Introduction 2.

Thought I'd be a bit more ahead this week. The college I work for is going through an OFSTED inspection. So despite working one day a week, I have been allocated a TON of stuff to do (in addition to my teaching) therefore little time for modelling.

I did make a start on Fredrickson and his Chosen Men should finish them this week. My plan is that our first episode takes place on a narrow boat, so I need to construct one of them.

Photos (with luck) next post.   

Backstory___________________________________________________________________________

The parlour door opened and Molly’s visitor met her lodger.

“Captain William Fredrickson, I presume,” he said extending his right hand in greeting.

“I am at a loss, sir,” Captain Fredrickson replied, taking the proffered hand.

“My name is unimportant at the moment. I know well of you. My colleagues on the Iberian Peninsula spoke well of your talents. You worked with Mister Sharpe, did you not?”

Fredrickson bristled at the mention of his, one time, friend.

“It is so.”

Both men took a seat.

“Captain, I have a mission suited to particular talents. The niece of a cabinet minister is missing just north of here on another peninsula.”

“It’s hardly a task for a soldier.”

“There are complications. Some kind of plague has infected the Wirral Peninsula. The minister requires a particular type of individual to recover his relative. The local Yeomanry have sealed of the area and we require you to lead a band of chosen men onto the land and rescue the young women.”

Fredrickson turned his head and glared with his one good eye. The visitor thought he grimaced, Fredrickson was smiling.

“What a ruse, might I have some written orders, please?”

The gentleman handed Fredrickson a finely decorated sabretache, “your orders and maps, for what they are, are contained within. A barge, The Lady Jessica, will be waiting at the canal at noon the day after tomorrow. She will take you to Saighton Barracks, just outside Chester, where you will take command of your muster. Well, sir, the rest is up to you.”

With that the gentleman rose, shook Fredrickson’s hand and left. As he passed through the parlour door he turned.

“Give my regards to Molly and good luck Sweet William.”

Fredrickson jumped to his feet at hearing his familiar name from a stranger, but the gentleman had gone. Settling into the chair he filled a pipe and opened the sabretache.

Thanks for reading. Keep warm.

Lorcan.

First Post - 2016 - Introduction 1

In an attempt to drive my new project forward I am determined to blog at least once a week. This is the first.

My new characters have been; delivered, cleaned, based and undercoated. Paint has been bought along with a pair of new brushes. Santa brought me a nice new camera, so some practice with that is needed whilst the painting is being done.

It has started!


Backstory___________________________________________________________________________

Molly Sheldrake did not mind having soldiers ‘billeted’ upon them, especially the officers. But this one bothered her. It wasn’t that he was rude or impolite, far from it. He was charming and educated. It was just the way he looked. Now a gentleman was calling for him at half past ten in the evening.

Reaching his room Molly rapped on the door, “Captain, sir. There’s a gentleman in the lounge to see you.”

The sound of stirring came from within and her guest’s accented voice sounded out, “thankyou Molly. I’ll be there presently.”

Molly scurried back to their visitor not wishing to face her guest at such an hour.

“The Captain will be here shortly,” Molly said bobbing to the well-dressed visitor.

“Thank you miss,” he replied, “tell me this now. I’ve had many good reports about this officer. But what is he really like?”

“The Captain, Sir, is a gentleman. But he terrifies me.”

He gestured for her to continue.

“His face, Sir. He has no left eye and wears a patch over it. His right ear is all but gone and his face is awfully scarred and covered in stitches which makes it look like he is always snarling. His false teeth, he says, once belonged to dead Frenchmen and he had them tooled to fit in London. He is, Sir, truly frightening.”

“Thank you once again, miss. He seems perfect for the job I have for him.”

Molly bobbed once more and slipped from the room as the footsteps of her lodger sounded on the stairs.

Some of you will be familiar with this character. He is one of my favourite fictional inventions. He will be soon entering a world populated by the undead.

Have a good week, see you all in the blog-a-sphere.

Lorcan   

Janus Post 2015

Well it's that time of year to look back and to look forward.

I had GREAT plans to get into gaming in 2015. However, life got in the way. I gave up the job in the power station and took a full time one forty (40) miles away in deep dark Cheshire. It didn't end well and this sort of sums it up.

As a result my entire gaming life practically ground to a halt. I concentrated on VCBW at my sister site (http://lrqan2.blogspot.co.uk/). It sort of went OK but my ambitions far out weighted my time and that slipped into oblivion.

On the plus side: That job ended and I got another one. This one part time and suits me better, It does need some behind the scenes addition but I'm nearly on top of that now, coupled with my volunteering with addition of the RWC the last third of the year picked up.

For 2016. I missed zombie gaming (and writing) so I'm going to start a new campaign; post an adventure every month and continue to work on the VCBW, in the background. (As if by magic the figures have literally just arrived through my door. A very good omen.)

With that may I wish you all (and your families) a very happy and prosperous 2016. Thanks for popping by and see you all soon.

Lorcan.

Happy Christmas everyone - More to come.

Still at it!

Wanted to get this post in before the end of the month so I wouldn't be that awry.

As it happens I got a monthly game of ATZ in. The next installment of Ernest's adventures. There's been some issues with my camera. I was hoping for a new one off Santa (maybe it's stuck in the elfin post?) I didn't want to post without photos, therefore I'm waiting to see if I can recover the shots. I'm also the unofficial photographer for the heir's rugger team. As such I don't want to F%&* up tomorrow's match shots. If they aren't retrieved the AAR will be sans photos. (I don't really like that) but it does mean  there'll be two batreps next month.

This week's photo is my current read. If you haven't turned it's pages, you really ought to track down a copy. If you are into military matters, it is a splendid read. Written from a soldiers' view point with a great eye for the detail that only comes through the intimate knowledge of the environment.  This coupled with a writing style that is eminently readable and not at all condescending I thoroughly recommend it to anyone with interest in the field.

Well gang, stay warm, dry and safe during this cold snap.

Lorcan.

Back in the saddle

OK it's a bit late for the first weekly post. I have been side tracked. Gaming wise it was X Wing, real world wise, a pal of mine has needed help with his Masters Dissertation and all my writing effort has gone into this. It has to be in by the end of the week so that will be that and I can get back to what I enjoy!

Where is this going? I hear you cry. Nowhere, really just explanation.

I intend to return to my hillbilly stories. Why? Well the character, Ernie Carver, is based on a pen friend of mine, Ernie. How I knew him is a complicated story, he existed in North Carolina. Sadly, he died in November, of natural causes (he was the same age as me), so I intend to write a short novella about him. This will be based on his (fictitious) experiences in zombie filled backwoods where he grew up and his real experiences as a backwoodsman. In his later life he got involved with 'native american' spirituality, another complicated story! Therefore I may try to weave some of this into the tales.

I trawled the internet and I found this picture. Which remarkably is not unlike a rugged Ernie.

 And so my friends by the end of this month I hope to return you all to the woods, backwoods, hamlets and towns of North Carolina and the stories of a 1920's zombie hunter.

See you all soon in the ether.

Keep safe, warm and dry.

Lorcan.

Janus Post 2015

That time to look back and see how I got on with last year's plans:

1. Get a new job. Pass. A great part time job as an education officer, tour guide at a local power plant. The company is super to work for and it is so different from what I did. I enjoy it immensely. Sadly it is only part time and I would like more hours. Saying that I have volunteered at my club as the 'cellar man', which I also enjoy a great deal. I'm giving myself 1 3/4 points for this one.

2. Blog once a week. Fail. As I had to take that sabbatical and I wasn't really into it this year. 0.

3. Game at least once a month. Fail. I only got a couple of games up this year. 0.

4. Civic improvements. Pass.  Sorted out the garden, the hall, tumble dryer, lots of other little things. More to be done though. 1.

5. Drive on with VCBW project. Pass. Although I didn't game it I did write half a novel on my campaign. I'm going to carry this forward. 1.

6. Get to at least two wargame conventions. Fail. No excuses not one. 0.

7. Get fitter, loose weight. Fail. Completely  the opposite. In my defence I have had a broken foot which didn't get fixed and is still painful. So I'm negating this one.

Therefore 3 3/4 out of 6. Not bad but must try harder.

Other: Retirement, not so good. But then I went on a rugger tour with my eldest lad, which was just brilliant, although the reality of aging hit me between the eyes. I had a fabulous holiday with the family. We went on a cruise in the northern med. Pompey, Rome, Cannes and Barcelona. Super, this takes the biscuit so 2014 was a resounding success. 10/10 for none resolutions.

2015: I'll bring forward those I failed at and let life take it's course. Seems to have worked last year.

Miss January 1960

All the best for 2015 to you and all your relations and friends.

Lorcan.