Yesterday we hauled ourselves out of bed at 6:15am and headed off to Lithgow for a day at Ironfest with my mum in tow. The Huscarls had a paid gig there to provide a living history display so a bunch of them were camping Friday and Saturday nights but we decided it was all too hard and that we’d just come up for the day. I packed my bead making stuff but didn’t end up using it as the club trestle table hadn’t made it to the camp. When we arrived I couldn’t wait to get into my dark ages kit, it was cold and windy and woollen clothes, a blanket cloak and a furry hat were just right. But I don’t have a photo of me dressed up. Sorry.
Does he look cold? It was cold!
I went for a wander around the show and found someone doing wood turning using a pole lathe. Awesome! Adam has been wanting to make himself a pole lathe so I was going to send him over to have a stickybeak, then I saw the sign offering a 1 hour workshop each day, 2 people only. I asked and he still had one place free so I booked Adam in.
They started with logs, complete with bark, and had to split and trim the log with an axe and then shape the blank using a draw knife. Then it was turned using foot power and carved with chisels.
Fitting the blank into the pole lathe
Turning wood
And here’s the end result!
Don’t ask me what we’re going to do with one chair leg though….
http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377
Half-way through the day my brother and his family turned up unexpectedly so the kids got to spend time with their cousins which was nice. We watched jousting, and I failed to get any decent photos of it.
We headed home about 5pm, it was starting to get a bit grey and the temperature was dropping. Here’s what the Sydney Morning Herald says about Lithgow right now:
Lithgow Current Conditions
- Current temp: 6.7°C
- Recorded min: n/a
- Recorded max: n/a
- Feels like: 0.9°C
- Humidity: 69%
- Rainfall since 9am: 0.0mm
- Wind: W 52km/h
- Wind gusts: 94km/h
- Pressure: n/a
I can not begin to tell you how glad I am that we were there yesterday and not today! At least they’re not being rained on.
Mim's Muddle 
What a lovely time. Now about that amazing chair leg – I would oil it and use it as a rolling pin!
Uh, Adam, you have heard of Ikea right? I mean it can be frustrating, but I can usually still walk when I leave there. :)That definitely would have been a pleasant night’s sleep in a tent. Excellent decision on your part.
Oh wow! I’m so jealous I love dark ages! My hubby used to play Fantasy Live Roleplay, so we would have a blast there.
you could sharpen one end for your very own mr pointy?
Every time I come here, this gives me a happy giggle: “… They won’t give me two at once you know.”And, then, this: “Don’t ask me what we’re going to do with one chair leg though….”I embrace ((((((your wonderful spirit)))))). Thank you for the pictures and for always providing a unique perspective. I’m going to be thinking of things to do with one chair leg for a while now.