Louis the Spider and matters diverse...

Evening all! Family watching Coldplay on tv with end of meal cuppas so I thought I would post about today...

Jan and the girls completed the Race for Life ( see picture above...) in ok weather and without becoming too fatigued. A loud huzzah to all concerned!

I have managed to complete 10 elements of 15th century French Ordannance for DBM this weekend which have been lying partially completed for ages(Listened to Audio Commentary for Gladiator too which was interesting) they are to teach the army of Charles the Bold a lesson hopefully later this summer when the army is finished!

Back to work tomorrow and hols looming tantalisingly in the near future...

Sunday:The day has come...

Overcast and rainy here in Tradgardland- up early and listening/watching Coldplay ,Elbow and diverse musical chums at Glastonbury...
Jan, Zoe, Anna, Freya and sundry friends will begin the Race for Life in just under 4 hours - hope weather gets a tad better. Not too hot and dry would be ideal...
The Tennis (not Wimbledon that is though I must confess I have enjoyed the coverage I have watched) enters it's final set at work I hope. Holidays begin on Friday and I can't wait.Cry Havoc and release the dogs of R&R!

A new blog worth visiting...

Afternoon all! Just home and I thought I would ask you to pop over to a new blog. It has been set up by Tom from our local club- http://mylittlewargameblog.blogspot.com/

Do have a look and leave a comment...

Summer has returned to Tradgardland after the deluge of earlier in the week. I popped into town to return something on behalf of my daughter and took a chance to have a look at the Durer exhibition at the Gallery at the foot of the Mound in Edinburgh. Well worth popping into . I couldn't resist posting one of my favourites- enjoy!

Anyone one for Tennis- no not Wimbledon...

The annual tennis event has begun but I don't mean Wimbledon! I serve my Reports to Management and they return them for modification,I return them to management and the great rally commences! It is tiring and to what avail I often wonder. The rally will probably last all week.

On a positive front many thanks to Bob for spiffing info on how to build 2D hills- lots of arts and craft here in the Duchy I feel. Keep the girls busy in the run up to summer hols producing some hills I hope!

Thanks too to Fitzbadger for for his "We don't need no stinkin rules.." post I discovered/rediscovered yesterday which has inspired me to simplify my 18th century games with regard to rules and benefit tremendously by the process.The benefit will be in terms of fun and playability with no loss of any kind at all. I have my imaginary matchbox back to write my rules upon ready and waiting...

Jan and the girls fund raising...

Next Sunday my wife Jan and my three daughters will be involved in a fundraising walk/run for Cancer Research in Kirkcaldy, Fife. If any of you would like to donate/sponsor them here is the link to do so-


http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/jangruber0703

Many thanks for those who have already done so and my thanks in anticipation to those who will do so now !

Edward the eighth in thirty eight...

Been working on my vbcw 1938 stuff today...
Edward viii has been visting his cousin's troops. The Duke of Brunswick (Rupert) has provided his cousin with a standard bearer. Edward is with the Duke's estate workers who stand in front of their transport. Also on the workbench were the various Mistery/Array militias delighted to see their king in the flesh.

Wee tables and diverse matters...

The weather proceeded to me very mixed in Tradgardland yesterday but could have be much worse. I did indeed go up town and found no suitable material for my hills. However I passed a charity shop , looked in the window and saw something useful -and was able to pick up three cheap diecast lorries/cars to serve as transport for my 1938 vbcw troops...

Later in the day I was able to do some work on them and also some on the accompanying figures belonging to the unit I am raising. It is commanded by Edward viii's cousin Rupert the Duke of Brunswick and contains estate workers and ww1 veterans out of sympathy with the current German regime. They are on British soil to support Edward against is foes in the vbcw...

On matters terrain I could not find a source of suitable thin wood for the hills yesterday. I love the idea of rolling green 2D hills for my gaming both 18th century and myriad other uses. I don't think balsa is tough enough and am wondering about card. As,ever, your ideas are sought!

Gaming on a wee table is a discipline/challenge which I find exciting - optimum fun to be derived from the space available. adding three dimensionality and faux features seems a good way forward and do please have a glance at Fitzbadger's comment to my last post. I think he is onto something and offers sage council. It is now Sunday at 7.45 am and I am off to give Jan a cup of tea before church. Next Sunday the girls and her will have an early start as they participate in the Cancer Research Race for Life- so some walking/training may be on the cards for them today.

Saturday in Tradgardland (so far)

Weekend at last! Woke at five, up five thirty as I couldn't get over again. I laid out my paints and figures for such an eventuality the night before but find myself too fatigued to put brush to lead. It is a funny thing but the tireder one gets the harder it is to sleep!

I thought I would post to diverse images instead- firstly Pumpkin the guinea pig with a straw filled sock-friend for company -recently made by Jan and Freya . Pumpkin is doing well and adjusting to solitary life ...

Secondly the partially completed Ratty from Musketeer miniatures. I could not resist painting him in blazer and cap from my old school - I think the blue and chocolate brown go rather well together don't you?

It is a rainy, dismal day here in Tradgardland. I will pop up town for shopping later en famlie or possibly alone - we shall see. I have a notion to have a go at some 2D ish hills a la Soweiter League and may pick up bits for that from the local model shoppe. Last weekend was filled with report writing and it is a joy not to have them to do this weekend.

A brief update...

Morning all! A brief update from Tradgardland...
I am rising too early and getting off to sleep too late at the moment- no not some wild baccalian parties or studying but overtiredness I'm afraid. It gets me like that at times. As we move towards the end of term there is too much to do- I.T issues ,new jargon to learn and myriad practical and admin things to fill the day at work. Little time and energy for the hobby except for the taking of notes for projects to come and ideas to be jotted down before they slip forever from the mind. Hopefully some more interesting updates from me soon...

Willows by G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T...

Evening Chaps!

I spent a spiffing hour attempting to unwind by starting to paint the Windy chaps ( available from the excellent new website- http://www.muttonchop.i4style.com/index.php?route=common/home ) who are human versions of the Wind in the Willows characters. Not a bad start though I say it myself.

I have been debating what rules to use then it suddenly entered my education-overloaded brain - GASLIGHT!Fun,acessible and I don't know why I didn't think of them earlier! There it is decided -ideal I think. Now I need to think of appropriate skills for my main characters- any thoughts chaps! Have a good evening one and all...

Mr Toad on the road again... Chapter 1

Mr Toad’s car continued thru the lanes, past the high hedgerows and wild flowers. As ever he waxed lyrical about his latest passion- in this case the architecture of Mr Bailey- Scott. Time passed quickly on the journey as there was much to see- men working in the fields, drilling upon village greens and posters extolling the virtues of that awful fellow Moseley.

Things had never been the same since the King met that awful American woman. Toad her met her at some high society do but was not impressed. Now the country was broken asunder with armies everywhere and fears on the wind.

”Charles is expecting us soon so step on it driver!” Mr Toad exclaimed as they went around the next bend. “Mr Wade of Snowshill is a great architect and collector of wonders… “Continued Mr Toad as the others looked around at countryside and small villages as the armoured car trundled onwards. Mole rummaged under the back seat and breathed a sigh of relief as he felt the familiar shape of his Lewis gun…It had been a week ago that Toad had received a letter from Mr Charles Paget Wade of Snowshill Manor. They were old friends and had much in common especially the acquisition of unnecessary yet fascinating objects of all shapes and sizes- everything from samurai armour to 18th century keys. Charles had related, in his strange spidery hand, of recent visits from his friends in the local Mistery Kin. They had regularly participated, in the past, in Masques and diverse entertainments at Snowshill over the years and were particular enthusiasts for the medieval armour and faux costumes. Of late they had been busy in the area organising everyone and introducing to the local big-wigs their exotic and rather sinister foreign advisors. Charles had already organised a L.D.V unit comprising his friends and local chaps handy with the shot gun. Now Viscount Lymington had called on him and talked of a bright new future for England. Charles listened politely but was unconvinced…

To be continued…This is the start of an attempt to integrate the Mutton Chop's Toad & chums and the forthcoming Weasels into my vbcw project

No sunne and some sadness...

Essex Swiss hornblower with wine cork lead cloak and skis. The other figure is an old Citadel one I think from years ago.

No sunne yesterday or today (Sunday) and a drop of 10 degrees temperature since Friday! I'm too tired to do school reports and have had to leave them aside . Yesterday Petal the guinea pig suddenly took unwell and had to be taken to the vet. She was most helpful ,gave us medicine but offered not too positive a prognosis. We worked together to try and help Petal but she was in a sorry state last night. Over night she died and is now resting beneath an Acer tree in the garden. We have all grown very fond of her over the last ten months and poor Freya is devastated. A quiet day to recoup our energies is called for.

Tired ,after a bad night's sleep we all are having a quiet day. I got out the paints and tried to do a base for Basic Impetus with bicarbonate soda as snow. It depicts a 15th century group of scouts . I am reasonably pleased with the results...

P.S apologies for formatting just could'nt get it right today- well done for reading this far!

Wargstadt in the afternoon two days later...

The debating has been fierce, the oratory at times long winded and much has been heard and said over the intervening days. As this evening is the Vigil of the feast of St Wulfsten, the assembled Electors have decreed this be a day devoted to pleasure,gossiping and outdoor pursuits under the warm Umstrttental June sun...

Groups of Electors and their supporters can be seen hotly discussing matters upon the ornamental lake,in the park lands or even as they hunt together. There seems to be a parting of the Electors into two main factions- those who support the candidate favoured by the Imperium and those ( in stark opposition) who have gathered around the Syldavian Ambassador -those who look to the Duchy of Tradgardland for advice and council.

The day meanders on into the early evening and all make their way back towards the Summerhouse for the musical entertainment long anticipated. Just in sight of their destination the Electors chance upon a distraught and dust laden individual.He is dishevelled,blood stained and has the look of one who has seen too much. The figure remains incoherent and raves unabated, finally have swallowed enough brandy he lets out his tale- Ulric von Wargstadt has been shot and killed.As a gasp engulfs the gathering a group of figures bearing a improvised litter can be seen coming out of the trees...

The sunne in splendour hopefully...

It has been a busy week in the Duchy. Work has been hectic but featured such joys as my Eco Committee presenting a presentation in front of 200-250 people at school's gathering.The children did extremely well and had an amazing day,as did I. The event took place in the building featured up above and in the amazing semi spherical auditorium illustrated. The building is interesting as it features old and new well married together. It was a Convent ( and teacher training college when I grew up nearby ) and before that then-

1877, the estate became the property of the Craiglockhart Hydropathic Company, who set about building a hydropathic institute.[1][2] The Hydropathic was built in the Italian style. Craiglockhart remained as a hydropathic, until the advent of the First World War.[1][2] Between 1916 and 1919 the building was used as a military psychiatric hospital for the treatment of shell-shocked officers.
Probably the most famous patients of Craiglockhart were the poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, whose poems appeared in the hospital's own magazine called The Hydra. Wilfred Owen was the editor of the magazine during his stay. Siegfried Sassoon was sent to Craiglockhart, as a response to his 'Soldier's Declaration', an anti-war letter. He later wrote about his experiences at the hospital in his semi-autobiographical novel, 'Sherston's Progress'.

Jan has worked hard in the garden on her days off ,potted veg on and planted flowering plants too-it looks excellent. It is Friday 6.00am,a long weekend for Fife ( daughters just finished their big exams- well done them!) and so Jan and the girls are off Monday too. I look forward hopefully to some sunne this weekend and hope she shines on you too!
P.S Hope you like the 18th Century gardener - reminds me of an old D&D figure I still have laden down with everything including the kitchen sink...