Christmas Gifts

Well I have not posted in an age as I expected but a couple of very nice surprises have given me the desire to post. I have received to gifts in the last week. One in the form of a box labelled from Secret Santa and a second as a Gift Voucher from Baccus.

I do not know who these kind people are, but thank you very much. One is going under the tree later to be opened on Christmas day and the other will be used as soon as I work out my final list for our display game for next years Joy of Six.

It just goes to show what a wonderful hobby we have and I can't tell you how much both gifts touched me and just at the right moment as I was feeling a bit down, so again thank you so much.

Other news is that I have continued to paint and have notched up quite a tally running into November. November itself as seen me just paint up four units of Gallic infantry in 6mm, the mix of colours and more limited time proved to slow production right down but with those in the back mirror I am pleased to report that I have done about half the work needed on two battalions of 15mm French SYW infantry for The Boy. These will be finished very soon and will be added to his growing army which will grow aplenty more next year with another four battalions of figures on order from Santa.

Not that my army has not had some help, five battalions of infantry and three regiments of Dragoons have almost emptied the mountain of my SYW, just a few infantry battalions and a Dragoon regiment to paint up but again Lancashire Games will be assisting with a few more infantry battalions.

Keeping with the Prussians I have painted up three battalions of Prussian Guard infantry for my 6mm Naps, need the figures for another two battalions to be able to do the last three, these being Adler Russians in reality. These may make the blog once I have done the base work, building up a bit of a stash of basing, also including some British Generals for The Boy's 6mm Naps that Lee gave him ready painted crews for 6 guns Lee also gave him. Next up for that army is yet more infantry.

Sounds like I will be busy in the Analogue Painting Challenge? sadly no, after thinking about it for a couple of months I stepped off the roster as I felt that I would not do myself any good taking part this year. Last year I pushed hard and then going to Heroes for a long weekend of ASL really left me very fragile and thus whilst I will follow it this year keenly I will be producing at a rate far below what I can do but at a level I am happy with.

More of my time has been spent on scenario design for ASL and whilst I have just three new scenarios under test I have a bunch of other ideas going through further research. It's amazing how much time is taken up by the various stages of design but I am really enjoying it and my book collection certainly has benefitted from it. 

As for blogging I think you will be seeing a bit more of me again, I have really enjoyed the rest and whilst I thought my painting might suffer for the lack of blogging it's not and indeed I think not thinking I need to blog this has actually meant I was more at home sitting at the painting table. Well all apart from those Celts LOL.

Secret Santa 2015 Finally Finished

I hang my head in shame as I write today's post. Whilst I quickly made up the wagon and the thunderbox I failed to actually paint the other parts of my wonderful present from last years Santa Clause. But with the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge about to start I decided I had to get them finished before this started and with such a dead line started to get cracking.

The toilet is by Foreground and is an excellent little model that has already seen some action in a western gunfight I played with The Boy, Lee and his daughter.

The figure was also part of the present, being The Duke I am assuming. He has sat (literally) primed and waiting since I think February. Not the way to say thank you for such a nice gift.

Colonel Bills do a few different figures to be mounted on the loo, I really like this one though Dave D has done another option as part of his first entry in the Challenge.

The other part of my present was this Foreground wagon and a pair of resin loads also from Colonel Bills.

The fact that the loads painted up really quickly just made the long wait so much worse! I need to get my buildings all painted and so get more games played as they always go down well with the kids.

The loads were given a mix of wood paints (and a leather belt!) and then a black ink wash to bring out the grain of the cases. I am really happy with how they came out.

The second load is shown outside the wagon. I will obviously need to get another wagon so as to be able to use both loads, see an easy excuse works wonders.

So thank you to my Secret Santa from last year and again, sorry it took me so long to get my brushes out.

Secret Santa All Done

If your in Secret Santa you should by now have received your target. If you have not then please contact Cath as soon as you can. 

Hope you all have fun picking and receiving your gifts this year. Remember if you need help selecting and your targets blog has not given you any ideas then you can always ask for a wish list.

Of course you can send your own wish list to Cath to pass on but please don't just supply a couple of pack codes as that's not much of a surprise.

You also can put a wish list on your blog if desired, you never know where that will lead.

Again have fun with this again this year.

Tomorrow is Cut Day

So Friday the 21st is the last day to join in with Secret Santa. See the last post for details if you would like to join in or check if you are on the list in that post.

Cath will be starting the work on assigning targets from Saturday, thanks to all who have joined in this year, past and new all are very welcome

Last Call Secret Santa 2016

First of all sorry for the lack of reminders and posts for the Secret Santa this year. It coincided with my relocating at work to a new (for me) store and then two key staff members being off at the same time (one sick one holiday) this meant my working all days and extending hours to get all the paperwork done. Short and the tall has meant the last month to six weeks has been interesting.

Anyway to more important things. I will be closing Secret Santa this coming Friday, the 21st October. If your in your name should be listed below. If it is missing let me or Cath know and we will add you to Santa's good list. If you have yet to join in, it's not to late you can leave a message below, contact Cath if you have her email from previous years or leave a private message via the Contact Me button somewhere to the right.

New to this and what to know more? Well about five or six years ago we started to exchange gifts via Secret Santa where you spend about £15 on another gamer/blogger randomly picked out. The aim that we all would receive something wargames/hobby related at Christmas and it has grown from the first few to a nice number. The rough rules are below

1. Buy a gift to value of £15 or equivalent plus postage for your target, supplied by Cath

2. Check out your targets blog for ideas (targets can supply Cath with a list of types of things they like (not exact details please) that can if wished be used or you can go totally off your own ideas.

3. Make sure it arrives before Christmas

4. You need to have a blog to join in.

We have 22 for this year so far and you are

Thomas N

Chris S

Adam C

Mark B

Martin C

Thomas R

Ron C

Jake B

Markus S

Ray R

Conrad K

J Miles

Dave D

Koen

Mike W

Samuli S

Stefan K

Paul S

Andy N

Michael P

After Friday Cath will assign targets and will give you the details including full name, address and blog name. Once Cath has done this you can send her your wish list if desired. 

Please also keep Cath updated on your progress. Not for any checking up type of malarkey just because she loves the whole thing and enjoys reading about your gifts and it's a nice reward for all the hard work she puts in. I often get thanked for the project but it's Cath that does all the real work so a big thanks to my gal.

A Call To Arms? No A Call To Santa!!!!!

Yep it's that time of year again where Cath gets me organised and I set out the welcome mat for all budding Secret Santa's again. Last year was another bumper year with the highest number taking part so far so I hope we will again have a great response this time round.

For those not familiar with our Secret Santa the idea is that each person who joins in will send a wargames related present with a value of £15 or equivalent and return receive the same. Cath runs this for me meaning I get to play along too. 

For inspiration you can take a look at your targets blog or Cath can get a wish list or ideas for you. The present needs to be with your target in time for Christmas hence the early start. It's well worth considering buying for your target in their own country where possible so as to cut down your postage cost. 

So are you up for it?

Incoming Secret Santa 2015

My Secret Santa present has something in common with my Santa Clause. This being the present can and will be used with my kids. Both my son and daughter both rather like our cowboy games and these wonderful gifts will add that bit more to our games.

I received a rather splendid privy by 4Ground but to really add an extra level of fun I also received a man to sit on said toilet! No doubt my daughter will make all the right disgusted noises when someone (most likely The Boy) discovers the busy cowboy.

I also have a general purpose wagon that will sit along side the one I have already from Warbases. This is very welcome as having multiple wagons will really set the scene so much better. It will hopefully also get me to make up the other buildings I have in hand as well.

The wagon can be left unloaded allowing the odd target to climb into the wagon or I can use these crates and barrels etc to fill them. 

Last up was a Belt Fed miniatures lady, something I hope to paint up for the challenge as my lady entry perhaps? It's a nice casting so I will be looking forward to getting some paint on her.

So as you can tell I did rather better than all right, indeed I have to say I am very happy. Items I would not have got myself any time soon but all of which I am so much better for having which is exactly what I like about Secret Santa. And just like last year I plan to get all these presents assembled and painted sooner rather than later and then it's out with the figures and another fun packed game. The only question is will it be this or Saga first?

Secret Santa is Go?

Hopefully most if not all of us have now sent and received their Secret Santa items, can anyone yet to send let Cath know and when you expect to get it out. Same goes for anyone who has yet to receive, can you let Cath know and she can check if it's already been sent.

Me, well my outward gift was sent some time ago via the vendor and they were great about the whole Secret Santa thing. I also have received both my Secret Santa and Santa Clause presents and they are sitting under the tree looking mighty interesting I can tell you.

As for my outward Santa Clause well that only went yesterday, I thought I had plenty of time but the amount of detail I had to paint was staggering, some superb models more information at some point after the big day but for now all I will say is that it was a pleasure to work on them.

Cath as always is having fun with this and a big thank you to all those who have sent messages to her, it really brightens up her day when she gets them and lets face it, it's Cath who deserves all the credit for the Secret Santa as all I really do is blog a bit and get the ball rolling, after that it's all Cath so I humbly thank my sweet wife, just one of the many reasons I love her.

Dear Santa..............

With Secret Santa already off and running I thought I had better get my list up too. Please treat this list as simply a guide and feel free to go off list as you desire.

So in no order at all we have

Baccus Macedonian Phalanx AMA01 and AMA03 open handed because you can never have enough pike.

Baccus AMA07 Prodromoi Cavalry

Baccus Any Hoplite pack

Baccus Any of the Persian range as that's the next 6mm project

Magister Militum (Chariot Miniatures) ALM4 as you can't have enough pike

Magister Militum (Chariot Miniatures) ALM1 Companion cavalry

WWII 28mm anything suitable for the British at Create

28mm Mexican figures for Wild West

28mm Wild West street furniture or even in house furniture

15mm ECW Cavalry

OK that's what I can think of off the top of my head and I hope it helps Santa.

Shout Out for Peter Lowitt for Secret Santa

I just need Peter's details and the final Secret Santa targets can be sent out. So if you know Peter can you let him know he needs to email me via the link on this blog with his postal and email address and confirm his blog details.

Cath has already sent a lot out and I have seen the wish lists starting to appear. It really is starting to feel like Christmas now. Cath loves the interaction so don't worry about contacting her with questions or requests as she loves it.

I have spent the best part of today painting, been a long time since I have been able to devote so much time to just painting and have really enjoyed it. I am trying to get two battalions of Napoleonic Italian infantry, two regiments of light cavalry and four guns finished for our game this coming Sunday. It's going to be a bit tight getting them all finished though I have a good start on them.

I still Need Details..............

I or rather Cath still needs the details of the following people for their participation of Secret Santa.

Roy Williamson

Peter Lowitt

Roy and Peter we need your email address and home address.

I need Brendon Watts confirm his address.

You can supply the information to me via the email request top left of the blog or if you have Cath's e-mail then shoot her an email.

As for the other thirty Cath is ready to roll, that's a lot of rolling and hopefully we will all have our targets in a matter of days.

I suggest those who wish to put together a wish list start thinking about it and then put something on your blog, either a post or a extra page.

Myself, I have been asked by family if I simply want money again or would I be so kind as to give them a list. Seems a good time to put some thought into exactly what I want. The irony is that is right on the back of posting of how I have been a good boy of late and brought down the amount of unpainted lead to less obscene levels, oh well.

Last Call For Secret Santa 2015 and a Great Offer.

Well it's that time again ladies and gents. The last chance to get involved in the Secret Santa this year. Cath will be putting the lists together in the coming week. A few might get early tags so they can take advantage of the wargame shows that are on the horizon. So if you are wanting to join in can you please let me know via the email link or leave a message below. We have quite a list of people taking part again this year, it's great to see the growth and of course the guys returning again this year.

Something that really warmed my heart last year was one of the Santa's asking for details of someone who was not taking part in the SS who had a bad year or need of a cheer up. That same good guy has again asked if I know anyone who deserves a package of wargaming goodness just because. Well I have wracked my brain and have not been able to think of anyone so I am throwing it open to you guys. If you can think of someone who has had a tough year or had a knockback this year who would appreciate a bit of the hobby on Christmas day can you email me and let me know some details.

Again it's a great gesture that I am so happy to have a minor part of and shows just how special our hobby is. The reciprocate does not have to have a blog of their own but you would have to supply me the address and type of stuff they are interested in if they are picked out from the nominees. The identity of the giver and receiver would not be broadcast within this blog just an update to say it has happened. Big props to the kind gent who is doing this again this year.

Secret Santa Update

Long time no update but with Chris having kicked off The Santa Clause I thought I had best get my act in gear. First I have found what I think will be some excellent figures for my target in The Santa Clause and now I have a list compiled of all the peeps that have contacted me or Cath direct for this years Secret Santa Details here). So far we have a cracking twenty seven entrants so that's great news.

Plenty of time to still get involved as the deadline is 1st November so if you are interested in joining in then just leave a comment to that effect or send me an email via the contact me on the right of the top post.

It's great to see so many old hands back again this year and seeing so many first timers adds to the excitement of the event. Already this is the most Santa's we have had and continues with the year on year rise that I honestly thought may have come to an end this year but no it continues to grow. Cath loves to do this and is really chuffed to have so many wargamers to herd :-)

It's Secret Santa Time Again. Secret Santa 4

Yes it's September so time to advertise Secret Santa again. Last year again saw an increase in numbers and was again a great success. Cath will again be running this for me, allowing me to join in the fun.

For those who have joined since last year here is a few pointers. Each person joining in the SS are given a name and details of their target (your being selected for someone else to buy for). The spend should be around £15 or equivalent plus postage, Cath tries to pick someone in your own Country as a target but you can always buy via the internet in your targets country to cut down cost.

Below are the rules in a little more detail.

1. To enter you need to either have a blog or be a regular follower of this blog already. This is to give confidence to all involved that everyone will follow through to the end. If you have a blog and don't follow this one it's OK to join in.

2. The present should be around £15 plus postage (best to buy the present actually in the country the receiver lives in so cutting down postage costs)

3. It's OK to have a wish list but it's just as good to buy something you think the person would like. Blog details of your target are given so you can snoop.

4. Whilst it's not essential it really added to Cath's enjoyment when the SS checked in with her to let her know target had incoming.

5. You should promote the Secret Santa on your blog to hopefully increase the numbers joining in.

6. You should sign up by 1st November so to allow time for picking gifts.

7. Gifts should arrive by 20th December if possible. It's fine to get the supplier to send direct and I would be cheeky and ask them to gift wrap  ;-)

8. Item/s should be wargame related though it's OK to throw in something odd if you want to.

Well that's all I can think of at the moment regards rules etc. You have right up to the 1st of November to sign up but I would appreciate some early birds as it makes organising it that much easier. I will need the blog name and an e-mail address for you (plus your real name)

9. You can sign up by sending me an email via the gadget to the right of the posts or details in the comments section.  Those returning only need to let me know they are in again and any change of details as Cath has last years details.

So lets slip the (slay)dogs of war and looking forward to seeing this baby develop.

T34 Secret Santa Ready To Roll

I always like to get me Secret Santa painted (if applicable) as soon as I can after Christmas to show my appreciation of the gift and as such I was keen to get the T34's done in January. The fact that they are also great looking models also helped.

These are Plastic Soldier Company 1/76 scale T34's for the new project I am working on. These should see service both at Kev's Cabin and Lee's fortress. So far I have painted up a bx of Revell infantry and now these tanks. The tanks were hands down the best experience of the two.

You get a mix of equipment and also the option of adding the 76L turret or the 85L turret. I especially like that you can fit either at any time allowing it to be twice as useful and save the money on buying two versions. The detail is crisp and the tanks went together well,, every stage was a pleasant experience and something I will be happy to do again in the not so distant future when I buy other tank types.

I could not help myself but add a few tank riders to one of the tanks and as such had kept back a few models from the figures previously blogged about.

I also used a hot pin to make a slight grove in the turret from a glancing blow, maybe that's why everyone is jumping off?

I put the tanks on bases so they would be a little safer when being transported and in this case allow for the infantry to be added as part of the model. 

As you can see I am rather pleased with my tank riders little dio, I still need to buy some support elements and this will probably be done at York, or at least looked into. 

Here we have the same tanks but with an upgrade of the 85L turret, a much bigger turret and barrel. Somehow looks a lot meaner.

I have painted up a commander for each of the turret types allowing me to use that one as the command tank if desired. That said the early T34 could not fire whilst the commander was half out of the turret as he was also the gunner!

So a BIG thank you to my Secret Santa, you helped make a good day better when I opened up the parcel and I hope you like what I did with the gift. Already looking forward to this years event.

Santa Clause and Secret Santa THANK YOU BOTH

Whilst I had a quick look yesterday at blog land I have only today been able to post and I want to say a big fat Thank You to both by Secret Santa and Santa Clause. Both presents are great and will get some use.

My Santa Clause gave me this very nice Dio of a prospector and his trusty mule. These look wonderful and the colours are perfect. I really like everything about them.

Bags of character and detail, and as they are also on separate bases these can pop out and be used in games and split up allowing for much fun I am sure.

I can see the mule also making it into the roleplaying given the desire to carry so much equipment the two ponies they have may not be enough!!

If that was not enough I also was given this great Mexican. I don't think I have  mentioned it her but I was planning on putting together a Mexican force so this guy will fit right in and I cab see I will need to start thinking of suitable characters to go with him.

The figures are all from Blue Moon so I will start there as I really like the look of these figures. I know Spirit Games sells or has sold these ranges so maybe a visit to Burton is in order?

As you can see, he is packing more than just the two pistols he has by his sides :-) I think before the week is through he could wind himself in a shoot out as the kids try and kill Dad, something of a tradition in our house.

My Secret Santa was no less a welcome present. Three Plastic Soldier Company T34's which is just perfect as I am currently painting up the Russian infantry that will go with them. No I did not peek, just very lucky to be working on them on the run up to Christmas. 

My plan now is to finish them and also start the assembly and painting of the three tanks so that I have my fledgling force all done and ready for a game when I get the chance. Even so I will still need to add some support to the force being very light in this respect but that's all part of the fun. So I will be doing quite a bit of internet browsing as I rally want to do these guys justice.

Again thank you to both of you, both presents hit the mark and from reading some of the blogs I was not the only lucky one.

Secret Santa Progress To Report

Hopefully by now most if not all of us should have sent and/or received our gifts. Can I ask all of you to email Cath (if you have not beat me to it) to let her know if you have sent out your gifts and also if you have received yours. Also let Cath know if it was sent out direct from the seller. Cath can then tie them all up.

last year we had one parcel go astray and needed to let the dealer know so they could send it out again. Tis all part of the service folks :-)

Oh and for those who do not read Anne's blog (shame on you) I would like to share a little Christmas Cheer. One of our Secret Santa crew contacted me a few months ago asking if I knew any one who had had a tough year as they wanted to send out an extra package to someone just to give them a bit of cheer. I thought about it and supplied a couple of names and he took it from there and sure enough Anne received her own Secret Santa package end of last week and sure enough it brought a big smile to Anne's face and gave her a boost.

It was a class act and both me and Cath was moved by their thoughtful gesture and made this years Secret Santa even more special. So a big thank you to you know who.

Secret Santa - A Wish List of Sorts

I guess I should follow in others footsteps and put up a list of possible type of things I would like to find under the tree but if you have followed this blog for any length of time my Santa may already have an idea or two of their own but in no particular order.

28mm Cowboys. Got more than I need but when has that ever stopped us. Could even be props for the game.

28mm Saga figures for any of the following Welsh, Scotts, Bretons, Anglo Saxon, Jomsvikings, Strathclyde, Irish, Franks, Norse Gaels or Norman's, yes an excuse to expand by Saga forces.

28mm Nice fantasy monster/s

1/72 Russian Tanks, anything as I don't have any and plan to cater for all periods of the war.

20mm Russian infantry with heavy weapons such as mortar HMG, ATR  etc.

15mm Dominate Roman Legionaries, I have Essex and 2015 will see these get some love, happy for other makes that fit with Essex. 

15mm  Magister Militum Pike (ALM4) got four large blocks but when does that ever stop us.

6mm Polish Napoleonic's Baccus or Adler

6mm French Guard Baccus or Adler

6mm Ancients

Phalangites AMA1 and 3 Open handed pike from Baccus

Companion Cavalry AMA5

Thracian Infantry AMA10

Generals AGR13

Psiloi Bow AGR4

Whilst I list Baccus that's because these are what I know so happy for others. 

This as you can see is a new distraction but feel free to ignore it.

Or anything else at all, that's the great thing about the Secret Santa, I have no idea what it will be and as such it's got to be great.

Secret Santa - The Last Week

I have decided to set the closing date early for the Secret Santa to allow plenty of time to get your target sorted out and that date will be this coming Sunday the 19th of October. 

If you have signed up please check below to make sure you are listed. If not send me an email or message on this post.

Not signed up yet but want in then leave a message below. The idea for anyone not aware is that each person involved gets a target randomly drawn by my wife Cath who they get to buy a wargames related present to the value of about £15 (or equivalent in foreign money). I suggest you buy the gift in the country of your target to cut down on postage though Cath does tend to group say the USA together if enough numbers involved etc to make life easier. Also she will re-draw anyone who has bought for the same person in either of the previous two years.

Anyway I have two lists below, one for those who have contacted only by the comments and those who have emailed. Anyone who has not emailed can you do so with your full details (Name, address and blog name if you have one) this will allow Cath to provide your gifter with the information they will need to sort your present out.

It is OK to put up a wish list on your blog, or email Cath to give to your gifter or let them decide. I can't recommend nipping on your targets blog and having a good rummage as you can come up with great ideas that way. My target last year was really happy with his present as it was something he was planning on getting at a later date which I had guessed from a previous post from earlier in the year. Result was two happy bloggers LOL.

Got Your Email Details at Least.

Brendan Watts

Jake Bledsoe

Andy McMaster

Conrad Kinch

Chris Stolsen

Ray Rousell (can you email Cath or me as an email bounced that Cath sent you)

Stefan (AKA Monty)

Thorsteinn

Dave Docherty

Flags of War Iain

Thomas Nissvik

Markus Sharaput

Patrick Ballinger

Stuart Markham

Gary Amos

Ian Willey

Not Got Your Email please contact me.

Styx

Thomas Richer

J Miller

Leif Eriksson

Phyllion

Ron Carnegie

Edwin King

Fire Monkey Boy

Paul Smith

Largo W

Mike Whitaker

of course I could have your email lost somewhere on this computer so if your on the bottom list just be sure and send again and I will send on to the boss.

Not on either list and you should be, again let me know. Also if you want to join in and it's before the 19th October 2014 then please join the fun. It would be great to crack the 30 mark.

Santa Clause and Secret Santa Are GO

First up the hot news is that Santa Clause is Go as in gone elsewhere. Chris over at Wargamer's Odd's and Ends has kindly offered to host Santa Clause after Cath said it was to confusing to run both from the one blog. Top man and we already have a few of us signed up. Some of the originals and nice to see some new faces as well. So if you want to join in the more the merrier, it would be great if we can double last years entrants. Everyone enjoyed it last year and the opportunity to get two wargame related presents under the tree was just too good to pass over for me.

Secret Santa is already buzzing with interest and looks to break last years record. This will be three years running at a participant increase. Again it's great to see old faces, most back for the third year and just as good to see so many first timers getting into the fun. I was really spoilt last year and still am taking pleasure from looking at my gifts (I will be watching both films again over the winter). 

I actually enjoy the giving the best. The item I picked for my target went down well and I had spent a fair bit of time going through first his blog then the suppliers website until I found the perfect present. The supplier went the extra mile as it needed sending abroad and it arrived in time. The item was ordered in time but I missed that the supplier was on holiday and had a backlog when he got back off holiday but on finding out it was a Christmas Bloggers gift cast the item after hours so as not to hold back other peoples items and that's what I call service!!

So if your interested in giving and receiving a gift of around £15 value (anywhere in the world) then comment below stating your interest and send an email via the Email Me bit on the top right hand of the blog. I will pass your details to Chief Fairy and your in baby.