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

Thursday, 31 December 2020

New Year 2020

Drinky says “ A Happy and Prosperous New Year to you all”

Greetings...

I must say I will be glad to see the back of this one...

It did not start well... My Mother passed away in January and it rapidly went down hill from there...

Lockdowns, restrictions and shielding ( Yes I’m one of those special people who have a very rare autoimmune condition that makes me interesting to doctors and the occasional nurse) have certainly given me time for thought as well as painting toy soldiers...

I have always believed that most politicians are self serving greedy liars, I can now add incompetent clowns to that description... Oh! how I wish I had been proven wrong...

Of course New Zealand has proven to be the exception that proves the rule...

On the good side I have definitely painted lots of toy soldiers and more importantly I have come into contact with some lovely generous people via blogging... this has been a splendid support group indeed.

I have also realised just how incredibly supportive and generous my friends and family really are... a lesson well learned that will not be forgotten....

Hopefully 2021 will open up the prospect for face to face gaming (and face to face drinking of course). I have WSS and 3rd Century Roman collections that really need to get off the shelf and do some fighting... I honestly don’t care whether I win or lose...mind you in my case it's lose or really lose...

There is also an American Civil War Campaign to finish...

My butterfly has been active as always but I have mostly stayed focussed... I may feature these flutterings next year...

As to plans... I am trying to avoid them.

However a couple of ideas seem to be ‘sticky’(That’s management hipster talk by the way)...

More Romans... Not just 3rd Century but possibly something late Roman or Arthurian.

Pike and Shot/30Years War... This surprised me... I’ve always been interested in the history but as a gaming period it has always left me a bit cold... I’m thinking Pikeman’s Lament and Assault Group miniatures.... I may order some samples in the new year.

20mm Shiny American Civil War... This has fluttered out from the fun I am having with my Napoleonics... if I did anything it would be similar in unit size and style, figure wise I originally thought Airfix but now I am drawn to RSM or Irregular Miniatures... the RSM are lovely but I have found Dayton Painting Consortium’s Mail order to be a bit vintage to say the least, then there is the ‘handling’ charge we get for the postal service doing what it is meant to do... it annoys me more than it should, which is weird because I can deal with the import duty. The Irregular Miniatures Range is quite nice and they have the bonus of being fairly local... samples will be ordered.

Whatever I do and wherever my butterfly takes me next year I aim to enjoy myself...

I’ve said it a few time this year I honestly don’t know how I would have coped without a creative and immersive hobby to see me through...

Okay... before I drift off into self analysis, bellybutton staring and negativity here are a couple of images that put a smile on my face this year

A little bit of appropriate dark humour...





And... well... The best parade uniforms ever...











OH! YES!... The Thai Royal Guard... Absolutely magnificent... I am smiling 😁😁😁

All the best... And have a Happy, Prosperous and Safe New Year... 

Aly



Posted by at

45 comments:

  1. alastair31 December 2020 at 20:41

    I hope you have a great Hogmanay and here's hoping 2021 is at least a bit better than this year

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison31 December 2020 at 21:29

      Thank you Alastair...
      It will be a quiet one... but it will include some alcohol 😁

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  2. Phil Robinson31 December 2020 at 21:28

    Now that's what you call trooping the colour. Best wishes for 2021 and good luck with the new projects and the ones you don't yet know about🙂

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison31 December 2020 at 21:32

      I know... I think that is how all modern armies should dress.
      Hopefully we might actually see each other next your...
      There are are always unexpected new projects... Hurrah!

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  3. Ray Rousell31 December 2020 at 21:41

    Hope you have a great 2021 Aly!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ed M31 December 2020 at 21:47

    Here's to taking it as it comes (ie, no plans) and better times in 2021: Happy New Year, Aly!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Steve J.31 December 2020 at 22:15

    Here's hoping for a better year in 2021. Our son's on immuno suppressants for his Crohn's so we have been shielding too since March more or less full time. Thank God for wargaming to keep me sane! Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison1 January 2021 at 01:38

      Yeah... when people were complaining about another lockdown I was just thinking... same old same old...
      At least it will be a bit of an adventure when I can get out and about...

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  6. rross31 December 2020 at 23:36

    Happy New Year Aly - no first footing round the neighbours this Hogmanay I am sure! Thanks for the shout out to our country - as I mentioned on Mark S's blog, we were just lucky we had the right politicians in power back in March, or we would be in the same shit as everyone else, I am sure. I hope things gradually improve in the UK although I suspect it will be a long haul - and good luck with Brexit too - just to add to the fun! Maybe if Nicola gets her Indyref2, you can move back to "the North" whence you emerged all those hundreds of years ago...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. rross31 December 2020 at 23:39

      By the way, pop over to my blog when you get a chance - you may see some old friends from the 80's there :)

      Delete
    2. Aly Morrison1 January 2021 at 01:41

      You have certainly been very lucky Keith...
      Yes very old friends indeed...

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  7. Old Nick1 January 2021 at 00:47

    Thank for the dose if truth and a lot of humor in your wrap up if the year. Here us hoping you gave a healthy and happy new year.

    Now, here is hoping the door hits 2020 on its way out!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison1 January 2021 at 01:43

      I suspect that 2020 has a very large boot print on its backside...

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  8. Rob Young1 January 2021 at 00:58

    Happy New Year

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    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison1 January 2021 at 01:44

      Thank you Rob... the same to you.

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  9. David1 January 2021 at 07:29

    Happy New Year Aly! As to the butterfly effect, who am I to carp on? Looking forward to a good natter when freedom comes! Like the pictures of Everard's Own, very cheery!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison1 January 2021 at 15:21

      Thank you David...
      We all have an inner butterfly... it’s just stronger in me.🦋😁
      Yes here’s to putting the world to rights...
      As well as being cheery I bet Everard’s are as hard as nails...

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  10. Wellington Man1 January 2021 at 08:44

    I'm drinking a wee dram as I write in your honour, Aly. All the best for 2021!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison2 January 2021 at 10:52

      All the best to you too Matthew...
      I have gone native... I was on the Gin 😁

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  11. Phil1 January 2021 at 08:46

    Great pictures Aly...Bonne année!

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    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison1 January 2021 at 15:25

      Merci Phil et bonne année à toi.

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  12. Matt Crump1 January 2021 at 09:41

    Happy new year Aly I think we can all agreed that this hobby and our blogosphere thing has been a lifeline for many. Keep on with painting the shiny stuff but if you do a Thai army I might need sun glasses 😎

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison1 January 2021 at 15:27

      Thank you Matt...

      I imagine the Thai Royal Guard are as close to seeing what a Napoleonic Neapolitan Army would have looked like as we will get.

      I am planning to do some Neapolitans 😁

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  13. The Good Soldier Svjek1 January 2021 at 09:46

    A Good New Year to you and yours , Tony

    ReplyDelete
  14. Norm1 January 2021 at 12:15

    Best wishes for a better year.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Stuart1 January 2021 at 12:33

    The very best wishes for 2021 Aly, it can only get better. I hope to see you at some point too. Your blog has kept me inspired and enthused through a difficult year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison1 January 2021 at 15:31

      And to you too Stuart...
      Here’s to a weekend of beer ,toy soldiers, curry and talking nonsense....

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  16. Graham C1 January 2021 at 19:27

    Happy. New Year to you Aly, love the projects have you thought Newline Design for the ACW?
    I think many of your comments are right - this hobby has proven to be a great support for keeping ones sanity 🤪
    Having said that it’s been my crutch for many a year through difficult times. I guess we’ve all done a bit of soul searching as well. Anyway here’s to the future, to the table top game and the enthusiastic debate over various alcoholic beverages. All the best.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Aly Morrison1 January 2021 at 19:59

      Thank you Graham...

      Funnily enough Dave Andrews has some Newline ACW he doesn’t want...
      So that might be my starting point... I will however get some samples from Irregular and possibly Jacklex....
      Hopefully we can get ‘The Band’ back together before the end of the year...

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  17. Christopher(aka Axebreaker)2 January 2021 at 12:32

    Happy New Year Aly and some very amusing photo's!

    Christopher

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison2 January 2021 at 12:43

      Thank you Christopher...

      All the best to you... Aly

      Delete
  18. Mark Strachan2 January 2021 at 18:21

    Cheers to you and Drinky, Aly. So are we going to see a range of figures for the Thai Royal Guard? They would look very pretty sitting on the display shelf.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison2 January 2021 at 21:16

      And the same back at you Mark...

      Interestingly all I would need to do is one head for the Little Britons Range...🤔

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  19. Pan Janek3 January 2021 at 14:39

    Once again all the best Aly! Glad this year ended and I already have some new ideas and plans for the 2021 and hope they work. Hope this year our shooting, gaming and drinking fest will be realized!

    Best wishes,
    Jan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison3 January 2021 at 16:10

      And to you too Jan...
      It’s definitely a time to look forward rather than backwards...
      Here’s to life getting back to what we like to call normal...

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  20. caveadsum14716 January 2021 at 15:22

    Nice sentiments and great photos, I really like the ladybird pastiche, happy new year!
    Best Iain

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison6 January 2021 at 17:51

      Thank you Iain...
      If that was a real book...I would buy it 😁

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  21. ECW 40mm Project6 January 2021 at 19:26

    Couldn't agree more, Aly. And I would say "Happy New Year" but 2021 isn't shaping up any better here.

    One suggestion - 40mm pike and shotte? I've got some posts here of Romanoff and Sash and Saber:
    https://ecw40mmproject.blogspot.com/search/label/English%20Civil%20War
    I think your painting skills would be magnificent in that scale!

    Best Regards, Alex

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison7 January 2021 at 13:10

      Thank you Alex...
      There are some nice figures there...
      I do like 40mm miniatures but I think I shall see how I get on with the 30 Years War first.

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  22. Herr Zinnling17 January 2021 at 16:49

    I wish you all the best for 2021! The pictures of The Thai Royal Guard in parade uniforms are absolutely stunning! Cheers, Karl

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison17 January 2021 at 18:33

      All the best to you and yours Karl...
      The Thai Guard uniforms do put a smile on ones face...😁

      All the best. Aly

      Delete

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