Creating something new, day 30

Lanterns & Sundial fashion

One thing about traveling as a passenger on a sailing ship, is that it gives you plenty of time to think and sketch. One of my newer ideas is about deck prisms and lanterns, both for the ship and in the basement. I don't like open flames, torches etc, and they're a far bigger firehazard.

So I sketch three handheld lantern version based on the same metal design, and three of each will be made, which will be shaped, not cast, so they become lighter and easier to carry, and the lightsource will be a candle. But that affect the design choices so they are easier to shape. All have the same upper and lower part with a handle to hold or hang it up with, and protective metal bows outside the glass. The difference is the middle and the glass. One lantern only has a thicker glass cylinder and give light all around. One lantern has the same glass cylinder with a reflector to spread the light over about 100 degrees but focuses more in the middle and it also has metal screens that can be slid around and shield or completely cover the light. The last version has three rougher glass lenses to spread the light in three directions. I don't know if its a benefit or disadvantage that the metal bands that hold the lenses in place shield the light in other directions and reflect it to the opposite lens. That design is mostly because I want to try how effective a lens is in relation to the reflector, and there was room left over so there were three lenses. A fresnel glass lens would be nice, but it must be too difficult to manufacture that here to be useful. It might work for something larger like a lighthouse lens, if the fresnel lens is made in smaller segments. I'm glad that they're technologically advanced enough to do simpler glass casting, and limits in shape and quality it just something to work around and make the best of.

I intend to make a small special prototype lantern by hand, which is for the ship's compass. Its shielded to not damage the night sight of the crew, and only dimly illuminates the compass, but with adjustable shielding and color via different glass filters. I don't know which will be best, so will make three small filters and try in blue, green and red, and then just get the crew to test it one evening after the sun has gone down.

It feels like a few deck prisms are also a good idea to increase the light in the ships cargohold and cabins during the day. If the glass is thick enough and flat, you can walk on it, and it can be sealed to the deck without any problems. It doesn't matter if the top is scratched by dirt, and I will make the prism elongated so it replace of a piece of a plank. The underside gets a V shape so that the light is spread to the sides and ends, and not just straight down. We will try to leave sketches and drawings after we dock in Borgarsandr, and before we head for the farm, that but depends on how late it is. Just because I can disturb a craftsman late, I will not take advantage of it. it just feels rude. For the same reason I avoid visiting a store or similar just before closing, and only when I know I will be finished and leave before closing time.

Coming home to the farm and seeing Iselin's happy smile welcoming me back, and feeling her hug and kiss was wonderful, and Kari's wasn't bad either. It will sadly only be one night with Iselin before she together with Bodil leave south with the ship tomorrow morning.

Kari, but especially Iselin, has done excellent work while I've been away. It has become fashionable with sundials. 9 out of 15 I have ordered are already pre-booked. Seems like every richer family wants to catch on to the trend, and they made the decision to install more while I was away. Apparently many merchants, nobles and ladies, were surprised when Iselin with a guard and worker appeared with a wagon, instead of the expected Sejdmann Robert Arnesson. But she's diplomatic and have also had to help choose a place for the sundial. A few havn't understood that a sundial needs sunlight to function.

Iselin seems to be a good ambassador, as she tell me that she have explained that the triangle A is the symbol of my Academy, and what the Academy will do for the future. That it will educate in all sorts of subjects, basic and advanced, and also manufacture and sell advanced things. Men and women, boys and girls are welcome, and she has noticed that some are actually receptive to an educated daughter - even if it is only for more prestige and 'worth' when she is married off. Especially among the richer merchants, where an educated daughter becomes an educated wife who more efficiently can take care of the household for her future husband. Iselin has met more than one young woman who really wants to be educated and is looking forward to the possibility, and a couple of younger daughters who have realized that they may be more than just a future wife who takes care of the household, if they are educated enough. Iselin has told about Captain Asta as an example.

Iselin is smart and beside her north arrow, has brought a monocular with her from the beginning and lets those she visits look through it - as an example of what the Academy will produce. It always gets reactions. Especially when she tells them that the first to have one besides us is King Asbjörn Aeriksson, and its an exclusive group because there have been few made. She has been offered so much silver for her monocular, so after the first time she started to bring with her a couple of extra monoculars that she can sell for 'a smaller amount'. Less than they offered, but not a little. Should make more monoculars because I hope seafarers will have monoculars, but I also need to make the image sharper with higher magnification to be really useful out at sea. It might be the classic telescopic monocular.

Not unexpectedly, the battery in my small MP3 player is depleted, but I put it on charge for her again, and show her how she can do it in the future. Its just plugging in the cable and watch when it is fully charged. She already understands the battery icon.

Before we go to bed for the evening, we play some music and dance in my room. She has listened through all the songs on the MP3 player, and she's started to recognizing a few group names. Iselins dance to 'Danza Kuduro' isn't meant to be sexy and she just likes to freely dance and bounce around to good beats, but she does it with such a joy of life and energy, and its so very adorable and sexy. I think Lindsey's video have inspired her to dance much more freely and with more creativity than they usually do here, and she definitely likes music with a good pace or beat. When she thinks the music fits, even when it doesn't, she throws in headbanging which is just awesome with her long hair, which Within Temptations 'Ice Queen' video inspired her do. Iselin loves that song and Sharon's voice, but doesn't like that the video I have is an old one that pretends to be web browsing with windows and information that pop up. Iselin wants to see more of Sharons dresses and headbanging. Personally, I'm happy when we end up in bed and I get to see more of Iselin.