Balcony Painting.

Well this is my first post since 19th July, which confirms that making resolutions is basically a waste of typing. Granted I have been busy with the odd distraction, ie. family birthdays, grand children etc, but is this how retirement is meant to be?
 For the first time in many many years I put down my paint brushes and basically stopped painting anything, well apart from my bedroom balcony, but I suppose that doesn't count in wargaming terms. My wife can never understand how I can paint a straight line on any figure of any scale, but always manage to get paint on a wall etc.
 I have played several wargames over the last few weeks, including a refight of Wagram using Blucher rules.
 Somehow I came away from that event dissatisfied. Granted I had blagged my way into the game at the Durham Wargames Group  who had gone to great lengths to make the battle as accurate as possible. The rub for me was how other wargamers approach such refights, and how they interpret the Blucher rules. I dont think they were wrong, in fact they taught me a couple of new interpretations of rules which were correct, it was just the French opponents were still in the competitive mindset that I have avoided for many years now.
 To explain what I mean, one of my Austrian Hussar brigades attacked two French light cavalry brigades, which was inconclusive, resulting in me losing a couple of strength points for having the temerity to attack. The french Corps commander however was advised not to attack my brigade in their turn, as they ran the risk of also getting an inconclusive result, so instead the brigades smartly moved up to point blank range and stopped!. The ethos being that I would have to charge again, and lose by attrition.
 Nothing wrong with that from a rule point of view, but as I pointed out, after such a  maneuver the divisional commander would have been cashiered for cowardice in a real life battle.There were many such instances of good rule knowledge, but poor historical appreciation. Such is wargaming.
 Its funny that in the two refights that I have been involved in regarding Wagram, both have ended in acrimony and dissatisfaction. Actually one ended in physical threats and a really intimidating atmosphere, and no it was nothing to do with me for a change.
 I have realised however that my sense of humour can be interpreted in other ways apart from the one it is intended, so perhaps I should bite my lip and just throw some dice instead.
  [ Nah, it wouldn't be me]
 I'm sorry if the post sounds a bit negative, my intention is the opposite really. I am looking forward to Partizan this weekend, and hope to get some inspiration from the Bill Gaskin game. I also know that there are another couple of top quality games on show, so hopefully I will be able to get some new ideas.
 I have started painting again, but trying a new small project, which I will post when I have finished some of the figures.
 Anyway, I'm back, looking for a windmill to pitch against.