Master Aleksandr Ruslanovich :
Hard? I expect that one of the hard parts for me will be the diminished privacy. There is an expectation that the Baron/ess will be receptive to meeting people, responding to questions, reaching out, being attended, and rarely alone, and for me that will be a change I will need to adapt to. I am naturally a private person, and taking a public role like Baroness means a compromise on that score.
But at a guess, I'd have to suspect that nasty politics will be the worst of it. Carolingia is blessedly less prone to stupid short-sighted politics than most groups; still, where there are people there are politics, and sometimes those will turn heated.
There's not much for that but to take it when it comes, and try to handle it as best we can. IMO, while the B/B aren't solely responsible for dealing with this sort of thing, they can and should try to act as mediators and peacemakers where possible. That's never fun and rarely easy, but it's important.
(Fortunately, Caitlin and I have both already gotten some experience with this sort of thing, from other positions in the Society and other clubs that we've worked with. Things aren't likely to get as bad as some of the nastier politics I've had to work through on the LARP side of the world.)
Of course, that's (hopefully) the rare case. On a more day-to-day level, the main challenge for me personally will simply be the formality of the job. I am not, by instinct, a particularly formal sort of person, but I think the populace is quite reasonably going to expect *some* gravitas from the B/B. (The Baron doesn't get to sit on the floor during court.)
On that front, I think it'll be a matter of feeling out a balance. I have no desire to overcompensate here -- I think being a little light-handed is better than being too stuffy or severe. I'll just have to pay some attention to my own manner and style, and evolve it as seems necessary.
Lady Emmanuelle de Chenonceaux :
But I have been very good so far at, for example, keeping my work day to a strict 8 hours. A hard job in my industry! I think I should be successful at balancing my hobby time, although with a bit more flexability. There are many great things to do in this wonderful hobby, but the best people in it are those who don't practice it to the exclusion of all else. I think this is good to practice in the population at large. If I am seen as being successful at doing it as Baron, I would serve as an example to others.
Mistress Gwendolyn of Middlemarch :
I do actually despise making phone calls. Obviously, I manage to do it. I certainly prefer email.
I'm sure it will be tiresome to constantly have more demands on my time than I could possibly meet. I certainly have difficulty *not* doing things I feel are my responsibility. So, again, I will have to pace myself and insure that I take time for myself. Being a parent has given me some experience at this.
Lord Kali Harlansson of Gotland :
Having to taste everyone's home brew. I would probably take a little sip for politeness sake, and then explain that I have to limit alcohol for medical reasons (which is true).
K.P. If the cooks can handle the extra volunteers.
Shi Hua Fu and Lady Yelizaveta Medvedeva :