Sunday 25 March 2018

Im back.....

Well I'm back. Jet lagged, exhausted and frankly in need of some bed rest. Apologies to any followers who thought I was disappearing into some abyss of despair but I really dont like to say when I am not at home. Instead of misery I have just spent two and a half weeks tramping around Cambodia and Vietnam and thoroughly enjoyed every experience including an attack of the trots, insect bites and a bad bout of bronchitis. The ordinary people of these two countries make one realise just how pathetic are the gripes of certain elements of the UK. In Cambodia, where a quarter of their people were wiped out by genocide that the Western world refused to stop and in Vietnam where a series of civil wars and of course the war that framed the US consciousness for a generation have bounced back and are dragging their countries towards their dream of a better life. Yes there are many things wrong with their governments but they seem to be determined to succeed and just get on with life. God knows what they would have made of the morons who called 999 when KFC ran out of chicken. Truly the Vietnamese are the 'happy' people. Anyway this post is purely to say I am climbing back into the wargaming saddle and have framed my painting plans for this year and no its nothing to do with a South East Asian army..... Onwards and upwards..

19 comments:

  1. It sounds like an amazing experience and the rip of a lifetime.

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

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    1. As a child of the 1970's I always wanted to visit Vietnam.It was quite surreal driving through Danang and seeing the rows of abandoned armoured American vehicles lined up to photograph.

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  2. Replies
    1. Ive yet to download them Jim. Plus I had a wonderful afternoon with a Vietmanese guide whose father was a Major in the SVA and fought on for a further two years after the fall of Saigon with a group of 90 US advisors who were left behind.Sadly his father was sentenced to 8 years in a NVA 're education' camp after the final surrender. He never recovered from the experience.

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  3. Good to hear you've had a great trip. Just as long as you're not planning to ditch all those horses and muskets for airborne cavalry and M16's.

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    1. Not my forte Paul, I was always confused by the use of mm's and inches.

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  4. Glad you enjoyed your break! The new Pulp Figures Vietnam War figures are very nice you know...😉

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    Replies
    1. I dont doubt it David, but they would be wasted on me.

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  5. Robbie-I'm going to Corfu in June!
    johnc

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    1. Only if they let you in John. Let me know the flight number so I can get you an internal courtesy of the Border Guards.

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  6. Glad you had a good time Robbie. We went to Vietnam last August and really liked the place, particularly the smaller centres like Hue and Hoi An. I found the people gracious and very passionate about prompting their country.

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    1. Hoi An was wonderful, I think I went at the right time given the amount of Chinese investment in Da Nang and Halong Bay. In twenty years the place will be a nightmare sadly.

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  7. About 5 years ago we had arguably one of the best family holidays ever to Vietnam. A fascinating country, lovely people and fab food. The girls came back laden with hooky goods and me with some v good and cheap hand made suits. Daughter No 1 was in Cambodia last year and loved it and it is definitely on our list.

    Guy

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    1. Get there soon Guy, one can see that Vietnam is being pumped full of Chinese money. Re hookey gear, Barbour, Northface and several adventure clothing companies have clearly bought into the area, so one can buy genine clothing at stupid prices. Sadly no wargaming figures though.

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  8. While you were there did you see the shops selling amazing model ships. Some were huge but others could easily be utilised for our games. When I mentioned this option to Lindsay there was an emphatic veto and sense of humour failure.

    Guy

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    1. I did see the ships, they were made famous by Top Gear in Vietnam. You would need a very large wargames table to do them proud though. I was tempted by the Bell Huey copter although I think the Viet army wouldnt have been amused.

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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