The Duke of Tradgardland...

I have finally made a base with a figure representing the Duke of Tradgardland. He is accompanied by his personal standard bearer. They will take their place upon the table for the first time tomorrow in the game against the Imperium.

An Update..

I trust this finds you well. It has been half term and it has been good to be off for a week. I have enjoyed some time to do some painting and reading and prepare for the last month of the kitchen work- painter starts tomorrow...After my "Charge" game - which was great fun, I intended to post the pictures but they had not come out at all...
I was rather disappointed and somewhat surprised. However the good thing was that Tradgardland beat the Imperium in a close fought game. My regular opponent is due tomorrow and I will post pictures afterwards.
Other news-
I went to a wargames club for the first time in perhaps 30 years. I was invited by a chap I travel with sometimes on the train-thanks Tom. He invited me to see an Ancients rule system being played "Basic Impetus".
I was most taken with the game and the friendly welcome I received. I will go back and intend to raise some Picts for what is a diverting and enjoyable system.
Of late I have become more and more immersed in the alternative world of VBCW ( a very British Civil War) where Edward viii didn't abdicate and Britain was plunged into civil war. The background is well researched and I cannot wait for the second source book due out next week. It is a heady mix of interwar equipment and fascinating what ifs...
I have also had my interest in the history,art,architecture and politics of the period reignited and I am enjoying a combination of BBC 4 documentaries and reading.
By the way there is a lively discussion of VBCW at the gentleman's wargames parlour.I have also been revising a FLW Scandanavian army list and ferreting out images for my FLW blog- some crackers posted there of late ,if I say so myself...
I must go now- clocks to turn back,church to go to and friends coming back here afterwards...
Have a good Sunday!

The Big Knights...

One of the joys of the blogging world is to be introduced to something interesting. Many of you will already know "The Big Knights" if you don't you must watch them on video-soon to be on dvd I believe.
I taped them over the Christmas they were first shown- a 5 minute episode a day. I ( and my family) have watched them many times since. They can be enjoyed by children ,adults and all ages!
They are wonderfully witty , quirky and really funny- don't miss them! If you are a fan do share what is your favourite episode /character. I love the base metal to gold one...
p.s a link to a site to find out more:
http://www.thebigknights.net/

Saturday

Sunny but very windy here. Getting figures based and flocked for Monday night's "Charge " game. Not too much left to do....

Kaptain Heider

With a look of immense relief upon his face Freikorp Kaptain Heider began to roll up the yellow flag with the black pelican upon it.
It had been a most successful evening - thirty men signed up and all looked like they could handle themselves both on and off the field of Mars.

Kaptain Heider settled into the corner of his chair near the roaring fire,the flag having been placed in the sack under the table , and took out a couple of books from his worn and battered satchel. He opened the copy of Aquinas's Summa Theologica and became immersed in another world...
His thoughts drifted back to the village school he had taught in before he answered the misguided call of adventure. He had been shocked to meet one of his former pupils tonight who had offered his services as a doctor for the company.
A knock at the door brought him back to reality. His face returned to the familiar gruff mask of daily life as he acknowledged his supper with a grunt. Now back to St Thomas and the long hours to read in before the morning brought the problems of another day...

At the sign of the Black Pelican

Taking one wrong turn in the back streets of Tradgardstadt was unfortunate, taking more than one was utter folly...

Those who did so would find themselves in a decaying slum within a slum. They would be lucky to get out alive -obviously without any valuables they possessed!

Towering over all else in the Syldavian quarter was a large inn namely "The Black Pelican." It formed the social,political,religious and cultural heart ( a black one of course) for the community of Syldavian exiles which sought to make a living within the Duchy of Tradgardland.

The inn was large and looked as if it had grown from the putrid earth itself rather than being built by human hands. The sense of something organic was almost tangible . Within, all was stained black by the smoke from the roaring fires and the never extinguished pipes of those who frequented the place. No dog passing the kitchen yard was safe and the yelps of the unwary could be heard frequently by passers by.

Tonight the inn was busier than ever for a Freikorp Kaptain was recruiting - no questions asked, no soul too warped and no rest for the wicked!

Sylvania

Zoe( my eldest) has bought a French dvd of Tintin- to improve her listening skills. It is the one featuring Sylvania- The sceptre of Ottokar. I have been watching it and am most taken with the uniforms . My thoughts have run , amidst visitors& school reports, to what uniforms were worn in Sylvania in the 18th century. Any Tintin aficionados are welcome to make suggestions here...