Setting the bar or the managing of projects in winter quarters.

As I move towards my return to work (probably in a week) I think it is a good time to see what are my hobby priorities as winter looms. As anyone who stops by here knows I am a bit of a butterfly who flits from project to project regularly. That's the way I am - not for me ( at least so far) the discipline of one period one project.I sometimes think to myself if I had what vast armies I could have amassed...Anyhow here is my thoughts on what I want to keep moving forward-

1. 20mm/1/72 Interwar/WW2 project- the Duchy of Volare-Cantare project.Plastic 20mm figs Minitanks/Airfix battles with "old school" rules. Paint up V-C's forces and their enemies. Possibly a look at V-C's place in the sunne too.Hopefully loads of tankettes with an eclectic mix of tanks and troops.Loads to base and paint.Oh and a few interewar planes maybe...
2. 25/28mm ancients- smallish games on grids using Ross's Gathering of Hosts rules.Ancient imaginations a la Tony Bath's campaign. Couple of  wee armies to finish &sort out,resist being tempted to get some more...Easy to set up, play solo and put away.Fun imagineering background too.
3. 54mm Funny Little Wars - take armies White & Red White in to the interwar period by "bolting on" appropriate period transport ,tanks,ac's etc- scratchbuilding/converting toys and a few bits and bobs
4. Deutsche Homage project- keep moving forward with painting my embryonic collection of figures in the style of Heyde,Spenkuch and the rest... sort thing one might pick up for brief periods of an evening.
5. Diverse wee game projects for skirmish games such as Songs of Blades & Heroes,Songs of Dust and Shadow etc (might try to link this to skirmish games relating to bullet point two)
6. Non Solo projects- work relating to games I play re my regular ( or in reality far less regularly than we would like) gaming opponent- paint up some Perry ACW ,1938 etc etc
7. Finally I must remember not to worry if I have set the bar too high re projects.It may need lowering,or even walking away from at times.The hobby has aided me greatly in these last few months and I am sure,judicially used, it will continue to do so...

My Books

Author you've read the most books from: Patrick O'Brian without a doubt

Best sequel ever: The  Gospels- but not really a sequel I suppose...

Currently reading: Metro 2033 but got bogged down and can't seem to move forward with it

Drink of choice whilst reading: Coffee or Theakston's Old Peculiar

E-reader or physical book: Physical Book don't own a contraption thingymbob

Fictional character you would probably have dated in high school: All boys school precluded such things

Glad you gave this book a chance: Verdun "Night in the Middle Ages"

Hidden book gem: "The Stripping of Altars" by Eamon Duffy

Important moment in your book life: English Master at school throwing open his cupboard and encouraging  us to borrow anything we wanted.Another English Master starting to read "The Hobbit "to us then closing the book and saying that if we wanted to know what happened we would have to read on ourselves...

Just finished: "Ordinariate of OLOW" by Aidan Nichols

Kind of book you won't read: Anything That says on the blurb " In the tradition of..." say Tolkien,Patrick O'Brian or any other major author although I did in the case of Mallinson I suppose...

Longest book you have read: Patrick O'Brian's naval books - really one long and glorious tale-England's Odyssey I have heard it called

 

Major book hangover because of  disappointing endings: just can't recall

Number of bookcases you own: 6 ish

One book you've read multiple times: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

Preferred place to read:a Lloyd Loom chair in the corner of the extended kitchen

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feelings from a book you've read: “All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.” 

― Julian of Norwich

Reading regret: Never finishing "A Glastonbry Romance" by John Cowper Powys,have started  many times...

Series you started and need to finish: Christopher Biggin's books about Otto Prohaska

Three of your all-time favorite books: Thomas Burnett Swann Day "Day of the Minotaur""Loose Cannon" edited by Damian Thomson and "I heard the Owl call my name " Margaret Craven

Unapologetic fanboy for: Patrick O'Brian

Very excited for this release:next Harry Sidebottom novel- he captures the ancient world so well

Worst bookish habit: Not finishing novels and picking them up ages later to finish if at all,buying too many books

X marks the spot - Start at the top left of your bookshelf and pick the 27th book: "Above the snowline" Steph Swainston 

Your latest book purchase: The Hobbit- official movie guide- got at Asda yesterday when shopping for groceries...

Zzz snatcher book (the last book that kept you up waaay too late:) Too tired to stay up late to read

Thanks for staying with me to this point!

An attempt at ordering things...

Morning all!
I have updated one of my other blogs re my ancient wargaming plans,do pop over and  have a look-
http://pavilionedinsplendour.blogspot.co.uk/
I hope to keep this as a place for my ancient/medieval gaming.

Preparation of plastic question...

An ultra quick post. How do you chaps prepare plastics prior to painting?I have washed the chaps in detergents and would normally paint them in diluted pva/wood glue now.What do you do?

Unpacked ,sorted(ish) and plans...

Yesterday I mention a parcel which arrived here at the Duchy.It came from Conrad @ Joy and Forgetfulness.Here it is during the sorting process this afternoon - just the sort of exciting job for a dull, dreek day,a little like an exploration into  exciting ,uncharted territory...

First to be looked at was an assortment of  tank parts,bases,88mm guns and diverse interesting building bits.They are most interesting and await rationalization later this week. Next the figures were sorted and de-sprued -

What a collection of goodies-

The Duchy of Volare-Cantare has now got some Bersaglieri and Alpini (with skiers and mules!!!)

There are is opposition for the Duchy of C-V in the form of either a mix of WW1 Austro/Hungarians/Germans or WW2 Germans.I'm inclining to then former but what do you think ?

There are 19th C Besaglieri too with Zouaves and Italian (?) Cavalry to be the start of an 19th century project- Duchy of C-V 150 years or so ago?Maybe using Neil Thomas's book and rules for the 19th Century.

Loads also of  Africa Korps ( still thinking of an idea for them- any thoughts?) and WW2 Airfix Japanese ( maybe convert some to Italian troops ) and some Russians too. Ooophs nearly forgot the German paratroops- probably to be used against my Home Guard chaps/What a haul,what a sort,what inspiration - many thanks Conrad!!

Today in Tradgardland

The day began at 6.00am when I got up and looked at the glories of a cloud free night sky through the many windows of the  new kitchen extension.I stood for some time without putting the lights on. Outside Orion's belt blazed oh so bright...
It was a frosty morning and I took this picture of a windfall with the frost still on it-

Jan and I were able to get out into the garden ( under  a brilliant sun) to tidy it up as we move towards winter and I was able to cut the grass for probably the final time this year. Yesterday we planted bulbs,wallflower,garlic and onions.
Later a knock came to the door with a parcel for me-

More about it when I have had a chance to unpack the contents...

Anyone used these?

It is Saturday morning and I'm up early browsing the bookshelves. I've been having a read of this.I picked it up for 30p in the summer of '98 when it was withdrawn from stock by our local library.I have incidentally got some splendid books in a similar way over the years.

I have,to my shame,never played the rules in the book but it has been an interesting read I have returned too over the years.I'm wondering if any of you have used the rules, and if so, how did you get on?