Tuesday

Tuesday would have seen me married 25 years. I decided to get a book to celebrate the day-

It was chosen for a number of reasons- I had been in the area on holiday with my parents and recall hearing part of the story from the tour guide, Jan and I had planned/hoped to walk in the area on holiday together and finally I recall having some Suvorov Hinchcliffe Russians many moons ago.

The Duchy of Tradgardland's forces on Mars

The Tradgardland settlement on Mars is protected by a number of different troops. Firstly some Martians have enlisted and fight under the Ducal flag-

The Tradgardland Navy has unloaded some ship's guns and built emplacements to protect the settlement-

Further posts will show the naval,land and air vessels operated by the Ducal Navy.

Captain George Aubrey R.N

It is Captain Aubrey's first visit to Mars. His famous father,Jack, never served in the Martian colonies.
Captain George is going to take up his post as captain of H.M.S Amazement or Mazey for short. Just
having  come through the portal he asks for directions and  help with his sea chest.

A local man offers to help, for a consideration. Captain Aubrey follows behind taking in the sights and sounds of the new world...

The post and a project

I acquired these books this week-

 The first I have begun on the train this week and is a fascinating read. The second only arrived today and looks interesting and well produced on first glance. BTW anyone know of 28mm 18th/late 17th century figures in carnival masks?

Finally I am delighted  to be the new owner of the Mars 1832 figures cast and designed by Kev ( for more info go to- http://dwarfrhelm.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/sculpting-28mm-mars-figures.html )
I am going to cast more figures and add boats and other transport. It will be Mars 1833 and will feature (amongst other things) the Martian colony of Ny Tradgardstadt.
Some initial background-
As a result of a Space- Time Portal, the British, Tradgardlanders and other European nations have colonised areas of Mars  since the 16th Century. Co-existence with the Martians and each other had been cordial up until the end of 1831 - when a dispute arose- in 1832 hostilities  emerged,deepening in 1833...

Aelfing * in Tradgardland in the company of Mr Hackett

* from the Anglo Saxon verb to apply natural pigments to an elf of small size regardless of gender or geographical locus.

I am feeling a tad better. I have not taken time off work and have battled through so far. Having been uptown this morning for some shopping ( including a very interesting issue of  Wargames,Soldiers and Strategy, some food and a copy of "The Man in the High Castle" and "The 32 Stops" by Danny Dorling) I have spent some time working on some GW elves to oppose the GW chaps of Richard and for use in "Dragon Rampant" games.

Note Spotify working in the background supplying encouragement in the form of  Steve Hackett's "Genesis revisited Live at the Royal Albert Hall."
I saw Mr Hackett live a few times in my student day's and his concerts were some of the very best I ever attended. His an accomplished guitarist indeed.
Here are the figures now drying on the radiator-

I am pleased with these chaps and look forward to getting them into action soon.The eagles are from Peter Pig and I have had them for years.

Flu stopped play ( but not work)

Came down with flu earlier this week and have been dragging myself into work. No energy left for the hobby but hope to catch up with your blogs later this weekend...

Imaginations,sorry shires.

It is a dreich day in Tradgardland. I have almost survived my return to work. I returned home to an eagerly anticipated book which the post had delivered-

It's an inspiring read about a model railway based upon an imaginary shire in lowland Scotland. As I type I await a Christmas dinner cooked by my daughters and have just finished a mulled wine.Not a bad end to a vile day!

Epiphany

Epiphany-Blackmore's Night - We Three Kings

Old and New etc

Morning all and a happy New Year. Last night the girls and I watched " The battle of the five armies" as the old year ebbed away. It was the extended version. All in all we enjoyed it ,although Legolas hanging from a bat to fight orcs ( and some other scenes) were a tad too much. I have been driven back to read the book once more. Here is the painting tray this morning-

Middle Earth portrayed in old and new (ish) lead/plastic.Probably an indicator of the content of the blog in 2016. I am not going to commit to a scheme of work here but will see where the year takes me. ME figures for gaming (mainly solo?) as well as a few GW elves to fight the armies of others. I also intend to explore Middle Earth through some skirmish gaming using a few figures a side. I intend to try Donald Featherston skirmish rules initially but am open to other suggestions...
Enjoy your New Year's Day.

 Today we remember Mary,mother of God.