Memories round the Fire...
I will always remember the times myself and my family spent around the camp fire, whether it was for the usual supper, or a special gathering such as Midsummer's Day. These events, which occurred but once a year were deemed special as this was when we would celebrate with a large gathering consisting of the entire encampment. We would set up camp fires in and around and visit each others to share stories, food, drink, or to simply spend time with one another.
There would be music, merriment, and laughter to be had by all. The women of the camp, including my mother would provide food for us all. My special favorite would be roasted coney along with the various vegetables that had been either harvested by ourselves, or stolen when the men had gone out on their raids.
The children of the camp, including myself would play games running and hiding inbetween the camps tents, and ruins were we had set the camps. We would also play in the nearby trees of Chetwood. Oh how I have such fond memories of a time long gone by. My father, I always remember, would take out his lute and play tunes for us all along with some of the other men in the camp. Good times they were, good times indeed.
I shall always remember my last such time together as a family. I would be 15 years in age by summer reckoning. My mother along with some of the other women had cooked all the food. Men would be pouring ale and other refreshment from barrels, which I had guessed had probably been stolen from the various raids they would do, or from the odd traveler whom had ventured to close to us.
My father had played his lute, along with some of the others. It was later that evening he would tell me he was going away with Jagger and some of the others in what he would only describe as "a job". He would not tell even my mother as to where, or what, they would be up to.
I would not see him again for nigh on what would seem an age. For the best part of what would be nearly a year I would sit by our supper fire and wonder as to where he would be, what he may be doing, and so on.
