New recruits

These chaps arrived today from ebay.I had got them for my Counterpanian gaming but they are too small- see above picture with 1p piece for size. They however will work well for my ancients gaming. They are a tad heavy/thick for normal flats.Any idea what they are?

Weekend etc

My first week in my new school has gone very well indeed.I have been welcomed warmly by staff,children and parents alike.I am delighted that I went there.
This week I have spent part of my leaving gift money as follows-

We played this game with friends over the summer for the first time,really enjoyed it and so I decided to buy a copy myself.

A fascinating story told well  as a graphic novel.

A excellent book which accompanied  a splendid Radio 4 series of programmes (still available on BBC radio iplayer) about Germany.

Finally my middle daughter has opened an Etsy shop called the Spotty Seal to sell handmade decorative items.Do pop over  for a look-

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SpottySeal?ref=ss_profile

Hobby front update later this weekend...

The road goes ever on...

Friday saw my last day at the school I have worked for  so long.A big day filled with memories of the past and  realising it was indeed time to move on.Earlier in the week Jan helped me take what I had kept from 17 and a half years teaching home in the car-

Sadly,in reality, not piled into an 18th century Spanish chest but into plastic boxes of all shapes and sizes!

Friday was an emotional day with a lovely send off from Pupils and Staff. Many lovely gifts and cards were given to me including the below-

Including some 10cm figures from the Hobbit. I intend to use them (with others needing to be bought)for  Songs of Blades and Heroes in the garden come better weather.However I could not resist this shot taken today-

Perhaps me off to my new school tomorrow?

Or maybe-

Lots to do today and hopefully time to dose/chill too. However,I can't wait for the next chapter to begin tomorrow...

Updates

This post will be brief as I am very tired- last three nights in bed by 9pm!
My eldest, Zoe, was 21 last weekend and we all enjoyed a celebration lunch at the Glasshouse restaurant in St Andrews as well as a look around the town.I cannot believe how time has flown and she is that age.
I am entering my last week at the place where I have worked for the past 17 and a half years.It is a time of excitement re the future and sadness leaving a community I know well.I start  my new job a week tomorrow.More anon.
Little progress on the hobby front- lost out on some semi flats on ebay on Friday which I suppose, if I am honest, I did not really,really need but would have liked. I have been doing a little painting/converting on some staff figures for Counterpania and thinking a little about scratchbuilding some semi-round vehicles.No time/energy to game despite my best of intentions.
Last year at school we had two excellent native speakers going round the classes teaching Spanish.I ,a complete novice ,became a learner alongside the pupils. A seed was sown and I have been attending a weekly class for teachers in Spanish ever since the summer  after school. It ( not to mention the excellent teacher and convivial fellow learners) has helped keep me sane this academic year. As a result I have brushed off my interest in Spanish military history.
I have two armies for the 1898 Spanish American War in 15mm having assembled them for a demo game at Claymore of El Caney in the late 1980s.I am going to use them with Bob's "When Empires clash" which I got as an anniversary present. I also purchased Songs of Drums and Tomahawks which I would like to use with fellows like these-

More on this and other matters anon.Thanks for your blogs which continue to provide me with great interest and pleasure- a good way to start the day over coffee before getting the train.Paperwork calls me now... Have a good Sunday!

Weekend & a celebration

Weekend at last! These new recruits for Counterpania arrived during the week-

Enough for two units of cavalry .The following will be a naval landing party,some Staff/Generals and another infantry unit-

I will use Milliput to fashion a head for the broken chap.

Today Jan and I had a most enjoyable day looking around Bruntsfield and Holy Corner (so named because it is a crossroads with a number of churches nearby) in Edinburgh.Coffee and some browsing/shopping was enjoyed by us both.Our trip into the City was to celebrate our 24th Wedding Anniversary,which falls on  Monday.

I managed to pick up a wee bargain in the Shelter shop-

Interesting as I had only been watching the film on dvd last night! I find the character of Stonewall Jackson very  compelling and must read more on his life - any suggestions?The Virginian uniforms at the start of the film are very interesting ( who are the guys in tricorns?)and tempting to replicate in figures.Does anyone do such in 15mm ?

BTW still moving slowly towards the door but it is a tiring and frustrating journey...

Sunday

After church today Jan and I went out to do the first gardening of this year- trim the old hellebore leaves and generally tidy up.It was a beautiful ,sunny if chilly day in the Duchy. Later Tom popped by with some figures for me-

Some splendid cavalry for my ancient gaming and a gun a gabion emplacement to use in other games- many thanks Tom. Look out for  them in games soon!

I'm posting a comparison of my Prince August conversion alongside one of my semi -round fellows-

I'm quite pleased with the conversion-

but not sure how he looks alongside the tall,elegant semi- round.

An attempt at scratchbuilding semi round vehicles came to an abrupt end when I failed to find the wheels/bits and bobs I thought were in the shed. Anyone know of an online source of plastic wheels,pipes etc one could use in scratch building vehicles to match these chaps?

Further questions of scale etc

Awoke early and eventually rose at 5.00 am. I listened to a splendid radio adaption (1.5 hours) of " The Prisoner of Zenda" on BBC radio iplayer whilst painting these Heyde homage Irregular Miniatures figures,here pictured alongside my figures from the previous post for comparison-

Later in the day I recalled ( and sought out) some old lead soldiers I had bought but forgotten about-

They are rather worse for wear and I can't decide whether to leave them or give them a shiny new uniform.Any thoughts?
Finally a picture of all three types together-

 I think the Heyde chap in the centre would work with the semi round fellows but the chap on the right is just too big. Perhaps in a game situation it might work,I may give it a go,we shall see. No time/opportunity to set up a trial game today but  perhaps tomorrow. In the mean time your comments would be useful and appreciated...
Finally does anyone know of whether one can get semi round  vintage cars/armoured cars or will I need to scratch build to find something to match my artillery?