"Yes, Ragnar Lodbrok, I am afraid. But not for me. I am afraid for my boat..."

So with this being a horrible day(weatherwise), I spent some time working on a slightly off topic blog only to log on and realise my last blog saved as a draft instead of publishing. So here it is, a bit late but better than never ;)

A couple of weeks ago for my birthday, I convinced my motley crew of friends to take the day off and enjoy Ireland in a way most tourists never experience it...on a blissfully sunny day! Seriously, the 1st of October was a day nicer than any day during the summer this year. Being the birthday "shield maiden", I got to decide our activities for the day and despite a bit of initial hesitation the day didn't disappoint.
Road trips are the modern day equivalent of a Viking voyage. Think about it! You gather together your merry band of friends to go to pastures new(think Ragnar Season 1 talking the boys into heading Wesht) to see what can be seen, to hear what is to be heard and for whatever other mischief can be had along the way. Mind you, not so much about the pillaging these days though!
With all onboard, we headed for Blessington, Co. Wicklow. The drive alone with it's amazing views(or to quote one Mr. Clive Standen, "stunning vistas") was worth the trip. No wonder they chose Wicklow as their main location for shooting the series.
These road trips/expeditions also serve as a bit of a team building/trust exercise where one learns new things about their group of friends. For instance, when your friend(ahem, Peter) tells you he has a fear of open water, he means it in a general sense not just a swimming sense...So when you go ahead and book a boating excursion for the day and he willingly goes along with it, it serves as a measure of just how much your friends trust you despite their crippling fear. Poor Peter was so nervous he was literally clutching the sides of our vessel with a death grip until he got used to it. We also learned that while Darren is a good skipper(and a little too fond of being called Captain), when it comes to rowing, his dreams of Olympic Gold won't be realised as he'll never be making our National Team. And Tara's just a good sport in general as you'll see below. Also, she's quite the Kate Winslet impersonator as it turns out. There may have been a few Titanic moments that may also have included a rendition of My Heart Will Go On that the guys may never forgive us for...but that's a different blog altogether.

Before you go right ahead and view the vlog, here's a couple of things to note:
*Unfortunately due to some colourful language used by one of our crew(ahem, Tara and Darren), this video is unsuitable for viewers under 16.
*The challenges of taking on the role of director, producer, narrator, improvisational script writer, prop manager, location scout, talent manager, casting director, animal handler, stunt coordinator, director of photography, camera woman and co-star may have lead to a lack of visual finesse(aka a considerable amount of time with the camera pointed at a bridge that at no point throughout Season 1 to 3 features in Vikings in any way, shape or form, despite the amazing landscape around us that was far more picturesque).
*No dragons, sheep or fish were harmed during filming.
* I'd also like to take a moment to pay tribute to a vital member of our team that sadly didn't make it back to shore with us, Mappie. Last seen drifting downward to the bottom of Blessington Lake Siggy/Jessalyn Gilsig-stylee(ahem, Tara....this also may or may not have been the cause for the aforementioned My Heart Will Go On outburst), despite a heroic effort to save it that Darren reckons came close to me falling face first into the lake. Lies! I just do my own stunts. I had the situation well in hand.

  

This is the last picture of Mappie taken roughly an hour before it's watery demise. Happier times. R.I.P Mappie

* Lastly, I'd like to thank the good people of Blessington Boat Hire. They are great to deal with and very friendly. I highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for something a little bit different to do on a sunny day. It's a great way to see the area at your own leisure or if you like a spot of fishing. There's also loads of little sandy areas to pull in, hop out and have a little picnic.

  

#LikeAViking

Title Quote: Season 1 Episode 2 Wrath of the Northmen

Floki to Ragnar

"You're too late! You missed the boat..."

Speaking of boats, for my birthday we went for a little road trip to one of the locations where they shoot Vikings! It just so happened to be the nicest day of the year and perfect for a spot of long boating...kinda!
There's a full video to follow but I thought I'd tease it with a little blooper from our first take...it'll make sense of a lunge Tara does in the full video :)

Title Quote: Season 1 Episode 3 Dispossessed

Ragnar to Knut

"Let the man who thinks he is descended from the gods, learn that he ishuman after all..."

I thought for this blog I'd back track a little and take you through the latter stages of the shield making process that I kind of skipped over. Last time I left off just as Happy Viking Carpentry Ltd(that would be dad and myself) had distributed the labour equally between us. So whilst dad was doing the dangerous tasks of measuring(yes it's dangerous! There's splinters and such) and sawing, I got all arts and crafts with some of the more aesthetical aspects of the shields.

First up was sourcing some thick weave black canvas to cover and strengthen the front surface. It's not as easy as you'd think to come by. But Threads of Green in Kilkenny got me sorted and at a reasonable price. We hummed and hawed over whether to actually cover the wood because the grain was so unique and we thought it would look really good with just a stained finish. In the long run, because of the design idea I had for the front of my shield, we used the canvas. And before anyone says anything about my apparel in the picture, yes, the pink heart shape pj bottoms are official Viking/Carpentry wear!

My concept for the front of the shield was quite simple. I wanted to replicate Lagertha's shield but invert the colours. It was partly to do with the canvas being black and it would be less messy to only have to paint the V design on top. But also because there are a lot of replicas of that shield and I wanted something unique. A one of a kind. I also had the idea of incorporating the Vikings TV show logo into the design. So I got busy making a stencil to avoid doing an awful free hand attempt and messing up the whole thing. I'm happy to say that despite having to make use of a scalpel to cut the stencil, I still have all my digits. Whoop whoop for small victories. It's still high fives all round :)
The next stage was staining the wood that we'd prepped by sanding. To

preface this section I think it's important to note that my dad's garage is like a DIY/Handiman's heaven. It's an emporium of random but useful things that have been collected over an entire lifetime. For example, I was informed the screws that secure the boss to the shield are originally from a washing machine that was being scrapped. Too good to just get rid of the whole thing, dad dissembled what was worth holding onto to repurpose for something in the future...so that's the story behind the screws. However, I've had to question my entire relationship with my father over this next phase of production. When it came to the task of staining the wood he was pretty insistent I hold off on my shopping trip to Woodies to allow him time to see was there anything of use in the garage(because this one time at band camp he needed wood stain for something so it was a safe bet he had something lying around). I kid you not, the man emerged clutching a tin of mahogany wood stain that may very well be from the Viking era! With a nostalgic gleam in his eye he recounted fondly that it was more than likely older than I am...I think he's more proud of that wood stain than he's ever been of me hahaha. And though it is 30+ years old, it did the trick.

The next step was attaching the canvas. Possibly the trickiest part of the whole thing. Mainly because we were using fibreglass resin which hardens really quickly so we had to be efficient and meticulous when applying the canvas to make sure we got it secured right and to eliminate air pockets. Oh and it stinks! Once that dried, I got to work painting on the design. In hindsight, I probably should have been wearing a mask because between the resin and paint fumes it would not have been advisable for me to be operating heavy machinery or anything for that matter. Fume intoxification aside, it had no bearing on how the painting turned out. I was pretty happy with it(even if I had to tidy up some parts with a black sharpie...).
And then disaster struck...

One faithful evening as I was in work(aka the day before I left for The Big Viking Picnic), I received a phone call from dad...he had varnished the shield bosses! Now this would have been grand had it been clear varnish...But no, this was tinted varnish that turned my lovely bosses a goldish colour...which completely made pointless the time I spent searching for shiny silver ones that would go so well with the blue paint I was using to design the front of the shields. Happy Viking Carpentry Ltd became Disgruntled Viking and Repenting Viking Carpentry Ltd for a little while and was very nearly forced to close up shop. But as it turned out it didn't look TOO bad. In fact, I left one shield completely black and the boss looks great!

In total, we estimated the cost per shield averaged out at about €65 and that's excluding our labour.
But as they say: Getting your handcrafted, one of a kind shield signed by Travis Fimmel...priceless!
For everything else, there's MasterCard.

#LikeAViking

Title Quote: Season 1 Episode 5 Raid

Earl Haraldson 

"I say yes. I will fight with you..."

Now that things have settled down after an epic weekend(yes, I know we are on the cusp of another weekend but that is how hectic my week has been since getting back to modern civilisation), I finally have a moment to update you all.

I had the utmost pleasure of spending my weekend in Grove Gardens, Meath helping out at the Big Viking Picnic in aid of Aoibheann's Pink Tie. If you attended, that was me ushering you into our lovely car parking field(with Tara on the hill doing her best Braveheart impressions to catch your attention as to where to locate your vehicle). I'm delighted to say the event was a resounding success with over €20,000 raised so far and further funds to be collected through items donated to the Picnic that will be auctioned off online.

It takes special people to come up with the concept of such an event(as a standalone festival this was always going to be a lot of fun) but, with such kindness and generosity of spirit to partner with a children's cancer charity as a nonprofit, it gives you a sense of the goodness in the people who organised such a

day. And you need look no further than main organisers, Natasha White and Marta Jadach. It was an honour to work along side you both and even more so now to call you friends. What they achieved with this festival is beyond impressive. It took a Herculean effort to bring such an idea to fruition let alone pull it off with no major hiccups. And they thought of EVERYTHING!

Around every corner, and in each nook and cranny, there was something to draw your attention. Whether it was the intricate crafts for sale or the sword fighting demonstrations hidden away by the Viking settlement, to the presence of Kíla, the imposing but friendly Irish Wolfhound. And that's not even mentioning the wealth of talent that graced the stage or field(very nearly became an accidental extra in one group's performance of Michael Jackson's Thriller such was their stealth at flash mobbing) or the worryingly realistic SFX wounds being inflicted upon willing attendees. If a refreshing beverage was what you were after to quench your battle earned thirst, Ragnar's Inn was the place to be to pull up a straw bale and sip a Brú craft beer or cider before heading back out to the masses for a record breaking shield wall around the real star of the weekend...the Ardglass Vikings longboat, Skiðblaðnir. Everything on display or on offer helped set the atmosphere for the weekend with everyone getting into the spirit of things(thank you to the kind lady who brought us water in the car park. You'll never know how much we appreciated it!). The effort that everyone went to putting together their outfits and shields. Entire families in matching costumes. It really was an amazing spectacle and the culmination of months of planning and fine tuning.

I also had the honour of meeting charity founder, Jimmy Norman, whose tireless efforts to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer in his daughter's name are as remarkable as they are heartwarming. I've seen first hand how much support he offers to families going through such hard times. The calming and welcoming effect he has when talking to kids and adults alike. This man and this charity are making a real difference in a time when budgets and support are being cut all around. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. I'm proud to say I support the work they do and would encourage anyone else to support them in whatever way they can. Little things are often the big things and it all makes a difference.
Though initially attending as a member of the press(sorta), I'm happy myself and fellow Viking Tara involved ourselves as volunteers, mucking in wherever help was needed. To see the reaction of the festival goers to the set up, entertainment and trade vendors was better than any question I could have asked Vikings actors Travis Fimmel and Alexander Ludwig who attended the event. Even better than that was getting to spend time with some of the kids and their families who have been battling this illness so bravely. Hearing their experiences and how Jimmy through Aoibheann's Pink Tie has helped them, I got a sense of just how big an impact this fundraiser was going to have on so many people. What struck me the most was the hope and happiness of those we spoke to. It really was an unforgettable experience in every way.
And then two Vikings showed up in the hospitality area reserved for the children and families of St. John's Ward Crumlin. Little smiles appeared on tiny faces as they got to spend a bit of time and have a chat with charity ambassador, Travis, and his co star, Alexander. In that time, you got a sense of the men that these much loved actors are. Moments after having my picture taken with Alexander he was thanking everyone within range personally for showing up and supporting the cause. Both took the time to speak with those gathered and ask the correct spelling of names before putting Sharpie to shield or poster(or cleavage in one case! Just to clarify, NOT MINE.). Later, out in the main event area, they both took their time trying to ensure everyone got their little moment with them whether it was a picture or something signed or both. Upon being gifted with a pendant specially designed by Gall Gael Crafts for the Big Viking Picnic, Travis refused to accept it as a gift and instead paid for it. And in another moment of trying to spend as much time with those who had waited to meet them(filming ran late that day and so they were a bit behind arriving to the festival) they both ignored the requests to stay on the main stage for photos and jumped straight into the gathered group of kids, warriors and shield maidens to get in the spirit of things and pose for any event photos that were to be taken.
And then all too soon it was over. We all would have done it all over again the next morning if we could have. The armor(newfound respect for the cast and extras moving around in those things for long hours on set...I've done my practise. I'm waiting for that call!), the camping(in fairness we practically had a three bed semidetached house for the two of us compared to some of the other two man tent setups), the camp site sessions with the Ardglass Vikings(Grandpa Pad's Homebrew Sloe Gin until all hours of the morning) and the countless laps of the festival site helping out and taking it all in. Same again next year? ;)

#LikeAViking #BigVikingPicnic #AoibheannsPinkTie #FightLikeAChild

Title Quote: Season 1 Episode 9 All Change
Rollo to Jarl Borg

"Sometimes the gods put things like this in front of us as some kind of test..."

It's been a busy few weeks for this particular Viking-in-training! There's been a birth(a new little Maori Leprechaun niece who has already stolen hearts), an illness(seriously, whatever was in that Barrow River water I accidentally swallowed at Christmas has completely compromised my immune system...I never get sick), paid a visit to a young ginger gentleman by the name of Ed Shearan who rocked our national GAA stadium like no one else with just his voice, a guitar and a loop pedal and a few extra shifts of overtime that I was unexpectedly called in to cover. Nonetheless, I have been busy with my Viking activities but I haven't had the time to keep you all updated with my transition...to Viking, that is(no Caitlyn Jenner style makeovers here)! So I'm back and I'm sorry for not being more active on the blog over the last couple of weeks. Let's get on with it, shall we?
In preparation for the Big Viking Picnic later this month(more on that later), I've been getting my wood work on and honing my carpentry skills #LikeAViking. Because everybody knows, Vikings were good with wood. Now, I'm not going to lie, I didn't go down the authentic Floki route by going out into the wilds of the Irish countryside tapping trees and "seeing" the planks that would be suitable for building my very own Viking shield worthy of any shield wall. (Well I did but even my closest of friends thought I was bonkers and doubted my ability of actually cutting down a tree. And then there was the consideration of wood wastage...never waste good wood!)Nope, I frequented my local mill in search of the finest 1/2 inch thick plywood money could buy. Marched on in there like I've been a carpenter for years and knew exactly what I was looking for. Checked each piece that they showed me for faults like a pro...just as the YouTube video instructed me to.
I was very optimistic of going all lone wolf, strong, independent shieldmaiden about making my shield all by myself. That was right up until dad suggested he oversee the project and told me to go get the jigsaw...he saw fit to step in and take the lead on the carpentry side of things when I returned with one of my nephew's 120 piece Disney puzzles and not a saw. I think he was also alarmed at the fact I'd fallen over carrying said jigsaw box and managed to sustain quite a significant cardboard cut(not even a saw blade in sight at this point and already injured #VikingInjuryNo2). On the basis of my penchant for high fives and the likelihood of me lobbing off a finger(high four doesn't exactly have the same ring to it), I reluctantly/happily agreed to the help. I felt it was important to note the aid of my dad in the making of this shield before anyone thought the masculine, hairy arms in the photos are mine. So whilst much of the cutting out/utilisation of sharp, electrical equipment was outsourced, I got fully involved with the sanding and staining process. I also assumed the role of Principle Photographer for this phase of the shield making by Happy Viking Carpentry Ltd(yup, we gave ourselves a snazzy moniker as all self respecting duos do).
The next phase will be attaching the canvas and steel boss at the front, as well as some creative artwork. But I'll post about that when we have that part done.
Earlier I mentioned the Big Viking Picnic. If you aren't aware, it's a charity event for all the family in aid of children's cancer charity, Aoibheann's Pink Tie. It's being held in Grove Gardens, Fordstown, Co Meath on Saturday, 29th August. It boasts a great selection of entertainment for all the family including live music, Viking settlements and longship, authentic skilled crafts, reenacters, SFX makeup, and charity ambassador, Travis Fimmel, making an appearance along with some of his other cast mates. I'm delighted to say I've been asked to come onboard to help out on the day and give my full support to this amazing event and charity initiative. Anyone looking for tickets should follow this link. They are also looking for anyone who would be interested in volunteering at the event. Please follow this link if you would be interested. Hope to see some of you there! And fear not my American readers, it has just been announced that you will be getting a sister event being held in the USA. I'll post details when I hear more. #FightLikeAChild

Til next time :)
#LikeAViking

Title Quote: Series 1 Episode 9 All Change
Ragnar to Björn

SEASON 4 TRAILER IS HERE!

It's here! It's here! Can't contain excitement! May have had a moment of incontinence as a result! ;)

#LikeAViking

"Our whole lives are just stories..."

WARNING: Should you continue to read the rest of this particular blog post, I cannot be held accountable if you can never view "Vikings" in the same way again!

Going to level with you. This post has absolutely zero per cent got to do with anything regarding my 'training' to become an extra on History's Vikings. No, this is by far my most random post and a little out there, but bare with me, it will provide a giggle or two when you realise it's quite accurate. Confused yet?
Back in the day, the Sagas and legends of the Vikings were passed along by skalds and their poetry. Preserving(and possibly taking serious artistic license) the heroes and villains, Kings and warriors, and rights and wrongs of their society and history. And by word of mouth at that! Nothing was written down. Entire accounts of people and events were dependent on how much a skaldic poet was being paid, how creative he/she was and how much they liked you(and probably how much mead had been consumed too...to be fair). They were the Michael Hirst's and Walt Disney's of their day...without the multimillion budgets, animation/CGI skills, crew of hundreds and leading men and ladies to bring it all to life...but you get the picture.
These dudes and dudettes were inspired by the living history around them. Either f'row on the battle field taking in all the action, or front and centre on stage providing light entertainment for the gathered masses. Recounting the valiant blow by blow heroic victory of his or her employer, or ridiculing the dismal or nonexistent display of gallantry by the losing force. Their job was to be inspired!
Eventually a record of these tales was kept. Thank you Mr Snorri Sturluson. And it is that, along with other accounts, that inspired Michael Hirst to bring to life the Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok and his many sons...
Sitting in on a rainy day watching Disney movies with my little nephew I couldnt help but notice a couple of storyline/theme parallels with my favourite TV show of all time. Maybe it was the lack of fresh air from sitting in out of the rain in the middle of the day. Maybe it was the lack of vitamin D from having the curtains closed pretending we're in the cinema. Maybe it was the third cup of coffee I'd consumed in two hours in a vein attempt to keep up with the energy levels of a six year old, whose energy stores would only be comparable to that of an energiser bunny who main lines skittles and Red Bull all day. But whatever it was, my mind had gone to an altered state of realisation. Michael Hirst is undeniably inspired by the greatest saga of all time...

THE LION KING!

FLOKI/RAFIKI

The eccentric, spiritual one, with a penchant for face paint and a bit of a tree fetish!

ROLLO/SCAR

A serious case of fraternal jealousy going on, and a hunger for recognition and power that leads him to stoop to drastic measures to achieve his ambitions.

RAGNAR/MUFASA

Intelligent and just. Family is the most important thing to him, even his selfish brother. Revered by all. Will go to great lengths to protect his family and kin.

BJÖRN/SIMBA
Impatient to prove himself as a worthy ruler. Foolish in the face of adversity and 'Just cannot wait to be king'(Be honest, you sang that last bit, didn't you!?!).

ATHELSTAN/ZAZU

The reserved, well travelled one. Adviser, friend and confidante to the King. Not best liked by the King's brother.

LAGERTHA/SARABI

Alpha female, mother and equal counterpart to her King. Not to mention the 'what's going on there?' relationship with her husband's brother!

PORUNN/NALA

The love interest of the righteous heir to the thrown but wants to prove she is more than an equal to her male counterparts.

THORSTEIN & ARNE/THIMONE & PUMBA

Good time boys extolling their own unique perspective of the ways of the world to a young impressionable future leader. Not the most well adjusted of individuals but charming and carefree in their own way(Hakuna Matata!).

I did warn you! I told you it was a bit out there. But good luck watching Vikings in the future without your subconscious flitting back and forth between the comparisons!
In other news, I did tell some friends I'd give them a mention for their Twitter account. So give some love to the ladies of TeamStanden. Your one stop shop for all things relating to Clive Standen. He seems to be a bit of a fan of the account himself judging by the retweets! #Standenites

#LikeAViking

TITLE QUOTE: Season 1 Episoode 7 A King's Ransom
Lagertha to husband and wife seeking council about their child

"Stay strong! Be ready"

I don't know if Vikings were patient! Ragnar certainly has quite a long fuse when he is being tested. And I'm learning that it is indeed a virtue. As you've probably guessed, I'm still awaiting a call back...checks phone...no new messages...continues blogging...Still feeling optimistic though. Maybe foolishly so, but I keep telling myself that they said they were looking for 8,000 extras, they are shooting right up to December this year and Season 4 is twice the size of the three previous. That probably means it's going to be bigger, better and bloodier so they'll be needing plenty of people to wield axes, play dead and pet goats(there has to be some sort of running joke with the goats since they seem to get way more screen time than any other livestock, right!?! Anyone else notice that?) So I shall continue my preparation and pretend to be patient.
Speaking of Season 4, the cast will be attending San Diego Comic Con and revealing a Season Trailer. Season 4 doesn't hit screens until early 2016...ooh, they are good at this whole creating suspense and intrigue malarkey. Not the only one suffering from a spot of impatience now, am I loyal reader?!? (Just gonna take a moment and say hi! Thank you for checking in on my blog. Hope you're enjoying it and life finds you well today)

Maybe you've been living under a rock. Or maybe you've been raiding foreign lands recently on what some might call a holiday. So maybe you didn't hear about the Big Viking Festival being held in Grove Gardens, Fordstown, Co. Meath on 29th August. It's a pretty cool idea by some fans of the show FOR fans of the show(or even if you're not a fan of the show. In which case, really? Are you serious? Why not? Why are you reading this? Let's talk it out. We can binge watch all 3 seasons together. After that, I'll just get you to write a 20,000 word thesis on it and we'll see if we can get your TV viewing priorities sorted out. OK?) They will travel by foot and longboat, wheeled horse and steel winged bird to attend. It promises to be a fun filled day with live music, special effects makeup artists on hand to give you battle wounds, demonstrations, a Viking Village and not one but 2 Guinness World Record attempts. And if that doesn't sound fun enough, they also encourage everyone to dress like a Viking...I've already booked my camping tickets!

It's all in aid of a charity that is doing amazing work for children suffering from cancer and supporting their families as they fight against this horrible illness together. Aoibheann's Pink Tie is the beneficiary of all funds raised by the event. In May of this year charity founder and spokesperson, Jimmy Norman, was named the Pride of Ireland Fundraiser of the Year Award Winner for his Herculean efforts to provide any sort of financial and emotional support to families in need. Recently, Vikings leading man, Travis Fimmel, was announced as an ambassador for the charity. Mr. Norman has big plans for the foundation with ambitions to help families in need all over the globe. Tickets for the event are on sale now. Get them while you still can, I believe they are selling fast. In true Viking community spirit, everyone should support this worthy cause in whatever way they can.
In preparation for the Viking Festival, myself and a couple of friends ventured forth on a perilous expedition to Slane. If you were there, you know the amount of mud that was created by the torrential rain we had that day. I feel like I should get a medal or at least a tshirt that reads, I SURVIVED THE HILL AT SLANE 2015. Not many did. Many the inappropriately shoed man or lady couldn't quite keep their footing whilst making their way through a sea of revellers on the unforgiving gradient of the natural amphitheatre landscape of the grounds of the castle in the Boyne Valley region of Meath. Despite the pity that was felt by onlookers as they watched others meet their muddy fate, there were a distinct few victims who brought a heartfelt tear to the eye of the wisely shoed around them. For it was many the just bought, over priced, never graced the lips of its owner, 4-pint-plastic-carriers of beer that were unceremoniously laid to rest as puddles in the foot prints that marked the struggle of where their owners had fought qto keep upright in a bid to carry back liquid gold hydration to one's kin folk.

Despite that being a harsh lesson for some to learn, our biggest lesson came in the form of building our dwelling for the weekend. We had thought of everything. Cooler boxes of food, beverages, sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, air mattresses, camping chairs, sunglasses, any amount of possible medical supplies you might need for a weekend in the elements. We also arrived with the flashest tent for three people I'd ever seen. For all intents(possible pun most definitely intended) and purposes it was a three room detached. There were rooms and windows. A front and a back door. Raining outside? Everyone could bring their camping chairs inside  and continue to enjoy a beverage in our lounge!

The only problem was that this was borrowed and therefore came with no instructions...not even a picture to help us along the way to decipher what it should even look like. We took it out of its bag and pretty much unfolded it for 20 minutes as onlookers rolled their eyes at our cluelessness. Apparently, it's standard practice to have a run through of how to set up your tent before you arrive onsite. But where's the fun in that? That's not very Viking! True Vikings would wing it. However winging it didn't quite work out for us. So eventually, with the aid of four other individuals we got it up(the tent...mind out of the gutter!). That's despite a tantrum or two, a tirade of expletives, a nap and one of the group suffering an existential crisis 5 minutes into construction....that may or may not have been me freaking out over an entire line of tent poles that were pretty important to the actual functionality of our tent. And they may or may not have been found perfectly present and still in the bag we took everything out of. But at least now we are fully capable of setting up camp #LikeAViking

Title Quote: Season 1 Episode 5 Raid
Lagertha to Björn

"It is only death..."

Apologies for the inactivity on the blog over the last fortnight. It has been one filled with great happiness and excitement, only to be dashed with heartbreak soon after.

One of our sheep gave birth to, not one, but two little lambies. She had laboured them on her own in the early hours of the morning. Unassisted as we weren't expecting any possible arrivals until late May at the earliest. Unfortunately, nature can be  a cruel thing. Due to her inexperience and nervous disposition she trampled her newborn before we had a chance to step in and hand rear the little ones. Something, I'm told, is a regular occurrence with sheep. But it's hard to deal with all the same. Even though they were only about for a few short hours, I'd grown quite attached to the little guys.

The themes of attachment and death loom large throughout the entire series of Vikings. Michael Hirst's writing stays true to the historical reputation of a hardened, pagan society while still adding depth to his characters by illustrating how they deal with the strength of their own convictions. The societal norm vs. their human experience. 

The title quote is but one great example of this. A tough, young Viking boy, Björn(played brilliantly by Nathan O'Toole), utters the detached, matter-of-fact statement to Athelstan(George Blagden) as they watch a slave girl who has chosen to go to the afterlife with her dead master. Capturing perfectly the moment the priest struggles to come to terms with the harsh realities of a new society that is so foreign to his fundamental beliefs.  But it is not so different after all. Religion tells us life is precious but the son of God himself gave his life for the betterment of others. A fate Athelstan has to accept for himself in Season 3.

We constantly see Rollo's(Clive Standen) attachment to his brother, Ragnar(Travis Fimmel), swing like a pendulum between loyalty to his kin and his own ruthless ambition.

Ragnar's own attachment to his family is rather complex. His endless forgiveness of the many betrayals of his brother vs. the growing spite towards his then wife, Lagertha(Katheryn Winnick), for her inability to carry anymore of his sons. His heartbreak at the death of his daughter Geida vs. his readiness to abandon his infant son, Ivar, in the wild for certain death due to his disfigurement. And the most pivotal storyline of all, Ragnar's attachment to Athelstan. From slave and master, to educator  and scholar, to mutual respect as friends and equals.  

The theme of death is dealt with on many levels. The glory of death, to valiantly earn your seat at the Great Hall of Valhalla through courageous acts on the battlefield and your own heroic death at the hands of your enemies. How respect between enemies can be earned in one's final moments. Cast your mind back to Season 2's Blood Eagle. When Ragnar, as executioner, looks Jarl Borg(Thorbjørn Harr) straight in the eye with the utmost respect for his acceptance of his fate and places his hand back in the hold before finishing the ritual. Not to forget the moment in Season 1 Episode 8, "Sacrifice," when Leif(Diarmaid Murtagh) volunteers his own life in place of Athelstan's at Uppsala. Earning himself a noble death by giving his life for the continued good fortune and prosperity of his people. 

But not all death is noble and deserving of respect. No love was lost taking the life of King Horik(Donal Logue) in the season finale of Season 2 Episode 10, "The Lord's Prayer." No honour or respect could be earned in his final moments after his complete betrayal and disrespect of the Earl. 

...That got a little deep and meaningful! Sorry folks, not my usual subject matter or lighthearted look on things. I will be back with something more upbeat and ridiculous next time. 

#LikeAViking

Title Quote: Season 1 Episode 6 "Burial Of The Dead" 

Björn to Athelstan

"Sometimes it is better not to know fate..."

You lucky, lucky people on the far side of the pond that separates Ireland from the USA! You all get to find out what happens in the Season 3 finale of Vikings. Most of us are wondering what will become of Ragnar Lodbrok tonight given that we know the great sagas and the multitude of endings that could befall the brilliant but flawed, reluctant king. But what will Michael Hirst decide is his fate? Season 4 or no more? I can already tell you that there is no willpower strong enough to keep me from reading all the glorious

spoilers on how the siege on Paris goes down and who we lose in the process.

In other news, has anyone else caught the clip of the cast talking about the battle scenes and how they prepare(or don't) for them? Just going to take a moment of appreciation for Moe Dunford(Aethelwulf) and his eloquent, honest, most Irish response given to a question ever. I won't ruin it for you! View for yourself and have a little giggle. I can only presume his response on Twitter, which included the hashtag #havinthecraic, was most definitely a pun intended.

Viking progress has been slow this week having taken a little breather from some of the intense Historical European Martial Arts(or for future references, HEMA) lessons. However, YouTube is a brilliant but dangerous source of endless amounts of sword tricking inspiration...I have a few bruises to prove it. If I get anyway good at some of the tricks I'll post a video...you might be waiting a while...some look pretty easy but I've been a little too close for comfort on more than one occasion to losing some fingers, an eyeball or my nose!

However, I have been making #LikeAViking and getting out into nature a bit more. This week's exploration took us to St. Mullins. A beautiful little part of Co. Carlow that not too many people are aware off. Perfect for a little R&R with the option of some hiking or kayaking on the river. It's one of my favourite places to visit. A little meander around the ruins of the church and stroll down to the little cafe by the river to take in the scenery. Next visit will definitely see us hopping in a kayak and taking in the scenery from the river.
#LikeAViking

Title quote: Season 1 Episode 9 All Change
Lagertha to Siggy
Fitting that a quote from the Season 1 finale should be the title on the blog for the Season 3 finale...the show has come such a long way already!

"If I had a voice I'd sing..."

Anyone who has watched an episode of Vikings will know the colossal part music plays in tying the whole show together. It's the cast member that doesn't get the credit. It ramps up the suspense and makes the tension in some scenes palpable. It sets the pulses of the audience racing as if you were running into battle with the shield maidens and warriors, and is the thumping heartbeat of every battle sequence. It sets the eerie, discordant tone for some of the more unsettling pagan ritual scenes(Season 1 Episode 8 Sacrifice and the human sacrifice of Leif at Uppsala, anyone?). Who can't recall the haunting but beautiful a Capella song that played through his final triumphant moments?!
The opening credits of the show are perfectly scored by Fever Ray's 'If I Had A Heart'. An ominous, atmospheric song that incites the Vikings lust for power, wealth and land, and invokes Ragnar's own insatiable hunger for knowledge and exploration in a single recitation: "This will never end coz I want more. More, give me more, give me more!"
Hats off to Michael Perlmutter and Trevor Morris for their musical contributions to the show.
As much as it is an element of the show, music is a huge part of my life. Since I can remember, I've been making noise and writing songs. The second I picked up a guitar there was no end to my capacity for making a cacophony.
What follows(if you choose to click on the video) is my cover of "If I Had A Heart" by Fever Ray.

VERY IMPORTANT WARNING/DISCLAIMER
1. If you press play, you do so at your own risk. I do not claim to be a good singer/guitarist, I merely enjoy both(aka, you will have no legal comeback if your ears start to bleed).
2. It's probably best to turn the volume down a bit and don't watch this in public...I do not want to be responsible for you getting concerned glances from strangers who think you are viewing questionable cat videos!
3. Yes, I know, the video quality is shocking. It was taken on a severely disfigured iPhone which should have been retired many moons ago(there's a new one in a box in bedroom but I'm kinda waiting to see how long it will hold up considering how mangled it has gotten).
4. Yes, I know, there are a multitude of things wrong with my guitar playing, phrasing and that little bit towards the end where I had to quickly take a breath(I forgot to take one at the correct time and if I hadn't gasped for air when I did I would probably have accidentally suffocated myself whilst trying to entertain you with a little musical number...that's showbiz for ya folks!).
5. No Vikings were actually harmed in the making of this video.
6. No infringement of copyright is intended by this video/blog.

#LikeAViking

"All things begin and end as stories..."

Fresh from a productive day of applying to be an extra on Season 4 of Vikings and haven written the blog to let you all know about the event, I was feeling a little braver than usual. Maybe it was the excitement of the day that was in it, maybe it was the buzz I was rocking from a serious dose of Vitamin D from the unusually good weather. Did I mention we had sunshine AND clear blue skies yesterday...in Ireland...in April??? I have the freshly embellished freckles to prove it if you don't believe me and tell tale tan lines on both sides of my face where my specs were positioned(tan lines...in April...in Ireland...have you ever heard the likes of it in your life!?!).

Whatever the reason for my increased sense of adventure, I went right ahead and tweeted some of the lovely cast of the show in a bid to maybe get them to retweet the link to my little blog. Not thinking too much more of it I got a nice little surprise when I opened my Twitter app only to see an influx of favourites and retweets. On closer inspection of my notifications I saw a message from one of the cast. Amy Bailey, Princess Kwenthrith herself, had not only shared the link to my blog but, being the absolute lady that she is, had taken the time to wish me luck with my little endeavour and hoped to maybe see me on set if I was deemed suitable to be a fuzzy blur in the background for the upcoming season! Judging by the number of views on my blog today, I owe her a serious "thank you" both for increased interest in the blog and the lovely sentiment of her message.

I'd like to take this opportunity to say "hello and welcome" to any of my newbie readers. Hope you enjoy my ramblings and misadventures :)

Sticking with social media, has anyone taken any notice of the trailers that have been released for each episode? The teaser ones with the brilliant sense of humour running through them? Hats off to the team behind these genius little clips. Came across the newest one for Season 3 Episode 8 today and may have audibly chuckled at the tagline, 'there will be no cake'. Maybe it's one of those things where you need a bit of context to appreciate the humour. Here, for your viewing pleasure, is that very clip. Enjoy and thanks for reading!

#LikeAViking

Title Quote: Vikings Season 1 Episode 2 Wrath Of The Northmen
Ragnar to his assembled crew

"I accept my fate..."

Twas a fine, soft morning for a roadtrip to Wicklow. For today was the day that my fate would be decided as to whether I'm Viking Extra material or not. Despite the early start, my fellow roadtripees were in good spirits as we hit the road and banter was at an all time high after some much needed caffeine! Not very Viking, I know. But we couldn't get our hands on a supply of meade at that hour and, these days being in charge of a mode of transportation whilst partaking in the consumption of alcoholic beverages is somewhat frowned apon! Like most Viking journeys there were some casualties along the way. So I'd like to take a moment to honour those we lost in transit. Namely a pigeon that didn't quite get out of the way in time and made all occupants of the vehicle scream in a very unwarrior-like fashion. And proving that the 6am start was just a little too much for some of us, Tara's usual indepth knowledge of the wildlife of Ireland was subpar as she mistook a cat for a badger. I would like to take another moment to pay respects to the cat(that was not our doing before you think we went on some sort of Viking inspired killing spree bloodbath on the way to the open casting call!!!).

Inspite of our early rise, we found ourselves at the end of a queue that had started from the night before. As one of the lovely staff members of the Grand Hotel informed us that some of the attendees for today had begun queuing after their dinner the previous night. Lucky to be blessed with a sunny day with clear blue skies, our wait was short lived in the sunshine as things kicked off on time. Spirits were high amongst the gathered masses and banter was top notch. I can say this happily, as it was Tara's singing and not mine that got a bit of a slagging. All in good fun though. One dude even went that little bit further to provide entertainment for those enjoying the spectacular views of the Grand Hotel's carpark...Tara was particularly impressed by a well trimmed bush(careful now...actual shrubbery) on the periphery of the grounds. He brought along his wooden flute(mind out of the gutter peoples, I am talking about the actual musical instrument...tut tut). Maybe it was the time of the morning, maybe it was self consciousness after some of the comments passed after Tara's outburst of singing, but not a single person was moved enough to dance. But I'd still like to thank you for the music...whoever you are!

Our teamwork and coordination as extras was tested early on when the car park started to empty and the many different queues were scattered with the movement of exiting cars...when you've been queuing for a couple of hours, things get tetchy when opportunistic folks try to use the confusion to their advantage and try to merge into a queue that would cut a few hours off their wait. Being laidback and, pretty much just happy to be there, we let some of the other people deal with sorting out of the queues.

Once inside, it all went pretty quickly. It was so well organised that no time was being wasted from the second you got into the holding room. Filled out the form(cheeky plug for the blog included but forgot to mention my epic bitchy resting face) and got my mug shot taken(Props to the Extras Coordinator for the sarcastic praise for our queuing ability...he's already a legend in our opinion).

So for now it is a waiting game. Hopefully I have enough skills to impress the powers-that-be to be granted the opportunity to be a fuzzy, out of focus, blur in the background of a scene or two.

#LikeAViking

Title Qoute: Season 1 Episode 5 Raid

Ragnar to Earl Haraldson

"Does it really mean that much to you, brother?"

Yes! Being an extra on Vikings would mean alot to me.

So it turns out quite alot of people have heard the saying, "Always be yourself. Unless you can be a Viking. Then always be a Viking!" That's if the queues in Temple Bar, Dublin over the last couple of days are anything to go by. Bearded men and long haired women(and possibly bearded women...I don't know, I'm sure Vikings is an equal opportunities employer) have been queuing for a chance to get on set of the History Channel's runaway success series, Vikings Season 4. The crowds that gathered to queue have garnered major media interest and even made front page news on many of the national papers here in Ireland. I personally cannot wait to go apply next Tuesday in Wicklow and hope that the Viking Gods look favourably on my application...

In the meantime, to get a feel for the Viking way of life, myself and a couple of friends took a trip down to the Wexford Heritage Park, Ferrycarrig. I remember going there years back and jumping on the Viking Longboat on the river and being fascinated by the carved mast head. Unfortunately this time around, due to the aging of the wood, the mast head is no longer there. But the boat still stands relatively in tact in a boat shed much like Floki's from the actual TV series...and therefore, perfect for a couple of snaps to get into the spirit of things. (That's Tara looking a little more Kate Winslet circa Titanic than Norsewoman, and me trying out some 'air rowing' for some authenticity!) It's a beautiful location looking out over the Slaney and you definitely feel like you've stepped back in time standing in the thatched dwellings that boast distinctive Scandinavian styles of cross timbering. As it turns out, the Park now does overnight stays where you get full use of the park, stay in some thatched accommodation, tend to livestock and dine and dress as they would have many moons ago. Definitely reckon it'd be a bit of craic for the summer months. Don't think I'd fancy it too much until the weather pics up a bit :)

And onto something that would definitely be a talking point on anyone's CV, swordfighting or historical european martial arts. Training came on leaps and bounds with the introduction of a new training partner. My sister turned out to be too worried about possible alterior motives and injuries so Tara, my fellow extra auditionee, has stepped forward to take her place. What began as a quick run through a few bits and pieces to get her up to speed turned into a four hour sparring session...in the rain...that's dedication! (A note on the training equipment: swords were ordered online from Fabri Armorum. Basic training swords with rounded edges weighing 1.9kg and 120cm in length. Once order was placed and confirmed, swords were delivered quite quickly from the Czech Republic) Never ones to miss out on a photo-op, we took the opportunity to recreate a Viking burial. Not so sure a picnic table was ever utilised in the burial ritual of Viking heroes but there was so little written or known about it that we kinda figured why not!?!

#LikeAViking

*Title Quote: Vikings Season 1 Episode 2 Wrath of the Northmen

Ragnar to Rollo

"For everything there is a season and for every matter under the sun. A time to be born, and a time to die..."

I have a confession to make...
Hi, my name is Maddie and I haven't seen a single episode of Vikings Season 3 yet :(

I know, this is horrible but it hasn't aired in Ireland yet. And all my great attempts at streaming it online have failed. Even further, despite all my best efforts to ignore all clips and spoilers, I have failed miserably to keep Season 3 a complete surprise for when I do eventually get to watch it. Trying to avoid spoilers on Twitter and Facebook is like trying to dodge the Black Death in the great outbreak in the latter stages of the 1340's...fecking impossible!!

And, in a little bit of a selfish rant, I firmly believe that a new distribution/airing policy should be adopted for situations like this. If you shoot a TV show in a particular country, that's the country it should air in first. Yup, that's my viewpoint and I'm sticking to it. History, sort this out...please...and thank you...if it's not too much hassle...I'm sorry...forget I mentioned it...don't hate me :)

*SPOILER ALERT* (if you just so happen to not know the following, then congratulations, you have way more patience and restraint than I do!)

I know of the passing of Athelstan, to understate the situation completely. This will be a huge loss to the show. It was such a great story line to see him grapple with his beliefs, both his religious struggle and his own personal moral stuggle. And the dynamic of his relationship with Ragnar. This also opens up an interesting new story arc for Travis Fimmel's character as to what he will do without his confidante and, ultimately, his only true friend. After all, Athelstan truely understood and shared Ragnar's curious and worldly nature. What's in store? Only The Seer knows...

Back to my Viking training, I've been busy trying to improve on my Viking-ness. Cast your mind back to Christmas morn(and my first blog post...aw, we've come so far and made so many fond memories already!) and tackling one of the first major hurdles in this journey to becoming a Viking Extra-ordinaire: icy cold water. Getting used to the conditions real Vikings would have had to face in their daily lives when fishing or exploring. You might remember I willingly(but not so gracefully) threw myself into the freezing, December waters of the Barrow along with some other brave souls. To continue on this trend I decided that, since the Vikings would have had to face some crazy and unpredictable situations like storms on the high seas and rough sailing conditions, I would try something that involved choppy water and something scary. So on my travels in New Zealand I got all suited and booted for a rafting adventure. Yes, I clung tight to a inflated piece of rubber that I trusted to get me safely down the Kaituna River through rough rapids and down the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world...a 7.5 meter drop! I have to say the whole thing was far less scary than I iad imagined and the adrenaline buzz was off the charts, even if we were deliberately flipped over after our descent over the waterfall. (See that arm at the right side of the picture at the front of the boat...that's me meeting the bottom of the waterfull with all its might face first and losing a contact lense in the process!)

Jumping from the raft into the fresh but warm water of the Kaituna, letting the river float you through untouched nature. Bobbing along on my back, recalling the traditional maori blessing for a safe journey and a show of respect for the water and land offered on our behalf before we disembarked, you can't help but be in awe of our great planet. With all the raiding and plundering, I wonder did the Vikings ever stop and just take it all in? For me, the journey through New Zealand was one picture perfect moment after another. So much untouched land that around every bend in the road was another spectacular view. But that moment in the river as I floated along trusting nature(and a fairly serious lifejacket) to keep me safe as I took in the unspoiled scenery, I couldn't help but wonder what amazing sights the Vikings would have come across on their travels that stopped them in their tracks, even just for a split moment.

#LikeAViking

Title Quote: Vikings Season 1 Episode 5: Raid

Athelstan praying for Ragnars recovery.

*Because it's a beautiful piece of writing by Michael Hirst, was brilliantly delivered by George Bladgen and was an important moment in the friendship of Athelstan and Ragnar, and sets out the premise for many of the storylines, here is the quote in its entirety.

"For everything there is a season and for every matter under the sun. A time to be born, and a time to die. A time to plant and to pluck up what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal. Mary, Mother of God, listen to me. Do not let this man die!"

"I want to raid and fight. It is what I was born to do..."

So by now you've probably heard the great news, that Season 4 of Vikings is a go! And even more exciting news, that the has put out a call for 8,000 extras. Open casting days are but a few sleeps away. I, myself, will be attending on April 7th in Wicklow(hence, the title above...feeling all enthusiastic yet bricking at the same time). Shooting is commencing at the end of April. And if that didn't get you all excited, what with Season 3 not even finished airing yet, Clive Standen tweets out to stay tuned to "find out who will make it that far!" He certainly does have a knack for generating a sense of foreboding...who will make it? Who will not? Oh the anxious wait to see how it all pans out! Maybe there's a plot twist ahead. Everybody makes it...because it's set in Valhalla and they all rise again each night and feast together...and the show never ends...Or not! Just a theory.

production company

The whole point of this blog is about my little journey to becoming an extra on Vikings and now it is not even two weeks until my fate is decided. Have to admit, I got struck with a little pang of nerves when I read the press release on the Extras Facebook page. A nervous excitement really...all for the sake of being a fuzzy blur in the background. All the learning archery and swordfighting, and brushing up on rowing and horse riding. But I can't wait to go suss it out and hopefully make the cut. Sure what else would you be doing!?! Hopefully, it'll all be worth it.

In farming news, "Sheep Ragnar" has been deemed to have done the business with "Sheep Lagertha" and "Sheep Aslaug", and so, has been sent back to the farm. We now shall await the arrival of a few little lambie lambs just in time for spring.

In other kind-of-related-to-Vikings-kind-of-not-but-you'll-see-where-I'm-going-with-this news, George Blagden is on Irish shores once more! Whilst still playing a priest, he is shooting a movie called Blight. Sure to mess with your mind and provide you with a few sleepless nights, it is the tale of a girl's tortured soul by some sinister enemy and one priest's attempts to save her. Definitely worth checking out. They have quite an active twitter account, with regular #Ask sessions with various people involved. And George himself has tweeted responses. He quite humurously responded to my question about the fear of being typecast as a priest! Ah bless(no pun intended).

For now, #LikeAViking

Title Quote: Vikings Season 1 Episode 5: Raid
Rollo to Earl Haraldson

"I Believe There's A Way...To Go West"

Apologies for the inactivity of the blog over the last month. But I was making like a Viking and going on an adventure to foreign lands to the West(well, I actually travelled East! But if you go far enough in one direction you end up at the other, right?). My journey took me by air to New Zealand. A place not discovered by the Vikings but, nonetheless, I could not stop making parrells to their culture as I walked through the Te Papa museum in Wellington. Reading of the first Maoris to discover the islands just as the Vikings had done to many parts of the world before. Being in aw of the skilled detail of the hand crafted Maori boats that, whilst different, held undeniable similarities to the Viking ship designs. Even down to the detail of the bow masts with intricate carvings. Reading about their beliefs of how the world was made. How they sacrifieced to their "gods." And their core belief that "What is given by the land should return to the land."

It also got me to thinking about what the people of sea and land would have made of air travel...yup, I was getting all philosophical on my travels! When you think about it, what the Vikings did is absolutely incredible. Putting their lives on the line in search of the unknown. Leaving their families behind with little hope they would ever return. No certainty that anything existed to the West. No idea of how long it would take to sail there if there were lands to be found. No planning for rationing food or fresh water because their journey was unspecified. Nothing but their own company and the sounds of the ocean and weather to keep them entertained. Days of rowing, little sustenance, and probable death...well those thoughts got me to stay quiet about any grumbles I had about my economy seat, the in flight meals that were handed to me, the selection of movies/tv shows on the entertainment system(sadly no Vikings!), and the hot, cold or alcoholic beverages that I could readily request at my own convenience.

Never one to miss an opportunity to further my little Viking lifestyle experiences, I embraced my inner farmer and ended up on a large dairy farm in the depths of Taranki milking 278 cows. Not quite the traditional "bucket and squeeze method" of long ago but still managed to get some farming in. I have acquired knowledge on such things as 16 hour milking when the land is too dry to warrant milking twice a day, grass substitutions(and fyi, cow poo normally smells pretty nasty, but nothing will prepare you for the sinsus shattering, stomach curdling, nauseating stench of KALE COW POO!!!! Superfood? I'm alright thanks if that's what it'll do to you!), and recognising when to hook the milking cups to the guard rail so there isn't too much pressure on the udders(obvious jokes could be made here but I'll leave that for an-udder time! #CowHumour)...Quite proud of myself that I sound like I know what I'm talking about. #NotYourAverageHoliday

In other farming news, the herd of sheep(or threep as I've come to refer to them as...because there are three of them...get it? #SheepHumour) are coming along nicely. "Sheep Ragnar" seems to have inherited his namesakes trademark move...the headbutt. This I found out in spectacular fashion upon return from my travels when I went to put out the feed and received a dead leg. For safety, it is now necessary to carry a yard brush with me to shake in his direction when he tries to make any advances.

#LikeAViking

*Title Quote: Vikings Season 1, Episode 1: Rites Of Passage, Ragnar to Rollo