Audible Books: Miscellaneous

Reading, or rather listening. On the history front I decided to broach my general ignorance of the Middle East (unless the battles of Rommel and the 8th Army count) of which I know very little, just the complex and disturbing pictures I see on the TV news. So I took an Audible recommendation of "Arabs" by Tim Mackintosh-Smith (see below, it helped that it came free with my Audible subscription [win-win], and it was very comprehensive, or rather it was very, very long [going back to before the Arab date "dot"] so although I do not remember "everything" I got the satisfaction of a "general feeling" and understanding of the 'diaspora of meaning' that the word Arab evokes - simply put no one interpretation will ever suffice):  

Following on from this I chased up on another recommendation form a friend that takes a very close look at the troubled history of Palestine, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon courtesy of Britain and France's colonial history in teh region, after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Aspects of "The Great Game", which really should be entitled, "Be Very Careful For What You Wish For!" It was both deeply informative and deeply troubling, to extent that it just left you shaking your head in disbelief (see below, "A Line in the Sand" is a terrible read because it lays bare the worst part of human nature and international politics - (one of) the moral of the story being don't leave a French and British career diplomat alone is a room of a map of a country that is not theirs and really know squat about to draw a line on a map, between alcoholic drinks, coffee and pastries):   

Needing some "light relief" from the blood letting and treachery from the folded, furrow of deep history and cynical realpolitik's, I called out to my friends for more lighter recommendations and got something I would never have chosen myself (see below, a fantasy detective story set in the modern day, to my escapist delight I really enjoyed it and can see myself slowly walking through the series): 

Refreshed from the non-hard historical journey (although with a deeper appreciation of how many rivers there are in the London whereabouts) I took up my final recommendation (I do have "free will" too, honest. This one was with a slight game inclination, aka Science Fiction, set in a universe that most people who have played or tinkered with Traveller would recognise. Think "Merchant Prince" but working your way up through from the bottom, after life has dealt you an unexpected "bad hand" (see below, "Quarter Share", another series I think I am now hooked into following):  

Given my liking of the book and genre, I have been collectively told it is high time I started watching "The Expanse" on Amazon Prime while I still have the chance.

Final Note: I would recommend all of the above, but for very different reasons!

Colonials: 1/72 Acquisitions

All part of the great master plan. Visiting my favourite Edinburgh model shop (Wonderland Models) I took my time searching through the plastic figure section focusing on a "Colonial" perspective (ignoring the Modern distraction of a certain excellent Caesar plastic miniature range, your time will come) I decided to 'fill up' on the British army of that period. I say period but in truth I sampled unashamedly from the "Colonial", "Second Boer War" and "WWI" ranges as they were figures "that would do" (see below, my haul now means the British can field an 'all arms' response to the Arab revolt.  alongside their French compatriots):   

You can blame all this madness on Bob Cordery's Portable Wargame, bless him, my missus doesn't! Watch this space for a bit of a Colonial biff-bash in 2020! Something like the Sudan or an Arab Revolt methinks!

Inspired by "Small Wars"

I think the greatest compliment I can give a game designer is "Thank you, you inspired me to play and from there I made my own version of your game." Small Wars is already worth its weight in gold to me (see below, also see The History of Wargaming Project - Small Wars):

I played one solo and one group game of "Six Months in the Sahara" French Foreign Legion (FFL) game. Both games ending with the FFL being overrun with hostile Arabs, dying (if not lead) in the finest tradition of The Legion (see below, the "homemade board):

What is more the "system" was taken one step further and applied to the apocalyptic world of "The Walking Dead" (see below, spoiler alert "everyone died" in a glorious do or die battle at the end):

The sign of a good game is one you enjoyed playing. The sign of a great game is when it inspires you to make one of your own for others! Thank you Mr David Wayne Thomas, the fun continues as I contemplate the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Strelets Arab Revolt Figures

Psst: Don't tell Santa but I opened one of my presents early (the "Elf on the Shelf" moves to the naughty corner), the 1/72 Strelets Arab Revolt Figures. I saw these courtesy of getting my older brother a model kit from Hannats online store and I simply could not resist them. I actually blame The Miniature Zone and his excellent Bolt Action Western Desert Game AAR for putting the idea into my head. He used the old Airfix Arabs figures but sadly I could not get my hands on them so I jumped at the chance of getting the Strelets ones (see below):

Thirteen figures per sprue and four sprues equals 52 figures, you cannot complain about that! My only regret now is not getting the mounted camel box too. Maybe in the New Year. I was thinking of using these to spice up Western Desert games. They are brilliant for Arabs, Bedouin Guides attached to 8th Army or DAK or even LRDP (or SAS) posing as Arabs. Enigmatic don't you think? Quite heavily armed too, as there are four Vickers HMGs and four Lewis LMGs included in the pack.