Having nightmares

[Greenman]

Daughter and I were quite happily minding our own business at a Woodland Festival, we were dressed in 17th century costume as Archers, when a rather attractive Press Photographer asked if she could take a photo. As I was feeling unphotogenic at the time I said no, but I didn't think Emma would mind. So Emma picks up her Scythian and an arrow. The Photographer asked Emma to draw the bow, she was to the right and at 45 degrees to Emma and knelt down, she took a couple of pictures then asked Emma to aim the arrow down the camera lens! Emma was still at full draw, and the arrow was a particuly sharp pointy one.At this point I rather rapidly stepped in and told Emma to put the bow down. I then took the time to rather graphically described what would have happened if Emma's fingers had slipped, I think she got the idea. I blame all these Robin Hood Trailers, but the thought of what could have happened....

[Rik]

I have a friend with an 'interesting' scar on his forehead. He's a living history participant and one day during battle practice he exhorted one of his archer friends to 'bounce one of my helmet!'... I understand that the emergency room put down "walked into a door" on the report sheet, when told what the cause of the injury was.

Lucky really that the spec on the 'battle' bows is 30lb and rubber blunts...