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

Thursday, 22 June 2023

Wild Geese 2023…

Greetings…

Last weekend saw the Wild Geese flock gather together for a weekend of mostly 18th Century gaming.

It was great to see that a lot of the usual suspects were there along with some new faces.

Friday night was spent eating food, drinking beer and catching up with old friends… Yes I know… It was an awful job but someone had to do it…

On Saturday after a hearty breakfast (The hotel does indeed do a damn fine breakfast), We headed off to war…

My first game was Paul’s lovely Seven Years War game using Berliner Zinnfiguren Flats…

I actually did really well in this battle… The dice gods were clearly in a good mood.

Unfortunately they had taken against my co-commander Chris… His force was soundly beaten and I was left outnumbered and almost surrounded… I doffed my hat graciously at the Prussian hordes and surrendered… ha well!

Here are some pictures… 














I really enjoyed this … the figures looked amazing… The buildings I believe were made by Paul’s Grandfather who was also into playing with toy soldiers.

I definitely did not go straight onto the Berliner Zinnfiguren website… Okay… I might have… But just for a look…

I absolutely did not press the ‘Buy Now’ button… Okay… But it was just once… Erm… Twice maybe…

Apparently they are arriving tomorrow… 🦋🦋🦋

Anyway…

The second game I had was Steve M’s battle of Kolin game… Using Command and Colors and lots and lots of home cast Prince August figures…

Another cracking game… And yes a win. 

My co-commander Robbie and I were glorious… Hurrah!

Here are some pictures…














No I didn’t rush of and buy some Prince August moulds…I’ve already got enough 😂.
After two games it was off to eat, drink and be merry…

After a good night’s sleep it was up and at them again…

This next game was always going to be a winner for me…


Now where have I seen these toys before…😁
David and I took the part of the plucky Brits… And we won… 😱… Yup!… Two and a half in a row…Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurr!…

Here are more pictures of glory…





















Tim and Ian were using their own home grown rules… And they were nicely Old School.
A lot of the figures were Shiny Toy Soldiers and Little Britons but a good few of the ‘Continentals’ were home made home cast figures by Ian… And very nice they are too.

The games I didn’t play in were a magnificent Great Northern War game by Steve…
Sadly I only managed to take one very out of focus picture… My apologies to him… Victory can be so distracting.
Willz put on a lovely game using collection of Spencer Smith 18th Century figures…


This game certainly deserved more pictures than I managed to take…

Keith put on a very interesting looking and crowded FIW game.
Again only a couple of pictures…



Needless to say… I did not get the Unluckiest General prize this year… Gasp!

A fantastic weekend… And a big thank you to everyone who made it possible.
I am already looking forwards to 2024.

Here are some of my fellow Wild Geese’s blogs were you will see more pictures…





All the best.  Aly

Did the good dice last?
Of course not… All back to normal 😂🤣😂.









34 comments:

  1. Ooooo some lovely looking battles Aly, flats so remind me of Featherstone’s book. I wonder if I could collect some ?

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    1. There were indeed some tasty games..
      I am sure you should collect flats I can just see you doing the Battle of Trimsos…

      All the best. Aly


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  2. What splendid weekend! You are on a hot-leaded winning streak. Can it last?

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    1. A splendid weekend indeed…
      The winning streak did not last 😂

      All the best. Aly

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  3. What a wonderful read Aly and can there be anything more enjoyable in the hobby than a group of friends getting away for a weekend of gaming, laughs, food and good drink? I think not. Great pictures and the games looked tremendous. The anecdote on Paul’s Grandfather having made the buildings in play in your first game was wonderful.

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    1. Thank you Carlo…
      It’s a great weekend… sadly over too soon.
      Paul’s buildings were lovely… and yes what a wonderful thing to have.

      All the best. Aly

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  4. After looking at the pictures, all I can say is that its probably for the best for me that there is a wide ocean between me and temptation. Hmm.....which would be the best room to confiscate and empty of its contents and inhabitants to make room for a bigger table, larger armies, and room for multiple players... hmmm.......

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    1. It is indeed a weekend made of temptation…
      I would happily have any and all of the toys in my collection.

      All the best. Aly

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  5. A grand weekend by all accounts. Spoiled for choice on the splendid games offered.

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    1. Definitely spoiled for choice Phil…
      Too many games and never enough time.

      All the best. Aly

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  6. Well, you had a marvellous time by the look of it. But, have you used up 2023's ration of decent dice results I wonder...?

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    1. It was indeed a marvellous time…
      Yes that was all my good dice everything is back to normal now 🤣

      All the best. Aly

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  7. Everything about that weekend sounds great Aly...from starting off with beer and scoff, to the two and a half wins out of three...and the German flats look stunning too.....I have been on that website and thought about it, I have to admit! Right, it's Friday evening here so I am off to one neighbours for pre dinner drinks then home again to host another couple to dinner.....and more drinks! Great start to the weekend, and a Crimean game on Sunday too!

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    1. I would be happy with many more weekends like this…
      Yours sounds pretty good as well…

      All the best. Aly

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  8. Usual excellents all round... Strangely, lots of people do 'animal' faced people/figures, no one has thought of doing soldier figures as wild geese...

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    1. I like where your going here Rob…
      Angry Wild Geese in Tricorns… count me in 😁

      All the best. Aly

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  9. That looked like so much fun I'm surprised you bothered to mention who won, but then again it was you... ;o)
    I am deeply envious, although I think I would have to rein myself in on some of the culinary highlights

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    1. Me winning is such an unusually event that I felt it needed to be mentioned…
      A bid feast once a year is probably good for you…

      All the best. Aly

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  10. That looks such fun Aly. Food, drink, good friends and toy soldiers...what can be better!?

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    1. A perfectly enjoyable weekend all round Mark…

      All the best. Aly

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  11. A lovely weekend with some of the best games and finest folk. See you next year for the rematch 😉

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    1. A cracking weekend mate…
      Here’s to next year.

      All the best. Alt

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  12. Magnificent games Aly, especially the 42mm shiny toy soldiers are wonderful so much charm. Congrats on the victory and good times. Quinn

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    1. A great weekend indeed Quinn.
      Wargaming with miniatures that I sculpted was an indulgent delight indeed…
      I’m still smiling now…

      All the best. Aly

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  13. Splendid looking toy soldiers and terrain and I had to sit down when hearing of your dice rolling, surely some mistake?!
    Best Iain

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    1. You’re not the only one who had to sit down at my dice rolling…
      A. Unexpected joy… but over to soon 😂

      All the best. Aly

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  14. I also have not been to the Berliner Zinnfiguren website and have definitely not pressed the purchase button. Somehow however, a box of flats depicting the retreat from Moscow showed up at my front door. How strange...

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    1. There is indeed something weird about the Berliner Website…
      You just have to look at it and somehow no matter how much you resist you manage to buy some toys…
      Strange indeed…😂🤣😂

      All the best. Aly

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    2. Bought a load of moulds off them in the past and they still post me their printed catalogue every year. Must cost them a fortune. I'd love to read it, but it's in German and I can't find a 'translate this page' button anyway.

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    3. My order came with a full colour booklet on the life and times of Martin Luther illustrated with dioramas using fully painted flats.
      I would really like to visit the shop.

      All the best. Aly

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  15. It was great to catch up with you Aly, thank you for your company and praise of my game.

    Willz.

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    1. It was a splendid weekend Willz… I only wish there was more time to play all the games…
      Here’s to next year..

      All the best. Aly

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  16. Looks like a great couple of days Aly. Great minis and tables. Not really my thing, but I must say I especially liked the flat minis!

    Best wishes,
    Jan

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    1. It was fantastic fun Jan…
      Berliner Zinnfiguren do many other periods in Flats.

      All the best. Aly

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