Memory lane is an interesting place… It exists in all of us, yet it’s never the same. Like a generic street name that turns up in virtually every suburb, it’s always there, but sometimes hard to find. At times you find yourself hopelessly lost on those cobbled back lanes of the past, wandering aimlessly revelling in the sites and sounds that surround you.

Since participating in the SCA again, I have found myself wondering those cobbles a lot. It may seem strange for someone like me, who was always on the fringe to dwell on brief memories of fleeting SCA involvement, a feast here, festival there, and even the odd armouring day and fighter training, but dwell I do. Maybe the ghost of regret haunts me… regret for not being involved back then, all those years ago.

I’ve lost track of how many years it’s been since I was first introduced to the SCA. I was hooked, but being introduced by someone who was not part of a household, and not knowing anyone, I felt like an outsider. My friends involvement was always fleeting, a feast here and there only. He wasn’t that interested in fighting, and didn’t really get involved that much, so I had no-one to go with who I knew. My life changed… I moved over-sea’s (stupidly I should have chased up the SCA over there), and basically work and socialising took over. The SCA became a memory for a few years longer…

I have resolved to draw a map to Memory Lane, well at least the SCA part of it. I would like to drag up the old memories, and thank those that helped to try and drag me in.

Stay tuned for Part II…