Winter Quarters Real and Imaginary...

Winter has come to the Duchy of Tradgardland and also Fife...
Sadly no crisp snow but we have been lashed by rain and wind this week. All is sodden,garden like a quagmire and the guinea pigs ensconced in the garage much to the harvest mice's delight I fear!

The trip to the consulatant went really well. She said Jan could not be "in a better place" with regard to how she has responded to treatment! Glorious news indeed as we gear up towards Chemo 4 out of six in around 12 days! We are both delighted and feel surrounded by the thoughts and prayers of many...

I am rather tired these days and all is busy with work and family at the moment. I do bits and bobs of hobby stuff and try to resist buying new lead to add to the already vast unpainted mountain of many years standing. I am trying to do something with my collection of VBCW stuff and keep the D M Cornish,Ny Tradgardland and diverse projects moving forward albeit in small ways.

In Trdagardland I can report that the forces of the Duchy and their arch enemies (The Imperium) have set up camp/winter quarters at opposite sides of the Disputed Valley. Over winter I hope to build up some units of the Towns which lie in the valley- something which I am really quite enjoying in terms of numbers to do and results achieved. I do hope to transfer the details from the old map to a more modern version which will aid campaign movement. Energy and time permitting I am itching to set up a small encounter upon the tabletop just to get dice rolling again and the excitement of gaming too. It seems ages since I had a proper battle, went to the local club or gamed with my regular opponent too. But 20011 awaits and I am hopeful too! Have a great weekend one and all.

1938 A very British Civil War- a background story...

The crowd poured out into the night. It had been another successful monthly Mistery dance in the village Scout hut. All had enjoyed the heady mix of broad bean boasting, compost tips and high politics. With the last chords from the dance band still ringing in their ears the men gathered outside to talk…
“I’m just off down to the allotments Doris!”
“Ok love; see you when you get home…”
Bert made his way along the lane and turned right into the gateway to the allotments themselves. He looked with pride upon the bean plants heavily laden and held up by good old English hazel wands- there would be good eating for all and plenty to share with the neighbours. These were strange days here in Lower Sedgebury Wallop- the vicar denouncing the King from the pulpit, the men drilling on the vicarage lawn and those B.U.F city yobs in their uniforms swaggering through the village and up to no good!
Finally Bert arrived deep in thought at the Warden’s shed. A light was on and laughter could be heard coming through the still night air. Bert gave the secret knock and was admitted into the shed’s inner sanctum where the Kin had gathered. There amongst the terracotta flower pots, used twine, copies of gardening magazines and numerous pamphlets arcane and rather dull, lay a brand new anti-tank rifle! Let them come, Bert thought, we are ready now…

From the chronicles...

Throughout the century the main gates and posterns were guarded by watchmen. A reform committee of 1743 recommended that the day watch, being useless, should be abolished but that the night watch should be improved. During the Rye Bread Rebellion an attempt was made to maintain regular night patrols in the streets; in August an hourly patrol by one of the watchmen and one of the constables of each ward was instituted; patrolling was to last from midnight until 4 a.m., between Lady Day and Michaelmas, and until 6 a.m. for the remainder of the year; each door was to be knocked upon and the hour called out 'after the manner now used in Tradgardland and diverse Duchies'; and drunkards and nightwalkers were to be arrested and taken before a magistrate of the ward on the next morning. The night watch was to be paid from money collected in each ward and expected to drill I the event of invasion also. Later in the same month three more efficient and less decrepit watchmen were appointed for each ward, and the watches were ordered to begin at 10 p.m. from Lady Day to Michaelmas and at 8 p.m. thereafter; at those hours the main gates and posterns were to be locked….

Extract from “Von Meyers customs diverse and peculiar of Uhwerkhausen”

Gunpowder past and present...

We didn't make it this year to Phil's annual firework garden party last night. However we did manage to have some fun with sparklers in our own garden prior to our evening meal today!
During the day I spent some time painting the artillery crew,field piece and grenade throwers belonging to the Fire Artificer's Guild of Uhwerkhausen. Here is a photo of their famous White Stag banner which refers to a legend of their Guild's foundation in the fifteenth century...

Finally on another matter Chemo number three took place on friday- hurrah! We see the consultant on Wednesday for a chat at this half way through treatment stage.

The disputed Valley- Uhwerkhausen

The Town Militia of Uhwerkhausen are currently drilling in the green fields at the town's edge. Great care is taken to avoid the town's peacocks- myriad clockwork automata ( see enclosed video...) which walk around displaying their glorious feathers to their inventor the Burgomeister and all other townspeople as they go about their business...

The militia have been ordered to muster in the light of Imperial agression in the vicinity. Envoys have been sent to elicit the help of Duke Frederick of Tradgardland whose troops are currently fabricating theit winter quarters nearby.

Tradgardland updates...

Sunday, October 31, 2010


This week end marks Halloween (we have already had guisers at the door who were willing to sing - a rare occurrence these days) and the clocks have gone back last night. It is a time to take stock...
I tried ganeesh games "Songs of blades and heroes " with a Ny Tradgardland scenario ( see piccies) and they worked well. I will certainly use them again.
I intend to continue to use my Imagination Campaign this winter too and build upon the Disputed valley map. I have already painted one unit and will post piccies soon...
I hope also to do something with a VBCW - I have enough figures to game and have some interesting rules in the shape of "When officers rode"
Jan didn't get her third chemo last Tuesday. Her platelets were way too low. She was given a platelet transfusion instead. Bloods were taken on Friday and all being well ( depending upon blood test results) Chemo number 3 will be on Tuesday 2nd Nov...Week back for me after half term hectic, girls go back to school on tomorrow.
Will post again soon.