Another book..

I succumbed to yet another book which arrived today and was awaiting my return from school.It tells the story of Martin Travers a talented ecclesiastical designer,stained glass designer and graphic artist. I feel he is sadly forgotten by many but this book tells his glorious story and shows examples of his talent. A talent used to glorify God and beautify his House.

A room with a view etc

A view from behind our kitchen sink (beside our old backdoor) into the the extension.This was the scene a few days ago. Now the old  window and door have been removed  the whole extended kitchen is here in all its glory  with room for table,chairs etc in the new part.Work has slowed on the kitchen (as it will now be referred to) but will start next week again with plastering ,painting then flooring.We are delighted with it.It has been used already as a very pleasant place to read ,chat or eat.
I have reached the point in term when I sleep even worse,wake constantly in the night to think of 101 things to be completed before the end of the term and can think of little else.Odd lucid moments are spent with the family or in brief hobby speculations which I note down before they disappear forever.Attempts to paint or solo gaming have dried up completely.Solace is found in the sun or pottering in the garden Hols begin a week on Friday and I can't wait but I must press on until then...

Uniform info - can you help?

Morning all! Just a quick post ( hope to catch up late) to say I am looking for info on the Norwegian army and it's uniforms around 1930.This photo is all I can find .Can you help?
I'm not after 1940 stuff by the way but ten years earlier. This is part of some ongoing thoughts re platoon actions with my Interwar Swedes...

Of Clocks and standards and work in progress...

The boiler was removed yesterday amidst men crawling through and under all manner of places in the house.New hatches were created and some water leaked out as one might expect.The old tanks were removed.A new boiler will be installed today and the electrician and plumbers will be in attendance.The external porch work moved forward well again yesterday too.Finally a shot of my converted Swedish standardbearer-

He is a ww2 French officer body with an 18th century tricorne head added.He carries the standard of the Lutheran volunteers in the VBCW.He was started around a year ago when first mention was made of the forthcoming interwar Swedes  and is almost finished.I fear I have overdone the black inkwash over his grey cavalry coat..
The character is  a member of the staff from Lund Cathedral . As well as being the standard bearer he is also of an engineering background .In 1923 he was involved in the restoration and reinstatement of the great medieval clock in the cathedral which had been stored away.A mechanical wonder of the world is still going strong and looks like this-

A man of God and a practical man too .We shall see what he helps turn his hand to over in England in the dark days of 1938...

A sort of Swedish day...

9th of June-a tad sad that we did not celebrate the Feast of St Columba at Mass today. He is my Confirmation Saint and his Feast Day is the day on which I got engaged.Just another "Ordinary Time" Sunday ( if such can exist I say)instead.
A trip to Ikea and subsequent making up of the furniture purchased has meant I had little time to paint my VBCW Swedes. I nearly finished a conversion of  a Swedish standard bearer using a couple of old 28mm figures  but piccies etc later .Meanwhile the state of the extension on Friday night-

Impressive or what I say!

Meanwhile... the build and books eccleciastical

In unusually warm weather for the Duchy the build continues...

 

The foundations are dug.

Concrete poured and the wood has arrived.

Three dimensionality is added.This is the point reached by late afternoon yesterday.All is proceeding well so far.It is now Friday 6.ooam and another weekend looks over the horizon.

After tea in the garden last night I began to read this new book which arrived yesterday-

It is an account of the Anglo-Catholic movement in the interwar years. It is accessible and scholarly at the same time.I cannot wait to read further this weekend. In the past I collected Anglo-catholic literature  which was often well produced by their "house printers" like the Society of SS Peter and Paul and the C/L.A. Sadly when I downsized much of it went to the specialist charity booksale in Edinburgh run by Christian Aid.I still have some some things left and may be start to collect again space and money permitting. Off for the train toodle pip everyone!

A tad disappointed...

Instead of opening a box of bright shiny 28mm interwar Swedes tonight I have found a card from the P.O instead wanting £17.80 before they will deliver them - customs it say.Humbug I say!
I have to say that Historgfigs emailed me back very quickly when I informed them.They said this-

Hello Alan,

Not sure what to say on the customs duty problem. This hasn't been an issue/problem with other shipments to the UK. Of course the mysteries of customs duties are hard to unravel (not sure we know anyone, here or overseas who fully understands them).

In any event, what we can do to help with the problem is this: Issue a refund for the amount of your shipping charge. We realize this won't make up for the full amount of the customs duties, but it should help.

We will go back and do more research on how best to document our shipments to the UK, so as to help reduce any duties issues on the receiving end. We don't want to break any laws, but we do want customers to not have unexpected duties to pay.

We are sorry for the inconvenience, and hope that the refund of shipping charges will help offset the unexpected expense. Pleas let us know if we should proceed with the refund of shipping charges.

Thank you,

 Mike & Alison Taber

All in all most helpful but I remain a tad mystified and very fed up with our Post Office.Can anyone explain?