Painting toy soldiers

New Years day I decided to paint some wargames figures for the 1st time in well ages, by that I mean possibly 10 years, and at least 5, can't remeber when I last got my figure painting brushes out.
Anyway my figures of choice were a selection of Games Workshop Eldar on jet bikes, these were plastic figures and what I did realise is how long they would actual take to assemble so it was Thursday evening by the time the glue had set and the undercoat sprayed, I put my basic coat of paint on as the picture below, but I think I have another 3 or 4 hours work yet, but I must say the break in painting history was worthwhile since I'm actually enjoying painting the figures again, plus I have a reason, a target which is another game in Chimera shop with my mate Jock and anyone else who wishes to join in. Jock received a few packs of GW figures and as also started painting again.
I have ordered another pack of Eldar figures which I hope to collect this weekend if they arrive.

New Year

I have a New Years resolution and that's to loose weight, after loosing 1 1/2 stone in 2005/2006 I put 3/4 stone back on in 2007, I want to loose weight again, so that means reducing comfort foods like those cakes I love, I've already cut out crisps, biscuits, & ice cream, sweets I can do with out anyway, so my next target is bread, currently I consume a loaf and 12 bread rolls a week, I want to halve that by buying a smaller loaf of bread or freezing half and buying less rolls, then I need to replace the pizza in my diet with something more healthy (suggestion welcome).

That's my New Years resolution, I actually spent my New Eve at Tom & Esther's with Julie and Dave, the only other person I knew there was Niki, it was a quiet party the kind I like, perhaps a little too much Maelstrom but I should not complain I was in the majority of Ascendancy players at Sam's party and perhaps we went on bit much there in front of other guest.

The other thing I did at the party was sniff Esther scents from the Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab something I been fascinated by since Esther, Helen and few others started collecting all these scents with wonderful names like Mad Sweeney, Burial, Cheshire Cat, I tried on Neil Gaiman's Agnus Nutter which smells of Gun Powder and the one that made me interested in smelling them in the 1st place. They were great by the way one day I will order some, not sure what I will do with them if I get them, gifts perhaps who knows.

So Happy New Year everyone.

A bit about my Christmas

Christmas day spent at my mums, but apart from my sister my other 2 brothers and kids did not stay for Christmas dinner which was traditional turkey, brussels etc. why don't we eat brussel sprouts more often they are a fine vegetable.

Although my brothers did not stay we did open all the family presents at my mums which is a little tradition, still possible because we all live within 30 minutes of her, my nephews got a remote control helicopter each which they flew round the house, my mothers cat could not take her eyes off them, pupils fully dilated she occupied the high ground wherever the helicopters flew although the kids had stern warning to keep them away from the cat.

I bought my mum a learn to paint kit and make your own doll, something to do now she has fully retired, at this moment I'm not sure if they are a good idea or not I will only find out if I see them used. I also bought the same make your own doll kit for my friend Deb which did get appreciative comments.

On Boxing day (the day when we make boxes and have boxing matches of course its a Family thing *wink* ) I went to Andy and Linda's, I spent the afternoon at a football match Derby County v Liverpool and then went back for tea. I saw their son fellow larper Christopher for the 1st time since he went university, but didn't have chance to speak since he was going out with his girlfriend. I bought his sister Katie a silly hat for one her present unfortunately it actually suited her, dam I had accidental taste, but the one I bought Linda was silly enough to get me in trouble.
I left Andy and Linda's early evening since a cold was brewing and my brain had switched to standby mode, so I never got to play Kill Dr Lucky, which I was hoping to do and went straight to bed with a lemsip.

Thursday I was knocked out and did very little except sneeze and wipe my nose, I couldn't read or do anything so just focused on the telly, Friday I was meant to be at work, but woke feeling dreadful, and that combined with the time of year I decided not go in, but I'm now feeling reasonable, so tomorrow I may venture outside the house.

Oh and Jasmine had a strange scary glove bought her photo below which she loves.

Its not long to Christmas now...who's excited?

On Saturday night I went out with my super hero friends 'The Whistler Killer' with side kick 'Soft Lad' and the unstoppable 'Squeaky Brat Boy'.We went to busy pub that has lots of quiet rooms no large screen TVs, no pub quizzes, no steak nights (that I know of) called the Dead Poets because it walls have photos of dead poets on them. We learned mainly of Squeaky Brat Boys tangled loved life which is far too complex to explain in less than 2 very thick books. A most enjoyable evening The Whistler Killer silence a few whistler while Soft Lad ran to the toilet every so often since he has a weak bladder. The journey home was only memorable because of the thick fog and poor directions mainly consisting of take the next t..... yes that one we have passed, once would have been acceptable, but reversing up dark single track roads 3 times was a bit much.

By the way I can't tell you my super hero name since those of reading this may know me and therefore learn my alter ego.

Sunday I woke up sure I had a cold, I had aching legs a sore throat and felt cold, but by lunch all the symptoms had left apart from thickly cough, colds don't go that quick so who knows what was wrong.

I spent the evening a Ste & Debs ordered in a Chinese meal and watched American football which Ste is addicted to while we chatted.

Today well for some reason I found myself buying extra presents even though I had everything bought and wrapped already, nothing much those fun under a tenner stocking filler gifts that are more for the humour of gift than the gift being actually wanted, a spent a couple of hours chatting to my friends A & H in their shop, then visited Jock and Bridgette who were each in separate rooms of their house wrapping each others presents before returning home to wash the car and watch the film Lemony Snicket's.

That's my weekend, it now Christmas eve evening, so best wishes for Christmas to anyone who has the time to read this and everyone else for that matter.

PS Not sure I like having all this time before Christmas, much prefer to work Christmas Eve

Richard

Photos from the Dad side

My Dad (the one with the pipe) with his brothers and a Aunt.

Great GranddadH with a lump of coal for carnival guess the weight compitition.

my Dad's dad, GrandadH in the army

Great GrandmaH during the war as a untilty driver

Great GranddadH on his land

My dads other Grandma, Great Grandma T.

Where I was born, land workers hut, me & parents lived totally in the one room hut on the left, (I was to young to remember) one of my Dad's Uncles had the caravan on the right.

GrandmaH the one circled.

There lots more photo's in my online album but you will need to ask me for the link and password if your interested.

Trip into family past

Last night my Dad made his annual visit to see me and brought with him as well as Christmas presents to exchange and pile of old photos.

My Dad had decided as eldest son to hand on to his eldest son loads of family photos, death certificates and other papers, so we spent a few hours going through his memories, a photo of Kenneth his brother who died aged 7, he told me of my Great Grandma who was re-married after my great granddad who shot himself with shotgun, she had 15 children but only 9 survived.

Both Granddads were miners, but apart from that my father side of the family were farmers and I was born on a farm, so it was nice to see some good picture of the farming activities, plus photos of various great grandparents & grandparents during the war my granddad on horseback, my great grandma driving a very old car in some short of war support service (she never had driving licence but didn’t need one then) a uncle who was eventually torpedoed in the war, some good photos which would look good framed (I may scan some and put them on this blog).

I also now have a family tree from my father side; my mother side had already been plotted by one of my Aunties.

He also left a large antique framed photo of my Great Granddad that I will find somewhere to hang in my house.

My 1st Cat video