Spring 2021 has sprung some surprises.
fantastic sunsets under clear skies during the dry period…..
Deserted York riverside in super bright sun……
The Emperor Constantine is unmoved despite his backdrop being cluttered as the Minster undergoes necessary repairs. I bet Rome and Constantinople had their fair share of busy scaffolding contractors.
Spring flowers always includes tulips ………
More sunshine lights up this medieval building in an empty York.
I started this post in early March – its now May and Spring still feels like late winter.
What better way to start spring than say hello to some newcomers.
I think this moth was not sure whether to stay or go back in the shed – it was just so cold.
Spring has been somewhat reluctant what with very cool temperatures although the sun has shone most days.
At least the sunsets have been good.
Mike Hobbs is someone I encountered listening to Meeples and Miniatures.
His death is a shock even though I never met him or corresponded with him.
He was a key member of the podcast team that introduced me to serial wargaming podcasts.
And the one that I think is most signficiant was the mental health podcast He and Neil Shuck ran together. That was a great contribution by two very open and honest people, discussing very real issues of mental health and how it affects people in such a damaging way.
Above all they managed to convey optimism around a subject that can seem so negative.
Neil Shuck’s words are worth reading. Thank you Neil Shuck and
Thank you Mike Hobbs.
Well this week temperatures will hit 23 degrees centigrade so although Easter promises just a mere 7 degrees, nature has declared spring is sprung.
so this is a farewell to winter 2020 which threw up some late snow amongst other things plus a sustained cold period which is always good for curtailing the sort of mischevious insects which eat my gardening efforts.
That last photo – it could be a pigeon but it is definitely a sparrowhawk – I posted a previous intermission shot of it with spread wings. Over our heads it once managed an amazing “stall turn” literally turning in position – chasing a blue tit – the blue tit still got away though.
A lucky break to see a superb bird like a Sparrowhawk only a few feet away sat on a branch preening itself………
goodbye small but deadly sparrowhawk. Enjoy what nature can offer this time of year.
Well we are at the end of a year that will become notorious.
A year when humanity staggered from the blows of a simple virus. It is perhaps a reminder that nature always has the upper hand no matter how sophisticated our societies have become.
I guess there are plenty of historical parallels to this type of massive societal correction. Not in the same vein but I read recently about how the particularly bad 9th century weather or should I say mini climate change dealt the Carolingians numerous bad harvests damaging their always vunerable Empire. Except even if it were decisive, the roaring vikings is a much more exciting concept of Empire destruction.
Yet right now the Dark Ages have become just that – the Dark Ages as in a box with a lid on it! Right now it is the 19th Century that dominates Wargames in the mind of Norber the Wargaming Erratic.
Before we go and embark on another year there is just enough time to reflect on the fact that 2020 has proven to be rather a good year for my wargaming.
The year got going with a trip to Vapnartak, notable for the fact that it proved to be my one and only show of 2020.
Playing (LIVE) the Lance and Longbow Society game of Tannenberg 1410 made it all the more important as it turned out. It was my last face to face gaming of 2020.
I was into Carolingians at the time of Vapnartak.
so which soldiers marched across my painting table in 2020?
well in 2018 I had managed zero painting while in 2019 I painted and based 32 “normans in the south infantry” and 11 “normans in the south” archers.
in 2020 I managed
And then the proverbial wheels came off the Dark Ages cart.
Right now the painting table has plastic Union Infantry posing as Piedmont Line Infantry along with some venerable Warrior Miniatures French Dragoons posing as – well French Dragoons. And they are metal!!!
I must say I had a good year with basing – finally getting a look for my mediterranean NITS – ok Normans in the South project.
In fact I have decided it will work for pretty much everything dark ages.
On the gaming front I started solo gaming with an unexpected purchase. Neil Shuck had recommended War & Conquest shortly before jumping ship with another ancients ruleset.
I gave it a go with my bronze age one hour wargame figures based using my hybrid impetus basing of 80mm x 60mm for 1/72 plastics. Ever awkward – probably just as well I don’t need to satisfy a live opponent. I rather liked the feel of the rules even though the play through was so limited.
And then with Covid19 lock down in full swing and some fine weather I had other distractions including lots of gardening .
INTERMISSION
INTERMISSION
Eventually the dark ages gaming started in late August with numerous shieldwall rule tests – I did really enjoy them all. The biggest surprise was playing gridded wargames using Mike Smith’s Table Top Battles.
My lst shieldwall battle took place in late October and many games and rulesets later was swiftly followed by a thoroughly enjoyable game of Dux Britanniarum by Too Fat Lardies.
I fleshed out some campaign plans as per the rules advice and then…………nothing. I was just starting some Pictish Warriors when I read the wrong article.
Next minute it is baggy pants Zoaves, Spikey helms and far too much rifling. OK so it is still rather pedestrian Piedmontese – these proto Italians are quite conservative chaps – very un Napoleonic.
And since then two battles have been fought – one with Practical Wargaming by Charles Wesencraft and the other using 19th Century Wargames by Neil Thomas.
And so I wish you all a graceful end to the year 2020 and hope that 2021 brings you all that you hope for.
A very merry christmas one and all!
I missed Fibonacci day the other week. I did not realise there was a day dedicated to Leonardo Pisano who first noted these beautiful numbers. Mind you it is becoming the case of which ntobale person/event does not have their dedicated day, rather undermining the original purpose I suspect.
I say these sequences are beautiful because they define numerically some our most wonderful shapes.
Added to this Pisano also popularised hindu-arabic numerals and the decimal number system. A busy man.
Apparently humans like fibonacci sequences or rather their geometric results.
Evidently flower petals are a good example of nature using this sequence of numbers where the next number in the sequence is the sum of the previous two numbers in the sequence.
so 5,8,13 leads to 21.
fascinating!
The Wargaming Erratic 