This was the the third week of the month, and four evenings were taken up with colgaffneyis:

• Tuesday: Board Meeting. This went well. The previous weekend we had been involved in two simultaneous events in different places. Planning for this had been difficult and stressful, and I think we were all glad it was over. Fortunately, next year the two events will not be on the same weekend.
• Wednesday: Dance. Attendance was small, and we spent most of the evening learning, or rather reconstructing a dance from two contradictory and/or vague sources, and reconciling it to the music. After an hour we had something that worked quite well. Different from our usual evening, but quite satifying in its own way.
• Thursday: Sword practise, at the home of twolodge. Attendance was light, just twolodge, me, and my son James. We worked on parrying cuts to the legs, using the inside and outside half-hanger guards.
• Friday: Night at the Pub. James came along that evening as well.

Today (Saturday) was Camp Drill, but the special cooking event had been canceled–the weather has been so dry we could not have a cooking fire. So I decided four days with colgaffneyis was enough, and stayed home. Also, work this past week had been rather stressful and I just did not want to go anywhere. I actually spent quite a bit of time woodworking, which felt good.

Actually, even this might relate to colgaffneyis. I was working on my shaving horse, which I would like to bring to events. It will require some work:

1. Converting it from the English Bodger style to the continental dumbhead form. The English style cannot be documented that far back. Fortunately, I had anticipated this possibility when I first build it, and the conversion should be doable.
2. Replacing the legs. The current legs are functional, and break down nicely, but really look modern (and ugly).
3. Lightening it for transport. It really is quite heavy. I think I overbuilt the main bench, so I hope can remove a useful amount of wood without seriously compromising its strength.
4. Stripping and refinishing. It has held up quite well, but looks ugly.

I also spent some time today cleaning my workbench. The weather is milder now and I can spend more time there–that part of the house is not air-conditioned.

I also did a little cleanup around the house and a bit of shopping. mia_mcdavid will be home quite soon.