My new wargames blog, called "Squibzy's Solo Wargames - a wargaming miscellany" is up and running... well... it's got two posts on it.
Actually, I'm so pleased I decided *not* to go public with it, yet, because I'm finding it a BIG learning curve, making this new blog "relevant" to the world-wide wargaming community which it will finally be aimed at! I mean, uploading photos and adding captions is a pain!
For instance, I wanted the first photos I uploaded to be left-aligned, and my captions to the right... can I do that??? Can I 'eck-as-like! So I've got a *lot* of learning to do before I get this new blog right enough to go "public".
Hey-ho...
Wednesday 15 May 2013
Wednesday 1 May 2013
Intentions, objective, and purpose ... Will it be accomplished this time?
Intentions, objective, and purpose ... Will it be accomplished this time?
Intention: to paint-up my "lead mountain" (see footnote) of wargames figures - especially my 28mm Darkest Africa characters, natives, and Colonial British Forces figures for my African campaign - within this next six months. During the same period, construct the model buildings, scenery and terrain for these.
Objective: to finally get the campaign underway, albeit over ten years since I imagined it!
Other objectives are to get my Second World War, French Resistance, 20mm game finished writing-up, and then play-tested, before submitting it for publication to the Solo Wargames Association magazine, "Lone Warrior". Also to finish the 15mm Pirate ships - Galleons and Brigs - ready for wargaming with my collection of 15mm 18th Century Pirates later this year.
Purpose: all this is so that I can begin writing a new blog, specifically to showcase my wargames figures during their 'campaigns', or one-off battles; together with photographs taken of the game, with an accompanying narrative, like a picture book story, which, hopefully, will emulate my "role model" blog, "The Campaigns of General Pettygree" - see < http://generalpettygree.blogspot.co.uk/ > - that has fascinated and inspired me for several years, now.
So, those are my Springtime Resolutions on this, the 1st May 2013 ... and I just hope that, after nearly two years of retirement from work, during which I've longed to get back to my wargaming, I'll finally get to paint my "lead mountain" of wargames figures and actually get some solo wargames played! It's about time!
Footnote: Historically, toy soldiers were made of lead, hence all metal wargames figures are referred to 'lead' soldiers. So wargamers call a collection of many (i.e. hundreds!) of unpainted, metal, wargames figures a "lead mountain" because if they were all piled up together they'd look like a 'mountain'! And Richard has got several hundred unpainted figures!
Intention: to paint-up my "lead mountain" (see footnote) of wargames figures - especially my 28mm Darkest Africa characters, natives, and Colonial British Forces figures for my African campaign - within this next six months. During the same period, construct the model buildings, scenery and terrain for these.
Objective: to finally get the campaign underway, albeit over ten years since I imagined it!
Other objectives are to get my Second World War, French Resistance, 20mm game finished writing-up, and then play-tested, before submitting it for publication to the Solo Wargames Association magazine, "Lone Warrior". Also to finish the 15mm Pirate ships - Galleons and Brigs - ready for wargaming with my collection of 15mm 18th Century Pirates later this year.
Purpose: all this is so that I can begin writing a new blog, specifically to showcase my wargames figures during their 'campaigns', or one-off battles; together with photographs taken of the game, with an accompanying narrative, like a picture book story, which, hopefully, will emulate my "role model" blog, "The Campaigns of General Pettygree" - see < http://generalpettygree.blogspot.co.uk/ > - that has fascinated and inspired me for several years, now.
So, those are my Springtime Resolutions on this, the 1st May 2013 ... and I just hope that, after nearly two years of retirement from work, during which I've longed to get back to my wargaming, I'll finally get to paint my "lead mountain" of wargames figures and actually get some solo wargames played! It's about time!
Footnote: Historically, toy soldiers were made of lead, hence all metal wargames figures are referred to 'lead' soldiers. So wargamers call a collection of many (i.e. hundreds!) of unpainted, metal, wargames figures a "lead mountain" because if they were all piled up together they'd look like a 'mountain'! And Richard has got several hundred unpainted figures!
Monday 8 April 2013
RIP 'Mrs T' (Mrs Margaret Thatcher) 1925-2013 (PM 1979-1990)
RIP 'Mrs T' ... or, more correctly - and more formally - Rest in Peace, Mrs Thatcher.
RIP? Did I just write 'Rest in Peace' for... ... *Mrs Thatcher* ???!!!
Well, the years roll by, and the heat of one's more youthful, and passionate, political views mellows with age, doesn't it?
In 1979, when 'Mrs T' (though we hadn't started calling her that 'till many years later), with a Conservative government, got voted in, I was a Labour Party voter in 'Conservative clothing'; because my (then) wife and her family, were all Tory, and I *had* to fall in line or risk the wrath of "She Who must Be Obeyed!"
But by the mid 1980's, with *that* wife out of the way, (divorced, dear boy, not murdered!), I was able to be the political person I'd always been "underneath", but never able to give voice to, as my parents were Tories, my brother's a Tory, and my (now ex) wife was a rank-Tory! However, by 1986, I was re-married to the most wonderful person ever - my lovely wife, Ann - and, thankfully, she is also a Labour Party voter, so we "suffered" together the final years of Thatcher's Reign!
So, although I'm a fan of women getting any job going, from a caterer to a Prime Minister, I'm afraid the legacy of the "Thatcher Years" will, for me, forever be one of deregulated this, that, and the other, which have all proven to be total failures (for most people) in their respective spheres. BT replaced the General Post Office, and Royal Mail was cut out from the Post Office, and now both are ailing. Umpteen railway privatised train companies have replaced British Railways, and STILL we don't get trains which run on time or commuter rail fares people can afford! I could go on... but I can see your eyes are glossing over, so I'll just end as I began, and respectfully say Rest in Peace, 'Mrs T'... ... but actually, I'm not that sorry you're now fully consigned to history!
RIP? Did I just write 'Rest in Peace' for... ... *Mrs Thatcher* ???!!!
Well, the years roll by, and the heat of one's more youthful, and passionate, political views mellows with age, doesn't it?
In 1979, when 'Mrs T' (though we hadn't started calling her that 'till many years later), with a Conservative government, got voted in, I was a Labour Party voter in 'Conservative clothing'; because my (then) wife and her family, were all Tory, and I *had* to fall in line or risk the wrath of "She Who must Be Obeyed!"
But by the mid 1980's, with *that* wife out of the way, (divorced, dear boy, not murdered!), I was able to be the political person I'd always been "underneath", but never able to give voice to, as my parents were Tories, my brother's a Tory, and my (now ex) wife was a rank-Tory! However, by 1986, I was re-married to the most wonderful person ever - my lovely wife, Ann - and, thankfully, she is also a Labour Party voter, so we "suffered" together the final years of Thatcher's Reign!
So, although I'm a fan of women getting any job going, from a caterer to a Prime Minister, I'm afraid the legacy of the "Thatcher Years" will, for me, forever be one of deregulated this, that, and the other, which have all proven to be total failures (for most people) in their respective spheres. BT replaced the General Post Office, and Royal Mail was cut out from the Post Office, and now both are ailing. Umpteen railway privatised train companies have replaced British Railways, and STILL we don't get trains which run on time or commuter rail fares people can afford! I could go on... but I can see your eyes are glossing over, so I'll just end as I began, and respectfully say Rest in Peace, 'Mrs T'... ... but actually, I'm not that sorry you're now fully consigned to history!
Saturday 6 April 2013
The first mild, warm, and sunny day since last Autumn!!
It's been just *wonderful* having the sun out most of the day - and very little breeze this morning, till about lunchtime!
Aaaa... sigh of relief... At least we've had ONE day of Springtime! It seems like we've been in Winter since December! We've just finished March, which was the second coldest on record, and April had hardly begun when the Met Office said that the 2nd of April was the coldest April day on record, too! And all the time, during march and April so far, we've battled bitingly-cold Easterly winds; and the March snow still lies many feet deep "up North"!
So it's been a real respite-day, today, to have the day mild - even warm this morning while there was no wind - and sunny most of the day... Aaaa... We even opened the Summerhouse doors to air it out!! Wa-hey!! Springtime has finally arrived, if only for one day!
So, I wonder... How many of you, like me, had a bit of a clear up in the garden, as the sun shone warm this morning? And while the male Blackbird sang his velvety-song to his lady-love? I was even happy to see the first fly of the year! Well, the first I've seen.
Another, pleasant surprise, was a pretty little male Siskin has visited the bird table again this morning, while the male Bluetit continues to drum on the nestbox under the eaves to attract his lady-love.
After all, that's what they've always said, innit? When Springtime comes, a young man's fancy turns to courtin'!
Aaaa... sigh of relief... At least we've had ONE day of Springtime! It seems like we've been in Winter since December! We've just finished March, which was the second coldest on record, and April had hardly begun when the Met Office said that the 2nd of April was the coldest April day on record, too! And all the time, during march and April so far, we've battled bitingly-cold Easterly winds; and the March snow still lies many feet deep "up North"!
So it's been a real respite-day, today, to have the day mild - even warm this morning while there was no wind - and sunny most of the day... Aaaa... We even opened the Summerhouse doors to air it out!! Wa-hey!! Springtime has finally arrived, if only for one day!
So, I wonder... How many of you, like me, had a bit of a clear up in the garden, as the sun shone warm this morning? And while the male Blackbird sang his velvety-song to his lady-love? I was even happy to see the first fly of the year! Well, the first I've seen.
Another, pleasant surprise, was a pretty little male Siskin has visited the bird table again this morning, while the male Bluetit continues to drum on the nestbox under the eaves to attract his lady-love.
After all, that's what they've always said, innit? When Springtime comes, a young man's fancy turns to courtin'!
Tuesday 26 February 2013
"The crocus's are out!" she called down the lane...
Just a quick post today.
"The crocus's are out!" she called down the lane... Ann, my wife, and I, had been for a lovely, if *very* chilly, stroll round our local parkland. I was lagging behind Ann, peering up into the topmost branches of a tall Poplar tree, to see if I could see the Song Thrush which was gaily singing to us, high above my head. At Ann's delighted shout, I scurried up to her side, and looked... and there before us were the first yellow crocus of this year! And it's only 26th February! What a joyous sight they are!
"The crocus's are out!" she called down the lane... Ann, my wife, and I, had been for a lovely, if *very* chilly, stroll round our local parkland. I was lagging behind Ann, peering up into the topmost branches of a tall Poplar tree, to see if I could see the Song Thrush which was gaily singing to us, high above my head. At Ann's delighted shout, I scurried up to her side, and looked... and there before us were the first yellow crocus of this year! And it's only 26th February! What a joyous sight they are!
Sunday 17 February 2013
"Sunshine came softly, through my window today..."
With the tune of Donovan's 1966 song 'Sunshine Superman' and its first words, "Sunshine came softly through my window today..." I greeted today with a smile, and went to feed the birds before breakfast!
It was a frosty morning, though the sun was climbing above the horizon as I sat and had breakfast watching the cold, hungry, birds flying in, one after another, to grab a bite to eat to warm themselves up! Our usual half-dozen Starlings had watched me put the bird-food out, and were the first to arrive (as usual!) Then our flock of Wood Pigeons (6 of 'em!) descended like a squadron of jump-jets landing on an aircraft carrier, and within a few moments they'd consumed most of the peanuts!
'Waggy' the Wagtail has found a new mate, after her previous 'hubby' got taken by the Sparrowhawk, and both were soon down to waddle round the garden in search of the juiciest mealworms I'd put down for them and the Robin... who came late but gobbled up several mealworms before flying off, and only just missing the top of the fence.
Then when all these had shown the 2 pairs of Blackbirds that all was safe in the garden, they, also, came down, one after another - and still squabbling, as to who has the feeding rights under the big flowerpot, or on the garden border - but soon the sultanas were gone as they snatched quickly at them before flying off back into the trees behind our garden.
By the time the Collared Doves came in, there weren't many peanuts left, and then our resident Squirrel popped over the back fence and spooked them as he scurried forward to find his breakfast. Ooo, I *do* get cross with that Squirrel !! He (she?) fills his tummy with peanuts, and then has the nerve to have a nibble at the feeding-ports on the hanging feeders of sunflower hearts!
The funny thing is, that for all the activity of the larger birds flying in and out to feed, the tiny little Blue Tits, and Goldfinches, take no notice and stay in the Magnolia tree, on the hanging feeders, throughout the flapping, and squabbling down on the ground!
What a lovely, sunny, spectacle was this morning. And the springtime plants are pushing up to reveal where we planted daffodils, crocus, and grape-hyacinths last autumn...
A really delightful morning we had, before setting off to church, and giving thanks to God for all these sights and sounds. Praise God for springtime, and new life appearing everywhere we look! Happy Sunday!
It was a frosty morning, though the sun was climbing above the horizon as I sat and had breakfast watching the cold, hungry, birds flying in, one after another, to grab a bite to eat to warm themselves up! Our usual half-dozen Starlings had watched me put the bird-food out, and were the first to arrive (as usual!) Then our flock of Wood Pigeons (6 of 'em!) descended like a squadron of jump-jets landing on an aircraft carrier, and within a few moments they'd consumed most of the peanuts!
'Waggy' the Wagtail has found a new mate, after her previous 'hubby' got taken by the Sparrowhawk, and both were soon down to waddle round the garden in search of the juiciest mealworms I'd put down for them and the Robin... who came late but gobbled up several mealworms before flying off, and only just missing the top of the fence.
Then when all these had shown the 2 pairs of Blackbirds that all was safe in the garden, they, also, came down, one after another - and still squabbling, as to who has the feeding rights under the big flowerpot, or on the garden border - but soon the sultanas were gone as they snatched quickly at them before flying off back into the trees behind our garden.
By the time the Collared Doves came in, there weren't many peanuts left, and then our resident Squirrel popped over the back fence and spooked them as he scurried forward to find his breakfast. Ooo, I *do* get cross with that Squirrel !! He (she?) fills his tummy with peanuts, and then has the nerve to have a nibble at the feeding-ports on the hanging feeders of sunflower hearts!
The funny thing is, that for all the activity of the larger birds flying in and out to feed, the tiny little Blue Tits, and Goldfinches, take no notice and stay in the Magnolia tree, on the hanging feeders, throughout the flapping, and squabbling down on the ground!
What a lovely, sunny, spectacle was this morning. And the springtime plants are pushing up to reveal where we planted daffodils, crocus, and grape-hyacinths last autumn...
A really delightful morning we had, before setting off to church, and giving thanks to God for all these sights and sounds. Praise God for springtime, and new life appearing everywhere we look! Happy Sunday!
Wednesday 23 January 2013
Snow on snow...
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter...
This January! :-(
(With thanks to Christina Rosetti)
Snow on snow... "They" (the weather forecasters) said there wouldn't be any more snow for Milton Keynes last night, or today, but, to mis-quote from the lyrics of Jeff Wayne's classic album "War of the Worlds"... "But still it comes!"
Both front and back gardens are full of wild birds all trying to get something to eat and stay warm with a high calorie intake. We've put out an assortment of foodstuffs, onto the bird tables, in hanging feeders, on trays lodged in the branches of our tree, and scattered liberally on the ground. Peanuts for Collared Doves, Wood Pigeons, and the odd Grey Squirrel (though it's a pest the way it buries some nuts in our garden flower tubs!). Sunflower hearts in hanging feeders for well over a dozen Goldfinches now coming in. Wild bird seed scattered around for 2x pairs of Chaffinches and 2x Dunnocks, and dried mealworms for our "resident" Pied Wagtail, 3 Robins (who squabble over who has the 'rights' to the garden!); and, since the snowfall, 3 male and 3 female blackbirds, which haven't been seen since springtime!!
Keeping a fresh bowl of water unfrozen has been a hard task, but I solved it by buying a coconut, sawing it in half, scraping out the coconut (the Blue Tits and Great Tits have loved that!), and using the halves as water bowls... Easier to bring indoors and thaw out each morning, than the bird baths!
I know it's winter, and we should expect snow... but both I and the wild garden birds will be *very* pleased when it's all gone!
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter...
This January! :-(
(With thanks to Christina Rosetti)
Snow on snow... "They" (the weather forecasters) said there wouldn't be any more snow for Milton Keynes last night, or today, but, to mis-quote from the lyrics of Jeff Wayne's classic album "War of the Worlds"... "But still it comes!"
Both front and back gardens are full of wild birds all trying to get something to eat and stay warm with a high calorie intake. We've put out an assortment of foodstuffs, onto the bird tables, in hanging feeders, on trays lodged in the branches of our tree, and scattered liberally on the ground. Peanuts for Collared Doves, Wood Pigeons, and the odd Grey Squirrel (though it's a pest the way it buries some nuts in our garden flower tubs!). Sunflower hearts in hanging feeders for well over a dozen Goldfinches now coming in. Wild bird seed scattered around for 2x pairs of Chaffinches and 2x Dunnocks, and dried mealworms for our "resident" Pied Wagtail, 3 Robins (who squabble over who has the 'rights' to the garden!); and, since the snowfall, 3 male and 3 female blackbirds, which haven't been seen since springtime!!
Keeping a fresh bowl of water unfrozen has been a hard task, but I solved it by buying a coconut, sawing it in half, scraping out the coconut (the Blue Tits and Great Tits have loved that!), and using the halves as water bowls... Easier to bring indoors and thaw out each morning, than the bird baths!
I know it's winter, and we should expect snow... but both I and the wild garden birds will be *very* pleased when it's all gone!
Friday 18 January 2013
RIP "Waggy" the Pied Wagtail
It was a very sad morning for my Ann.
She was in our lounge when she heard "squeeking" noises from the garden; and she looked up just as "our" Pied Wagtail - who we've had, and fed, since last Spring - flew up from the ground, into the lounge window with a bang... As it fell back to the ground the reason for the "squeeking" and it's frightened flight into the window became clear in the next second...
Our local Sparrowhawk had got the Wagtail...
She, (we know it was a female, as they have slate-grey backs, whereas males have a black back), has been my constant companion for well over 9 months, getting more and more confident of coming down when I'm still out putting down the various bird food we feed. But now she is no more...
As I said to Ann when she brought me the sad news, "You're actually very fortunate to have seen it. (a) We now know why we'll not see "Waggy" again, and (b) you've seen the Sparrowhawk get fed from our "bird feeding stations", cos after all, Sparrowhawks don't eat mealworms, nuts, seed, coconut or fat scraps. For the Sparrowhawk the bird table provides... birds... ..."
But, nonetheless, RIP "Waggy"... I *will* miss you're friendly twitter.
She was in our lounge when she heard "squeeking" noises from the garden; and she looked up just as "our" Pied Wagtail - who we've had, and fed, since last Spring - flew up from the ground, into the lounge window with a bang... As it fell back to the ground the reason for the "squeeking" and it's frightened flight into the window became clear in the next second...
Our local Sparrowhawk had got the Wagtail...
She, (we know it was a female, as they have slate-grey backs, whereas males have a black back), has been my constant companion for well over 9 months, getting more and more confident of coming down when I'm still out putting down the various bird food we feed. But now she is no more...
As I said to Ann when she brought me the sad news, "You're actually very fortunate to have seen it. (a) We now know why we'll not see "Waggy" again, and (b) you've seen the Sparrowhawk get fed from our "bird feeding stations", cos after all, Sparrowhawks don't eat mealworms, nuts, seed, coconut or fat scraps. For the Sparrowhawk the bird table provides... birds... ..."
But, nonetheless, RIP "Waggy"... I *will* miss you're friendly twitter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)