I was saddened today to learn of the passing of another friend, Alex 'Rat' Heath.  Alex had the odds stacked against him all his life due to health issues, and was certainly much, much too young to climb over the fence and into the afterlife. I use that description because 'Rat' was like that, a loveable rogue, who when he was too ill to take part in reenactments, didn't just sit there vegetating. He used the internet and his 'can do' attitude to help others. Although I did not know him as well as many others who will I am certain feel his passing all the more, we hit it off right from the first meeting, and his evil, leering grin, meant that entertainment was sure to follow. He made my reenactment events all the more enjoyable, and I still have fond memories of taking snuff in the bar in Elsecar with him, his bloody amazing dancing, tasteless Irish kilt and watching Rob Willmer march him off a train at MRC.  That bastard, Fate may have...

It's funny how sometimes it takes a couple of days, along with checking and double checking to make sure you didn't dream something, before the cold reality hits you hard. I was informed on Sunday of the very sad death of Trevor Collins of Mosborough & District Wargamers at the age of 51, following a sudden stroke. I first met Trev about 25 years ago at my old club, Sheffield Wargames Society when he firstly sold me some fantasy figures and latterly commissioned some painting from me. We became friends very quickly, and despite the odd raised voice down the years and diverging in our gaming interests, still remained so. It's all too common to read an obituary that tells the reader what a brilliant, funny and generous person the subject was. It has become a cliche, a template if you will for a society which never wants to see anything in the most positive way. However, in this case, Trevor was all of the above and also much more. In the mid 90s, as I...

It's been a really busy week. Our daughter decided that Tuesday would be a good day (being well rested after a long Bank Holiday weekend) to give birth to her twins, eight weeks early. Despite a few nagging complications both mum and boys are doing well. Time is what is needed and we all have to be patient. Work-wise I have had a nightmare week working on 15mm renaissance for one of my clients. More specifically, the cause of my angst has been 15mm horses for 16th century Gendarmes. I love the renaissance and would say without pausing to think about it, that it's my favourite historical period. Here're a few pics which I think will illustrate why my angst has reached a pinnacle this week. Fuck, I nearly considered going back out to work for a living... After the first 32 of these, even fully equipped mounted crossbowmen seemed like a breeze. The models are late Essex Miniatures, which personally I find less aesthetically and indeed historically pleasing t...