Well, I suppose it's time I made a Blog entry. I've never actually blogged before. Not once.

Strange really, because I’ve been using web forums and reading other people’s blogs for a long time. But it always seemed a bit self-absorbed to me. Seemed a bit of an odd idea that perfect strangers would want to read what I have to say.

Still, it also seems a bit creepy to lurk around for years enjoying reading other people’s blogs, without giving a single thing away about myself, so I’ll give it a go. I can’t really be bothered to do one of those potted summaries of my life to start off with, it seems a bit too much like that first week at college when all you talk about is what town you come from and what A-levels you did, so I guess I should launch right in with what’s going on now.

I’m just on the cusp of getting very busy. In my life winter is relatively quiet, I work in construction, so work is quieter, and most of my hobbies are outdoor, or at least seasonal, and both my weeks and weekends are about to get frantic till about September.

The weekend after next I’ve got ‘The Noble Science’, my first full weekend of HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) for the year. This will involve me getting punched or thrown to the ground a lot, often by people a lot bigger, younger and fitter. I’ve not done too badly keeping fit this winter, I’ve managed to run at least a couple of times a week, and not piled on too much lard, but it’s still going to hurt.

Me about to hit the floor at 'The Noble Science' last time.

Then I get back from that on the Sunday night, and on Monday morning I pick up a narrow boat to take the kids on holiday up the Llangollen canal.

Back from there and it’s off for a gentlemanly fencing weekend in the borders, where I’ll be teaching some Bartitsu, so I need to plan a class and find some digs.

Then the weekend after that it’s my first costumed event of the year, a medieval event in Sherwood Forest, where there’ll be fighting, plus a lot of skinning rabbits and cooking, so I need to get gear together for that.

So wish me luck, I’ll be pretty tired by the time we get to May!