Sojourn nearly over.

  Late May and June have been extremely busy times for me, both in a wargaming sense and from a social point of view, so what has suffered has been my ability to update my blogs regularly.
  I can only apologise for the lack of posts, and hope by the end of this week to be back in the saddle as it were, health permitting.
  I cannot complain as I have been lucky enough to have experienced several things that I otherwise wouldn't have done. One, was two weekends ago when I attended the AMG 2016 weekend at a hotel in Warwickshire with 20 other wargamers from all parts of the United Kingdom.
The AMG stands for A Military Gentleman, a lavish book created by John Ray,containing images from his beautiful collection of 30mm SYW wargaming figures, and by owning the book one is entitled to be a member of the forum on the internet.
 Several wargamers who were there have already recorded their views and respective images from the weekend. I thought I would come from a different angle regarding the whole event.
  For me the forum has allowed me to come into contact with some very talented wargamers who possess a lot of enthusiasm and knowledge of not just the Seven Years War but also wargaming in general.
 I was unable to attend the first meeting of the AMG due to holiday commitments, so this year was my first opportunity to physically meet fellow members and get to know them through playing wargames, eating, drinking and talking, [which in my case is usually gibberish].
 The last couple of years I have attended several wargaming events meeting wargamers for the first time to play a game and as I have always been a people watcher, and take great interest in how people behave in various social gatherings, I think a wargaming weekend is a great way to suss people out.    This is nothing sinister, but I just find meeting people very interesting and enjoy seeing how they behave and react to being with other total strangers playing in what can be a competitive wargame.
  I was not disappointed in that it was a great weekend with a group of 20 other wargamers from all walks of life intent of having a good time, the only complaint? that it had to end.
 Perhaps that was just as well, given just how tired I was after helping oversee the re fight of the Battle of Soor twice, staying up drinking until late, and talking the hind legs of a donkey.
  I found it very interesting how other wargamers interpreted Honours of War, which were tested very thoroughly during the refights, and frankly stood up well to the test. To fight the large battle to its conclusion twice with wargamers who in the main had never used the rules shows how good the rules are, well it does for me anyway.
 The weekend took its toll on my health in that I have ended up with another bout of bronchitis, not helped by a trip to Munich straight after the weekend, which entailed some heavy drinking at more late nights [ 60 is the new 40 apparently? ]
 Anyway back to the weekend, was it worth it? definitely. Would I do it again? most certainly.
 What can be a better way to wargame,than eating, drinking, talking and playing quality wargames over a whole weekend.
 As for the refight of the Battle of Soor, well the Austrian/ Saxons wargamers, played a blinder on both days, with comprehensive victories, especially on the Sunday when the devastating use of a well timed flank charge by Austrian cuirassiers against the Prussian infantry caused the collapse of their attack in the centre.
  A detailed account of both battles is on Colin's, blog, Carry on up the Dale, but who said history is written by the victors?