Saturday 14 May 2022

The raid upon the war chest for May

 Yesterday saw me go down to the library, find the hidden door, enter the tower room and open the war chest-


Soon the Tradgardland Thalers were removed and the purchase made…

So , dear reader, if you are confused fret not. This is not LARP in the leafy lanes of Scottish suburbia nor a manifestation of senility but rather an attempt to curb my hobby spending. Not to mention endeavours not to add to the Ducal Library, in other words stop buying tons of books I have neither the time or inclination to finish. 

Anyway May’s Thalers ( about twenty pounds) have bought some 54mm heads for repairing broken toy soldiers and some arms for the same purpose. The rationale was that l find this sort of craft activity therapeutic and diverting, good for hands, brain and heart. It is also make good an old project rather than starting a new one. 

My recent trip to London, including Foyles and Heffers , was a splendid trip filled with wonders to see but l managed not to add to the Ducal Library. Many tempting volumes but I resisted and even managed to get some of the book I had with me read.

In other news I have just started series five of “The Last Kingdom “ after a whirlwind like watching of the previous four. I have so enjoyed it, embracing the ahistorical armour etc , relishing the plot twists and turns. Series Five has a darker feel to it so far and l do hope that the central character and my favourite -The Lady of Mercia have a happy ending. I fear I that the fates may decree otherwise…

12 comments:

  1. I must give The Last Kingdom a try. Reading between the lines, I suspect you may be right about The Lady of Mercia, script writers tend to do that sort of thing nowadays !

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  2. I have all the books and re-read them every couple of years but " embracing the ahistorical armour etc" is the bit that I cannot accept in the TV series. The producers of 'Arne' managed to get armour and weapons correct for their epic so there is no excuse for doing it wrongly.

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    1. ‘Arne’ is not a film or series I know can someone explain?
      Alan

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    2. This is confusing - anonymous B talking to Anonymous A - I am picking Anonymous B is the owner of the blog?!

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    3. 99% of the time my owner comments are signed Alan.
      Alan

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  3. Like the wise prince you are not placing a great burden on your subjects Herzog.

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  4. One tries :)

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  5. Arne, The Knight Templar is a book series and a movie about a Swedish noble who, through a turn of events, is sent to the Holy Land as a Templar. I’ve never read the book, but the movie is really good. My wife and I love the Last Kingdom, although the plot turns during season/series 4 had us so full of suspense we took a pause from the show for a bit!
    -Mardigan

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  6. As anonymous of the 15th writes (Mardigan?) plus it is three books. Evidently the film used the services of a medieval enactment group and their armour and weapon maker. I have read that the equipment is authentic rather than the leather fetishes of a wardrobe department. Sorry about not replying earlier but I didn't get a notification. If you'd like to borrow the books let me know.

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  7. As an aside, with no film or TV series, have your read the Robert Low trilogy 'Lion Rampant'? Excellent historical fiction about the Bruce and, iirc, whimsical pre chapter pages in the second and third book that will appeal.

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