Who The F**k Do You...

 Well, that's another weekend which has vanished under a hail of work...

Still, I have managed to base all of my o/s 28mm ECW skirmish and 3 units of Essex Miniatures, Knights Of Evil for my fantasy project, so it's not been all bad, I guess.

I was sent a somewhat angry message the other day, regarding a pic of my painting trophies and suchlike, demanding to know why I was showing a picture of someone else's awards. 

I sent a meek and mild email back asking if he was referring to one 'Gylfi Viorsson', to which an affirmative was forthcoming with an 'how dare I?' sort of rant.

Well, I explained, 'I am he... So, fuck off.'

And then, feeling a little abashed at my sharpness of tongue I explained the reason.

You see, when I was in my very early 20s and at a loose end due to being ostracized from my peer group to some extent, for daring to have a differing sartorial and musical outlook (How dare I?), I entered my 'wandering troubador' stage of life, and along with my wife, took a serious interest in Norse Heathen religious practices, becoming a novitiate priest (all legally recognised and official too) and taking (or rather being given) a Norse name based on my character and personality. That name was - you got it - Gylfi Viorsson. Gylfi being a King who was tricked out of his lands and Vior of course being Thor in his lightning aspect... So crudely translated I was Tricked Son Of The Lightning, as my Godhi took great amusement from tricking me during my training and I had a lightning fast temper back then.

My temper was legendary... 

On one of the holy days, we were at a local Norse site as darkness fell, sitting quietly and contemplatively in the trees, with other 'O-H-S' members, our baby daughter in her pram (how we got that into a woodland was an effort worthy of saga) when a large stone slammed into her face... 

Or rather it would have, had we not pulled the thick plastic rain hood over her to protect her from the last rising of midges.

I caught sight of a figure in the trees, and then it all went black... literally, I have zero memory, until I saw my Godhi standing on the edge of my vision, just slowly shaking his head, and about 5 feet from me, a pretty pale guy with a dog, apologising profusely.

I was stripped to the waist and was literally foaming at the mouth, appearing to have literally gone berserk. Holding me in check with just a gaze (dunno to this day how he did that, but it was a physical effect) my Godhi 'suggested' the chap take his dog and go home via the shortest route and he would make sure I didn't bite him in the arse...

The 'Viorsson' name was the result of that little incident. Apparently, I was a spectacle worth seeing as I went off like a bomb and literally became a glazed over, snarling animal. Not bad for a kid who had never said 'boo' to a goose.

My name was changed by Statutory Declaration (not the same as a simple Deed Poll) and so I became Gyfi, full time for a couple of years. In fact, to this day some still refer to me by that name and I don't mind, because it's a mark of respect.

Whilst I am pretty agnostic in my views, I am still respectful of the fact that there has to be 'something' more spiritually, but you may as well get me to swear an oath on a copy of Permanent Waves by Rush as much as any traditional holy book. In the names of Lee, Lifeson & Peart, I swear to tell the truth etc... Still, I can be very abusive in Old Norse, which is handy. Referring to someone as  a 'bale of hay used by a short legged pig to service a sow' is very satisfying, let me tell you.

And so, for a while, my painting entries were in my Heathen Name. So, there you go... Few of my old gaming buddies even know about that chapter in my life, so the sniping little message, has served to bring that story back to the fore.

We are now less than two weeks away from Partizan, where I'll be collecting my 28mm Naps from Dave Thomas and handing them over to the painter a few minutes later, crossing another project off the bucket list.

Hopefully, the Memsahib can now start basing the increasing backlog now that we have our two offices empty of the contents of our bedroom (we use the other bedroom and attic as office and studio respectively, hence why we've sleeping in the lounge and dining area for the last couple of weeks.

She has 3 x 12 litre R.U.Bs full of models to base, with at least 6 more to come. And that's before the next batch of around 1200 I'm prepping up to go to the fantasy painter.

So, it looks like despite the last couple of months, I should be able to complete my fantasy project by mid 2025. Before I sign off, I am seeking the TA3 Orc War Wyvern, like the one pictured here (pic credit to Stuff Of Legends)



 

If you have one, I'll pay £50 for a complete model in good condition. Reach out to me if you have one...

I am also looking for a copy of the Warhammer 1st Ed and Forces of Fantasy box sets which I'll pay £55 each plus postage for in decent condition.

 


Comments

Post a Comment

Leave your praise and vitriolic commentary here...

Popular posts from this blog

How, Over 40 Years Ago, A Guy Called Andy Changed My Life With 5 Words, And Other Reminiscences...

Image
 Of late I have been having long and vivid dreams wherein, I am often walking or travelling with people I have known, some living, some passed, talking over things we had done or said. I confess that it's been eerie but also very liberating. These coversations have been so real that I have awoken in the morning (more usually, half way through the night) and been confused at my surroundings.  Last night I was speaking with Dave Hoyles  - very much alive and kicking - of Q.T Models/Museum Miniatures. The only thing I have noticed is that is often been snowing heavily in these dreams. One of my latest dreams was of the late Ian Smith, another the comic book artist Paul Green - who, thankfully is still with us. This pattern began a few years ago when I had a similar experience with the recently deceased Pete 'Greblord' Armstrong. It was a very cathartic experience for me, as I had much which needed to be said. I may have written of this before, but this particular dream was d...
Read more

A Serious Post And Another Obituary But With Some More Positive Stuff At The End

Image
 I am at an age where I would expect the odd death of someone I know, but I am starting to realise that it's the younger end of the line which is getting culled.  This week I found out through a good friend that another friend in the hobby from the old days had taken his own life, bringing the total friends lost to 5 and drom that number the number lost to suicide in the last few years to 2. Now, I've been close to that I think, three times, but I've been lucky enough to be able to turn my illogical brain around and decide that the world and my enemies will not be happy if I thrive and stay alive. So, that has been my stated mission, to live long and be hated that much longer. The first time I was taken with thoughts of suicide, was when I was banned from Games Workshop Sheffield in the 80s (see my book or earlier posts) and my so-called friends allowed themselves to be bought off, trading silence as to what a set-up it was in return for part time jobs at the store. That wa...
Read more

The Passing Of A British Wargaming Legend

Image
It is with genuine sadness and heavy heart that I must record the passing of Sheffield Wargames Society founder member and long time Chairman, Steve Roberts.    I was 13 when I first met Steve (some 43 years ago, now). It was a chance meeting. I'd been playing Dungeons & Dragons for about a year and had taken some Citadel FTZ Zombies back to my Junior school to show my headteacher there, who'd always encouraged the creative arts in pupils.    He was impressed (as you'd expect) and told me that a wargames club met at the school now, on Monday nights run by a chap called Steve Roberts.    Well, of course I was interested, and together with my friend Alan Staniforth, I attended the club, to find there was no D&D...   What there was however were historical games, played by local kids with 'Big Steve' the only adult. But he ran that club like a champion, providing all the models and simple rules, which was just what you needed to hook kids in. ...
Read more