Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Non-Wargaming Discussion => Chat & News => Topic started by: fsn on 17 January 2015, 11:22:09 AM

Title: Dear 2015
Post by: fsn on 17 January 2015, 11:22:09 AM
Well, we're 17 days into the new year and I thought it was time for a review.

On the plus side, my plan for a chocolate free January is going well. If it goes really well, I'm hoping for a chocolate free February, and hopefully a svelte FSN by Phalanax, so I may gather my courage and get out the house.

On the downside, I have managed to hurt my right thumb. (Don't ask how.) It's amazing how much you use your right thumb, and not just for deciding the fate of your gladiators, or giving the more adventurous lady in your life a little frisson. For example, one uses one's right thumb to hold a paintbrush.

Thanks to a change in the law, redundancy consultations need only be 45 days and not 90, so it was a less than lovely surprise to go into work in January and be told one is at risk of redundancy. The prize for retaining one's job? A pay cut.

Yesterday, I had the comfort of a little yellow package on the mat. No, the cat was not back, but my Pendraken order had arrived. I may have upset Leon with my Christmas offering, as the infantry came out as flats, the dragoons were just tiny horse heads, and the artillery had the same number of wheels as gun barrels.   

So 2015, it's not going too well is it?
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Leman on 17 January 2015, 11:27:36 AM
Keep your chin up FSN. Anything could happen in the next 348 days.
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: fsn on 17 January 2015, 11:28:19 AM
That's what I'm afraid of.  :(
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: FierceKitty on 17 January 2015, 11:30:31 AM
On the up side, I'm sure Pendraken are about to do some Aztecs this year.
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: fsn on 17 January 2015, 11:38:23 AM
That's right. Rub it in.
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Fenton on 17 January 2015, 11:39:32 AM
Having had two operations on my right thumb after shattering twice and having bits of bone fused together inside so now it no longer bends at the knuckle it does hinder ones painting attempts for a while. Though the worst part was not being able to use a can opener for 2 or 3 months
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Leman on 17 January 2015, 11:41:27 AM
The positive aspect being that at last you got some unprocessed fresh food. Puts the mockers on the painting comp. entry though.
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Westmarcher on 17 January 2015, 02:42:13 PM
We can't stop the world turning. Stay confident, fsn. It'll be daylight again. Thumbs up! (oops, sorry - poor taste! ;) )
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Ithoriel on 17 January 2015, 03:08:08 PM
So far 2015 is progressing well, as far as I'm concerned.

Bathroom revamp should finally be finished by Tuesday evening. Once I've paid the balance due, I'll have enough left over for the trip to NYC I'm planning, to see my son. Several meals out with friends organised for January and February.

Plus ... I've broken my "painter's block"!! One unit of 6mm Sumerian 'erin.summa' conscript spearmen completed, 3 reed-built transport ship conversions completed and being painted, 1 unit of 'gish.gigir' donkey carts also part painted and a unit each of 'nim' skirmishers and 'aga.ush' professional spearmen undercoated. Yay!

Think I'd just got burnt out painting WW2 Germans :)
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Techno on 17 January 2015, 03:10:07 PM
Ouch !!

Keep your chin up, Nobby !
Hope nothing turns out as bad as you fear.

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Womble67 on 17 January 2015, 03:20:25 PM
Hope you feel better soon

Take care

Andy
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 17 January 2015, 03:25:43 PM
Get well soon
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Steve J on 17 January 2015, 05:21:54 PM
Blimey, hope things get better for you. A chocolate free life? Perish the thought!!!
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Leon on 17 January 2015, 05:34:16 PM
Quote from: Steve J on 17 January 2015, 05:21:54 PM
A chocolate free life? Perish the thought!!!

Adele decided this was a good idea for us for 2015 as well, so I'm having to get my choc-fix either at work or by smuggling it into the house.   :(
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: fsn on 17 January 2015, 05:55:03 PM
It's been surprisingly easy so far. Think it's just a question of changing habits.
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Nirnman on 17 January 2015, 06:07:29 PM
Quote from: Leon on 17 January 2015, 05:34:16 PM
Adele decided this was a good idea for us for 2015 as well, so I'm having to get my choc-fix either at work or by smuggling it into the house.   :(

Glad to see you've joined the ranks of secret chocolate gobblers lol
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Matt J on 17 January 2015, 06:32:28 PM
Cheer up FSN, think happy thoughts...

(http://www.enemyforces.net/tanks/centurion.jpg)

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Fenton on 17 January 2015, 06:37:26 PM
Quote from: fsn on 17 January 2015, 05:55:03 PM
It's been surprisingly easy so far. Think it's just a question of changing habits.

How does swapping religious orders help?
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: fsn on 17 January 2015, 06:42:54 PM
Cheers Matt. A Centurion always brings on a smile!  :D

Quote from: Fenton on 17 January 2015, 06:37:26 PM
How does swapping religious orders help?
'cos I'm fed up with being a deep fat friar.  :(
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: FierceKitty on 17 January 2015, 06:45:44 PM
Quote from: Fenton on 17 January 2015, 06:37:26 PM
How does swapping religious orders help?

Well, if you leave the Templars you don't get burned as a heretic, and if you're joining the Hospitallers, Franciscans, or Domenicans the uniform is easier to keep clean, if you're secretly vain about that. There are certain benefits to joining the Holy Lunching Friars of Voondoon too.
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Subedai on 17 January 2015, 06:54:34 PM
Just take it a day at a time and it'll get sorted.

Hint: Choose an order that wears brown robes then the fallen bits of Flake won't show.

Chocolate, although I am partial wouldn't be worth a Lent type give-up for me. Now if you start talking about giving up drinking tea, then that's a definite non starter!
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: paulr on 17 January 2015, 07:10:50 PM
Quote from: fsn on 17 January 2015, 05:55:03 PM
It's been surprisingly easy so far. Think it's just a question of changing habits.

It is indeed about changing habits. I changed some of mine after a warning about blood pressure in November and the results have been very positive :)

Hope the thumb gets better soon and remember Pendraken has some new Centurions planned ;)

Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Fenton on 17 January 2015, 07:18:40 PM
I got sent home from the Doctors with one of those home Blood pressure monitors and had to use it three times a day for 2 weeks  as the Dr thought it was a little high when I went to see him

The result was that it was completely normal
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Maenoferren on 17 January 2015, 07:33:28 PM
Quote from: Matt of Munslow on 17 January 2015, 06:32:28 PM
Cheer up FSN, think happy thoughts...

(http://www.enemyforces.net/tanks/centurion.jpg)

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Wow that's a nice T34
On a more serious note....I hope 2015 improves.
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Steve J on 17 January 2015, 09:00:19 PM
I really only eat Green & Blacks 85% chocolate these days. Some reports say it's good for you in the same way as wine, others that dark chocolate is bad for you :-\.
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: fsn on 17 January 2015, 09:04:50 PM
It's funny when you give up chocolate you realise how much of it there is out there.
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Leman on 17 January 2015, 11:15:46 PM
We're all going to die - why live miserably.
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Westmarcher on 17 January 2015, 11:32:55 PM
Quote from: fsn on 17 January 2015, 09:04:50 PM
It's funny when you give up chocolate you realise how much of it there is out there.
..... and that would be because .... you've given it up?  ;D

Chocolate is bad for (old) dogs anyway.

[when I'm sober tomorrow I might regret this]

Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: FierceKitty on 18 January 2015, 01:42:21 AM
I hate to say it, but I really enjoy chocolate less than I did twenty years ago (never mind the "road to Damascus" moment that was my first encounter with Belgian pralines in my teens, when I knew eating these was what I was born to do). I could give it up with only mild sorrow these days.
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Steve J on 18 January 2015, 08:45:35 AM
QuoteI hate to say it, but I really enjoy chocolate less than I did twenty years ago

Agreed. Long gone are the days when I'd polish off a whole Cadbury Dairy Milk bar in one go.
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 18 January 2015, 08:50:58 AM
We have a bespoke chocolatier in town. Yum. Special treat choccy.

Otherwise, I'm a teacher, chocolate flows through my veins and clogs my arteries!  ;D
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: fsn on 18 January 2015, 09:02:42 AM
Can't say I'm a fan of "fancy" chocolate. A friend of mine used to send me specialty choccies which usually had a sting in the tail like salt or chili.

Can't beat your Diary Milk or a Yorkie Bar.

"I've pounded the road, from coast to coast,
Yorkie and me trucking on,
for a long day's run
can be short on fun,
without Yorkie to help me along."
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Bodvoc on 18 January 2015, 09:29:17 AM
I'm a Cadbury's fruit and nut case!
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 18 January 2015, 09:38:08 AM
Quote from: Bodvoc on 18 January 2015, 09:29:17 AM
I'm a Cadbury's fruit and nut case!

Preferably the plain chocolate type we used to get in 24hr rat packs.

IanS
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Leman on 18 January 2015, 09:43:12 AM
When I can get it I like 90%  chocolate, and I'm also very fond of the chilli chocolate sold by Aldi. I find milk chocolate far too sweet and cloying.
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Westmarcher on 18 January 2015, 10:22:07 AM
Quote from: fsn on 17 January 2015, 11:22:09 AM

On the plus side, my plan for a chocolate free January is going well. If it goes really well, I'm hoping for a chocolate free February,

Why is it again that are you giving up chocolate? Was it doctor's orders? Did you get The Bourneville Ultimatum?

[See! See what happens when I'm sober?  Is chocolate good for a sore head .......?  #-o ]
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Leman on 18 January 2015, 10:41:49 AM
Techno!!!!    ;D ;D
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: fsn on 18 January 2015, 11:17:19 AM
This is my 3,000th post, so hopefully I'm going to get promoted. Will this result in a pay rise and an increased elephant? No? Well, hobble on then. Is it the 7 virgins, or at least the key to the executive loo. On second thoughts, at my age, perhaps a locked bathroom could lead to unfortunate accidents. As for the seven virgins, as long as they don't talk whist "Only Connect" is on, they can bunk down in the spare room. I've got to that stage of life when I see young girls and just want to protect them.

Anyway, I won't let this exulted new rank change me, apart from the extra gold braid on my pyjamas. I promise to remain the sensible, level headed leader and shaper of the zeitgeist.


Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Techno on 18 January 2015, 11:18:47 AM
Congratulations, Nobby !! :-bd <:-P
Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Leman on 18 January 2015, 11:20:32 AM
Nice one FSN.
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Hertsblue on 18 January 2015, 11:47:38 AM
Never understood the craving for chocolate. Even allowing for the fact that it's got too much sugar in it for me, I've never missed the stuff. Now if it were cheese.... =P~ =P~ =P~
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 18 January 2015, 11:49:50 AM
Well done FSN
Does it count 1000s were in leading for Cents?
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 18 January 2015, 11:53:49 AM
Convene the Court Martial and bust him - NOW.

IanS

PS congratulations.
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Fenton on 18 January 2015, 12:05:32 PM
Well done Nobby

I hope you get as much use and fun out of the executive unicycle and waterproof epaulettes
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Westmarcher on 18 January 2015, 01:04:14 PM
Quote from: Hertsblue on 18 January 2015, 11:47:38 AM
Never understood the craving for chocolate. Even allowing for the fact that it's got too much sugar in it for me, I've never missed the stuff. Now if it were cheese.... =P~ =P~ =P~
Oh, now. Vintage Red Leicester, Stilton, a nice Brie ..  =P~ .. washed down with some vintage port ......  :-bd 

[btw congrats to fsn - tomorrow the Hofkriegsrat? (Whoah! What a thought!  :o )]
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Ithoriel on 18 January 2015, 01:15:08 PM
Congrats on the promotion fsn! You certainly add "artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing" forum :D

As to chocolate, C4* is my downfall when it comes to dieting. :(


*Cheese, chocolate, cakes and cookies :)
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Leman on 18 January 2015, 01:16:14 PM
Or as we like to call them, biscuits.
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Ithoriel on 18 January 2015, 01:28:50 PM
Quote from: Dour Puritan on 18 January 2015, 01:16:14 PM
Or as we like to call them, biscuits.

Yeah, but C3B sounds like a droid from Star Wars :)
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Techno on 18 January 2015, 01:31:56 PM
C4 sounds like something 'They' would put you on a watch list for typing.  ;)
Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Ithoriel on 18 January 2015, 01:38:55 PM
Quote from: Techno on 18 January 2015, 01:31:56 PM
C4 sounds like something 'They' would put you on a watch list for typing.  ;)
Cheers - Phil

It's NOT Channel 4 then?! Oh myyyyy! ;)
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Techno on 18 January 2015, 01:47:29 PM
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Cheers - Phil.

(Sure I'll be on some sort of list....I'm forever looking to see what different weapons look like....checking size etc.
If I am monitored.....Good grief, they must get bored....."Stroll on...he's visiting that Pendraken forum AGAIN !......Now his wife's looking at a horsey site for the umpteenth time." ;D ;D)
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Hertsblue on 18 January 2015, 03:01:11 PM
Oh, sorry, fsn, congrats on the promotion - from someone who thought a staff-college taught fighting with sticks.  8-} 8-} 8-}
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Orcs on 18 January 2015, 06:48:44 PM

Hope your thumb gets better nobby


Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Orcs on 18 January 2015, 06:50:16 PM
Quote from: Leon on 17 January 2015, 05:34:16 PM
Adele decided this was a good idea for us for 2015 as well, so I'm having to get my choc-fix either at work or by smuggling it into the house.   :(

OOHHH!  thats a very naughty Leon.

I wonder how many browny points I can get from M'lady for dropping you in it !!! :-\ :-\
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: paulr on 18 January 2015, 06:54:46 PM
Congratulations FSN  =D>

Given the average length of your posts you have worked a lot harder than most for that rank ;)
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: fsn on 18 January 2015, 07:11:18 PM
Quote from: Techno on 18 January 2015, 01:47:29 PM
I'm forever looking to see what different weapons look like....checking size etc.

Is that two separate activities? "No, no, Mrs Techno I was researching Japanese machine guns of the 1904 period ... I wasn't checking size again.  Oh, this dear? A micrometer screw gauge. Yes, it is appropriate."

Promotion doesn't mean betterment - FSN

Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Techno on 18 January 2015, 08:06:31 PM
 X_X
You may be a Major General, now......But you're still an oik ! ;)
Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Fenton on 18 January 2015, 08:14:18 PM
Quote from: Techno on 18 January 2015, 08:06:31 PM
X_X
You may be a Major General, now......But you're still an oik ! ;)
Cheers - Phil

Well apparently he was raised from the ranks...Only leads to trouble in the long run
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Leman on 18 January 2015, 08:18:10 PM
Quote from: paulr on 18 January 2015, 06:54:46 PM
Congratulations FSN  =D>

Given the average length of your posts you have worked a lot harder than most for that rank ;)

Yeah,  :d
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: Hertsblue on 20 January 2015, 10:04:25 AM
Quote from: paulr on 18 January 2015, 06:54:46 PM
Congratulations FSN  =D>

Given the average length of your posts you have worked a lot harder than most for that rank ;)

There are so many potential double-entendres in that statement....
Title: Re: Dear 2015
Post by: paulr on 20 January 2015, 07:13:47 PM
Quote from: Hertsblue on 20 January 2015, 10:04:25 AM
There are so many potential double-entendres in that statement....

:o