[Ansteorra] My thanks for all who helped in Stargate Yule Revel's feast

[Gerald Norris]

Greetings.

I am HL Gerald of Leesville, and I would like to thank those who helped in
making Stargate's Yule Feast a good memory of a good event.

There were a good number of people who helped throughout the day, but there
were several who were in the kitchen most of the entire day, and to them I
wish to extend my most heartfelt thanks.

Lady Melanie, who came in early in the day and left after the serving was
done, peeled turnips for the first time, and generally was ready to help
with any task that needed doing.

Lady Kemma, an accomplished cook herself, who charged into the kitchen and
easily translated my requests into action.  With her "knife-of-sharpness"
she was easily queen of the turnip peelers!

Lord William, who got caught up into the whole kitchen-vortex thing and
stayed the whole day.  Together, we relaxed chickens ("They're dead, Jim!"),
peeled turnips, stuffed meat, and did all these things and more with a good
will and a quick and helpful hand.

To my bean-snapping crew (Ld Ambrose (Fo), Leofrin, Ciarnet, Angela, and a
young lord who's name I can't remember), thank you.  I walked out back and
watched you guys for a minute, and I was reminded of my younger days at
home.  You were all working and having a good time.

For my server coordinators; Ldy Caitlin (Head table) and Ld Andrew (Server
coordinator), both of whom worked with me to get the food out as fast as
possible to everyone.

For the servers; there were so many of you that I would be lying if I told
you I could remember all your names and for that I'm heartily sorry.  I
would like to thank you all for having patience with me during the serving
time, and, more importantly, helping me to solve problems during the serving
as they came up (All of you helped to contribute, and did a wonderful job;
my goal was to have the feast served in 30 minutes, and you were all speedy
about the task, helping to prepare the serving trays as well as serving
them).  I hope you all had fun while doing the job so well.

My clean-up coordinator was Lord Dolphin, who gathered together a goodly
number of people and was in during the day to help with the much-needed
taking out of trash, cleaning pots and pans, etc.  It was a great help to
know that the cleaning of the kitchen was in capable hands.

My dessert cooks; Rose and Jeff Catham.  In every feast that I have been a
part of, you two have been in the kitchen, helping.  From slicing, to
preparing the plates, you both have been there on just about every occasion
that I can remember.  The bread pudding and sauces that you made Saturday
were an excellent ending to a fine meal.  Thank you, Rose, for the suggested
change from a custard of some type, and thank you both for helping in the
kitchen through the day.

Finally, I would like to thank Ld Vaclav Namatko, known by many as "Random".
A few years ago, Vaclav built a large wood-burning hearth for cooking meats
in a period style, which has been used in quite a few feasts in the
surrounding "Greater Loch-Ravens-Gate-March" area.  Saturday he brought the
hearth and cooked 40 chickens using a period-style recipe.  He worked all
day, tending the hearth, turning the chickens (with the help of Ld.
Ambrose), and allowed me to present to table some very tasty birds.

There are surely names I've left out, and for that I humbly apologize.  My
work philosophy, in general, is that what we do should be enjoyable, and I
try to make sure that those who are working with me are having a good time
while they're doing whatever they're doing.  Towards the end of the day I
saw many tired faces, but they still had the energy for a smile, and for
each problem that came up they presented solutions instead of panic.  For
all who served, or served in the kitchen, know that you did the job well and
true.  My thanks, once again.

In service to the dream with a song in my heart, I am
HL Gerald of Leesville
Title bard of Loch Soillier
A bard of Stargate
Kingdom Ansteorra