And thanks to a very quick reply from Clib, I now have a few packs of the LoA range ordered - two french cavalry, a french mounted dragoon and a seven figure charging officers shouting "Vive la République!", no, sorry, little early, "vive la France! Vive Loiuis!".

Using 60mm wide bases that's 30+2 officers for the cavalry at four per base, two bases to the unit, for Twilight of the Sun King, and 15+1 officer for the Dragoons. The ranks are a bit thin compared to the Austrians with five figures jammed on but Elan will even that out.

No thanks to you lot,(none of you have any self restraint) reaching the £4500 goal on the Peninsular Non kick starter.

I have bought the Spanish village for my WSS.

Oh sh*t I missed that... I must investigate!

I ordered a few packs of figures to pad out my Crusader forces just days before the lockdown officially started so been working through those. Only a few units left to do then base them all. Which lead me to my next order, a bunch of bases and basing material as I'm running low. While awaiting that though I'm looking at the crusader infantry, currently 4 packs worth to mix up into 4 different units and thinking I really need another pack or two to mix them up more, as I've 3 packs well armoured and 1 pack unarmoured so need a transition pack of medium armoured. Which would then round it out nicely to 5 or 6 units of crusader infantry which is what I need for a few battles I want to do.... haven't quite found the right type pack yet though. I do have a couple of units of MM billmen that were amongst the first 10mm figures I painted so could extract them from their bases and touch up a bit (or repaint) to add to the mix and save some money on new things. :

My 2mm Russians are based up and awaiting primer, once I get them primed and painted it'll be an order for the French next, though not highly motivated on those at the moment. I've also a 15mm HOTT project on the painting desk awaiting primer (and a few more figures to source). And I got Zombiecide Black Plague at Christmas so a lot of zombies craving some paint.

I enjoy spending a lot of time researching and planning projects so have spent an inordinate amount of time lately working on pre-contact Mesoamerican lists and have a good enough picture that I've been able to get moving on those. Thankfully I ordered plenty last year to keep me going a while, but it leaves me in the dangerous position of planning what is next. The new Greeks and Persians are very tempting, as indeed are the Polybian Romans and the various other ancient ranges. Some small biblical forces may be mighty tempting too. Or maybe it's time to dip my toes into something else, take the plunge into Napoleonics (to pledge or not to pledge), have a go with some naval warfare, or the 20th Century stuff I got a few packs of last year....

On the one hand I've a 10% pay cut at the moment....on the other our honeymoon trip to Japan had to be cancelled (would be in Kyoto right now, relaxing in a traditional inn or soaking in some hot springs ) and likely going to be autumn or next spring before we're able to go so have a lot of money resting in the bank account. and a few more months to save

Should really just be strong....mine the lead hill a bit more. Doesn't help that my painting desk is currently inaccessible due to a minor plumbing emergency so I've more time to think rather than paint!


Non gaming wise, pretty much just spending money on food and drink. Working from home gives me more time and energy for cooking which I've always enjoyed but can be hard to motivate yourself to after a long day in the office. Much more relaxing when working from home.

What a shame about your Honeymoon. I am sorry to hear that. Makes cancelling 3 nights in Cheddar Gorge this week pale into insignificance.

Quote from: Orcs on 06 May 2020, 09:42:59 AM
What a shame about your Honeymoon. I am sorry to hear that.

Ditto. 

Cheers - Phil

Was supposed to be flying to Portugal on Friday.

Don't think I'll ever set foot in an airplane again now.

Thanks guys, we got most of the money back for it and a credit for the flights so should be able to rebook once things settle down, but was a bit of a shame as we'd spent a lot of time planning it and booking (we were spending nearly a month travelling all over the country) so will have to do that again somewhat when we can rebook. Thankfully we got married last year so the wedding wasn't affected, but had a family member who was due to be married in April who had to cancel. I know how much time, money, and work goes into that so they were gutted for sure. And there's plenty going through horrible situations that make all such things pale in comparison so just have to count our lucky stars that we're well and mostly healthy. Both my wife and I had suspected Covid-19 a while back, my wife got hit a lot harder than me and is only now feeling more herself. Thankfully didn't need to be hospitalised but doctor did put her on antibiotics as was concerned about her lungs having an infection. We're both reasonably young and healthy so really makes you appreciate just what a toll it can take on more vulnerable people and how scary it could be.

Well.....Not for a very good while, Martyn.

Sorry about the trip to Portugal. 

I'd never go in a flying machine, ever again, either....Scares the 'poop' out of me.

Cheers - Phil

But civvi aircraft are just buses off ground and even more uncomfortable. For real bads try a military transport, no sound proofing, in a piston engined Britania for two hours.

Nah......Sod that !

Cheers - Phil

Quote from: Techno on 06 May 2020, 10:04:58 AM
I'd never go in a flying machine, ever again, either....Scares the 'poop' out of me.

Yeah, not scared - at least up until now. Now the thought of spending 2 hours plus in a metal tube with ~200 people all breathing the same recirculating air is . . . disconcerting to say the least - but I just found the whole flying experience extremely unpleasant, especially the way you're treated at the departure end. Only went reluctantly to please the wife.

Doubt I'll be doing it again. Need to buy a decent car and start driving around Europe for any foreign adventures in the future, I think.

Quote from: Techno on 06 May 2020, 10:04:58 AM
Well.....Not for a very good while, Martyn.

Sorry about the trip to Portugal. 

I'd never go in a flying machine, ever again, either....Scares the 'poop' out of me.

Cheers - Phil

I like flying, especially the take off. Having been up in my brothers 4 seat Cessna normal flying is quite luxurious.

Quote from: Raider4 on 06 May 2020, 11:23:10 AM
Yeah, not scared - at least up until now. Now the thought of spending 2 hours plus in a metal tube with ~200 people all breathing the same recirculating air is . . . disconcerting to say the least - but I just found the whole flying experience extremely unpleasant, especially the way you're treated at the departure end. Only went reluctantly to please the wife.

Doubt I'll be doing it again. Need to buy a decent car and start driving around Europe for any foreign adventures in the future, I think.

I believe they stopped recirculating the air before lockdown. When air travel resumes I doubt they will be allowed to recirculate, even if it makes the planes less efficient.

Certainly Driving round Europe is probably the way to go for a few years.  If you use the channel tunnel you can stay in your car. Trouble is there is no Tunnel to the USA, where you can guarantee the sun and they all speak at least  a form of English.

Quote from: Orcs on 06 May 2020, 11:27:25 AM
I believe they stopped recirculating the air before lockdown. When air travel resumes I doubt they will be allowed to recirculate, even if it makes the planes less efficient.

Given that air recirculation is one of the reasons given as to why aircraft seats shouldn't be removed or left empty in future I'm pretty sure it's still a thing and not going to stop any time soon.