The other week John and I fought a Sword and Spear battle and I noticed that Id only painted one element of Thracians. So I finally located the other unpainted batch and managed to crack them off as well.Granted they are only acceptable but sometimes I fail to be inspired by the figures. But they are okay and will do. Its strange how some figures encourage you to attempt a better job than others. At the current time my most inspirational figure manufacturers are Claymore Castings, Victrix ancients and of course Perry.
In an attempt to experience something near normal I went out for a pint in a local pub I used to frequent pre covid. It was always a decent and very popular pub that served decent beer and catered for old farts like me. Expecting to struggle to find a bench I was confronted by a near empty hostelry and this a Bank Holiday weekend?
I did enjoy the novelty of a beer and I did enjoy talking to the barman but once again it got me back to thinking about wargaming. Lets be right it is quite important to me. Anyway as lockdown lurches towards a near normality are events and social experiences going to be like the pub? Something we've got out of the habit of attending and for others something they will never attend again. I dont want to sound like the prophet of doom but a lot of people will and are struggling with finding the confidence to actually get amongst crowds again.
I know its early days post lockdown but between the doom laden forecasts and the unpleasantness of covid deniers intent on 'enjoying' themselves and bugger the rest, a lot of people are understandably fearful. The test will come when wargamers have the opportunity to experience the wonders of a wargames show again.
I will be interested to see what occurs at Fiasco and Newark later this year. Yes I will be attending and frankly cant wait. Anyway I can only apologise for harping on about the effects of covid on our hobby but its something I dont want to see hamper the progress of the hobby.
Wow an empty pub you are lucky down here in Devon we are flooded with visitors in every pub and restaurant and it even worse across the border in Cornwall. However like you Robbie I am looking forward to getting out to a wargaming event, mine will be The "Cotswold gaming day" run by Keith Flint the first weekend of October.
ReplyDeleteOh and I finally got around to painting those Holger Eriksson figure you sold me the other year.
Stay safe and happy gaming,
Willz Harley.
Hopefully we will meet up next year Will. I saw the Keith Flint weekend but its a long way South.
DeleteNice job on the Covenanter unit, blues are perfect. I spoke to one of our coffee shop owners and she said that pre-covid numbers had not returned since she had re-opened, but she seemed quite pragmatic about it, saying that it will just take some time to get back normal. I would say the customer base is generally at the older end of the scale, except for me …. I am 21.
ReplyDeleteI may have hit the ‘2’ by mistake :-)
DeleteNorm if you want to claim youre 21, crack on, we all tell ourselves lies now and again.
DeleteMeant to say very nice work on the Covenanter figures.
ReplyDelete21 Norm that would make me 18.
Willz.
The Jocks look really good Robbie, as do the Thracians of course. As to empty pubs, well my Methodist genes are not entirely sad to read that.😁
ReplyDeleteI sometimes wonder about you David. I was brought up a Methodist and loved all the singing and the like but drinking?
DeleteI'm in Kent and work in a brewery, pub numbers are still down, but we seem to still be selling a hell of a lot of beer, infact numbers are up above those before the lockdown? We can't work out what's going on? Great figures btw!
ReplyDeleteYou lucky so and so Ray. I must admit when I was in Derby at the weekend, the three pubs I was in were all packed and that was 5.00pm onwards. Personally I dont like drinking in the house and love being in pubs where the beer is good and the crack better.I will do my best to keep you in a job.
DeleteHopefully this comment gets posted, my last few attempts have all had a google fail, I’ve ventured to one of my locals but only during quiet times although speaking to the barman he says they’re almost back to normal, although it is a very small real ale pub. The other local I haven’t ventured to, it changed hands during lockdown and my son tells me it’s busy but it’s full of all the s**t the other pubs had banned so I will give that a miss.
ReplyDeleteI really hope the shows do ok, Falkirk I’m booked to go but not certain if I will. Newark is a definite. The big tester will be York I’ve felt it’s been overcrowded for the last few years and generally go for a drink on arrival as I’ve felt uncomfortable due to numbers. So we shall see. Love the figures, I’m hooked into 15mm ECW!
We were talking about York the other night Graham and Im not certain whet they will do about numbers. You know how popular but oppressive it gets at the show. The answer would be tickets so they could control numbers but of course that means more expense and organisation. Hopefully things will become clearer later.I saw you were doing 15mm,I dont know if I could ever change scales again.
DeleteLovely Scots. We now have two pubs and a small brewery in the village, one pub and the brewery have made a huge effort to support and keep a customer base during the unpleasantness and are now both doing very well, the third is mainly empty. Now you mention it I am a bit unsure about shows, maybe just wear the dreaded mask.
ReplyDeleteThanks George. The Covenanter army is very smart and quite revolutionary at the time for its uniform and discipline. Of course they didnt treat my county too well but I suppose it was tit for tat.Before lockdown they were excavating a burial pit at Durham Cathedral which contained Scots taken at Dunbar. Cromwell had piled several thousand into the cathedral before they were due to be sent to the colonies as indentured slaves.Strangely the chattering classes never mention that. Cromwell was quite a piece of work really.
DeleteVery nice figures Robbie.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with Covid that I see is that it's created new routines for everyone. Pre Lockdown we could attend our local groupson a regular basis and built our routine around that. 18 months on and we've got new routines which are going to be hard to change. I keep putting off going to my local club but know that I must if I ever want to have a game in the near future. Partizan in October is something that I both want and not want to attend. Living in an area where infection rates are still stupidly high I remain cautious and not a little fearful. Especially when some good friends have only recently become infected and are suffering badly from it.
Its going to be down to the individual Paul. Ive had my jabs and lets be right thats it, we may get boosters but that's the limit of our protection unless we lock ourselves away and suffer serious mental issues.I wash my hands, I look after my diet mainly and I exercise, after that its down to the vaccine. Ive decided that having lost nearly two years of my life I really cant afford to lose anymore and just pray there are no more lockdowns.
DeleteCovenanters are very tempting they can fight Roaylists under Montrose and Newcastle, Irish confederates and even at push fight with Gustavus. Not only that but the sober hodden grey outfits look striking in their own way.
ReplyDeleteThe Hodden Grey is a lovely colour even though Im certain what Ive painted isnt anywhere near the actual colour.
DeleteGreat looking Covenanters and nothing wrong with your Thracians! My daughter has been working in a coffee shop for the summer, seems pretty busy, I'm going to miss Salute as I have to work ( the only Saturday I have to work!) maybe I should head up north to Partizan?
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Im still in two minds about Salute Iain. It will cost me a lot of money now my sister has moved out of the city. I do know there will be some very impressive games on show at Partizan and if I am able to attend I want to see Bill Gaskin's latest masterpiece.
DeleteRobbie,they must have heard that you were coming,and went elswhere!! why else would there be an empty pub in Crook??
ReplyDeletejohnc
I wasnt in Crook you cheeky begger I was in a country pub where no one knows me. I struggle to kickaway into the pubs in my home town. You know how it is John, hell Westerhope, what more can I say.
DeleteRobbie,check out Warrior Miniatures Thracians-you'll be surprised!
ReplyDeletejohnc
I will John. I did like their ECW figures even though its a very small range.
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