[Northkeep] Chemin Noir's event

[Hugh & Belinda Niewoehner]

  To echo His Excellency's words, if you weren't there you missed yet 
another great event from the folks of Chemin Noir.  They always present 
the most imaginative and fun events and this year was no exception.  An 
example that truly impressed me:

Instead of calling up their former champions, one by one and having them 
hand in their regalia and then calling the new ones to receive them, 
they wove a charming tale which included their Champions.   As each 
outgoing Champion's name occurred in the story line, he/she brought 
forth the regalia and placed it before the thrones.  When a new 
Champion's name came up in the story he/she came forward to claim the 
regalia.  It worked like a beautiful dance--a refreshing addition to court!

Something else I liked was the idea of name cards at feast.  As you 
reserved feast you could request to be seated with a group of friends.  
However, you could also choose to let them seat you (which we did).  
Since my husband was, regrettably, unable to attend, I especially 
appreciated the fact that I would not have to feel awkward about asking 
to join a table (yes, of course, I received invitations from dear 
friends).  But, I thought, if I were a new person this arrangement would 
have made me feel much less nervous.

Thank you again, Chemin Noir for another exceptional event.  
Congratulations to the Autocrat, Lady Eve, who overcame obstacles 
imposed upon her by last minute changes from the site and I'm sure a 
million other annoying problems inherent to running any event.  If she 
had not told me, I would never have known anything had ever gone amiss 
since from the outside the whole event ran beautifully.

I know many of you, like my husband, had no choice but to miss this 
event.  Hopefully, next year you will be able, because I'm sure our 
Canton will again amaze us.

Ismet