Sunday 11 June 2017

Durham Wargames Show, makes one depressed.

Well I attended Durham Wargames Show after a sabbatical of some three years. Billed as The Friendliest Show in the North I found myself at a loose end, so braved the rain and the students at Durham Regatta to see what was appertaining.
 I could so easily knock the show, as it fails on so many levels, but I will attempt to avoid that. The Durham Wargames Group have been around since the late 1960's early 1970's and to be honest always had a decent setup club wise. Some of the former members were pretty innovative wargamers and very keen to boot, now I think they just seem happy to turn up weekly and play a game, which I suppose is acceptable.
 What struck me yesterday was at the Bring and Buy sale where one of the members was selling off a load of wargames books, unpainted figures and ephemera on behalf of a wargames widow.
 He was doing a good turn to help a woman out, whose husband had clearly been a long serving wargamer judging by some of the books for sale.
 It must be the mood I was in, after the Election and a day on the drink waiting to hear Rod Stewart on the night, but I found the sale depressing. Mortality and all that I suppose.
 One spends years usually building a collection of figures, books, magazines, and God knows what, and then suddenly someone is left with the responsibility of clearing it all out.
 Sorry if I'm sounding maudlin.
 To an untrained eye, boxes of wargaming magazines from the 1960's and 1970's suddenly look like a bonfire waiting to happen. Oh and all those fusty smelling books containing blurred black and white photographs of toy soldiers just crying out to be dumped at the Council tip, and dont get me started on my painted armies.
 I came home after the show feeling I should compile a ledger for my next of kin, in which I would record the worth of my life in wargaming. Except it would be a very time consuming task and too much to hope they would be sold to someone who would appreciate the wonderful legacy they have inherited.
 Sorry about sounding really depressed, its hardly a great endorsement for a wargames show. One should feel invigorated after such an event. Maybe it was the weather and to much JD.

25 comments:

  1. Robbie
    JD ? Did they not have any beer you big girl !
    I remember when Derek Sharman ran that show - as a schoolboy it felt very exciting as I had nothing to compare it to - but I suppose time moves on - triples / Northen Militaire no longer with us - as to my books , soldiers etc once I'm gone I would only want to give them to my son and he is not remotely interested so frankly who cares - they gave me pleasure and passed the time away and that's what a hobby is for really - no legacy - anyway , where did I put my beer
    Ian

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ian,
      I really shouldnt mix drinks, but now having the bladder of a goldfish, something had to change.Its either that or carry a bucket around with me.

      Delete
  2. I would agree with all that, I used to ponder the point, but now I think most will end up on the tip (at least this stuff made it to a bring 'n buy'). But it's only property and you have your fun while alive - if you were a golf member, you would pay £1500 pound per annum (plus) and all that goes in a year, so I suppose having a collection that can be enjoyed while the heart beats is good and is enough!

    I am re-reading this to myself now to make sure I believe it :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Norm, I re-read your reply and I believe it!

      Delete
    2. I really hate Golf, but you're right you see a lot of golf sticks at car boot sales.My problem is the property holds a lot of memories, that no one else would appreciate. Christ, hand me a gun.

      Delete
  3. Robbie,
    Snap out of it - that's life and when you're gone does it matter as long as you were happy. Admittedly after Leigh died and I had to clear his stuff there were a few moments when I recalled the mad moments of new projects and there were the books and figures we'd bought and never read or painted but you know what at the time it was great.
    Yes admittedly his demise did make me look at what I had and I have sold thousands of pounds worth of books, figures and games because I accepted either I would never use them again or I would never get round to painting them, but even if I live another 10 years( I hope) I still won't get what I have completed but that is the nature of the hobby.
    If we all took the approach you have at the moment then we can just go sit in the corner, do nothing and wait for the reaper so come on live life, enjoy what you have and only spend a brief moment to think of the poor bugger that has to sort your collection out.
    See you next week and you better snap,out of it - no JD for you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Graham,
      I see that Bramshill empathy class was wasted. I have now rallied, and ready to give some fellow ex AMG'rs stick. I am however seriously looking to get rid of some stuff, even if its just my books.

      Delete
  4. Robbie, it is not the ultimate destination (we all know where that ends!) but the journey that is important. If the hobby provides enjoyment and friendship along this path, that counts even when all aspirations have not been reached and we are pulled away too soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jonathan,
      It was a bad week, thats all I can say. So its onwards and upwards, and less thinking about existence.

      Delete
  5. Robbie. I can't agree with most of the above, they are just trying to cheer you up but we all know you are the NorthEast's second greatest whinger and don't want or need to be cheered. It was just the election result, mate. It's not good form to moan about politics on our blogs so you thought "let's have a bit of depression over a wargaming topic" No, the answer is your collection is valuable but you will live long into the future, God help us, and you have plenty of time to still enjoy it. Meanwhile you should list it in general terms and start selling on Ebay teh bits you value least, then by the time you are senile your missus and kids should not have too much left except the real gems. Cheer up - you are an amazing wargamer and a fine example.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Its been a bad year. Sunderland went tits up, and the Yank owner is looking to bail out and consign the club to the second division.I have just completed my first novel, and dont know what to do with it. I want to punch a Labour supporter, but they are just too thick to hurt, and then another wargamer shifts his mortal coil. It was an alignment of the stars. Anyway Im certain I can find something else to annoy me if I tried, but then I got some new figures to paint, and suddenly I feel happy again. Its a funny old life.

      Delete
  6. Robbie man, cheer up and get on painting that lead mountain

    but never finish it, cos thats when the Wargamers' Reaper turns up .....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John,
      It was good to see your mug on Saturday. Talking to a smoggy always cheers me up. I think its their unbridled cynicism and outlook, that does it.

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. Steve,
      You wouldnt like to become a speech writer for Diane Abbott?

      Delete
  8. I'm fortunate in that my son will get most of the collection. However, I hold no illusions that he will treat it with the same respect and reverance that I do. In the end it's only money and you might as well enjoy it today.
    Look forward to the weekend and some great gaming.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm fortunate in that my son will get most of the collection. However, I hold no illusions that he will treat it with the same respect and reverance that I do. In the end it's only money and you might as well enjoy it today.
    Look forward to the weekend and some great gaming.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paul,
      Having a son, does have some advantages, and Im not being sexist here. I dont look at it from a money point of view, because if I did I would frighten myself. But yes, see you at the weekend.

      Delete
  10. Robbie,can I have your figures now?come on you know I'll make better use of them than you!!-who is this "raper" guy coming after you-it might be Brian,so look out!
    johnc(william)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John,
      I can always rely on you to make me determined to out do you in every way.As for poor Brian, I'm surprised he hasn't put you in an old army death grip.

      Delete
  11. But I'd like the SYW French! 🤣😏😉😉

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very nice post.really I apperciate your blog.Thanks for sharing.keep sharing more blogs.
    หนังผี

    ReplyDelete

My 6mm Napoleonic set up.

My 6mm Napoleonic set up.
Austria 1809.

Austrian Hussars

Austrian Hussars
Hinchliffe figures

Austrian Grenzer

Austrian Grenzer
Austrian Grenzer

Smoggycon 2013

Smoggycon 2013
Smoggycon 2013

Smoggycon 2012

Smoggycon 2012
Smoggycon 2012

Smoogycon 2009

Smoogycon 2009
My French getting another beating