to Nottingham. You made a lot of people very very happy.
Alison Bick for the loan of the DVDs. Again the amazing trust for loaning these. I will use them wisely and look after them well until I see you at HM40A. Thank you.
A thank you to Ragnar and Freya for the marvellous hood you made for me. And for making the most accurate costumes bar none and wearing them well.
For Daniel Cyphus, whose generosity with giving me pieces completed a couple of the costumes.
Mark Robinson who kept me well lubricated (in the drinks sense) and entertained, along with the Welsh contingent who attended HM for the first time.
Julia from Austria. Who incredibly travelled alone to our shores for the first time to join us in celebrating. Sorry Freddie wasn’t here this time, but what a conversation you had in your own language and dialect with Oliver Tobias. That was a joy to watch. I hope you will take that trip again in two years. I promise the venue will be more accessible to international travellers.
Tony Cahill (more on him in a future update)
Chris Mockeridge, Andy Chesney, Amanda Dolan-Harrison, Andrew Graeme Cowie, Paul Maxted, Wendy Ahl, Dee Jackson, Neela McBeth, Bear Black, Neil Jackson, Ian Trencher, Andy Sencer, Lutine Ryan, Georgine Ryan, Phil Thorpe-Willett and everyone that bought from us. Again, apologies to everyone I missed. I’ve never spoken to so many people in such a short amount of time and mentioning you all is nigh impossible. Your support was overwhelming. Heartfelt thank you to you all.
A really special thank you to Mark Ryan, who gifted and more importantly trusts me to look after his original sword harness and scabbards. Restoration work will begin on your tunic this Summer as it’s by far the worst for wear of all the costumes due to it being a one off piece that saw three seasons of non stop action and Ryan shenanigans. It will look resplendent at HM40A.
And last, but certainly not least. Huge thanks to Barnaby and Kim who shot the first HM arrow and kept the momentum going for so long. You brought so many people from all kinds of backgrounds and beliefs together. It’s no exaggeration that you created many friendships, two marriages, but more importantly a family. And it was the need to preserve the experience, friendships and magnificent family that I strung the bow and picked up the HM arrow.
IT’S NOT OVER. IT WILL NEVER BE OVER!!!
In all seriousness though, thank you for the overwhelming support I received afterwards. It was humbling talking to people on Sunday night and getting your ideas. Some of which have stuck, some are being contemplated and some of which are just plain mad and will get me sued. But I can confirm that operation Tea-Trolley is a go (with a few caveats), and more importantly Operation Pineapple is a go. Agents to be confirmed and more recruited in due course. It’s not my intention to talk about the future here as there are important things to announce that deserve a post of their own.
There are so many people to thank, so apologies if I miss anyone out. First and foremost, my best friend Dave. He started the first six weeks of the year in a coma and it’s amazing he’s still here, let alone back helping me run the table and setting up the costumes. He missed out on the chats after around 7:30 in the evening as he had to retire early. Also helping me set up, a big thanks to Steve Weekes. I couldn’t have done it without you. Taking the whole lot down was hard as it marked the end of the weekend. Thanks to Dennis Collins for helping us pack up and load the van. And thanks to both Dennis and Lucy for again displaying Flaurus and the Ravenscar banner. For Tirza and Roeland who again loaned Solas, those two original Swords of Wayland made the Cauldron of Lucifer corner look superb. It would be great to get more of the original seven swords to the next event. I’m working on that.
Thank you to AJ for the gift of Abbot Hugo’s costume. Rest assured it will be looked after, displayed and labelled as we agreed. It is now an integral part of the largest collection of RoS costumes in the World, and will remain so.
Thank you to Jenny Kane for being the angel on my shoulder, counteracting the evil influence of the devil on my other shoulder whose name is Tony Lee. Devil he may be, but his wit and general naughtiness had me in stitches. Cheers Tony, and it was great meeting your brother in law. I hope he will come to HM40A.
Thanks to Oliver Tobias who was overwhelmed by the passion we have for the characters he played. Not only in RoS but those before and after that. I will see you in August with any luck, and look forward to it immensely. A special mention should also go to Jelly Freitag whose influence persuaded her father to be there in the first place. We all owe you immensely for that.
Sally Heaysman, I don’t know whether to thank you, or kick you square in the butt. If it wasn’t for Sally, having all these costumes together wouldn’t have happened in the first place…. and I’d have space in my house and a healthier bank account.
On the subject of costumes, big hugs to Adam Sinclair-Greenwood who is the guardian of Herne. Thank you for entrusting me with him. I missed you at the event, but hopefully 2024, yes? Annette M Furuyama for being Herne’s chauffeur and getting him safely back and forth to Nottingham. You made a lot of people very very happy.
Alison Bick for the loan of the DVDs. Again the amazing trust for loaning these. I will use them wisely and look after them well until I see you at HM40A. Thank you.
A thank you to Ragnar and Freya for the marvellous hood you made for me. And for making the most accurate costumes bar none and wearing them well.
For Daniel Cyphus, whose generosity with giving me pieces completed a couple of the costumes.
Mark Robinson who kept me well lubricated (in the drinks sense) and entertained, along with the Welsh contingent who attended HM for the first time.
Julia from Austria. Who incredibly travelled alone to our shores for the first time to join us in celebrating. Sorry Freddie wasn’t here this time, but what a conversation you had in your own language and dialect with Oliver Tobias. That was a joy to watch. I hope you will take that trip again in two years. I promise the venue will be more accessible to international travellers.
Tony Cahill (more on him in a future update)
Chris Mockeridge, Andy Chesney, Amanda Dolan-Harrison, Andrew Graeme Cowie, Paul Maxted, Wendy Ahl, Dee Jackson, Neela McBeth, Bear Black, Neil Jackson, Ian Trencher, Andy Sencer, Lutine Ryan, Georgine Ryan, Phil Thorpe-Willett and everyone that bought from us. Again, apologies to everyone I missed. I’ve never spoken to so many people in such a short amount of time and mentioning you all is nigh impossible. Your support was overwhelming. Heartfelt thank you to you all.
A really special thank you to Mark Ryan, who gifted and more importantly trusts me to look after his original sword harness and scabbards. Restoration work will begin on your tunic this Summer as it’s by far the worst for wear of all the costumes due to it being a one off piece that saw three seasons of non stop action and Ryan shenanigans. It will look resplendent at HM40A.
And last, but certainly not least. Huge thanks to Barnaby and Kim who shot the first HM arrow and kept the momentum going for so long. You brought so many people from all kinds of backgrounds and beliefs together. It’s no exaggeration that you created many friendships, two marriages, but more importantly a family. And it was the need to preserve the experience, friendships and magnificent family that I strung the bow and picked up the HM arrow.
IT’S NOT OVER. IT WILL NEVER BE OVER!!!
)
