William Brand

I believe that number 18 is Nigel. EDIT. Fast on the keyboard. Excellent.

Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. Now...I need some lunch.

The plank walkers. Mission in the Pub. The Pub. Mission's surgical tools. Silkie and Haunting Lily. Mission opening a bottle with a capital knife. Lily at the gate. Key West

A few pictures to start with... A big damn flag. The flag makers. Tony and William. Bilgemunky. William walks the plank. William in the drink. Captain Sterling goes swimming. Jack takes the plunge.

And for the record...you can only fly with one checked bag and two carry-ons to Key West. I had to fight to get my tent there, coming and going.

Away with it? What stock should I place on the opinion of a pirate hunter...? Bloody turncoats.

Myyyyyyyy FEET!

The gravy is come and gone while I was away, but to have eaten at my parents table this holiday. It was divine. Gravy and more gravy. No one puts out a spread on Thanksgiving Day like my mother and father. And my lovely wife made homemade pecan pie. I'm still recovering.

Everyone is strongly encouraged to have eating utensils and a good sized bowl or plate. As Iron Jon has mentioned, thrift stores generally carry a good mix of old wooden tableware and sometimes a good hand thrown bowl or cup. My eating bowls came from a thrift store and they were so well worn and used when I found them that they look more aged than any other part of my kit. They look to have been some seven years at sea.

If all goes well I should arrive on Tuesday at about noon. With any luck I can finish a few projects on site and get an early start on set up and scouting for the Mercury crew. The sand goes pit pat in the hourglass.

William gently refused the tea, having already imbibed the despised beverage at the Jeweler's shop. Unlike many of his former countrymen, he was not enamored by the drink, for teas both weak and foul had been served to him in his younger years, forever spoiling his taste for them. Briar tried to offer him several alternatives, insisting that she could prepare any one of them within a few minutes, but William took this opportunity to politely decline and to return to his business aboard the Watch Dog. The Ilex shares and the waiting Maastricht sales would need to be counted, divided and distributed. It was the final business preventing them from departure and he meant to court the Navarra for business that served both the interests of the Spanish there and his own two ships. "My compliments on your hospitality and your service to the Heron's new Ship's Master, Miss Kildare." William said, raising his final toast to her and to Mister Pew at once. Then William parted their company and excused himself to waiting business. Out on the street the air was clear and it awakened him a little, for the day had been long and he was weary about the edges. Paul walked along beside him testing the weight of the shares in his pocket. They passed two ladies of ill repute who were locked in a heated argument over their own shares, having just fleeced a plantation owner. They were not so embroiled in their dispute that they didn't attempt a clumsy, but practiced offer of their wares, stripping a shoulder here and raising a skirt a little there. William and Paul passed them with little more than a tipped hat and the argument ensued. When they reached the docks they found the Watch Dog's longboat and a handful of the Starboard Watch waiting to ferry passengers to and from the frigate. They were currently employed in the service of a merchantman just recently returned from the ship with purchased goods. Several wagons waited dockside and these were already half filled with bales and barrels of Maastricht goods. Men of the Watch Dog and the docks were busy loading them to travel inland and William stood awhile in conversation with a Monsieur Gadbois. While he spoke with the merchant a second man made his approach, hat in hand, and begged a word with Captain Brand. They stood aside and the man introduced himself as Paul de Lannel, a man who had previously made the acquaintance of the Starboard Watches. The man seemed anxious to sign aboard and as William could find no reason to deny the man, he gave him leave to return with the longboat and they all went together to the ship.

Sorry I haven't been about to answer questions. I'm working out some last minute issues with the Mercury draughts. But here is a parade clip from 2005...

A beautiful coin collection. I will gladly trade it for any number of fine ales.

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for pitching in at the last minute to take care of needs that have cropped up. This will probably be a year for testing and researching the needs that will benefit the future PIP events, so again, thank you.

Wait...you said Mad Lucy before. And as far as the names, the draughts are going to be done for the event, so I'd like to include them.

Then I have Dangerous Donna, Mad Lucy, Nemesis, Discordia, Jupiter and Mars. The Mercury goes to print tomorrow, so anyone else that wants to name a cannon will have to step up very soon.

August 2, 1704 - Le Chateau Anse Coincidences of opportunity seldom present themselves more than once and strangers who have met before under the threat of violence or malefaction will not likely meet again in similar circumstances. Nevertheless, Alain Roux and Murin McDonough had chanced to meet each other once before. They had been introduced during a robbery involving the tailor and a cut purse on the streets of St. Louis. Alain had been but a passing stranger then and had lent his assistance to Miss McDonough only as a matter of course. A good deed in an otherwise oblivious world. Now, sitting across the crowded room, Alain Roux was busy counting out a handful of very small coins in order to pay for his scant meal when he chanced to look up and see the Watch Dog's Tailor in what seemed to be another distressing situation. He recognized her with a surprising and sudden clarity and he was on his feet before he knew he was standing. He stepped from behind his table and he would have crossed the room then if not for the arrival of a short, dark haired man with a rather wicked looking grin. The edge of his smile almost as dangerous as the knife in his belt. "Miss McDonough." Luigi said while looking at the man who kept her captive at the table. The look that Luigi fixed him with was not friendly, nor was it dangerous. Luigi's smile simply faded away. His face was flat and no more emotional than a man regarding a wayward child or a disobedient dog, but it was constant. "Your pardon, Monsieur, but this lady and I..." He began, but Murin managed the softest pleas. "Luigi..." she whispered, and it was all that she managed before the man squeezed her hand hard enough to cut her off. "This man cannot be your suitor." Monsieur Taggart said, in a tone of surprise and with a hint of disdain. Luigi sat down at once and leaned in on one arm. His expression remained as it was. Passive. Removed. The tone in his voice was the same as he spoke, though the words were not. "This lady does not want the pleasure of your company." Luigi said simply. Alain Roux remained where he stood, waiting to see if Luigi's arrival was good or ill. Only a few others noticed the interchange at all, though few cared.

From a pure etyomology standpoint, I can find no use of 'booger' prior to the 1800s and no use of 'Donna', apart from Madonna, prior to 1920. So far I have Mad Lucy and a smathering of Roman suggestions.

August 2, 1704 - At the Chirurgeon's Home Two Bells of First Watch "Come in, Mister Wenge." William said, and Dorian was already waving the man in. "We shall soon see everyone ashore." "I hope I am not intruding, Sirs." Alder offered, and William shook his head. "No, no, sah. Sit. Our business will include you now and in time, so sit." William, Dorian and the others looked about, for there wasn't truly any place for Alder to sit, so he leaned upon the window seal where Paul stood. "I've recently taken on additional men from the Fort Royal Prison, and having questioned many, I found a carpenter among them." Alder nodded, and being possessed of a sober and cordial disposition, it was hard to discern those thoughts which underlined his tone as he asked, "Will you be making a change, Sir...in my appointment?" "No, sah." William said, and it came out with a little huff of a laugh. "Not at all, though I'll keep you aboard the Heron for the present as Master Carpenter there, and you may choose...what...two subordinates...?" William asked, turning to Dorian. "Aye." Dorian agreed, as the bottle was passed from him to William to Alder.

It was a nice evening indeed, but there will be others. Hundreds of others I imagine. for now, try the mushroom and leeks quiche... Ahhh...Miss Ashcombe is quicker than I am.

Half a moment. Never undertoast cheese. Never...lest ye offend Aristaios.

Flattery will get you extra helpings. Hand me your plate.

I was first introduced to the cheese when I met an elderly woman who spoke no English. And as I spoke nothing but English we conversed solely through text alone, as she and I each possessed a copy of the Good Book in our own languages. She would find a passage to express some aspect of conversation and I would find the corresponding chapter and verse. Then I would respond in kind. We swapped silent passages, nods and smiles for the better part of an hour. Afterwards, she offered me some cheese and bread, the likes of which I have never known again since.

I've made a sharp Arabic cheese and a bread of the same origins. It is...once tasted...dreamt of forever.

Cheese and bread will do for this evening. I'll fetch some from the larder and we'll go down to the beach to toast it and talk of past adventures.