The past five years

Not going to lie this blog has been quiet for a while that's due to health issues, my dad had been going through some serious issues with his health, he was losing anywhere between four to six units of blood due to severe bleeding, nosebleeds mostly but some internal bleeds as well. One of the A&E doctors referred him to a specialist at the Bridgewater Suite which deals with bleeding disorders and he was diagnosed with HHT which is a rare bleeding disorder which affects the blood vessels. in short a patient with HHT doesn't produce healthy capillaries or links with organs from the arteries and instead forms these things called Arterial Vienous masses these things function just like regular blood vessels until they decide they don't and they can cause severe blood loss, clots and if they form in the brain strokes. When they looked into our family history they found that my brother, my uncle, my grandmother and myself all had bleeding issues as I was the only one apart from my dad who'd had bleeds who was still alive they rushed me in for testing and I saw the specialist in 2019 after having had to have six surguries to end bleeds, in 2020 I got confirmation I had HHT. My dad's health continuded to deteriorate and and they tried a number of experimental treatments to save his life sadly he died on Christmas day 2023 after catching Covid which led to complications, he died in hospital the autopsy showed he'd been bleeding behind the gut and that his heart had started to fail from all the blood transfusions he'd had to have in the last two months of that year including five in one week, the heart needs time to recover after a blood transfusion the damage caused by Covid meant it couldn't. Now I'm the only one with it in the family still alive thank God no one else has it

Just some Lockdown Projects. Due to being classed as at Extreme risk should I catch the ruddy virus I've basically spent the last couple of months a prisoner in my own home so to speak. There are other minis also finished but not yet based so I'll be adding more pics soon. I've also ordered some new miniatures as I've nearly caught up with my 10 year back log of projects.

Coronavirus words usually associated with the regular cold. The past couple of months have changed that though. My dad caught the virus, he and I have Heredetary Hemorraghic Telengesia a rare genetic disorder of the blood vessels, Usually it shows as nosebleeds, stroke and unexpected blood issues. The virus has made his worse, he is currently in hospital A surgeon is being brought in specifically to treat him he has lost so much blood. Long story short the Covid19 causes blood vessel complications which in someone who already has one is potentially fatal, for those who don't but develop these symptoms they could be looking at years of distress or worse.

Bone Orchard Poetry: Amos Gideon Greig

Bone Orchard Poetry: Amos Gideon Greig: The Time Machine It begins almost motherly, a return to the warmth of the womb, a central point on the journey to oblivion,...

To quote Granny Weatherwax I ain't dead. I've been struggling there's been a lot of health issues, hospital visits, blood tests, DNA testing and more. My dad and I have a rare genetic disorder it has saw him losing so much blood that he'd dropped to just three units he needs weekly blood transfusions as well as iron drips. We've both had several surgeries as well still we're both here and hopefully that'll continue. What are my plans going forward? Try and get back on top of all my blogs, get the magazine back on a regular schedule and apply for funding to try and get a poetry event off the ground. I also learn't that the store that got me into gaming all those years ago is gone. The owner Joe sold it after his heart attack and the guy he sold it to kept it running. Last month I was in town and thought I'd call in and its now a hunting store I don't even know when that happened and I'm devastated it was one of the few places I could feel safe I suppose that's one of the downsides of living in a country and a city where Car bombs and fire bombs were the norm, were every weekend there'd be a scare and you'd hope it would turn out to be a hoax. These are all the projects that I've either just finished in the case of the Minotaurs (terrible sculpts sadly) or am still working on the Dragonmasters dragon. The Steam tank is for my wifes Empire army it has been built for years and fought in many battles but the painting was never finished beyond the basecoat and that was in 2009 Well I decided enough is enough.

Its been rough

My dad had cancer they managed to operate and remove it however they ran a DNA test and it turns out that he's a carrier of a defective gene which can cause certain types of cancer. Anyway we all had to get checked the papers arrived today. its a thing called Lynch Syndrome MSH6 Gene Carrier. This is one of the genes which prevents certain types of cancer the person who has this mutation is more likely to develop bowel, colon and gastric cancers. The patient is a carrier this means they pass it onto their children. Well that sucks. An update I've about 2 more weeks to wait for my test results to come through.

Warseer is down :(

Just found out that Warseer is down and that there's no news of if it will ever restart. I've been a member for years (Major Soma) and had posted a few hundred times especially in the Tread head thread. While I no longer have the pictures taken for my posts I will do my best to recreate them and post my stuff here. Now if real life would give me some free time that'd be great so far its been 3 weeks in hospital out then in again I'm getting tired of the smell of hospitals. The above pictures are My counts as Arabian Merchant and an Imperial Tactician for Mordheim one is by Reaper http://www.reapermini.com/ and the other is by Hasslefree http://hfminis.co.uk/Miniatures the last miniature is an OOP Games Workshop mini from the 80's this one says Grilka on her tab they re-released this one several times with different names. She has served quite well in Warhammer Quest as well as Heroquest.

Abdul Goldberg

The Emporium of Rogue Dreams decided to hold a competition (friendly) based around the Rogue Trader random generator character called Abdul Goldberg. We had a wide remit design a character, come up with a background and possibly stats. My Abdul Goldberg (parts used Empire militia legs, torso, Imperial guard plasma pistol arm, Empire battle wizard head, Empire outrider cloak and hormagaunt slashing arm.) Abdul Goldberg Rogue Trader, xenophile and archivist Abdul scours the outer sectors seeking archaotech, xenotech and ancient secrets. To this end he has infiltrated several cults and imperial navy clubs. Originally he worked alongside an inquisitor however Abdul has recently parted company with them, he often uses his cloak to hide his bionic arm a cunning replica of a xeno beast he killed a while back.

Long time silence time for an update.

A bunch of minis these will be used in my Mordheim campaign. One is from a Frothers Charity event.

Suicide Prevention Week

This is Suicide Prevention Week and Awareness week I've tried to kill myself in the past the first time was in 2006 and I had an experience which my doctor called an extreme reaction to stress. I had the year from hell, my parents had been in a really bad car crash and nearly died, I'd lost my job, ended up in hospital with my health, been assaulted in the street and then the house had been broken into Christmas alone was something I couldn't face indeed life at that point had reached so low a point I couldn't see a way forwards. I took an overdose washed down with a bottle of whiskey cliche I know but that's what happened. Dream Spiral Life twists, turns and spirals, A leaf caught in an uncaring grasp, Sometimes gentle, sometimes harsh. The dreamer wakes the downward spiral, Despair thickened like molasses, Sinks to his chest in toxicity. Life crushed, broken dolls, Limbs scattered as flotsam, on unwashed shores. The pain of living pulls despondently Towards broken promises, Painful half truths writ large. Bitterly shaken hands grasp bottles, Let loose the genie, pain killers to numb Sleeping pills to drift away. Life smashed on scattered sands, Tears fell unnoticed washed away By white horses as he drank the past No more tomorrows, no more pain, Memories discarded among the flotsam Driftwood returns to driftwood. Feeble flicker of life refuses To pass fights to live, Bile rises, darkness Descends. The dreamer awakes Discarded, carried on a sea of bile Half digested pills, whisky stinks the air. Slowly painfully picks up the phone Dials a half forgotten number “hello? I tried to kill myself”

Star Wars Miniatures Imperial Faction

Grand Moff Tarkin Imperial Officer Stormtrooper Commander 3 stormtroopers 2 Scout troopers 2 sand troopers 2 snow troopers 1 Noghri 1 Coruscant Guard 1 Royal Guard 1 Death Star Trooper 1 AT ST

Poetry International

Make space in your diary for Poetry International, bringing together voices from around the world from Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 Jul. 'A poem is a sword. It's our form of resistance.' (Sahera Sharif). Encounter poetry from the Middle East by poets from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Kurdistan, Iran, the Palestinian territories and Syria. True to the vision of the festival's founder, Ted Hughes, this year's festival is inspired by contemporary news, events and conflicts in the world today. Join us for talks, readings, workshops and free events that illuminate poetry's enduring ability to anticipate and envision change and transcend barriers of censorship, prejudice and conflict. The festival features Choman Hardi, Warsan Shire, Eliza Griswold, Kei Miller, Imtiaz Dharker, Jo Shapcott, Malika Booker and Aamir Iqbal, among many others. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/festivals-series/poetry-international Highlights of the festival Poetry in Conflict: Talks Pass Sat 25 Jul This afternoon of three talks presents the stories of poets and poetry in the news from Afghanistan to Pakistan via Iraq. Modern War Poetry Voices from outside the US and UK describe their different experiences of conflict, making war personal in the way only poets can. Why Afghan Women Risk Their Lives to Write Poetry Find out from the poets themselves and award-winning poet and investigative journalist Eliza Griswold, who shared these women's work and stories in The New York Times. Free of the Taliban We hear the story of poets in remote north-western Pakistan who were ordered to compose jihadist messages of war, brutality and conformity. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/poetry-in-conflict-talks-pass-92272 Sex in the Afternoon Sun 26 Jul Join Forward Prize-winner Kei Miller, inaugural Royal Shakespeare Company Poet-in-Residence Malika Booker, African Poetry Prize-winner and first Young Poet for London Warsan Shire, plus performance maker and curator Rachel Mars as they share poetry and prose exploring sex in all its pain and glory. Their readings are followed by an open and frank Q&A session with historian of sexuality Dr Jana Funke. Presented as part of the Wellcome Collection's Sexology Season. Curated and produced by People Brands Events, with special thanks to Apples and Snakes, Free Word and Spread the Word. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/sex-in-the-afternoon-92386 Poets on the Front line Fri 24 Jul Poets Choman Hardi (from Iraqi Kurdistan) and Ghareeb Iskander (from Iraq) are joined by UK-based Jamaican poet Kei Miller to offer poetic dispatches from the front line and discuss the challenges of capturing conflict in verse. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/poets-on-the-frontline-92189 Take part in poetry workshops How to write Activist Poetry Fri 22 Jul Work with renowned Palestinian performance poet and human rights activist Rafeef Ziadah to explore poetry as resistance, look at examples of activist poetry and create your own. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/activism-poetry-writing-work-92211 How to write Poetry of Witness Fri 24 Jul Draw on personal and collective experiences to learn how to write poems that combine the individual with the universal and political. This workshop is led by poet Karen McCarthy Woolf. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/poetry-of-witness-workshop-92158 How to write Ghazals Sat 25 Jul Learn about an ancient Arabic verse form that powerfully invokes love, longing and loss, and write your own ghazals with Aviva Dautch. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/how-to-write-ghazals-92322 How to write Landays Sun 26 Jul Discover the power of landays, a form of folk poetry from Afghanistan with a rich history. Award-winning poet, investigative journalist and landay translator Eliza Griswold introduces you to some of the greatest poems in the form and helps you write your own. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/introduction-to-landays-92446 Global poetry Scorched Glass An evening of modern Iranian poetry Sat 25 Jul Hear lyrical poetry from Iran as we celebrate the launch of the latest Modern Poetry in Translation magazine. In Partnership with Modern Poetry in Translation and the British Council. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/scorched-glass-iranian-poetry-92260 Re:Play Sat 25 Jul Catch provocative new excerpts from five new pieces of work, exploring issues including women's rights in UK detention centres, migration and identity, and transracial adoption. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/replay-92224 I Was Your Daughter: Poetry in Her Name Sun 26 Jul Poets from the Mirman Baheer literary society, a group of Afghan women poets based in Kabul and often writing in secret, are joined by celebrated and emerging British poets and musicians. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/i-was-your-daugher-poetry-in-her-name-1000980 Poetry International Launch Party Poetry International Launch Party Thu 23 Jul Join us for a toast and to hear the festival's featured poets preview their work alongside performances of their favourite poems from the library's collection. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/poetry-international-launch-pa-92148 MORE FROM THE SAISON POETRY LIBRARY: Drop in to the Saison Poetry Library installation on The Clore Ballroom floor or come along to the daily library tours at 11am throughout the festival, giving you a chance to explore our collection of ghazals and landays, as well as over 200 poetry magazines. Families are invited to learn songs and poems from Afghanistan and Pakistan at our Rug Rhymes sessions, and to create an artwork out of their favourite poem from home in Around the World in 80 Poems. Kind Regards, The Poetry Library info@poetrylibrary.org.uk

E. V. Greig and the Legend of Graymyrh: A Deconstruction of Fantasy Tropes

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Legend-Graymyrh-Experimental-High-Fantasy/dp/1508944113/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1433860701&sr=8-3&keywords=e.v.greig E. V. Greig uses the literary form to hold a mirror up to the traditional standards of High Fantasy.There are acceptable levels of behaviour which heroes are allowed to get away with and yet the villain isn't. The Legend of Greymyrh explores the how's and the why's of this theme. There author also uses the book to experiment with literary styles including traditional edda's and folklore. The harsh reality of the setting is pretty grim as well there are few real heroes and most are in it for their own needs or goals. Also not many books open with the destruction of an entire world! The author also delves into language structure and every race has its own tonal setting and descriptors not here will you find your traditional elf, dwarf or human but different shades of similar entities. It is an original text first published last year in a trilogy structure but re-released as a full text now. Did I mention that there are vampires (that don't sparkle) and werewolves who are an actual threat and not some cuddly toy. This book deals with relationships and the difficulties faced by people in day to day life how a person can be assimilated into a marriage and effectively cease to exist, how we turn a blind eye to sexual assault in literature when we shouldn't. At times it can be an uncomfortable read but compared to GRR Martin's Game of Throne's it is quite light tonally. Would I recommend it? Yes I would it is a different form of fantasy and easily falls under feminist fiction the same as the authors science fiction text. Project Nightingale which explores many gender themes and ableism in the workplace. E.V. Greig will take you dark places and raises several questions both are worth checking out.

The Modellers Nook aka The Dungeon

My first introduction to RPGS and Wargaming was through two places Toy Land in Belfast which had some amazing GW kits some of which I got and also The Modellers Nook in Gresham Street behind Castlecourt. The store was primarily about selling model kits planes, tanks etc but Joe the store owner also got in minis and rulebooks from various companies. Most of the minis I bought are from the shop. My first foray into his store was in 1986 and it was an amazing experience Joe's attitude was laid back easy to chat with and he would order stuff in or hold stuff over for you. Joe had a really bad heart attack two years ago and sold the business which was a horrible thing to happen. In the last few years he organized a twice yearly event called model fest I'll pop up some pictures from it. This was an opportunity for fellow gamers and modellers to show of their collections, throw participation games, eat food and chat. My wife and I who met through an advert in the store where the fantasy wargaming couple so we would run small scale scenarios and skirmishes in all a really great day out. Back to the 80's Joe decided to hire a sculptor to try and make a few inhouse minis which could be used with Rogue Trader or other generic settings. These minis also included a small tribe of furries and several large scale aliens including a couple which were inspired by Geiger's artwork. Sadly nothing came of these except for a few production casts to try out the moulds I think the moulds are in England somewhere any way here's the minis.

New Crime novel worth reading

In the Canyons of Shadow and Light Authored by Emily Donoho; Cover design and artwork by Amos Grieg; Prepared for publication by Upatree Press Publication Date: May 05 2015 ISBN/EAN13:151205268X / 9781512052688 Page Count: 514 Binding Type: US Trade Paper Trim Size: 6" x 9" Language: English Color: Black and White Related Categories: Fiction / Psychological/Police Procedural/American Literature About the Author: Emily Donoho was born in Boulder, Colorado in 1983. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Mount Holyoke College, a master's degree in history of science from the University of Durham, and a PhD in the historical geography of medicine from the University of Glasgow. She currently resides in Scotland. About the Novel: Delve into the depths of humanity and criminal justice with Homicide Detective Alex Boswell, in this thought provoking debut novel. Emily Donoho escorts her readers on a breath taking journey through the city that never sleeps, and the restless mind of one of its most dedicated servants. A tattered veteran of the NYPD, Boswell is a man beset: the combined weight of his case load and personal life grinding him down. The white lights are blinding, and the skyscrapers are closing in. It's time to reach for the shore or drown trying - In the Canyons of Shadow and Light. Links: https://www.createspace.com/5478889 http://www.amazon.com/dp/151205268X/ref=rdr_ext_tmb http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/151205268X/ref=rdr_ext_tmb

More miniatures ganging from the 80'sand up.

Co 2 wizard from the 80's I suspect the design may have influenced the later Light Wizards.

Scylla Afgrinam this is the original model from the early 90's I chose not to paint him in the traditional green and red of Khorne at that time.

Fabius Bile 

Drong the Hard from one of the Warhammer scenarios 

Aekold Helbrass

Theoden

Chaos Champion of Slaanesh

Chaos Familiar