At the University

Last weekend I was at the Drachenwald Kingdom University in Two Seas, Northern Germany. It was a marvelous event. There was so many interesting classes that I could not take part in all, since there was not enough time for that. I did end up in the kitchen, but only on Friday. (I managed to get a bad blister on my hand then, and decided not to make it any worse. Note to self: Do not, ever, leave your own knives at home, even when you do not plan to work in the kitchen!)

Classes I participated:

- Drafting a sleeve pattern, by Katherina Mornewegh

A very useful class on how to make a tight sleeve to a tight dress and still be able to move your arms while wearing it.

- Klosterstich, by Racaire

A class about a practical and thread saving embroidery technique. It is also faster to do than my usual style, so I might adopt this one for bigger projects in the future.

- The Square Aramaic Script of the Hebrews, by Lady Lyonet de Covenham

An interesting class on Hebrew calligraphy. I have never done calligraphy, so this really was an experience for me. The letters were surprisingly easy to write with a quill and ink, and they turned out quite pretty. Since I already knew the letters, I managed to write my own (SCA) name on a parchment while the others practiced the easier ones.

- Cooking over an open fire, by Thomas Flamanc of Kelsale

I love open fire cooking! This class was about the very basics, but I managed to get my hands dirty, ruin the spice coating on the meat and get useful tips on how to build all the equipment you need to cook over an open fire.

- Apicius revealed Roman cookery, by Duke Alaric

Another one I dearly like, Roman cookery! And Duke Alaric is such an expert. Before the class I had a very interesting discussion with him about the finer points of Garum. The best part of this class was when he compared Roman cookery to fine single malt whisky, you get all those different tastes one after another by just taking one bite of a dish. Wonderful!

The classes I did not have time to participate, but would have liked to: Making fire with flint and steel, Introductory calligraphy, Introduction to middle&late period Persian Clothing, Make your own silk banner, Burgundian woven Necklace, Embroidery Guild meeting and all three classes on dancing, though I got to dance in the evening after the feast.

The court was as a court is. The King was handsome and wise and the Queen beautiful and graceful. I think I have never seen a royal couple more royal than this one. The Pelican elevation was not very subtle in it's religious connotations, which didn't bother me overmuch, but I would not like to see it performed like this every time.

Then there was of cource the feast. I had mentioned in my reservation, that I do not eat pork, but that information did not reach the cook and all meat dishes had some pork in them (no wonder when one knows the quality of beef one can find in this country!). So I said that he should not stress about it, I'll eat what I can, no prob! During the feast I was very positively surprised when I got my own beef dish! The cook had got extra beef from somewhere and made me a meat dish of my own! I am so very grateful! Master Giano Ballestiere will be from now on my hero.

After the feast there was a lot of talking, dancing and general merry making. No sauna though. *snif*

During the weekend I met some people that I already knew and made many lovely new friends. I enjoyed the event very much indeed!