Tuesday, 14 October 2025

Interesting link. On Copenhagen and its fortifications… Followed by some navel gazing…

 https://elisharesearch.com/2020/09/25/the-old-fortifications-of-copenhagen-and-how-it-shaped-the-city-today/

Yesterday the books came out-

I’ve been trying on and off for thirty years to bring the Danish Napoleonic experience to the table. Only success was a 15mm Battle of Koge demonstration game at the Kirriemuir Wargames show we put on around 27 years ago. Other than that there are lots of bits n bobs around pertaining to failed attempts to do Koge 1807 or skirmishes around the Seige of Copenhagen of the same year. A Sharpe Practice one, a battalion level game idea based on the wee booklet of rules etc on the Peninsula War by Barry Edwards and a Trangen inspired skirmish. Not to mention Trangen .
There was much less info around thirty years ago and a big file of cuttings and articles was built up , now superseded by such printed sources as above. I am spoiled for information.So the question is , filled with the recent holiday enthusiasm ringing in my ears , do I try to take something Danish and Napoleonic forward..
Cons:
Lots of failed projects in this period, lots of half completed other work on the work bench from recently- Craigshire, VBCW Welsh Nationalists, Hawaiians etc etc, lack of energy and enthusiasm at times, a need to downsize my collections to spare my daughters later.
Pros: thirty years of being fascinated by the Napoleonic period in Denmark, bits and bobs which could be take forward, a now or never feeling, winters quarters are coming with indoor hobby rather than outdoor hobby work to the fore, ld like to have a go.
Currently wondering if my 25mm British/ Hanoverian civil war collection ( based for the Portable Wargame on 60mm square bases) and old school Minifigs/ Hincliffe  and painted would provide the attackers and l could cobble together, adapt, possibly buy some Danish defenders. One base as a battalion. Portable Wargame or Volley and Bayonet as possible rules
Hmmm much to muse on. Any suggestions or advice?


Monday, 13 October 2025

Back 3 or the third day in Copenhagen

 Again in reverse order , evening to morning 

Daughter number two with a scary denizen of Tivoli!
The magic of after dark in Tivoli , a magical place.
Pumpkins predominant in the decorative scheme. 
Some posters seen at the interesting Danish Design museum.
Lur Horn statue outside the town hall in the square.
Carvings just outside the Town Hall. 
A lovely church in Vesterbro near where the hotel Jan’s and I first stayed in over thirty years ago. As we were passing I sought out the hotel and was pleased to see it still going strong.
Wonderful painted illusion in the meat packaging district, a revitalised industrial area now full of trendy places to eat , drink and shop.  
Another view of the above.
Daughter number two had researched this place as a must see . We had a splendid beer and meet lunch here.
Lovely building en route to Warpigs. 
As was this…
Prior to leaving the hotel in the morning we checked a website and discovered the water quality had changed for the better and so we returned to the swimming site of yesterday where an excellent swim was had .
Another mermaid seen . The sun was out for my daughter’s swim and she was delighted after yesterday’s disappointment. Many locals were availing themselves os the swimming venue too. All was preceded by an excellent breakfast in the hotel.

Sunday, 12 October 2025

Back 2 or the second day in Copenhagen

 The day in reverse cause Blogger uploads like that , very odd.

Evening meal at a Taco concession alfresco. Daughter number two is a bit of a foodie so had researched places to eat, this was the food market. Very nice too.
She went up the round tower where Jan and I went on our first visit. A ramp not stairs to the top btw.
View from coffee concession in  Ulim Bolighus, I went out but came in quickly as I don’t do heights!
A different way to see the city , by water on canal tour, absolutely fascinating and a new perspective completely. First time doing this. Would recommend.
 
Great to see the sheds where the Danes kept their gun boats in the napoleonic wars. There were lots of shed. A big gunboat fan I really enjoyed seeing these.
It was fun going under the bridges. Not a lot of clearance.

Interesting sign above the door, wonder what lay behind it…
As we had Copenhagen Cards I took my daughter in to see the beloved Lur horns as well as the Bronze Age and Iron Age exhibits.
A lovely court yard just off the street.
Anna is a keen wild swimmer and we went to do this first thing. A notice advised against swimming due to poor water quality. Disappointing in a way but excellent in another.
The splendid swimming area decked out so well by the Danes. There are quite a few places like this.
After breakfast we walked to the swimming place past this wonderful bridge just crying out to be modelled and used in another context like as a space outpost on a planet…

Great day but walked more than we intended. Copenhagen does that to you 😀

Saturday, 11 October 2025

Dreadful in Penedredfel..

 Found this upon my return-


What happened remains a mystery , was it a giant cat or the Beast of Penedredfel, we will never know. The  station personnel have silently dusted themselves off and the station also , restored by the Portly Controller aka the Duke of Tradgardland. We will watch and wait for further developments…

Friday, 10 October 2025

Back 1

 Just back from three nights in Copenhagen. 

Coffee and cheese roll ( danish specialty) outside Hart. Saw these lovely dogs.
Colourful housing occupied by military personnel l believe.
Splendid entrance to the fort.
View of ramparts and St Alban’s , the English church.
Gateway into the fort…
Garrison church in the fort.
Statue of the Danish king who rode round the city encouraging his people whilst under Nazi occupation.
Charming detail on a building.


Tuesday, 7 October 2025

Heads up

 I just want to give a heads up to this blog-

https://talesfromthetoyroom.blogspot.com/

It is full of wonderful toy soldier inspiration and well worth a visit. Pop by , you certainly won’t regret it . Always enchanting often surprising , it is a delight. I particularly like the miniature worlds created by Graham with their scenery and gardens too. 

Currently unable to leave comments there ( and many other blogs too) due to blogger. 

Monday, 6 October 2025

Vibe

 My enthusiasm for my current projects ( Hawaiians , Craigshire and VBCW Welsh)seems to have withered on the hobby vine. Knowing my enthusiasm will return at some point (plastic storage drawers opened and the work restarted ) I put things aside and looked for a wee hobby palette cleanser in the shape of 54mm figures and a pig-

Being lying around for ages. Funny thing is before I wargamed I painted 54s , often Rose Miniatures, all long gone. I got bored with the figures as they just sat on shelves. Got the Rose figures at the Toy Tub.




Filling the cracks  left by my bad assembly work.

A couple of old eBay Britains in the need of TLC…
On Saturday l saw an inspiring exhibition at the local museum/ library/ gallery 

Beautiful art on display, well worth looking out for…