Stuff and Partizan

 It's been a while, or it seems that way as other things like the missus and the good weather drags me away from the computer

First up games, I missed one night at the club after the What a Cowboy game and went back last night with some Italian Wars to introduce Jimi to the delights of pike warfare. I gave Jimi a small French army and I took along what I could of my Imperials with some French substitutes where needed. I kept it simple with a flat open terrain on a 6x4 table, quite small for an Italian Wars game to be honest, it is not a small game period and although I see skirmish rules for it, you are not playing Italian Wars.

I digress, as I rolled my initiative dice I found my army lacking in aggression, so the French were on me quite quickly, things were fairly even on the flanks, I won on my left and Jimi won on my right. By now the infantry had clashed in the centre and at first it looked good, my Spanish Pike even managed to halt the feared Swiss. It did not last long and just as the cavalry of both sides got into position for flank attacks my pike blocks fell apart, there was no real need to go on and as the troops take some time to put away I shook hands and congratulated Jimi. We had a couple of Hazards which thankfully had no effect on the battle, although on a larger table I could have been in trouble with my mercenaries.

Next week I am back on the Eastern Front with an early war game of Bolt Action against Simon. I have also booked a couple of games in June with Matt Crump, first up our sixth campaign game as I attack the Russian supply depot with a Panzer platoon and a game later in the month at the Dungeon. I think I am beginning to regret the use of the Panzers and should possibly held them back until game seven, but the die is cast.

I have manged a bit of painting and a resupply from TAG and Steel Fist. First up was a lovely unit of Spanish Jinette light cavalry, I will have to get some more of these, secondly I started on my second Spanish pike block, the front ranks are done and I mixed in some sword and buckler men for interest, I am now well  on with the mid/command ranks and the whole should be done in the next couple of weeks, a slight slowing down as I have my granddaughter visiting for two weeks, also I am getting some arthur itis in my hands or repetitive strain injury, whatever it is it gives me gyp during the night.

And now of course Partizan 2023, I was not going to go as I had nothing to get and the two books I wanted Duncan at Helion offered to post them out, Julian decided he was going and offered both Stuart and I a lift, so I succumbed rather than spend a lovely day in front of the computer. The weather was gorgeous and we arrived then minutes before opening, Rob was hosting a participation game on behalf of the club so we had a base of operations if required.

Well done Rob.

What a Cowboy.

Simon Miller, Ipsus.

Ditto.

Very British Civil War.

SYW.

WWII.

India?

SYW.

ACW.

Ditto.

The show is probably the best wargame show in the UK, a good balance of traders and inspirational wargames with the emphasis on the latter. The hall is large, airy and there is plenty of room despite it being busy. I had a word with the lads on the Helion stand and picked up the two books I was after having been offered a hefty discount. I caught up with several bloggers whom I know and said hello to Simon Miller and discussed his upcoming Montrose scenario book for which I drew the maps. Apart from the books I only got a couple of pieces of scatter terrain, some brushes, tufts, flowers and wire pikes, so not a bad exchange for my bottomless fiver.

I haven't seen Duncan for a while and tried to catch up last week but he was enroute to Pinewood Studios with a jeep, or rather a Russian jeep type vehicle. I popped up this morning and ran into all things Russian, he is building a Russian Humvee type vehicle on top of an old truck chassis, it looked like a lot of hard work is involved so I kept my distance. I wandered through his parking lot and took a few pics. The big Russian eight wheel APC is a brute of a thing, it doesn't actually move at the moment but it could, my favourite the German (Czech) half-track is out on a job at the moment, I really must get a ride in that one day.

So, I am up to date for now, it is my 48th wedding anniversary today and the flowers have arrived to keep the memsahib sweet, as will the meal out tonight. What a romantic.