AAR - 1721: Life of a Sailor - Fort King George, Darien GA - 2025

[michaelsbagley]

Thought I would start a topic for people to discuss, share thoughts, AAR (after-action-reports) or whatever other commentary regarding this event.

But me first!

First off, a huge hearty thank you to those who worked so hard to pull this event together. Between the Pub members organizing, and the Fort staff on the receiving end, this event was very well done. And that is because of this smalll collection of people's hard work.

I loved that the event strives for good (if not great) authenticity, but is accommodating enough for a relative newcomer to the reenacting hobby to achieve. Out of all the events I have been to that has tried to thread that needle, this event achieves it the best.

Organizational items: There are a few quibbles of things "I would do differently", but in all fairness, those are mostly stylistic leanings by the organizers, and not failings.

 

The one piece I would suggest, is the kitchen/cooking. With no meals being "officially" on the agenda, there is no failings here, but because a couple of people tried to fill that "role" despite it not being official, I think a little better coordination surrounding the kitchen/food situation would behoove the event/organization. I know cooks like to organize "their kitchen" their way.... but no less than 4 or 5 people (based on current # of participants) should be at least somewhat in the know about the kitchen organization.

I saw this as I was summarily "tasked" with policing the kitchen area one morning of modern stuff as the fort opened. I had no idea where anything was supposed to go. This lead to some serious discomfort by me, as I love being able to help, but was asked to help on something I wasn't able to. I asked a few people for some direction, and no one seemed to have the answers. Best guesses were made, and the situation did not play out badly, but it was awkward AF.

Other than kitchen/cooking organization, this event was awesome. Great people, great historic interpretations and demos, and great fun.

Some unexpected highlights for me.

Trapball. It's a silly game, but it was made more fun by the friendly competitive nature of the game turning it into a team sport. Jessica's stroke of genius to add a "trophy" just made it all the better.

The music. Damn, I wish I knew more songs in common with the other musicians present. That said, it appears "Star of the County Down" is almost the unoffocial theme song of the event. A list of 3-5 songs (official or unofficial) that musicians could strive to learn in "common" would be a great little addition.

 

There is probably more I could drone on about, but I feel this post is getting long, and want to leave it here.

P.S. Sorry I didn't get any photos. 😕

[Tudor MercWench Smith]

2 hours ago, michaelsbagley said:

I saw this as I was summarily "tasked" with policing the kitchen area one morning of modern stuff as the fort opened. I had no idea where anything was supposed to go. This lead to some serious discomfort by me, as I love being able to help, but was asked to help on something I wasn't able to. I asked a few people for some direction, and no one seemed to have the answers. Best guesses were made, and the situation did not play out badly, but it was awkward AF.
 

Speaking as the person who gangpressed you into that assistance . . . . sorrry!!!

 

But honestly, the kitchen issue is one I have been stewing on for a while, and there was a bit of discussion about at breakfast on monday as well. One of my personal white whales for the next year is to collect and craft a few basic . . . . let's call them "framework" items, that I think will go a long way to making the kitchen much more "plug and play". Not so much actual kit and gear, but more like fixtures. Namely

• designated immediately accessible, permanently disguised coolers 
• a visually appropriate yet immediately functional wash stand, that will at least come closer to meeting modern sanitary procedures, and can have a more systematic process for crew volunteering/voluntolding dish duty.  
• a few other "disguise" features that will serve as quick and easy stash spots (think barrels, crates, baskets, etc)
• Collecting/making significantly more period correct food storage options (glassware, stoneware canisters and bowls etc, and a ton more beeswax wraps) so that if there is leftover food in modern accoutrement again, instead of figuring out where to stash it out of site, the easiest response will also provide more "set dressing" 

Alan also mentioned to me that the fort is going to be doing some construction on the kitchen in the coming year that should provide more storge which would go a long way to helping keep things more readily organized. My intention with this is that it will be easy both ways - if there is a designated cook for the entire event, they can utilize these however they wish to set them up, but if there isn't any one person, or delays/complications, or there are shifts of people, or if poor random redcoats have to get told to go adios some moderns there is some semblance of organization that it's not as baffling of a task. 

 

Basically this is entirely self serving - not at all as a complaint, but twice in a row now I have kind of become defacto more responsible in the kitchen then I was prepared for. Which I am absolutely fine with, but I am tired of being caught out on it. If I can bring this "minimum framework" it helps me if I am having to plug in on the fly, AND helps out the whole company even if I don't. 

To coincide with this, I'd love to see actual pre-scheduled, pre-volunteered "watches" for the kitchen. Nothing too structured and militant - we are pirates after all - but just a way to know someone is already on task to clear away moderns after breakfast and someone else is starting dishes without having to scramble.  I am also happy to kind of spear head this, as it feels fitting within the "Steward" milieu, duty rosters, paperwork, etc etc etc. 

Otherwise, any other AAR I can think of are all personal - I want to continue to finesse the "Rum" ration. I am going to spend the year testing and perfecting a recipie so I don't have to keep buying the store bought NA stuff, I would love to actually build a correct "ledger" for marking who recieved ration, and I want to actually gather up all my sources and have them a little more prepared so I could turn it into an actual scheduled "station" or scheduled "programming". 

[madPete]

As far as setup is concerned, I'm sorry. It was a last minute change to take leave to see a dying friend or I would have been there on Thursday to organize.

 

I appreciate that everyone steps up to fill in, whether its acquiring donations, bringing items we need, stepping into the kitchen for a spell, or any number of other support functions. It's pretty tough to fly in with no cooking gear and take charge of whatever shows up, so I understand Michael's frustration in not being informed. It's basically falling on two people to drag in the basic kitchen items when they drive in, and neither has proper storage or capacity to get it all there. I'm not ignoring that others are bringing items and food and such, its all appreciated (Miranda and Donna).

 

There's a number of things we can do to streamline but I think minimally we need either on-site storage or storage nearby that is accessible along with an inventory. And yes, some kind of duty sheet so it doesn't fall on one person to cook, make grocery runs, and coordinate at the same time. Thanks to William for organizing the Tabby house meal, and Pizza on Thursday? night. it all helped tremendously.

 

Having been thru this for 3 Events now (Massacre Island, and 2 1721 events), I've been pondering my own participation. Flying is stressful enough, much less managing the kitchen on top of it.

 

I don't live anywhere nearby so I can't bring prepared food or cook items,  I'm not a cook in any capacity but for a hobby and to try to fill a need. If I hadn't rented a car to see my friend, I would not even have the means to grocery shop for needed items.  When it gets to the point I'm not enjoying the event, something needs to change. It's obvious that this is affecting others as well.

 

So I am stepping down as cook/kitchen organizer. I guess that adds one more item to the list of needs.

 

 

 

[Tudor MercWench Smith]

1 hour ago, madPete said:

As far as setup is concerned, I'm sorry. It was a last minute change to take leave to see a dying friend or I would have been there on Thursday to organize.

 

I appreciate that everyone steps up to fill in, whether its acquiring donations, bringing items we need, stepping into the kitchen for a spell, or any number of other support functions. It's pretty tough to fly in with no cooking gear and take charge of whatever shows up, so I understand Michael's frustration in not being informed. It's basically falling on two people to drag in the basic kitchen items when they drive in, and neither has proper storage or capacity to get it all there. I'm not ignoring that others are bringing items and food and such, its all appreciated (Miranda and Donna).

 

There's a number of things we can do to streamline but I think minimally we need either on-site storage or storage nearby that is accessible along with an inventory. And yes, some kind of duty sheet so it doesn't fall on one person to cook, make grocery runs, and coordinate at the same time. Thanks to William for organizing the Tabby house meal, and Pizza on Thursday? night. it all helped tremendously.

 

Having been thru this for 3 Events now (Massacre Island, and 2 1721 events), I've been pondering my own participation. Flying is stressful enough, much less managing the kitchen on top of it.

 

I don't live anywhere nearby so I can't bring prepared food or cook items,  I'm not a cook in any capacity but for a hobby and to try to fill a need. If I hadn't rented a car to see my friend, I would not even have the means to grocery shop for needed items.  When it gets to the point I'm not enjoying the event, something needs to change. It's obvious that this is affecting others as well.

 

So I am stepping down as cook/kitchen organizer. I guess that adds one more item to the list of needs.

 

 

 

 

I really truly want to state this for the record - it was absolutely no problem to step in for any reason, and was more then happy to do so for such an important reason. Like - stating that so unequivocally! You have absolutely NOTHING to apologize for, and I need to apologize if any of the sassing/spit balling made you feel like you need to!!

 

It just got me pondering best ways to be prepared for when extenuating circumstances like this come up, which initially started for me last year, actually, when I was the last to find out I was handling the kitchen lol!! How best to support you  (or whoever), or make it easily accessible for anyone to plug in as needed, and also make it that you (or now, again, whomever) is in the roll of cook DOESN'T get to the point where they aren't enjoying the event cause too much of a burden falls on them to do it all.

I don't live nearby, per se, but driving does seem to be the most efficent way for me to travel, so with that, and the fact that I tend to end up in there, seemed to well position me to handle some of these bigger item things that won't travel easily farther distance but won't necessarily be able to be kept on site. 

So, all this to say - if you still want to have the "role" of "Cook", (with whatever level of cooking might actually contribute to your enjoyment), I am more then happy to lead the charge on getting volunteers to handle the "organization" aspect. Like I said previously, if we can get a solid schedule of "watches" for the kitchen, so all the actual WORK of the kitchen doesn't fall to one person, I think it would work better, and would mean no one gets overly burdened or thrown in. 

[michaelsbagley]

Ditto what Miranda said, this is more about being a back-handed plea for redundancy in the various organizational responsibilities than a criticism on how they are done/handled. 

 

Having 2-4 people informed on the key accountabilitues will better help split or provide backup on the effort when things inevitably come up.

[madPete]

Not taking it as criticism. I can only do what I can do. LIke I said, been pondering this awhile and its time for someone else to run with it.

[Stynky Tudor]

@michaelsbagley, thank you for helping to set up the tent. And thanks to both you and Jessica for bringing out the Trap Ball Game, the trophy was brilliant and the game brought/revived/infused a lot of life into the event. Thank you again for bringing it. 

 

@madPete, your organizational kitchen skills from April were sorely missed. My apologies, I didn't realized how much the situation with your friend was affecting you and that your attentions were elsewhere.

 

The fact is that there was food and people were fed. 

 

Tudor Smith, thank you for stepping up at the event and your offer for next year, but I’d rather the spot get filled by myself and or someone else. Besides, relegating you to the kitchen would be a waste of your social and sarcastic talents, not to mention a bit of an event cliche. Besides, you’ve already been assigned bossy pants over the tent, canvas and the temporary structures department.

 

Not to say that your assistance won’t be needed, expected or demanded, it’s a big job and will take the group of us to make it run smoothly.

[Tudor MercWench Smith]

3 minutes ago, Stynky Tudor said:

Tudor Smith, thank you for stepping up at the event and your offer for next year, but I’d rather the spot get filled by myself and or someone else. Besides, relegating you to the kitchen would be a waste of your social and sarcastic talents, not to mention a bit of an event cliche. Besides, you’ve already been assigned bossy pants over the tent, canvas and the temporary structures department.

 

Not to say that your assistance won’t be needed, expected or demanded, it’s a big job and will take the group of us to make it run smoothly.

 

I think that is kind of my thought process on this - I definitely don't want to spend significant time *IN* the kitchen, but if in order to make that happen, I dedicate the in between times to helping organize it, I am happy to do so. If all I have to do is muster up some organizational devices and help run some sign up geniuses (which I can then play with and turn into fun period correct written duty rosters to post on the kitchen wall), it's well within my skill set wheel houses both from real world and period persona. 

Plus, it gives me one more things I can be bossy pants about!! Lol

Speaking of tents though - I just had the thought that maybe a small "lean to" style tent off to the side or back of the kitchen might be an excellent solution; think of it kind of like a butler's pantry, where we can stash coolers, moderns, etc, that will be closed to public view, but that will still afford us easy access to things without having to stack and cover everything, and will become an easy spot for anyone picking up duty in the kitchen to know the answer to "Where does this go?" . . . it goes in the pantry. 

[Mary Diamond]

I truly appreciate all the efforts everyone has put into making 1721 an exceptional event.

 

I agree most heartily with the idea of the “pantry” - that will allow a bit of ease for the kitchen growing pains. If someone could provide dimensions, Mark and I can pull one together.

 

[Tudor MercWench Smith]

5 hours ago, Mary Diamond said:

I truly appreciate all the efforts everyone has put into making 1721 an exceptional event.

 

I agree most heartily with the idea of the “pantry” - that will allow a bit of ease for the kitchen growing pains. If someone could provide dimensions, Mark and I can pull one together.

 

 

I'm glad the idea sounds reasonable to minds other then my own, considering the fried state I have been in the last few days lol!

My immediate thoughts are it would go best in the small alley between the edge of the kitchen and the earthworks, as it is not a trafficked area, it wouldn't block or impede line of sight or access to the kitchen, etc, but I am not sure how much space there would be, if the ground is level enough to put something up, and/or if we'd be able to stake something down without digging into the earthworks, which the fort might have feelings about. Perhaps we can call upon Alan to get some measurements and advise if such a thing would even be feasible. 

[Stynky Tudor]

21 hours ago, Tudor MercWench Smith said:

. . . it goes in the pantry.

I love this idea!!!

 

I've got an "A" frame tent we can use. Plus we (Pyracy Pub) also has a couple flys, one with walls.

 

My brain is a bit scrambled right now from travel, but we should do this!

[Tudor MercWench Smith]

 

3 hours ago, Stynky Tudor said:

I love this idea!!!

 

I've got an "A" frame tent we can use. Plus we (Pyracy Pub) also has a couple flys, one with walls.

 

My brain is a bit scrambled right now from travel, but we should do this!

It honestly also solves most of my project list as we would no longer need to figure out functional ways to disguise coolers and create more hides, so I'm all for it being laz...were in, I mean, an advocate of work smarter not harder.

 

I'll reach out to Alan after the holidays and see about getting measurements of the space next to the kitchen and see if it is logistically feasible there with the earthworks and then see what type of tent might fit

[Stynky Tudor]

59 minutes ago, Tudor MercWench Smith said:

I'll reach out to Alan after the holidays and see about getting measurements of the space next to the kitchen and see if it is logistically feasible there with the earthworks and then see what type of tent might fit

We should check-in with @William Brand on this first, he was saying that the fort already has plans to build-out some aspect of the kitchen.
 

[madPete]

5 minutes ago, Stynky Tudor said:

We should check-in with @William Brand on this first, he was saying that the fort already has plans to build-out some aspect of the kitchen.
 

We have a whole year before the next event. A lot can change. Make a plan, but check with Fort before executing it. 

Part of the need is an offsite storage, nearby, so Paul's car isnt stuffed to the gills getting there. There's 2 big kitchen crates that Paul managed to get there, but there is a lot more we had at Tooele, like rum barrels, loaner clothing, more kitchen supplies and now a wall tent and fly.

[Tudor MercWench Smith]

1 hour ago, Stynky Tudor said:

We should check-in with @William Brand on this first, he was saying that the fort already has plans to build-out some aspect of the kitchen.
 

 

Yes! He might have more details on that! I was talking to Alan a little bit during the event about it cause he was picking my brain on what I would suggest for improvements as well, but it was a passing conversation, so anything further the Quartermaster might be privvy to would be helpful in the planning phase. 

[Stynky Tudor]

5 hours ago, madPete said:

We have a whole year before the next event. A lot can change. Make a plan, but check with Fort before executing it. 

Part of the need is an offsite storage, nearby, so Paul's car isnt stuffed to the gills getting there. There's 2 big kitchen crates that Paul managed to get there, but there is a lot more we had at Tooele, like rum barrels, loaner clothing, more kitchen supplies and now a wall tent and fly.

 

Yes we need some sort of local storage -- I actually nagged Mister Button about making repairs to the shed on-site. I pawned two cook tub/crates off on @William Brand, there's another partial tub here in Oregon I think. Plus I've got a couple small casks, 2 ropes and a block, not to mention a tent-fly, my A frame tent, poles, stacks..

 

4 hours ago, Tudor MercWench Smith said:

 

Yes! He might have more details on that! I was talking to Alan a little bit during the event about it cause he was picking my brain on what I would suggest for improvements as well, but it was a passing conversation, so anything further the Quartermaster might be privvy to would be helpful in the planning phase. 

I think William was already talking on the subject with Al before the event, definitely check-in with William and let him know what you an Al talked about.

[William Brand]

It's all great feedback, so first of all, thank you.  I'm leaning into a few things for next year, but no so soon as to cover it this far out.  Right now it's about making lists and reviewing everything we have and hope to have for the kitchen boxes. 

Some of this will depend greatly on sponsorship from year to year, but it's looking more and more like the local businesses 'get it' in terms of simple support, like meals.  It's the goal to have every dinner managed by a sponsor, so there's little or nothing to do in terms of cooking after hours, and with that, clean-up in the dark.  So far we're looking good to get every meal covered in a way that eliminates late cooking and after dark worries. 

It's most likely that we'll only be doing a light lunch on site, with some casual cooking, less burdened by necessity.  I want everything to be easier on the travellers who attend.