Ad Fundam is a latin term which has different meanings depending on context – it means ‘ from the bottom’ and is often used as a toast ‘Bottoms up’ but can be interpreted as ‘Back to Basics’ it has been chosen because of this duality as many of the classes are aimed at beginners but the event is also a celebration of the Baronial Anniversary
Date:
Event opens 9am Saturday 26th and closes 3pm Sunday 27th July 2025 but Site opens 6pm the Evening of the 25th for those who wish to stay to be on site first thing Saturday.
Location:
Schlaepher Park, 41C Ostrich Farm Road, Pukekohe.
Stewarding Team
Steward: TH Lady Eleanor Hall
Deputy Steward: Lady Trudie Beata Ollyfe Griffin
Day Stewards: Lady Alice Conning supported by Lady Jessica de Cameron
Feast cook: Baroness Isabell Winter
Stewarding Team contact: wintersteward@ildhafn.lochac.sca.org
Event overview:
Come one and all to the Ildhafn winter event, the celebration of the baronial anniversary!
The event will open Saturday morning and close Sunday afternoon but the site will open on Friday evening for those who wish to stay Friday night.
The focus of this event is connections. With the cooler weather of winter and more being done inside, we want people to reconnect with friends and make new ones. This event will have a vast range of things happening so it is a good chance to have a go at something new or even come to as your first event.
We will have A&S, dancing, singing, court ,combat and a feast so there is something for everyone.
There is both tenting and bunking available ( however bunk spots are limited) , there are different catering options available too. We hope to see you there !
- Please Read the FAQs before booking :
- You can view the Timetable here:
- For Details about bookings including prices here:
- You can book here
Timetable (subject to change)
| When | What | Description |
| Friday Evening 6pm- late | Site open | Hall and cabins open. |
| Saturday 8-9 am | Breakfast | |
| 9-9.30am | Set up | All hands set up fields, dress hall etc |
| 9:30 -10am | Opening court | |
| 10-11:30 | First Slot | A&S class [ beginners dance – teacher wanted]Rapier/Heavy/Archery fields open |
| 11:30 – 12 | Lunch prep | pot luck lunch prep |
| 12-1pm | Lunch | |
| 1-1:30 pm | lunch tidy up | all hands lunch tidy |
| 1:30-3 pm | Second slot | A&S class [ Beginners part singing – rounds etc -Mistress Christine Bess Duvaunt]Possible Heavy Tournament |
| 3-4:30pm | Third Slot | A&S class [General SCA class – teacher and class wanted]Possible Rapier Tournament |
| 4:30-5pm | Hall set up for feast | All hands prep for feast |
| 5-8:30pm | Feast | Opening address [B&B]First courseFirst entertainment sectionSecond CourseSecond Entertainment section- including rounds from earlier singing classToastsThird Course There may be a 4th course, rinse repeat. |
| 8:30-9pm | Feast Tidy up | All hands feast tidy up – dishes, hall reset |
| 9pm-Late | Bonfire | Burn things. Marshmellows |
| Sunday 8-9 am | Breakfast | |
| 9-9:30 am | Breakfast and hall tidy up | all hands tidy up – wall hangings etc |
| 9:30-11:30 | Fourth Slot | A&S class [General SCA class- Teacher and class wanted]Rapier field openHeavy Field open |
| 11:30 – 12 | Closing court | |
| 12-1pm | Lunch | |
| 1-1:30 pm | Lunch tidy up | all hands lunch tidy |
| 1:30 – 3pm | Event tidy up | Everyone pack up their cabins and remove personal gearhelp with kitchens and group gear. |
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FAQs
Accomodation:
When can we arrive?: Although the event does not open until 9am Saturday, we have the site available from 6pm Friday night for those who wish to arrive on the Friday; please note that no dinner is provided on Friday Night so please eat before arrival, or arrange take out with friends as the kitchen will not be available.
Are there bunkrooms? Yes! There are 4 bunkrooms with 7 beds each so a bunking cap of 28 – due to limited bunk numbers bunking will be on a first come, first serve basis once bookings are open and we are unable to allocate bunk rooms to separate families (although we will try and keep families together)
Can we tent? Yes! Tenting is available on this site!
Can we bring a Camper Van? Yes! But there are no powered camper sites – please use the ‘Tent’ option on the booking form!
Can we stay offsite? Yes! You can absolutely stay offsite! Unfortunately the booking fee for being on site each day and staying overnight is the same so you can use the ‘day trip’ option for each day you’re on site (but breakfast is not included if you want breakfast please use the ‘full event- tent’ option) any questions- reach out to the stewards!
Can I day trip? Yep! Absolutely! There are day trip options for both day and there’s event a ‘Feast only’ option – so you if you only have time to attend the Saturday evening for the main feast that’s absolutely fine – please note that there is a 60 person cap on the feast.
Food:
Will dinner on Friday night be provided: No, friday night dinner will not be provided as the event does not start until Saturday morning, please eat before your arrive or coordinate take out with your friends – the Kitchen will not be available for use as preparation for Saturday meals will be happening.
What can we expect for food?: for this event, as is traditional for the Ildhafn Winter Event, the focus is on the feast – Baroness Isabell Winter is the head cook for the Saturday night feast so expect good food, entertainment an a jolly good time.
What about breakfast? We’re paring down breakfasts for this event, the focus is on simple, warm, filling food so there will be porridge, toast and spreads available. People are welcome to bring along any additions to their breakfast and use the kitchen but we ask that you be cleaned up and out of the kitchen by 9am for meal prep to start.
What about lunch? Lunch will focus on Soup and Bread – there will be a variety of soups available with the intent that they be warm and filling. Saturday will include the potluck* and Sunday’s lunch will include any left overs from the feast.
There a pot luck Lunch on Saturday? Yes! Because we’ve had some feedback that people would like to dip there toes into trying period recipes – in addition to soup and bread on the Saturday we encourage everyone to bring along a small contribution to the pot luck – you do not need to provide enough for everyone to have some, just a small portion that maybe 4-5 people could sample but PLEASE we need to have full ingredients lists for all items provided that way people can self manage their own food allergies / intolerances.
But I hate cooking and bringing a plate sounds incredibly onerous then please bring along a simple pre purchased item that you would reasonably expect to see at a medieval lunch – maybe a small wheel of brie or other cheese, a packet of nuts, a small tin of olives, a can of dolmades, a couple of apples etc! That way we have a great variety, keep the burden on any one person down but also give those who do want to try something an opportunity!
I have food allergies/intolerances – can I go on the meal plan? Very Likely – we are likely to be able to accommodate most intolerances and allergies, however we do have a few caveats on that:
- You must book well in advance to allow the cooks time to accommodate your intolerance and or allergy, if you have a food intolerance or allergy and need to book late we will ask that you use the self catering option.
- We cannot guarantee that cross contamination will happen, we will try our best but it’s not always possible to prevent cross contamination at the kitchen or whilst serving; if cross contamination is a significant concern then we ask that you consider the self catering option.
- The cooks, especially the feast cook may be unable to accommodate your food allergy/intolerance and we will let you know as soon as possible after your booking is received. Our cooks are volunteers who are cooking for the love on feeding the group and of cooking and sometimes they are unable to execute their plan with the passion and drive that pulled them into the kitchen. To ensure that our cooks continue to love what they do we may not be able to accommodate your food allergy/intolerance, we are happy to work with to to try and find and alternative and may request that you consider the self-catering plan if accommodation is not possible.
I can self cater? Absolutely! This event has a full self-catered option! We cannot guarantee access to the kitchen so you’ll need to figure how the logistics (maybe bring a slow cooker? Or focus on low/no cook options) but we have arranged a separate fridge for you and will try and assist as possible)
If I’m self catering can I attend the feast? Yes! We are setting up a separate table for self catered attendees to the feast – we know you may want to sit with your friends but we haven’t yet figured out the best was to logistically manage plating the feast if we have self catered attendees at the feast so we will be setting aside a separate table (no you won’t be tucked out the back of the hall, it will be central). We won’t ask you to stay at your table the whole night – we encourage people to move around the hall during the feast, talk to others, enjoy the entertainment etc – but when each course is called we will ask everyone to return to their seats to enable us to identify where we need to serve food.
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Bookings
Full event bookings:
| Full event- Catered Cabins | Full Event- Self Cater Cabins | Full event- Catered – Tent / campervan | Full Event- Self Cater- Tent / campervan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult 18+ – SCA member | $96 | $52 | $80 | $36 |
| Adult 18+ -non member | $101 | $57 | $85 | $41 |
| Youth 15-17 | $84 | $40 | $68 | $24 |
| Child 5-14 | $62 | $40 | $46 | $24 |
| Young Child 0-4 | $0 * | $0* | $0 | $0 |
Partial Event bookings:
| Day Trip Saturday – catered | Day Trip Saturday – Self Cater | Day Trip Sunday – catered | Day Trip Sunday- Self Cater | Feast Only | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult 18+ – SCA member | $49 | $19 | $24 | $19 | $44 |
| Adult 18+ -non member | $54 | $24 | $29 | $24 | $49 |
| Youth 15-17 | $40 | $10 | $15 | $10 | $35 |
| Child 5-14 | $25 | $10 | $12.50 | $10 | $22.50 |
| Young Child 0-4 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Young Children under 5 do not pay site fee or costs. If young children wish to stay on site in a bunkroom, we may ask that their parents bring along a portacot/similar to ensure safety of small children in shared bunk rooms and use the stretcher space that is available. Parents are asked to self- manage their children’s food allergies / intolerances, children under 5 are welcome to join in on meals but we may not be able to accommodate food allergies / intolerances as it will add additional financial cost to the meal. If you have a child under 5 with food allergies / intolerances please contact the stewards.