Happy New Year

A Happy New Year to you and yours from all in the Duchy of Tradgardland.Thanks for your comments,suggestions,interest and more in 2013.

In Neptune's Grove...

Morning on the Estate surrounding the Ducal Palace in Tradgardland. A shepherdess escorts her flock across the grove to pastures.An idyll in Arcadia...
Later on the sound of sword play echos around the once quiet grove-

These determined gentlemen hone their skill under the watchful eye of Father Duggan,former military adventurer now Jesuit priest. Tiring of their sport the men retire to discourse over wine.

Ladybird.ladybird...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03mp53s/Timeshift_Series_13_The_Ladybird_Books_Story_How_Britain_Got_the_Reading_Bug/
A link to a splendid BBC 4 programme on Ladybird books.If you are of a certain age you will remember them. I owe much of my love of history to these books and the splendid style they were written in. Watch the programme,recall the pictures ,be informed of the background and just enjoy!

Morning workbench

I got up and started on the new lead.I am also trying out new basing with some bases I have had around for ages.

The Garrison mammoth fits together well but I had an awful fiddle to get the tusks to stick and hold.Perhaps the superglue wasn't the best thing to use? I now have a new layer of artificial super glue skin on many of my fingers.Nevertheless I am pleased so far with him and look forward to seeing the painted result.I am thinking about adding a few primitive rockets/artillery to the army so it can double up for  18th century useage...

On the Feast of Stephen...

Today is the Feast of St Stephen and Boxing Day.One of my favourite carols is about the good king who went out on this day.

This is the cover of a book I have of the carol illustrated in glorious woodcuts.It is filled with evocative colour and beautiful pictures.

We had a splendid Christmas here in the Duchy.Jan was good form and able to enjoy the day.Church,fantastic food,festivities,presents in the the company of the family.The evening ended with us all enjoying a dvd together- "Enigma" which entertained  very well.

Amongst my other gifts I got this-

It is a well written primer filled with enthusiasm for the hobby.Inspiring for newcomers and old hands alike.I look forward to reading this.Lead too featured in the presents- delightfully "old school" Garrison figures with elephants/mammoths,archers and bowmen.They will form a small army from Vandhya to join in my ancient gaming using "Gathering of Hosts" rules.

Have a splendid St Stephen's Day one and all!

Christmas in the Duchy of Tradgardland

It is the night before Christmas in Tradgardstadt, the capital of the Duchy of Tradgardland.Snow has fallen snow on snow,snow on snow.The soldiers parade through the streets ( watched by the good people of the town from within their shuttered houses) carrying a Christmas tree to be given to the Duke himself to decorate the Palace.

 They are preceeded by the musicians of the Ducal Court who play a medley of Carols including one which has become a favourite world wide-

"God Rest ye merry Tradgardstadt folk

let nothing you dismay.

For Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas Day...

Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy.Oh tidings of comfort and joy..."

A Merry Christmas to all from all in the Duchy of Tradgardland!

In Ny Tradgardland and some kit building...

We left our heroes in danger -
http://tradgardland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/in-guild-masters-study-or-matters.html
They proceeded to steal the arcane painting belonging to the Guild Master.They then sold it to an antiquarian in Tradgardstadt prior to making their way down to the port with some gold coins in their pockets.

Our gallant heroes have escaped on a ship bound for the New World in the shape of the Duchy of Tradgardland's colony Ny Tradgardland.It is just down the road from the Fortress of Louisbourg.They are making their way around the Colony when they meet upon some grim visaged men.

  

They are met by a patrol of Tradgardland regular troops and local militia in their distinctive rose coloured caps.Compliments are exchanged and they are informed by the officer that an enemy patrol has been sighted in the area.

They hasten into the log cabin nearby accompanied by the patrol.

The door is bolted and barred. They await the enemy.They will not have long to wait as whoops and whistles fill the air!

To be continued....

This scenario was suggested by my modelling task this morning - a splendid 4Ground building I had never got round to making since  I bought it in January. Whilst making it I decided to base some skirmish games around it, the first of which I hope to game over the next day or so.

As for the kit it was a joy to build with a great instruction sheet and parts that pressed out easily and fitted together so well.

Duchy update

Friday Morning earlyish..
I have made it through the mountains of paperwork,past bureaucratic swamps and pupils sharing colds etc to the holidays.Yesterday was the last day of term and after Secret Santa ( I was given a Odean voucher to go and see the Desolation of Smaug on Santa- splendid ,thoughtful gift I say) I went into Edinburgh to keep Jan company during her 4th Chemo.The ward is busy so I went off and had a look in the Oxfam and Shelter bookshops in Stockbrigde for a brief period via a free coffee at Waitrose's ( Stockbridge-is that where the AWI Native Americans come from ?Only joking. Fancifully I imagine them in the Colony houses along the Water of Leith) which are excellent.It was a long day for Jan leaving home around nine and back by seven thirty.She is fine but tired after blood count delays  which postponed the treatment over last two weeks.But it has happened and we can all look towards Christmas now.

After a day or so dozing I hope to get some painting and games in prior to Christmas  and will post here accordingly.The picture is as I see the Duchy/here in my mind's eye- complete with Tomte padding about.Off to get more coffee ,have a good day one and all!
Finally, another Tomte picture,this one by John Bauer-

An amazingly evocative artist...

Uniform help sought

What uniforms did the Yugoslav army wear 1919/1920 in their attempted invasion of Austria?
Thanks
Alan

Whimsy etc

Middle and youngest daughters cooked today-

Very tasty! On them are Christmas decorations I have names for - Fr Christmas,Fr Ted and Fr Robin,don't ask, just my nonsense.
A Christmas card of a train which arrived today reminded me of Rowland Emmett as it depicted his style of train.I found this image of his style of  work on the web-

I recall going to see Emmett machines in department stores in Edinburgh in my youth.I loved their scale,fun and animation as a boy.I also in the 80s (?) subscribed to a railway journal AWNUTS - which I think stood for always whimsical never to scale. When I down sized I threw out the magazines.I wish I had kept them and their jolly pictures of Emmett inspired model trains etc. Finally I must mention their is now a society dedicated to this splendid chap.Anyone else in Blogdom recall his machines and appreciate them?

Orcs! A Gathering of Hosts game part 1

Scouts in the forests have spotted a large body of orcs travelling  south.They are currently in an area of low hills and open woodland-

The raiding party is as follows-

3 units of Light Infantry Swordsmen- orcs

2 units of Light Infantry Skirmishers- orcs

3 Units of  Heavy Infantry Swordsmen- Man Orcs

The Horse Lords have gathered a  force together to clear the orcs from the woods-

It consists of-

4 units of Heavy Cavalry- the Horse Lords

2 units of Light Cavalry - the Horse Lords

1 unit of Heavy Infantry Swordsmen - Guards from an allied city

The game was set up early Saturday morning to be played later...

Plans

Maybe its the forthcoming film combined with Ross Macfarlane's post today.Perhaps it is nostalgia for a simpler time.Whatever it is I fancy getting the Mythical Earth chaps out-

Give them a outing on the gridded mat. Pity I'm  too tired tonight to go for it but there's always the coming weekend...