Has it been over three weeks?

Yet another long break between posts. I think my gaming mojo has gone a little astray. Possibly due to burnout in the run up to Ayton, and partly due to a holiday and general life tiredness…

So what has been happening? Well, lack of mojo has not prevented me getting sidetracked on another project! So far, only books bought, but figures being lined up for purchase at the Pendraken Birthday Bash on 14th July! Yes, I fear I may have finally succumbed to 10mm… more of which anon.. So, to start with…

The Holiday

Ten day trip with seven nights at a Center Parc type place in Brittany. The drive to Dover and then to the site was a bit tiring but we drove through Normandy! Abbeville, St. Lo, Caen and many other places that I’ve read many a book on, all these I saw signs to and never stopped once! 🙁 Such is the family holiday…

I did get to see the Menhir du Champ-Dollent just outside Dol-de-Bretagne. Rather impressive bloody great rock!

And during the journey I came to the conclusion that the French do bloody good bridges! The Pont de Normandie being rather an impressive piece of work that my picture does little justice to.

But this does:

So we had a good time. Weather could have been better but with several pools to choose from the kids were happy.

Reading

Knowing what my ‘me’ time was likely to be like I only took one book! Killer of Men- Marathon:Freedom or Death, Christian Cameron‘s second ‘hoplite’ themed book. I’ve recently read his take on Alexander and really enjoyed it, as I did the first in this series, and I think he writes very well with a good deal of research to back it up. I find the stories move quickly and the characters ring true. And the fight/battle scenes are described in a convincing way. His books are well worth a read.

When I got home and finished this I moved on to the next (fourth) of Harry Sidebottom’s Ballista series, The Caspian Gates. I’ve been quite happy with the first few, the last being a little week, but was less than impressed with this. I felt it was starting to slip into the formulaic and the main character not really grabbing me any more. The dialogue and comments of his two ‘side kicks’, Maximus and Calgacus, are often amusing but not enough to carry the lack of action in the rest of the book. I was glad I’d got the hardback edition for £2.50 in Oxfam! Next on the reading pile will be the research for my 10mm project…

Project Updates

I’ve still to progress the 6mm ImagiNation project. I have the next batch of figures ready to go but need to kick my self into gear and also finalise my basing plans as that determines unit size and how many I need to paint! Soon… though I am erring towards Mike Salway’s super flexible steel based solution show here.

Ayton stuff, both for 2013 and 2014, I’ve put on hold. Can’t be preparing too far in advance!

So what is the mystery 10mm project? Well, I’ve been looking for an excuse for a 10mm project for a while (as if we really need an excuse!). Zulu Wars/Colonial nearly made it but the initial shine wore off. So, while perusing the Pendraken website I spotted the 1st Schleswig-Holstein War range! Some rather nice figures, small actions, and a variety of uniforms with that transition from shako. I’d spotted some nice 28mm ranges for this when researching figures for next year’s Ayton game so that must have planted the seed! I have Nick Svendson’s book on order, as well as the Weaver’s uniform guide en route from Caliver. As I hope to make the Pendraken Birthday Bash on 14th July I shall aim to pick up the necessary lead then. Unless I crack beforehand and order some anyway!

So, there we are. A little update. Hopefully not so long ’til the next one!