Phil's New Website

I don't know when this entry will appear on the WWW - I arrived home to find my internet connection on the blink.  But when it does, you'll be able to read it!  (Blimey, this bloke's logic is impeccable, innit?)

Anyway, at 06:00 this morning, my lad Tim and I leapt (well staggered sleepily) into the car and set off for Newark on Trent, at which we arrived in a  timely 2 1/2 hours, fairly fresh and unstressed.  The show was quite fun.  Other than handing out free coffee vouchers and free figures - Clyde, to accompany Bonny, released at the May show (I had hoped Clyde would turn out to be a figure of an orang outan, but in that I was disappointed) - to all the exhibitors, I settled down to a good day at the show.  Took some photos for the Irregulars' web-site - which seems a it tedious, until you get started, and then the conversations with the demonstrators start.  Wargamers are such nice people, the conversations are always fun and you learn such a lot.

I had arranged to meet Dave Imrie, of the League of Gentlemen Wargamers (and/or League of Augsburg), and show him my figures.  Somewhat nervous, I was, as Dave is a 25th Dan black-belt at the ancient and noble art of painter-fu.  But he said very nice things about my figures, and was thoroughly charming.  He is a genuine No.1 Top Bloke.  I am embarrassed (now) to say that he put me so much at ease that I quite forgot myself, and was giving him advice on painting...  Admittedly painting with the 'Dip', at which I'm probably more experienced.  But, looking back, I do feel a bit of prat, little old me with my pots of mucky varnish, giving  advice to Numbah One Top Painter Bloke. :-)

The show was a little quiet, but there seemed to be quite a decent 'buzz' about the place - or was that just me? - I always seem to wander around Partizan in a sort of 'haze of enthusiasm'.

Saw lots of other friends - Smeggy, Chin, Paul, Paul, Guy, Lau, Gaz, Crouchie, Steve, James, John and, er I'm bound to have forgotten someone - and had some nice chats.  Lots of great games to admire...  I find myself wanting to wargame the Punic Wars, Napoleonics, Colonial Africa (with hyenas and Ostriches!), the Italian Wars...  I could go on!  But it was the Napoleonics (from Dave Imrie and Co) that really tempted me.  Those blokes can really paint (and seemed to be having a ball playing their game - using the forthcoming 'Republic to Empire'), and there are so many gorgeous figures available - how hard can it be?  Terribly tempted to chuck in the 3rd Century and do the Peninsular War. I do have a box of the Victrix British in my 'plastic mountain' (that's like a lead mountain, but rather less dense - and I'm not quite sure if they count towards your 'I've got so many figures I can never die' total), so I don't have much excuse for not having a go - but not yet - I must be strong and finish what I have started!  But if you want a glimpse at how good the LoGW guys are at painting, take a wander over to this URL:

http://www.leagueofaugsburg.com/index.php (link ought to open in a new window, if I've done it right!)

i did a little bit of shopping at the show - a couple of sets of rules (Crusader Rules and Ancient Warfare) - an elephant for my Sassanids (got the wrong one - AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!), some dice and, er, that's about it.

My lad did quite well - some Vietnam War figures in 28mm for a terrifically bargainish price, several books (on the Falklands War) and a bucket o' dice from eM4.

Once I've recovered from the journeys, and not getting enough sleep, I shall probably post a few photos of the show.