Home thoughts from...

...well, home; where else in this time of lock down, self isolation, endless depressing news headlines and bl**dy cats on Farcebook? You might guess then that I’m finding it all more than a little tedious. In truth, I feel as if I’m throwing endless double ones in the game of daily life...

Just as well then that I have a hobby to distract me! Although my hobby output and related activity is nothing alongside some -Ashton, this means you! - I’ve found both distraction and comfort in equal measure from my own modest output, but more importantly from following both blogs and Facebook posts of my friends and other fellow hobbyists. Keep it up chaps, you are seriously helping to save my sanity.
I’ve enjoyed following friends who have been posting reports and pictures of games they have played, solo or by media with live opponents and by email. For myself though none of these appeal in the slightest, I enjoy the face to face nature of a game played out over a table we can both see in its completion. Nevertheless I have enjoyed Phil’s three run through of a WWI I scenario with three different rule sets, Colin’s mammoth FRW games set within a campaign context, George’s several games and especially his remote naval campaign and Matt’s ACW game played with distant opponents using technology.
There’s been lots of great painting on display too, though I still get uneasy when I see posts on the Black Powder Facebook pages which ask questions which seem to suggest a complete lack of any knowledge of history in general and the period in particular. I feel like shouting out, “Buy a book!” or even,”Try googling it for yourself!” But of course I don’t, I leave it to those with deeper wells of patience than I possess to deal with them and I move on.
Following some good advice I read from a former prisoner I’ve tried to cope by dividing my day into short segments. As is usual I generally paint first thing, though now often for 90 minutes or more in a couple of bursts interspersed by breakfast and ablutions. Sue will generally be reading while I’m busy at the paint desk, but then we generally get together to tackle household tasks and plan the day’s menu. After lunch I try to read for a while, currently Martin Walker’s Bruno crime novels, though I’m still dipping into Trudeau’s ‘Southern Storm’ dealing with Sherman’s march through Georgia. After that we usually go out for a walk, being quite lucky really to live right on the edge of the city so we can walk in a more rural setting than many. Then after a tad more painting, or other hobby activity, and dinner we settle down separately to watch some TV. Hardly riveting is it? But it has helped so far in coping with the strange situation.
Currently I’m painting another unit of Dixon Miniatures ACW Union infantry as the 39th New York Volunteers, otherwise the Garibaldi Guard. Not though in their distinctive 1861 uniform, but rather as they might have appeared by mid war. I’ve also given them three flags, adding a GMB Designs New York Volunteer flag to the two in the dedicated set including the Italian tricolour. They are a ragged firing line, but I think they will look good when I’m through with them. I’ve found it so relaxing to dip back into my favourite genre that yesterday I ordered up another unit, in frock coats and Kepis to represent the 55th New York State Militia, the Gardes Lafayette , because I had the flags and liked the colours of the early uniform.
As you’ve probably seen by now I’ve also made two more small buildings for use in North American settings, though I’ve still to tackle the Star Fort to Vauban Fort project I bought earlier in the year. Besides these I’ve completed two articles for Wargames Illustrated and had the responsibility of taking my own photos to accompany each piece. I have learned a good deal from Dan in that area which I hope may feed into better blog photographs in future. Despite all this though nothing substitutes for my family and friends, so all who read this PLEASE stay at home, so that when we can meet again none of us are missing!