......... but what about 2? The pair of swallows that nest in one of the outbuildings returned today. They nest under some very low eaves and the cats take a great interest in the birds swooping in through the doorways. I've done my best to stop the cats climbing up to the nests by filling up the gaps with wire netting so that they can't sneak along the rafters. Soon the house martins will return to build their mud nests under the eaves of the house by the bedroom windows. Today I held the bottom of the ladder while Romas cleaned and repainted the fascia boards and the brickwork around the upstairs windows ( we like to have things neat and tidy for the birds - only joking, it's part of my spring cleaning). Hopefully he'll get the downstairs windows done tomorrow.
Peter saw the rheumatologist today and the x-rays show it's not arthritis and is probably a tendon problem. He's now got to wait for an MRI scan before they can decide on the correct treatment.
They're not easy to photograph but that speck on the right is a swallow, honest.
To make up for the 'cute' pictures I'm posting a few more recent SK pictures, (courtesy of Kate B.)
A typical battlefield scene, the regiments getting into position before the action starts. I remember at this point there was usually a lot of to-ing and fro-ing of mounted messengers and groups of 'horse' (the cavalry) galloping across the field with maybe a mounted skirmish (a sedate one) with swords.
Then the fun would begin with pike blocks from opposing sides trying to push each other to gain position (that's with the pikes upright) or more restrained maneuvering with the pikes lowered until the pikes get dropped and there's more pushing. I used to go on as a water carrier, a vital role when there's all that activity in woollen jackets, armour and helmets.
I was going to call this photo - How to have a rest without dropping your pike demonstrated by Earl Rivers Regiment of Foote but Romas assures me that they were practising bracing themselves for the onslaught of another pike block. Vytas is centre front and Romas is leg sticking out to side on the left.
I'm not sure they were all very enthusiastic in this bit of pike drill.
And here are my 2 lads, eating as usual, Romas I believe is munching a large piece of the chocolate chunk cake I made for him to take.
4 comments:
Great pictures of the battle reinactment. It all looks rather dangerous though. Are there many injuries at these events?
A fair amount of injuries. Part of our job as water carriers was to see to the wounded, ie check if they were actually wounded or just acting/resting. Often they'd be reluctant to admit to being injured but I used to 'hold' their gloves and helmet so they couldn't get back into the pike block until they'd been checked over. There are lots of medics on the field in distinctive black tabards and they escort the wounded to the medical tents where there are ambulances to take severe cases to hospital.Peter's had cracked ribs and Sam's lost teeth in the days before gum shields being mandatory. It's mainly crush injuries. Part of our job as water carriers was to watch out for 'man down' in the pushes at which point the push is supposed to be stopped as falling pikes and tangled bodies can be dangerous. Heat exhaustion is also a big issue, especially after a night in the beer tent and at one muster a large lady in our regt. who had been joining in with the pushes flaked out. An uphimself officer stomped on her back (a boot mark came up on her skin) and told her not to be so lazy. We called the medics as she was unconcsious and when they took her to the medical tent she stopped breathing. She did recover and the officer (not from our regt)was reprimanded. I've not heard of any serious injuries though sometimes there are mishaps with the black powder used by the muskets and the canon. It's really good fun and the men love it.
oh my that is amazing...and that people actually got hurt. Oh my. I love the fact you were a water carrier! So fun!!!
Oh my! Looks like fun thats for sure. Good to hear about Peter, but hope he gets better soon xxx
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