Gridded game with 40mm figures

This afternoon I ruled one side of my felt cloth into 3inch squares for gridded games. It will be used for a variety of periods, scales and rules. It can hold 1/72 scale tanks for example.I set up the first game with my 40mm Dark age figures-

A card river and linoleum road was added,along with hedges,trees and a bridge.

 Note berserkers in foreground. Three close order figures to a square,two figures for skirmishers and cavalry.

I hope to play the game tomorrow .I am pleased with the look of the set up and hope the game works out as well. Rules probably Gathering of Hosts maybe a Tony Bath adaption, we'll see.

New Year's Eve

Sunday sees the start of a new year in the church's calender with the first day of Advent.This seems therefore a good time to take stock on a number of fronts.Firstly thanks to all who helped my daughter with her "White" work- splendid you all are indeed!
My return to work has proceeded well in many ways but has left me exhausted.It is a bit  of a struggle to get through a week but we are getting there.Little time or particularly energy for anything beyond doing my "bit" at home,domestic matters and the odd bit of light reading or television before an early bed. Here however are a few additions to the already overstuffed Tradgardland Library - probable purge is needed of some paperbacks I fear too.

I like to try a little serious reading in Advent (sometimes I succeed sometimes not- fond memories of underlining  passages in a snow stuck train a few years ago...) and found this collection of poems and accompanying meditations in  the Cornerstone Bookshop in Edinburgh a few weeks back.I will try to stick at this one...

An interesting collection of his wartime memories and many inspiring rules. A good buy. I do fancy grafting some fleeing/stampeding elephant rules onto my gridded ancient games or adapt Tony Bath's for grids and elements. The colonial ambush rules look good .I wish I had kept my Peter Laing 15mm WW1 in East Africa armies!!!! Can one buy Laing figures these days?

Finally a fun month by month account of a chap's living of the good life- I would love to follow in his footsteps armed with my copy of Self Sufficiency by Seymour etc.One can dream.
Off to make Jan a cup of tea ,perhaps a little light paint or skirmish later  we shall see...

The Battle of Twin Farms part the second

You are invited to pop here for part one-
http://tradgardland.blogspot.co.uk/2013_10_01_archive.html

Now for part two- don't forget to click on the pictures to make them easier to see...

Can you help my daughter?

My middle daughter has a request-

"As part of my university course I am doing a group presentation about the colour white.  My section of the presentation is the associations of the colour white in war.  I have already come up with the ideas of a white feather for cowardice, white flag for surrender and white bandages.  I was wondering if anybody had any other thoughts?Thanks, Anna"
Let's see what you can come up with chaps!

Saturday Morning and the box of delights...

The week has gone quite well but I am exhausted on it. I came home Friday afternoon ,saw a parcel had arrived  but needed more than forty winks before feeling like opening it.It was from a State Tankette Factory in Tratvia aka Tim Gow...

Here is the box in the process of being unpacked as the goodies are revealed.Interesting 1970s type lloonngg trucks but they will serve well alongside the rest. Most exciting so far.

More unwrapping later and more is revealed. German armour etc in snow camoflague as well as three primed Japanese tanks in the foreground and some armoured  cars and self propelled guns in the middle.

My favourites are probably the tanks converted from bren carriers- just the sort of think the Volare- Cantare engineers would like and the tankettes in all their glory.Does anyone make leather coated/hemeted tank crew in 20mm?
The Tratvian gift has me thinking.Will I open up an Eastern Front ( I have loads of plastic Russians and in the tradition of "Battle Practical wargaming I am more than happy to mix nationalities of tanks etc- need a soviet type imagination name- any thoughts chaps)  with the snowy camouflaged vehicles and the heavy armour I already have. Thus  leaving a lighter ,earlier period infantry  predominating to fight between Volare-Cantare and The Imperium.Or will all get mixed in together.Much enjoyable thinking and planning to be undertaken...
I plan an easy weekend doing very little.A walk uptown to do some shopping in the company of my eldest, home over the weekend from Uni, along a tree lined cycle path which was the old railway line.. Miniature Wargaming to be picked up at WHS and a few other items too. Other than that mainly reading,dozing, watching tv and maybe a small game/painting set up if energy allows.
Finally  viewing and reading recommendations at the side- do give them a whirl...

Monday 2

Both of us home 7pm (Jan's appt started at 9.30 a.m) chemo went well,my class welcoming ,colleagues supportive,increased paperwork oppressive and absent management/H R procedures/meeting insulting and absolutely stinks!
Thanks for all your comments, prayers and positive thoughts-most appreciated by us both!

Monday

After weekly phone calls, reflection, outside agency consultation etc etc I return to work on Monday for a phased return which looks a little too "return" rather than "phased" but we will see.The above photo shows how I feel!
Through all this I have had my first real glimpse of absence management procedures (shudder) in action and H.R at work (the very language shows the  core of it I fear) and it is a sad indicator of where our 21st century society is at ...
Monday too sees Jan go for Chemo number three blood counts permitting.
A big day- positive thoughts ( and prayers if that is your way) if you can.Following your projects,games and ideas has helped and continues to help.