The Duke and Duchess of Tradgardland and Alisona extend Christmas Greetings to one and all this Season. May you all have a fantastic time wherever you are...
Our thoughts are with our people in Ny Tradgardland, the Shetlands and especially with Von Bergman and the Duc de Padirac in Scotland.
To all Rulers of Imaginations everywhere may you continue to rule well and provide for your households a Season to remember...
The Duchy of Tradgardland potteries appear to have made a mistake with the date upon this plate- it of course ,should have read 1758...
It portrays well the Capital -including the signature Tradgarlander church ( found in every community big or small)with external staircase for the militia to use as an observation post.
One of the tasks I set myself this holiday ( once the coldy/fluy symptoms have finally left me and mine) was to build some typical Tradgardland buildings using the Grant/Stokes methodology. I want to have a go at one of these churches very much - since I saw a similar one in Denmark when I last visited there some years ago!
Anyway I shall give it a go - if the results are at all pleasing I will post photos. Any advice for the making of the external stairs/ balcony ( see photo on my Blog page for an example of such a church) would be most appreciated! I hope this finds you all moving forwards well to a well-earned break!
It has been a busy few days. Jan and I are still under the weather with fluy colds and my eldest is off to the doc today with earache!
We have had a hectic time preparing for a family gathering here yesterday . It all went swimmingly . On Saturday we decked the halls and put up the tree plus shopping. The soiree day itself was hectic but fun. I even organised a quiz which was appreciated by all. Jan produced a lovely meal for all.
As I write Anna is cutting and sticking together for me some lovely chance cards sent to me by Stokes- thanks Stokes!. I hope to get some cardboard houses begun to go with my resin Vauban fortifications in 25mm. The arrival of the Wargame companion @Christmas will further inspire me further. Santa will bring a few Minifigs companies for my imaginations too...
I am interested in seeing Bluebear Jeff is tempted by the Old School look having been inspired by Stokes. I do hope Jeff does go for it. I am starting with some batts but also some company sized units too. Build up slowly is the way I am going. So it will be a Charge inspired Christmas for me - maybe a wee game by the New Year - we shall see. I hope you are all well and preparing for the Season and for some R and R too!!
Recently I talked about this super film ( Pathfinder) on the Duke of Stollen's Blog. I had forgotten the name but someone (thank you) reminded me of it. It is well worth watching and seeking out ,especially as the winter solstice approaches. It is a cracking adventure set amidst the snow with great action and really cool traditional skiing too!So hire it from your local video shop- or even better buy it. You will want to watch it again I'm sure. Have a good glass of mulled ale or wine- heated with a poker straight from the fire of course! Sit back and enjoy!
Well Christmas is coming ever nearer. My middle daughter had her High School Party today and my other two have their one tomorrow night. My own school class had a good one today with a heady mix of games ,Scottish Country Dancing and Grease Medleys...
It is Duke Karl Frederick's favourite Sunday of the year- Gaudete Sunday . On that day the vestments are the same colour as the Ducal colours- namely Rose.
General Mackay has been busy all day drilling his new troops. They have been hand picked from the Tradgardlander Militia and are gathered at the artillery camp. Mackay realises that the coming months will see a threat emerging from the Saschen-Vindow army...
MacKay , a traditionalist by nature and principle, makes sure the men are well acquainted with the arcane drill associated with throwing of grenades. They will become an elite within the Duchy and are to be paid from the Duke's personal gold inherited from his father - a product of plunder upon the field of Mars....
Note to the reader: these figures are currently in the process of painting and I hope to move them forward well this weekend...
At the weekend I was reorganising things for a Charge solo project I am planning. Here is a Tradgardland Militia unit. I wonder if Vonn Bergmann and the duc de Tradgardland and his troops will be home from Scotland soon? I am happy for them to be there if they are needed to fight for bonnie Prince Charlie.
I hope to raise a Tradgardlander Cavalry unit sooner or later...
As the Duke looked out into night sky he observed the passing of a previously unrecorded comet . He mused upon how the ancients saw them as heralds of joy or deep sorrow...
His reverie was interrupted by a sealed letter being placed upon the nearby table. He opened it and read of the events earlier that day in neighbouring Saschen- Vindow . He sighed audibly realising that all hope of peace had been broken upon the wheel that very day...
We went shopping to Perth this afternoon and I saw the book on the right in Waterstones. It is a collection of biographies and fascinating details about early science and scientists. I had a look and it looked most interesting. Just the sort of things the Ducal Society in Tradgardland undertakes or is it undertook?
The first snows of winter have alighted upon Tradgardland. In the villages the people huddle by the fireside at night as the wolves prowl around the outside looking for food and shelter.
The first snows rarely last long, yet they provide a time to sit round of an evening and take stock of everything. A time to prioritise one's daily tasks, to bask in that which has gone well and banish the ghosts of the past.
The messenger pigeon alighted upon the window of Duke Karl Frederick's study. Talking to it in a soothing manner, the Duke unwrapped a folded paper,which he extracted from a small copper tube attached to it's leg. He read the following:
"Things are afoot here in the castle. Duke Peter is planning to go upon autumn manoeuvres with the Ducal army. I will explain more when I can."
Having read the note the Duke threw it upon the fire and stared at the flames ,deep in thought, for along,long time...
Dear reader you are directed to the following blog for further insight:
At the weekend I told you of my plans re Napoleonics and 16th Century Reivers. I also said how I wished to continue building up the forces of Tradgardland. Much thought was given to all this whilst travelling on trains to and from work , as well as whilst washing up after tea tonight. I feel I just don't fancy using my Austrians to invade the Duchy from the Austrian Netherlands again. However I would like the Tradgardlanders to have an opponent...
Well we went to the Kirriemuir show and saw some interesting games- a lovely Sudan game with Perry figs, a medieval siege of Orleans, 1796 French v Austrians to name but a few. The 1st 200 folk thru the door got a free figure- a highlander who will paint up a treat as a chief!
I didn't buy anything but some plans crystallised for the forthcoming winter...
My regular opponent,Phil , is going to paint up some 1807 Brits and I will paint up some Danes of the period. We will try and use BAR as a system rather than "In the grand Manner" which was one option.Units will be about 30 to 40 figs strong for the inf. As light relief we are looking at Border Reiver Skirmishing - small forces and we have suitable terrain already - tho I am tempted by a peel tower. Some reivers will be bought and sundry cattle and sheep...
I will also proceed with the forces of Tradgardland and will need to get some figures underway for Funnylittlewars in 54mmm. All in all I am pretty fired up with enthusiasm - more than I have been for ages. Let's hope that work related fatigue doesn't get in the way too much. Have a good weekend one and all!
It is a week now since the mysterious Wurm left Tradgardland. It was last seen flying away over the forest having been encouraged upon its way by a battery of field pieces...
Duke Karl Frederick and his Duchess Liv are residing in the forest for a few days away from the pressing matters of State. Their time is spent in a simple hunting lodge ,far from other dwelling places. They will read ,walk and hear Mass said by the Ducal domestic chaplain.
The season of fruitfulness and mists is upon the Duchy and all bask in the last few days of sunshine before the Dark days and evenings prevail...
Kronk licked the last of the bramble juice from his fingers-it tasted of autumn.Andersson still observed the Wurm. The last of the company were seen streaming into the relative safety of the woods. With strict instructions given to Kronk to observe the Wurm and to remain awake, Andersson returned to the village. He sought the company of Fr Moribund who had been the local priest since before anyone could remember. Fr Moribund possessed an illuminated missal which contained illustrations of the last Wurm seen in Tradgardland 300 years before. Andersson felt by consulting the manuscript he might gain council and perhaps courage too. As he walked his thoughts turned to Kronk then back to the company. At last ,he thought , the presbytery door! Andersson rang the bell and waited . After what seemed an age bolts were drawn back,keys turned and the door opened...
The Tradgardland Militia Captain looked through his spyglass and observed the village bridge. He was unable to comprehend what lay in his vista. The local informant had indeed been correct - A WURM!
There had been no sightings for centuries ,yet here and now in 1758 Year of our Lord Captain Anderrson saw that which all dreaded most...
Anderrson invoked the power of the Saints and of Heaven itself as he crossed himself whilst murmuring a prayer. Giving the spyglass to his faithful Sergeant Kronk ,Anderrson turned to address the company of men at his command- men upon the edge of running away and heading for the safety of the local forest...
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