William Brand

Patrick is not allowed to do my laundry.

Is this a product you'll carry in stock for awhile or a limited availability? I am very interested in several yards.

William secured the heavy medallion found by the Master-at-Arms in the lock box holding the Ilex fortune. Then the two men vacated the ward room as Miss Smith arrived to take possession of it for the evening. "I have preparations to make, gentlemen." William and Mister Pew both tipped their hats as they went out. William was mindful to take a bottle of his best as he left. Mister Youngblood was forward of the gun deck, half way up the stairs to the fo'c'sle. He stood there without a hat, which was uncommon for him. He was packing his pipe for a smoke as the Captain and Master-at-Arms came forward. They all went up to the fo'c'sle to drink and speak on subjects regarding women. They talked at length on the subject, passing advice both real and comical between them. A few anecdotes were shared until a lull in the conversation came and remained awhile. "I could use some music." Mister Pew mused allowed, interrupting the silence and the Master Gunner's smoke rings. "Aye. A shame to have the carpenter aboard the Maastricht." William said, looking towards the fluyt. The third bell of the Second Dog Watch rang and for a moment they listened to the echo of bells from the Heron and the Maastricht. The Heron's bell was diminished some for its distance, as was the Maastricht's due to the wind. "One of the Dutchies plays the fiddle, Cap'n." Mister Pew said, when they bells were silent again. "Is that so...? I shall have to procure him one at port." "And a fife player." Mister Pew added with emphasis. "We 'ave enough women aboard f' dancing." "And men for fighting over them." Mister Youngblood returned. "Aye." William said, nodding. "The sooner we are ashore, the better for all." July 24, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog Between three and four bells of Second Dog Watch

Mmmm...

And for Chole...

To be proprietor of any pub is to be wed three score times a day to grateful patrons. But it is true...one woman for me, one ship and one sea. My wife is the fortune upon which all of my mirth, joy, attentions and passions are turned, compass and course.

Bananas Foster.

Some very nice pics, indeed.

Perhaps when a few more things are answered. Let's secure a few more facts and put together an email at the start of the year.

These are just some of the crews and performers from Florida that I know of... http://www.westcoastmutineers.com/ http://www.henrymorgankrewe.com/ http://www.arrrink.com/ http://www.brothersofthecoasts.com/ http://www.fernandinapirates.com/index.html http://www.piratesofthecoast.com/ http://www.theebleedingrose.com/theebleedi...rose/index.html http://www.thetortugamutineers.net/ http://www.pyratesofthegulfcoast.com/

Perhaps you can set up a coffee house under the arches, somewhere near the pub. Then you would have a permanent structure with masonry walls. The barracks or the Northwest corner of the fort might serve very well.

Only Friday through Sunday? hmm. How early may we come out and camp?

Agreed. We just need more waking traffic.

"Year one (2007): Strong encouragement towards period appropriate gear, but with a mindset on recruitment first. We must increase our overall numbers for the sake of the festival. Quantity first. Then Quality in the near future. Please choose people who show the enthusiasm to work and play well together." Let's talk recruitment. We need to up our volume. My largest complaint, and the complaint of many others, was the lack of sufficient numbers to give the encampments a feel of period traffic. The battles were also on the small side. First, let's focus on the locals. There are a great number of pirate enthusiasts who live in Florida, yet some of them did not and have not attended PIP. This is unfortunate given their relative close proximity to the festival. We need to find as many of them as possible in the next few months and encourage them to attend early, so each of them has time to ask questions and have them answered. The locals might also benefit the rest us because they can drive down and perhaps offer rides to those who are flying in from distant locations. Then, we need to simultaneously focus on the long distance pirates. We should encourage those who live far away to begin setting aside amounts of money now, so that they might be able to afford passage before the end of August wherever possible. There will be those who have unexpected expenses that creep up on them, but we should still focus on early ticket purchases. This means we will need the dates for next year's PIP within the next few months if possible.

William noted that the scarf seemed heavily weighted down by the object inside, so he was not surprised to find the soft gleam of gold staring back at him when he opened it. Still, the object itself was surprising. When it was all unwrapped, William found himself staring a a very large medallion of gold hung on a heavy torque of a chain. The interlocking and twisted links of the chain were woven together in tight, overlapping patterns, so that the weight of the chain alone was significant, and as a result of the craftsman who made it, beautiful. The medallion which hung upon it was also amazing. It was fashioned entirely of gold but for a single, small, unremarkable stone set in the center. It was ancient to be sure, for the design was a woven one which first hinted at some Pictish or Northern origins. Like the work of Celts, the figures upon it were woven into patterns and shapes which interlocked like knots. However, closer examination did not yield more answers to its origin, but rather more possibilities. The volume of gold and some of the work in the piece also hinted towards the possibility of Mayan make or some other New World nation outside the scope of William's understanding. "The work is exceedingly fine." William said, and for the moment he was able to set aside the value of the piece by weight alone and appreciate it for its craftsmanship. "I give you permission to discover as many more of these as you may, Mister Pew." William added smiling.

I am serving a nice Belgium dubbel. Malty with a red hue. And perhaps a Trappist beer or two.

William invited the Master-at-Arms to follow him to the ward room. It was quiet there, and the women of the ship had not yet arrived to take possession of it for the night. William closed the door and gestured to the table at the center of the room as he laid his hat aside. "Should I sit down, Mister Pew?" "You may wish to, Cap'n." "Very well. " William said, and in truth his feet were tired. He drew out the chair and placed himself in it, smiling at the fevered excitement on the face of Mister Pew.

A sandwich and an ale for Mister Tar!

What Patrick said. You would get the buckles in just as I finished spending my money away on Christmas stuff. Will you have enough for those of us that desperately want them but can't buy them until next month? I want a pair of each.

Steady people. WE...ARE...ONLY...TALKING...ABOUT...THE...ENCAMPMENT. First, jurying, even if we were to do it, was recommended three years out. Maybe even more. Second, it was only recommended. It was never going to be as harsh as a death sentence. It would only be in place to keep the following things out of the encampment itself...Zombies, plushie dragons, mini-skirts, feather boas, etc. Cotton slops would never be turned away. We aren't going to put people under a microscope. Jurying was just a word I grabbed out of thin air as a recommendation. Think of it more as a "Review of costume" for recommendations and improvements, or as Patrick put it, a "standard." Example: Some body wants to go and put up a tent in the encampment. We ask them what they have. It turns out that they have slops, but no shirt or waistcoat. We make recommendations. We lend out extra gear. We see that they have what they need. We would judge kit based on a standard we all agree on. Pragmatic standards. Fair and partial reviews. And last, but certainly not least... WE...ARE...ONLY...TALKING...ABOUT...THE...ENCAMPMENT.

Welcome aboard.

Tonight's special is fried green tomatoes and a side of pulled pork. With iced tea to wash it down.

July 24, 1704 - Aboard the 'Dog One Bell of Second Dog Watch The last bell of the First Dog Watch came and went with little change marked on the 'Dog. The Maastricht was so slow, that William was able to ply whatever course he needed out of the frigate with the bare minimum of crew aloft and on deck. He was in a good mood, and so he also spent much time milling among the crew and conversing with crew members old and new. This luxury was not often afforded him, and it gave him a chance to know their minds. Most, were anxious to go ashore and know the finer things of life. Others were worried, given the increase in hostilities among so many nations. Some were just willing to face the days one moment at a time and looked forward to long nights ashore. One of the many conversations which William had involved him and the new sailmaker. As usual, Miss McDonough was finding it difficult to find her place within the machinery of the 'Dog. Her hand had given her no small trouble, and having labored so long in so short a lifetime, she seemed anxious not to disappoint anyone. William reassured her that any woman who would bleed her wounds to make sail, then take up an inexperienced weapon to fight enemies she had not known in defense of fellow shipmates she barely knew, had earned her rest and recovery without any further requirements of service. He ordered her to rest and enjoy the days to come without thought to labor. "You have done service enough and no more service will be asked of you until you are much recovered." He also invited her to take supper with all of the ship's women tonight in the great cabin. He would make it available to all and Miss Smith was to have the charge of the great chair there. "I will sup in the galley and drink at the taffrail, and all the ladies of the 'Dog shall have the privacy of the ward room to speak of French lads and petticoats ashore." William found his own idea so pleasing that he sent for Miss Smith to have her gather all the women at the ward room at First Watch Watch as reward for their good service. He wished that Miss Constance and Miss Rummy could be aboard for it, but nothing could be done of it, so he sent down orders that Mister Lazarus should serve at table, unless the women should prefer more privacy. "No woman is to work until they have finished whatever conversation and games they wish. I will go and tell the Doctor." And with that William went down to the surgery.

Greg, if you ever come in here and ramble like that again I will get you horribly drunk and take you out to sea and throw you out with the baby and the bath water. Kidding. Let us let Harry answer this, or we'll have ten more pages before we're all satisified that we have crossed the t's and dotted the i's six dozen times each.