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Sunday, 16 April 2023

The King and Me!

Date- Wednesday 12th March circa 1938.

Place-The Garvaldian Front.

“Well that’ll be that then!”


        The Very British Civil War had finally made it’s way to sleepy Garvald and found us in the defence of the local field hospital against the oncoming horde of the BUF commanded by Mosley himself.He had discovered that the king was being held to all intensive purposes hostage and his rescue was required.Also present that day at the time was Prince Albert’s wife Mary and their elder daughter Elizabeth hopefully looking for the quick demise of the king so they could do a quick takeover whilst on the premises.

Peak time at the hospital.

Plenty of incomes.

The George Washington brigade.

“Where does one get a G&T around here?”

     I found myself in charge of the attacking BUF and the defenders came under the control of young Andrew ably abetted by El Presidente’s bad dice drawing. The dice drawing came about as we were using our go to rules Bolt Action hence the dice drawing.

Captain Blackadder and Captain Darling chitchat with General Haig.

The tennis courts make a quick reappearance.

The Languishing Lanchester.



The Garvald Ladies Explorer Club LTD.

     There wasn’t much gameplaying time so my plan was to charge in with my armour and seize the day and all be home for tea and crumpets.How many times have I said that. I work on the principal that it has to work sometime but it wasn’t to be this evening .As soon as my first tank charged up the main road lo and behold it was shot at by a hidden anti tank gun and it was stopped in its tracks.This meant a change in plan with the infantry now tasked to weeding out these Anglican usurpers.

A nice brace of ambulances.

Nurses with guns-not a novelty in the Garvaldian Universe.

The land girls before they get whisked away.

The Armadillos ready for the off.

        The first squad of matelots were sent forward backed  up by  the Dutch squad who I’m afraid when they made it to the camouflaged strongpoint were left high and dry after being informed by El Presidente that they had to enter by the back door putting them into the line of fire of the Lanchester armoured car.This proved fatal to our gallant Dutch brothers and they were soon  sent on their merry way back to Holland

The Dutch ready to advance.

Moseley gesticulates.

BUF kilty kilty cauld bums.

The matelots advance.

       Obviously Andrew had got the fix in with El Presidente,probably with the offer of another flagon of ale in the pub,as there was a continuous flow of Anglican dice emerging from the dice bag especially at the start of the turns meaning the enemy were always given first shot usually to my detriment.This was proven when Andrew moved his anti tank rifle armed Armadillos forward without any hindrance and firing a salvo of 50 calibre bullets at both of my tanks making one retreat.The only saving grace was the coastal tideline  or else one of my tanks would have been retreating to Denmark.

The land girls having a incognito picnic.

Boudicca’s Babes.



Disembarking Tanks.

“What the guides were doing ,I haven’t a clue?”

       To add insult to injury my naval steam truck whilst disembarking from the landing craft was hit by a lucky mortar shell decimating my poor jack tars.

HMS Steam Lorry.

Straight up the road.

El Presidente getting the vet bill for his black Hebridean sheep.

“Garvald Rifles,Garvald Rifles!Sorry Jam.



My plan B was to funnel my motor cycle troops up the left using cover of some houses to keep them out of harm’s way.They opened up on the local Garvald Ladies’ Explorer’s club resulting in a single squeal as one of the females were done away with.Just as I thought my luck had changed a forlorn Hope land girl squad who were picknicking away quietly suddenly picked up some Purdey shotguns and started taking pot shots at my motorbikes.Damn unsportswomanlike  I thought!

That looks like a suspicious hole in that wall?

Here come the Armadillos.

My only successes.

Hoping to team up.

       As I had said it was only a short game so moving my infantry squads was proving to be rather slow as Andrew had his defences set up pretty far forward due to the numerous favourable dice he was been given so my squads were having to move forward under constant fire.My motor cycle squad who were by far my most successful unit were themselves taking heavy fire from emplaced machine guns.My second tank managed to hit one of the Armadillos but only caused it to temporarily retreat.That’s what kind of night it was for the forces of law and order.



“Where’s that back door?”-in Dutch!

Yet another lucky hit!

         My last push before full time saw me trying to move everything forward and this resulted in my Boudicca’s Babe Squad taking a pasting as the Anglicans couldn’t find any other worthwhile targets.This was the cruelty we were up against with my innocent girls melting into a goo of black leather.Luckily full time was called before I could incur any more cruelty.The king was still under ball and chain and Princess Elizabeth could be seen rubbing her hands!Watch this space! 
The Kilty Kilty Cauld Bums Advance.

Mobile pigeon loft.

The picnicers run out of Prosecco.

Turning the heat on the picnicers.

        A great one sided game played out with the usual cat calls and claims of underhand clerical goings on.

“The crown gets closer!”

      All figs,scenery and scenario provided yet again by El Presidente.

          See you all when I see you!

      This has been a Garvald Film Production.



Friday, 31 March 2023

The Svalbardians are coming,The Svalbardians are coming!

 Wednesday 29th March,


Location- some nameless Canadian Airfield High In The Rocky Garvald Mountains.

Quiet time at the airfield.

Canadian Sabre.

Airport Car Park.


        After a gap of which seems ages normal service was resumed on the gaming front with a visit to some obscure airfield hiding some experimental aircraft and some purloined equipment making it so called easy pickings for some philandering Svalbardians or roaming aliens complete with The Mekon in tow.The local militia and Mounties were having none it.Rules for this evening were the Xenos Rampant rules which although having a hint of outer space sci-fi were going to be used in this not so future game based on some well stocked Canadian airbase which has a reminiscence of Fort Churchill. The toys involved tonight were as spectacular as always.You can never have enough Dinky Toys on display.

Various Rocketry.

The boys are back.

Engine Service.

R.C.M.P on stakeout.


        Tonight’s Mcguffin was the appropriation of various crates scattered around the base with added bonuses for the eradication of the enemy be they earthly or outer worldy.Each player was equipped with a couple of infantry squads backed up by various vehicles/guns.Comrade Gilchristi as always was in charge of the Svalbard Soviets,El Presidente took charge of the Mekon led aliens whilst I took a stand for dear old Canada by taking charge of the local militia supported by the Mounties.

Advanced Aeroplanes.

PT 76.

The Mounties are here.

                  Once again the game kicked off with everybody heading for the nearest crates to get some booty under their belts before engaging the enemy.The vagaries of these rules are unless you are souper dooper you can only move or shoot so one has to choose wisely.Also unless your unit has free shooting or moving you have to command them and if you fail your turn is over.My plan as always was to charge in and end the game quickly.One day that is going to work but not tonight.My lads headed straight across the airfield ready to die for Canada.My armoured vehicle came in the form of a Saracen armoured personnel carrier but under these rules it was armed with a gun.A bit abstract but hey ho.My nearest enemy was the alien laser gun that was making an appearance in my gun sight but initial shots went wildly astray making my Saracen the object of the laser guns desires.

Servicing the Shooting Star.

The Lasgun cometh.

The Svalbardians are coming.

                Meanwhile the Svalbardians were making an appearance on the other side of the table with a PT76 leading the charge backed up by various NEO Svalbard squads one which just happened to be female festooned with Soviet uniform.Well it is El Presidente’s dojo.The object of their desire were the yellow clad aliens belonging to El Presidente.One of the aliens met their demise and Bill was off to a good start.
Super spy NPC.

Servicing the Shooting Star.

The PT76 moves forward.

The Laser Gun.

          My Saracen began to take hits but in the good old traditional Canadian way kept on returning fire until El Presidente finally got lucky with his purple dice of death and done away with my Saracen.Revenge will be sought immediately-maybe!The Svalbardians began to swoop over all the airfield buildings causing the aliens to dither and eventually take more casualties.My lads were up for it though and saw an opportunity to move round the side of the hangar and deal some Canadian justice among these Svalbardian interlopers.I thought I was about to succeed when Bill decided to move back out the hangar and confront my lads.A firefight commenced with casualties being taken on both sides and both squads thinking wisely that retreating (sorry regrouping)would be a good option.Comrade Gilchristi was having a very productive evening with his destruction of El Presidente’s infantry giving him a chance to fire on the laser gun.My militia meanwhile were hoping to do away with the laser gun but the gun backed up by the Mekon proved a step too far and ended up with my second militia squad heading back to the Rockies.

The Mounties taking cover.

Various rocketry.

The Mekon hides behind a police car.

Airport fire engine.

     The Mountie squad were faring better with the collecting of crates and getting to grips with the Svalbardians causing them to retire out of shooting range.This was only a hindrance to the Svalbardians as their other squads were dealing with the alien interlopers including the laser gun. The game fizzled out so victory points were divvied up and lo and behold a victory for the Svalbardian invaders was proclaimed.

The Laser gun turns it’s attention towards Comrade Bill.

The female Soviets indulging in some tennis.

The Svalbardians digging in.

El Presidente’s remnants scatter.

My Saracen simmering.

     Yet another great game with a great number of toys on display all from the collection of El Presidente.

          Hopefully this’ll be the start of a productive spring and summer.See You All When I See You!

This has been a Garvald Film Studios Production.