Tuesday 12 October 2021

Interrupting the war

Ach, real life getting in the way. I meant to run the Kesselsdorf game by the end of the weekend, but other stuff is getting in the way.

Work has seen an uptick in busyness and more evening calls. Depending on timing, I have dinner before or after, then go for a swim, and then 15 minutes on a mindfulness app. I’m not minded to do the game after that.

Then there are other ‘discretionary activities’. Like going to watch football, listening to football commentary (lately it’s been two games a week). Or getting a haircut - it was getting to the point this wasn’t discretionary if I didn’t want to look like the crazy person that sits next to you on the bus. So Saturday was used up swimming, then haircut, lunch, travel to Woking for football (with the ritual socialising before and after). By the time Strictly had finished I was dozing off on the sofa. Sunday disappeared after a morning swim, with further snoozes on the sofa and later on the bed.

So back to weekday ritual today. Late calls, dinner, swim, meditation. I am snatching some reading time. I’ve started re-reading Twilight of the Soldier Kings to refresh myself on the rules. And yesterday I finished off Flashman and the Mountain of Light. This naturally turned the mind back to the Sikh Wars specifically, and colonial wars generally. Maybe I’d be better off with something more asymmetrical than the Sikh Wars to get that real colonial war feel. Two European trained horse and musket armies might be a bit samey, even if one is in fancier gear.

All of which butters no parsnips, and next weekend is already filling up. SELWG on Sunday where I will hopefully meet up with a couple of bloggers. And Saturday sees the Mighty Mariners (I can hear you sniggering) are live on the Box (BBC Red Button) with their FA Cup qualifier at Bromsgrove. Set your alarm for 12:30 BST, thrill seekers.

16 comments:

  1. Busy, busy, busy! Good to see you can still squeeze in a little exercise and relaxation. The battlefield will wait patiently for your return.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The exercise is important. Apart from the obvious fitness side, it helps keep stress at bay.

      Delete
  2. Life getting in the way of hobby, such is life. The game will indeed be there waiting for you…

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed. That’s the benefit of the cabin. I’ve been able to leave the table set-up.

      Delete
  3. The real world can be exciting and challenging. I find this mis when our hobby really helps 👍

    ReplyDelete
  4. You are a busy bunny, but managing to keep up the swimming which is good. I try to go for a bike ride every other day and a walk in between. As you say, aside from the fitness aspect it helps me de-stress from being in the house or garden most of the day. The change of scenery etc makes a huge difference.

    I hope you enjoy SELWG and take some pics if you can, as after two shows in two weeks I need a break!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I’ll try to take some pics. I don’t know if I will get as many as you posted.

      Delete
  5. No hurry, we will still be here, I had noticed Grimsby ( top of the league) were going to be on the BBC TV, I've got to head up north next Sunday which means I'll miss SELWIG as well as Salute, which is even worse because it's only about a 25 minute drive down the Lee Valley! Something colonial sounds fun!
    Best Iain

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That’s a shame Iain with the shows being so close.

      It’s going well on the pitch at the moment and crowds are up nearly 100% on the last time we got relegated (and higher than they were the last seasons pre-Covid). There’s been a dramatic and positive change in almost everything off the pitch since the change of ownership in May.

      Delete
  6. At the start of lockdown I bought my own hair clippers. Saved me over £200 so far. Mind you, I’ve had a number 1 all over for 30 years now! Used to like SELWG although it was a pain to get to for me. One of the best wargaming memories I have is of a warm October evening eating ice cream in the car park watching the punters leave. That was my wage for working on the AB stand. Have fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did try a lockdown haircut with my beard trimmer. I got a bit impatient with the way the Margravina was doing it, took over myself and got a bit over enthusiastic. Good job we were kicked down for a few more weeks ☹️

      Delete
  7. Real life eh, it can be a bugger - personally, I try to indulge in it as infrequently as possible, as its generally a bit disappointing! Its ages since I read a Flashman but I do remember thinking of ways to reproduce some of his shennangins in miniature - in a way, Pulp is similar, just 40-50 years later. There is a manufacturer somewhere who makes all the Flashman characters - they have been on my "to buy" list more than once - maybe I will hunt them down now and do the deed - thanks for the potential inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I’m with you on that! 😆

      Maybe I’ll do something along skirmish lines with Colonials/the Great Game. I previously had in mind a Russian mission in Afghanistan/NW Frontier with Flashman’s nemesis Count Ignatiev leading a small band of Cossack roughians. Or later having Mannerheim do something similar in Tibet.

      Delete
    2. Sounds just the kind of thing! Do you follow Neil's blog Toy Soldiers and Dining Room Battles - he has recently started a campaign based on a Great Game Gone Hot border war between the British and Russian empires, circa 1900

      Delete
    3. I haven’t seen it. Thanks for the tip Keith.

      Delete