Alfheimr Renaissance

As I approach the forge, metallic sounds makes it clear that Olafr have begun working. Olafr sure loves the forge. We are going to test the new thunder weapons tomorrow. Olafr doesn't know about it, but we'll probably do some bird hunting on the islands if the weather is good in the next few days, but it's been around -5C during the day and down to -13C at night. And I who assumed the coast would have milder weather. Which it surely have. Inland there must be a lot more snow and colder. At least it's dry powder snow, instead of wet mushy snow that freeze to clear ice each night. At least we should have plenty of ice from the lake. It's more than thick enough to walk on, so for the ice on the lake to grow thicker faster, they have ploughed away a lot of the snow. We actually have a large lake with thick ice, so I'll task Olafr with trying to make a pair of classic Swedish long-distance skates with leather straps, iron spikes for ice claws, an ice spike and an ice drill. If we can get some above freezing temperatures that melt the top layer and then cold nights where it freezes, the ice will be good for skating. Crumbly lumpy ice is not nice to skate on. If we had lived in the east coast archipelago, the Baltic Sea which has almost no salt, would surely have frozen enough to go on long journeys, and from island to island.

Olafr is happy to see me, and once again mention how much he loves the forge and that is so nice and bright. The skylights really makes a big difference during the day and he wants it in his forge. His forge roof is fairly old anyway, and he is curious about making the new roof in tiles too, which will make it easier to install the skylights. Olafr is also very happy for the light the oil lanterns give and how much more comfortable it makes working during winter. The double oil lantern in the ceiling makes it easier to keep on working even when the sun have set, as it can be so annoying having to stop just because there isn't good light, and a focused lantern with a reflector helps a lot when doing fine work on a workbench or sanding. Better light and more heat at the same time, since the reflector not only reflect the light, but also quite a lot of radiating heat, and metal is cold to touch, especially during winter. A lot of metal work is after all filing and grinding, not standing in front of a hearth and hammering on an anvil. Olafr does complain that the oil lanterns will be expensive to buy, but I've told him that the price will drop when more of are produced. Olafr can obviously afford it anyway, he is just careful with spending money, but I'm thinking about giving Olafr an oil lantern before he leaves. He has done a hell of a lot of important work for me, and done them very well. I'm happy to make his life better, and Olafr is nice and interesting to talk to.

Hydropower is really interesting and surprisingly useful, which he now loves and is beginning to truly understand how versatile it can be. Olafr appreciates the power of the hearth's air system is there if he wants it, and the very good chimney and fan makes it easier and more pleasant to work. When the fan is running, the chimney is very effective in getting the smoke out of the forge. Teary eyes does not help when working, and generally the hands are too dirty to wipe the eyes or face. The automatic hammer is especially interesting, and Olafr loves how all you have to do is step on the pedal and the automatic hammer starts hammering. The automatic hammer does exactly as the blacksmith expects it to, without explanation or misunderstanding from an apprentice, and often there isn't much time to work before the iron is too cold to forge, or join. And the hammer never gets tired. Never hits wrong. Then there's the big power hammer, but that scares Olafr, and he likes the safety equipment I've tried to build in. But he sees a use for the power hammer too, and especially when it comes to shaping large things, and forming tools for both the automatic and power hammer makes them more useful. Olafr thinks it is unnecessary that the grindstone have also become water-powered, but admits it is practical. Neither himself nor an apprentice need to make it turn with a crank or springed pedal, and the blacksmith can focus on just grinding. The filing machine with its adjustable table and replaceable files is a very interesting idea, and something Olafr really like. It makes some work stupidly easy to get right, and you don't even have to do any real work. Just hold the metal and move it.

Olafr thinks hearing protection isn't for him, but agrees that his hearing isn't the best and his ears are ringing, so it would probably be a good idea if you start with it early. He has been advising his apprentices that they probably should use it, although it's probably too late for them too. The fact that I am so careful about hearing protection and demand that my women and guards use hearing protection, is all the proof Olafr needs. I've been right about a lot of things, so probably that too. And I have after all already made a collapsible pair that is easier to carry and Caecilia usually have in her shoulder bag along with ear plugs, and I also plan a special helmet with attached hearing protections for my warriors using thunder weapons.

Olafr appreciate water straight from the wall even in the forge, and although he thinks hot and cold water in the house and a shower are unnecessary luxuries, he admits that it is a nice luxury. Especially when it's cold outside and it is always ready at home, and he can just stand there in an indoor shower and feel the warm water raining down. It warms his body and the dirt is just washed away. As a blacksmith, Olafr is used to sometimes being very dirty and sooty, and even if he has washed himself before, the bath water sometimes gets really dirty and it's cold water or takes a lot of time to heat up, but with a shower and some soap he feels cleaner than ever and it's so faster and just nice. Bekkhilda also complains far less, but he understands that it makes her work easier and more luxurious too.

Beside the ice equipment, we discuss the shape of the anvils, pros and cons, and different types of machining tools for power hammers, rollers and eccentric presses. There will definitely be tooling for the bolt making machine because Olafr really wants to see it, and just how the eccentric press punches out nails or washers from a flat bar of iron is very fascinating. So we discuss design, and what to do with the steel lumps.

We have realised that it is a bit wrong in the staff accommodations, because since Ima went back to Borgarsandr, Shakini now has that bedroom to herself, and a single room is quite a lot more luxurious than sharing between four like the others do, so Elvira moves in there, as a small reward for not trying to put more work on Shakini. Both aware that they may need to move out of the bedroom in the future if we need the room for something else, and Shakini will probably move up to the wings attic if that is the case, but for now, the room is theirs, and they love it. I thought the room might be needed as an extra bathroom or something if we have a lot of guests, but it worked well during the feast, and even the toilets were enough.

Personally, of the maids, I like Elvira the most, even if she takes the fact that I'm the Furst and she's just an insignificant lowly maid far too seriously. She is smart, tidy, seems to be able to keep a secret, and is just nice and charming to chat with, even if we don't really have deep discussions or talk a lot. Elvira definitely keeps her promise, that she would strive to be the best maid we could wish for. The fact that she is a sexy young and beautiful woman with slightly exotic looks has nothing to do with me liking her most, and I appreciate that Elvira doesn't flirt even when we are alone, as Jalida sometimes do. Since the stag night, Jalida has become more clear with her intentions, actually saying she is available for sex whenever I want it, but I think that is partially to gain advantages.

Elvira is the one who primarily clean my rooms and she seem to get along well with Caecilia and help my women too, so Elvira is generally the maid I see the most in the main building. I hope it's not because I miss when Jalida and Ida are there. They are no longer banned, as that only lasted until the days before the wedding. It feels like elves in general are a couple of points above average in looks, and that doesn't just apply to the Norse elves, but also Elvira, Jalida and Shakini. '