It's that great day when mom gets out the horse penis and passes it around. Everyone's so excited, but I'm rather bored with the ceremonies and can't wait to go play the games at the festival. Still, it's our duty to honor the gods and seek their blessings, so I suppose I can sit through this long enough for the contests to begin - I'm participating in them all, and I'm sure I'll win at least one.

I did it! I nearly beat a daughter of Tiwesdæg in the sword contest. Oh, she won, of course - but who would have expected otherwise? But my first blow nearly landed her off that log! I will be a great swordswoman someday... well, if I can be bothered.

That smelly Sigbert took a swing at Godmund... well, maybe three, but I disuaded him strongly by jumping on his back. He's such a poor loser, I hope he doesn't chase Godmund up later. It'd be a right waste of my time constantly putting the huntsman's apprentice back together for Old Witherbones.

It was a nice break from all of the sweat and yelling though. I got to talk to the Thane's niece, pregnant as a pear with his get too. You'd think the old man would have a sense about scandal, but with the way she was eyeing her cousin the Reeve, I got to say sense is somewhat lacking on that side of the fence too. Maybe the entire family is daft. Still, she's a nice girl, and even if she won't be convinced to abort the pregnancy before she and her baby are thrown out of the villiage. Such a shame, I really liked her.

Anyway, enough doom and gloom - it's spring festival! The wrestling contest didn't go so well - too bad, I thought the fishmonger's son was cute until he hit me across the face. I mean, it was a wrestling match! Anyway, he smells perpetually like fish, so it's a good thing he reminded me of his ill manners as well.

I would have won the swimming contest if it wasn't for him though. My face ached so much in the cold water, it was all I could do to keep up. Oh well, there will be next year.