Storyteller

This day's been dragging on. A lot more traffic on the road for the last couple of days. It seems like all the car sharers converted back to lone drivers since the petrol's back to below £1. And some stupid people are on the road as well... nothing against saving petrol, but driving at 30mph, were you could do 60mph is as much a nuissance as tractors on the A19!
Oh and work was really inspiring as well, spent my day programming Unicorn methods, writing protocols and hunting for columns... well it's part of the job and hopefully there are better times to come.
What else, decided to go to the Christkindle course, given I can get the time off (will find out on Monday) and I definitely will not go to the company xmas party this year. To far away for a taxi, hotel's to expensive and I'm to old for sleeping bags on someone elses floor. This combined with the fact that the party can only be endured when drunk to oblivion just makes it a no go.

The session wasn't to hard, as hoped. We did sword techniques all night. Still feels like an alien object in my hands, though it is nice to train with weapons once in a while (it does show the weakness of once body movement, though that's annoying, it does help to improve).
Sensei mentioned that though sword techniques aren't on the syllabus until 3rd Dan, even at shodan level one should develop maybe a dozen techniques to some decent standard. I wonder whether I can introduce some sword or jo waza at the end of the normal training session between black belts. Not sure if that is covered by my instructors insurance...

What a day... back to work and f***ing cold... that more or less sums it up. Not too much going on at work, apart from me sorting out the stuff we need to run through the process in the next weeks.
Flight prices have gone up from Edinburgh to Munich, but I still might go... need to talk to my project leader first, to see if I can take the time of... somewhere my 2 1/2 weeks of leftover holidays need to fit in this year...
Well tonights black belts only night in Perth Green... at least something to look forward to. Hope it not to hard a session after the course on the weekend though.

The course with Master Kimura finished yesterday. On Sunday we had three brown belts taking their Shodan. All passed and got their belts yesterday. As I've written before, I certainely learned a lot over the last couple of days, but it will take time to sink in. It has been a bit of information overload. The Elizabethan Dinner at Lumley Castle on Sunday was fun. Would have expected a little bit more food for the money they charged (and spuds and tomatoes are definitely not within the time period of the setting), but the entertainement that came with it was good (you have to be able to sing as a serving maid...). One of the othere guests need medical attention towards the end, that's been a little bit disruptive, but then, if paramedics are needed, they are needed.
All in all, it has been a good weekend. Tomorrow I'm back to work, at least it's a short week. I'm considering going to the Christkindle course in Steppach (near Augsburg, Germany), beginning of December, but that depends, whether I find enough people to share a car to Edinburgh Airport. Otherwise the flights to Munich would be too expensive (there's no direct flights from Newcastle, unfortunately).

Where were we, it has been quite I while, since I last told you of Derrick. Oh I remember, they were fleeing their home. They were riding hard for two days, only stopping, when the horses needed rest. I don't think, anyone would have been stupid enough to follow them, let alone in such a haste. Swamps are treacherous places, an this one was no difference, if anything, it was worse. One wrong step, and it might swallow you for good. Mav though didn't seem to be bothered. Either he knew his way very well, had some other means helping him, or he must have been plain stupid (But then as with many stupid people he would have been incredibly lucky).
On the morning of the third day they approached a small cottage. Well approach might be the wrong way to describe it. One moment, there was only swamp, and the next moment they entered a sunny meadow with a cottage not too far away. Derrick was too shocked by the sudden change to ask any questions, Mav didn't seem to be bothered at all. It was like he expected this to happen all along.
As they reached the cottage, the door opened and an old lady greeted them. She had white hair, and the wrinkles in her face told of a long and happy life. Still, something about her told Derrick, she was not to be messed about with, and it was better not to have to call her an enemy. Maybe it was just the place, but then, what does a place like this do in the middle of a swamp? The answer was magic. Derrick didn't know anything about magic, but he was soon about to find out.

Today were two more sessions with Master Kimura (7th Dan Aikido). I'm more confused then ever..., don't know how I ever got my black belt. But still it's been a long time since I enjoyed training this much. Time is simply flying by, and before I know, another session is over. I would write a bit about what we had been doing, but I've got such a memory overload, it is hard to sort it all through. We did actually a bit more on the theme of tenkan movements, though we had some irimi techniques as well. Technique wise, it's been more focussed on the pins (Ikkyo, Nikkyo and Sankyo). Well one thing a do remember, the way he was taking on the energy of the uke on an ai hanmi grasp.
The last half hour it was black belts in four groups, while Sensei Emmerson was teaching the kyu grades. I actually got to do some techniques with the Japanese, but not enough to really comment on it. We had a few presentation (roughly one per session so far), and that looked quite good.
At night we had a buffet on and a DVD with footage of Osensei, Master Nocquet and Sensei Emmerson, basically showing the heritage of our organisation back to Osensei. I'll probably by a copy of the DVD, though I have to say, the stills on it are actually better than the video footage. But that might be just me.
Well all in all, it has been a pretty good night. Hope I'll get to write some more of the Storyteller, though I don't think I'll get to that before Monday or Tuesday.

So, tonight's been the first session of the Kimura course everybody has been waiting for since summer. It's been very good 1 1/2 hours. His Aikido is quite similar to ours, though of course if you look at the details you can see how different it is. But then I have to say, I learned an awful lot tonight. There are course, or sometimes even training sessions, that lead to a jump in your insight of things. Coming to Aikido, this course has already the potential to be that for me.
I definitely enjoyed the night. The session was focussed on techniques starting from a tenkan movement (mostly from katate tori, though we also did ude kimi nage from ai hanmi). The techniques were irimi nage, sokomen irimi nage, kote gaeshi, shiho nage, ude kimi nage and sumi otoshi. It was nice, practicing them, using a slightly different angle of approach (it's hard to put into words, though I'd really like to be able to do that, so I could refer to it at a later time).
Haven't trained yet with his 4 ukes, he brought along from Japan, but there will be plenty of opportunity tomorrow. Also there's going to be a buffet. Good chances to get there names again, unfortunately the aircon was to loud when they introduced themselves to us.
All in all I very good course with a lot more to come

Haven't anyone staying at mine on the weekend after all. He's booked himself into a hotel. Probably thought we haven't got enough space for everyone anyway. Well fine with me, saves me a bit on the shopping. Though I have to pay the taxi on Sunday all myself (or keep of the booze, if I'm driving myself.

Mav set out towards the swamp. Derrick had asked, what was going on, but Mav only told him later. They'd visit an old friend of his, some guy called Master Tahira. Derrick never had heard of him and he wondered if was some kind of craftsmen or a scholar. Anyway, Mav was making haste, and as soon as they were maybe half a mile clear of their home, the storm resumed and a lightning struck the little cottage, setting the place alight that had been his home for the last two years.
Mav sighed, "That was close, I should have known Tahira couldn't keep it at bay much longer. But we are clear for now, that's what counts". Derrick wasn't a very good rider, but his horse was obviously used to following Mavs. He couldn't even remember, what their names were. He'd have to ask Mav, later. The storm died abruptly after it had struck the cottage.
"Damn he knows he has hit true. Won't be long until he shows up, we need to get away fast." Mav kicked his horse into a galopp and Derricks followed its lead. He was clinging on desperately just to keep on top.

Ok, this is it, my last work day this week, then I'll be off until Tuesday. So what is there to do today? Another Storyteller post coming up, probably some time tonight. Maybe we'll find out, why Mav and Derrick are fleeing. Not sure yet. Mav's not much of a talker. Also need to go shopping for the weekend. Maybe stuff for breakfast. Won't be in much for the other meals, as I'll be up in Newcastle for the course most of the time. Also there's the buffet on Saturday night, with some DVD footage of Osensei and Master Nocquet. Sunday night, there'll be an Elizabethan Dinner at Lumley castle. Now that's something to look forward to.
Well guess that's it for the day... apart from going to work and get some planning for the time up to Xmas done.

What a day. Daytime TV is so horrible, I'm glad to be back to work tomorrow. No good not having enough to do. Well I managed to finish another chapter in HOMM5 Tribes of the East... only 2 more to go. And I managed to get a hair cut... if that isn't an achievement. Anyway, another hour and a half, and I'll be of to the Aikido advanced class. First time in 3 weeks... work got in the way the last couple of times. Hope it won't be to hard, given the big course coming up on the weekend.

Well, I'm back from training now. It's actually been pretty good. Not too high paced. We've been focussing on Sankyos and Yonkyos (from various attacks, but mostly it's been about precision). Quite a few Germans were here already for the course on the weekend. Of course the one staying at mine hasn't arrived yet, and I still haven't a clue, when he's planning to fly in. But I'll find out soon enough. The first session of the course isn't until Friday night.

Derrick was just about to get warm again, when Mav came in through the door. He went straight to his little room and started to rummage in there. That was so out of character for him, it made Derrick nervous. After what must have been about a quarter of an hour, Derrick came out with two sets of saddlebags. He had his sword and dagger on his belt and he was wearing his chain mail armour. He started the fire in the fireplace again, and went back to his study. That was, when he realised Derrick was awake.
"Good, your up. Get dressed and start packing some food and water. Distribute them between the packs, in case we get separated, we'll be leaving soon."
With that Mav went back to his study, and Derrick heard the rustle of paper and parchment, while he did as he was told, wondering what the hell was going on.
Just as Derrick had finished packing, Mav was coming back into the main room. He had a big stack of scrolls with him, most of which he threw to the fire with a heavy wordless sigh. The rest he stuffed into the saddlebags he claimed for himself. He went back to his study one more time, and came back with his hunting bow and arrows, his old battle shield and a short sword and buckler he gave to Derrick.
"This will do for now, we'll have to teach how to use them while we're underway. Let's get moving, we haven't much time left."
They went outside. There were two horses. Derrick recognised them, they were the horses they'd used to get here two years ago. He'd though Mav had sold them. Obviously he hadn't. And he still hadn't told him what was going on. At least the rain had stopped, but it was still cloudy and very very dark (yes it really should get worse now by tradition, but let's give the heroes a little respite, before they get into the thick of it).

Still haven't figured out fully, how this works, but it seems like I'm getting the hang of it. Maybe this is keeping me occupied on boring days like this. Or maybe I should just get a life outside of work and Aikido... can't cope with to much spare time. Well, still have a book to finish... book 3 of the Liveship traders. If you ask me, the Assassins Aprentice and the Tawny Man trilogies of Robin Hobb are better.
Well, once I've finished this one, I'll probably go for Empress by Karen Miller.
Looking forward now to Friday, when the Course with Master Kimura starts. First time, I'm on a course by a 7th Dan. Hope this is going to be good.

Oh well, I'm the storyteller, so I guess I should start telling a story. Well, let's start with the setting of this adventure. It was night, it always is, nobody expects an adventure to start by day, that just wouldn't be right. Ok, it was night, actually it was a pretty dark night. The reason for that was the big thunderstorm outside (it therefore wasn't dark all the time, but we will have to put up with this, as it adds nicely to the overall atmosphere). The clouds were blocking out the stars and the moon was at its darkest. The the stormwind was pressing the rain against the window. The window was no more than a black hole in the wall, covered with well greased leather, that was bulging into the room. The room itself was dark, the fire had been banked a long time ago and the cheap grease lamps had been snuffed out a long time ago.
This room made up most of the little hovel Derrick was living in. There was only one other small room, Mavs bedroom and study, off limits to Derrick. Mav had taken him in about 2 years ago, when his mother had died. She had been working in Lord Ulgars castle as a kitchen maid, before she fell in. Mav had been some kind of guard or other there, until he retired around the time his mother died. They moved here to this awful spot at the edge of a swamp (you gotta have a swamp in an adventure) then. Why Mav would burden himself with a lad 6 years old (well he's 8 now of course...) noone could guess, but he did. Maybe he had mercy with the young orphan, that didn't even know who his father was. Maybe he should be glad to have been away from the castle, where the children teased him with the rumours of his beget. Some said, his mother had had an affair with one of the nobles, others said, she'd been raped... those were the nicer ones. There were also those who said his mother'd been whoring around, and in fact, that was what she was still doing. He hated that with a vengeance.
Derrick got up and grabbed his cloak, it wasn't a fancy one, but good quality (not that you could make that out now, it's still dark, and the bit of lightning, dimmed by the leather skin... really it isn't enough). Anyway he put on the coat and carefully opened the door. He was on his way outside to close the shutter of the window, before the wind blew the leather in. The storm was getting worse, thunder was well thundering, and at the precise moment, when he opened the door, a tree some 100 yards away was struck by lightning and burst into flame. It wasn't the only tree burning it looked more, like the lightning had done some target practising, but of course that couldn't be. After all, lightning is just a natural phenomenom, that strikes statistically, or is it? Well we might come bak to this later on. For now, all that's been on Derricks mind was to get the wooden shutters closed, though he was impressed by the burning trees. He braved the storm and went outside barefooted and closed the shutters, then he went back in, shook out the coat and placed it over a chair to dry. Then he went to his bed, well straw pallet on the floor and blanket, in the hopes to get some sleep