ALY MORRISON'S "BUTTERFLY" ADVENTURES IN THE WORLD OF WARGAMES AND TOY SOLDIERS

Saturday 8 February 2020

A Visit to Edinburgh...

Greetings...


Last week the real world called me back to my birth place...


I managed however to make a couple of escapes back to the world of toy soldiers and... Castles.


I also met up with a couple of really good friends and fellow blogger... M S Foy (AKA Tony)... and what a jolly fine chap he is indeed...


So Edinburgh Castle ... One of my favourite places to visit... even on a stormy day...




Okay... I cheated a bit and used some photographic effects... But it did indeed rain the whole time I was there...




The New One 'o' Clock Gun...





Dougie Haig...




This picture fails to show how windy and wet the day was...





This would be the real One 'o' Clock Gun...


And in no particular order some images from the castles museums...











Pal!... If yer names no on the list you can #&%$ off...













There would have been many more... but the batteries on my phone ran out .... now.


My friend David and I also paid a wee visit to The South East of Scotland Wargames Club...
There was a good selection of games from fantasy to the far flung future... a couple of games caught my eye...









A very fine Marignano game...


Much more to be found here...
http://meneken.blogspot.com/2020/01/marignano-1515-september-13th-duel-of.html





Also a very nice Risorgimento game...


Hopefully I will now find some time to paint some toys...




All the best   Aly

24 comments:

  1. Looks like a wonderful outing. Super game photos! Now, back to the painting desk for you.

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    Replies
    1. Quite a bracing outing... I wouldn’t have wanted to be waving a flag on the battlements...

      All the best. Aly

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  2. It's been years since I last went to Edinburgh castle. Hope the weather dinnae spoil it too much.

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    1. To be honest Paul I have been there in far worse...

      All the best. Aly

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  3. Oh nooooooooooo, I didn't see the museums, now I want to go back there...Great post, miniatures and pictures...

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    1. Phil... you really really need to go back....
      The National War Museum.
      The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards/Scots Greys Museum
      The Prisoners of War Museum.
      The Royal Scots Museum.
      The Great Hall and the Scottish Crown Jewels.
      A good days work... then off to the pubs on the Royal Mile.

      All the best. Aly

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  4. Those are two super looking games. I'm glad the weather didn't dampen your enthusiasm for Edinburgh castle, I've always found something new and interesting each time I've visited starting back in 1972...

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    1. There is very little that can dampen my enthusiasm for that wonderful beast.
      And you are quite right... there is always something interesting to find.

      All the best. Aly

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  5. A fine collection of photos there Aly, looks like the kind of weather we get when we go up to Carronade in May ;~)

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    1. Thank you Phil...
      I don’t think the weather was as bad as you get in May.... ;-)

      All the best. Aly

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  6. Very nice Edinburgh a lovely city 👍

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    1. It is indeed a fair city Matt...

      Though a tad more expensive than I am now used to...;-)

      All the best. Aly

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  7. I remember doing some research for war gaming figures on a trip to Edinburgh castle circa 1978...I hand drew the miter caps of horse grenadiers of the '45 era for some Minifigs troops I had at the time. Nice post Aly...not sure when or even if I will have another visit to the castle.....

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    1. You should try and visit again Keith... it’s only a 24 hour flight across the globe...
      Probably faster than going by train from Nottingham these days... ;-)

      I still love the carved military figurines that are dotted about all of the castles museums ...
      They were carved by Charles Pilkington Jackson... who was also responsible for the statue of Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn.
      Next time I go north I intend to spend a lot longer in the castle museums... and make sure my phone has a full charge... ;-)

      All the best. Aly

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  8. Lovely castle to visit, I've been a few times, it's always rained and I've only been in the summer! Bonus renaissance game too!
    Best Iain

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    1. The best thing is to avoid summer time...
      In lowlands Scots.. summertime means ... wet wet wet.. :-)

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    2. I can't stand them either!
      Best Iain

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  9. Very nice. I visited Edinburgh for the first time last year...we thoroughly enjoyed it (even though we weren't expecting so many hills). I liked the New Town especially which I thought was just as good as Bath in terms of Georgian architecture.

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    1. Apparently Edinburgh...like Rome... is built on seven hills...
      Although it feels like a lot more when you are walking about on them...
      The New Town is rather lovely... and without showing any bias... I think the Edinburgh buildings are better made than those in Bath... which is also very lovely.

      All the best. Aly

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  10. Thanks for the kind words, I‘m glad you liked it. Cheers, Michael

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    1. It was a lovely looking game.

      All the best. Aly

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  11. I don’t know how I missed this post. Great stuff, never been up that way...but her indoors has a friend up north of the border...so maybe one day.

    Those Risorgimento game looked mighty tempting.

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    1. It’s well worth a visit Mark... and looks even better when the sun shines.

      All the best. Aly.

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  12. Edinburgh can also be very sunny with some stunning ‘ pinky blue’ sunsets… Although most of my recent visits have coincided with moody grey skies and rain 🙄😁.
    Burke’s skeleton is at The Anatomical Museum and his death mask…and a book apparently bound with his skin 😳…is on show at Surgeons Hall.
    Hare went free… after giving evidence against Burke.
    There is also the excellent Burke and Hare pub..

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