Saturday morning in Tradgardland

Just a brief post this morning. Two photos to start the weekend - one is of some of the produce harvested from the garden ( beautifully photographed by Jan) and eaten last night. I get such satisfaction from planting,growing,harvesting and eating our own vegetables etc.I know many of you bloggers have gardens and/or allotments. Do tell us about how your garden etc if getting on .
The second photo depicts Duke Karl Frederick of Tradgardland and a trusted advisor(dismounted) prior to setting off for the Disputed Valley. In under two hours I will be setting off for Claymore in Edinburgh. The annual show promises to be as great as ever. If you are there say hello! A good weekend to one and all...

The Brigadier..

This morning I decided I needed to work out the personality of the Cavalry Brigadier for Tradgardland. I didn't wish to start from scratch or use an old character. I therefore consulted Tony Bath's Campaign book and the (rather ineptly shuffled) cards...
BTW the cards were purchased about 40 years ago in Switzerland and have rather pleasing illustrations on them not to mention a lovely view of Innsbruck on the back.
Georg Genson- Smaaland Herrengardemeister (Lord of the Manor) has a love of wealth and what it can buy ,is physically handsome, a great lover, prone to taking revenge on those who displease him, is unreliable, energetic and courageous!

However it must be said that his greatest joy can be found looking at the contents of his cabinets of curiosities which fill a whole room within the manorhouse. Within that room can be seen the fruits of a lifetime's collecting,inheriting,bargaining, threatening (and on one occasion even murdering) to gain items for display within the linden wood cabinets. Georg has gone on the expedition with the sole purpose of adding to his collection by any means possible.The duties of a Cavalry Brigadier come a very poor second...

As a fellow member of the Ducal Society Duke Karl Frederick is willing to turn a blind eye to Georg's collecting but only for so long...

Tradgardland Cavalry Brigade...

Reinforcements left the Duchy of Tradgardland yesterday bound for the Disputed Valley.

The first regiment was the Ducal Lifeguard,which comprises volunteers sent by various states of Europa. Amongst them can be found gentlemen of renown and undoubted bravery. They have seen action before and are most reliable .They will accompany Duke Karl Frederick himself who will lead the army in person...

The Smaaland Heavy Horse are the cream of the Duchy Cavalry regiments. They proudly claim a lineage which extends from the armoured cavalry of centuries before. Resplendent in coats of rose they carry the banner of the Guild of Bee Workers and Husbandry- who maintains the regiment from Guild coffers. Many of members of the Guild can be found within the regiment itself

Accompanying these regiments of renown will be the Cavalry Brigadier and a regiment of Dragoons...

Birthdays and boxes...

Freya,my youngest, was 14 yesterday on the 2nd of August.We all had a super day with a trip to Edinburgh shopping and coffee in Waterston's before retuning home for a birthday meal with Freya's auntie and granny. Friends popped in or rang with greetings and/or gifts .Freya enjoyed her day as did we all...

I have resolved to get out all my painted 18th century stuff from the Ikea drawers where they reside,pop it back in better order ( currently figures are higgildy-piggdly and it is hard to ascertain the size of the forces at all...) and see where we are at.
Unit movement trays,needing to be taken from the messy pile in which they currently lie, will aid both storage and organisation. The Tradgardlanders and Imperium are based on GW bases fitting into 2 by 4 movement trays whilst the Disputed Valley are based upon penny sized bases in a 2 by 5 movement trays. Other arrangements are there for light infantry,ensigns and cavalry.A note of requirements in terms of bases and movement trays will accompany me to Claymore on Saturday .I may have time to do part of this today perhaps not. Once done it will aid gaming ,choice of forces and give a better overview. Yesterday saw rain all day until early evening -today the sunne has risen with me.
Finally I am resolved to game even more (solo and with others) and have even more fun with the hobby that has accompanied me since boyhood through life...

Into the Valley...

The Tradgardland Expeditionary
Force has set out for the Disputed Valley. Scouts have gone ahead to prepare the camp and meet with with Representatives of the town of Adlerfort ( http://tradgardland.blogspot.com/2011/07/midsummer-manoeuvres.html to see pictures of the Adlerfort Regt ) to ascertain where the Imperium are encamped...

More information on the Tradgardland troops and those of the Imperium very soon...

Ducal Army on the march...

Ducal Karl Frederick has appointed the regiments of the Ducal army which will form the expeditionary force to the Disputed Valley.

In the current difficulties( which saw the complete withdrawal of Tradgardland troops from the Valley in the face of a large army of the Imperium and her allies from the Disputed Valley towns) Tradgardland will support the majority of Disputed Valley towns in their struggle against the Imperium.

A commander for the force has not been chosen yet but will be appointed within the day. Other Ducal troops will join the expedition at a later date. Camp will be established in the foot hills of the Valley. An encounter with Imperium troops is expected very,very soon...

Wise words from The worker leading to musing...

Morning all! I have been catching up with your blogs today. I was most taken with what I read at http://theweekswork.blogspot.com/ today regarding planning the rest of the wargaming year in terms of what to do and what to leave in the recesses of the lead vault!

Inspirational stuff, simple and straightforward some may say, but to a "wargaming butterfly" like me it is very hard to keep to a plan. In the course of a day my mind flies into planning myriad projects yet little happens on lead- sometimes loads on paper though. I can,of course, retain the jottings for future use and often do but one needs to plan or at least have some plan of wandering through the wargaming wood- trying to follow the path ,stopping for brief forays into fantastical glades before continiuing one's journey. But always being aware of the passage of time and the need to move towards the homely house with smoke billowing from the chimney and coffee upon the stove...

I have ,as regular readers will remember , been musing upon this on and off for ages and have sorted out a load of figures this summer with the intention of giving them away. However I retain too many "Rainy day " projects I cannot bear to part with,which evoke time and place or have memories or I feel I might "need" in the future. Often I think if I had remained focussed what fantastical armies in a few periods I would have amassed- but I didn't and that's that! So where am I going in all this- don't ask me...

Fitzbadger's blog and my own reflections remind me of the great joy of solo gaming,minimal sized armies,finite space and simple flexible rules. So the imagination project will continue most certainly. I also enjoy gaming with my local club and my long time wargaming partner too. Priorities will have to be made in relation to these demands and joys soon but not today. Apologies for the introspection,thanks for reading this far and have a good day- may the sunne shine on you!
p.s Bluebear Jeff I haven't forgotten your burning question - will research and post soon