It's hard to believe that it's about 6 weeks since my last game and post on the Blog, but real life has been somewhat hectic on many levels! As a result, pretty much all wargaming related activity has taken a back seat, whilst I sorted through all my other 'commitments'. Nothing serious fortunately, but the sort of stuff that just demands an awful lot of time and mental energy. So I thought I'd do a bit of a 'catch up' post to keep you all abreast of things and possibly to help me motivate myself too!
Parent Carer 'Stuff'
It just seemed that recently I had to do an awful lot of this, for reasons that I won't bore you with, but it did leave me somewhat 'pooped' at times and honestly the inclination to do any hobby related activity was zero. Famous last words, but this has now massively eased off, so the old grey cells are beginning to re-charge themselves and the desire to get back the the painting desk and gaming table is increasing. But one of the things I did was to take part in a podcast on what it's like to a parent carer from a Dad's perspective. So if you want to see and hear what I look like (highly unlikely and you have been warned!) then you can watch this on the link below:
My new found 'fame' has actually had quite a positive effect in that this was shared across our local County Council and as a result, I've been invited to be on a steering committee as part of their Children's Services team. Famous last words but it shouldn't be too much work, as they meet quarterly, but as this is a new committee, I'll have to wait and see...
Woodworking
One of my other loves and hobby is woodworking and has been ever since I went to Nigeria over 35 years ago as a VSO. Having studied Furniture & Related Product Design at Uni, I've always enjoyed designing and making stuff, which is probably why I love scratch building stuff. Luckily there I had a fully equipped and large workshop to allow me to indulge my whims as it were. Sadly somewhat harder to do here, other than with a Lottery win! However for some reason I decided to tidy up the garage and have a play on my lathe, which is much easier on my back and shoulders these days. The reults can be seen below:
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| Some simple bud vases, made from recycled 'pine' from my old workplace. |
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| Being very full of resin, these were tricky to turn, but the finish that can be achieved was great, plus the smell of the wood was fantastic. |
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| Me suddenly getting all 'arty' with some rejected American Black Walnut floorboard offcuts. |
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| One of my favourite timbers and the colours within it are just a joy to behold. |
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| A live edge bowl of Leyland Cypress. |
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| I was given these by some tree surgeons who were trimming our neighbours hedge. I wasn't expecting much from the wood, but was pleasantly surprised at how hard the wood is and the figuring contained within in it is just wonderful. As a bonus, it smells wonderful when turned. |
The Garden
Normally this is my 'go to' place to relax, especially after the long wet Winter we had, but the joy of woodturning meant that my time was split between the two. So here is a quick shot of the garden in all its Spring glory. This will take up quite a bit of my time over the next month or so, especially the veg patch, but the joys of the harvest make all the effort worthwhile.
Books
As always and like many of us, at least a good book can be relied upon to keep one in touch with wargaming on many levels. Reading hasn't been quite as prolific as normal, but the following books have been or are being read.
The Malta book is pretty good, showing in the first part how many opportunities were missed by the Axis forces to take it early on in the War, alongside the parlous state of the island's defences. In the second half, the author does a sort of 'what if?' daily narrative if the island had been invaded, drawing on experiences encountered by both attackers and defenders on Crete and Leros. Well written and with plenty of info for the wargamer, this will be referred back to I'm sure over the years, as for a long time I've wanted to game as Leros type invasion, but have never gotten around to it.
Building on my attempts to become more au fait with the Pacific theatre, this really is a gem of a book. Having already read the Osprey book on the battle, this fleshes things out nicely and also gives snippets of information that are certainly useful to me as a wargamer, when thinking of possible future games.
Podcasts, Blogs & Youtube
I've found these to be a great way to switch off for a bit, especially if it's been a full on day, as many have these past few weeks or so. A mix of history and gaming related stuff, they have helped keep my in touch, when I haven't been able or motivated to do anything myself. thanks God they exist and let's hope they continue to do so!!!
Partizan Wargames Show
This is only a few weeks away and to be honest I'm in two minds as to whether to go or not. Looking at the games currently down to be played or demoed, there isn't much that really grabs me if I'm perfectly frank. Purchases wise I have nothing I need or planned too. Then there is the cost issue with the sharp rise in petrol prices this side of the pond. But I know I'm bound to meet a few familiar faces and I always come away inspired having attended the show. The jury is still out on this one and I'll wait and see how I feel closer to the time.
What Next?
Well no surprise if I say I'm not sure! I'm having a good rest today to allow the mind and body to recover, as this week has been rather full on. At least my mind is now turning back towards wargaming, which is good. But afterall it is just a hobby, with no deadlines, other some silly self-imposed ones at times!
Well thanks for wading through this and getting to the end. As always, any comments greatly appreciated!
TTFN.
Little time for wargaming but plenty achieved, you have been busy, garden looks great.
ReplyDeleteThanks Donnie:)! One advantage of having a few other hobbies is that I'm never without something to do, which is nice.
DeleteWell Steve, I had noticed your absence from blogging, so its good to hear that you are coming out the other side of a hectic time. Good to be able to inject some first hand experience into the steering committee.
ReplyDeleteThere is something very therapeutic about handling wood. If you are close to the estuary, would driftwood be a thing? Or is it too fragile for the lathe?
I had planned on posting something a week or so ago, but was just too tired mentally to even bother! I must admit that I find woodworking in all its form very therapeutic, from selecting the timber right through to putting the final finish on. Driftwood might be OK, depending upon its state of preservation as it were. It's a long time since we've been to the coast, but when we do I'll keep an eye out for useful bits.
DeleteVery impressed by the wood turning matey, oh and the jardin. Glad to hear you are managing to get back a bit of “you time” as well. No rush on the hobby front, unlike gardens which need things doing at certain times. Kick back for a bit in what seems to be slightly better weather over there. Interested in the Malta book, that might have to go on the Chrimbo list.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mark and le jardin is looking even better, now some of the flowers are out. I'm trying not to rush things these days after decades of high pressure work within the design industry. I think I got the Malta book cheap from Naval & Military Press, as it was massively reduced IIRC. Postage might be an issue to France though...
DeleteSome times “real life” just interferes too much with our hobbies 😤😡 I’m only just getting over a chest infection (needed 2 weeks of antibiotics) and had little energy or enthusiasm for anything. The coughing was so bad I pulled muscles in my side ☹️ On the positive side it does make you appreciate things once you’ve “turned the corner”.
ReplyDeleteI’m expecting a delivery of top soil and landscape bark for our garden next week, so yet more gardening to do… I like a nice garden when it’s completed, I just don’t especially enjoy the effort to get it looking that way in the first place.
I’m also in two minds about attending Partizan in a few weeks, as the Joy of Six is little over a month later (plus it’s a local show here in Sheffield). Oh well… let’s just hope that’s the biggest of my problems 😉
Take care,
Geoff 😎
Sorry to hear you were laid low Geoff, and fingers crossed you're in fine fettle now. I love just pottering about in the garden, so don't mind too much doing these bigger sort of jobs. I really should get some bark in, but never really like the look of it! Yep, attending Partizan or no is one of those First World problems we have to wrestle with daily;).
DeleteGood to read you have been getting some hobby time in Steve, even if its a different hobby! I might check out you 5 minutes of fame, hear how West Country your accent is if nothing else LOL! I had to go to an osteopath a few weeks back and as soon as she opened her mouth, I asked what part of England she was from - turned out to be Gloucs. although she had a pretty refined accent - a privately educated, country/ horsey girl, but very nice!
ReplyDeleteSorry to disappoint you Keith, but I have a very bland accent, so nobody ever knows where I come from (Cambridgeshire actually)! With the weather turning unsettled here, the desire to do some form of gaming related activity in increasing daily:).
DeleteWhen I was buying a snack from a petrol station in Cambridge last week I was pleased to hear the bloke who served me had a local accent. Seems to be quite rare these days. Took me a few seconds to tune in to what he was saying mind.
DeleteIt's when you head into Norfolk and Suffolk that you really notice the accents more, especially in the Fens. Rather like the Clotted Cream accents of Somerset etc, or so it seems to these old ears!
Delete'Real life,' I know it well!
ReplyDeleteOh! I actually watched a documentary about the Battle of Okinawa yesterday.
I'm on the verge of buying Japanese miniatures, but I'm still fighting! Haha.
I might search out some documentaries too Michal, as some of them are very good, especially giving one an idea of the terrain etc. I have plenty of Japanese and US Marines that have been sitting in their bags for a few years now:(.
DeleteA good looking garden to escape to, but they (and their weeds) are much more demanding than wargaming.
ReplyDeleteBy late Summer I must admit that I'm looking forward to Autumn and the less demands on my time that the garden makes!
DeleteI agree with you Steve! By very late summer, I grow very tired of mowing a large lawn every five days.
DeleteI'm lucky in that we have a smallish lawn, but a decent sized garden compared to more modern houses. It's the dead heading that tends to drive me mad by the end of August!
DeleteGlad to see you back Steve. I like your wood turning work! Very nice. I'll have to take a look at the podcast.
ReplyDeleteThanks Chris and glad you liked the wood turned stuff. SWMBO is on a Spring Clean today, so I might head out into the garage for some peace and quiet! The podcast is rather niche, but you never can tell, it might be useful to someone you know, or even yourself...
DeleteWelcome back! Six weeks is a long time to remain silent on the blogging front. Wood turning, puttering in the garden, and reading all seem well-deserved distractions from your often times hectic life.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jon! A longer break than planned, but these things happen. I'm lucky in that I have enough hobbies that can be dipped into as and when the mood takes me:).
DeleteWelcome back. Wargaming is a hobby, after all, so long or short breaks are pretty acceptable, especially when Real Life calls! :-) Hope the committee work is satisfying and useful. Love the woodworking; as you say, wood is very seductive material. (My own experience of wood was mostly of the living stuff, when I was researching ancient woodlands...) Delighted to see you have a real and attractive garden with shrubs and other plants, looking rather wild too; far too many modern gardens are sterile and dead, with nothing much growing at all. It's a ghastly fashion. I don't know how people can bear them. And where do the insects and birds go in those desolate spaces? Given how desolate much of the countryside is as well, it's not surprising we have a biodiversity crisis. I am thinking of trying to get to Partizan this year; haven't been to a wargames show in decades. (Simon Miller will have a fair number of my flags on show in his game and it would be good to see them, amongst other things, as well as meeting a few people. ;-)) I was wondering about trying to get a lift with someone going there past Rugby, offering to share petrol.
ReplyDeleteThanks David and time will tell how much my Lived Experience will change anything in local government, based upon our journey and all the pressures they are under. One can but hope though!
DeleteResearching ancient woodlands sounds cool and I do love a good walk or meander through woods. I deliberately set out to make our garden as friendly as possible for wildlife, especially insects, bees and butterflies. We are a bit of an oasis compared to other gardens, plus we haven't tarmaced over our front one either. The simple pleasures of seeing the birds, bees and butterflies on a sunny day is priceless!
My mind is moving more towards attending Partizan this year, but as with all things, a lot depends upon things being OK on the parent carer front. I even sketched out a small scenario last night to try and get a simple game in, which was rather nice. It didn't feel forced, but something I wanted to do:).
Yes, you have to try!
DeleteI did enjoy researching ancient woods; the combination of fieldwork and library/record office work made a good balance. Trying to get on top of the combination of botany, archaeology and history was certainly challenging, though. :-) Mediaeval Latin documents were often a real puzzler and usually seemed to have been dipped in an unmentionable slurry to produce a very peculiar colour that did not help their readability... If you are interested (and don't know it already) the best introduction to the history of British trees and woodland is still Oliver Rackham's wonderfully readable "Trees and Woodland in the British Landscape" (1990 revised edition). (It can be had for good prices here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=trees+and+woodland+in+the+british+landscape&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p4624852.m570.l1313)
It's great that you set out to make your garden so friendly for wildlife; I wish more people would do so. As you say, it's true that such gardens are wonderful for people too, a truth that seems to elude many people! (Hospital inpatients with a view of attractive greenery recover more rapidly than those who do not; seems self-evident, doesn't it?) Round here most front gardens are also now simply sterile car parks when 30 years ago they were actually gardens - and the trend continues apace, unfortunately.
If you do manage to go to Partizan and I do too I hope we might meet up there; I have posted a request on my blog for a lift from anyone who might be passing this way, offering to share petrol. No takers
yet but there is still time...
Thanks for the book recommendation David, I'll check that out:). Yep, exposure to a window with a view of greenery does speed up patient recovery, ditto spending 15 minutes outside, even in a park, massively improves our SEMH. Still not sure on Partizan to be honest. I sort of pass by Warwick on the way, but not sure how easy it is to get to Rugby from there etc?
DeleteIt really is a wonderful book; the first edition was what enticed me into the whole world of tree and woodland investigation 45 years ago. Given how beneficial greenery and plants are to our mental health it is all the more disappointing that so many people seem to want to remove such things from their everyday lives! It is quite a trek for you to go to Partizan so I can see you might be rather doubtful about doing it if nothing there is very appealing. I presume you would be coming up the A46 from Warwick to Coventry then round Coventry and up the M69 to Leicester and so on to Newark on the A46 beyond Leicester. Rugby is about 11 miles east of Coventry and it is relatively easy to get to from Coventry via the A45 off the A46; from Rugby it is then fairly straightforward to go via the M1 up to Leicester and so to the A46 to Newark. But it is certainly a bit out of your way; however, that might be made worthwhile by my offer of sharing the cost of the petrol! ;-)
DeleteAmazing woodwork. You have a great talent.
ReplyDeleteThanks Richard:). I'm still learning stuff as it's over 30 years since I last turned anything on a wood lathe, but I'm having loads of fun, even whilst making mistakes!
DeleteI'm with Richard (and the others), your wood turning is beautiful and use of that off-cut a ripper. The garden looks an absolute delight for some quiet, reflective time—and to read those books!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, James
Thanks James:)! Sometimes I read in the garden, but always tend to see something that needs 'doing', certainly at this tim eof year. Come 'High Summer, there's less to do so I do try and find time to read when it's too hot to do much else.
DeleteNice looking garden, Ive been busy in ours to be honest, lovely woodturning, havent used a lathe for over 30 years! Might go to Partizan,didnt go to Salute, no work since the end of January, so a bit skint!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks Iain:)! I certainly miss my old industrial lathe I had in Nigeria, but at least I'm coping with what I have at present, as it allows me 'to walk before I run' sort of thing. The jury's still out on Partizan, which is less than two weeks away now. A dear friend works in film as she has lean spells, but luckily with her partner who also works in the same industry, they can sort of pick and choose within reason as when to work and on what etc. Selling their flat in the Docklands certainly helped on this front!
DeleteI think having lots of hobbies is a good thing, although gardening is more of a chore than a hobby for me. I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time tidying our garage recently , 25 years of stuff collected ! Anyway I am planning on Lartizan Steve so if you go look out for me would be great to catch up 🙂
ReplyDeleteI agree that having a good mix of hobbies means you are never bored. I've caught a cold from our son, so know I can do some easy gaming related stuff as I'm not up to gardening or woodworking today. Our garage seems to be periodically being tidied up, but nevers seems to get less cluttered! Still unsure on Partizan at the moment, but it would be good to meet up and hopefully see some other familiar faces too.
DeleteYou've been a busy chap! You deserve a reward! I know, a trip to Partizan and new toys!
ReplyDeleteThanks David:)! All being well I will be at Partizan next Sunday, with a mystery guest in tow. I've got no planned purchases, other than a few books that might pique my interest.
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