Song of Ice and Fire

Probably, like me, you have read your fair share of fantasy novels. If you're like me, you find yourself disappointed more often than than you find yorself inspired. Every now and then, however, you come across a gem amongst the dross which makes all the effort and perseverence worth while; authors like Steven Erikson (Malazan Book of the Fallen), for example. In my view, though, there is one name which stands head and shoulders above te others ( and even a hair;s breadth above Tolkien, if that's not heresy !). That auther is Geoge R. R. Martin. I've been waiting since 2006 for the 5th installment of the Song of Ice and Fire. It came in July this year with A Dance With Dragons. This is the 5th volume in the saga which begins with A Game of Thrones. HBO are doing a superb job of turning the books into a mini series on Sky Atlantic, but the sheer sweep and number of characters in the books necessarily makes any television adaptation, however well done(and HBO's is very well done) a shadow of the majesty of the books.

Do yourselves a favour and read them !!!!

On the painting table 1st december 2011

As you can see, its a crowded table ! Here are some High Elves I'm painting up for my god son (not based fully yet, of course). Lothern Sea Guard.

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Sword masters of Heoth:



Some new 1/285th Challenger Is for my 1984 Cold War Commander British force, mostly Chieftains at the moment:

Another battalion of 15mm French for my Waterloo game (long term on-going project):

And here we have a unit of 32 x 28mm Sassanid Persian levy spearmen. I'm painting up a Sassanid Persian army for my friend Paul (and a 28mm Alexandrian Macedonian army for myself). The plan is to do the Field of Glory (FoG) competition at PAW in Plymouth in early February. Watch this space for pictures of the Macedonians. At this point I have a minor gripe against Wargames Foundry. I ordered over £500 worth of figures from them back in May, and have been steadily painting them up ever since. When I came to start of the Companion cavalry I couldn't find them. They weren't in the box, and I hadn't moved any figures from the box they came in.  I thought I'd orderd 7 blister packs of the things,but couldn't find proof. So, I ordered replacements form Magister Militum (So much cheaper !). Well, the other day, I was clearing out my e-mails and came across my order forms. I e-mailed Foundry and, I was pleasantly surprised, they agreed to sendthe missing figures. A week passed, so I chased them up. Oh no, their policy was not to replace after one month. Now, I thin this policy is relatively reasonable, but to e-mail me to say they would send the figures, then change their mind but not bother to tell me they had changed their mind I thins was shabby, particularly bearing in mind how much Foundry charge for their figures; £13 for 3 x mounted figures... that;s more than £4 each !!!!!





To quote David Frost... Hello, good evening, and welcome

Wargaming's a funny old business. The act of lining up a bunch of toy soldiers and taking photographs of them with the intention of selling them on ebay got me thinking I should dip my toe in the bloggersphere... so here goes....

Apparently there's a recession on (!) and wargamers aren't exempt ! I'm selling these space marines in order to re-invest some of the money and to use the rest to bribe Father Christmas to bring my daughter some Christmas pressies !

Here is a gratuitous picture of my Eagle Warriors Chaplain; 'cos I like him...

I shall miss these guys; assault terminators...nasty !