Today is the last day of the festival, the most taxing day of all. Not only do we–for some reason I’ve forgotten–do four combat shows on Saturday, rather than three, but when it’s done tonight we tear down our camp and pack our vehicles for the trip home tomorrow.

One traditional aspect of Viking events for me is wondering (as I leave for the destination) what (not if I have, but what) I’ve forgotten. This year my big mistake was a conscious one. Conscious but stupid.

For years people have told me that I tend to overpack. So as I was leaving the house, I started to pick up my brief case and said to myself, “I don’t need this. I’ve got my laptop case. Don’t need both.”

Wrong, of course. I’d forgotten that the brief case held 1) some information on our next event that I was supposed to give to some people, and 2) the DVD of my book trailer, which I could have run on a continuous loop for advertising, if I’d thought to bring it.

As for my success in fighting, not very good. Didn’t win a single bout yesterday. Despite what Ragnar always says, youth and speed do frequently defeat old age and treachery.