Regeneration or a tale of two halves.

 On Tuesday I went to the part of Edinburgh l grew up in and left in 1986. I sought out the two houses I had been brought up in but this was a mistake. They had changed beyond all recognition and this left me very low indeed. The local shopping area ( Happy Valley) had change dramatically with shops pulled down and the girder skeletons marking new building ventures.

However I decided to walk along the canal ( used to do so often in my student days) back to the centre of the city. As I walked along the waterside my spirts rose as I saw how much improved the canal path and surroundings were. Regeneration had taken place and it was thriving with narrow boats, flowers, canoeists  and new housing. I was delighted with what I saw.

Interwar Manoeuvre footage or The Portable Wargame as manoeuvres

 https://www.britishpathe.com/video/VLVA793HXPGWDQE6CVYMI8WN90CV6-BRITISH-ARMY-TROOPS-ON-MANOEUVRES-AT-SAFFRON-WALDEN/query/British+Manoeuvres

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/VLVA19L1W6PF6XAK6P6DJI3L8K3E-TANK-OPERATIONS-IN-ALDERSHOT/query/British+Manoeuvres

https://streaming.britishpathe.com/hls-vod/MEDIA-4/archive/6QA0/2008-11-18T000000Z_1_LVAVMF05LS5BD52CAFRDBZ80AQ6_RTRWNEV_F_BRITISH-

ARMY-ROYAL-NAVY-AND-ROYAL-AIR-FORCE-COMBINED-MANOEUVRES.MP4.m3u8

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/army-manoeuvres-2/query/British+Manoeuvres

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/british-army-manoeuvres-aka-british-army-manoeuv-1/query/British+Manoeuvres

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/hitting-the-target/query/British+cavalry

The above are links to footage of British Army Manouvers in the interwar period. I am fascinated by the mix of the old and the new as mechanisation takes place, yet the cavalry have their place too. Such footage combined with period toy soldiers informs my gaming for the period. Perhaps the dice throws in The Portable Wargame might be taken to represent good/bad tactical knowledge or performance rather than actually destroyed. Let me know what you think. I wonder what other elements of manoeuvres I need to add…

Interwar gaming in 54mm

 Trying out my new hex mat and scenery with my 54mm figures etc. I just wanted to see how it looked. I know the table is overcrowded but will remedy things next time. Will be using The Portable Wargame which covers all troop types ( including planes) needed to do some 1920/30s Pathe Manoeuvres footage based gaming. Any way here are some photos-

A mural in Woking

 Came across this for the first time and took these photos. They are very well done and most atmospheric.

Stonehenge @ the British Museum

 On Friday I went to the Stonehenge exhibition. It was very crowded and full of  folk. I found it fascinating and would recommend it without reservation. Even with a very full exhibition it was possible to linger and look at the fine detail of the items on display.

 

54mm Woking Wargames Day

 A splendid day was had by all. Four games were on offer- Normans v Normans Lion Rampant, Garibaldi skirmish game, Command and Colours Romans v Germans and a Napoleonic game using a variant of the Neil Thomas rules. I played two games of Lion Rampart am and a Command and Colours pm. Here are some photos of the day, please feel free to ask questions about the figures and games-

Airport

 On Thursday l flew to London City Airport. It was a fascinating flight coming in over the sea, seeing the Thames defences and eventually flying over The Shard prior to landing. I visited the London Mithraeum  as well as having a good wander about. Friday saw me visiting the British Museum and Saturday sees me at a wargaming event dedicated to gaming with 54mm figures.