William Blydes

Canadian Naval Reserve 1987 – Present Full time status since 2000 Maritime Surface (MARS) Officer with the current rank of Lieutenant (Navy). The Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel (MCDV) is the ship our Navy crews completely by Reservists. The MCDV is a 180ft, 1000tonne multi-platform vessel with packages ranging from Minesweeping to Dive Team facilities. There are 12 ships, with 6 ships a coast (Based in Victoria, British Columbia and Halifax, Nova Scotia). The crew is 45 pers with 5 Officers. My latest tour was Navigator of HMCS BRANDON (out of Victoria) ending in 2003. I just got back from my Operations Officer course the beginning of this month. OpsO is the 3rd officer on board after the CO and XO. The job description is “Managing Chaos”. That is probably my next post after my current one. Presently, I’m sailing a desk at the Canadian Defence Academy in Kingston, Ontario (Close to Toronto). This is the center of “Professional Development” for the Canadian Forces. We are the managing authority for the Military Academy (also in Kingston) and includes the Leadership Institute. This is where you learn that “Sarcasm” is not a valid Leadership method. In my career I’ve been sent on OP APOLLO as part of a Port Security Unit and held Command at various times of small patrol boats (75ft, 75tonne). I’ve also been a member of the Navy’s Small Arms team (Pistol, Rifle and LMG) competing in many competitions.

"The Pyrates" by George McDonald Fraser is my favourate. He is the author of the "Flashman" series and wrote the screen plays for the 70's "Three", "Four" and "Return of" Musketeer movies. The Pyrates - George McDonald Fraser It's an hysterically funny book, with all the stereotype character.... the Lantern jawed Naval Officer, the sultry Spanish lady, the young blond bimbo English noble lady, the old forgetful English noblemen, the dashing Pirate leader, the nefarious rogue, the sexy African woman pirate, the foppish French pirate, the crazy pirate and a sneaky pirate.... There’s gold, tall ships, and a pirate layer.... All ripping yarn stuff. Oh ya.. and an introduction of one sentence that is several pages long.

<Start rant> I have to agree. You could see the rapiers (using that term loosly here) flexing they were so light. They needed to be to fight that fast, in that way. Also very stage combat with the hitting of swords only, not actually tring to hit each other. On an acting note, it looked like Tim Roth phoned that role in. He wasn't into it. <End rant> sorry to be anti the movie. It felt like the movie was trying to one up the classic Musketeer story. The only thing I liked was how it was filmed. The cinematography was rather nice. Now nothing comes close to the fight scenes in the 70's 3 and 4 Musketeers. Different styles with all manner of weapon combos. They pretty much covered off all the weapons (Rapier, dagger, cloak, off hand, case, chair) and none of that close-in filming to cover lack of skill. As one of the newbies in my fencing group said one night at a manditory screening of the movies said "Does Pothos ever fight with a sword?" Just like the books. Oliver Reed's swordsmanship was always first rate. Just like it would have been.

As I read through the past posts every morning at my desk, I relize that I'm damn hungry.... nic pics of tasty food... (And I do mean food btw, this isn't the usuall double meaning stuff)

Still catching up on the work that piled up over the 2months I was away at sea. Being back at the HQ desk job is aways a shock after the op tempo of shipboard life. However, I still need my daily procrastination that is the pub. Going home at lunch to do some errands and the gym. Get the afternoon off due to working at my Navy Unit tonight. We are getting the truck and trailer ready for the local Santa Clause parade. We take our 24ft RhiB and decorated it with lights (it’s a night parade) and such. It’s fun for the kids.

Way back in the day I shared a bottle of 20yr dark rum with some friends. The bottle was wrapped in wicker. Can't remember the name now... it was very fine rum. I've got a bottle of Capt. Morgan Private Stock. Frankly, I bought it duty free because the bottle looked great. The rum inside is some of the finest I've had too. Very smooth.

now a range would be nice... with some instruction for the unskilled. I like the deals for reenactment groups. I will certainly check this out the next time I'm in Halifax. I've sent the links on to a couple of friends out there now. One is a complete nut for 18thC and early 19thC.

The group I'm with uses mostly the DelTin blades (42") for thrust (pointy end stuff) and Zamaro (sp) blades for side sword. When a new member starts, they begin with "Tuck" (pointy end only and in a straight line movement). When they become proficient in that, they move to other forms. All of which come off the straight line of attack. Off hand, Dagger/Poinard, Cloak, Buckle, etc.

Piracy is certainly still a problem in several parts of the world. The Straight of Malacca (between Malaysia and Indonesia) is the main area, but there are several others in Southeast Asia. Just do a google on "Modern Piracy" and you will get many hits. A few really good presentation too. Warships are good for the "Speed and intimidation" factor when it comes to surpressing piracy. But surpressing is pretty much the result. Hard to sneek up on someone in a big gray (or sea-foam green as our ships are) vessel. Even at 30kts. Time for the "Q-ship" to make a re-appreance. But that is personal opinion.

Political Correctness is such a filthy word. Ought to be censored <dripping sarcasm> Interesting that the ride that spawned the movie, is now changed by said movie. I guess they have to since too many people will be confused without seeing Jack and the gang. Reinforces my belief in the stupidity of most people.

Some Army surplus stores have uniform buttons.

I always saw RenFaires as a place to wear garb loosely based on period designs. A place of free expression. If there were rules and restrictions it would be... well... ummm... an SCA event (just kidding) The SCA events around here are patrolled by some real garb nazis. My friends and I will wear our RenGarb at times and piss them off... you can see the steam rising from some of them. One time I had one of these GNs walk up to me. She started to poking at a 1650's doublet I made. It was sateen, so the material was natural, but she shook her head, tisked and said "machine stitching... too bad". I snapped back... "Those Birkenstocks you are wearing... are they hand stitched?" She departed in a huff....

Well now... I'll have to check that out. I'll be out in Halifax next year for a few months

I'm a member of a 17thC living history group called The Cavalier Society. We teach western martial arts begining with the Rapier (point only to begin with). We just had a bunch of new members join.. all girls from the local university. It's good to be alive..

I'd have to agree with Tish (and Badger by his pics). It's a ship's cat (or two) for me. One of my guys is a real hunter. He keeps my father's place in the country clear of mice, and the neighbors on either side. He's a black Norwegian Forest cat that loves the outdoors, hunting and climbing trees. A cat would be a member of the crew, protecting the food from rats. And don’t piss them off. But once you have earned a cats trust, they are loyal for life. I remember the old Navy story of the Captain who had two cats. Named them Port and Starboard. They went out on divisions with the crew. Many years ago, when I was training in Halifax I saw an old Petty Officer cook come down the gangway of one of the Destroyers. In his arms what a large bowl of mike. From around the jetty, all the wharf cats started appearing. These cats were huge feral animals with missing ears and eyes and other various injuries. Cats that never come within 50ft of a person started jumping around like kittens. The old PO placed the bowl down and stood back to let the cats dig in. I asked him what he was doing. With a proud look at the cats, but a frown at me (I was a young Middy at the time) he said something about these Cats were as much Navy as he was. They work to keep the vermin away. He wouldn’t make them soft, but help keep them strong.

Well that's great mate!! I've got Port Royal and completely forgot the sounds.... I have a great play list set up now... thanks!

Getting the house ready for the invasion of little treasure seekers, and I relized I needed to find some Pyratical sound effects.... The front of the house has rope giving it a dock like look. The front entryway is covered with camo neting and brown blankets making into a secret cave, complete with gold coin filled treasure chests. If you look into the front room you will see lush plants floor to ceiling with a few pirate skeletons and spooky lighting..... Outside of using some tracks from the PotC soundtrack I really need some sound effects. I've been searching online for anything but to no avail..... any suggestions?

I've been placing little pirate flags on the ship models around the fleet school.

We took the ships down there in the winter of 2000. The Canadian Navy hadn't been there in over 10 years. It was feb in Halifax. Best thing to do when leaving harbour is to turn to stbd and don't stop. When we were doing tours people kept asking what the big red maple leaf was on the stack. "That's the mark of the Canadian Navy". "You guys have a Navy?" was the usual reply. A damn good time had by all that few days. The boys would go on a 'rig run' (hit the bars in uniform). Never had to pay for a single pint :) I went on the "Pirate tour". A walking tour with a guide. Very cool. It's now a usual port when the ships go south.

I used to do "ropework for beer" back in my university days. The Engineer's pub sold plastic mugs you could get your beer in. They looked like stines and were 2oz bigger than the cups they sold the sweet water of life in. Over time you would make you quid back and then some. My mug and those of my friends were always smartly decorated with ropework. Mine had whiping down the handle leading into a length ending in a noose. At the end of the night I could slip the noose around my wrist, preventing it's lose due to drunkeness. I had lengths of line in my jacket at all times. Payment for work on a mug was a pitcher of beer. Worked well. After a while a good amount of the patron's mugs had my work. Of course you had to wash the mugs more carfully, and more often.

I'm on course at the Canadian Navy Fleet School. It's my duty to educate everyone to this fact. A couple years back the HQ I'm working at (nice shore posting for a while) was commanded by an Admiral. I sent him an email and he thought the web site was fun. The rest of the day he was adding some Piratical phrases to his staff meetings.

Another year I can't go. My crew and I had plans but then I had to go on course (real Navy stuff). Hopfully the MANTICORE out of Ontario RF (presently relocating to the new site) will make it next year. William Blydes, Master and Commander

Those excalibur are really nice. My felt hat doesn't take the rain very well. I need a wet weather one.

wow... I really have to start making stuff to sell. I was taught rope work by a Petty Officer who was in the navy for 34years. Been doing rope for years now. Monkey fist Christmas tree ornaments are easy to do.... You can use them for cat toys too. I've done lots of rope work for friends rapiers. Turks heads and other whipping. My scabbard is done with French spiral hitching the compete length. That gets lots of attention. I make lanyards too My doublets have monkey fist buttons too.

I used to notice the soundtrack from BackDraft was used in promos fairly often...