A Sad Update

Hello Everybody, 

It's Stuart's son here. I'm very sorry to let you all know that Dad passed away yesterday, in the hospital with my mum beside him. 

He was finishing up another book that is in the process of being published; I'll let you guys know more details about that once we get some more immediate issues addressed. 

Dad's blog meant a lot to him - he loved sharing his projects and what he was working on with you guys. He'd been working on here for 10 years! I wanted to thank you on his behalf for the support on here and with his other work, and let you know that it's been a real honor to share such a special man with you all. 

All the best to youse. Spend some time with your loved ones and let them know what they mean to you. 

Lewis

Taptoe

 Things move at pace. Sadly in the wrong direction. The meeting with the consultant yesterday was not a good one and a heavy blow to my family and I. 

I share this with you because in December I had no clue and no symptoms of cancer that stood out from life's normal aches and pains. Know your body. Speak to your Doc if Anything Changes. In my case my relatively young age, and relatively healthy body means the cancer has advanced very quickly. 

I'm not away quite yet, and hope to be comfy enough to get  couple of games in. 

For now I leave you with a line from the Battle of Maldon

Hige sceal þe heardra, || heorte þe cēnre,

mōd sceal þe māre, || swā ūre mægen lȳtlað

"Will must be the harder, 

                         heart the bolder,

spirit must be the greater,

                         as our might lightens."

So I guess it's time for an update

 Prior to Christmas I thought I was a little run down stressed tired and worn out. Y'know, the usual end of year stuff. Busy job, busy life. 

However that feeling didn't go away so I went to the doc. Some tests and a referral later and I was in hospital for a CT scan. I have a mass on my liver blocking my bile ducts which is caused by cancer. This is probably coming from my bowel. However this can't be treated until the bile is managed so I have has two procedures, one to fit plastic stents, and then to replace them with internal metal ones which allow things to flow. The second procedure was quite tough and gave me a real kicking. A good direct chat with my consultant today gave me a clearer picture and I'm quite comfy.

What happens next depends on lots of factors. 

But while I am in, I get a lot from your posts and blog updates and gaming news. I can't push my own lead  around the table yet, but I enjoy seeing your stuff. 

The support I've had from my hobby friends has been great. Keep up the great work, you'd be surprised how much people get from what you share. 

Hors de Combat.

I have been taken unwell and am currently awaiting tests to determine specifically what is wrong.

Unfortunately this is rather serious and it is likely that my Wargaming and blogging will need to be suspended for a while. 

Sales of figures advertised will be on hold as I'm not able to pack and send them. I apologise to those who got in touch and asked for specific armies, but events have overtaken me somewhat in the last week.

Back soon. 

Sad News - Graham Cummings.

I heard from a friend of the passing of Graham Cummings on Friday. Graham had posted on his blog of health issues and like others I assumed that despite their serious nature that he would be back gaming soon and I'd get to catch up with him again. Sadly that was not the case. 

Graham was a very kind generous person and always had a smile. As the owner of Crann Tara until sold to Caliver, he not only carried my two books but also arranged for figures to be sculpted to match the sometimes unique troop types found therein. He was very supportive and encouraging of both projects and it was always a pleasure to sit with him for a game or just a chat. Graham was a wargames gentleman.

He will be sore missed by his family and friends and by those in the Wargaming community who knew him. 

For Sale

Please take a look at the for sale page. 

There will be more to come.

Proceeds from the sale will all go to charity and there are some lovely figures. 

2024 Begins.

Well I didn't manage to end the year with a game as my car broke down on Hogmanay, scuppering our plans, but we had a fine Chinese takeaway and watched Jools as the bells came in so a nice relaxing end to the year. 

We first footed the Hilditch's on the first after being picked up by Graham and whilst our better halves chatted we kicked off a game with Graham's 40mm SYW figures. Nothing planned - we just threw down some terrain and picked a force of Reichsarmee and a mix of Prussian Fusiliers, line and garrison inf and hussars.

Using Jim Purky's one page SYW rules we were soon under way with Graham's horse charging my leading unit of Fusiliers while I tried to get the rest of my infantry up the table and off the line of march into formation. My cavalry, two units of hussars had no one facing them so off the galloped hoping to get round the rear of the allied force and cause plenty mischief. 

Despite a battering my fusiliers held and despite being forced back were themselves able to drive off the Reichsarmee horse. Graham's foot, a Swiss unit and a German one were now pressing down on my Prussian line while the garrison rgt formed up, refusing its flank. A small detachment of jäger managed to get off a few shots which delayed the allied La Mark rgt and gave me a breathing space while my battalion gun shot up another unit, further blunting Graham's attack. The hussars continued their ride....

On my right I was able to get both fusilier units into line and stabilise that flank. The last of Grahams cavalry took a volley and turned for the rear. In the centre La Mark had reformed but now had a unit of my hussars on their flank which effectively pinned them. The centre was still a bit of a tangle but odds were equal. 

There we left it as the smell of cooking and rumbling tummies got the better of us. But we will continue just as soon as we're able. 

Graham's was kind enough to give us, our sons dog which we were looking after, and our bags etc a lift home yesterday since we didn't have a car (worst time to break down, thankfully it was only a couple of down yards from the flat and not on the country roads).  Now we are back I have started to put my 40th anniversary plans into action and have ordered what will become the Ziggurat and some more plastic conquistadores as I've used up all of mine making pike and shot units.

Good to get '24 off with a bang!