The front of the kitchen at Rais faces south-west, meaning
that at this time of year the sun hits the decking at about 5pm - typically the
end of a working day in the wood and therefore time for beer. For this reason
the kitchen/shelter has brilliantly been named by its creator as "The Yardarm". I've often
heard the phrase "the sun is over the yardarm", and have long known
that it meant wine-o'clock, but never really knew where the phrase came from...
so thanks to the urban dictionary, I now know that the yardarms on a sailing
ship are the horizontal timbers mounted on the masts, from which the square
sails are hung. At certain times of the year it will seem from the deck that
the sun has risen far enough up the sky that it is above the topmost yardarm.
In summer in the north Atlantic, where it's thought the phrase originated, this
would have been at about 11am. This was by custom and rule the time of the
first rum issue of the day to officers and men. It seems that officers in
sailing ships adopted a custom, even when on shore, of waiting until this time
before taking their first alcoholic drink of the day. Brilliant and a perfectly fitting name for our drinking
decking at Rais.
The reverse of The Yardarm sign has also been inscribed... with a series of very apt runes as follows;
- Tiwaz/Tir (The war god "Tyr", often carved on weaponry) this is a rune of competitive spirit, fighting for what you believe in and extreme motivation.
- Odal/Othala (inheritance, possessions such as land, or the passing on of wealth or knowledge) Often an indication of being consumed by an idea or vision - inspired by the past.
- Ehwaz (Horse) a rune of physical movement, physical shifts, or new dwelling places. It's main significance is change. Change for the better. Stands for gradual development and steady progress.
- Jera (year or harvest) - signifies a reaping of rewards for efforts expended it is also the rune of justice and legalities.
- Ansuz (assopciated with Odin) meaning mouth, indicating the spoken word, the taking of advice or the acquisition of wisdom.
- Mannaz (man or humankind) A rune of interdependence - the receipt of aid or cooperation regarding the problem at hand. Honest and unbiased advice.
- Berkano/Beorc (associated with the birch tree, Idun, goddess of spring and with fertility) represents your true home, the home where your heart is as opposed to where you may be living now. Indicates a birth or the birth of an idea.
- Gebo/Gifu (a sacrifice to the gods, a gift) indicates a partnership and usually betokens peace and contentment.
A few of the runes appear more than once, this is because the runes are from an ancient Viking alphabet called "futhark" and spell out what we wanted to call The Yardarm originally.
