I was just saying that I've been able to buy a nice Gambeson from Black Armoury, and some mitten style gauntlets - I've been doing steel for the last 6 weeks or so - with synthetic still for free-sparring but steel for drills and controlled sparring.

Steel has a lot more presence in the bind, and is a wonderful sound.

On one of the two weekly sessions I've also been doing some Italian Rapier, which is a lot harder work than longsword. This is because the weapon is similar in weight (in fact our training weapons are almost a pound heavier than the Federschwert) are held with only one hand rather than both, and are held in extended guards most of the time. Sorely tempted to place an order for a better quality rapier, but there is a 10 month+ waiting list.
A very different style of fencing, much more thrust oriented, although still with the option to cut, but longsword is easier to learn the basic techniques, and much less tiring.