Mission to Tashkent

My library has increased with the purchase of "Mission to Tashkent". The adventures of Colonel Bailey in Bolshevik Central Asia in 1919. I purchased it from Edwin King at Diplomatist Books, a painting challenger and source of the best random books on all the things we love.

Any book that has an introduction called An Absolutely First Class Man and an appendix on the species of butterflies he spotted whilst in disguise amongst the Bolsheviks is going to be a cracker. Just the thing for Back of Beyond.

Right, of to pick up a paint brush for the 1st time since Saturday. Could be another meagre entry this weekend as I'm also gaming all day Sunday with the Old Guard in Northallerton. Huge Sudan battle with all of Dave Docherty's toys - about 1500 figs and 7 generals. Could be messy 

More Mail and a change of plans

So the plan was to fight a battle today, table set up, figures ready, story sorted. But then post and facebook got in the way. All really good so no complaints. I'm still affected by the Christmas virus and run down, so things are a bit of a drag at the moment.
First up the post came today, 3 parcels

Chinese militia for Back of Beyond - Northstar

Yetis to scare the Chinese - Northstar

Detectives, need a couple of these for the challenge and my painting duet with Edwin

Oil Derricks - ebay. useful post about 1880

The Great Game - Diplomatist Books - Edwin

Diplomatist books again 

Edwin was generous to send me a handful of skulls - much appreciated

I've been hanging about with the Old Guard Wargames Club and had a great games day the other week. We are having another games day and I'm playing Impetus with my Romans. Never played it before and have to spend some time rebasing the legions. That will be this afternoon,s job. A slackers work is never done.

Shopping and Vampires

It seems appropriate today to show my completed Alnwick Vampires. I've had a busy weekend with friends visiting from the South. A 2 day tour of Newcastle is hard on the legs and the liver.

View of the Tyne from the top of the Baltic Art Gallery

Halloween obviously and I've been done by loads of witches - down to last lollipop

I've bought a lot of things recently

Tynemouth Market - a great source of history books

Diplomatist Books - Edwin has such interesting stuff

Static Grass - Tynemouth Market - £1.75 per bag (should have bought them all)

The Angel Gang - my favourites and only £12.50 (still dear but 1/2 price)

And now back to the Northumbrian Special Constabulary - The Alnwick Vampires. Sorted out the photography

Officers and Miss Mina Harker

All the figures are Empress via Col Bill except Mina Harker who is either Warlord or Copplestone- anyway bought from Dice Bag Lady at Partizan (I think). Not a terribly precise sentence for an engineering scientist.

Been a while since we had some decent music and I heard this today. Love song from my youth