Just over a week ago I 'celebrated' my birthday. (I have managed to get sixty-nine years on the clock, which isn't bad for someone who spends most of their life sitting down at a computer writing or at a table painting toy soldiers!) I got lots of interesting and useful presents (including a new bridge camera for taking loads of photographs whilst we are on cruises) but nothing really 'wargamery'.
Nigel Drury (whom I have know for many years and who is one of my regular blog readers) directed my attention towards a chessboard that was on sale on Amazon ... and I was so impressed with it that I bought one form myself for my birthday.
The board is sold by Brimtoy, is 42cm x 42cm, is inlaid with Maple & Walnut hardwood squares, and is double-sided.
It has a standard 8 x 8 chessboard grid on one side ...
... and a 10 x 10 Polish checkers grid on the other.
I am already thinking of ways to use the two different grids (other than what they are designed for, of course!) but for the time being the board is sitting in my toy/wargames room until I have enough space of the tabletop to try it out.
Nigel Drury (whom I have know for many years and who is one of my regular blog readers) directed my attention towards a chessboard that was on sale on Amazon ... and I was so impressed with it that I bought one form myself for my birthday.
The board is sold by Brimtoy, is 42cm x 42cm, is inlaid with Maple & Walnut hardwood squares, and is double-sided.
It has a standard 8 x 8 chessboard grid on one side ...
... and a 10 x 10 Polish checkers grid on the other.
I am already thinking of ways to use the two different grids (other than what they are designed for, of course!) but for the time being the board is sitting in my toy/wargames room until I have enough space of the tabletop to try it out.
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Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteBelated happy birthday old chap! That is a very useful board and having the 10 x 10 is useful for the PW world! How large are the squares?
All the best,
DC
David Crook,
DeleteCheers! Thanks for you best wishes.
The squares on the 8 x 8 grid are just under 50mm x 50mm and on the 10 x 10 grid the squares are about 38mm x 38mm.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob,
DeleteHow dumb am I? I should have been able to work that one out myself! Very useful and would suit the block armies quite nicely on a single block per unit basis. Something else for me to ponder then....
All the best,
DC
David Crook,
DeleteNot so dumb as the raised edge takes away a bit of the usable size of the board, thus reducing the size of the squares.
All the best,
Bob
Many happy returns Bob, I'll catch you up in a couple of months.
ReplyDeleteJim Duncan,
DeleteMany thanks. We are like mature wine ... we get better every year!
All the best,
Bob
PS. I almost made a tasteless joke about 69 not being as good as I was told that it was ... but I won't!
The getting better bit has passed me by at the moment. I spent all day Wednesday in hospital with acute abdominal pains. They wanted to keep me in on intravenous antibiotics but flu is still rampant in most hospitals so they sent me home with 2 sets of strong anti-biotics. I'm not well but well enough to paint a few more figures. I had a brain scan yesterday on a separate issue.
DeleteJim Duncan,
DeleteI thought that you were well on the road to recovery, and I'm sorry to read about your present medical problems.
It sounds to me as if being at home is better than being in hospital, and at least you have managed to paint a few figures. As to the brain scan ... well I hope the results show that there are no major problems.
All the best,
Bob
One of my chums said that I had been in a near-death situation so it is not a surprise that there are knock-on effects.
DeleteI am awaiting the results of the brain scan since I had cancer they want to make sure it is not a tumour.
I have other perhaps stress related problems and I'm waiting to be offered some psychotherapy.
This weeks problem seems to be large intestine related and hopefully will respond to the treatment.
Yet I am still painting figures every day as well as a very large Waterloo building for the Great Game in June.
http://www.waterlooreplayed.com/
Jim Duncan,
DeleteYour trials and tribulations make my own problems pale into insignificance, and I am always amazed at how positive you seem when your write. I know that it sounds a bit trite to write it, but I find the way you have coped with everything life has thrown at you to be an example to the rest of us.
Stress-related problems are something that I do know a bit about, having lived with the 'Black Dog' for more years than I care to think about. I found psychotherapy helped because it made me realise that when the stress affected my daily life and brought on episodes of depression, that I could learn coping strategies that we help me both get through it and recover quicker.
Funnily enough though, my biggest fear - the fear of death - was 'cured' when I underwent my Third Degree in Freemasonry. It is very much about facing one's mortality, and in the months after the ceremony I began to realise that by doing so, the fear had gone.
It's good to know that you are involved in the Waterloo project, and I will be following that with interest as the year progresses.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your 69th Birthday- my Partner is a little older and will be 70 this coming September....sounds like you've had a great Birthday. Always like reading your Posts. Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson,
DeleteCheers! I hope that your partner enjoys their birthday as much as I have enjoyed mine.
All the best,
Bob
You want to be careful about that painting thing, you know what happens when they are all painted!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great day and a many more birthdays ahead.
Ross Mac,
DeleteThanks for your best wishes.
You are right; painting can be a very dangerous hobby! I almost poked myself in the eye with a paint brush yesterday. (Thank god I was wearing my glasses!)
All the best,
Bob
Happy birthday, wish you all the best. Even if a week late.
ReplyDeleteRob Young,
DeleteMany thanks for your best wishes.
All the best,
Bob
Happy Birthday Bob
ReplyDelete69 one hell of a number ;)
Hope to follow in your esteemed steps although 18 years your junior
Inspirational that your book writing takes off in force post retirement!
Geordie an Exile FoG,
DeleteCheers! Thanks for your best wishes.
69 ... an interesting number. In the words of the famous saying 'the spirit may be willing, but the body isn't!' ... as you may well find out in 18 or so years.
I recently had a conversation at the local golf club (of which I am a social member) with someone who knows me vaguely. They asked what I was doing now that I was retired ... and when I replied that I spent a lot of my time writing, they snorted in derision!
'What's so funny?' I asked.
'Well,' he said, 'that's what a certain type of retired lady says that they do so that they can claim some sort of 'artistic' credibility. Have you managed to sell anything?'
'Nearly 4,000 books.'
An embarrassed silence followed ... and my acquaintance (in the words of the good old NEWS OF THE WORLD) made his excuses and left.
It rather made my day.
All the best,
Bob
In wargame terms that a hold, pivot punch and pursue ..
DeleteWell done ;)
Geordie and Exile FoG,
DeleteI must admit to feeling a small degree of satisfaction at the outcome! ;^)
All the best,
Bob
Belated birthday wishes Bob!
ReplyDeleteAlastair,
DeleteYour best wishes are much appreciated.
All the best,
Bob
A belated Happy Birthday, young man ! Another sound purchase.
ReplyDeleteall the best
Rick Krebs,
DeleteMany thanks for your best wishes ... and I'm looking forward to using my new board very soon.
All the best,
Bob
When I got to your age, I told everyone when they asked that I was only 26, I had led a hard life! It has worked for me for
ReplyDeletealmost 16 years. Many Happy Returns
Dick Bryant,
DeleteThank you for you best wishes.
I might try that 'I'm only 26 years-old, but I've had a hard life' myself!
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteMany happy returns (it sounds that's what you had!) for your birthday. I loved your golf club anecdote!
Best wishes
Anthony
Anthony Morton (Anthony),
DeleteThank you for your best wishes. I had a great day, and thoroughly enjoyed myself.
All the best,
Bob
Happy Birthday.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Pete.
Pete.,
DeleteCheers, old chap! Your best wishes are much appreciated.
All the best,
Bob
Happy belated birthday!
ReplyDeleteAs Ross wrote:
"You want to be careful about that painting thing, you know what happens when they are all painted!"
The old "wisdom" is that when you finish painting your last miniature you die. Or to put it another way, as long as you have unpainted minis you're safe (but you have to keep painting and therefore keep acquiring). :P
That was back in the days of metal minis and "lead mountains". I don't know if it applies to plastic. ha ha!
Fitz-Badger,
DeleteThanks very much for your best wishes.
I have heard of that old saying ... but even if I painted figures and/or vehicles every day, I doubt if I will ever get close to getting rid of my lead mountain!
All the best,
Bob
Belated birthday wishes to you Bob.
ReplyDeleteAlan
P.s I look forward to seeing what you do with the chess...
Tradgardmastare (Alan),
DeleteCheers! Thanks for your birthday good wishes!
In truth, I have so much stuff spread over my wargame table at present that using the board might be difficult for the time being. With luck the detritus will be clear fairly soon, and then I can try out my new chessboard ... probably with something nineteenth century.
All the best,
Bob
With the 10x10 chessboad I'd be very tempted to add an archbishop and a chancellor to a chess set and play J. R. Capablanca's version of chess. In case you're wondering, just as the queen combines the move of bishop and rook, the chancellor combines rook and knight, and the archbishop combines bishop and knight.
ReplyDeleteModern versions of this play on a 10x8 board for some reason. Not sure why.
Archduke Piccolo,
DeleteI must admit that I've never heard of chess being played on a 10 x 10 board with extra pieces ... but it sounds interesting, and when I have the time, I'll investigate this idea.
All the best,
Bob