Thanks to Bill Sherlock for the photos!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Rob's Longship
Our friend Rob Saveland passed away two years ago. The last time we saw him we were watching one of his favorite movies "Rocket Gibraltar" in which Bert Lancaster played a Grandfather who requested to have a 'Viking funeral' - to be burnt at sea in a longship - and his grandchildren gave him that. "That's what I want," Rob had said.
Last year Dad learnt that Rob's widow, our long-time friend Dorothy Daniels, was planning to grant Rob what he had requested, and he volunteered to build the ship. I did much of the research and we observed models, websites, and pictures, talked to many knowledgable people, and had many long conversations. We drew up plans, made a cardboard draft, and began work on the final product. Dad worked at the shop of George Wood, a great family friend who had built his own vessel there. Rob's, however, would only be about four feet in length, to hold his ashes. Dad made it out of doorskin and the project came to a material cost of about $11, but the product was impressive. We painted her black and sewed the square sail, rigged her and lashed on the steering oar and, after a lot of fine-tunning, she was ready to be launched. We took her down to the model-sailing pond at Beacon Hill Park with some friends and found the ideal weight of ballast. There was a misty drizzel and the air felt as still as the grave, but our little ship was moving at a walking pace under full sail. There was a serene feeling in watching the ancient vessel floating out on the calm pond. Just as we took her out of the water to go home a father and his boy came down with a fast, noisy remote control speed-boat which kicked up the calm surface of the water and made a loud whinning through the still air. "There's a statement about modern Society for you, eh?" I commented direly.
In may we drove up to Alert Bay and delivered the ship to Dorothy. When Dad handed it to her she just held it and wept silently.
The ship shall be burnt on Rob's deathday, September 15th.
Last year Dad learnt that Rob's widow, our long-time friend Dorothy Daniels, was planning to grant Rob what he had requested, and he volunteered to build the ship. I did much of the research and we observed models, websites, and pictures, talked to many knowledgable people, and had many long conversations. We drew up plans, made a cardboard draft, and began work on the final product. Dad worked at the shop of George Wood, a great family friend who had built his own vessel there. Rob's, however, would only be about four feet in length, to hold his ashes. Dad made it out of doorskin and the project came to a material cost of about $11, but the product was impressive. We painted her black and sewed the square sail, rigged her and lashed on the steering oar and, after a lot of fine-tunning, she was ready to be launched. We took her down to the model-sailing pond at Beacon Hill Park with some friends and found the ideal weight of ballast. There was a misty drizzel and the air felt as still as the grave, but our little ship was moving at a walking pace under full sail. There was a serene feeling in watching the ancient vessel floating out on the calm pond. Just as we took her out of the water to go home a father and his boy came down with a fast, noisy remote control speed-boat which kicked up the calm surface of the water and made a loud whinning through the still air. "There's a statement about modern Society for you, eh?" I commented direly.
In may we drove up to Alert Bay and delivered the ship to Dorothy. When Dad handed it to her she just held it and wept silently.
The ship shall be burnt on Rob's deathday, September 15th.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Upcoming Events
Here's some events that are coming up that I am taking part in and you may be interested in too, although I appreciate that many people viewing this are not in the aria.
June 12th - Bach to the Beach
Our Strings orchestra will be performing by the beach in Oak Bay (by the location of the Oak Bay Tea Party) from 4 to 5 pm. Our works will include Bach's Brandenburg Concerto #3 and Arioso, one of Handel's Concerti Groso, Dvorak's Symphony #8, Rimsky-Korsakov's Shaherazade, Mozart's Eine Kline Nachtmusik, and others.
June 13th - 15th - Sealion War
This is sure to be a very fun and interesting SCA event. I unfortunatly won't be making it to this year's Sealion War as it is in Vancouver and my combat kit is not in full working order. More information can be found at http://www.lionsgate.antir.sca.org/public/event.sealionwar_2008.shtml.
June 20th - CCC Gathering
This is a social campfire gathering of the new Concious Centered Community, a community which is focused on Spiritual and Environmental awareness. It will be held on the Summer Equinox at 7 pm at Mary's Farm and Sanctuary on Finlayson Arm Rd. (my Aunt's ranch).
June 22nd - JOP Outdoor Championships
This year Junior Olympian Program Outdoor Championships will be held at the Cowachin Bowmen Archery Club. Practice begins at 9 am, pre-registration is neseccary.
June 27th - 30th - Victoria Tallships Festival
There'll be a wonderful array of beautiful tallships at this years festival. It's held in the Inner Harbour for most of the day on these days.
July 25th - 27th - Sergants, Yeomans and Gallants
This SCA event will test those who try out for the possition of Sergant (heavy combat), Yeoman (archery), or Gallant (rapier) in the Barony of Seagirt. Visit http://seagirt.antir.sca.org/ for details.
Drop me a line if you're interested in any of these events and I may be able to tell you more about them or hand you to someone who can - it'll be worth it to hear from you!
June 12th - Bach to the Beach
Our Strings orchestra will be performing by the beach in Oak Bay (by the location of the Oak Bay Tea Party) from 4 to 5 pm. Our works will include Bach's Brandenburg Concerto #3 and Arioso, one of Handel's Concerti Groso, Dvorak's Symphony #8, Rimsky-Korsakov's Shaherazade, Mozart's Eine Kline Nachtmusik, and others.
June 13th - 15th - Sealion War
This is sure to be a very fun and interesting SCA event. I unfortunatly won't be making it to this year's Sealion War as it is in Vancouver and my combat kit is not in full working order. More information can be found at http://www.lionsgate.antir.sca.org/public/event.sealionwar_2008.shtml.
June 20th - CCC Gathering
This is a social campfire gathering of the new Concious Centered Community, a community which is focused on Spiritual and Environmental awareness. It will be held on the Summer Equinox at 7 pm at Mary's Farm and Sanctuary on Finlayson Arm Rd. (my Aunt's ranch).
June 22nd - JOP Outdoor Championships
This year Junior Olympian Program Outdoor Championships will be held at the Cowachin Bowmen Archery Club. Practice begins at 9 am, pre-registration is neseccary.
June 27th - 30th - Victoria Tallships Festival
There'll be a wonderful array of beautiful tallships at this years festival. It's held in the Inner Harbour for most of the day on these days.
July 25th - 27th - Sergants, Yeomans and Gallants
This SCA event will test those who try out for the possition of Sergant (heavy combat), Yeoman (archery), or Gallant (rapier) in the Barony of Seagirt. Visit http://seagirt.antir.sca.org/ for details.
Drop me a line if you're interested in any of these events and I may be able to tell you more about them or hand you to someone who can - it'll be worth it to hear from you!
Monday, June 2, 2008
The Move is Made
On May 26th I went to the Victoria International Airport to see off Mom, Dad, Harry, and Clouseau. Grumpa, Nana and Uncle John, who had come into town for the farewell party, and our friend Bill escorted us to the airport, as our car had been shipped. Clouseau was rather unhappy in his carrying case, yowling, shoving his face into the screen, and attempting to tear a way out with his claws. Harry, on the other hand, was all too eager to go. We hugged and they headed down the lineup to security.
Now they are in a hotel in Ottawa until we take possession of the house on the 6th. Dad has a new job and a membership to the National Art Gallery. All is well on both sides of the continent right now, and we're in regular contact. Our phone numbers have changed, so if you want to call and have not received our new numbers, just send an e-mail and ask.
I will try to keep this updated, and I am working on a newsletter!
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