Update

Many thanks for your really helpful comments and emails. I have tried to take your suggestions onboard. I finished a project using a forthcoming game to work towards. This was my VBCW Army. They took the field on Monday and lost in what was a most enjoyable game. I painted some 54mm old toy soldiers and moved them along. I am trying to enjoy this great hobby of ours and not the opposite. A question,l bought these years ago painted. I rarely used them. Does anyone recognise the manufacturer and who they are painted as?

Where we are now

l haven’t posted for a couple of weeks. I have enjoyed reading about your plans and seeing your progress. To be honest l thought that when l retired l would be able to embark upon and persevere with projects l had long wished to do. This has not been my experience so far. I have started things,all fired up with enthusiasm only to stall,to be overwhelmed by the lead/plastic before me. At times l can’t see the point of it. At other times I,to quote a fellow blogger, have six new ideas before breakfast. All the above seems to lead to frustration, dissatisfaction with the lead mountain around me and to a feeling hardly bearing to open the paint desk lid. At other times a frenzy of  hobby related work begins only to falter and leave me feeling underwhelmed with my efforts.
Don’t get me wrong l have really enjoyed games l have played , my walks and my short course etc recently and been stimulated by them.  Yet I not sure what to do next hobby wise about my malaise.

New recruits

 

A couple of machine guns and crews for my Interwar project.

New gun crew with a Britains gun ( still in good matchstick firing order) l retained from my 1960s childhood.

Once l can get some spare Britains arms and heads with tin helmets  to repair my broken figures l will be able to get this project moving onto the tabletop.

Meanwhile in the Empire...

videohttps://share.icloud.com/photos/05pdwFOLduK9_ucN3ok2YXQ-w The Queen of the Night reviews her troops as they march against The Duchy of Tradgardland and her allies...

Illumination

One of the joys of being retired is to do something a little different. I have started taking a weekly short course at the University of Edinburgh. Here l am at home reading the notes we are given-

This term l am looking at Medieval Manuscripts and illumination. It is a fascinating course with an excellent lecturer and people willing to discuss whilst sharing their insights. This week the theme was about the process of manuscript production. I learned a great deal about the practicalities of medieval life and art. Fascinating indeed.

One of my wargaming projects l am working on is using “Song of Shadows and Dust” by Ganesha Games to depict small scale conflict between different factions in a late medieval town. There will be inter guild rivalry, the Night Watch and other parties. The rules were first published in 2013 and l have long wanted to use them. Well worth checking out for  gaming the “break down in civil order which plagued the great cities of the Mediterranean in the first century BC, these rules are suitable for any pre modern setting from Babylon to Bruges “ as the blurb on the back says. They are based on the “Songs of Blades and Heroes “ system. I hope to use the knowledge gained from my course to add flavour to both factions and scenarios.  

Come Spring l will being doing a course on the art of fifteenth century Burgundy,can’t wait.

Somewhere in Hyboria...

The Temple is under attack by invaders from across the border. Hopolites have gathered to defend the sacred precincts aided by local farmers. The eastern invaders under the command of the satrap wish to sack the temple and make off with the sacred vessels whilst losing as few men as possible. Let the dice and “ Developing the Portable Wargame “ decide...

Napoleonics

I mentioned my recent purchase of some Napoleonic figures and Michael asked to see them. So here they are:

They are as they arrived minus the packaging. They will be an excellent opponent for my Swedes and l am sure l will conjure up some back story,possibly commencing with Sir John Moores expedition to aid the Swedish. In my world things went even worse than in reality...

Now all l need do is sit tight and wait for the Napoleonic Portable Wargame coming in a few months.