Michaelmas Fayre

 It is the season of the Michaelmas Fayre in the Northlands and beyond. As ever the highlight is the ball game between the Reds and the Greens. 

Here are the Greens assembly outside the inn which is the goal they defend.

The reds outside their respective inn and goal to defend.

As ever King Noggin will oversee proceeding in his role as referee. Both time have their enthusiastic supporters.

The “pitch” over which the game will take place. As well as the all rounders, each team has a fast runner, a talented kicker , a strong man and a goal defender. More on the rules soon.

Moving on …

 Many , many thanks for your supportive and thoughtful comments to my last post as well as your personal emails. The Black Dog has wandered off leaving me tired but able to move on. I have done so on a number of fronts:

Many thanks to Bob C via Neil for the heads up regarding this new book . I purchased it the other day and am finding it fascinating reading.

I have been spending time in the garden planting out and tidying as well as ensuring we have some pleasing pots to view over the winter. This morning saw a heavy frost overnight which has now melted under the autumn sun shining today under clear blue skies.

Currently working on some 28mm knights l was given undercoated as well as two finished. This is proving engaging and not extremely taxing.

I had printed off these skirmish rules which are styled as a Mordheim successor game . Most interesting. Want to find out more ? Follow the video links below.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TbVTD5p8VNk

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TbVTD5p8VNk

It has been possible to have coffee in the garden and I have enjoyed very much the garden as she moves into a new season. I’ve also been walking a little more too.

The garden is giving up its seasonal produce which is always a joy. Harvesting and pottering resulted in the above and below.

So trying to make some positive steps and succeeding I feel.

Still here

 Still here. Black Dog and lethargy marked the week. The 1848;SH figures turned out badly , again. I persevered for a bit then put them away. Maybe try another time or pass them on.

An enjoyable meal at my eldest’s yesterday evening and a chance to bond with the splendid Brian the Cat.🐈‍⬛ . He is an engaging , independent fellow.

Picked up the Steel Fist 15th C Swiss, Assembled them and started painting. They are lovely sculpts.

Diverting myself with some hobby related reading.

Solo game never happened, even though l tried to mix things up a tad.

First game  for ages against real life opponents was a disaster yesterday. Naively l had quipped to my daughter that l was sure that the old argumentative spectre would not return. How wrong l was , it was just rules quibbling one after another with the low point being a 45 minute “discussion “ around moving one unit! All joy was squeezed from the game and a husk of lead, felt and plastic was all that remained.

Apologies for this diatribe, not what one needs over breakfast. I will pick myself up, dust myself off and soldier on…

Setting up a game.

 Setting up the game from this previous post-

http://tradgardland.blogspot.com/2026/09/a-proper-tartar.html

The river crossing, in this case a ford , can be observed in the top left corner of the above photo.

The defenders will be diced for as well as when a relief column enters the table . The village/built up hexes are just pieces of cardboard cut out..

I finally found this Hexon scenery which fits the table well and looks good with the wooden trees and buildings..

Lake is no entry for any troop types.

The Tartar force enters the table . Now to dice for and place defenders. This games will be played over the coming week.

Change of direction 2

 

Some inspiration from an old magazine featuring a splendid game put on by those splendid fellows- The Continental Wars Society.

Looked out the background reading and uniform details for the painting.

A list compiled of the figures l currently own. Pendraken 28mm.

The box unpacked and sorted out a bit.

So here we are , a few figures currently on the painting table, ideas for rules forming and a wee project begins…

End of an era

 

Here is a photo of my father and his siblings, mid 1940s . My father , in school uniform, died forty years ago, my aunt three years ago and my uncle a matter of days ago . I was at his funeral yesterday with two of my daughters. My uncle was lovely ,kind and a fun filled man .

Only the other day l was telling someone about the pork butcher clan. They would drive to Bamburgh, from Scotland and the North of England, meet up on the beach for a picnic. The children played on the beach, the women chatted and the Old Men drank, played cards , swore and conversed in German. This was the 1930s and is how my mother told it.

With my Uncle’s death that is the end of my parent’s generation in the family. I guess l am now one of the Old Men, sadly not speaking German and playing with lead not cards. 

Apologies for this confusing and self indulgent post.

Change of direction

 

This is the change of direction for the coming weeks. 

Still able to sit in the garden with a coffee and enjoy the season.

Spent quite an amount of time  recently with Britains Herald figures and metal replacement heads.

I enjoy the physicality and craft nature of the drill and penknife.

Coming along nicely these Danes. In 54mm too.

However a change of plan has meant l won’t currently need them so they have been returned to barracks to await a bugle call in the future.