Thursday 19 December 2019

Dangerous when Thinking

Maybe it was Stuart Asquith's departure (a good and fitting send off by the wargaming community which has been covered elsewhere online), or reading about Rod Stewart's model railway layout in the latest issue of Railway Modelling magazine, or watching back to back episodes, en bloc, of Mortimer and Whitehouse Gone Fishing, or once more indulging in the boxed set of Detectorists. Whatever it was, it's all got me thinking...

Stuart Asquith used to use the phrase "seeing how the other chap goes about the hobby" when describing what he got from visiting fellow gamers and discussing their approach, their projects, their gaming.
I'm fascinated by how people approach their hobbies... whether that's wargaming, model railways, fishing, or metal detecting, or any other sort of middle aged blokiness (because, let's face it, that's the category most of us reside in).

I've been having a look at how I've been going about the hobby, and have been taking stock.
This was also precipitated by a 'change' in personal and domestic circumstances (Women! can't live with 'em…). Actually, our splitting up has all been very adult and mutual, and the upshot is that I now have part of my home as a wargames room again!!

It's not yet fully fitted out, but there are troops on some of the shelves, and a table is set up (room for up to 8x6).


The likelihood is that I will get more games in 2020, even if solo, and certainly more chance to take photos of what I've been painting.
And I have been painting, a little.

Some might say I've been butterflying around, but I think that's allowed in a hobby, isn't it?!
Peter Gilder did it. And Don Featherstone before him.
And certainly Stuart Asquith did.
But, what they did do, when alighting on a particular flower (aka wargames project), is they would give it a thorough go.
Butterflies? Yes. But very thorough butterflies.

Recently, my interest in ancients has been rekindled. I needed a reason to finish off my Macedonian Successor army, and it came along in the form of a campaign opportunity courtesy of Henry Hyde and the guys on the Loose Association of Wargamers forum. Henry, as games-meister and head of state of Byzarbia, is aiming at a sort of 'anything 3000BC - 1500AD' Hyboria style affair (a la Tony Bath), set in the fictional Bathelas region.

I'm referring to it as Imagine-Ancients.
My own Macadamians (headed up by Philipolytas the Great) will take the field.

So that's one little project to be going along with for the coming year.
I have others... plenty of others. And I may publish a 'state of my projects' update, prognosis, and stocktake over the holidays.

Meantime, I wish all readers a very Merry Christmas.

13 comments:

  1. Welcome to my world Phil. As one gets to a certain maturity you take stock and realise that you need to take control. Im still steeling myself to sell off some of my collection that gets little use, and sell my extensive book collection which will bea big pull when it goes. And the reason why? To clear out the clutter and do more gaming and dare I say it collecting.So best of luck with your new direction and a Happy Christmas.

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  2. The Season's greeting to you as well ! .

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  3. Merry Christmas to you and all the best for 2020.

    Thinking's a dangerous activity and I try to avoif it at all costs.

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  4. Sounds about right for me too. Good luck with your project, and Merry Xmas!

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  5. Merry Christmas, Phil! Here's to more painting, gaming, and photography in 2020.

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

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  6. Festive seasons greetings to too Phil.
    I hope 2020 sees more games & more of these reflective posts too.
    Very best wishes for a wonderful decade,
    Jeremy

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  7. Like you I am midway through a return to the Ancients period. All good. I wish you a very Merry Christmas too.

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  8. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you Phil. Keep up the good work, your blog is always informative and interesting.

    Willz Harley.

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  9. Wishing you a merry Xmas and a Happy new year

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  10. Ah ha have finally worked out how to sign into blogger, doh! it was easy.

    May all your Christmas presents be wargame related.

    Willz.

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  11. Thx for your comments gentlemen. May you also receive many wargame-related goodies over Christmas. Season's Greetings, one and all!

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  12. Merry Christmas, and all the best for the future, Phil. As always, a thought provoking post. We are de-cluttering here at present (must be a certain age thing) but I shudder to contemplate doing this to the wargaming part! Meanwhile, here's to being a butterfly!!
    Cheers, Rohan!

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  13. Very fine looking Sassanids and Byzantines in the archive.

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