[MR] Hawkwood Baronial Birthday & Investiture

[SWMyers at aol.com]

In  a message dated 5/10/2010 6:26:30 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
morgul at sc.rr.com  writes: "Master  Bran was the calmest looking autocrat I've ever 
seen!" 
It's  easy when you have such a dedicated and reliable group of volunteers  
helping things to run smoothly. 
Thank  you so much to Master Matsudaira "Oshi" Toshiyori for his genius as 
a  cook.  And also to his many helpers, especially Lady Aine A'Grian and 
Lord  Robyn A'Dearg of Crois Brigte. 

Thank  you to Mistress Sine ní Dheaghaidh for organizing an excellent crew 
of servers:  Duke Olaf Askoldsson, Lady Elizabet de Roslyne, Count Sinclair 
Hawkins, Countess  Kari Kyst, Baroness Adeliza, Baron Þórgrímr, Dagr 
Blüdaxe, Lord Dagobert DeGalia  and his son Sigisbert, Ariana an Kenlis Mor, Erik 
Hawkins, Katherine Kyst, and  still other gentles whose names, because I got 
distracted during  feast,  I carelessly did not write down.  I apologize for 
 that but y'all did a crackerjack job and I'm very  grateful. 
Troll  was excellently handled by these wonderful ladies: Lady Etain an 
Cenlis  Mor, Mistress Rhiannon ui Neill, Lady Cecilia  Blythe, THL Muriele of  
Aberdeen, Lady Susane d’Anjou, and Lady Katyn of Black Forest. Thank  you. 
My  thanks also go to Their Royal Majesties and Their Royal Highnesses, who 
made  serving Them throughout the event such a joy.  Of course, working  
with  Their Majesties' Head retainer, Baroness Egia Vamensdattir guarantees  a 
smiling face!  With the help of Baroness Deirdre Fletcher, Mistress  
Rhiannon ui Neill, Lord Julian Mandragora, and Lady Úna Gous, the Royals could  
not have had a better luncheon. 
Great  heralding requires great heralds and this event had them.  Talorgen  
Hersir nepos Wrguist, THL Marryn Blackgroves, Master Eldred  Ælfwald,  and 
Lord Cian mac Ceallacháin Uí Dubhlaich; you do the Atlantian College of  
Heralds proud. 
The  events marshals and MoLs guaranteed the maximum, effective 
participation in  all of the martial activiities. Lord Dagobert DeGalia, Baron  Achbar 
ibn Ali, Lord Raphael de la Rosa, Lord Elphin ap Daffyd, Lord  Guntram 
Obermann, Lord Edward de Witt, Countess Kari Kyst, Lady  Alexandria Montgomery, 
Baroness Adeliza of Bristol; I am in your  debt. 
The  same goes for my patient Field Game Coordinator, Fríða Hárfagr. 
Teaching people  to play Kubb is time well spent indeed!  And the Hawkwood Bazaar, 
organized  by Lady Elizabet de Roslyne was a huge success and kicked off 
Hawkwood's  new pavilion fund most impressively! 
Truly,  there are no words of gratitude I can muster to adequately thank 
Count Sinclair  Hawkins, Lord Willem O'Blood, Dagr Blüdaxe, Lord Rónán mac an 
Stalcair for  setting up and taking down the field for me on Saturday 
morning. You were a  Godsend. I know that other people came to their aid and I am 
equally  grateful.  I wish I knew all of your names!   
While  Baroness Morwenna graciously helped me tend to some ugly blisters 
Saturday  evening during feast (I wore new boots all day, dontcha know!), a 
fantastic (yet  unknown to me) group of people cleaned the kitchen, cleared 
the hall, reset  tables, and so much more in my absence.  When I went into the 
Hall on Sunday morning, I had to blink back tears  when I saw how perfectly 
the site had been cleaned and prepared for our  departure. I honestly don’t 
know who all was involved, but I’ve never been more  proud to be in the 
SCA.  It was  simply beautiful to see how everyone had come together to make my 
morning so  much easier.  That still won’t stop  me from thanking Tori, the 
Luibrands (Tom, Karen, and Taylor) and newcomer (his  first event) Michael 
for all of their help packing out. 
This  may seem like a lengthy paean of gratitude, but there are still 
others who gave  their time, energy, and Mother’s Day to support this event.  
From the merchants who make every event  better by selling their wares, to 
dozens of people who contributed meaningfully  in a hundred different ways; it 
is that spirit of volunteerism that makes the  SCA work and such a joy to be 
a part of.  To all of you, who give of yourselves so that others may have a 
more  magical experience, THANK YOU. 
--  Bran Trefonnen