Cheers, Patti.

I never expected to feel such instant kinship with a puppet.

Gyppo

There is always something special about seeing a live performance.

stalled engine

forward momentum

risk

load carried

bellicose

crazy

(Still a useful catch-all term.)

Stiffness

(The stiffness of an arrow is referred to as its 'spine' rating.  Some arrows are surprisingly bendy but still fly straight.  Becomes significant at top competition levels.)

Jo:  Didn't know that, (learn something new before breakfast every day), but the switchable pommel makes perfect sense.  That was the same reason I told teenage posties to carry their mail pouch on alternate sides.  older staff with twenty or more years one-sided service looked like the bloody Hunchback of Notre Dame.

stations secured

(Confirmation of readiness on a ship which has been ordered to 'action stations'.)

wan

Ladies.

"Camera!  Action!"

activity ;-)

astride