My new blue fencing jacket didn't survive its first bout.
My opponent hit me on the sword arm, and the seam came apart - rendering it not only "very disappointing" but also "not safe to fence".
I had to go find a club jacket to fence in for the rest of the night. I went from having a padded, double layer jacket designed to reduce bruises to something that was quite thin and lightweight (and I didn't even have a plastron) which offered little protection from bruising at all (but at least wouldn't snag a sword).
And it (the club's jacket) smelled.
Bummer.
My new blue jacket went from being something a little disappointing that I could adjust and live with, to something I'm totally sending back for a refund.
I don't ask much from my fencing gear, but I want it to be suitable for fencing.
Monday, June 23, 2014
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Target petanque
So, the other day I was stuck at home, studying for an exam, and the weather was rather inclement. This did give me the opportunity to use the word "inclement" (which is always fun), but also meant I couldn't go for a walk.
I was planning on studying steadily for several hours (ppft! like that was ever going to happen) and then go for a walk. I'm very easily distracted at the best of times. Give me a rainy day and all I want to do is play.
And, for some reason, there's nothing like telling my brain that it desperately needs to focus on something important to get those eureka moments regarding other issues that are of a) no relevance to the task at hand, and b) no importance in the grand scheme of things.
So, while trying to cram separable and inseparable verbs into my head (I understand the principle, but I don't know the vocabulary), I "discovered" a new in door game that's potentially fun for the whole family.
I'd like to say I invented it but, quite frankly, it's so obvious and simple that I'm pretty sure someone has already done that, so I'm going to say "discovered". And, on the odd chance no one has already patented the darn thing and is attempting to make money out of it as I speak, I'm giving the idea away for free.
Any enterprising soul who wants to make a version of this to sell can go ahead and do so, but it's a bit DIY, really, and anyone can do it as long as they have some juggling balls or hacky-sacks/footbags around the place.
I call it "target petanque", and it's kind of like a cross between petanque and curling. And a little bit indoor bowling for people with limited space.
You will need:
And that's it. Pretty simple - and easy enough to do on a rainy day, as long as you have enough juggling balls/footbags to give each player two balls.
If I were an enterprising soul myself (which I'm not) I would make a pack with four sets of three juggling balls (three red, three yellow, three blue and three green, for example) and two prefabricated targets. That would enable up to six people to play at one time, and also come in handy for juggling parties.
Oh... I should totally start throwing juggling parties...
I was planning on studying steadily for several hours (ppft! like that was ever going to happen) and then go for a walk. I'm very easily distracted at the best of times. Give me a rainy day and all I want to do is play.
And, for some reason, there's nothing like telling my brain that it desperately needs to focus on something important to get those eureka moments regarding other issues that are of a) no relevance to the task at hand, and b) no importance in the grand scheme of things.
So, while trying to cram separable and inseparable verbs into my head (I understand the principle, but I don't know the vocabulary), I "discovered" a new in door game that's potentially fun for the whole family.
I'd like to say I invented it but, quite frankly, it's so obvious and simple that I'm pretty sure someone has already done that, so I'm going to say "discovered". And, on the odd chance no one has already patented the darn thing and is attempting to make money out of it as I speak, I'm giving the idea away for free.
Any enterprising soul who wants to make a version of this to sell can go ahead and do so, but it's a bit DIY, really, and anyone can do it as long as they have some juggling balls or hacky-sacks/footbags around the place.
I call it "target petanque", and it's kind of like a cross between petanque and curling. And a little bit indoor bowling for people with limited space.
You will need:
- Two pieces of paper (or even just one)
- Some highlighters or coloured pens
- Two or three juggling balls (the bean-bag kind) or hacky-sacks/footbags per player
- A hallway or space that's approximately 1 pace wide and at least six paces long.
This is how you play:
- Using the coloured pens, draw a target on each sheet of paper - a vertical/horizontal cross (+) with a circle around the center that has a radius about the size of one of your balls (so, in theory, two balls could fit side-by-side inside the circle).
- Put one target at one end of the hallway, take six long steps (paces) and put the other target at that point (perhaps put another mark at the six-pace point for the younger/shorter members of the family). Decide which areas are "out of bounds".
- Assemble players into two teams.
- Stand behind one target and, with your feet planted firmly on the ground, toss the balls underhand towards the farther target.
- Like petanque, each team takes a turn to toss initially. If team A's ball is closer to the target than team B's ball, team B keeps tossing until they have the closest ball. Then team A tosses until they have the closest ball, and so on.
- When all of the balls have been tossed, the winning team is the one with the ball closest to the center of the target. They score 1 point for each ball that is closer to the center than the closest ball for the opposing team.
- If a ball lands on or in the circle around the center of the target, it will score 2 points - regardless of whether it is the winning ball (so, a ball that lands in the circle *and* is the closest ball to the center is worth 3 points). Any balls that end up out of bounds are not counted.
- Players then line up behind that target, facing the opposite direction, and play again - throwing back towards the target at the other end of the hall (if space makes this awkward, they can always throw from the same point in the same direction).
- Play back and forth from both ends, the first team to reach 13 points wins.
And that's it. Pretty simple - and easy enough to do on a rainy day, as long as you have enough juggling balls/footbags to give each player two balls.
If I were an enterprising soul myself (which I'm not) I would make a pack with four sets of three juggling balls (three red, three yellow, three blue and three green, for example) and two prefabricated targets. That would enable up to six people to play at one time, and also come in handy for juggling parties.
Oh... I should totally start throwing juggling parties...
A little less white - first impressions
So, I bit the bullet and bought that slightly more colourful fencing gear I mentioned in a previous post.
I have not, unfortunately, had the opportunity to take it fencing since it arrived. Dang assignments and exams. They're so needy, time-wise.
Anyway, here are my first impressions on taking the stuff out of the box, trying it on and running around the house like some deranged weirdo, lunging at random points in the hallway:
The pants are awesome. I'm completely stoked by the Leon Paul 350N tracky-dacks. The tags say they are part of the "Phoenix" range (that's their more expensive 350N line), and I believe it. They are just really well turned out. I think they're actually better quality than my 800N "Team" range breeches.
Around the waist they have that weird grippy stuff that good-quality cycling nicks have around the leg grippers, which keeps them from slipping down, and you can unzip the legs to help with getting them on and off (over shoes, if you're that way inclined). Plus, it has a pocket. Not just a pocket in the back to put the hitmate, but an actual pocket in the side (left side, making it a bet less useful for lefties) for keys and wallets and stuff.
Of course, I have yet to play with them properly "in combat", but so far, so awesome.
Plus, they're perfectly suitable gym wear. I can now go through any gym I feel like wearing sword-proof pants. This is bound to be an advantage at some point.
The jacket, on the other hand, is a bit of a disappointment. Yes, it is a pretty shade of blue, and yes it does, in theory, replace three other items of clothing. But...
Considering the fact that it costs significantly more than the "Pheonix" range jacket, it's just not quite as good. It seems cheaper in design and construction.
The back of the jacket has two straps for tweaking the size, but it's a double-ring fastening system, and the size of the rings is a fraction to small for the thickness of the straps. It's not impossible to do up, but damned difficult.
I had trouble doing up the straps with the jacket in front of me, let alone trying to do it behind my back. It just wouldn't happen. I could, after much struggle, get the bottom strap through the rings, but the top-strap was at too awkward an angle. Fortunately the jacket fits well enough without the straps being done up, but then they're flapping around in the breeze. I'd either have to remove them or get someone to help me dress (hardly the bold strike for convenience I'd been hoping for).
If the rings were just a fraction larger, this wouldn't be a problem. But the straps aren't my greatest concern.
A greater concern is the chest protector situation. The jacket has pockets on the inside to slip in those little round cup guards (which I also bought). But the pockets are so big and loose (no doubt to try to allow a wide range of boobages) that they don't hold the cup guards still.
The leeway for movement is so great that a sword hitting it at the right angle would push the guard out of the way, and the blow would land full-force on an unprotected boob. This does not strike me as being a good thing.
I suspect I'll be able to stitch up the pockets a bit to try to control the movement, but that seems like hard work, given I already own a chest-protector that covers the whole chest and stays put. I was just looking forward to getting rid of it, because it's not the most comfortable thing to wear.
But that isn't my greatest concern, either.
My greatest concern is the throat. This is the first fencing jacket I've ever come across that has only one layer of material over the throat. All of the others have two layers, and while the extra thick material around the throat is a bit uncomfortable, it's also rather reassuring. Especially given the fact that one of the girls I fence with has a habit of lunging straight at the throat. She says she doesn't do it on purpose. I think she has issues.
This is the one thing I can't generate a workaround for, and it seems strange to have a jacket that's über padded in most other places have less padding over your windpipe than other 350N jackets.
Fortunately my mask is 1600N, and has a bib that covers the throat. But, still...
I have not, unfortunately, had the opportunity to take it fencing since it arrived. Dang assignments and exams. They're so needy, time-wise.
Anyway, here are my first impressions on taking the stuff out of the box, trying it on and running around the house like some deranged weirdo, lunging at random points in the hallway:
The pants are awesome. I'm completely stoked by the Leon Paul 350N tracky-dacks. The tags say they are part of the "Phoenix" range (that's their more expensive 350N line), and I believe it. They are just really well turned out. I think they're actually better quality than my 800N "Team" range breeches.
Around the waist they have that weird grippy stuff that good-quality cycling nicks have around the leg grippers, which keeps them from slipping down, and you can unzip the legs to help with getting them on and off (over shoes, if you're that way inclined). Plus, it has a pocket. Not just a pocket in the back to put the hitmate, but an actual pocket in the side (left side, making it a bet less useful for lefties) for keys and wallets and stuff.
Of course, I have yet to play with them properly "in combat", but so far, so awesome.
Plus, they're perfectly suitable gym wear. I can now go through any gym I feel like wearing sword-proof pants. This is bound to be an advantage at some point.
The jacket, on the other hand, is a bit of a disappointment. Yes, it is a pretty shade of blue, and yes it does, in theory, replace three other items of clothing. But...
Considering the fact that it costs significantly more than the "Pheonix" range jacket, it's just not quite as good. It seems cheaper in design and construction.
The back of the jacket has two straps for tweaking the size, but it's a double-ring fastening system, and the size of the rings is a fraction to small for the thickness of the straps. It's not impossible to do up, but damned difficult.
I had trouble doing up the straps with the jacket in front of me, let alone trying to do it behind my back. It just wouldn't happen. I could, after much struggle, get the bottom strap through the rings, but the top-strap was at too awkward an angle. Fortunately the jacket fits well enough without the straps being done up, but then they're flapping around in the breeze. I'd either have to remove them or get someone to help me dress (hardly the bold strike for convenience I'd been hoping for).
If the rings were just a fraction larger, this wouldn't be a problem. But the straps aren't my greatest concern.
A greater concern is the chest protector situation. The jacket has pockets on the inside to slip in those little round cup guards (which I also bought). But the pockets are so big and loose (no doubt to try to allow a wide range of boobages) that they don't hold the cup guards still.
The leeway for movement is so great that a sword hitting it at the right angle would push the guard out of the way, and the blow would land full-force on an unprotected boob. This does not strike me as being a good thing.
I suspect I'll be able to stitch up the pockets a bit to try to control the movement, but that seems like hard work, given I already own a chest-protector that covers the whole chest and stays put. I was just looking forward to getting rid of it, because it's not the most comfortable thing to wear.
But that isn't my greatest concern, either.
My greatest concern is the throat. This is the first fencing jacket I've ever come across that has only one layer of material over the throat. All of the others have two layers, and while the extra thick material around the throat is a bit uncomfortable, it's also rather reassuring. Especially given the fact that one of the girls I fence with has a habit of lunging straight at the throat. She says she doesn't do it on purpose. I think she has issues.
This is the one thing I can't generate a workaround for, and it seems strange to have a jacket that's über padded in most other places have less padding over your windpipe than other 350N jackets.
Fortunately my mask is 1600N, and has a bib that covers the throat. But, still...
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Still obsessing about lawn bowls
I know, I know, I should just shut up and join a club or something.
But...
...They're vaguely intimidating, and I feel like I'm both sought after and undesirable and the same time - which is a really weird feeling.
It's something about the way they seem desperately grateful to have new people, but don't particularly want to change things to make it possible for new people to ease in.
It's still very much the domain of people who are free during office hours (as opposed to people who work and/or study) - and still very much the domain of people who want to take bowling seriously (as opposed to people who just want to give it a go and see if it takes).
I've recently discovered one of the oldest clubs in town is desperate for members, and I have a vague desire to infiltrate their club and use it to conduct strange experiments regarding the future of lawn bowls in this town.
I want to install petanque/bocce courts beside the green and open the place up to families looking for a fun activity on a weekend (offering petanque, bocce, lawn bowls and table bowls - heck, maybe we could even rustle up enough indoor space to include carpet bowls).
I want to alter their opening hours so that they have mixed competition "days" after 6pm (they can still keep their mens and ladies things for their retirees during the day, if they want) to give workers an avenue into the competition side of the sport.
I want to open the joint up on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 6pm for "casual" games that can start and finish at any time during that period. No one has to get their names in, they just have to turn up with someone to play with. As long as there's space to play, they can play.
I want to throw in a regular barefoot bowls night that will allow people without playing partners to come along and join in.
I want to turn the kitchen into a kiosk, selling icecreams and cold drinks all day on the weekends, and offering toasted sandwiches at lunchtime on Saturdays and Sundays (and maybe also on the club days when the ladies and men are playing).
I want to have them open for "dinner" on Saturday and Sunday nights - a BBQ on Saturdays, and a Roast on Sundays.
I want to alter the membership schedule so that there are three different kinds of membership:
There will be two prices for everything - food, drinks, games, merchandise: everything - one for "members" and one for "walk-ins". When members can get 15% off beer and icecream, I suspect a number of "walk-ins" will decide a Casual membership for the weekend might not be a bad idea.
Oh, and we'll get rid of that whole "nominated and seconded" by thing required for membership that I've seen at most bowls clubs. If you want to join, we won't put hurdles in your way.
I want to sell merchandise during opening hours: generic lawn bowls crap, generic Townsville crap, and specific "playing lawn bowls at this particular club in Townsville" crap. Hats, T-shirts, mugs, that sort of thing.
And I want to create some sort of communication plan, where things like opening hours and membership options are made available to the general public. Something like, I don't know, a functioning website. Perhaps even an email address, which was really easy to find, where one can send emails and have questions answered.
That's what I'd do, if I could infiltrate this club and bend it to my wishes. Then, maybe, I'd feel comfortable about turning up to the club to play.
There may be a flaw in my plan, though...
But...
...They're vaguely intimidating, and I feel like I'm both sought after and undesirable and the same time - which is a really weird feeling.
It's something about the way they seem desperately grateful to have new people, but don't particularly want to change things to make it possible for new people to ease in.
It's still very much the domain of people who are free during office hours (as opposed to people who work and/or study) - and still very much the domain of people who want to take bowling seriously (as opposed to people who just want to give it a go and see if it takes).
I've recently discovered one of the oldest clubs in town is desperate for members, and I have a vague desire to infiltrate their club and use it to conduct strange experiments regarding the future of lawn bowls in this town.
I want to install petanque/bocce courts beside the green and open the place up to families looking for a fun activity on a weekend (offering petanque, bocce, lawn bowls and table bowls - heck, maybe we could even rustle up enough indoor space to include carpet bowls).
I want to alter their opening hours so that they have mixed competition "days" after 6pm (they can still keep their mens and ladies things for their retirees during the day, if they want) to give workers an avenue into the competition side of the sport.
I want to open the joint up on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 6pm for "casual" games that can start and finish at any time during that period. No one has to get their names in, they just have to turn up with someone to play with. As long as there's space to play, they can play.
I want to throw in a regular barefoot bowls night that will allow people without playing partners to come along and join in.
I want to turn the kitchen into a kiosk, selling icecreams and cold drinks all day on the weekends, and offering toasted sandwiches at lunchtime on Saturdays and Sundays (and maybe also on the club days when the ladies and men are playing).
I want to have them open for "dinner" on Saturday and Sunday nights - a BBQ on Saturdays, and a Roast on Sundays.
I want to alter the membership schedule so that there are three different kinds of membership:
- Casual (gets you a membership card for the weekend, with all the discounts, and includes one "free" game),
- Social (gives you all the member discounts for the year and invitations to members-only social events) and
- Full (gives you the right to compete for the club, free entry to competition days and all the stuff the Social membership has).
There will be two prices for everything - food, drinks, games, merchandise: everything - one for "members" and one for "walk-ins". When members can get 15% off beer and icecream, I suspect a number of "walk-ins" will decide a Casual membership for the weekend might not be a bad idea.
Oh, and we'll get rid of that whole "nominated and seconded" by thing required for membership that I've seen at most bowls clubs. If you want to join, we won't put hurdles in your way.
I want to sell merchandise during opening hours: generic lawn bowls crap, generic Townsville crap, and specific "playing lawn bowls at this particular club in Townsville" crap. Hats, T-shirts, mugs, that sort of thing.
And I want to create some sort of communication plan, where things like opening hours and membership options are made available to the general public. Something like, I don't know, a functioning website. Perhaps even an email address, which was really easy to find, where one can send emails and have questions answered.
That's what I'd do, if I could infiltrate this club and bend it to my wishes. Then, maybe, I'd feel comfortable about turning up to the club to play.
There may be a flaw in my plan, though...
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