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<DIV>Unto all does Lady Elizabeth of Hadley Hall send a heartfelt
greeting!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Last Saturday saw the culmination of a dream of mine. After many
years of thought and dreams there finally came an all-children's event to
Atlantia. There were some 30 children who came, along with their
parents. In addition there were those adults who gave of their time that
weekend so that the parents could have fun with their children. The
weather cooperated and there were no thunderstorms, and for most of the day it
was not overly hot either. Everywhere I looked I saw happy people.
In fact the biggest problem was that there was so much for the children to do
they had to make choices between things and they wanted to do both! The
teachers were very accommodating and changed their classes and plans to allow
the children to get everything.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The Archery range had a bunch of targets to amuse and test the skills of
these future warriors. At the thrown weapons range there were patient
marshals teaching children (and adults!) how to throw. Unfortunately,
there were no youth combat fighters who graced our event. But we did have
three participants in the premier of Youth Rapier. After watching these
three in their first set of practice bouts I have heard the rapier marshals
declare that the adult rapier community had better start practicing more since
they will be in trouble when these youths start reaching majority (three years
for the eldest one there -- you have been warned!).</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Besides the full day of classes, there were plenty of activities for the
children. We saw the handiwork of the young artisans. And there was
plenty of people relaxing and having pleasant conversations all day long.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I want to thank my Canton and my Barony for allowing me to follow my dream
and get this event off the ground. Now my dream is to see others in the
Kingdom take up the idea so that all the children can have an opportunity for
them to excel in our Society.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The owner of the site told us that he had never met a more well-behaved
bunch of kids. He never heard any shouts of "NO, Don't do that" or
anything else like that. He was pleased with how well we took care of each
other, and of his property, and how much fun we all had.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>And, now on to the huge list of thank-yous. I apologize in advance
for anybody I might inadvertently overlook -- it has been a long and busy time
leading up to this event.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>For setup on Friday: Siegried, Cairistiona, Ragnar Ribcracker, Richard
Wymarc, Michael Wymarc, Ceridwen ferch Owain, Turgeis, Sunniva, Morris, Blitha,
Miriel, & Craig</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>For truckloading on Friday: Blitha, Achmed, Jay, Maire & Graidhne (who
also shuttled things to the site)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>To my head chef, Ysar, for coming up with a tasty and filling lunch that
pleased adults and children. To all those who helped in the kitchen:
Chiara, Loric, Willow, Marcolo, Leonora, Suna, and Guy.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>To my Troll staff: Anne, Siegfried, Tony, Anne (of Carthew).</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>To my teachers: Rhonwen, Graidhne, Hrosvitha, Blitha, Adrianna, Cassandra,
Gwenllian, Bertran and Aelfwynn. Many of you traveled a good distance to
come and teach. You all were wonderful, and the children were truly torn
at times in having to pick one class over another. Thank you for being
flexible.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>To my marshal staff: Achmed, Allen, Morris, Esperanza, Bubba, a gentle from
Dun Carriag who came and whose name I never got, Giselle, Ceridwen (ferch
Owain), Catalina, Fluathri. To my MOL, Ceridwen (ferch Rhys).</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>To my Chirurgeon and head waterbearer, Miriam, for keeping us healthy on a
hot day.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>To my "pied piper", Eleanor, for leading children in merry games
(especially pool noodle jousting) and using up their energy.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>And to my cleanup crew: For all those people who stooped down to pick up
one piece of trash, to those who stayed until the end, thank you. To
Turgeis, Sunniva, Rachael, Loric, Chiara, Ceridwen, Ceridwen, Richard, Meghan,
Michael, Allen, Blitha, Bubba, Eleanor, Siegfried, Cassandra, Ysar, Chiara,
Loric, Willow, Achmed, Esperanza, Morris, Colum, Brianna, and anyone else I may
have overlooked.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Vivant Sudentorre! Vivant Stierbach! Vivant Atlantia!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">In Service to
my Canton, my Barony, and my Crown<BR>Ly Elizabeth of Hadley Hall<BR>Canton of
Sudentorre, Barony of Stierbach, Kingdom of Atlantia<BR>Lozengy Or and Vert a
Chief Sable<BR>Autocrat, Tournoi des Enfants</FONT></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">See what's free at <A title="http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503" href="http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503" target="_blank">AOL.com</A>. </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>