Medieval Sherwood forest or Mordern day Afganistan?

[KingOpabinia]

Where does Robin Hood get his endless supply of arrows as he is a fugitive on the run. Surely he can't just walk up to the local Quill maker, and smelter. No the Sheriff is a lot smater than that.
So it got me a wondering. Is there an international arms dealer funding this 1st type of guerilla warfare? Maybe the arrows were imported from the Arabic states as these were alot more adept in the art of war during this period. Almost equivalent to a role reversal of the superpowers today and recent history, fighting in dogged, skirmish like conflicts like the Vietnam and Afganistan wars which could never be won.
Robin Hood is a man of the people who still lives in our minds today as a kind of medieval matyr.
This matrydom being at the epicenter of the conflicts in the middle east is there ever going to be peace whilst there is a western presence there? But all said, we all sit there on a saturday evening all cheering at Robin Hood and his merry men, not the Sheriff? Is this not a lesson to be learnt?

Discuss.

[4getmenot]

dont his merry men make the arrows out of sticks?? and make the arrow heads aswell

[China Doll]

Good Lord.....

I would go with 4getmenot on the merry men making the arrows, they can't be sitting around making merry all day... that's just not on, it's lazy.

Now as far as the war stuff goes I haven't a clue, don't know enough about war, I'd rather make love. But perhaps you have a point and it's all a devilsly fiendish Taliban plot? It could happen.... honest guv ;0)

I think we cheer on Robin Hood cause he's got smouldering eyes and the sheriff has evil, beady eyes. Beady eyed characters are not to be trusted y'know....

And a serious answer (not that all the above aren't deadly serious), I doubt there will be peace in the middle east with a Western presence as both cultures have too many nutjobs trying to force extremist opinions down the others throat. It's like a meeting of Jehoova's (sp) witnesses and satanists... ain't gonna work. However, we caused half the mess and we should at least attempt to keep the peace so looks like we need to stay a bit longer. I think it would be more chaotic if we left.

I'm off for a lie down now... my head hurts.

[Octavius]

The Medieval arrow, like its present day descendant, consisted of three parts: the stele (shaft), the arrow head, and the fletching (feathers). But, not just any feathers were acceptable: Medieval archers preferred the pinion (flight) feathers of the bird's wing. The most commonly used feathers were from the grey goose: "These were tough, durable, cheap and in plentiful supply". There were three feathers to a shaft, fixed by "binding, adhesion, or a combination of both" As for the stele of the arrow, up to fourteen different woods were used. They included brazil, birch, oak, and ash. But ash was the best for war arrows since it was "both swifter and heuier, is more fit for sheaafe arrows."

Any archer who was worth his salt would be very adept at making his own supply of arrows as they were generally made specifically to suit his bow. Only in times of war were mass-produced supplies shipped in from village�s as during this time, quantity rather than quality was the essence.

[China Doll]

Octavius... that sport you represented Britain in? Or do you just know a lot about arrows? Or will you still not say? ;0)

[4getmenot]

wernt you a boxer?

[China Doll]

Nah, isn't that Lawrence?

(Sorry for the slight deviation Kingy)

[KingOpabinia]

Thats perfectly OK I've bored myself with that question sounded good at the time. I was just trying to use it as an anology for whats happening around the world in todays climate.

[4getmenot]

oooh could have been China, I'm not too sure now

[sg]

As I remember it, R. Loxley was fabled to have been on the Crusades serving god and his king. So was among the first wave of western presence in the middle east, slaughtering Muslims in the name of Jesus, hooray!!
He probably still had some contacts there after he came back.

[PinkFizz]

Afternoon guys - Hello King sir - are you very new to this site then? Good question by the way!

[China Doll]

4getmenot - About 90% certain it's Lawrence. Don't think Octavius is going to tell us anyway! :0(

Sg - Hmmmm... so western presence, didn't work then, won't work now maybe?

Pinky - 'Sir'... It's a king you daft moo, I think they prefer 'Your Majesty.' Show some respect woman ;0P

[PinkFizz]

oops sorry!! I will do a little curtsey to make up for it!

[China Doll]

I'll just bet you will.... in your little medival gypsy top no doubt... hussie!

[Octavius]

King, a better analogy might be the Charge of the Light Brigade of which occurred 152 years ago today. That act of - some say courage - mindless abandon was apparently due to poor military intelligence and a lack of clarity in orders.

Their�s not to reason why, their�s but to do or die.

China, sorry to disappoint, but you were right the first time. I will not say.

[PinkFizz]

aaahhhhh - penny dropped - I think!

[KingOpabinia]

Hello fizzy, yes I am a fairly new to this site so you have to go gentle with me. Ps you don't need to abide by the courtly pleasentries (sp). I'm quite down to earth for a king, just the couple of Bentleys.

[PinkFizz]

Hello Your Majesty ! So what do you make of this site then? And just a couple of Bentleys -oh dear,are times tough?x

[China Doll]

Now you're dropping pennies everywhere too Pinkie? You come over all funny in the presence of royalty or something?! Pull yourself together woman...

Kingy... Don't I get stars? I though my answer was marvellous!

[PinkFizz]

Hi China - well I do like a man with power! I think the King(god,sounds like Elvis!) could be quite a catch.Will have to find out if he is spoken for! ; )

[KingOpabinia]

It's better than a few horses, and an unstable looking carriage like Queeny's 'specially as I don't need to muck out after I put the cars in the garage.
Yes I like this site very muchly and will be venting my question spleen on here in the future.