We had the largest #deedofalms2026 yet, with 20 armoured combatants and dozens unarmoured. So far we’ve raised more than 3500$ for local troops underhoused folks. If you still want to donate, visit us at Still wish to donate? Donate here www.boarstooth.net/new-events/2...

Tomorrow I’ll be in armour, fighting in the lists to raise money for the underhoused at #deedofalms2026 but first I need to put new gloves in my gauntlets and repair the maille aventail on my proto-armet. This is the real life of armoured fighting. Please donate! www.boarstooth.net/new-events/2...

To whom it may concern: There are Africans in the Iliad source material. In the Little Iliad, Memnon, prince of Aethiopia, leads an army of Aethiopians to Troy after Hector’s death. There are Africans in Minoan art. Bronze and Iron Age Greeks travelled widely. (1)

4 days in Northern Ontario. Thunderstorms of epic proportions (but good for lowering fire risk!) clouds of mosquitoes, blackflies, and rocks to fall off… still had a great time, but strongly reminded that July is NOT Ontario’s best camping month

‘Over the land there lies a long shadow, westward reaching wings of darkness’ certainly apt today

The only good confederate flag is a captured confederate flag.

Following on last week’s video about heavy spears and tgeir deadly nature, this week on #writingfighting we look at a real-life switchblade heavy spear that seems like it’s from a #fantasy novel. And I have the famous’Tod’ of Tod’s Workshop to show me how it works!

Today’s #writingfighting is about heavy spears. The Ghiavarina is my favourite, and both #fantasy and #hisfic tend to ignore the shear power of the heavy spear

Anyone else receiving what appears to be AI originated reader mail? WTF?

Happy Pride Month to all!

I hope this amuses😉

I’m answering the copy-editor queries from the brilliant @steveeditor.bsky.social and in addition to a brilliant job I’m laughing my arse off, mostly at me. Ahhh language! #soulstealer

Working on a Marozzo assalto with @slug-lord.bsky.social

A little light reading while camping. I collect drill manuals. They’re technical but comprehensible and very revealing. If you read the manual and then the eye-witness account you can usually figure out exactly what people did.

Today we return to ‘Writing Fighting’ I’ve been making these since 2019 and I stopped for a while, but now I feel I have more to say. The intention of all 232 episodes is to help non-martial arts/reenactors write better fight scenes. Enjoy! Today we take real weapons and attack chainmail (maille)

This was one of the best things that I read last year. Strongly recommended. Out today! emmaburnett.carrd.co

Ex Partum comes out on Tuesday. Here's what @phokion.bsky.social has to say about the book (and we all know he has the absolute BEST words!) If this sounds like a a book for you, you can pre-order it here: emmaburnett.carrd.co #booksky 🪐📚

I spent three days camping in the wilderness of Temagami.

Cover release! This is the cover for the first book of my new Epic Fantasy series. Books 2 and 3 are already written! This glorious cover is by @franvegas.bsky.social and it’s my favourite… ever!

The last ‘Captain of Venice’ ad… out today! And just for historian, reenactors and armoured fighters, some photos of rare originals from the National Historical Museum in Athens, all probably of late 14th-early 15th c. Italian manufacture.

This is dead on. If the Democrats retake the House and Senate--or even just the House--it could mark the beginning of the end of a 50-year Republican project. If they can't? The GOP will spend the next 2 years destroying all remaining guardrails. Most important midterms of our lives, no question.

Nicholas Grossman@nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 3mo ago

The Roberts Court, the Trump White House, and the national GOP are acting like this is their one big shot. Either they secure the lasting end of US Constitutional democracy, or they’re in very serious trouble from the backlash. And they’ve already gone so far that there’s no other possibility.

⚔️ Exciting news! Join me on May 19th at 6:30 PM at Bakka-Phoenix Books for the launch of Our Lady of Blades with @phokion.bsky.social. Expect fantasy tales and playful writing advice. No dueling skills needed—just bring your sense of adventure! #UpcomingEvent #Author

(2) Both of them (and other nearby Americans) clearly don’t believe me, and say so. ‘The Dukes of Athens,’ I say. ‘Who?’ ‘Chaucer wrote a story…’ I began. ‘Who’s he?’ Asks one. ‘The Knight’s Tale?’ I asked. Someone says ‘I saw the movie.’

So, I’m queuing to leave the Acropolis via the propylon. An American comments on the beauty of the construction and his wife says something about ‘all the damage.’ I mention that it was a medieval castle until very recently and an active fortress. (1)

Lord Byron died two hundred years ago this year at the siege of Missolonghi. A rock star, ‘mad, bad, and dangerous to know’ he died supporting the freedom of Greece.

18th c. Greek interior

Athens. There is no place like it! The Acropolis from the Pnyx, Sarah and Bea on the Pnyx, and the Acropolis at night from our apartment.

More castles in Greece! Skala Eressos; this is the 14th c. Gattelussi castle but there’s a whole Bronze age to Roman complex underneath. Sappho had her school here. And… the wild oregano is superb.