While we may in the Dog Days of Summer in the Northern Hemisphere, I continue working toward keeping the gears of hobby activities turning over. Turning over slowly, perhaps. Intermittent bouts of heatwaves have stifled some activities but the underground game room offers solace from the oppressive heat."Turning over slowly" is, indeed, correct regarding my output at the painting desk. I have a number of units in work but few are making it out the other end. Seems like the normal routine has become, cycle in the morning, take care of any domestic duties, catch up on email, and then go downstairs for a painting session. What often happens is that the process gets derailed when I go downstairs to paint. Fatigued from cycling, I sit down on the couch with a book in hand and cold drink on the table. Before you know it, one or two hours have slipped by and I never made it to the painting desk.
Well, fighting that inertia, off the painting desk today is one 23-figure regiment of Spanish infantry for the 18mm SYW project. Foot figures are Old Glory led by a Eureka mounted colonel. Flags are David's from Not by Appointment. Regiment is Granada.
A number of other units are in progress including an early spurt of undercoating several batches of figures before the cold weather sets in. Now, this is really planning ahead!
On the gaming front, two games are on the schedule for this week. Both games feature the Battle of Cheriton in one-on-one games against a single opponent. With the steady stream of hosting and umpiring games, I seldom actually get a chance to take command. This week is different. On Wednesday, I faced Mark in humiliating defeat. Later this afternoon, I face Peter in our Home-and-Away series of Cheriton battles. Below is one of the photos from Wednesday's game which sees both armies locked in combat along the hedge-lined lane.
With some luck, I can put a spin on this debacle after Mark's memory fades...
I've been fighting a bit of lethargy too; last weekend was made into 4-day one (Friday and Monday off) lots of plans besides Britcon, but achieved none of them. Did some sorting of flats but utterly failed to clean any up.
ReplyDeleteI note a few bloggers are struggling with motivation at present. I'm sure humid heat and cloudy days don't help, but perhaps it's just the time of year.
The one thing I did do was catch up on sleep! It's a great pity I can't paint in my sleep!
Neil
Neil, is it lethargy or age catching up with us? I know cycling in warm weather can really take it out of me. I reckon my recovery from these exertions takes longer than when I was younger and temperatures were cooler.
DeleteThis is a hobby so we should not feel pressure to produce on a regular timeline but, I know, we do. You have a very good excuse. You are still active in the workforce!
It’s good to see that you have at least been able to catch up on sleep!
Excellent unit Jonathan. Summer is always slow. Plus, I just can't paint when even my palms are sweating!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Richard! You cannot paint when on holiday either!
DeleteNice to see the return of the Spanish. And it's lovely to see your ECW figures close up.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Chris!
DeleteJonathan, Older needs to be wiser as well, just spent two days recovering from two days of working on the patio. I got very little painted on a cavalry unit,but progress is progress! ! Definitely take more time for everything, especially in hot ocold spells.
ReplyDeleteThat said, nice new unit, bravo.
Good advice, Joe! I still cycle daily but my body needs a rest day every week or ten days. You're right that any progress is progress. Just finished up Cheriton with Peter and it is time to relax after dinner.
DeleteGlad you like the new Granada regiment.
Lovely looking unit Jon, nice to see more Spanish units, the OG figures are great, good sense of movement in them. Summer always sees a downturn in hobby production and impetus for me, work and gardening always seem to take precedence but what time I do get in is always a bonus and a treat to be honest. Looking forward to seeing the battle reports on the Cheriton encounters.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Donnie! Always lots to do outside in summer. Typically, mypainting productivity turns up in August. I need to get cracking if that will the case this year. Both of this week’s Cheriton games are in the books. Now to find time to chronicle them. Two very different games but with similar results. Jon gets thrashed!
DeleteOh, say it ain't so. I consider solo gaming but I don't trust my opponent.
DeleteIt is so. Both Mark and Peter gave me a pounding. In post-game discussion with a Peter, we concluded that whomever hosts tends to lose in our games. I think we are just polite hosts!
DeleteA nice looking regiment. I think we all suffer with a bit of lethargy, especially in the heat. But nothing wrong with also catching up on some reading
ReplyDeleteThanks, Neil! Reassuring to see that reading is an acceptable diversion to painting tasks at hand.
DeleteA handsome regiment; well done. An interesting (offbeat I suppose but therefore all the more interesting) period; what's not to like?
ReplyDeleteholidaying shortly BUT biking every day rather than just the weekend (what sort of holiday its that?). Have snuck in some plastic AWI Brits to construct and perhaps some HYW English... We will see! And of course new projects to consider.
And upon our return a new granddaughter to spoil; now that is going to put a crimp in painting progress.
Thanks! WAS may be offbeat but we have enjoyed refighting some of the northern Italian battles very much. Daily cycling is habit forming, keep at it! Spoiling a new granddaughter is a recommended activity too! I have three but not so new.
DeleteNew projects? Tell us more…
An excellent unit their Jon and glad you are able to find some time an energy too paint. I know our heatwaves are cooler than yours, but the humidity is the killer for us and it really does sap the energy and motivation to do anything! Sitting down to read is so easy to do compared to an early moring bike ride, but at least I have been getting out a bit more this past week or so. Still my damaged knees need more rest than they used too!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Steve! Great to see you returning to the bike. Cycling is a low impact exercise for damaged knees. Much better than running.
DeleteBeautiful new unit Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michal!
DeleteThe ECW lads, like all of your units are beautifully painted and based. I count myself very lucky to get to play with them - even if it’s at a tad more than arms length. Cheriton is a tough one for the Royalists!
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated! When you are ready to make the commute, my table stands at the ready for F2F contests. Cheriton is proving very tough for the Royalists. I am 0-2.
DeleteAnother fine addition to the SYW collection, I look forward to reading of your defeat and upcoming victory? Summer tends to be a lean time in the hobby front with plenty of fine weather "stuff" to distract one.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Phil! There will be no retelling of any victory from me. I am winless in this week’s two games. Still, the company was superb.
DeleteAgainst all that background, it is impressive that you can read for an hour or two …. At the moment, if a pick a book up, someone casts a spell on me and I immediately nod off …. Oh Dear! :-)
ReplyDeleteNorm, I may have left out the propensity for me to do like you!
DeleteIf reading indoors I do tend to nod off or the eyes become too heavy and thus need to take a break. Luckily today I've just sat outside with Cozzens' Shenandoah 1862 book and have been wide awake, which is nice, helped in no small apart as it's such an excellent read:).
DeleteCozzen's Shenandoah book is a good one!
DeleteAnother nice looking unit Jonathan…
ReplyDeleteI think my mother would have described what you and I are doing at the moment as Pootling Pottering….
I think it’s a healthy thing to do in hot weather…
Slow and gentle progress everywhere 😁
All the best. Aly
Thanks, Aly! I much prefer your mother’s terminology to “lazy”!
DeleteI certainly 'pootle along' and definitely 'potter about' when in the garden, which makes me feel I'm doing something when in reality I'm not doing much at all. Still it feels good!
DeleteIf one can waste time while still providing a sense of accomplishment, you are a master.
DeleteGiven the title, I had thought this might have been a clever play on words announcing another battle report from the biblical era. Painting output notwithstanding, your summer routine sounds like a fine one to me (I have rediscovered my actual "books" in the last year or so, and have also rediscovered sinking down with beverage and a book). In the Army, I sojourned many summers and winters in Eastern Washington (at the Yakima Firing Center), and I learned some new lessons about heat (and cold) there.
ReplyDeleteNo Biblical references this time although "Dog Days of Sumer" would have been a good one.
DeleteIt has been a hot summer here with more 100+ degree days than I recall. Late August often sees the temperatures moderate in Eastern Washington and this year seems no exception. Perhaps you should consider a trip Out West to revisit your old stomping grounds?
Great work on the new Spanish unit, Jon, and I look forward to reading all about both battles in the not too distant future 👍
ReplyDeleteThanks, Keith! Maybe I can get one of the reports out over the weekend but they both require me to enter The Spin Zone.
DeleteHmmmmm.....I think their may be a clue to the results in that comment 🤔!!
DeleteThere are clues everywhere!
DeleteActually just scrolled up and read a few of the earlier replies, which leave absolutely no doubt about the results!
ReplyDeleteYou make a competent detective.
DeleteCycling, cold drinks, reading, painting, wargaming....it's all good. Come winter less time doing one- more on the other- it balances out over the year Jon.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement!
DeleteYou need to slow down even more if the rest of us are to make any in-roads 'against' you Jonathan!! :)
ReplyDeleteThe hobby has so many facets. Catching up on reading is a key part, for you as it is for me, I think? So, it can be rewarding in its own right. While I can and often do listen to podcasts, music or part-watch/mainly listen to shows or films, I am yet to find a way to read and to paint at the same time.
(Same goes for writing notes, orders of battle, scenarios or other enjoyable aspects)!
Regards, James
Thank you, James! Yes, reading and study is an essential facet to Wargaming and rewarding in its own right. In developing the Cheriton scenario, I had more than half a dozen references at hand with two different theories on how and where the battle was fought.
DeleteThat's another excellent looking unit Jon. I know what you mean about a lull in painting. I'm suffering the same effect at the moment l!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ray! Trying to hammer out another unit this weekend but I have two BatReps to write as well. For me, summer is tough with so many other distractions.
DeleteYou may say ‘things have been slow’, but your output still outstrips that of many/most of us, Jon! I’ve just read Peter’s blog posts about the Cheriton battles - they look and sound like excellent games. (…and beautifully presented 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼).
ReplyDeleteThanks! Both games with Peter using different rules and slightly different battle interpretations produced two enjoyable games. I will tell my side of the battle narrative in due time. First, I need to write my account of my Cheriton battle with Mark.
DeleteExcellent looking unit, trying to get back to 5k runs every other day after work is cutting into hobby time, that and having to follow work to the principality so being in digs Monday to Thursday cuts down painting time, I think Mark seems a tough opponent from what I've read!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain caveadsum1471
Thanks, Iain! Work definitely cuts into hobby time! As for Mark, well, he is a very cunning opponent. I rarely get the proper measure of him. I know I will get a wily and tough opponent with every game, though.
DeleteIt might feel slow but that sounds like high productivity to me; got a unit done AND played two games. And I’m glad you got a chance to play versus just host. 😀
ReplyDeleteOf course, you are correct, Stew. It is all a matter of perspective.
Delete