Paintermeister's painting blog

NHS

2011-01-13T13:08:00.000-08:00

Ge's some stick but where would we be without it and those that work there. Brother is in ICU and at midnight last night I thought we were saying good bye. Had taken a real turn for the worse and we got called to go in . Still there two hours later. Only just stable but we were made well aware still going to be touch and go. If he can remain stable make it through to Monday there's a chance.

New Year and a change of luck?

2011-01-11T14:46:00.000-08:00

Seemingly not. Bro admitted to accident and emergency and in other news a non relative on the phone in tears every few days. How do I attract them? Good job I like her innit.

Not quite sure what I have done to deserve all this.

Apologies

2011-01-08T00:43:00.000-08:00

For anyone wondering where I am since the last post. A year has passed since I wrote my note....wait a sec, I sound too much like Sting......(ask your parents kids)

It's been a year of great change here at EVM Towers and one I have struggled to cope with. Sometimes it's best to just batten down the hatches and focus on what matters and what needs to be done rather that whitter away on line. Which incidently I see I have done since 2006. Cripes. I've also had issues with t'interweb access.

The Blog was started to chart the progress of my Mercians. Still as yet unblooded. Various projects were added and random real life chit thrown in the mix.

I continue to coach kids footbo. Two teams now as we have a lot of players in my age group. Last season we went within 20 seconds of a league and cup double. Yes 20 seconds away from a league title. Talks with Hollywood are ongoing and whenever Matt Damon is free we will discuss how he can best porrtay me. Still we bounced back and win the cup in a marvelous stylee. This season is going pretty well for both teams and we are all still smiling.

No matter how many people tell you, "you will be fine" or "you will find someone else" it doesn't make it any easier. The loss of your best friend is difficult, even worse... ah heck let's not go there. Details of my personal life since then whilst the source of much humour for those "in the know." They are best not divulged to the wider world. Needless to say it's a crazy world out there.

I was told I would find someone when I least expected it. Well that was easy enough.....oddly it does appear to be true. Early days yet, still plenty of time to mess things up. Even more odd I can't quite believe my luck. I took some convincing she was even interested but seems she is. Far too young, far too pretty but I am not complaining.

Wargaming? Oh yeah, well just a few games of 40k, Tom decided to go Necron and Jabba had a few Orksies last Xmas (no wait the one before that 2009) that we managed to get painted up. Nothing else really.

Painting? I did a bit, not much, the new life meant I needed a "regular" income. We survived, a few bits got done to the house, books balanced etc. I now work out of a new studio built in the garage. Still trying to get Jabba's own bedroom finished. Four months behind schedule as we speak.

Projects a plenty but little spare time. Weekends are taken up with football and swimming for the kids under the expert eye of the lovely Gemma.

Pips
Dave

More?

2010-01-21T02:14:00.000-08:00

Yes more Crusader chaps from t'arena. Hoped to have pics of some ECW too but the house needed a good vacuum. Perils of having a black hair shedding beastie in residence. Did the whole of the downstairs leaving the upstairs for Friday night , oh joy. Regular readers will recall the renovation of EVM Towers. Off white matt walls seemed a great idea. Spent this morning cleaning off mysterious marks left on said walls. Need to get the paint out and redo a few bits this weekend. Still......could be worse. Frustration bounds at the lack of progress with continued works. Need to get some dosh in innit?

Pips
Dave

More Crusader

2010-01-18T11:59:00.000-08:00

catching up

2010-01-17T03:02:00.000-08:00

Waiting for primer to dry so best catch up on the picture back of log.

Some Crusader Gladioli.

Now as I said to Ridley "look mate, if he's dressed as a lion, maybe the armour should be gold and the chap African then?"

I blame the lack of a painter's briefs for it not looking like a certain someone but it does nicely avoid all issues wi' copyrights n chit.

Livid Max goes toe to toe with a Commode or something.

Hey, I onlywatched the filum once and once the Germanic interlude was over I didn't rate it that much.

Sorry.

Velite

Big helmet, big chopper

Trident missile.

Ok That's all for now folks.

Pipsiums

Davus

New Year, new Blog.

2010-01-16T12:10:00.000-08:00

ECW madness a gogo. Link to the right n chit.

Photos to upload but think I need a beverage and food first.

Pips

Dave

From chum of the Blog, Dug

2010-01-15T13:39:00.000-08:00

A touching tale.

Hi Dave, as a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a grave side service for a homeless man.

He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Argyll back-country.

As I was not familiar with the place, I got lost;

and being a typical man I didn't stop for directions. I finally

arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight.

There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch. I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late.

I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to play.

The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I've never played before for this homeless man.

And as I played 'Amazing Grace,' the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low my heart was full.

As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "Sweet Mother of Jesus, I never seen nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."

Empire Troops

2010-01-07T12:28:00.000-08:00

Well that's what the man in GW said they were based on........or if you prefer Artizan Designs Italian Wars range from the green stuff fingers of Mike O'Owen.

S...w......eet.

Photo tent gizmo duly set up after tea of hot dogs. Twas a rushed tea as we were going ice skating. Luskily H talked me out of it. More snow forecast and a big freeze tonight. Reckon the man flu has got on me chest. I is a coughing and a spluttering now. Where is a decadent pharmacist when you need one...oh he's here - http://paintingshed.blogspot.com/

Looks like he's quite into that there Black Chowder ruleset and hints, ney promises an ECW set. Which is nice. Foolishly I am reading a book on Marston Moor, references to York meaning I have a couple of new places there to seek out should I ever need a reason to go....yeah right...

Also avidly drooling over - http://saxondog.blogspot.com/ the website, not young Imrie. I am not on that there other bus yet... 'onest.

Hmmmm big ECW units...no one tell him it's not quite the right shade of blue though....Somehow some ECW units arrived through my flap this week. Unit deals were just too good to be true. Hopefully will have a testicle paint of a few minis over the weekend. 16 pike....32 musket per unit ( or Royalists ....24 musket, 24 pike?) and whatever young Imrie says command stand wise. Yum. it will end in tears I know it.

This chap is not helping either - http://breitenfeldblog.blogspot.com/ conversions a plenty.

Tomorrow night, if you are all good.....I will take some more pictures. Gladiators and maybe more pikey typey.

Food stocks remain stable although one cannot get fresh carrots in my part of Mapperley Village.

Fellow survivors I salute you, oh and remain indoors.

Pips
Dave

Thought of the day

2010-01-06T00:35:00.000-08:00

Cold innit?

Also are the Aristotle quotes now repeating? You think he would do more. Tsk.

Snowed in. Jack's school just announced it's shut after 2 hours of is it/isn't it fun. Tom and H are stuck on a bus somewhere in da city. All good fun.

Off to stock up on tinned food and ammo before it get's nasty in these parts. Time to panic buy people, kill or be killed etc.

Or we could just eat all the cheese we still have from Xmas. Oh and the 12 mince pies remaining.

Probably do some pic taking later once the box brownie is charged up.

Remain indoors, unless you are out panic buying or stealing fuel/tinned food in order to survive.

Now where is my Rambo knife and cross bow?

Pips
Dave

New Year message

2010-01-04T04:44:00.000-08:00

Gosh, just like the Pope eh?

A bit more formal maybe.

Anywho.

Interesting start to 2010. Taken a bit of a knock back in one way. The last 14 months though have taught me that you have to try and take summat positive from these situations. Rather than go all doom and gloom like as I have in the past. I try and learn from the set backs. There are going to be moments of pain but they are all bearable with the right mind set. Learn and improve.

New Year's Eve was nice. Next door and Geetar Hero on the WII for the kids, several glasses of red and a buffet for me. Nice enough. Would rather have been with a certain someone but that wasn't to be so you get on with it. She called me the next day and it was lovely to hear her voice. Came up for tea that night and we sat and watched Eastenders. A simple pleasure having the family all together. Not so long ago I would have been upset it does not happen more often. Now I just try to enjoy such moments. It was very nice. There's something about being sat along side H that just makes the world a better place. I realise it's not what she wants but doesn't stop me enjoying the moments.

Saturday I had a darker day. Dunno why. Never really got going. Man flu was returning. Kids had gone again and I'd not really seen them much since Xmas. Been told I need to enjoy the peace, but I just don't. Rather have the family around me. Don't think anyone realises how that can hurt till it's taken away. Stuff you take for granted. Anyway, it was a dark day. Called my one true chum in the world and it was an intrusion into her evening. Bum, that hurt.

Sunday was a bit the same to start. Picked myself up a bit. Man flu really kicking in but the footbo was on.
Sir Simon of Grayson and his marvellous brave boys duly routed the Lancastrian host. In their own back yard. Life does not get much sweeter. Well actually it does, footbo is not really all that important in the big scheme of ting. Called H to share and she and the boys had caught the end of the making of an ickle piece of history. Hurrah!

She looked lovely as ever when she came back with the boys. Her Uncle John had taken really ill and it was touch and go if he would be better for his good lady's buffday party next weekend. Being excluded from such things still kinda hurts but it's less of a shock now. Still dream of one day being invited back into the fold. Might be a mad crazy dream but it's a decent enough reason for getting up in the mornings.

Always got to have hope. Keep doing the right things and maybe, just maybe dreams can come true.

Sir Simon

Also known as "TCM" - "The quiet man" or "Larry" or "LG" which I used to think stood for "Larry Grayson" but is now thought to mean "Living God".

Yes, yes I know, just one game, means nothing etc etc. Won't stop me basking in it for the next 30 years.

Pips

Dave

and no one died.....

2009-12-30T10:56:00.000-08:00

Had a brilliant Xmas fest.

Where were we?

Hang on let me get a brew and settle down comfy. Tell you all about it.

Xmas Eve is probably a good place.

The fish from Loch Doom finally arrived at 7.45am via white van man, huzzah!

Went into that there town around half 11 for a festive skate on t' outdoor ice rinky dink in the Market Square. Only after a large Bratwurst mind. Marvellous. Great fun had by all. Well possibly not by H who is a non skater & was aided by Tom. Possibly also not so much by Jack who was aided by me. I say aided..... As a self taught, "let me go at my own pace and don't ask me to turn or stop much I can plod about." Not so easy with J holding onto my hand in a blind panic. Still by the end, he was more relaxed and we were going round a lot easier. Plus it's possibly the last place a man can molest a lady, sorry bump into her, without fear of prosecution.

Then t'was onto the Cinema to watch "Nativity", making a slight detour to be fleeced at the Pick N Mix. Oh well, we don't do it enough to worry about it.

Cracking filum though, highly recommended.

After that we returned home where I became meine host and laid on a buffet for H, the kids n t'neighbours. A good night. H left around half 9, the neighbours not long after. Tom helped me down with some pressies and then went to bed. Feeling all festive I settled down with an ickle drink to await Santa. New old chum called again to see how my day had gone qand the preps. There have been lot of concerned people with regard to the fish and poultry situation here at EVM Towers. Next thing I know it's half one and I am supposed to be up at 6....oooops.

Set the alarm to 7am. H was arriving at 8am, that would be fine. Turkey in at eight, no problemo.

Duly got up at 6 as no one had told the dog of the change of plan.....he complained most loudly...

Tom heard me moving about emptying the dishwasher and after a quick shower the boys set about the stockings. H arrived at 8am and after a brew we set about the presents. Santa had left her a small handbag in place of stockings.

Quite chuffed with what I got H. She seemed ok with it all. Stuff she had wanted over the years. ..etc...

Then I made a breakfast of Loch Doom smoked salmon with scrambled egg on toast. Nice.

After drinkies with the neighbours I set about the dinner. Turkey seemed fine, all went to plan although I forgot to so myself some sprouts....oh well eh? Also forgot to put any cranberry sauce on my dinner. Still the home made apple and chestnut stuffing went down a storm with everyone bar Jabba.

Tidied it all away and then had a snooze. See above sleep pattern issue. Kids were busy playing various games so they didn't. H watched TV. Then with the kids out the way we put on "The hangover" a pressie from H. Very funny. didn't bother with tea, still too stuffed but I let H watch the soaps and kept topping her glass up so when she left at 10 she seemed to have had a good day.

Boxing day was well weird. H went to her mums with the kids and stayed over. I did some cleaning up of the boys new stuff....It'd be in piles for months otherwise then did a bit of painting. Popped over to see my mum and then my sister and her lot came back for a brew.

Had arranged for new old chum to pop over for coffee on the Sunday. As they have family too that got changed to breakfast. Odd but a good laugh. They were a bit worried I'd be lonely but I kept myself busy so it was fine.

Then twas off to my sisters with the kids in the late afternoon. Tradtional M & S fayre and more pressies. I got the photo light tent gizmo I had begged for.....Hurrah! Some Wips

Perry Plastic War of the Roses. Mucho grassy ass to Sir Simon De Chick for his prompy reply to my query on armour n that. First "Retinue"...( the name of a much loved/loathed rule set by TTG back in the day) will be that of Sir Edward Woodward who fought for the good guys. Yes the Yorkists. Well ok maybe he didn't I just made it up using the family coat of arms.

Perry chap at arms, lumbering towards the lancastrians (boo hiss) to give them a jolly good talking to.

Perry bowman awaiting gloss and matt varnish. No bowstrings yet, sorry Sir Simon! Fast paint stylee. Two shades and ink washes to the fore.

Ok course many people wrongly believe this war ended in 1487. Of course it still goes on today. Sir Simon of Grayson will take a small Yorkist raiding force into that dastardly Lancastrian strong hold of Salford this very weekend.

Ok just to prove even the mighty can fail sometimes, here's an out of focus picture of an Artizan handgunner type.

Still overall, very impressed with the lighting set up gizmo as it all folds away into it's carry case n chit.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/studio-including-Lights-stands-tripod/dp/B000NHBN7E

Dropped kids off with H as the next day they were off to town to spend their Xmas money on yet more games....I did more painting and new old chum kept checking in to see if I was ok and arrange a night out.

Also tried to solve the interweb problem here at EVM Towers. Now I am no expert but......the router supplied will now not recognise Tom's laptop. Mumbai were no help. Basically if the router was on the internet will not work on the PC. If I disconnected the PC the lappie used to work. Not anymore, they are not on speaking terms. A call to Dickie Branson resulted in an upgrade to the router.

Watched a good part of that Triffid Ting. It was ok. Anything that has young Joely on all fours has to be good. Toot, toot.

On the Tuesbury I had booked for us all plus the outlaws to go Hoss Racing. Something we have never done and what fun! Of the seven races I picked two winners, Jabba got an each way bet and Mum in law two each ways. Not massive amounts but my nett winnings covered two rounds of hot drinks, hurrah! If only I had stuck with my original choice for the final race....sigh....still really good laugh. I'd left a beef stew in the slow cooker so it was all back to mine for a warming tea. After they had all gone I popped open a bottle of red and settled down for part two of Triffid Ting. New old chum decided to call just before it started. Also on el vino but eager to know how the hoss day had gone. Ah bless. So had a drink together a mile apart again. Still, all pretty amusing stuff. Worried I was getting man flu. Just in time for New Year. New old chum seemed to find my New Year spent contracting chicken pox and a chest infection some years back at the ripe old age of late 30s highly amusing. I was proper poorly yanno. Still no sympathy for a whinging chap eh?

Wednesday I woke up with the deffo. onset of man flu. Took it easy and hopefully I have shaken it off. New router duly arrived. Now here's da ting chaps.

Router.....plugged in to PC....then......modem and router connected....lights all on but says not connected to WWW.

Man in Mumbai he say I cannot use a USB cable to connect the router....it's all ethernet cables only now. I don't have any ethernet ports on the pc, only USBs, 5 of them. So I think basically I am screwed. PC is too old perhaps? All of 5 years old. About right.

Mike?

Paul Darnell called http://touchinghistory.blogspot.com/ he back in da game n chit. Now living in York so we were able to chat about how nice England's second city is. Fo show!

Right need food, turkey probably.....

Pips and gobble gobble

Dave

Stuff to be done

2009-12-23T06:58:00.000-08:00

Right chaps, the time is almost upon us. Had a last minute trip to the great retail Satan last night. Had to take the kids and it's fair to say they were a tad exciteable. Lass on the checkout said I could open the wine there and then if we shared. Very, very tempted. No, no not by her even though she was a purdy lady.

Made it home before opening it and then an old new chum called. We kind of had a drink together a mile apart. If that makes sense. Still....passed the time. Got some interesting gossip on a chap wot I know that confirmed what I had already thought. Tsk. Bounder of the highest order. Maybe there is a big man upstairs. Certainly made me smile. Glass houses, stones dat sort o ting. Reaping what ya sow etc etc.

Cleaned the bathroom today to prepare for the festivities. Just need to keep everyone out of there till New Year now.

Hmmm checklist time. How are we doing for the main event?

Scrooged - watched
A Christmas Carol - read
Elf - kids watched it
National Lampoons Xmas Vacation - watched

Gremlins - watched. Roughly my 50th time, Tom's 4th or 5th and Jabba's first viewing of one of the seminal cinematic works out our time. Foshow.

Santa - e-mailed plus message left of answerphone. Several times.

Presents -purchased and wrapped.

Mistletoe - in place but almost dead....Hmmm dat 'bout right.

Lucky pants - cobwebs dusted off, plus newly washed and ironed

Chaffinch - defrosting nicely

Home made super stuffing - items purchased....will probably cook tonight
Sprouts - 5 purchased. Only I like them and I like them I like ma women. Raw and green. ....no hang on, no.... erm. I mean natural..... and not boiled to death.

Parsnip - 1 purchased....only me likey...I like my parsnips roasted ....steady there Jones you know what I mean.
Xmas pud - purchased
Brandy butter - yep got.
Christmas cake - not bothering, only me eats it
Nibbles - purchased half ton of various
Pringles - limited supply so far.
Bread - oh bugger....to da shop!!!!!
Wine - a few selected bottles of dubious vintage.
Sherrry for Santa
Carrot for Rudolph.

Ok so that's about it, what could possibly go wrong now?

Well yeah there is that.

Fish??????? - where the hell is all ma posh Scottish fish from Loch Doom? .....Phoned Scotland ( it's like dealing with a different country or something) and the lovely polite lady said my fish was delayed in Glasgow overnight. Has it been out on the razz? Oh right snow, yeah I forgot, that's no fun...........Will arrive tonight or tomorrow.....or I am a dead man. Long as it arrives before H arrives to take us all skating n chit we will be fine. Not long finished talking to her when a really really posh lady called to tell me the same. Sounded like Penelope Keith from back in the day. Brilliant. She is making the calls and yet is probably totally minted and like Scottish Royalty or summat.

Tomorrow will be a busy one. I will be having it large all day.

Have a good one and don't forget

Remain indoors

Christmas Pipsies
Dave

Thought for the day

2009-12-19T06:37:00.000-08:00

Continuing the all new caring Blog and it's "ooo feel my love" theme, one hopes you all bought flowers for your loved ones when directed to do so.

No Jones?

Tsk man, you are playing with fire....

I was chuffed by the messages of well being n chit I got as a result of that rambling, inane or not. So as a further reminder of the true meaning of Xmastide I bring you a small tale wot I nicked off of one of those electronic mails.

Two businessmen attend the funeral of a mutual colleague. One man says to the other, "How much did he

leave?"

The other responds........

"He left it all."

Derrrrr obvious eh?

Everyone leaves it all. And nobody on their death bed wishes they spent more time acquiring more money to

leave. Most people realize that it's their primary relationship in their life, that is the most meaningful. Too many people realize in those final moments that they should have done things differently. Yet we
forget and get distracted.

Fo show. So have a great Xmas and so as not to disapoint Mr Flutterby here's our traditional "fit lass in santa outfit" pic.

In return I am sure he is sending me his "how to make sure you don't cock up the Xmas dinner" crash course. Have been trying to follow Jamie Oliver's crafty cockerknee banter but other than calling everyone "Tiger" it's not been much help. Oh to be a hairy biker or indeed Gordon heffin Gin Ramsey.

Then again, they all wish they were me, innit?

Right a Perry WOTR billchap awaits my bristles.

Pips

Dave

Public service

2009-12-19T04:15:00.000-08:00

Remain indoors.

Also beware the perils of alcofrol this gorging session....sorry season.

"Sometimes when I reflect back on all the wine I drink

I feel shame. Then I look into the glass and think

about the workers in the vineyards and all of their hopes

and dreams .. If I didn't drink this wine, they might be out

of work and their dreams would be shattered.

Then I say to myself, "It is better that I drink this wine and let

their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver."

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may leave you wondering what the

hell

happened to your bra and panties.

(Well not mine......that's never happened......not that I even wear any......ok hole duly dug so move on)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they

wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're

going to feel all day. "

~Frank Sinatra

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you

are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people.

( oh dat is true)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading."

~ Henny Youngman

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may lead you to think people are

laughing WITH you.

(Indeed foshow)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not."

~ Stephen Wright

(This man is a genius!!!!!)

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to think you can sing.

(Nope, I know I can't, dats a lie)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk,

we fall asleep. When we fall asleep, we commit no sin.

When we commit no sin, we go to heaven. So, let's all

get drunk and go to heaven!"

~ Brian O'Rourke

(Any one know....is that the official policy from the Vatican?)

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause pregnancy.

(Not in my case...no wait actually......tis true kinda)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Without question, the greatest invention in the

history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the

wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does

not go nearly as well with pizza."

~ Dave Barry

( Sooooo true)

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to tell your friends

over and over again that you love them.

(Guilty as charged m'lud though not for a while)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To some, it's a six-pack, to me it's a Support Group. Salvation in a

can!

~Dave Howell

( foshow!)

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may make you think you can

logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.

( oh......f......dat is true)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And saving the best for last, as explained by Cliff Clavin, of Cheers.

One afternoon at Cheers, Cliff Clavin was explaining the Buffalo Theory

to his buddy Norm. Here's how it went:

" Well ya see, Norm, it's like this... A herd of buffalo can only move

as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the

slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This

natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general

speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular

killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain

can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake

of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks

the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular

consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain

a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter

after a few beers."

(Sound words......)

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may make you think you are

whispering when you are not.

(Yup)

Above all courtesy of chum and noted Hannibalarian Dug of Cambridgecestershire.

Pips
Dave

Still a week to go....

2009-12-17T23:13:00.000-08:00

..........and yet the boys finish skool today. An odd time of year for educashun innit? According to H.M. Govt it's a sin that they miss skool at any point but all my two seem to be doing is watching DVDs and a chillin'. Yesterday Tom missed Rugbo because the ground was a bit hard so they remained indoors and carried out an excercise in changing heart rates. Standard ! Fo' sho blood.

Tom has only to do a half day today and then it's orf to Mrs Miggins for celebratory pie fest. Jabba is down for a full day then after skool sports.

Me? Oh right well I have to brave the queue at designer shop Argoose to take back a broken item. Then nip to Tess and Co for a couple of last minute bits one forgot to get last Tuesbury. Probably also need to get to Wilkos and pick up some varnish and one or two other bits Tess didn't have.

Then I need to ring H.M. Money Shop and find out why, oh why, have they stopped the child allowance. I actually know why, twas due for renewal a ouple of months back and t'claim had to be changed from H's name to mine. Changing who got paid previously was easy. I probably should have just left it at that....but being the good citizen I didn't. T'was the law of sod that December would be the date a payment would be missed as they cancelled one "claim" and started a new one. Still tis money I usually save so nay biggy.

Finally then I might be able to pick up a brush again. Seems like ages. Been all go. Why do we have do soooo much stuff at this time of year just to enjoy ourselves? Had planned to work of the Day of Boxing. Probably just need to sleep.

Anywho, kids are orf to H's tonight so me and the sable are looking forward to a night night together.

Saturday night is t'works doo for Norf Star. Sadly no EVM one this year, although will try and do lunch out with the boys next week at some point.

More news and maybe some pictures as they come in.

Pips
Dave

Yorkists a go go

2009-12-12T15:31:00.000-08:00

Having seen the new Perry WoTR that's Roses by the way, not Ring seemed apt to drive up to deepest darkest Yorkist country the next day. After dropping the kids orf I duly did. Uneventful ride up then I was treated like a returning hero...(yeah, I know, I am) at the B & B. There I was treated to 2nd breakfast by the lovely Caroline. After that she said in front of the other guests "right let's get you upstairs". Not heard that line in a while....ding and indeed dong. She'd popped me in a double room I have used before. Very nice en suite and a huge comfy double bed even though I was paying for a single. Hurrah!

I trotted into York along the river to find the Ouse well up and that.

Almost had to walk on water. Heh, you all know I can. Spent the afternoon perusing the shoppes and enjoyed a venison, something and something sausage cob at the White Swan. Nice. Bought a couple of ECW books and a couple of pictures I have been hanging my nose over for the hall. Ta Santa. Upgraded my phone to one that works. Very nice lady. Has a very young daughter and as her Birthday is close to Xmas she had made the mistake of buying all the presents together......ooops...nothing now for Xmas till she shops again. Anyway most helpful although H thinks she could have swapped my address books over for me. Fair point. Hey ho.

Went back to the B & B for a cuppa a spruce up and to ring the heirs.

Evening meal was at Bella Italia as per Jabba's explicit instructions. Was sat down and immediately a lass wandered over....aye,aye, have t' lucky pants worked their magic?

Er no...

"Sorry I left my handbag"

"It's ok I looked after it"

Pleasant lady, smiled and wished me a Happy Christmas.

Calamari starter then Penne marco polo. Basically aromatic duck in plum sauce with pasta. Nice but a bit rich by the end. No dessert, too full. Waiter earn't his tip though, fine service.

Strolled about through the city centre and then on the way back to the B & B I spied the footbo on in a pub.

Watched the Gooners whilst listening to the Scousers commentary. Odd. On the plus side it was a proper ode pub and a nice atmos. Homely. Lass behind the bar was what we in the know call "stunning". Bonus, but brunette. Still if I was 20 years younger,single and looking, better looking and/or rich, I'd have tried my best. She was nice too which is not always the case.

Got chatting to a couple of ladies sat next to me about their shopping. Pink Xmas tree, oh the horror.... Then went to the big boys room. On my return two new ladies had sat at my table despite the presence of my coat and a beer. Hey ho I moved up a tad and the convo went from the footbo to reveal they were from ...of all places Derbycester. Just up for a break to do the shopping too. Oh how we laughed. Well ok we didn't but had a good chin wag about shops, Derby and one of their sons who was a tattoo artiste of some repute. They had no idea I was a legend too. Time flew by until the bell went. Oddly they were staying just up from my gaff so being a total gent I saw them to their door. Twas the noble thing to do.

Next morning after a stout and indeed hearty brekkie of pork products n chit I went a shopping proper like. The day previous being merely scouting. Lots of trips too and fro with bags of booty. Was feeling pretty darned seasonal despite the oddly mild weather.

Lots of Carol singers and the like. All very furtive. Plus it just looks so lovely. Lots of smiling staff too. Even in Poundland where you are reminded of Banjo Duels at every turn. Not so here, oddly pleasant too. although why you need to use a calculator in Poundland is beyond me.

"1+
1+
1+
1+
1 =
.....oh.....
5.....zodats £5 den"
"Are you sure?"
"Yer...er well...yer fink zo...cud ask my manager to check"
"No, that's fine... ok there you go then my good man......ah if I had bought one more item you could have just used your fingers to count on"
"oh yer"
"Good bye and Merry Xmas to you"
"Uh?"

Bought an item from a shop and tried to find room in my existing bags in a bid to be "green"....wasn't happening so the lass assistant said...

"shall I just give you one"

I chose not to reply......other than say...."please".

To her credit she said "did I really just say that?" The double entendre lives on amongst the young, huzzah!

Oooo matron.

Lunch at the Golden Fleece was an Italian chicken burger. It's haunted you know....no the pub not the burger. Nice. Almost watched a lady demolishing fish &chips with garlic bread whilst reading a book. Dats just not roight dat.

Managed to complete the shopping early doors so I could concentrate on my posh outfit for the family day out to the hosses. Having to make a decision proved tricky so I consulted the "higher power" by means of textation. H approved as best she could without

seeing what I was on about
even really caring I suppose

Iwas asking a lot of her. Still as of Saturday night she approved of the choice. Huzzah!

Bless her, she never said owt at the time tho, just humoured me.

It was late night shopping and so after a coffee and shower...not together but in that order I popped along to the European market. Despite being tempted by huge German sausages (steady Jones) I went for Ghulash. Nice tuck. Then popped in the beer tent for a Polish beer. Two young lasses came in and it has to be said the chaps serving the beer don't do "subtle", just menacing. The girls were pretty but......too much sir! Tis a fine line between admiring fine form and...well public leering. Felt a tad uncomfy to be honest.

Then I decided to have a wander. Listened to a very good busker for a bit. Missed his hat with some loose change. It ended up in his geetar case. I apologised and he got "it's fine" into his lyric. Genius. Now he did have the X Factor Simon.

Shops started close so at a bit of a loss I went back to the pub from the night before. Diffo bar lass (a blonde now) and hardly anyone in. Still was nice beer, she was really chatty, very pretty and Connect 4 was produced from under the bar. Had a few games of that with H on hols after a night on the drinkies. Much fun. Anyway, bought her a couple of drinks to pass the time as she was paying for the tunes on the music box ting. Fine taste although we disagreed over the GaGa. Nice to be somewhere that the staff (all two of them) actually seemed to want to be there. A rare thing at times.

An Italian chap, a bit worst for wear came in and had a couple of drinks waiting for his taxi. He was struggling to make himself understood. Managed to pay on his card, cash back was not an option. Not even sure how he stayed on the stool. Some feat. Still it was entertaining. Pub was almost deserted and in a small pub that's not good. No wonder so many close. A couple of regulars playing pool and me really. One or two popped in for one (oooer) or two on the way home but.....quiet... At the bell I wished those remaining a Happy Chrimble and was duly wished the same. T'was lovely really. Amazing to think they never realised they were supping with a living legend.

Being away helped me with a bit of a re falling in love with Xmas. Over recent years it had got a bit fraught. Pressure to do stuff, buy stuff and I really wasn't contributing enough. Sadly it's taken recent events to change that. The mind is more focussed now on what is important. Family, each other, working at making those that matter happy. I suppose over the years I was too busy seeing what I was missing out on and not actually what I had. Not working on keeping what I had. Not making sure those around me felt fulfilled, appreciated and happy. Even the going away with H to York had probably stagnated a bit into something we "had" to do out of habit not "wanted" to do. It's only now I see that it was allowed to be a routine not something she necessarily enjoyed. I wanted to do it, but I stopped making it special for H. maybe she would have liked to do something dirrerent, though last time out I assumed it had been fun. It was just another "job" to do as a parent, not special. Part of the same daily grind because I never tried hard enough to break that. You just allow yourself to convince yourself that it's "just life". Well it does not have to be. Make that change.

I love "A Christmas Carol" by Chas Dickens. Not sure if I have been visited by three ghosts recently but the story is still pretty valid today. Especially for me. I have finally "got it".

So, do me a favour. Tomorrow, treat the special one in your life to some flowers,some chocolates or do something that you know will make them happy yet have not yet done. Don't need a reason, just do it. I have bought H some nice presents this year. Feels really good having found and got them. Not vastly expensive, just things I know that in the past she would have loved me to give her. Yet I did not. Why? I don't know. Sadly she is not of a mind to recieve them or anything from me now. There's no one to blame but myself. Happiness is a state of mind for today, not a condition for the future. Or something. You know what I mean. Don't leave it too late, do it now.

I don't think she will ever know how sorry I am for letting her down. I have learnt a very valuable lesson.

As olde Ebenezer said:

"I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, The Present and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach".

Dude speak da troof innit?

Oh and I have also decided to give up professional golf for a bit. Well seems you can end up like dis.

Silly, silly man.

Picture supplied by H....not sure what she was trying to say to me exactly....

Friday, I had a leisurely brekkie with Bazza and Cazza. Bazza an ex pro footbo player and I chatted about footbo and how great I am. How Da Greys are doing and of course how Tom and Jabba are doing. Pretty darned well ta. Also turned out he knew Mapperley Village & the EVM estate from when he played squash with a former Panthers player here back in the day. Small world innit?

Then popped into town for a last minute shop of booze for mine hosts and cheese for mine clan. Said my good byes much to the surprise of the lass I had followed down the stairs. I meant I was walking behind her, not stalking her....tsk some people... Think she rightly realised by the hugs and manly handshakes all round I was a chap of some importance.

Then it was back home for lunch at EVM Towers via the shoppe for some milk and more mince pies. Wrote out some Chrimbletide cards before popping to pick Jabba up from school. After a light tea I picked H up and we went to Tom's footbo Xmas party. She looked gawjuss. Was a nice do really, kids had fun and managed a bit of a chat with H. Bumped into a chap and his lad that had lost their Wife/Mum that afternoon. Makes you think dunnit? Not good. What on earth can you say? The lad is to be a first time dad in January so the circle of life goes on.

Saturday was back to normal with football training. Then afterwards I did my best with the Xmastide decs. Something H always did with the boys. Always made the house look so nice I didn't manage anywhere near her standard and the boys having already done her house were keen to do other stuff. Fair enough, I soldiered on and did my best to make it look nice for them. Jabba approved so can't have been too bad......

H had gone to do her shopping with her chum and by the sound of it had a really good but long day out. She came over to pick Tom up tonight and looked stunning yet again. Dunno how she does it.

Right, don't forget what you need to do chaps.

Carpe Diem n chit.

Pips
Dave

Blimey

2009-12-07T00:26:00.000-08:00

Been a while hasn't it?

Well ok, confession...it became clear last weekend that the imposed deadline of Tuesbury to finish the Saxon unit would be passed without them being done and the mind and brush wandered to doing landsneckkkts to raise funds for the EVM Christmas do. Needs must and that. So the unit remains half done. Lots of work to get out and with Xmas being a bit of a solo effort this year I am struggling with the juggling.

Feeling oddly excited about Chrimbletide. Think it's the possibility of it all going horribly wrong. The buzz that comes with pressure innit? The chaffinch has been ordered for the big day. Santa has his list and has been checking it twice. Been steadily getting the other stuff in. Some posh fishy bits are on order and as long as I remember to buy each of the boys body weight in Pringles (tm, all rights totally respected n chit) I can't go wrong. Oh and a Chocolate Orange (tm, yada yada yada). As the Meerkat chap says....."Simples".

Not bothering with Quality Street, the new owners of t'company have totally screwed it up. Won't even get any just to get a toffee penny to give the dog. ,Oh come on, it's just funny watching him try to eat it.... Anywho, will be Roses or Heroes in this house this year.

Hands off our choccy aggressive foreign food companies!

Helped painting this Artizan freebie

Snow supplied by chum Moz. He sells small bags of the stuff, mainly in pubs and clubs. Pricey but looks good.

Have organised a family trip to the hoss racing over the Xmas break. We won't beat any but it's been oft muted as a "good day out" within the walls here at EVM HQ. Part of the new "get out and do" attitude here at the Towers. Went for the posh enclosure and when the tickets arrived I discovered the dress code.....ooopps.....best bib and tucker required, sorry boys. Still, Lady H will dress up and look lovely so I think it's going to be worth it.....she purdy lady..

Not decking the halls with the bowels of Holly till next week. House needs a damn good clean beforehand. Maisy is reet behind with her duties. Must remember to have a word.

Dunno why but I always forget to.

Off Xmas shopping in York this week so pray for me. Might manage the odd pint as well. Be odd doing this without my wingwoman. Was always a nice break together just before Xmas. In fact the scene of our very first trip away together. Also two years later the first trip away as parents. It was there it really sank home we were parents. Learning on the job H soon sussed which wail was for "I am too hot" or "I am hungry". Dunno how she did it, just sounded the same noise to me. We heard a lot of that 25 minutes from home........do we stop...we had nothing to give him or....carry on......we carried on....and it was a loooonnnngggg 25 minutes...So this time will be odd so I might do one of those there Ghost Walks to fill in the time of an evening.

In other news, bit concerned about the lack of updates from Mr Butterfly. Was enjoying his "what's on the desk" featurette. Mine? Oh well Saxons as you know plus a half finished unit of nappie Brits....well half finished if it's to be a 24 man unit. Post Xmas will be having a cull on the "jaysus I won't ever do those" minis. Needs must, in the last 12 months I've not managed a lot. Next 12 months will not be a lot better.

To appease the lead God I have taken the plunge and ordered a couple of 24 man unit deals from Renegade. They are on offer at £12. Madness on both counts I know! Ta Santa. After much musing last night, I have decided to get on with the big ECW project and gone back to the plan of gaming the skirmishes along the A46. The Parliamentarian Nottingham garrison vs the misguided Royalists of Newarke. One in red one in blue, can't decide which.....Taking Mr Imrie's lead I am going to aim for a force of 48 foote minis each. Ruleset? Yes, File Leader, it's fast, it's easy, it's fun. So single bases and then 6 figures to a tray to represent a company. If it goes Ok I can add a regt in from Derby or various other passing /relieving regts.

That's the plan......as with all plans....they are just plans.

Last night, whilst sitting with every ECW ruleset I own and enjoying a firey madras prepared by chef, I popped on "Nigella's Xmas Feast" thing on the TV.

What filth.

Never really seen this minx at "work" in the kitchen before but I had heard the tales. So there I was....eating, reading, half watching the TV when I heard the following.

"Look at these scrumptious beauties"

So I looked (obviously).

Just as the camera pans from the fruit (behave Jones) to her tatty bojangles.

Coincidence?

I think not.

That pretty much set the tone of the programme. The cameraman oft cutting off her head in the shot whilst focussing on a ladle or a pie or whatever she was fondling, sorry holding.....just in front of her chest.

Filth.

My e-mail of outrage to the BBC was confirmed when I heard the following.

"When I want the juice I use my hands"

Filth.

Imagine my horror then when I saw noted wargamer, figure manufacturer, former officer of HM Forces and Masterchef quarter finalist Lord Julian of Chiltern. The poor man had clearly been seduced by this woman's charms into attending one of her "dinner parties". I'd be interested in how he got that gig. Is she into wargamers? I think the question needs to be asked. I'd like to attend one just to see what depravity actually goes on.

In the interests of research.

One tip in resisting this seductress is to think of something else to take your mind off what she is doing and/or saying. In days gone by to avoid embarrassing moments I always thought of Mr Jimmy Hill. That nearly always worked, well did till I met H.

Jimmy who?

In this case I think it's best to think of Nigella's dad.

Ok, let's try that now men.

Nigella, the succubus.

and Nigel, ex governmental money fiddler.

There I think that will save many a man.

Spread the word.

Oh and remain indoors.

Pips

Dave

Frustration abounds

2009-11-26T12:09:00.000-08:00

Last night after a couple of episodes of "Spaced", yes, one was the the paintball one, marvellous...er oh yes I was at a bit of a loss what to do. Not a lot on TV so bed and a book beckoned at just past 10pm. Cue light bulb moment....go paint a couple of Saxons....So I did. Made a cup of tea first so by the time I was done it was only 11:09.

Did another couple this morning before brekkie. Toast and mum in law supplied marmelade. Only one jar left....not good. . Bit worried about the self emposed finish date for the GB ES of Tuesbury. Lots to do this weekend. Kids room needs a good clean. Bathroom needs doing etc etc. Plan is to do the cleaning before footbo, leaving the afternoons for paid work and then after a late supper do a couple of Saxons. Should really get over to the gym a bit. I don't think many Saxons will be done this weekend. Don't think I'll be getting ripped either. Will incur the displeasure of LL.

Got distracted last time out in t'gym - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5BALZuCab0 was on the TV. Not easy to concentrate of the cross trainer and keep up with the complicated plot of t'video. Or something. Mentioned this to H and she implied I'd chose Shakira over her. She has to be kidding. Ok Shakira's not a bad looking last but it's not really a fair contest.

Today I was mostly frustrated. Why?

No, nothing to do with Shakira.

Try again.

No?

Oh well started cleaning up figures for the next order. That took two hours. Took an unwanted phonecall. Scottish WeeMcPower could save me £30 a month if I signed up there and then.A tariff only available that there second....wow lucky me!!! Er on what basis tho? All I said was how much I pay per month now. He never went into useage or owt so how does he know his company will be £360.00 p.a. cheaper....? Plus only if I signed up there and then.....this offer will self destruct in 5 seconds n chit.
Int pressure sales like that illegal or something?

Rodent smells a plenty there methinks.

Had Radio 5 on....blah, blah..then......Borders da Books are in trouble.....bum....off to York soon and where else can you browse Ospreys and keep warm late at night?

Yes, yes I know... pubs..... but without spending any money?

So that was pretty much t'morning over. Lunch was nice then I started rapping....yo yo yo...u mudders....sorry I meant wrapping.... minis for posting....lost of 'em...two orders..... One other order had been ready to go since last week but weather and getting these done meant I'd not got up to the village. Not really worth taking an hour out for one parcel when two more are due to go right after.. They took a couple of hours to wrap and label n chit. Then it was off to the P.O. before skool. Saw two ladies doing late lunch that I know. Not together....ones from footbo and the other from our Avenue. Quick chat and into the P.O. to queue...sigh...pension day? Just made it back to school in time...well ok 10 mins early and it was cold standing about. Jabba took me into the book fair and got another couple of books. Then it was home for tea.

The lamb was a triumph n that. Will get more.Drop of oil and some rosemary, covered in foil, 20mins at 180 ......

Done....

After tea one undecoated some cleaned up minis...

So basically grand total earned today was...... nowt.....On the plus side I have 4 days painting lined up. Nose to grindstone time. Need to make the money up.

See you think a painters life is easy and glam.

T'isn't. Well the booze and women that come with it are ok but it's still a slog somedays.

Ooops need to go make supper for t'boys....tra

Oh the landsneckkkt pics.....going in the next advert....doing more this weekend so if I get the box brownie out I'll see what I can do on here.

Remain indoors.

Pips
Dave

Had to log on to........

2009-11-25T12:41:00.000-08:00

check the date............yes it's the.....

25th...............

of.............

NOVEMBER

So why oh why did I see TWO houses bedecked in tinsellations n chit today??? Tis not Chrimbletide for another whole MONTH people.

Nothing wrong with leaving it till Xmas Eve.

I have, however, spoken to Ted and he has a very nice tree in mind. We thought that the 12th would be a reasonable time to have a seasonal erection in the main lounge.

Much as I love the halls bedecked with the bowels of holly n chit....not sure I could manage 6 weeks of it.

Not even watched "A Christmas Carol" in any form yet. Have dug out the book though. The Vikey book is still a slog. It's Vikes vs Arabs around that there Byzantium. Not looking at the GB Byzantines....not the Crusader ones....honest....or the Moors....or.....ok early Saxons where were we......WI was mercifully short of distractions. Liked the Bazza Hilton h'article. I am at least three of them. Heard it's not gone down that well in parts. I am sure it's not malicious, he's just a cheeky weee sweaty. Think it hits the mark quite well in parts.

In other news, just undercoated more GB ES for the morrow. Get them done and that'll be a quarter of the unit finished.

Fanfare?

No?

Oh sod ya then.

Tea? Oh nothing spectacular. Last night Tom requested sausage roll, gravy n veg from the kitchen today. Chef was happy to oblige.

Last night was (for me) Tuna steak mit der chilli baked in t'oven for 15 mins. It needed 20mins. One bit was sushi like. Harry the pooch did not mind one bit.

Tomorrow is lamb steak for the Jabba and Tom requested pie of the shepherd. Which is nice.

Two menus? Am I mad...

Pips
Dave.

Wot figures?

2009-11-25T02:09:00.000-08:00

Well Gripping Beastie early Saxons to be precise.

Under the new situation and with Xmas Gorging Season fast approaching one eye is on the bank balance and fund accumulating. In the New Year, the workmen will return to the grand restoration of EVM Towers. Initially we will need a new window in the main reception room. Then it's on to a new ceiling, plastering lighting n chit. Plus new flooring and a new fire and fireplace. Tings ain't cheap. Where was I?? Oh yeah. So painting time for non paid projcts is almost non existant. then Tuesbury a.m. at 5am a plan formed. I usually rise about 6 and get t'washing and a brew on. Then from 6.15am to 6.25am I awaken the Tomster. after that I make lunch for Jabba and set the brekkie table. Anyway it struck me that if I get up at 6.00, get a brew etc I could paint till about 6.45am if I set the brekkie table the night before. Brilliant! Over the last two days I have run over a bit, but it all gets done and I have 4 early Saxon's done. basically face as normal, tunic a base coat and hightlight with trousers, leather n stuff block painted and given a vallejo brown wash. So roughly I'd say each mini takes about 25 minutes. I have a unit of 24 to do and hope to get them done in a week, upping the rate of production at t'weekend. That's the plan. Four done so far so on track....

In other news - top painty Arthurian action here - http://comesbritanniae.blogspot.com/

Monday night I got a real beasting at the gym off LL. I lifted a lot of bags of sugar and sadly it's all 'puterised so she can see if I am slacking. Not quite ripped yet, may take another few weeks or so. Still, feels good to be doing summat and I snuck in another hour last night after the shopping.

Picked up the new Nam themed WI. Nice chopper.

Tom has requested another apple crumble so had to buy a large amount of apples as the EVM orchard is empty. I used all th produce in one day of mass baking. One huge 'un and two smalller ones.

Pips

What a beautiful day

2009-11-22T08:15:00.000-08:00

Took 10 players to an away match. Played some absolutely outstanding football. Flashes of individual flair and yet great team play. Only players not to get on the score sheet were the goalie & Jabba. He played at the back and looked just like his bro at times. Awesome, very happy. Whoever I played in whatever position passed the ball and moved into space. they played in the same way whereever I put them. Total football from English kids. Had the boys been Dutch I'd be the next manager of Chelsea. Ewwww yeah I know, but heck the monies good.

It dosn't get much better than today. At one point we had the 6 outfield players camped outside their penalty area and they could not get the ball off us.

Very happy bunny tonight.

Cheers
Dave

Curry and quiz

2009-11-21T08:53:00.000-08:00

Korma

Nice

Yeah course we won the quiz.

Fridge full of lager now....

oh dear.....

Lager in a fridge

with my reputation?

Pips
Dave

Foul play

2009-11-20T03:41:00.000-08:00

This from Francis - http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thierry_Henry&oldid=326715091

Harsh. Seems most pro foorballers will acknowledge and accept that cheating or as they call it.... "stretching the laws of the game to it's limits" goes on and if you get away with it.....hey ho.. Big up yourself to Mick O'McCarthy for asking in the style of Monty Python "give me five good, no give me two good reasons why we can't use video replays....In fact give me one good reason".

Spot on.

Big raspberry to the pundit that said "in English eyes, Henry is now a cheat".....Eire not actually being part of England and that.

He is a bit though.

Mr Platini, quick to condemn the premiership clubs for anything whatsoever has been oddly quiet. One presumes France and Henry will carry on regardless and knock England out at the quarter final stage.

In addition to that unfairness, we are shouting loudly "boo" from the ramparts here at EVM Towers as Katie Price aka Palestine continues to get picked on a daily basis on by the generic public on "I am a nonentity". Switched it off and went to read my Viking story book (slow progress) in disgust. Seems to me they asked her to go on for the ratings, just hoping she would have a pop at Pedro Andre. Yes I am sure she has one eye on a book promo and also fully knew what she was getting herself into....but even so....it's a bit of a mob hanging and rather distasteful that humans beings can continue to pick on another human being. Some will argue that someone that thrusts herself into the public eye knows what she is doing, even "has it coming" but even so.......seems harsh picking on a woman like that. Not the done thing is it?

Sadly there was nowt else on.

Tonight there's no TV on offer as it's curry and a quiz night at the local house of god. Should be fun.

Pips
Dave the just

Public servicing

2009-11-19T03:42:00.000-08:00

As part of our remit n ting here at EVM Towers we feel obliged to help you with the Xmas pressie shopping for a loved one.

http://www.lasenza.co.uk/StealTheShow/StealTheShow.aspx

Happy shopping. Study it as much as you like. best to be sure what you need to get chaps.

Now would a labrador be an 8 or a 10 in uk sizes?

Pips
Dave

Midweek already?

2009-11-18T12:17:00.000-08:00

Seems so...

Where were we?

Ah yes well H came over for a very nice Chinese on Sunday night. I goofed tho and ordered the set menu with spring rolls. Just don't float her boat and never have. me I love 'em. Still Harry the pooch didn't mind.

H revealled her proposal for the Xmas festivities. Think she is dining here at EVM Towers. Hurrah! Turkey and all the trimmings will be a test for myself and Aunt Bessie. H makes the best Xmas dinner in the world ever blood and I ain't lying.

After she left i found the "Spaced" episode where Colin is kidnapped. Marvellous. Did see the box set on sale last year and dropped subtle hints on stoney ground.

At 4am on Monday morning I realised I'd not see the chaps for the majority of the gorging season. Wasn't happy to be honest. Led to a bit of a problem. I really must get out of slipping into "poor me" mode. Just a gut reaction and after a couple of days it subsides. Then realism sets in and I start to think about the boys and H's needs. As it should be really innit.

Of course it was all put into persepective with the loss of Uncle Edward Woodwoodwoodwood. Great man, great actor. Great loss. Great, I get his ACW collection?

Er no.

Tuna and pasta for tea. Went to the gym to set my chit up wid Laura that evening. Each instrument of torture has a 'puter that records the position and weights I need. Standard. Said she was impressed with my rhythm....well it all about de riddum innit? Oh and yes I did say that to her.....yes she laughed.....yes I am going to hell. Anyway I lifted a fair bit of KG whatever they are, rode on stuff and generally worked my ickle bootie off. All set up now so I can spend idle hours of a weekend doing good instead of doing pints. Hurrah for me! Be buff in no time.

Well even buffer.

I is already half ripped.

Tuesday I got to see some nice new stuff (in the green form) on the way from North Star GHQ. WW1 sailor boys.

Cooeeee sailor.

Indeed.

Pork chops for tea. Not a great hit wid Tom. Went shopping that evening. H looked mighty fine. Had been looking tired which makes me feel really bad. Still gorgeous though, which is good.

Weds. Got wet. Got new jumpers for Jabs for school. Age 9 -11 was next up from 7-8....big gap...but 7-8 getting tight. Dey grow so fast innit?

Still liking the pikeys from Artizan. Painted a version of the freebie Santa available with mail orders from Artizan. Also painted one of the new Matabele chaps from Crusader. Dey is sweet. only wish I had stuck with "Rhodes" on telly now.

Pixies as soon as possible. Tis raining,so photography is not possible. Have put a lighting tent thing on my wish list to Santa. Whether the camera is up to it remains to be seen.

Turkey escalopes for tea....hmm could do them Xmas day......well it Turkey innit?

Ok you may be right.

Jabs jumpers are too big. Will need to swap 'em. Gutted.

Sorry for the chav speak but of late I am mostly wearing clothing by "Bench" innit?

Feel free to use babelfish.

I think the other problem is I have watched two small slices of "I am a nonentity". Shocked to see the once cute (ish....oh you would have) Sam Fox is now....well just a bit butch looking.

Not shocked to learn that Katie Price aka Palestine or something smelt of fish. Yes, yes I am sure she is a wonderful Mum and indeed role model to many but didn't she smell a rat (ok well fish) when asked to bath in rotting fish and fish guts? Hardly a coincidence was it love.....?

Remain indoors.

Pips
Dave

.

Weekend fun

2009-11-15T08:41:00.000-08:00

'ello

Friday night was pretty uneventful. Boys went off to t'van with H to close it f'winter. A journey of no fun at all in wind and rain. They did have a fish supper though so not all bad. I had scallops mit der bacon as per Huge Furry-Whippingstool on Thursday's River Cottaging. It was nice, although I prefered them with just plain rice and no pork product I fink. Did some painting till Arrmstrong and Miller then sat down to series 1 of "The I
Inbetweeners" on DVD. All of a sudden it was 1am....ooops.

Saturday was training mit der greys. Was up at 6.30 ( regretting watching TV so late)and did a couple of Nappie Brits. Nice. Fast paint stylee, minimal detailing n that.

Greys are playing some good stuff and it stayed dry. Got a free suasage butty for lunch. Pays to hang around the kitchen near closing time. I watched the first half of a game down at the centre of excellence before deciding it ws too cold and too wet to stay on..

Got home and felt decidedly queer. Had some summatadol and an ickle nap.

Got up feeling a bit bet and watched England reserves do ok against Brasil. Oh come on what did you expect? Hardly likely to turn them over 4 nil. Listened to the loons on 606 after. Doom, gloom etc. Do they not realise, quarter finals or semi finals of a World Cup is not actually a bad effort. Why do we assume we are going to win when past evidence suggests we won't? History and form suggests Brasil, Holland, Spain, Italy, Germany and maybe one or two others will be there or thereabouts. Outsiders? Ivory Coast must be worth a punt.

Least Fabio saw that Millner is decent and Wright-Phillips is sooooo not. Painted some more Naps till about 9.00 and then settled down to more Inbetweeners, the last episode of series one, the "extras" and the first episode of Series 2. Oh and a cuppa.

Sunday was away in t'cup. Was up at half six and painting some Artizan WWWWW2 for an advert. Got them done whilst taking a call at 8am offering paid coaching work. £15 an hour for 3 hours a night on 2/3 nights a week. Marvellous. Sadly it's 4.30 to 7.30pm and I can't do it cos I have the boys at that time. Up to £135 a week extra......bum....would have been nice.

Ah to the match. My driver arrived just before half 9 in the Beemer. I love the Vectra to bits but do I think a BMW is more in keeping with my status.

Or a Merc.

We didn't play that well really. In parts very good but could have been a lot better. We played well enough to win 4:0 but we let them into it a bit too much. Still everyone got a run out and it's another win so who's complaining....oh there was one actually. One of their dads collared the ref after to complain that our strong harm tactics were unfair and that if he watched the game last night he'd have seen we are behnd countries like Brasil technically. It's was because people like me were allowed to coach players to push. Er what? When did i vere do that? It must be stopped he reckons. Funny I don't ever recall doing that. We tend to just do ball work. I think he must have been watching another game to the rest of us...the game in which he threw a water bottle in disgust....Now that's setting the right example innit? Oddly I don't even think he was a Glaswegian knugget of the realm. So it's not really allowed.

If anything my lot (the brutes) are a bit too nice. Competitive yes, rough no. Don't think the ref had to blow for a foul all game. I asked one of their coaches what he was on about and he just shrugged. I interupted his rant at the ref after to shake the poor blokes hand. Just a young lad, no wonder they pack it in. Not even sure the bloke had a right to go up to him anyway. If I had been ref I'd have sent him away. No need.

If we are behind other countries techically it's because yer average British lad just wants to play games not improve technique. He/she does work hard enough on improving touch etc. It's a battle to get my lot interested in working on the weaker foot or something they find hard. Yet they are a decent set of lads. They just want to stay in the comfort zone, keep it easy and if it gets too hard they resort to creating a player on the X-box that can win the Chumpions League. Not going to help in the real world is it?

Flatly refused to go to the pub after. Get me behind me Satan n chit. Better stuff to do like loading the washer and cleaning boots. Nice lunch of cream cheese and salad in a wholemeal pitta. Oh and an apple.

Still feeling a tad rough. Took more summatadol as the throats very sore. Cleaned a few minis up for next week.

Read NickNorthStar's reply to my earlier enquiry as to how the show in Nottingham went this weekend. Yes there was a show.....no I didn't know either. Seems you have to play Flames of War or read Miniature Wargames to know about it.

Exclusive eh?

Oh and speaking of shows it seems some of you rounded on YoungImrie at Targe. to ask about the new range.....ha...ok well been told I can tell you now. Tis Italian Wars n chit from the talented mitts of Mike O'Owen of Artizan.

First up the landsneckktszz.

Very nice figures, some of his finest work to date in this painters humble opinion.

So now you know 80)

Pips
Dave

Early December release?

2009-11-12T12:47:00.000-08:00

Oh dear........

The big tease.............

2009-11-12T00:13:00.000-08:00

Every now and then summat pops along that is quite exciting. Might not be everyone's cup o' darjeeling but.....it makes ya think "wow cool". Now this isn't about a lass, it's about the shineys. A new range. One that evokes days of ode. Times when Minifigs 15mm were the bees knobblies in there 'ere parts. Yes a 15mm army wot I used. Moz's I think rather than mine as I don't have the Osprey.....but this time in glorious 28mm.

Now only Moz will be able to guess what the range is....but it is rather nice and this week I am mostly been painting stuff urgent for an advert like. So keep 'em peeled n chit for pics in da Wargaming press.

Oh and Young Imrie knows cos I blabbed to him. Hope he can keep a secret.

Been a funny ode week. Last weekend I went to the Rugbo with Tom to watch Nottingham get a mullering off Exeter at Leicester (don't ask). Who should I see in the bar but Neil Shuck, reviewer of toys in WI. he didn't see me, nor would he even know me. Two wargamers in a bar, imagine that. Sunday da greys won away in a pleasing performance.

Monday I quit the evil drink. I won't go into reasons why but I can better spend time and indeed money. Monday I also joined the gym. Week one in the bid to get rippling abs n chit. Got beasted, sorry inducted by the lovely Laura. She was great, showed me all her weapons of torture. Let Jabs go on the bike and promised to beast me hard every week. Also let Tom in for a warm down on the bike after his footbo for gratis. Which was nice. Next week we set personal goals n chit. She was looking at my reasons to get fit and I had to explain there was no box for " pull young women".....at least she laughed. Well one young woman in particular obviously. Not likely but as my old coach used to say, "if you don't get in the box you won't score".

What?

Oh how crude.

Trying to something more positive with my time and change things I have done wrong in the past.

According to Laura I am in "great shape" ahhh bless her she didn't add "for your age". Going to like her methinks. It's a better use of my time and I am quite enjoying getting out the house.

She called me last night to change the time of my next visit so we can have the whole gym to our sens. Marvellous. Said she wanted to "do me at a later time if that was ok"....

Yeah I know, couldn't resist that one.

At least she laughed.

I am probably on some register now though.

To be fair when she said "you will probably be a bit stiff in the morning" I said absolutely nowt. Yes chums, I ignored the flashing neon sign that said "use double entendre here".

Last night watched "The Longest Yard" on of the few decents remakes in the world like well, ever. Good fillum. Naff all on tellie tho innit? Only Armstrong and Miller worth looking out for. Must be saving the good chit for Chrimbo now.

"You sir...I want to take you to a gay bar"....

Only funny if ya saw it.

Ok, till the Police arrest me.

Remain indoors.

Pips
Dave

V is for Vendetta

2009-11-05T03:01:00.000-08:00

Nice filum.

Tis Bonfire Night and time we all remembered what this time of year is really all about.

Pyromania.

Oh and jacket spuds, mushy peas with or without mint sauce. Hot dogging and standing outside in the freezing cold going "oooooo" and "ahhhh" for 20 mins or aproximately £150 worth of paper and explosives. Or if you are actually lighting the Chinese made weapons of mass destruction and assorted "duds" other more unprintable chit.

Keep it real but play safe. Innit?

And now a funny via the H.

An elderly man lay dying in his bed. While suffering the agonies of impending death, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favourite scones wafting up the stairs.

He gathered his remaining strength, and lifted himself from the bed. Leaning on the wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort, gripping the railing with both hands, he crawled downstairs.

With laboured breath, he leaned against the door-frame, gazing into the kitchen. Were it not for death's
agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven, for there, spread out upon the kitchen table were
literally hundreds of his favourite scones.

Was it heaven? Or was it one final act of love from his devoted Irish wife of sixty years, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man?

Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself towards the table, landing on his knees in rumpled posture.
His aged and withered hand trembled towards a scone at the edge of the table, when it was suddenly smacked by his wife with a wooden spoon .......................

Wait for it.....

Ok here it is...

"F**k off" she said, "they're for the funeral."

Scones or scons.... the debate rages on.

Pips

Dave

fffffffff ffrrreeeeeeezin innit?

2009-11-04T04:49:00.000-08:00

Just taken a call from builder dude.....should be here fitting radiators, fixing leaks and mending t'toilet........is now deffo coming Fri ( One presumes instead of deffo coming today as he said last Thurs). Problems with teeth and a job running over. Well his problems are now my problems. Tis good to share.

Right will stick to painting in mittens for now. Apart from that slight set back things is good.

On the plus side the new bed is erect & looks swisherooney. Yesterday I are mostly buying new pillows and a choccy coloured throw.

How modern man or indeed gay is that?

Yeah I know t'duvet is badly creased........didn't iron it...seemed no point last time out. King size bed so room for at least one more.

Feature wall and colours as chosen by H. Think she did a fab job and has missed a trick career wise. Very good eye for colour and matching chit.

Waiting for heating to be sorted to see if I need a thicker duvet or comely wench to keep out the chill of a winter's night. Duvet was my choice and I think I need summat more alluring than plain cream. Suggestions welcome lay-dees.

Radiator and mirror plus a couple of pics or photo frames then we will consider that done apart from a new wardrobe and chest of drawers when funds permit. Or a telly....ack dunno. Leave it for a bit.

Right onto matters more macho. Grrrrr.............

Portly officer cira WWII.

Figure by Mike O' Owen for the "Thrilling Tales" range of Pulp minis available from all good stores now. Or indeed direct from North Star.

Pistol armed enforcers of law and order. Or Rozzers.

O 'Hicksy sculpts by the look of it for Artizan as above. Very nice. Will need some to assist my plucky Home Guard.

Pics by Saab loving Danny O' F of WI fame. He has been told off for not dusting orf the loose flock. just can't get the staff these days.

Pips and indeed hard nips here at EVM Towers.

and now a racist joke from Nick Griffin

2009-11-02T06:52:00.000-08:00

Well it's not but....

An Australian ventriloquist visiting New Zealand walks into a Small village and sees a local sitting on his veranda patting his dog.

He figures he'll have a little fun, so he says to the Kiwi

'G'day, mind if I talk to your dog?'

Villager: 'The dog doesn't talk, you stupid Aussie.'

Ventriloquist: 'Hello dog, how's it going mate?'

Dog: 'Yeah, doin' all right.'

Kiwi: (look of extreme shock)

Ventriloquist: 'Is this villager your owner?' (pointing at the Villager)

Dog: 'Yep'

Ventriloquist: 'How does he treat you?'

Dog: 'Yeah, real good. He walks me twice a day, feeds me great food

And takes me to the lake once a week to play.'

Kiwi: (look of utter disbelief)

Ventriloquist: 'Mind if I talk to your horse?'

Kiwi: 'Uh, the horse doesn't talk either...I think.'

Ventriloquist: 'Hey horse, how's it going?'

Horse: 'Cool'

Kiwi: (absolutely dumbfounded)

Ventriloquist: 'Is this your owner?' (Pointing at the villager)

Horse: 'Yep'

Ventriloquist: How does he treat you?

Horse: 'Pretty good, thanks for asking. He rides me regularly, Brushes me down often and keeps me in the shed to protect me from the Elements.'

Kiwi: (total look of amazement)

Ventriloquist: 'Mind if I talk to your sheep?'

Kiwi: (in a panic) 'The sheep's a f**k*g' liar.

funny from H

2009-11-02T06:39:00.000-08:00

A police officer pulls over a speeding car.

The officer says, ' I clocked you at 80 miles per hour, sir..'

The driver says, 'Christ, officer I had it on cruise control at 60, perhaps your radar gun needs calibrating.'

Not looking up from her knitting the wife says: 'Now don't be silly dear, you know that this car doesn't have cruise control.'

As the officer writes out the ticket, the driver looks over at his wife and growls, 'Can't you please keep your mouth shut for once?'

The wife smiles demurely and says, ! 'You should be thankful your radar detector went off when it did.'

As the officer makes out the second ticket for the illegal radar detector unit, the man glowers at his wife and says through clenched teeth, 'F..k it, woman, can't you keep your mouth shut?'

The officer frowns and says, 'And I notice that you're not wearing your seat belt, sir. That's an automatic 75 pound fine.'

The driver says, 'Yeah, well, you see officer, I had it on, but took it off when you pulled me over so that I could get my license out of my back pocket..'

The wife says, 'Now, dear, you know very well that you didn't have your seat belt on. You never wear your seat belt when you're driving.'

And as the police officer is writing out the third ticket the driver turns to his wife and barks, 'WHY DON'T You shut the f..k up??'

The officer looks over at the woman and asks, 'Does your husband always talk to you this way, Ma'am?'

Here it comes......

'Only when he's p***ed.'

As winter finally arrives....

2009-11-01T08:08:00.000-08:00

I sit here in the east tower, wrapped in furs to stave off the icey blasts against one of the two remaining windows to be replaced and muse on the week just gone. Changing the clocks is just rubbish. Still I got used to it being dark at totally the wrong times and have been trying to finish off Ed's next biatch of SYW.

Thursday, went shoe shopping for J in the big, scarey place they call "town". Not been in shopping for years and it's been moved about a bit. Quite fun will have to do it again. Maybe do lunch. popped into see Mrs Perry Miniatures in her new gallery. Nice. Oh and you can buy Perry plastics in there too. Have to treat me sen to a nice Perry original for the hall or summat.

Friday chum Moz visited here at EVM Towers to deliver 2 more 95th plaggy rifles to add to the "collection". When all done I shall have about 10. I showed him a couple of British I had done "the young Imrie Way". Then one I had done the more usual way....black undercoat....oh dear.....black, black everything is black. You keep me in the cellar and feed me pins......what's on the menu mother....?

Pins?

Oh where was I ....yes the er dark undecoat then layer up. I just prefer it and reckon each one with no highlighting to the black....only two shades on trousers and jacket but the flesh done with my more normal three....only took 10 minutes longer. Yes ok times 40 for the whole box is a lot more time but I look at the dipping doughnut ones and....I just don't like em.

There.

I am a painted figure snob.

That said YoungImries Frenchies look blooming marvellous so may be it's just me.

Made a nice tea that nice. Aberdeen Angus and ale pie from t'co -op with the normal vegetation. Sat down to watch the local news and then after the weather went to get a yoghurt. Had a friendly arranged for Sunday and the forecast did not look good.....in fact arranging the game made me as popular as a Somalian Pirate at a regatta.......so imagine my surprise when it went to the news and up popped authority on all things piratical Mr Angus Konstam. Well pretty sure it was him. Must have been. Anyway I then switched to the other local news so sorry Angus.......

Cleaned up a few figs after then settled down with a couple beers. Beck's Vier. Not much on was there?
Armstrong and Miller and....yup that was about it. Where did Peep Show go? Forced to watch end of Shaun of the Dead yet again. Which was fine. Almost tempted me to watch "Run Fat Boy Run"....but it meant I'd not get up at 6 and get a couple of hours in for ED Mc SYW.

Time and a half for unsocial hours mate.......no? Ok maybe not.

Saturday's training went well, got 2 free coffees and a free sausage cob. Result! Took some milk around for H so she could have a cuppa when she got home. Then I watched Tom's old team play. Lost 6 :4 deserved a draw at least. At 4 all they should have had a penalty but it was THAT ref. Came home to listen to the football. Nice results......8-)

H called she was in Wetherby avoiding the chaos on the M6 or something. Needed to call round and get Tom's boots for the moro.

Only two trick or treaters...gutted.... Harribo anyone? Ate a couple of packs. Yes ok 5.

They are only small packs.

I was invited next door for a very nice chinese take away. Few beers and a flat refusal to go on "Geetar hero" on the Wii. Does she confuse me with Andy or summat? Rock star I am not. Do like the advert with Alan on tho.......

H arrived and so did some very large children trick or treating.....I think they may even have been.....adults....

They looked nothing like these two.

Sunday I was up at 6 to paint. By 9 it was lashing down and the phone was going with parents asking if t'game was off. Sadly it had to be. So after a cooked brekkie of bacon eggs and toast I did some ironing. (Yeah I know, multi talented me.) I then cleaned the kitchen down and Dysoned throughout. Not easy with three huge boxes of two beds lying about. New one should arrive Monday.....

Huzzah I hear you cry!

Bit more painting after a hearty bowl of Scotch broth. then decided to che3ck the goings on in Blogland sur le mere.

Right need to get ready. Going out fer tea t'pub.

Roast dinner....bring it on.

Be glad to get the boys home later. Back to school and some sort of normality and routine. Hurrah!

Pips and....remain indoors.

Dave

Hot SYW action

2009-10-29T04:48:00.000-07:00

From the table of Ed Mc. Financier, linguist, ravisher of women etc etc.

Yesterdays fun....

Cleaned up t'house a bit, settled down to work and...wet feet?....wtf? Radiator had

leaked and has marked my nice new hall ceiling. The courier then delivered

two halves of two different beds.....Another bed arrived Monday...."was that ok?" Did I have any choice? Er no...

By now I was a little unhappy and

decided to try and fix the flush on the toilet....rationale being if I

couldn't, the plumber was coming out anyway. Having found the part that was

at fault, fixed it for all of 10 minutes....it went again... I was directed

to a suitable plumbo merchant a mere 30 mins walk away for a small rubber

bit.....when I got there I was seeming having a larf and need to buy a

complete new unit thing.....didn't know the exact size I needed and left to

mocking looks........so went home I made myself a nice tea, cleaned up some

figures and wrote the day off.......

Tea was pan fried chicken in a home made mushroom and peppercorn sauce mit der spinich ad ricotta tortelloni und der trimmed green beans.

Which was nice.

Very nice.

I blame Lucia for the urge for all things Italian. Sadly my Italian experience didn't stretch to the wine wot was from Oz.

Tv was not great so at7 I ended up cleaning up a batch of plastic Brit. Nap. figures till about 9. I then watched the Heston Bloominmental follow up where he saves Little Chef. He did. Hurrah! The grand head of ickle chef still didn't come out of it well........almost started a new Viking book but decided to watch Doc Martin, the roadkill one on "what you missed it?" TV. Also had a bag of Hula Hoops and resisted putting one on each finger first.

Growing up at last...... 8-)

Salt and vinegar. Yum.

Pips
Dave the bedless.

Nelly

2009-10-29T04:18:00.000-07:00

No, not Furtado...oh we did all that...

Piccie courtest of Danny F. of WI Saab driving fame. Ravisher of women etc etc.

Silly me

2009-10-25T01:44:00.000-07:00

Set all the clocks back an hour before bed but neglected to explain to the dog we were to have an extra hour in bed. So he was up at 5 and I was up not long after. Still, made a good start on today's painting so will be able to finish that a bit earlier. Then it's ironing...........

Still weather looks nice.

Sadly severe weather warnings for where the boys are.

Right, shower, bacon buttie & footbo.

Pips
Dave

Rug munching

2009-10-23T03:31:00.000-07:00

Well at Darrell's request we move on from back door fun.

Thing is, at the top o' the stairs I bought a rug a runner to protect the carpet from small boy's feet. The purchase was totally alone and unsupervised. What a mistaker to maker. Thing is the edges curl and it's quite light. So it moves under child and/or dog. I am forever straightening it and putting it back in place. Annoying or what? Use staples I hear you cry. Well not really a good idea people. Remember the hamster/antler fiasco? Well the R.S.P.C.A. do and it's still on record. So....the solution is a new rug. For that we need new funds. So there will be a couple o minis popping up on E-bay over the weekend. All bids welcome and that, as I hear the meerkat is a bit flat. I'll not put them up on E-bay till Sunday so if anyone wants to buy them for £10 each plus postage, please shout up.

Have blown the utility room revamp budget on a bed. Yes friends since July I have been using a mattress as a futon. Not good with the weather getting colder. So bit the bullet and as of Weds night I will be bedded again.

Priorities innit?

That means additional funds are now required to do the utility room. Re plaster, new tiles, new worktop, new skirting and new floor. So realistically...next weeks own Nap painting will have to go on hold. Will have to pop snout to grindstone all week to make up the readies. Really want it done by December. Tis hard being a single mum.

Don't forget Armstrong et Miller, tonight BBC1 at 'arf nine.

Pips
Dave

Hot back door action

2009-10-21T04:34:00.000-07:00

Might not look much but it's a major step forward in that the Utility room is not ice station zebra anymore. Oh and I paid for it. Might not mean much but I am quite proud.

A couple more pics of EVM Towers.

The landing.....Still not happy with the picture. It's a bit smalll for the wall. Hardly a priority right now and the art shop in Mapperley village has shut. A first casualty of the parking charges? Mapperley Villiage is being hit hard by something. Only the coffee shops, hairdressers and estate agents survive although we have gone from one pub to three....all in a line...Nice.

The grand staircase. Re plastered, all new spindles, proper job and then waxed by moi. The white walls do brighten it up. they also show up the dog hairs and Jabba sized hand prints. Re paint in parts needed next week I think. The carpet looks great but it has a knack of fiercely holding onto every single dog hair. Usually use the Dyson and 30 minutes of my life every week on it. Today I tried a vacuum I picked up from the great retail Satan. it's the Vietnamese hooker of cleaners. Plenty sucky,sucky and only £20. Still left some hairs....bum...oh plus he likes to follow me round and put more down so an hour later you would never have known I had done it.

This morning EVM Towers has had a good clean. Not all the way through. I try and do one room at a time then have a major clean once a week. Today was the bathroom plus carpets throughout. Todays recommended product is Flash clean and care. Pretty good on most surfaces except glass....bum will have to do the shower and mirrors again later.

I have absolutely no idea how H could work all week and then clean the house top to botty in just 3 hours on a Saturday morning. Amazing woman. I just about manage to keep on top of things but it's very hard. Today I also sorted out the boys wardrobes. Correct use of a coat hanger seems beyond the average intelligent 13 year old. Oh and have washed my bedding too. Clean duvet cover....yumm, nothing nicer.

Did think about getting a cleaner but....I still have nightmares about the last one and I could better use the money elsewhere.

Now I thought about putting a picture of a sexy French maid on here at this point.....but you can Google that if you must.

Oh & no painting at 6am for me today the boys demanded sausage butties for brekkie. Last night was a wash out too as after the sausage cassarole I popped into the great retail satan for two weeks fodder. No great surprises this week, just bought the basics. sat down and watched "The Hairy Bikes" in Aberdeencestershire. That made me very,very hungry.....Then twas a bit of Masterchef followed by Keith Allen and chums living in t'ghettos of Leeds. Fair play to him him sorted t'rat problem without recourse to buying a whippet, 'appen.

Todays important issue struck me as I sat down to lunch with Natalie Sawyer....weren't Wotsits once by KP? Well now they seem to be of the Walkers stable and also they are now "baked" as it proudly states on t'packet. Now one presumes that is in some way supposed to suggest they are healthier......healthier? You are kidding right? Just look at the colour. How is owt that bright an orange not very bad for me? Pleased to report they still still to the insides of your mouth and give you bright orange fingers. Marvellous. On the heathier side one had a Philly cheese cob/boll/bap with der tomato. Oh and an apple plus some grapes. 3 of my five a day. Might have to have a glass of liquid grape later for the fourth as the boys are having a TFC* bargain bucket later in dad's diner. Wll it's training for T so we won't eat till half seven so I don't want to make too much washing up innit?

* Great retail satan fried chicken mit der fries

Pips

Dave

an evening orf

2009-10-19T14:37:00.000-07:00

H picked me up about half 5 for Jabba's parent evening. She looked mighty fine, absolutely stunning in fact. She was busy telling me about her mate who over in Spain for a bit and the river cobbler she was having for tea. Which was nice. Used that in a fish pie I made yonks ago for our then Weds night family meal together. Seems it's on offer. I might bag me some tomorrow. No particular taste to it from what I recall but ok as filling. Jack is doing fine as expected.

Following that I took the boyz to the pub for a long promised treat. Had tried to include H, asked numerous times but still the kids ask why she isn't coming. Sigh. Anyway, Tom had the lasagne with a side order of twisty fries. Jabs the cheeseburger, twisty fries and peas kiddy meal deal and I had penne pasta with chorizo. Tom and Jabs scoffed theirs and mine was quite passable too. Tom and I had the banofi tarte to follow and Jabs had chocolate brownies....well he did when I chased them up. In fact Jabs had no luck all night, I had to chase up his milk shake too. Each time they had no idea how it happened. Still it's only yer average Hardly Handsome Brewery job so I don't tend to expect miracles. Lass was pleasant enough in apologising. Tom was horrified to see I had a beer and was only reassured when I showed him it was Becks Blue, the non fun stuff. He liked it and wants me to get some in for Xmas. That'll be no fun.....oh I think he wants them for himself. Sigh they grow up so fast.

During the meal I got a text from Channel Five with that evening's Gadget Show question. I tried to reply to that number but it bounced. Tom and I were sure we could remember the number from previous weeks and duly sent in our answer. Only to get a reply from Katrina, a 24 year old blonde, former glamour model, who was now a florist and keen to know more about us. It cost me £3 before I could send STOP to the relevant number.

Jack did laugh.....

Went to pay for said meal, picked up an Xmas meal leaflet and then got into a heated debate with each other about how many weeks till Xmas it was. 10 said I....no 16 said Jabba....12 said Tom...so that will help. Tom will want his stuff mid Jan and Jabs at the end of Feb. Brilliant that will spread the cost nicely. When should we have turkey though? A lady much amused by our chat said....it's 9 weeks on Friday...They still would not accept I was right.

10 weeks?

I haven't even heard Wham played yet.....Where is that Slade CD? No list of demands from the boys yet either....oh dear....I need to get shopping.....right booze.....pringles.....nuts.....chocs....need enough for 3 months gorging...oh and 120 mince pies.....

After that we dashed home to get the correct number and marvel at the Gadgets being demonstrated. Then it was time for bed for one small chap and "Lunch Monkeys" on demand for the two older boys.

Worth catching.

Good fun tonight, kids want to do it again soon. They are off to Scotland next week & I reckon will be going out a plenty. I really want to go back and visit the Taynauilt Hotel and also the fantastic eaterie at the smokery. Top, top nosh at both. Going to have to book the cottage...http://www.bonawehouse.co.uk/ http://holidaycottagesscotland.blogspot.com/ Thoroughly loved it up there. The open spaces reminded me of what I loved doing as a kid. Somehow I have forgotten those joys and not found the time to give that to my kids. They loved it up there and so did I. H said at one point she would move there but I wouldn't. It was a shock at the time, out of no where. I really miss the place. She was wrong I would have moved there for her.
I am going to miss the boys next week. Like I miss them every weekend. I miss family time together and the boys don't get why we can't still do that. Tom mentioned the meal in York and that was a good night. H even laughed at my attempts at humour. Felt good. If only. Ack, guess I had my turn and blew it.

Anyway onwards, sideways a bit and upwards. Next week, apart from gutting the boys room whilst they are not looking I am going to dig out my copy of Donald Featherstones book on the Peninsular and crack through the 2nd Nottinghamshire. Hurrah! Wonder if GMB do the flags....oops...ok they might be Cornish.. Only the command and the sergeant done so far....so 35 minis left to do. With no kids, no school run and an alarm set for 6am I need a reason to get out of my pit next week.....A fire? No, too drastic.. I reckon paint till 8 then brekkie, shower n chit then walk the dog will take me towards 9am and a normal working day. Evenings will be spent cleaning and decorating and that. Kitchen needs a major clean down, cupboards emptied the lot. I did do the oven....gosh that's fun....will happy pay for the pros next time. £50? bargain mate.

Unless Katrina calls back.....

Reality check

2009-10-19T06:15:00.000-07:00

Just heard on the secret radio a prog. celebrating the decade that was the "noughties". OMG is it over soon? So it is....bugger. Still remember clearly starting the decade so full of hope. EVM was ticking over nicely, I had a gorgeous wife, who was my bestest ever friend and one son, Tom. A future England player. Well judging by his goal on Sunday that's still possible. Driven out to the right of the area he cut back inside playing the ball through the defenders legs before curling the ball with his left foot into the top corner. It was pretty special. If he was Brazilian we would be raving about it. He set up quite a few other goals with his clever passing. Played really well and has really started playing with a smile and a lot of confidence again. This despite playing an age group up. Good stuff, he's back.

Rest of the weekend was pretty good. Tom's new team had a BBQ saturday night and we all went along, including H who was suffering with a really bad cold. Pretty good of her, because I would imagine the last thing she would want to do is sit on a sofa watching football with me. Cold or no cold lol. Grub was good, had a few beers, kids had a good time. H still managed to look stunning.

Sunday Jack was playing at home and the boys ground out a much needed 3:1 win. Played some good stuff but the finishing still needs work. The afternoon after Tom's game was spent doing a bit of cleaning, changing the boys bed. Then it was salmon and pasta for tea. Very nice, just popped in the oven in foil with a spash of olive oil, some Philly cheese and chives. Boy's had a roast beef dinner at H's before coming home to watch unsuitable comedy with me. "How not to live your life". Marvellous...oh and Armstrong & Miller too blood.

Oh yeah. the decade, blimey what changes. Obviously Jack was added to the mix in 2001 but I remember thinking how good life was in 2000 watching the fireworks over the grounds here at EVM Towers.
So what am I blithering on about?
There's a bit of a plan. Obviously finish the revamp of EVM Towers now started. As we stand, the utility room is next up, want it done by Xmas. Then mid next year the lounge. That'll be a big rip out job. Will try and coincide that with the boys being at H's or on hols. Still it will be worth it and will look fab when done. After that it's a case of saving the pennies. In two minds. Could revamp the kitchen as it stand but the most sensible idea will be to save and put an extension on the back. It's possible but will take 2/3 years to save. Torn between that or investing the saved money for the boys. Long term I might be better doing the extension then when I sell up give the boys a lump sum out of that. Not planning on doing that for 4/5 years so it makes sense to do that. By then Tom will be 18 and Jack 13 so I would imagine H will have sorted something a little more permanent and be able to take the boys on full time.

Me? Off to start a new life at the seaside and ease into senility very slowly. Probably start a business out there as I doubt I would want to work for someone by then. I did think of going now, but I really want to get the house done first and see the boys grow up a bit.

Lunch today was wholemeal pitta with Philly cheese and smoked bacon. Nice! Bacon, 2 mins in the microwave. Brilliant thanks Marco!

Finished Nelly pics coming soon....

Batteries fully charged....

2009-10-17T05:33:00.000-07:00

Heeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrreeeessss Nelly before the final paint up session

Oh yeah I need to do the tusks still.

Pips

Diasaster strikes!

2009-10-16T23:52:00.000-07:00

Well ok not disasters........I just don't do 'em.

Last night I finished up a tad early. H came to get t'boys and stayed for a cuppa. So going back to work was a tad tricky. Friday night, the weekend starts here etc etc. I managed another hour at the coal face before the whining of the dog got too much. He has an inbuilt clock that goes off at 6.30pm if he has not been fed. So I popped the oven on for my pizza and made him wait another 30 mins......I am in charge biatch.....Very nice thin crust meaty job from Tes & co.

Put the TV on and got a text from Mo in law....Armstrong and Miller on at 9.30!!!! Big Huzzahs all round.
Settled down to vet "How not to live your life" and decide if the boys can watch it on Sunday. They can.....Colonic irrigation is fine..... Opened a very nice red from Chile......fruity.....and cheap.... Now totally distracted from painting I settled down to watch "Farmer wants a wife" to fill in time before Armstrong & Miller. Turned out he actually needed a cook, a cleaner a book keeper too and a dance partner too.. What? Oh yeah, guilty as charged but I have learnt my lesson now. Best bit was when he said "anywho". Is that now an official word or does he just read Blogs?

Then disaster struck!

See said there was some.
On carrying a tray of varnished figures to the drying shelf ( yeah, get me a whole shelf) in the airing cupboard.......a plastic Nappy fell off the tray. Rubbish. Usually results in a chipping of paint off metal but this time, he lost his head. A brief search resulted in me finding the head but the plume had gone. Bum. Put him back on the work bench for the morning. Gutted.

After that I found Starship Troopers 3 on TV. They made a 3? Marvellous. Will have to watch A & M later. Love those films.

Want to know more?

The Federation is clearly a ickle bit Nazi, ickle bit GW Imperium. Or is it just me?

During the course of the film I got a series of texts from a lady. Started off ok then I got a double entendre opportunity that was too good to pass up. Oddly, after a while it became likely that it wasn't actually a double entendre. Oooops time to tred very carefully. Still least there is life in the old dog.

Woof.

Woke up ( alone before you ask) at 6am to get on with Nelly.......picked up the box brownie to update you all and.......batteries are dead....so you will have to wait. That's disaster 2.

In brief. The mahout is done. The 'phant is done. Still to do. The tower jobbie, only the base coats are done. The leather straps and the cloth. Have painted the base coat on the cloth. Decided on yellow with a nice red pattern on. Dogs teeth design is likely. I'll probably base t'crew on plasticard. Nick can then stick them down or put other crews in if he fancies a change. Numidians maybe or 2 javs. Aw whatever.

Probably need another hour on it max. So should have time to the Nappy repaint.

Right need to sort out a letter for footbo and a new subs sheet.

It's all go innit?

Pips
Dave

More nelly action

2009-10-16T08:16:00.000-07:00

Managed to get the washing in before it rained......well actually it clouded over then went sunny again....grrrrr

Crewmen are done, base coat colour is on Nelly's skin. Used a green brown tone rather than the usual grey. This is why.....

Sorry about the quality of da pics. They are straight off the workbench and the lighting never seems to work quite right on my Box Brownie.

Once that green brown dries I'll be on to the greys. Note to self, stop handling the model you are rubbing the undercoat off.

Laters potatoes.

Nelly the story continues

2009-10-16T05:35:00.000-07:00

What ho!

Whilst the undercoat dried I stripped the boys bedding washed it and hung it out to dry.Then it was time for lunch with Charlotte Jackson. Which was nice. I had wholemeal pitta stuffed with Philladelphia, cucumber and tomato. Which reminds me is anyone from the Tescapo is reading, they seem to be going orf pretty quickly this week. I am not happy, can you send me some for free please? That was followed by a lovely juicy pear.

Right onto the crew......

Whoa nelly!

2009-10-16T03:00:00.000-07:00

No, no not Nelly Furtado the Portugese/Cannuk songstress and er alleged hottie. The hephalump one.

This weekend's pet project is a Crusader Carthaginian for the Norf Star collection. Cleaned it up this very morrow and added a bit of stuff of green. Not much green, just enough. Does make me smile how the gamers of today expect perfection straight from the blister. No mould lines, no flash & no bent bits. Back in the day that was all part of the fun. Kids of today sigh.

Anyway here it is s'far.

Oh wait no hang on that's t'other Nelly. Now she always reminds me of Jabba or Fernando as we now sometimes call him after his two goal exploits of last weeknd. The boy is coming on. Basically he tried to be born and the scarey midwife made him dive back to the womb. Ms Furtado was playing on t'tv whilst we were waiting for the right number of contractions n chit.

Ah, you want to see the Crusader Nelly? Ok, hang on.

There you go....more pics as we go along.

Remain indoors

Dave

Over the Hills and far away

2009-10-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

Managed another British Nappy chappy this very morow. Really must get back into the speed painting lark otherwise......Had hoped to do a couple more tonight but was sadly distracted by the sheer brillance Thurs night TV. First up was "Off the Hook" on BBCobscurebutifpeoplewatchwewilltryitonBBC2.   Then caught a few mins of Masterchef.-the professionals. Still waiting for the BBC to reply to my show idea "Masterchef - the serial killers". Should wipe the smugness off the face of the Roux fella. Actually the TV peeps have not replied to my other letter about "wargamer wants a wife" where a figure painter spends the weekend with Louise Rednapp and and a couple of game lasses. I might have to become a famer. Insert own jokes about small holdings.

Then it was over to "Restaurant in my house". Brilliant, yet not up to the standards of last weeks totally unreal drive thru hog roast.

Still, the best team won and honour was served n chit.

Remember kids, drugs are bad. This is why - http://www.miniwargaming.com/howto/ebook.php?utm_source=simmons Stole that off Steve Dean... thought it best to share. Best solution  to painting better miniatures I ever heard was by (I think) John Blanche.

"To paint a decent miniature you must paint 10,000 others"

Ok that might not be a literal quote but you get the idea. Or was it Yoda? "Paint 10,000 miniatures you must"

Ack it was one of them.

Remember they could easily charge $50 dollars for that E-book. In fact they could easily charge $500 for it. They can charge what they like. The  important thing is what people will pay not what they charge.
Right must get some sleep, got a drummer boy primed for the morning.

Pips
Dave

Rejoice!

2009-10-14T15:09:00.000-07:00

My Nap, Peninsular British force doubled in number tonight, yes they are now two figs strong. That's despite the huuuuugggeee ECW distraction on young Imrie's blog. All that and tuna and pasta bake with Tesco's garlic ciababababababatta. Quite a fun packed evening although I did sit down with a nice South African red to watch Eng ger land play at the footbo.

Ah ECW...one day...one day I will settle on a ruleset and basing and do something with all thse Foundry and Perry Mins. Latest thoughts were single bases ( for WUATITWC) and then have trays for "File Leader". Or maybe write my own. ( Yeah right!) Seems to be a lot of support for "Very Civile Actions" especially amongst the Edinburgh lot. One of my fave sites to view all things ECW gamey is here -
http://www.edinburghwargames.com/ECW.htm

See? Good innit?

Or should I try these?

http://www.quindia.com/studioart12.htm

Sigh

Pips
Dave

Worrying times

2009-09-29T15:23:00.000-07:00

Watched "Waking the Dead" on Sunday and Monday night. Had a brief chat over at North Star HQ whilst checking over the new supplement for the Crusader Rools. "Imperium" or summat. Very nice it look, expect more drooling when I buy a copy. The Crusader rools seem to be filling a hole starting to be left by WAB. As the powers at be at GW seem to.....well GW, I have no problem with them but......Space Hulk, surely they could sell a lot, lot more copies if they had known their market....Most loved "specialist" game they ever made yet rarely available....and are they actually trying to kill off WAB or not? Who knows. So Imperium.... Nice pics supplied by Da Beast and Da League of Augsberg amongst others. Only a brief look at the pretty pics as I wasn't actually buying. Well not that day. Anywho....seems to nicely cover my Ambrosians list wise amongst other Roman type gubbins. Recommended from what I have seen s'far.

Worrying times?

Well yes, back to "Waking the dead". I am only just over the death of the Frenchie in it. Forget her name but she was tres cute and that. They replaced her with a ginge. Yes, yes I know. Anywho worringly last night I started to thinks ginge was...well...er quite pretty....THE really worrying thing was that I was taking a bit of a shine to the psycho nutter chess playing serial killer.... Linda....Now I maintain that she has a certain charm but I was informed by Mr North Star that she was " not attractive on any single level". HARSH!

The case for the defence presets this photographic evidence m'lud.

Ok, so she killed a few people....doesn't make her a bad person.... do it?

Oh right yes, guess it does...still say a couple of pints and she don't look too shabby.

Picked up the latest WI. The eagle eyed amongst you will notice that some Vendel Oirish wot I once painted for the prev,. Ed of WI are now in the collection of Warlord Games el Presidente John S. I never knew. See if you can spot which they are.....Whilst perusing Imperium I impressed Karlos the Tiffin with my ability to spot the figure painter amongst the eye candy. Tis a gift.

I really, really ought to get a life.

Oh the greys? two nil up at half time, should have been 4 or 5. Second half two poor goals conceded from corners and we failed to take our chances to win it and could possibly have lost it. Ended 2 all, fair result in the end. Still rebuilding, still on a massive learning curve. Signed a new chap this week, hopefully to give us a bit more bite. As per usual we have a lovely passing style when we choose to use it. Just need a bit more steel in there. Give them another year and I reckon this will be a very tasty side.

Had a bit of a health scare afterwards tho. Walked into the bar holding a pasty, exclaiming "alright you jammers?" & shouting "green army" whilst the Plymouth Argyle vs Tricky Trees game was on. Whoops

Pips

Dave

Patagonian Pan Pipers

2009-09-24T10:07:00.000-07:00

"So yeah, these Saxons yeah, they are like totally disrespecting us yeah?." Brave defenders of Ambrosia discuss the hordes of peace loving Saxons descending on Ambrosia for a weekend knees up during the Pagan festival of "The Stag" Note the flock juggling standard bearer and shiney by LBM. Minis from Da Beast, purveyor of fine toys.

Meanwhile singing for his supper, a bard notices some idiot left a splodge of earth shade on his sparking white tunic. Bugger.

The Christian priests are not amused and take up pointy swords to deal with the Saxon menace. Love this mini from The Beast range of Arfurian & Dark Age goodness.

Took these pics largely to cheer myself up. Kids didn't enjoy tea tonight. Well not the main course, they did manage two puds! A jelly and then home made apple crumble with apples from the EVM estate. Marvellous.

What was tea? Oh twas a Moroccan reciepe kindly supplied to me by Lord S. Corned beef hashish. I found it rather tasty myself.

So what else has been a happening? Kids went back after the hols and as is the way.....germs breed. Had the last two weeks with one or t'other ill. Mostly Tom. Boys buffdays came and went. Tom's Gobbo for Warhamster fancy battle got some orc reinforcements. Of course by then he was a few beatings down and has now come home with Aztecs....oops sorry Geckomen or something.0K seems to have taken a back seat now those nice chaps, the GW staffers, have got him playing WFB. Last week he played LoTR and trust me it is not happening......well it is on the X Box. Jabba got some E-bay bargain 40K Orks to swell his horde and with the emergency purchase of a second hand PS2 there were no pennies left for "Space Hulk". I was kind of put out by the limited availability and didn't spot the opportunity to shaft...sorry capitalise on those unable to get one by buying two copies and sticking it on E-bay with a huge mark up a day later. That's probably why I am not "Sir Dave" yet. I'll go down the services to football route for that. The tournament? Oh yeah we did well. Didn't concede a goal all day till extra time of the final. never a good time to concede. Just ran out of steam. They deserved it but we had looked the best side up to the semi final when we began to tire. Yes, I sent Jabba up for the runners up trophy. Birthday and all that.

First league game up and 2 nil down early on I sent for Fernando Jabba off the bench. Scored with pretty much his first touch. A fine mid air volley....no idea where that came from....don't think he has. Crowd went wild etc. It got us going and we ran out 6:3 winners. 2nd game game saw us 0:0 at half time but go on to lose 4:0. We were a couple down and most of the rest had been ill or were ill, but the other side deserved to win. Just stronger. Big lad they had at the back with his extend arm didn't help. I tried to make that point to the ref but he claimed "they were both at it". he didn't reply to my query "how come only our lad was penalised then?" Whilst we persist in letting parents ref and the bigger lads of their team shove people about for the sake of three points and a piece of resin worth £5, we won't produce better technical players. The side is largely last years side... bar the entire first choice midfield......ouch... ok that's a big loss. One is two young to play by two weeks ( don't get me started, he ripped the league apart last year,what will he do this? Both Forest and County want him.) Another, best player in the league imho, went to County and the remaining lad was wanted by Forest but lives outside the UK now. So this season will be tougher but we should do ok. Win more than we lose and have fun doing it.

I'll try and do more hints and tips here as people have found them useful in the past. Mr Muscle....isn't it ace?

Todays tip is Tesco do a tin of curry sauce for 4p....yes 4p....makes a great base to add stuff too. Soa far been a triumph with chicken and last weekend king prawns. Nice.

Tv.....just found "The Inbetweeners" a shockingly accurate portrayal of 6th form life. Love it. Also watch out for "How not to live your life". Worth tracking down from the start. There was another about a chap going off to uni and the lad from the Inbetweeners is in it playing a depressive called Fred. Can't recall what it's called but.........if you find it.....nice.

Patagonian Pan Pipers? Oh right, well on the boyz trip to York there were some in the main square. Cue two boys and father tapping their feet out of time behind them. Much to our own amusement.

Go to 4:46 in et voila!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66MarlzxfW8&feature=related

Unos, dos, tres, Ola!

Remain indoors

Happy William Wallace execution day!

2009-08-23T13:21:00.000-07:00

Well the anniversary of the above.

Also the day the colonials led by Ricky Pontoonbridge got a spanking........although I did think he'd hit 200+ at one point........ok several points......

Still, a good day to be an Englishman what?

Eye candy today brought by http://www.guitarheroandy.blogspot.com/ I've nowt to post. Did manage a couple of pieces over the kid free weekend although I'd admit to slacking Saturday night and spending an evening on the sofa with the lovely Stella. So in the pipeline, pics of a GB bard and a priest type chap. Oh and another GB hero type chap plus a Foundry standard bearer.

Wow that's reet productive really. Well done me.

Not quite up to the mark of this chap though - http://gilesallison.blogspot.com/

Nice!

Oh and reply to the learned gentlemen's query as to the purple flowers popping up on my bases here's a confession........... I should spend more time on the basing. As tis....I do the sand/pva ting. I mix in cat litter with the sand. Then I paint the sand according to where it's supposed to represent. Dry brush when dry. Some times I remember to pick out the rocks. Then it's on wi the flock. This stuff is a couple of shades purchased from PMC in Wisbech back in the day. It's the stuff they put on the terrain tiles when they did them. In with that is chucked other flocks n stuff including the flowers. This was a pack of "heather" probably purchased from Squires or from Hobbycraft. It'd probably by Jarvis. I also have clump foliage but often forget to use it. Likewise the dark bushy grass stuff that appears on the Merciless Mercian's bases. Like I said I should spend more time on basing. I should get some of that nifty siliwhatever grass that is so "now". Looks the business.

And flowers of another colour too......

I am taking the boys to York for a couple of days for their birthday tomorrow. Regular readers will know we all did this about 3 years ago which was nice. Doing the whole touristy thing. It's Jabba's big day next Saturday. Not a day he is with me outside of footbo training so we will have our own ickle party in Yorkcestershire. Maybe a beer or three too, well he is going to be 8.

We play a footbo tournament the day after. Any other kid would probably be made captain for the day but.....although I don't think we will win it there is always that risk. Probably share it out as usual. Don't like that neopolitanism stuff.

Then of course we all need to save our pennies for the re re release of "Space Hulk"

Remain indoors

Pips
Dave

Wips

2009-08-20T08:32:00.000-07:00

Shortly be losing t'interweb access for the weekend so here's a couple of pics to keep my loyal flock going. Managed to get a decent deal out of Branson's lot on upping my broadband access. Wanted an especially good deal as I can't use what I have right now. Tom and Jack have requested WWW access for X-Box Live so I clearly needed to sort that. One day.... Need a bigger pipe to the God's of t'interweb or something. Mr Branson agreed to let me have a free router, which was nice. His company & EVM are currently locked in talks over a notebook (whatever that is) which I am trying to get gratis as well. Geordies said yes, but Mumbai said call back in a few days as the computer said "no". Didn't know why.....they knew who theye were dealing with & agreed Dickie would want me to have one. You have to love 'puters...the humies agree but can't do owt as the 'puter won't let them. We are one small step from Terminator and the rise of the machines. Going to take the microwave out and give it a good kicking. It stops now people....

Will let you know how the top level negociations go n chit.

The Vike was dug out of Tom's lead pile. In the absence of a great deal of ready cash for him becoming a terrible teen I thought I'd do a few painted figs from his stash. Painted this one before he got out of his pit. Took less time to do than Ian Bell spends at the crease. Have started using the Vallehellehfellehhellaho washes. Black over the mail and brown over the wood, leather, trousers ( pants to the colonials) and shoes. Got the GW washes but mine seem poo. Bad batch? Prefer W & N inks to them, but the VJ washes have done good.

Not sure if this fella is supposed to be a standard bearer but I thought he looked suitably 'ard, waving his chopper at the enemy.

The Arfurian command base is an owd skool GB leader and a newb GB standard bearer. Thought he looked suitable, just about to plant his pole. None shall pass n that.

Flag and shield tranny from our chums at LBM. Standard!
Remain indoors.

Pips
Dave

Hells teeth and poo

2009-08-18T12:23:00.000-07:00

Well clearly not going to be my night.

After a trip to the Great retail Satan I settled down to spicy Tzeentch chicken with stir fried veg stuff. Marvellous. Sachets of sauces are 50p each and are said to feed 2. Or just me. Veg stuff was a packet ready mixed mit der red peppers und bamboo shoots. Took about 10 mins to do in total. Can't be bad. Quick, tasty and cheap just how I like my er....food.

Went up to da studio do some basing and convert a Crusader Varangarian chap back to being a norty Norse by removing his shield. Got my chapter approved modelling saw out that I bought 2/3 years ago and last used er....ok 2 years ago......guess what the blade broke half way through. No spares....ggrrrrr....

In a huff I came on here. Currently the boys are away and occupied by some new X Box game they bought at the coast. Laptop has been left behind! Making the most of interweb access to the great 3ws whilst watching the Beeney babe on "Property Snakes & Ladders". For once she isn't preggers. Or is she?

No hesitation in adding this Blog to my list of essential viewing http://harness-and-array.blogspot.com/ Top painty action and a follower of the one true faith to boot! Thanks to youngImrie for bringing this fine fellow to my attention. M.O.T!

In tribute to that spiffing insurance addy with the Argyle fans -

http://www.paulbaker.org.uk/albumfoundryorcs.htm

Green army!

Right orf to pay some bills.

Pips
Dave

The cream of Ambrosia

2009-08-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

Fast & durdy painting to get them on t'table asap. Mostly two layers apart from faces & cloaks.

Foundry minis Arfur sculpted by one of the Perry Twinz back in the day. VVVVVV transfer of a bulls head device over painted with Foundry Scarlet.

He is backed up by a GB Patten era chappie. Hand painted shield n chit. Draco is possibly from Renegade. I fahned it officer, honest.

Note to self......point Draco same way as the cloak otherwise you have to say the wind is always swirling in Ambrosia......( cut to YoungImrie muttering "schoolboy error")

Command base for the heavily armoured unit of Millipedes...or summat. One lovely LBM transfer, one hand painted chap.

Again Gripping Beast 'ard character types backed up this time by Foundry Late Roman types.

No where near the output of YoungImrie. In fact these were done in 2008.....just not based or owt.

Based as previously mentioned for Crusader or WAB.

Idea as prev mused is to have some chaps clingling on to the owd Roman ways in a Warlord's army stylee. Chaps for the peace loving sea raiding Saxons to go toe to toe with.

Basis of the army will be Foundry ( well I do have the models) with GB adding where I can. Just love the GB stuff and could not leave them out. The odd Mooseketeer Mini will probably pop in as well.

Which is nice.

Pips

Dave

Back from sur la mere

2009-08-17T05:11:00.000-07:00

or is it le?

dunno.....male or female?

Who cares not trying to f..... ok moving on.

Anyway took advantage of the mo in law's generosity of a week's stay in her van at the coast with the boys. Managed to get the best weather of the summer thus far too!

Back of course to piles of washing, grass two feet high and an overgrown hedge, so this will be
brief.....Got most of the lawn cut before the rain started 8-(

Travelled out Saturday a.m. Weather was lovely so we had a lovely cooked brekkie at Chapel Point Du Hoc. Even the surly lass omitting Jabba's bacon bap from our order, and the squadrons of wasps dive bombing us did not detract from the fineness of all things porkesque. As you can see, slavery is alive & well in Chapel.

Then was to the van. I wrestled with the duvets a while and then joined the sprogs on the beach for cricket and footy. Luckily for the Aussies no ECB selectors were in sight.

We then headed for Tesco early evening to deposit more cash with the great retail Satan before heading off to the chippy and the pub. Ferris Bueller on DVD after, marvellous.

Sunday was pretty much taken up with the beach and despite my pleas to go out to eat at night, as it twas hot, the boys insisted I did a roasty chicky dinner.

Monday was cloudy so we popped into Skegvegas. Jabbs needed new trainers. Boys bought yet more games from Game & Jabs got a Star Wars kit from ye olde model shoppe. After a leisurely lunch we headed over to Coritani for a cuppa before heading back via Fantasy Island Market. Nothing to report there. Except the world and his dog seem to be selling "Henley" stuff. Oh & wearing it. Last year it was "Bench". I have a Henley shirt of course and now feel resigned to being seen as part of the herd. Sigh. Did like it as well....Oh & Jabs bought some more Star Wars Lego.

Tuna and pasta bake for tea, cards and TV thereafter. Boys got quite into their card games.

Tuesbury was back to the beach. Pretty much same as. Boys were getting used to going on ahead whilst I tidied up. Sausages and the veg stuff for tea.

Woke up in the night feeling proper crook. Still felt bad the next morning and was up at 7. At 9am dug out that Sam Neil Merlin on DVD as kids were still asleep and I wanted to feel a bit better before heady off for medical aid. J & T finally surfaced at 10 and 10.45 respectively. Merlin was still going....is it really 3 hours long? In my weakened state one of the lasses in it looked like that Rachael De Thame offa Gardeners World. Surely not? Well it sure was. Golly.

Yeah

Go me!

Still felt a bit rough after the medicine kicked in but the boys insisted I cook Spag bol rather than resort to the chippy and taking it easy. Watched the footy thereafter. Nice

Thurs got up to do a bit of cleaning as H was due over later via locomotive. Felt much better ta.
H duly arrived and we had nice cuppa on the terrace before a spot of cricket on the beach. H resorted to bodyline once I went into bat but I lasted longer than Ian Bell will at the Oval. Hurrah for me! Tea a very acceptable Indian courtesy of the great retail satan. We then settled down for a viewing of "Stardust" a very hightly recommended filum if only to try & spot who is in it. Quite an impressive cast. Nice family filum too.

Friday we headed off to my ancestral home of Louth and partook in a spot of lunch at the Mason's Arms. Tea and cake in Alford duly followed. All very civilised. Alford it appears is a victim of the old carrot crunch. Shops a shutting, keeping people away so.....well more shut. Quite sad, it's a very pretty little market town. Buffet tea with the fine local produce bought in Louth and Alford. Ok and the Co - Op.

The boys duly handed in their list of demands for their birthdays. In a bid to be organised I had got them stuff already. Nothing that is now on the list....bum.....but I am also funding a trip to York for a couple of days as requested.... so hope to be forgiven.

Saturday was a bit of a chill out day. Tried to give H some time to herself and the boys so the labrador beast and I went on a long walk and he surfed. On our return after a light lunch we went to the Latvian tavern to watch the footy results come in. Nice. Tea was at t'pub a bit later.

Sunday Morn was spent cleaning t'van ready for HRH the Mum in law to move in. After a very nice lunch all together we headed off for home and a pizza.

Did forget to pick up some cheapo tanks we found. Kids toys but useful for 40king up. Cost £5 ea so....think you can see the appeal...

Pipsies
Dave

wow here again

2009-08-06T14:36:00.000-07:00

Well the kids are in bed, reassured that the huge spider I failed to catch is not a tarantula.
Even if it is, it's in their room so fecket. The laptop is mine till day break bwahahahahahahah.

Today I are mostly been painting.... Perry French cuirassier in the plastic form. Watch out for them on PMT next week. Probably. Very nice they are too. As you would expect me to say.

Lack of internet access has possibly caused my finger to slip off the throbbing pulse of wargaming. The all new WI has kept me sort of up to date. I quite like the revamp.

Strange goings on at WAB Towers which is a shame. Pushed me towards looking at the Crusader rools for both Ancients and Hoss and Musket. In fact, hoping to badger chum Moz to dust down his 15mm SYW collection so we can have a bash at the latter. It was either that or paint a load of 28mms. Yeah like that was ever going to happen.....

There's a bit of an upsurge in the hoss n musket period. Not just Nappies but SYW too. Phil Olley, a man who makes his own path, has gone all TYW. http://breitenfeldblog.blogspot.com/

Saw a mention of a filum on the TYW, "The Last Valley" which has Michael Caine in it. "Protestants sah, fahsans of 'em!". Do recall seeing a filum set in the TYW back in the day and think it was this one. Int it a bit brutal? Worth a look in the bargain racks methinks. The TYW was an interesting conflict, no it was honestly.....remember getting into a spat on TMP when a fine gentleman, as far as I know, said "religion had never once caused a war".....erm....There was an internal French one. Hugenoses vs Catholics.... now what was that war called again? Nope, name escapes me.

Been fun looking at Darrell Hindley's one dude crusade against Wargames Factory on the WAB Forum..... don't sit on the fence, say what you think Darrell lol. Although the idea of cheapo plastic Ancient Germans to pad out my existing half done army appeals.....think I'll pass on these. Painted up they look fine but......reckon I'll look for bargain metal one day instead.

They need rebasing for the third time anyway.....

Read the article by Mr Gadsby in WI prior to his sabatical. It's also 'ere http://www.ephraimgadsby.blogspot.com/ Spot on about the four core periods. Which as anyone knows are "Ancients", "Hoss and musket" "20mm WW2" and of course 40k. The first three are heavily linked to the ode days when wargaming was heavily linked to wot Airfix made. Of course some people claim to have used lead models prior to the 80s but there is very little actual evidence to support this.

What?

Oh....is there?

Old skool wargaming is it?

Righto.

Standing corrected.

But....here we are back gaming with plastic figures.

Messed about with the layout of the Blurg. Added a news section. No idea why, because I can I guess. Before anyone starts twas not me that brought down Twatter today. Still, it was funny to think Stephen Fry had nowt to do wi his hands today.

I see I have 8 followers, which is nice. I prefer to use the term stalkers but hey ho. The magic of t'interweb. Twas quite odd sitting at North Star HQ one day when a chap I had never met before came in & said "what has happened to your blog?" Whoever you were, erm hello!

Well till the next time I have access to the 3ws ...... er ta rah & don't forget, remain indoors.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SavsJYXWgm8

Liked this one too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SavsJYXWgm8

Pipsies
Dave

Tales from the abyss

2009-08-05T13:22:00.001-07:00

What ho?

Oh is this thing on?

Now who would leave a brand new laptop in my sticky mits? Well Jack to be honest. It's his mother's and I am right now mostly nicking the internet connection of personages unknown. That's probably illegal but it was the kids wot dun it officer.

So what's new?

Well I have no interweb gismo of my own at the minute.

EVM Towers stands restored to some extent. The grand hall is....well grand. The stairs have carpet as does the master bedroom. Sadly I broke the bed in moving it about and am currently saving ma pennies for a new one. Next up for a makeover is the futility room. After the two new
radiators are fitted....... That's the problem with such fine old houses of hysterical interest, they do eat up the cash. 2010 looks even worse with a new kitchen and lounge planned. One eye on the resale value should the housing meerkat ever recover.

Painting? Er not done a lot really. An Arfurian unit wot I did over Xmastide awaits LBM transfers. Shields are the later Roman oval ones. Unit is from a planned force to oppose some Early sea raiding Saxon types. Foundry LR types clinging to the ode ways with GB mixed in for the more progressive types. Well it may well happen. Still if anyone has the transfers spare and feels charitable.....

Other than that it's been 40k Orksises for Jabba's horde. Not that many, but enough....especially as he requested.....checks....oh joy.

Tom had been painting 40k at skool but was lured into Warhamster by the staffers at the local GW Emporium. Since then he are mostly been painting goblins. Then he just stopped and went onto 20mm WWII. I think the goblins had one too many thrashings at the hands of dark elves....which means the stuff he wanted for his birthday may well be a waste of money now.

Bugger.

Still whilst I have been away young Imrie has been busy, oh indeedy, very busy - http://saxondog.blogspot.com/

Sexytime.

Distractions? Oh plenty, isn't that wot makes it so fun?

Perry Nappies for t'Peninsular.....painted..... er......one officer so far.

Crusader SYW Russians

Natalie Portman

Kate Beckinsale

Pubic wars Romans

EIR ( yeah as ever)

Greeks, like I don't have enough.....

WWII in the one true scale

Luckily all of the above have come to nowt beyond ideas and dreams.

I know some have deserted Blogland for the new cyber strumpet that is twatter but you won't find me on there. Sorry folks.

Keep your bristles stiff and damp

Till the next time

Pips
Dave

Ta darrrrr

2009-04-15T12:20:00.000-07:00

Yes I am back. Easter was spent at the coast with the family & outlaws. Very enjoyable but now lots to do. Plus the grass is a foot tall as there was no snow at Easter this year. Regular viewers will I am sure remember last year's fun at this time.

Now a funny via H.

Why Parents Drink

A father passing by his son's bedroom was astonished to see that his bed was nicely made and everything was picked up. Then he saw an Envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow that was addressed to 'Dad.' With the worst premonition he opened the envelope with trembling hands and read the letter.

Dear Dad:

It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mom and you.

I have been finding real passion with Stacy and she is so nice. But I knew you would not approve of her because of all her piercing, tattoos, tight motorcycle clothes and the fact that she is much older than I am. But it' s not only the passion...Dad she's pregnant.

Stacy said that we will be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many more children. S

tacy has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone. We'll be growing it for ourselves and trading it with the other people that live nearby for cocaine and ecstasy.

In the meantime we will pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Stacy can get better. She deserves it..

Don't worry Dad. I'm 15 and I know how to take care of myself. Someday I'm sure that we will be back to visit so that you can get to know your grandchildren.

Love,
Your Son John

PS. Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at Tommy's house. I Just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than a Report card That's in my centre desk drawer. I love you. Call me when it's safe to come home.

If Angelina Jolie was a wargames unit....

2009-04-07T10:21:00.000-07:00

She'd look summat like dis.....

More goodness from the brush of Young Imrie. Stirs the loin area dunnit?

Pips

Dave

Corrr

2009-04-04T00:06:00.001-07:00

www.cvi-insignia.com/don.htm

Nice stuff eh?

Been catching up on t'web this very morrow whilst making tea to builders strength. Footbo later then a late night of pigmenting metal & plaggy.

Found these chaps on my travels - Corking aren't they? Pigment nicely applied by Mr Dave Imrie. he's been busy whilst I have not been looking. Blurb here - http://www.leagueofaugsburg.com/gallery.php?req=view&id=1489

Inspirational eye candy for those of us with a similar army in it's shiney form. Once Easter is out of the way & the bulk of my building costs spent I may have to spend a bit of time on mine. If only for motivation to get out of bed & do something other than make brekkie. Yes people I have been slacking. Some days I have not been getting up before 6am. Time, with summer approaching, to be up wid de larks innit?

I like the idea of the vignette bases. Of course you can still use WAB but I know where Mr I is coming from. Apart from Scotland. Got the Crusader rools. They are based on ...er bases..... of multiple figs...& Mr Steve Jones saying they "look ok" was enough to convince me they are worth a go. So I might follow Mr Imrie's lead here & go multiple based. Making use of all those cracking vignettes the Soapster did for the Beast.

Also need to get me sen some of that grass - "Silfor" innit or summat?

Geeetar Andy has been busy, emersing him sen in all things Arfur -http://www.guitarheroandy.blogspot.com/ It's gone all poetic though as Andy get's his Eurovision entry ready. This bit looked a bit dodgy "Their standard is taken and their booty is ours". Not sure if that refers to plunder or owning someone's ass. Might be both.

Hmm 800pt games.....be an idea to get stuff going quick & sur le table....likes it...

Oh & belated congrats to Giles. The boy done good. Married a very pretty lady then went off on the razz by the look of it. Well done sir. Oh & back in time for Salute too. Nice.

Pips
Dave

Ps Pictures stolen from the LoA site & Steve Dean forum with absolutely no thought of asking for permission or owt. I am such a dangerous rebel living on the edge.

Back from the Abyss

2009-04-02T14:36:00.000-07:00

Well no not really.

Sit rep at EVM Towers is as follows. Mucho building work this week. Dust creation a plenty.

Master bedroom window in, check & that. Plastered (the room, not me) er check. Colours & wallpaper feature wall to be decided still.

Grand hall

Plastered & that. New improved lighting purchased. Awaiting paint on t'ceiling afore fitting. New loft hatch was fitted too. Old one was on the small side & leaked muck. Understairs has been ripped out & replastered too. New door has been fitted to the understairs. All awaiting paint once the plaster is dry in about two weeks. End of the Easter Hols I'll be switching to a bigger brush for a bit. The understairs will require new shelving but it's all looking quite swish. The grand staircase is having new spindles & handrails n stuff. To be stained to match existing woodwork. Paint work to be in a cream & the walls in a Dulux shade called Calico. Nice. My better half has spoken on the matter. Let it be so.

Had a fair bit of family support to get this far & a very good week on e-bay. Ta to anyone that placed a bid. Bit of an overspend on the building works so new carpets, curtains & that will have to wait for the foreseeable. Still progress is being made on the old place.

Been busy,busy,busy. I hope everyone saw the Perry Mins 42nd chaps in kilts wot I did. No?

Oh ok....http://www.sdean-forum.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17221&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 Sweet minis & a cracking paint job. Big me sen up ay?

Got t'finish off some new Perry British plaggys that should have been at Salute. Will debut now at Partizan in May. The 73rd if you want to take a look. Love 'em.

Got a couple of newly done Artizan Pulp bits to go on E-bay this weekend. Trying to get that more of a regular thing as I need the income. Seem better able to get single figs done at like 8/9pm at night if I know there's a return off E-bay at the end of it. That said I did some new Artizan Minis, US Airborne in fact, for North Star. Nick being a kind man & having nay use for them himself has allowed me to to add them to my collection. Bonus! Other than that....not managed owt for me in a looooonggg time. Oh well, minis gathering dust for me earneth not a penny to the cause.

Done some of them nice Successor minis by Steve Saleh for da Beastes. That chap knows how to make a pleasing mini. They deserve to sell very well. GB kindly sent me a few pics. I'll try & up load them when I am on the main PC.
OOOO there they are.

Had a first run through of 40k with the boys 2 weeks back. Just a couple of squads a side but it went ok. Must try & do more games soon. Or even paint them a few minis.

New radiators to go on once painting is done & funds allow. Jaysus I am cold tonight....,,,lol

This weekend will be mostly spent cleaning up after the builder types. With a bit of footy chucked in. Then not sure if the kids are back a couple of nights before heading off to the outlaws for a couple. They will then head off with them to the coast for Easter on Thurs. Surely it won't snow again?

Pips
Dave

Well

2009-03-05T13:17:00.000-08:00

Had better days. Been an odd one, some days I cope better than others. Don't know what it is really.

Tried the old distraction technique.....i.e. lets muse how far could a U boat have travelled along the Trent from Hull. All I am looking for is justification for getting the Artizan U boat crewmen from the Pulp range. I figure, what the heck they could take over & use a boat anyway. Dug out the 8 Foundry Rezistaunce (helps if you imagine Vicky Michelle when saying that)..........

Ok back with me?

Yes dug them out. Had all sorts of ideas for using them along with some of the new Marquis Artizan minis in some Disposable Heroes (or DH7 on da street) games. Paint them as generic militia & they will do as 1938 VBCW/ECWIII types too...just don't look too close... Pierre & Jacques one day..... Peter & Jack another.

"Daddy is that a Luger?"

" Yes son, captured off a Facist supplied by Germany clearly"

" Daddy isn't that a French helmet on that one"

"Er yes he's a migrant French communist veg picker, or he got that fighting in Spain.....or summat"

"Isn't that stock on the sten only available from 1942 onwards?"

Look kids it's all pretend, will you just roll the chuffin dice....

Oh & I have no idea on the sten either, just used it to illustrate that reality can sometimes get in the way of things if you let it. This isn't historical so I won't get too hung up on the details. Already read one post where a "Facist" uniform on a mini is declared "wrong".

Anywho. They will pass for now, probably as the aforentioned miners & wives too. Need bulking out with the Crusader SCW International Brigade chaps. Of course I'd wager the Players cigarette & Raleigh bike workers would flock to the red banner.

Yer actual Gedling pit.

The slags of Gedling pictured above.

Of a mind to get a nice wealthy industrialist type figure, one Bradley Hardacre perhaps. He'd be able to arm & equip his own men to protect his interests, 'appen. He'd be keen to get his mine back & protect his munitions factory too. Selling to all the factions no doubt. Don't know what I am talking about? Oh dear where were you back in the day? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass_(TV_series) Worth buying the box set & one day I may just do that. Classic. Trust me I am a doctor.

Then there are the Territorials to field & maybe even a few regulars. All good stuff.

Oddly EVM Towers was built in 1938 or 35 or summat so I clearly need to make a replica. Or not.

Pips
Dave

I blame the Welsh see

2009-03-04T15:13:00.000-08:00

Not for everything of course.

Ok what now I hear you ask? Well some one at the back muttered something. Yes ok, The Very British Civil War thing of like 1938 that never was. I heard the rumblings, being naturally here at the very epicentre of wargaming. With a finger placed firmly on the throbbing er.. pulse of the hobby. So yeah, I knew there was a froth on t'interweb & in the gaming halls of Albion & maybe even beyond to the Colonies.

Not really anything that interested me until this

http://www.mikehobbs.co.uk/?paged=2

Mike's VBCW or ECWIII ( ya pays ya monies, ya take ya choice) set up in the Welsh Wales valleys atop the green green grass of home

Nice, liked the ideas they came up with..hmmm... a few figures...it's all in the scenarios really....

Ok so far still not lured in.

Then there was this:

......http://paintingshed.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-01-27T11%3A48%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=7 Now knowing Mr Jones (Welsh see) I know he'll paint a rather spiffing set of minis within a few months AND source buildings AND write some decent rools AND probably write & sing the theme tune.

Ok so now I'll admit it's beginning to get a little interesting.

Then I watch a programme on t'miners strike from back in the day. Hmmm so what if..... back in 1938....Communist miners seized control of the pits....Hmmm. Be a three way fight over Gedling, a former pit village a mere stones throw away ( using a trebuchet admittedly.....The beast do a nice model of one, I may have mentioned it before)...where were we, ah yes, the threesome: Communist workers , the Royalists & indeed the Facists types supported no doubt by Nazi jack boot wearing paratroopers dressed as nuns...well I like Fallschirmjager...and have some painted & a nun.....also got Home Guard that could be pressed into service too.

All this without even seeing the 1938 source book they are raving about. Oh well.

So you google and http://www.edinburghwargames.com/Journal%2030.htm

Vehicles are readily available from Sloppy Jalopy or any early WW2 range. Figures are out there too & mucho fun can be had putting together a small characterful force for each faction. Buildings should be out there too.

Why not just continue with my WW2 stuff? Tis much the same....

Finally the fates conspired totally against me & BilliamT called asking me to paint some of his new fine VBCW/ECWIII chit for the show stand. I've built up a credit for painting over at Moosekateer Minatures & guess what he'll be sending me shortly from....Welsh Wales. Of course when I will paint them lordy alone knows.

In the meantime, who makes a suitable 1930s pit head in 28mm?

No one?

Phew! Thank f for that.

Also seen some suitable minis in the Pulp range from Artizan...hmmmm

Madness I know, but takes ones mind orf day to day innit. Like I said, blame the Welsh, it's mostly them causing the trouble.

Pips
Dave

yep

2009-02-27T11:40:00.000-08:00

Still here. Trying to keep busy but it's not easy when the kids aren't here. Trying to remain positive. The wrecking bit of the renovation is done. Time to start putting it back together.

Pips
Dave

Down on the farm

2009-02-16T14:45:00.000-08:00

Right one for the Colonials here. As a half term treat we took the kids to see " Bolt" the latest Disney, pick an animal, make 'em laugh, make 'em almost weep blockbuster. Have to say it is rather good albeit pretty standard Disney fayre. En route we stopped off at Riverside Farm a foodie/pub establishment thrown up on the site of the much lamented but ickle visited Harry Ramsdens.

We found a very quiet table for 4 & perused the menus. The boys went for Cheeseburgers & chips but hold the chit. H went for the Tuna melt. I did spy a few main meals of interest but not looking to look odd went for the "American style chicken burger". Having been shown to the food ordering point by the helpful chap behind the bar ( I was such a noob!) I ordered said grub. Having done that I approached the bar for drinkies. White wine for the lady, J20 for Jabbs, lemonade for Tom & I had the alcohol free beer. Great stuff that is. No alcohol so if you don;t grimmace too much, when drinking, no one would know. Obviously only having a half pint make you look abit lightweight so the sooner they add taste & make it available on draught the better imho. Whilst getting the drinks H & the boys got moved by the supervisor type chap. He had a white shirt & a air of authouratayyyyyy. I asked the bar chap politely why we had to move.

"oh under 12s are not allowed in the bar area...."

Eh? We were a good way from the bar & no one was near us.....but hey rools is rools I can dig that. Adults who go in for a drik &/or meal might not want to sit near brats. usually you'd just pick your table accordingly but I suppose this prevents surprises later.
He got our drinks, the food counter lass provided a tray, then he asked if that was all & when I said that was it he headed off stage left.....

When he came back, he enquired why I was still there...

"er well I haven't paid yet" said I tenner still in hand.

Yeah, yeah I know, not my problem if they offer free drinks right? The till would have still been shown as open, they would have come found me & one of the staff would have got a roasting off white shirt man. Can't do that to them can I?

No seriously you can't.

No you can't.

Look I know these kids, I work with them &....

Anywho I then had to find the nice lass who had got me the tray to change our table number on the order. To our delight we had been put in the holding area for small kids who have had excess sugar & want to leap about in the play area. Even Jabba, who is not shy at running amok, thought it not condusive to a quiet family meal. Oh well 5 more years & we can go eat with the adults. I understand why they do it, but once you are forced in there with the understandably loud U5s it doesn't make you want to go back there too soon. I think they could do with a larger eating area for da families or if there was, we just might have got unlucky with table availability.

Anyway to the scoff, & to my question really. My American chicken burger was basically chicken in like a batter & that. No relish, nowt. Dunt seem right to me. That said the side salad was fine & the coleslaw gawjuss. Nice chips too. Value was reasonable, service swift, staff friendly & the place was very clean. I'd go back if I could avoid being shoved in the kiddy pen.

Pippsicles
Dave

One man & his pooch

2009-02-14T23:09:00.000-08:00

Missing the kids as well as H. Soooo not good.

Painted & that Saturday for a bit then H. picked me up for Tom's footbo. Found out when we got there the capt was not showing up & neither was the GK. HCD not at all happy.... Back up GK was "on the way" but seemingly a bit lost. Ex GK, now at the mighty Pies, showed up & I chatted to his Dad. Tried to cheer myself up by recounting times when, back in the day, such adversity prompted a positive result. Game was played on a pretty steep slope. It was relatively even but the boys managed to get a 2:0 lead. Could have been more but then they missed chances too. I have a lot more confidence in the stand in goalie & he did really well. There was a fair bit of intimidation, which the lads stood up to for a change. Second half would be pretty much backs to the wall & so it proved. They did still make a couple of chances & took one to end up 3:0 winners. It flattered the boys slightly but ten again sometimes courage brings it's rewards. Tom was named motm. I think The GK was possibly more deserving & probably the lad in midfield, but given what is going on in Tom's life he did really, really well.

H's flowers had arrived during the game & she wasn't happy I had sent them. Explained her reasons, which I now understand a bit more, but as I explained I am damned if I do, damned if I don't.

Settled down to a tea of pie, chips & beans, fantastic.

Fell asleep during the latter stages of t' rugbo, just as well really. I should have got up & done something but I felt so washed out I decided to get up earlier Sunday instead. Waking up at 3/4 am everyday has taken it's toll.

Found the modern filum of Jase & the Argoslads. Is that the weirdest filum ending ever? One assumes there is a second part & I think I have seen it. Still, nice to see some Greek on Greek action.

Then found the Sarah Connor Terminator thing. Quite watchable really. Went up to bed, decided the pooch might as well come in with me as there's just us two here. No,no,no not in the actual bed, just in the room.

Ok Sunday, lots to do today. Kids are having roast chicken, H would prefer me to stay away today so I'll have to see what exciting things I can find. That said, if I have a good day on the painting the pub beckons. Then I'll do some stripping this evening. All work & no play makes Davey a dull dude & that.

Pips
Dave

Some funnies via H

2009-02-13T23:56:00.000-08:00

LITTLE RALPHY ON MATHs

A teacher asks her class, 'If there are 5 birds sitting on a fence and you shoot one of them, how many will be left?' She calls on little Ralphy. He replies, 'None, they will all fly away with the first gunshot.' The teacher replies, 'The correct answer is 4, but I like your thinking.' Then little RALPHY says, 'I have a question for YOU. There are 3 women sitting on a bench having ice cream: One is delicately licking the sides of the triple scoop of ice cream. The second is gobbling down the top and sucking the cone. The third is biting off the top of the ice cream. Which one is married?' The teacher, blushing a great deal, replied, 'Well, I suppose the one that's gobbled down the top and sucked the cone.' To which Little RALPHY replied, 'The correct answer is 'the one with the wedding ring on,' but I like your thinking.'

LITTLE RALPHY ON MATHs (Part 2) Little RALPHY returns from school and says he got an F in arithmetic. 'Why?' asks the father? 'The teacher asked 'How much is 2x3,'' I said '6', replies RALPHY. 'But that's right!' says his dad. 'Yeah, but then she asked me 'How much is 3x2?'' 'What's the f...... difference?' asks the father. 'That's what I said!'

LITTLE RALPHY ON ENGLISH

Little RALPHY goes to school, and the teacher says, 'Today we are going to learn multi-syllable words, class. Does anybody have an example of a multi-syllable word?' RALPHY says 'Mas-tur-bate.' Miss Rogers smiles and says, 'Wow, little RALPHY, that's a mouthful.' Little RALPHY says, 'No, Miss Rogers, you're thinking of a blowjob.' LITTLE RALPHY ON GRAMMAR

Little RALPHY was sitting in class one day. All of a sudden, he needed to go to the toilet. He yelled out, 'Miss Jones, I need to take a piss!!' The teacher replied, 'Now, RALPHY, that is NOT the proper word to use in this situation. The correct word you want to use is 'urinate.' Please use the word 'ur-i-nate' in a sentence correctly, and I will allow you to go.'

Little RALPHY, thinks for a bit, and then says, 'You're an eight, but if you had bigger tits, you'd be a TEN!'

LITTLE RALPHY ON GRAMMAR (Part 2) One day, during lessons on proper grammar, the teacher asked for a show of hands from those who could use the word 'beautiful' in the same sentence twice. First, she called on little Suzie, who responded with, 'My father bought my mother a beautiful dress and she looked beautiful in it.' 'Very good, Suzie,' replied the teacher. She then called on little Michael. 'My mummy planned a beautiful banquet and it turned out beautifully.' She said, 'Excellent, Michael!' Then the teacher reluctantly called on little RALPHY. 'Last night at the dinner table, my sister told my father that she was pregnant, and he said 'Beautiful, just f...... beautiful!''

LITTLE RALPHY ON GETTING OLDER

Little RALPHY was sitting on a park bench munching on one candy bar after another. After the 6th one a man on the bench across from him said, 'Son, you know eating all that candy isn't good for you. It will give you acne, rot your teeth, and make you fat.' Little RALPHY replied, 'My grandfather lived to be 107 years old.' The man asked, 'Did your grandfather eat 6 candy bars at a time?' Little RALPHY answered, 'No, he minded his own f....... business.

A Russian woman married a Canadian man and they lived in Toronto.However, the poor woman was not very proficient in English, but somehowmanaged to communicate with her husband. The real problem arosewhenever she had to shop for groceries.One day, she went to the butcher and wanted to buy chicken legs. Shedidn't know how to put forward her request, and in desperation, cluckedlike a chicken and lifted up her skirt to show her thighs. Her butchergot the message, and gave her the chicken legs.Next day she needed to get chicken breasts, again she didn't know how tosay it, and so she clucked like a chicken and unbuttoned her blouse toshow the butcher her breasts. The butcher understood again, and gaveher some chicken breasts.On the 3rd day, the poor lady needed to buy sausages. Unable to find away to communicate this, she brought her husband to the store...(Please scroll down and see)

What were you thinking?Hellooooooooooooo... her husband speaks English!!Now get back to your work!!Sometimes I do wonder about you!

Friday the 13th

2009-02-13T22:41:00.000-08:00

Quite an odd day. Jabba was home as his skool had an insect day or summat. Tomster went off to skool as normal. Bro in law Mike came over to discuss the plan vis a vis making EVM Towers fit for it's princess & that. Mucho notes made & mucho consultation with said princess required. Plan is now to start mit der entrance hall & gallery as dats da big job & we can get on with that whilst we await the new bedroom window. That should be measured this weekend & ordered next week. About 10 days before it's ready so probably 2/3 weeks before it goes in. Hopefully will have done the hall by then.

Princess H. came & collected da boys, Tom had training & that. H agreed to go look at some paint on Tues as she was free, hurrah. Tea was jacket spud with cottage cheese on it's final eat by date. Which was nice. Settled down to watch "Run fat boy run" a buffday pressie on DVD format. Very good it was as well. Early to bed as I planned to get up early. Seem to be wide awake at 3 or 4am at the moment. Knackered, stressed but wide awake, brain thinking too much me thinks.

No training for the U8s today as the council want to save the pitches for matches. Does enable me to travel to Tom's away game after all. I seemed to have been left out of the travel plans until training was called off. Bum. Anyway can't wait it's the team they just lost to & they have a coach who marched onto the pitch near the end of the last game & declared "can't wait to get this lot to our home pitch, we will kick them off the park". Clearly whatever qualifications he has the part on child welfare passed him by. I pointed out he was threatening 12 year olds & it disintegrated from there. Was I surprised? Er no, he's been like this for 3 years. The team was thrown out of the league last year as a result of some sideline rumpus. They merely came back as another club & he's still there, whether officially or not. Brilliant.

Wished H a happy Valentine's Day via the means of text & she replied in kind. Promised to take her cards over later. She ignored that bit. Ooops merely a jest on my part my sweet.

I know, I know give it time, it's not yet been a week. I really do miss my smiling happy wife.

Right off for tea, a hearty breaky & some stripping. Oooer mrs.

Pips
Dave

Latest WI

2009-02-12T13:45:00.000-08:00

Well it's not a bad lil issue. Just had a read whilst the kids watch TV & let the huge portions of spag bol digest & that. Moz will enjoy the AWI article, part 2 it is...oh must have glossed over part one. Where's the last issue?

Good review of Cold Steel with top drawer eye candy from Andy Hawes. Thought the Tudor house article was a little long although to be honest it probably had to be. Mr Gadsby was his usual entertaining self & lots of tempting ads from purveyors of fine chit.

Oh & some bloke did a nice article on the SCW. Whatever that is.

Let the kids stop up a bit as it's my ast night with them for 6 days. Bum. Longest we have been apart, like ever & that.

Oh well time to start the stripping job.

Pips
Dave

One for Steve et Giles

2009-02-11T13:16:00.000-08:00

Chum Moz made the mistake of buying a rather nice book on t'AWI uniforms. As a reult he's all of a twitter on all things AWI. Moz has been painting spear chuckers for a few years now & fancied summat well.....shooty & uniformed. Well except for the Perry Min injuns that he seems to be soooo taken wid. I recommended the Touching History booky wook on the AWI/ACW as there's some fine eye candy & inspiration in there. AWI seemed idea for a dabble, small units but enough variation to stave off the tedium demon. I mentioned the excellent online Tarleton's quarter & he was pretty much doomed. Hahahaha another victim!
I mentioned once abusing the collection belonging to Steve Jones, the esteemed co author of Age of Arfur & indeed author of a very fine set of AWI rules. A set wot I have played & actually understood the mistakes I was making. Just the job. The name escapes me but it's summat like "hairy backs". If someone could be good enough to tell me what issue of WI they were in I'd dig out the issue & copy it ( for personal use with permission & no dodgy chit). Unless someone had a copy on their PC or owt of course.....

Picking my next issue of WI up tomorrow. Looking forward to it.

Pips
Dave

Night Jimbob, night Mary Ellen

2009-02-10T14:05:00.000-08:00

Yes for those of us of a certain age it's Walton stylee reference. Begining to sink in here at EVM Towers exactly what this brief life is all about. Let me explain....no go on please let me....

Well ok. Picked Jabba up from school & he'd been upset again at skool but he'd not needed the stress ball today so he was very pleased with himself. It's hard not to love the wee fella. He's got such a lovely laid back, witty personality, he's impossible not to like. Bit like his old man really. Anyway got home & Tom was in not long after armed with a pressie. He'd popped into Thornton's & had some choccies gift wrapped for his dad. On it he'd written "hope this fixes something for you". Jaysus, what can you say. Is this the average action of a 12 year old? Possibly, but anyway I was touched & almost lost it. Don't mind admitting that. He'd seen my reaction to a friend of H's bringing her flowers and wine complete with wine glasses no less. The flowers I could handle but the wine seemed too celebratory. An over reaction possibly but it made me feel like a bullying wife beater she has escaped from rather than just an ejit. I've made some mistakes but I'd like to take some of the credit for a what is turning out to be a fine young chap.

Did finally lose it during dinner, not sure what triggered it. Possibly delayed reaction to the chocs. Don't mind admitting I lost it, don't mind admitting the kids saw it. Least they know their dad is not some robot & he can get upset too. Apologised to them. Pointed out all I ever wanted to give them was a happy family life. Toys, games & trinkets all well & good but it's the family upbringing that maketh the chap. Somehow I've let the domestic bliss they had slip away.

Thing is they are great kids & the house has been a very happy one. I've taken my eye of what is important & am paying the heaviest possible price as a result. Can't help but be proud of the boys & how they are coping. Top, top lads.

Dropped the boys at H's pad so I could visit the great retail Satan itself nearby. H has been performing wonders getting the place liveable, clean & looking purdy. Ali was now due over tonight rather than tomorrow morning so I headed off to brave the aisles. Last time I flew solo round there was when Jabba was about to arrive. I'd set off to be there at 6am of a Saturday & back for when Tom woke around 7.30am. Marvellous, just had to look male, useless & explain your wife was pregnant & you got all manner of help. Got into a decent routine as no one else was daft enough to be there apart from half a dozen pensioners blocking an aisle. The ones that are there having a natter at any point in the day you care to choose. This time it was a lot more tricky & not much help was forthcoming, the cashier even lost my car keys under some bags. Serves me right for almost sneaking the tuna & pasta bake mix through without paying. I did fess up as soon as I noticed.

Managed to get round unscathed, only £1.50 over budget. Got the shopping home, upacked & away before fetching da boys. Ali had arrived by now & the ladies were itching to go out for chips & probably some wine.

Got home & went to bed, well it was 9:30pm

Pips
Dave

Funnies from H

2009-02-10T08:10:00.000-08:00

I'll just say.....Connect 4, should she ever read this......

Do you have feelings of inadequacy?
Do you suffer from shyness?
Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about White Wine. White Wine is the safe, natural way to feel better and moreconfident about yourself and your actions. White Wine can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything. You will notice the benefits of White Wine almost immediately and witha regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles thatprevent you from living the life you want to live. Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living, with White Wine. White Wine may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use White Wine. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it. Side effects may include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration, erotic lustfulness, loss of motor control, loss of clothing, loss of money, loss of virginity, delusions of grandeur, table dancing, headache, dehydration, dry mouth, and a desire to sing Karaoke and play all-night rounds of Strip Poker, Truth Or Dare, and Naked Twister.

WARNING:The consumption of White Wine may make you think you are whispering when you are not
WARNING: The consumption of White Wine may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.
WARNING: The consumption of White Wine may cause you to think you can sing.
WARNING: The consumption of White Wine may lead you to believe that ex-lovers are really dying for you to telephone them at four in the morning.
WARNING: The consumption of White Wine may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.
WARNING: The consumption of White Wine may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people

NOW JUST IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD ACHIEVE WITH RED WINE!!!

And another.....

A woman takes a lover home during the day while her husband is at work. Her 9-year old son comes home unexpectedly, sees them, and hides in the bedroom cupboard to watch. The woman's husband also comes home.
She puts her lover in the cupboard, not realising that the little boy is in there already.
The little boy says, "Dark in here."
The man says, "Yes, it is."
Boy - "I have a football."
Man - "That's nice."
Boy - "Want to buy it?"
Man - "No, thanks."
Boy - "My dad's outside."
Man - "OK, how much?"
Boy - "£250"
In the next few weeks, it happens again that the boy and the lover are in the cupboard together.
Boy - "Dark in here."
Man - "Yes, it is."
Boy - "I have football boots."
The lover, remembering the last time, asks the boy, "How much?" !

Boy - "£750"
Man - "Sold."
A few days later, the boys' father says to the boy, "Grab your boots and football, let's go outside and have a game of soccer.
The boy says, "I can't, I sold my ball and boots."
The father asks, "How much did you sell them for?"
Boy -"£1,000."
The father says, "That's terrible to overcharge your friends like that. That is way more than those two things cost. I'm going to take you to church and make you confess."
They go to the church and the father makes the little boy sit in the confession booth and he closes the door.
The boy says, "Dark in here."
The priest says, "Don't start that sh*t again. You're in my cupboard now"

2009-02-09T13:31:00.000-08:00

Well, here we are.

H is there I am here. Missing her like mad & so are the boys.

Oh well gone 9.30pm, time for bed.

This from Tom - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA_ABcohuZ8&feature=related

Night night all

Dave

2009-02-06T08:42:00.001-08:00

This from Father Francis of Retford

A nun walks into Mother Superior's office and plonks down into a chair. She lets out a sigh heavy with frustration..
What troubles you, Sister?' asks the Mother Superior 'I thought this was the day you spent with your family.'
'It was,' sighed the Sister. 'And I went to play golf with my brother. We try to play golf as often as we can. You know I was quite a talented golfer before I devoted my life to Christ.' 'I seem to recall that,' the Mother Superior agreed. 'So I take it your day of recreation was not relaxing?' 'Far from it,' snorted the Sister. 'In fact, I even took the Lord's name in vain today!'
'Goodness, Sister!' gasped the Mother Superior, astonished. 'You must tell me all about it!'
'Well, we were on the fifth tee...and this hole is a monster, Mother - 540 yard Par 5, with a nasty dogleg left and a hidden green.and I hit the drive of my life. I creamed it. The sweetest swing I ever made. And it's flying straight and true, right along the line I wanted.. and it hits a bird in mid-flight not 100 yards off the tee!'
'Oh my!' commiserated the Mother. 'How unfortunate! But surely that didn't make you blaspheme, Sister!' 'No, that wasn't it,' admitted Sister. 'While I was still trying to fathom what had happened, this squirrel runs out of the woods grabs my ball and runs off down the fairway!' 'Oh, that would have made me blaspheme!' sympathized Mother.
'But I didn't, Mother Superior!' sobbed the Sister. 'And I was so proud of myself! And while I was pondering whether this was a sign from God, this hawk swoops out of the sky and grabs the squirrel and flies off, with my ball still clutched in his paws!' 'So that's when you cursed,' said the Mother with a knowing smile. 'Nope, that wasn't it either,' cried the Sister, anguished, 'because as the hawk started to fly out of sight, the squirrel started struggling, and the hawk dropped him right there on the green, and the ball popped out of his paws and rolled to about 18 inches from the cup!'
Mother Superior sat back in her chair, folded her arms across her chest, fixed the Sister with a baleful stare and said... 'You missed the fucking putt, didn't you?'

This from H.

Do you ever worry about the NHS ? You should!! These are sentences actually typed by Medical secretaries in NHS GreaterGlasgow

1. The patient has no previous history of suicides.

2. Patient has left her white blood cells at another hospital.

3. Patient's medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a40 pound weight gain in the past three days.

4. She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.

5. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.

6. On the second day the knee was better and on the third day itdisappeared.

7. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.

8. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.

9. Discharge status:- Alive, but without my permission.

10. Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year old male, mentally alert, but forgetful.

11. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.

12. She is numb from her toes down.

13. While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home.

14. The skin was moist and dry.

15. Occasional, constant infrequent headaches.

16. Patient was alert and unresponsive.

17. Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid.

18. She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life until she got a divorce.

19. I saw your patient today, who is still under our care for physicaltherapy.

20. Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and accommodation.

21 Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus sized.

22. The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.

23. Skin: somewhat pale, but present.

24. The pelvic exam will be done later on the floor.

25. Large brown stool ambulating in the hall.

26. Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.

27. When she fainted, her eyes rolled around the room.

28. The patient was in his usual state of good health until his airplane ran out of fuel and crashed.

29. Between you and me, we ought to be able to get this lady pregnant.

30. She slipped on the ice and apparently her legs went in separate directions in early December.

31. Patient was seen in consultation by Dr. Smith, who felt we should sit on the abdomen and I agree.

32. The patient was to have a bowel resection. However, he took a job as astock broker instead.

33. By the time he was admitted, his rapid heart had stopped, and he was feeling better.

Stay away from hospitals!!!

Well yes, myself, I only go there if I need to.

Pips
Dave

2009-02-04T09:17:00.000-08:00

Little Barry came into the kitchen where his mother was cooking dinner. His birthday was coming up and he thought this was a good time to tellhis mother what he wanted: 'Mum, I want a bike for my birthday.'
Little Barry was a bit of a troublemaker. He had got into trouble atschool and at home. Barry's mother asked him if he thought he deservedto get a bike for his birthday. Little Barry, of course, thought he did.Barry's mother, being a Christian woman, wanted him to reflect on hisbehaviour over the last year, and write a letter to God, and tell himwhy he deserved a bike for his birthday.Little Barry stomped up the steps to his room and sat down to write Goda letter.

LETTER 1:Dear God,I have been a very good boy this year and I would like a bike for mybirthday. I want a red one.
Your friend, Barry.

Barry knew this wasn't true. He had not been a very good boy this year,so he tore up the letter and started again.

LETTER 2:Dear God,This is your friend Barry. I have been a pretty good boy this year, andI would like a red bike for my birthday.
Thank you,Barry.

Barry knew this wasn't true either. He tore up the letter and started again.

LETTER 3:Dear God,I have been an OK boy this year and I would really like a red bike formy birthday.
Your friend,Barry.

Barry knew he could not send this letter to God either. Barry was veryupset. He went downstairs and told his mother he wanted to go to church.Barry's mother thought her plan had worked because Barry looked very sad. 'Just be home in time for dinner,' his mother said.

Barry walked down the street to the church and up to the altar. He looked around to see if anyone was there. He picked up a statue of the Virgin Mary. He slipped it under his shirt and ran out of the church, down the street,into his house, and up to his room. He shut the door to his room andsat down with a piece of paper and a pen. Barry began to write his letter to God.

LETTER 4:

I'VE GOT YOUR MUM.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE HER AGAIN,

SEND THE F*%#ING BIKE!!!

2009-02-02T01:09:00.000-08:00

NINE WORDS WOMEN USE

(1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

(2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

(3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.

(4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

(5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)

(6) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

(7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' . that will bring on a 'whatever').

(8) Whatever: Is a woman's way of saying F-- YOU!

(9) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.

Gutted

2009-01-29T22:43:00.000-08:00

Poor Julian so close & yet.....personally I think he wus robbed. The pretty lass won through.....based on her.... potential. Never heard it calleed THAT before...oh no wait I have.So it's back to making toys for Julian.... er plastic figures then. Very nice job he is making of it too.

Prior to the mockery of justice I was over at Perry Towers. Managed to sneak a peek at the PM Salute game set up & those Brunswickers that there bloke did where he replaced all the swords with re worked metal pins and that......I remembered his name last night, can't recall it now. Bum. Anyway top stuff. He was told by his Mrs it was the figures or her. Oh to actually have been given a choice! So Alan P ended up buying them.

On the finances, a big mention to NPower. Remember how pleased I was with them? Well no more. After a big monthly hike last month they offered to reduce it back to it's previous amount. Gosh ta, so grateful......British Gas (urgh) have reduced theirs yanno?....I was thinking of paying......yanno... like.....less? I had looked on t'interweb & found a cheaper tariff by them. Pointed that out & they duly agreed it existed & eventually shifted me to that there one. There's an additional quarterly standing charge (why??? It's me that provides the readings??) but on the numbers given I'd be £300 p.a. a year better off. So yeah, oddly I did want to go ahead wi that one. No the science of rocket propulsion is it? Along comes a letter confirming the unit charge per whatever....like we all understand that chit.... I prefered life under nationalised utilities. At least you knew where you were......Then yesterday came confirmation of the direct debit amount..... back to exactly what I paid 2 months ago.....so I call the "customer service dept" & listen to Vivaldi whilst preparing the spag bol. A very helpful woman called Gail kept going off to read the notes telling her exactly what I had just told her. Tried not to laugh as she was a Geordie woman type saying "comp -u-ter" just like in some comedy series, cant recall which.... is the one where she is always collecting for charidee?

Then she told me what I was paying was right...oh so previous chap had just fibbed about saving me £40 a month? Asked to speak to a supervisor....none available.....she was impressed I was making bol. sauce from scratch & asked to come to tea. Although admitted it was bit of a drive from Redcar. Sounded a bit scarey now. Normally Geordie accents on lasses is quite appealing. Look at Donna Air...
Do owt for a bag o chips that lass would. This one seemed more likely to be a stalker type with spruts of black facial hair.

More like it, yeah.

Can they call me back then? I seem to be paying to complain here...

"Our phones cannot make outgoing calls pet"

....say what? Sniff, sniff....is that cow poo? You have a building there where no phones dial out? Major design fault there, how can you waste time at work otherwise? Oh I see.

Gail waited for a supervisor to become free & we discussed the use of carrots in the bog. sauce. She found it odd. Explained it was a mum in law thing, possibly Derbycestershire in origin. Kids loved it as they don't eat mushrooms. Needs summat else dunnit? She told me her ex was now living in Derby, although he was originally from Sheffield.....oh good my fave city in the world.....not. Christ has she just told me she is single & hunting there? Well I am still not thanks very much. Still very much married in an about to live apart just in a "trial separation" type way. Chit, that still sounds bad.

Eventually, with the onions, carrots & mushrooms done, the pasta ready to go & all ingredients to hand ready, she agreed a manager would call me back as they," in my opinion had not met their high levels of customer service". No chit Sherlock.

No call back as yet..... of course not. Mudders.

Then don't get me started on the letter from Virgin Household Insurance. Told me I had not provided the correct documentation. Info that their last letter had not even asked for.......so additional premium was due.....hang on you have not even asked for it yet, let alone given me chane to send it. Some idiot is being paid a fortune to put in place proceedures that don't actually work. Nor make any sense. I bet I could have done it for half the money.

Still, on the plus side, Virgin don't play Vivaldi at you till you want to scream.

Pips
Dave

2009-01-28T22:45:00.000-08:00

So there I was a basing some minis & who pops up on BBC Tv's Masterchef but Julian of Chiltern Miniatures & Victrix fame. Which was nice. I won't ruin who won last night if you want to watch it on I Player/ Tv catch up chit. Or you can just watch him in Thursdays final. Now I used to think I could cook a bit but......apart from Lord S' manservant I suspect Jules might be "da man" as far as wargamers who cook go.....unless Mike Hobbs is on next week of course. Course he got lucky being put in a French restaurant as his good lady is a Frenchie & I suspect Frenchie cuisine features a highly at Chiltern Towers.

Glad he won as I am still livid over the treatment of man's man Kim the plain talking, plain cooking Yorkscestershireman man from Tuesday. Quite frankly he was robbed. his food was adjudged to be the best, but they put Chezza through on the basis of her "potential" to cook arty farty posh nosh. Oh & they liked her pud.

Tsk.

How on earth does that work? Kim does the better job but loses.......seems a tad unfair....

"League Division 2.....Notts County 1, Rochdale 2....points are awarded to Notts County as 'potentially' they can be better in the long term."

Rubbish.

The EVM Towers restoration fund gathers pace. Hmm we need a pic of Griff Rhys Welshchap here really. Just to give this some gravitas.

Right that's better.

As you can see, the east tower needs a re vamp.

Here a heated debate breaks out over who should restock the trout ponds.

Pips

Dave

A funny via H.

2009-01-27T22:27:00.000-08:00

A mother and her very young son were flying Southwest Airlines fromKansas City to Chicago.

The little boy (who had been looking out thewindow) turned to his mother and asked, "If big dogs have baby dogs, and big cats have baby cats, why don't big airplanes have baby airplanes?"

The mother (who couldn't think of an answer)told her son to ask the flight attendant.

So the boy went down the aisle and asked the flight attendant.

The flight attendant, who was very busy at the time, smiled and said,

"Did your Mom tell you to ask me?"

The boy said, "Yes she did."

"Well, then, you go and tell your mother that there are no baby airplanes
because Southwest always pulls out on time.

Have your Mom explain that toyou."

The big day went well

2009-01-26T21:49:00.000-08:00

With Tom doing a "Ferris" H took the opportunity to take a stress day off work. Long overdue imho. She trotted off to the retail Satan and abuser of chickens to get some shopping in. Steak for tea, hurrah! Got back in time for late morning tea & we sat down in front of t'tv wi Tom who wa' having a DVD & duvet day. After Bee Movie hed moved on to Saving Ryan's Privates. Only ever seen it all the way through the once so sadly we both got drawn in. Wasn't that taken with it first time round but Ok yeah it's a good filum.

Pressies from Ali et Keef arrived. DVDs of Charge of the Light Brigade & Waterloo, double hurrah! Next door popped round their pressie an Andy McNab book... going to set me off on Moderns again I know it...oh well.

Had lunch & then pottered about a tad. Just before H went off to school I nipped out. Allowed her to disappear before going back in the house with her fave bottle of red vino, Ideal Home mag & the biggest bucket of flowers they had ready in da local florists. When H got home and saw t'flowers I got a gorgeous smile. Hmm should have done dis long, long ago & more o it.. H asked why I had got them......said no reason, they were just random flowers for my lovely wife. See I do listen. Made her a cuppa & we settled down wi' the mags to discuss the decor in the boudoir & that. I need t set up an account wi' the florists methinks.

Steak was fantastic, TV wasn't bad so all in all a very nice evening.

Oddly hopeful after today. Clearer idea of what I need to do & H has been a lil more receptive to the offensive charm. Going to take a long time,if at all, but I've never been one to quit stuff.

Pips
Dave

happy burfday toooo mmmmmeeeeeeeeee!

2009-01-25T21:13:00.001-08:00

Yes, tis that time o year again innit tho? Monday is the big un. Well it's an un.

Managed to get a two day gig this year it falling on a Monday. Did a bit of house cleaning after toast & marmelade. Unplugged the DVD player so H can take that to her new pad. Undid the VHS ( remember those kids?) as I never use it & it might as well go to the van so we can keep the old tapes there for rainy days. H's mum is getting her a Tv for her new batchelorette pad. Be better than mine... bum.

In laws came over on the Sunday to go out with us & neighbours to t'pub. Which was nice.

To the pub!

H looked mighty fine in her boots & jeans combo. She was checked out big time as we went in t'pub by some chap. She didn't notice, I did, & I can only hope for his sake his female companion didn't. Starter was mashed up duck on toast. I opted for the roast beef. Very nice beef spolit a bit by the instant mash, nuked peas & underdone ever so slightly roasties. Saw the size of chef & let it pass. Although not perfect it was nice & the creamy leeks were splendid. Cheesecake to follow, very nice. Our chum in the pub gave us a discount voucher to use so Jabba ate free basically, hurrah!

After that H dropped me off at the Panthers whilst heading off home to wrap the DVDs that arrived a couple of weeks back & the Southern Comfort ( I think) she picked up Friday. I think it's SoCo, to give it it's trendy new buzz name, as H might have a pang of guilt that the bottle Grambo alwys gets me at Xmas is now gone by February.... Since she got a taste for it.

After the Panthers failed again, to overcome the loss of H at games & folded meekly, it was turkey sarnies at home. No, no not from Chrimbo.

Headed to the neighbours for beer, wine & chat. At some point in the evening a "Sound of Music" evening was arranged for next Saturday. Some pretext of revising for the themed girlie evening & quiz at the local church in a couple of weeks. Not a bad night out that for a £5 plus own booze. Sadly we men are discriminated against & not allowed in. I suggested H pop the nuns outfit on she had for a fancy dress party a few years back. Pretty sure she said no. Shame, she looked well fit & it's the closest I have ever got to wanting to be in the church. So to speak.

Pipsies
Dave

Cup qtr final day

2009-01-25T00:45:00.000-08:00

Erm....not quite sure how this happened.....4 nil up by half time & Tom slotted home a penalty. Sort of went for a corner. The last penalty he took he aimed for the clouds. He played well, ok no he was brilliant. Played at the back first half but came forward to play some tellling passes. Second half he played midfield & ran himself into the ground. Over did the running a bit but won his tackels and moved the ball well.

Ran out 6:2 winners & a semi final place awaits....which is not too shabby.

H went off to see some friends newish baby afterwards. Took Tom & left the Jabster with me & his mate. When she got back Jab & chum were taken for a Maccy D's by H & I listened to the footbo scores whisly doing some prep & that. Hurrah for the once mighty Whites. At one with the world I set about cleaning the bathroom. Not sure we need to spend money on living apart, we hardly see each other as it is. When H got back I took the pooch a sccot whislt she prepared a sumptious feast of hotdog mit der wedges. Nice. Then after I'd tidied up we settled down with a nice Zinfandel or two and watched our newly reduced selection of Tv channels. Luckily Dad's Army was on. The one where they bring the harvest in & get ratted on potato wine. After that it was a double bill of Police Interceptors.....H would now like a an Evo....

Todays footbo was rained off so it's toast & home made marmelade from the mo in law before a roast dinner at der local pub. After that it's Panthers & turkey sarnies for tea.

Pips
Dave

By popular demand

2009-01-23T01:49:00.000-08:00

The biker mouse 'er sen.

Hey ho, I can't really get in any more trouble can I?

So here's H & Ali in the grounds of a big house in Scotland, where we were invited in for afternoon tea by a lovely lady of 93 ( I think). Been a family chum for years & that. Proper rambling country estate & grand pile. Marvellous. Took ages to find her in the gardens.

See told ya, we got to go inside & didn't have to pay to look at the gardens either. How cool is that?

Awaiting tea & indeed cake & shortbread. Nice!

Jack looks suitably unimpressed....

And later went Viking.......

Randomly that's a picture of me as Dave Starsky with a foxy 70s type chick. Not bad eh?? Eat ya heart out Farrah.

Friday funnies from H.

2009-01-23T01:36:00.000-08:00

A woman wearing a sleeveless sun dress, walked into a bar in Dublin & raised her right arm, revealing a huge, hairy armpit, and she pointed to all the people sitting at the bar and asked, 'What man here will buy a lady a drink?'

The bar went silent as the patrons tried to ignore her, but down at the end of the bar an owl-eyed drunk slammed his hand down on the counter and bellowed, 'Give the ballerina a drink!'

The bartender poured the drink and the woman chugged it down.

She turned to the patrons and again pointed around at all of them, revealing the same hairy armpit, and asked, 'What man here will buy a lady a drink?'

Once again, the same little drunk slapped his money down on the bar and said, 'Give the ballerina another drink!'

The bartender approached the little drunk and said, 'Tell me, Murphy, it's your business if you want to buy the lady a drink, but why do you keep calling her a ballerina?'

The drunk replied: 'Any woman who can lift her leg that high has got to be a ballerina!'

And another.....

One Sunday evening, a few minutes before the church services started,the congregation was sitting in their pews and talking. Suddenly, Satan appeared at the front of the church. Everyone started screaming and running for the back entrance, trampling each other in a frantic effort to get away from evil incarnate. Soon the church was empty except for one elderly gentleman who sat calmly in his pew without moving, seemingly oblivious to the fact that God's ultimate enemy was in his presence.
So Satan walked up to the man and said, 'Do you know who I am?'

The man replied, 'Yep, sure do.'

'Aren't you afraid of me?' Satan asked.

'Nope, sure ain't' said the man.

Don't you realize I can kill you with one word?' asked Satan.

'Don't doubt it for a minute, ' returned the old man, in an eventone.

'Did you know that I can cause you profound, horrifying agony for all eternity?' persisted Satan.

'Yep,' was the calm reply.

'And you're still not afraid?' asked Satan.

'Nope,' said the old man.

More than a little perturbed, Satan asked, ' Why aren't you afraid of me?'

The man calmly replied, "Been married to your sister for 48 years!"

Yet another....

Ethel is a bit of a demon in her wheelchair,and loves to charge around the nursing home,taking corners on one wheel & getting up to maximum speed on the long corridors. Because she and the other residents are one sandwich short of a picnic, they all tolerate each other & some of the blokes actually join in.

One day, Ethel was speeding along the corridor when a door opened and Mad Mike stepped out of his room with his arm outstretched.

"STOP!" he said in a firm voice. "Have you got your License for that thing?" Ethel fished around in her handbag and pulled out a Kit Kat wrapper and held it up to him."OK" he said,and away Ethel sped down the hall.

As she took the corner near the TV Lounge,Weird William popped out in front of her and shouted, "STOP! Have you got proof of insurance?" Ethel dug into her handbag ,pulled out a beer mat and held it up to him. William nodded and said,"Carry on, ma'am".

As Ethel neared the final corridor before the front door, Bonkers Brian stepped out in front of her, Stark naked, holding a very sizeable (for his age) erection in his hand.

"Oh, no!" said Ethel, "Not the breathalyser again!"

P E A N U T S
A tour bus driver is driving with a bus load of OAPs down a highway
when he is tapped on his shoulder by a little old lady named Bev.
She offers him a handful of peanuts, which he gratefully munches up. After about 15 minutes, she taps him on his shoulder again
and she hands him another handful of peanuts.
She repeats this gesture about five more times. When she is about to hand him another batch again
he asks the little old lady, why don't you eat the peanuts yourself?
'We can't chew them because we've no teeth' she replied. The puzzled driver asks,
'Then Why do you buy them?'
The old lady replied, 'Because we just love the chocolate around them!!'

It pays to be careful
around old people.

News from the front

2009-01-22T22:17:00.001-08:00

Aren't recessions rubbish? Luckily nowadays there's no need to march on London as you can get an off peak, red saver, day return ticket for £5. Hurrah!

Here, as the last of the corned beef runs out,Dave Thomas' grand pappy works out where the best cuts of meat will be.

Well yesterday was "interesting" managed to get my gas & leccy down by £40 a month. Hurrah for me! So worth ringing your provider & playing with hard balls. Tell them you are switching to British Gas ( although never, ever do. Yes there is a tale there....Transco must also die) Why so many tariffs? Why can't I just pay for what I use at a fixed price? Why am I not on the cheapest tariff you do anyway? Why are you asking me what my useage is, you provide the chit surely you know better than me? Why make it soooo complicated? Come the glorious revolution this will all change. Anyway Imran Khan (no really, he's packed in politics to work in a call centre) got there in the end. Good man.

Also got my TV/media bill/n chit down by £37.50. Not Sky - but this is funny -

http://www.weeklygripe.co.uk/a586.asp

Anywho hoorah for Sandra. I was so pleased with her servicing, I had her entered into the draw for employee of da month. Could be a prize in it for her. Did it at the wrong time though as it will all be cancelled off before the Direby vs Tricky Tree cup tie. Bum, sorry Bro....H is out tonight wi her lady chum so can't even go t'pub. Oh well. "Shall we just watch it on teletext like in the oden days?" Will also not be able to watch "cats gone bad either" or the 24 hour DIY SOS channel. Will miss the sports news stuff & the kids will lose all the rubbish stuff they watch. Hey no bad thing, screw you Disney channel & your poison. We will, however, have more money to pay for food, So that's good. More time to do other stuff as well perhaps. I feel oddly cleansed. With cancelling the papers as well I've now cut expenditure by £100 a month. Should have done this a while ago methinks.... that's £1200 a year to spend on women & booze. Well not all of it...... I'll just waste the rest

Boom, boom I fanku. Here all week folks, some tickets still available at the box office.

Useful linkage - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

H is applying for a single person's reduction on the poll tax, sorry community charge, for us both. Yes, he much "fairer tax" than the old rates that's now many times as much as it wa'..... Altogether now, can't pay, won't pay. It's a fair wedge & they didn't take my glass yesterday as it was 6" too far onto the EVM estates for them to get the box...... Mothers.... Anyway, if I paid for two of us all this time, how come when one of us goes it's only 25% off? Now I am not bad at maths & that seems a tad poo.

Back in the day, well 1990, there was an outcry against the introduction of the poll tax in Thatcher's Britain. In this pic. a very young Soapy( in da hood) regrets getting lost whilst running an errand for Lord S. Then asking a Policeman where one should have got off....the bus.

My application for increased child care welfare benefit jobseeker money is still going through. How long does it take? I am clearly a single working lesbian mother (albeit trapped in a man's body) who needs state aid for booze. Show me the money! That reminds me, is Tom Cruise the least convincing Nazi ever? Been told the bloke he is supposed to be playing was actually over 6'.

Not quite sure the kids get the "saving money" thing. Tom was on the laptop yesterday with the lights off to "save leccy". No Tom, having the candle light on is fine just don't think you can have the laptop on for 3 hours......so on goes the X-box or Ps instead.......sigh....made him a lovely stick & hoop to play with as well. Not sure my "return to Victorian values" idea is catching on yet.

This weekend I will mostly be on E-bay & mending the kids shoes with card.

Pips
Dave

2009-01-19T07:59:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time, a beautiful, independent, self-assured princess happened upon a Frog as she sat, contemplating ecological issues on the shores of an unpolluted pond in a verdant meadow near her castle. The Frog hopped into the princess' lap and said: Elegant Lady, I was once a handsome prince, until an evil witch cast a spell upon me. One kiss from you, however, and I will turn back into the dapper, young prince that I am and then, my sweet, we can marry and setup housekeeping in your castle with my mother, where you can prepare my meals, clean my clothes, bear my children, and forever feel grateful and happy doing so. That night, as the princess dined sumptuously on a repast of lightly sautied Frog legs seasoned in a white wine and onion cream sauce, she chuckled and thought to herself:

"I don't f*cking think so!"

Whassup?

2009-01-18T21:41:00.001-08:00

Well that was an interesting weekend.......

Went out for a pint or three in the local meat market with Moz on the Friday. Do you good says she. Moz was fine company indeed but still felt like my right arm was missing. Not used to going out without the dearly beloved & kids. I've not missed much by all accounts, half cut women on the razz/stalk. Blokes with tatts on necks looking menacing & stalking the women on the razz. Some normal peeps too...but... Oh well some like it, I am sure H is a popular lass when she goes out. Not really been her thing either, but with Ali saying how great it is I guess she feels she is missing out. No longer my cup of char, rather have a drink/meal with the mrs & let the kids play. Chit I got old at some point. Mind you I'd not say no to a drink in that sort of place with the H. Just she don't wanna go with me right now. Just her mate. If I say she's gorgeous, she's heard it before, if some random says it I suppose it seems better.

We also missed the sign saying IPA was £1 a pint & duly paid over t'odds all night. Hey ho.

Saturday was footbo training with the U8s then Tom's lot usual weekly hammering. My nemesis kept his back to me all the time. Cards duly marked mate. What a coward bounder & a cad. Way I was brought up was to front up, reassure, apologise & shake hands. Not hide away. Still not everyone lives by the Jedi code.

Late tea of sausage cobs mit der fries. TV was a bit bobbins, H nearly paid for a filum then realised I was looking ashen faced at the thought of paying £4. LOL. I is a bit worried about financing the new regime. Need to watch the pennies.

Sunday's game for Jabba was called off as one of the opposing teams Mums had passed away aged 32. Puts it all in to that there perspective really. H went off to get a birthday pressie or two & cancel the papers. Well it's £200 a year I could spend elsewhere & time spent reading when I should be doing summat else. Like on here...well no, not exactly no.

Spent the day a mooching & doing a spot of cleaning about the house. Loaded dishwasher, put stuff away. Been a bit slack last few days as reality dawned, no matter what I do, she's orf. Didn't really get a lot done. Kids room, the master bedroom hoovered plus the stairs, hall & utility room. Tom's mate was over to go on the X-box so I couldn't do the lounge...honest...although da boys did do the polishing for me. Have to go a lot faster than that soon! Kids did tidy out some stuff they never play with & I did train T in the art of dysoning. One of the key aspects of the new living arrangements will be that the poor sod will have to help his old man out a bit.

Anywho, all I can do is use the 3 months apart to sort the decor at chez EVM hope she misses me a bit. I mean, who wouldn't? Gotta be positive right?

First up is a long overdue window in the master boudoir, never had the funds to do this before. Although we probably had, we just spent it on other stuff & "got by". Think H has had enough of "getting by" & wants some positive action. Have sold my painted Beja to fund the window. Should have done something like that long, long ago. Do still have a painted Osman Digna up for grabs though if anyone is interested. Very nicely done even if I do say so me sen.

Got the quote for a new radiator. Plumbers, well they are having a laugh right? A week's wage for me for a few hours work for them? Sorry H. no new radiator, the old one will be cleaned out & repainted.

After the window I will be doing some stripping (ooer mrs.) Hopefully the plaster will be ok. Then hoping H will show an interest (i.e. I haven't a clue) in choosing the new colour scheme. I had picked out a duvet set that horrified her. "Too batchelor pad" said I? She picked out a nice cream/choccy one before realising the very act of having an opinion enabled me to straw clutch.
See if she doesn't help....I'l just think "what goes with choccy?" Will just end up with mint green walls & she'll hate it, thus popping a nail in the coffin of our marriage. So if any of you chaps have a lady in tow please feel free to consult & advise.

Then it will be new carpet time & about time. The current one had not been down long before I had rather an unfortunate accident following a rather good night at the beer festival. Perhaps a cream carpet was indeed a bad idea as we've had to use a rug to hide the evidence ever since.That said it was rather a spiffing night out. Think that was the year Ali came too & they bullied the band into playing a song by standing at the front & looking purdy. Life must be hell in a band. Many a happy night was spent with H on the sticky floor of the Victoria Leisure centre wassailing & that. One memory was of seeing a rather ratted chap on his knees behind H paying homage to her rather perky behind. Much to the amusement of his chums. He was harmess enough & to be fair she does have a lovely bum. Always useful having H at the beer festival. Quite a male dominated event & having H in tow ensured the crowds parted & we never had to queue for long as the kindly men on the door were always very keen to let her in.

So window, decorate, carpet, new bedding....done. Then it will be on to the hall & that really high drop top o the stairs. can't wait. I love heights me. Luckily sis has offered the abuse of bro in law for the decorating. Think I will need some proper plastering doing so I am trying to press gang me bro's mate into da project on a "pay you one day, honest" basis. Hoping he'll help with the understairs too.

After that, planning to spruce up the utility room, although the back door could do with replacing. Won't have the money to do that unless The H returns home. Won't be able to do the lounge either as that window will cost £1500 & I see no sign of getting that sort of money spare anytime soon. Bum.

Nice honey roast gammon joint for dinner. Yum. Will miss Sunday dinner with the family all together most of all. Not sure if H sensed this but she took pity on me & suggested she would still do that for us all each week. Hopefully things will remain on an even keel for that to happen. Plus she says she has a bigger dining table than ours.

As we get on so well, know what each other is thinking & are generally best buddies, bar the usual niggles after 15 years, you have to wonder why we are doing this. Of course H does not see them as mere niggles but a build up to a mahoosive problemo. There's the rub innit & the diff between blokes & wimmin in a nutshell. H has been explaining chit & did admit we have no chance of understanding the female mind.

EVM relationship tip number one

If they say they don't want flowers on Valentines it means they do want flowers but not then. Well you can get them, in fact you had better but they really want them on some random Thursday for absolutely no reason at all. The times you do get flowers are forgotten but the times you don't are cast in stone to be hurled at you at a future point.

See for me, if I hear a bloke has sent his wife flowers randomly, I know he's done summat wrong. I never fell into that trap. No guilt, no flowers.

Been told some blokes go out on the lash a lot & being around all the time has been my downfall. Treat 'em mean & that. Not my ting.

Oh yeah & Sunday night Panthers probably chucked the chance of a league title away. As I don't know if I'll be going next season now, it would have been a fitting end to 25 years of watching to finally win it. Somehow losing a two goal lead then conceding a penalty shot winner with 1.55 to go to the side second from bottom, containing a few ex cats, does seem a damn sight more apt. Double bum.

Still Dancing on Ice was on when we got home & H had got a bottle of cider to share. Marvellous. Think that's what I will miss more than owt, she always knows when I need a drinking buddy & best chum.

Pips
Dave

With apols to the good people of Dewsbury.

2009-01-14T22:59:00.001-08:00

'appen.

Well chums, stuff moves on a pace at EVM Towers. At least now I know what is happening & when. Just got to make t'best of it & hope it goes the way me & t'kids want. All I can do is try I guess. H. says I can be very trying at times so there is hope there then. The eternal optimist in me thinks "we want to be togevver" as the advert said. Only hope H has time & space to reflect on the positives points of our marriage. Yes, I did use the plural. oh & the fact I love her very much.

Best get back to work & that. Not been able to focus on that much recently as paintin' takes a fair bit of...........er where was I......? Oh yeah, paintin' takes a lot of ......er....concentration & that.

Pips
Dave

2009-01-05T07:47:00.001-08:00

I am aware of my failings at home over past years. I am aware what I have done very badly & have a pretty good idea of what I need to do to rectify things. Blaming no one but myself. Knowing everyone makes mistakes may not actually help on this one. Chit indeed happens. Sadly I am not so sure it will be enough or that I will have time to do what I need to do. Too little, too late it seems. Whilst I should probably not use this Blog to share my wounds with the world is oddly theraputic to admit I have made a total mess of things. That said the past is the past & all I can influence now is the future. The house needs work doing, the kids will need things & I'll need funds to get by.

So dear chums it's a case of realising some assets as financial peeps say. That basically will mean selling off all my lead both painted & unpainted. It's not a fire sale, I can survive without new windows and carpet. The most urgent work I can probably find a way of getting the money so all sales will be at what I feel they are worth. That will be quite realistic for the quality so fear not! I am just looking to get a rainy day fund set aside for me & the boys. As we all know chit happens.
Something will be of interest to someone at some point & it'll be enough to see me through.

Off the top of me bonce, items up for grab will be.

Foundry Greeks/Spartans. A very large army. Pics are here - http://getsparta.blogspot.com/
Probably best to sell by the unit. As I say I'll list full details but these will be at the £8.50 painting price plus a quid for the casting. Anyone wanting the lot can negociate a bulk deal I am sure.

The Merciless Mercians - 2k WAB army as painted on these very pages. Go to the start & see it progress. 180 ish minis from memory. Nicely done in a speed paint stylee & up for grabs at £900.

Mid period Saxons. An almost done army of the large shielded, very versatile Germanic univeral soldier of the period. Useful for all sorts of stuff. Again £5 a pop, sold in units GB, Musketeer & Foundry minis.

Early Saxons, as above, not complete but sure you can sort that. Useful additions to your warband.

Perry Mins Sudan- About 90 Beja. Decent standard of painting £6.50 a pop. I'll base them as well if you like to your specifications & that.

French Naps. 2 units of 24 in march attack £160 per unit. Fpundry & Perry metals. Mounted officer chap as pictured on here back in the summer @ £20.

Foundry Ancient Germanics. Various painters. Roughly 125 foot & 12 cav...might be wrong on the cav. Anyway foot £5 each & cav £10.

Other stuff as well as I sort it out. First come first served, will sort pics as time allows.

Needless to say this blog will die a death as my priorities change. Thats for all your support & may I wish you well with your gaming.

Pips
Dave

New year, new start?

2008-12-31T02:10:00.001-08:00

Well probably more of the same really.

Mucho bigger efforts required on the domestic front I know now what I need to do & can only hope I get the chance. I've been as the French might say "un petit burm ole" at times. Big regrets, I've had a few.

Almost time to say ta ta to 2008 & in some ways I am quite glad. That said at times it was a very good 'un. The family van sur le mere meant a fair bit of time was spent on jollies with the family. Marvellous. Easter was brilltastic. Early summer was good despite the weather. Well so I thought at the time. Seems now it wasn't. Scotland despite me, was pretty damn good. Only downside was how I was becoming in the old bonce dept. Whether that was a cause of el problemo or a result of my growing awareness of el problemo is open to debate. Probably a bit of both. Depends on what side of the fence you are on I guess. Mistakes were indeed made. I am willing to put my hand up & admit "guilty as charged m'lud". I do miss happy smiley Hellie more than she can imagine.

Time is a bonzer healer as the Aussies say. Just hope I get it.

How will this all turn out in 2009?

Well I am hoping all will be quiet on the domestic front in time & there's a return to the happy days of old. First task was to ensure we had a "good family Xmas" which I hope we did. I had a spiffing time.

A brief run down..........no York shopping trip meant Xmas shopping was done online plus an hour of the hell that is late night shopping da city. Kids in tow, no pub lunches so no fun & not all that festive at all......Despite H's half a dozen "works do's she also confessed not to being all that "Chrismassy". Well neither was I really but the worry was it was somehow my fault. An Xmas night out together got cancelled due to a clash wi' Tom's footy do, a meal out together never happened due to time/money constraints. H always had summat else on or the kids had. I'd get in, H would be out or going out & it was a pretty lonely old time really.

Xmas Eve, washed the car & then went to see my Mum, who was in fine ish spirits, hurrah! Seems to be settled into life in the home & the staff seem a decent lot. A quick nibble of Turkish Delight & it was off to collect H from work at her mid day finish. The sight of her smile as she came down the works steps was probably the most beautiful sight in the world. Her morning seemed to consist of one long coffee break so you have to wonder at the wisdom of making them go in. Ours is not to reason why.... Then it was a short drive to the wife's family seat in deepest darkest Derbycestershire. We made it over the border quite safely.

After lunch we settled down to that there Willy Wonka filum that they always put on. Leaving H in charge we adults all had a doze before Ali & Keef descended on us. Christmas nibbles were laid out & Keef "I am not drinking this year as I always ruin Xmas day with a hangover" set about a bottle & a third of Port. With his reputation? I set about the beer kept in the downstairs convenience. Well not actually in the bowl, but near enough to make it a one stop shop. Genius.
Ali was on soft drinks, very unusual....

We settled down to watch the DVD of Derbycestershire's wedding of the year, cousin Becky to cousin John. (Cue banjo duel) Ok he's not actually a cousin....or is he now? Oh .....dunno...nice people, great wedding & a spiffing day up country. Anyway, the DVD was a hoot even though they cut out most of Keef's best rude bits. Great fun & yes H did steal the show off of the bride. Obviously.

Ali then drove Keef home with a promise she'd get him up in the morning (ooer).

We settled down to wait for Santa. Tom managing to stay asleep until ooooo 3am......H read the riot act about not waking anyone else until nearer 8am. At about 7.30am da boyz opened their stockings and that. Cups of tea were made by the outlaws & the boyz proceeded to dog fight with 2 planes Santa had provided. No Tom.....I said it's a Fokker.......

The boyz resisted the large pile of goodies to enjoy a very nice breakfast. H had sagely agreed they could open one pressie before Ali & Keef arrived. They singled out a large box that looked like it might just contain an X Box......Amazingly Keef & Ali arrived for 10am, just as brekkie was finished. Mucho paper tearing & throwing ensued. Santa brought Jabba a 40k boxed set, "Assault on Echo Beach" or summat. He likes Orksies....Tom seemed pretty keen to nab the dreadnowt..... and paint it blue? Odd that..... I got the Crusader rules, with the Pubic wars & maccadonkymen supplement. Much as I love WAB, I have a hankering to try summat new. As I won't change H or my religion that only leaves rulesets. A new army using existing lead may follow. Yeah right... H got some gifts from me. I'd chosen them from making notes in recent weeks & months about what she'd like plus using my nous as to what she would find useful but personal...no hoovers or hedge strimmers. I'd like to think it was about right, she wasnt ttally enthused but seemed happy nuff......bit surprised at the die cast model of a Lotus Elise.

She did get a rather smart jacket off her sister & some other nice chit. Had iI failed he...should I have saved for those diamond earrings after all.......

The kids seemed pretty pleased anywho & H had got me a couple of nice tops, so I was sorted. Keef got the kids some team Keef racewear chit for the up coming karting season. Looks like he bottled getting owt for H although thinking back.... I am sure he took her chest measurements once.........

I suggested H view the details of the model car, it's specs and chit. After a puzzled look she obliged me & found the letter confirming her race day in the Lotus at Donny Park. Well I say day...it's a couple of hours with about 15mins actually driving the thing, but I did get a smile & a hug later at bed time so I'll take that as a result. I think she like! Got summat right at last She's had a long wait bless her. Can't say I've been a good hubby in the last few years.

After a pooch walk I settled down a beer or two. A brief thrashing on t'X Box at COD5...I can't see the Japanese being too happy, bet they get a diffo version.....really no need for that start people. Then onto a lovely dinner. Turkey oddly, with all the chit. Marvellous. A fine gorge. H's mum does do a mean roast.

Time drifted by & I set off mit der hound for a short walk. That went onto be a long walk. probably over an hour in duration but i did get to see some lovely big houses & all the deccys. Quite enjoyed it & it woke me up after the beer,wine & tuck. Worryingly it took nearly 50 mins for anyone to notice I was missing..... On my return H said the kids had been worried & she was concerned as I could have had a heart attack. That's surely a good sign? No mention of insurance money either. Yep gonna take that as a positive.

We then settled down to play various party games as supplied by Ali. Quite a hoot & mucho laugh. I suppose you had to be there really. After being on the same team as H on "Partini". Ali moved me over as she is convinced H & I each others minds.....oh how I wish that were true.....sadly it isn't we just seem to be quite good on giving each other the right clues in the game. "Who's in the hat?" we are particualry good at. Keef seemed to be feeling the effects of the Port, the In laws & kids are just hilarious at it.

Managed to just about keep Ali's secret from her dad. She is now a fully qualified member of the motorbicycle babes club & now has a full licence, a bike plus leathers & chit. Most of her pressies off da Keef were bike related so she had to leave them at home....awwwww. Yes I do have a pic of her in her leathers & will attempt to get a pic of her new bike, a Kwak 650 nutter ting. In the mean time you will just have to use your imagination. Probably not a good idea....

No,no,no...

Closer yeah...

Boxing Day morning was a slow start. kids were up earlyish & I joined them on the XWing ting for a game of footbo. Usually I am rubbish at these but on this game I was merely incompetant. I quite liked it. Big EVM recko for Pes 2009!

Brekkie was skipped for brunch them we set off home for preps for a visit to my Sister's gaff sarf of the river. More pressies for da boys & a set of wine glasses & some vino for H et moi. Nice. Tea was not just tea....it was M & S tea.....very pleasureable.

Home for Pirates of the Three Bean Salad and a beer or three.

Next day we set off to watch the Panthers beat that lot from up the M1. A tense game won in sudden death over time. Tom & I were not in our usual seats as we let H et Jabba have them. We won, we bloody won, we indeed won. At last one of my lifes nemesi ( plural innit?) was smacked down. I do love the smell of victory & there have been precious few at times recently So all good. Can these Panthers end the 25 years of my personal wait for a league title. Smegging hope so. Chum Moz has of course been waiting 29 years...which is nice. Tom a mere 12 & Jabba just 7.

Since then I have been struck with the lurgy, splutter, splutter. A viscious strain of man flu. Everyone else has had it so I was about due. Not managed a lot other than annoy H with it & assemble some Orks for the Jabba. Go together nice. Will they will get painted soon...? I dunno. Damn that Santa. Tom has some more Vikes, but I never even got them cleaned up let alone painted so big hush,hush there. Will do for Easter....or next Xmas.....bugger.

Anyway, have a great night tonight & see you in 2009...well probably won't actually see most of you but....ta for visiting & the kindly comments.

Pips

Dave

Just seen on TMP

2008-12-24T00:03:00.000-08:00

Yeah Ok I don't go there much & now I have, I feel really dirty... but anywho

Saw a post by the NZ wargaming leg end that is Mr Roly Hermans ( add own drum roll)

http://dare.paradise.net.nz/roly.html Nice!

In answer to the question..... "Best Wargaming Blog of 2008" he scribed thus:

"Finally, there is another blog I enjoy which, while it covers wargaming, also covers the day-to-day life of the writer, his wife and his sister-in-law. It is very humourous and entertaining. For some reason, I now can't find the link, or even remember the name of the guy or his blog – but someone might recognise it from my description and provide the link …"

Sounds good, if anyone has the link, would they please let me know. I'd like a read of that.........

Personally my vote would go to Mr Giles Allison Esq. or that there flutterby fella.

That's all folks, Santa hats on, lets gorge & cavort!

Oh I suppose the Xmas blog entry here at Evm Towers would not be complete without pics of lovely ladies scantily clad in Xmas attire.

So pandering to the masses I'll leave you with this

Hooters girls of the Canadian variety. See it's not all snow, bears & ice hockey is it? I don't think the one in the cowboy hat is very bright. The brief (stop sniggering at the back Jones) was clearly to dress "festive"......so she came as a barbie pink cowgirl?

Er hello?

Mind you $5 for a pitcher of Coors is decent value? Oh, you've not spotted that yet? Keep looking....

Chrimble pips

Dave

Seasonal Gruntings

2008-12-22T23:52:00.000-08:00

Well suppose I'd better let you know I am still alive. Yup I am.

Thanks also for the kind messages & stuff. Really nice that so many took the trouble. Hows tings I hear you ask? Well been better. As some of it is of my own making I can't really grumble. Doing my best to make those things right & ignore the stuff I have no control over. It's not easy & I'd not wish this on anyone. It has forced me to take a good long hard look at chit & got me to prioritise chit & that. So trying to make a positive thing out of it. All that middle management training might yet pay off.

Did enjoy the latest WI & in particular the the very articulate article on T'evil of t'internet. Found myself nodding in agreement several times & found a few home truths contained therein. Have to concur t'internet can be a good thing but also an evil mofo biatch mother too. It has had a part to play in the turbulence here at EVM towers. My nemesis used it as he sought to break the fellowship of the ring. I'd also add to the list of evil that most infernal thing the mobile phone.

Kill them.....

So best wishes to you all for Christmas & the New Year. In 2009 may you tame the beast that is t'internet. May a mobile phone never cause you any chit & I hope you manage to get through that lead pile & get in some decent games & that.

In 2009, I resolve to try to be a better hubby, dad & photographer of ickle lead alloy men. I'd add "better lover" to that list but hey let's not try for the impossible.

Pips & seasonal chit
Dave

Apologies

2008-11-18T03:00:00.000-08:00

Well that was quite definitely the worst weekend of my life. Had a few bads ones but that one topped everything that has gone before. By some considerable distance. In fact by some considerable distance & then some. Plus a lot more.

I've said things on this Blog that have probably contributed to the situation I now find myself in. I regret that totally. High hearted banter, a bid to amuse, a way of letting off steam or just blind stupidity has helped lead to to where I am now.

Time to try to, if I can, repair that damage & save the one thing I hold most dear. Not totally sure I can do that so it might be a while before I post here again.

Pips

Dave

Warlord lovliness

2008-10-29T02:33:00.000-07:00

In the metal form & that.

All photos & copyright by the nice chaps at Warlord Games who are now all 1 year old. Big hurrah from EVM Towers.

Now on to more depressing news. I saw a copy of the "Foundry Compendium" wot contained stuff painted by me that was totally uncredited or credited to other depending on your viewpoint. Legal action is of course underway & the lashings of cash coming my way by way of compo for my distress & that will be spent mostly on the wife, kids & beer.

Don't pulp your copy until you are sent a replacement though.

Top eye candy here -http://www.sdean-forum.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=14555

Here - http://www.sdean-forum.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=14557

Oh & here - http://www.sdean-forum.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=14548

Drool tastic stuff. All hail Mr Imrie's retrurn to painting the spear chuckers.

Pips

Dave

Perry Miniatures, Plastic Napoleonics

2008-10-24T06:08:00.000-07:00

As it says really.....Swiss by myself, lights by Mr B. Even better than the ACW they did. Very much like painting the metal except they cost like 35p each & the box include flags & bases. I did maybe 8/9 head swaps too as lots of head variants are supplied in the box. Standard!

In fact I like these so much I'll be getting a few & even stocking them in my all new online webstore........which will be done & up & running when webmaster Tom's laptop is unbuggered.

Pipsios

Dave

stuff

2008-10-07T01:09:00.000-07:00

Da Greys update added. Cos I know you care.....

Lots to do to catch up after bad back last week.

So er bye

Pips
Dave

A warning to all chaps!

2008-09-30T22:12:00.000-07:00

My dearly beloved has been all a gog at the recent series of "Strictly come prancing". Briefly, an old fella & a northern bint ( in frocks of varying awfulness ) preside over various "celebs" tarting about with professional ball loom prancers. Whatever they are. They are then subject to praise or ridicule by a foreign johnny, some lass, a kindly uncle & a camp fella unable to find other work since the demise of the "carry on" genre. All very confusing to the layman & as is the way with most programmes these days, one couple is culled each week in a money spinning excercise for the Beeb.

Why do I mention all of this? Well, two weekends ago Hels, lured me into watching what all the fuss was about. I do vaguely recall there was a pretty little American lass in this programme once. Alas she is no longer in it. H did spy a possible alternative by the name of Ola. A rather plain little blonde thing really.
Helen says she has a very attractive face & figure. Who am I to argue? I was too busy watching Andrew Castle's sublime foot movements to even notice. Anyway take a peek here http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=g4hJSx9VjkQ

To my untrained eye he looks to have nailed it.....so to speak.

According to H she looks better without make up, Ola that is not H. Although H looks equally good with make up or without. Lets just make that clear right now.

H is in posh new stuff for work this week bought in the Next sale & is looking mighty fine. She's down to her fighting weight now & will probably stay that way right up until the Chrimbo gorging season. This year we are stealing her Mother's grub & no doubt I'll be feeling all uncomfortable over "the incident of which there is to be no more mention".

In other news English education is clearly improving. Yesterday Jabba was taught a few Dutch words by two pretty young things over here to erm...dunno. Young Dutch women in the class room has to be a positive move though dont ya think?

Pips
Dave

footbo

2008-09-28T09:41:00.001-07:00

Just updated the latest thrilling installment of "Da Greys". It's a tear jerker so hankies at the ready. Expect it on BBC2 anytime soon.

Pips
Dave

Word up!

2008-09-20T08:49:00.000-07:00

Public service announcement

Lost in Derby city centre "somewhere" on Friday night. One mobile phone containing a fair quantity of pictures of a lady of a semi nekkid nature. Ok pretty much nekkid bar her perfume in some. If anyone should find it could they kindly return it to Ali via me a.s.a.p.

Muchos graciarse & that

Pips
Dave

Same old same old

2008-09-16T22:27:00.000-07:00

Had a sly smile at http://gilesallison.blogspot.com/ Up at only 6:30am? Slacker........ 8-) Still 12 minis a week shows utter devotion to the cause & puts me to shame. With Tom's birthday Vikings done (late, sorry son) tis time to catch up on all the little jobs for people that have come in that I don't seem to be getting time for. Quite depressing really. With no footbo game booked for this Sunday I had booked a pitch for an inter squad game. Then H decided we can go a karting & has been a bit "off" since I said I couldn't go thus knackering her plans to get sloshed with Ali & do croaky. Even my suggestion she go on her own was rebuffed. I am also in the pooch house for not paying her much attention at the footbo last weekend. Funny that I reckon if Ali is about I could go absent for 2/3 hours at least. As long as the kids were ok, she'd never notice. See also under "what happens at parties" & "Scotland the Blog" when I get round to doing it. Still, must make more of an effort at the footbo. Of course her standing on the opposite side of the pitch to everyone else was not a help to me.

Today's "I wish you were dead you bar steward " look was prompted by me taking in a box at 7am of Avon gear for another rep. Address is round the corner, done it for someone else before & usually they pop round & get it when they are up & about.

"Got an extra box for number 8"
"Why have I got it?"
"Courier couldn't get an answer there, thinks the house was that new one & no one is in yet"
" I don't want it"
" I have done it before, he'll tell the head office they will pop & get it later"
" Can't be number 8 if it's the new house can it". The "you idiot" being silent.

Yeah ok, I am scum, I took a box in for someone else thus ending the world as we know it. Quite what the full implications are for mankind are I do not know. At worst I will strap it to my back (post flogging & salt application) & crawl round the corner with it. Probably with the addition of a placard around my neck saying "kick me, I did something my wife took a dislike to".

In the big scheme of things I reckon it's up there with the keyboard playing bloke from "M People" doing a "Homer" with the Hadron Collider.

"Doh!"

So basically I should have told the bloke to feck off then. "Can you take a parcel in for me" is one of those things that people just do innit?? Just being good citizen. I wonder what else I will feck up today? Probably everything.

Mr Tarleton Quarter is on dodgy ground leaving the TV remote in his lady's care though. Next thing he knows he will come in to watch the footbo or a programme on the Hitler Channel he's set a reminder for, only to find it's episode 47 of "Albania's Top Model " & he can't possibly watch it until Mrs TQ finds out what happens to Candice, Foofoo & Jodie. Wouldn't mind but they are always well rough.

More tales of marital bliss here - http://www.sdean-forum.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13650 Not sure what will be worse when it hits, hurricane Ike or an unhappy spouse......

On the painting table.......still...well actually way off to the side but I can still see them. Two Armourfast Tiger eyes (think about it) & a Puma. Having found very useful details on dunkelgelb http://www.sdean-forum.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13590 I slapped yet more paint on. Then did some camo patterns. Not happy with the camo but it's got to the stage where after several months it will have to do. Who cares other than the period Nazis. No, no not real Nazis the ...oh don't worry. Moving on.

Got an urge to paint 28mm WW2 again, dunno why. Resisted the temptation to buy 8 packs of Crusader British paras for £20. Already got the Foundry set still unpainted. Could do with the guns & that though. Oh well another time.

With the dark winter months approaching.....well ok after this summer, the even darker months I'll need summat to spur me on. After high level chats with the high level chaps at Festung GB I think it's about sorted. Been a lot of talk that with the credit crunch & that, 28mm is proving expensive to some. Well the cost has indeed gone up but I don't think it's as bad as that yet. See previous rants about the hobby being quite cheap really compared to other hobbies. 10/15p extra a mini on an army of just over 1oo figs is still not that bad. The idea is to have a monthly budget & painting target & over a few months build up to a WAB army. In my case a 1500 pt Saxon Sea Raiding force. The list I will use with minor tweaks is by chum Tony.

http://evmsearaiders.blogspot.com/

One batch a month should appease the tedium demon, leaving time free to do other stuff. Like the Romano Brits to oppose them. Mid way through "Enema of God" by Bernie C. All good stuff.
Wolf tail warriors, black shield Oirish & now Dirwrnach's blood shield bad boyz (tm). Ripping.

Pips
Dave