Herr Gruber’s Little Tank

My father had a pond in my teens in the garden. I have always wanted some water in the garden but never got round to it until now. Here is my zinc tank , newly filled up. I will add plants and a pump to create the sound of running water soon..This is a new venture for me, advice and suggestions most welcome.

A mighty pile

One of yesterday’s tasks was to dust then find a shelf for these books that had lain around without a proper home-    

The Irish one and the one on Van Eyck came for my birthday, which seems so long ago now , almost another age. The Irish one is hard to read as it is so heavy but it full of excellent graphics and maps not to mention text. The top of the pile is a volume on uniforms of Switzerland in the mid 18th century to mid 19th century. It was an indulgent present to myself  a few years ago. Now they have a home they will be enjoyed more. 

A very useful day.

 Today was mainly spent sorting things out. I archived ( which means stored away sensibly) old paper work and dealt with some things from the time Jan died. Cards, letters etc needed to be put away to be looked at later. It was a bright sunny day which helped. I also sorted gaming stuff putting away things for projects I am not working on. The shed too was worked on and a book shelf brought into my bedroom. As there will hopefully be four of us here in December I needed to prepare a quiet place to read. Here is my choice of books moved through-

As I mentioned in my previous post I set up a encounter battle ( using The Portable Napoleonic Wargame rules with syw amendments) which will feature D’Olley’s Jaegers in action for the first time. They were a kind gift ages ago from Phil. They have joined the Reichsarmee and are scouting ahead as the Austrians are nearby...

The Spirit of Radio - Maria Theresa

 Good morning, a quick heads up for a most enjoyable programme in the Radio Four series “ In our time”  which is always interesting and a good introduction to so many things.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000nlyv

It is about Maria Theresa and well worth a listen too. I listened to it overnight and have woken up with the urge to dig out some syw Austrians.

The only down point of the programme is that the chap doesn’t come in at the end and offer everyone tea or coffee as usual because they are in their own homes. I always enjoy this ritual at the end of the discussion 

 

Waiting for the dawn and taking stock

 

I seem to wake early these days. I open the blinds, make coffee and listen to the radio and/or use the iPad. It is interesting to just wait for the sun to come up in a quiet house before others rise. A chance for a wee bit reflection prior to the day. One of the things I really enjoyed was the Works Service,it is not as it once was. However I did catch a very moving radio programme about the Unknown Soldier and the events surrounding him. I can’t find a link to it on BBC Sounds but worth looking out for.

The year is rushing by in some ways , in some ways not. The hobby ( coupled with the garden in warmer days) has really helped. The craft like physicality of conversions with vice,knife and wire etc has absorbed more so than just painting. We are fortunate to have the likes of Zoom. I have enjoyed attending a weekly Virtual Wargames Club, saying Compline, gaming with friends and even attending church. Not to mention virtual coffees . These have helped as has walking.

Anyway, here are some hobby goals for the period moving towards the end of the year-

Continue the Army Star Spangled & Army  Maple Leaf Country with Albion painting and researching in both 1870s and early 1930s. This is moving along well and I look forward to hopefully having some games.  Secondly to paint up some 28mm dark ages figures for my regular Zoom weekly game. Probably Picts maybe Romano Britains. Thirdly painting and playing some seasonal games with a light hearted tone to them but which requires some painting and  preparation. Potential Christmas presents from members of the family but chosen by me will add a couple of more projects towards New Year. The sky is lightening as I look up and it is time for more coffee...

Swiss Sharpshooters Company , San Francisco 1870

 Some further conversions, this time in the form of an independent military company ( an organised militia unit that is not part of the National Guard or part of the official California State organisation)  from San Francisco- The Swiss Sharpshooters. The photo and painting is from around 1870. 

This represents one of dozens of such units in the County, often organised from ethnic groups, for example, Swiss, German or French.

Foraging in the new norm

 I go uptown to the shops once a week, early by nine o’clock. It is quiet and much  preferred thus to me. I  pop into WH Smith’s briefly, the Works , Two charity shops and other places as required very briefly. This is preceded by an m&s coffee. Last week I picked up these-

They will be used for winter scenery for games as a change from Lemax trees.  Probably be used in skirmishes and the Portable Wargame.