It’s less than a week now until the expo. In fact this time next week I’ll be on the floor of one of the exhibition halls, navigating through the crowds to get to a stand or two.
In the meantime I’ve ordered some black pudding from Charles Macleod of Stornoway. In my opinion this is the best black pudding I’ve ever had and worth the extra expense to get shipped down.
This along with some pork patties, processed cheese slices, english muffins, and eggs will be my breakfast while there.
Mid last week I got an email from the retailer I had preordered The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship saying that the retail release has been delayed by one or two months due to the boat it was on being a really slow boat from China.
But there was some good news at the same time. The publisher was shipping over by air some stock for the retailer to sell at the expo. After all the expo was meant to be the launch/early access for the game.
So the retailer gave me (and others that got the email) the option of picking up their preorder early at the expo.
They had me at early. I replied instantly that I would like to do that.
So basically I will be getting at least one game at the expo and looking forward to getting it to the table earlier than I thought I’d be.
I have no idea what else I’ll buy there. There is nothing specific I’m after. It will be all down to serendipity.
As promised in my still alive post here is a post looking at some recent games I’ve played.
Since the start of April I’ve played eight new to me games.
So I better share my initial thoughts on these games.
We all know how I feel about trick taking games. So when they combined a mechanic I love with a theme/franchise I love then the purchase was a no brainer.
The game does not disappoint. Dave and I played a two player game one Tuesday evening when Marcin couldn’t make it. We played twelve games that got us through about seven chapters. This game is not only a trick taking game. It’s a campaign game telling the story of the first book in eighteen chapters. With a nineteenth if you got the promo Gifts of Galadriel pack (and yes it’s possible to buy on eBay at unreasonable prices).
For two players you play a third player as a dummy hand. Which in itself is interesting. The dummy hand is dealt out as a pyramid layout with some cards face down and some face up, with the ring bearer taking control of the hand.
Each character has a unique condition that needs to met for players to win the chapter and to move on. An example condition might be to win exactly two tricks, or get all five of the ring cards.
Chapters will introduce new characters, not use others, even new mechanics and cards. So how to win each chapter changes with the characters available and which is selected. They can be quite challenging.
A great, fun, challenging game.
YRO is a recent purchase after listening to the most recent (at time of writing) Secret Cabal podcast where they discussed this game.
We played this last Tuesday at four and three player.
This a quick, fun game. We played three games in around one and a half hours.
A game ends when someone reaches forty points or plays their ninth character in their three by three grid.
I won one game after playing five cards. Three of which were expensive dragon cards.
You are trying to get combos, build an engine. It also in the card placement give vibes of Castle Combo.
Cards that generate points each round are really powerful.
Great quick fun.
Diego introduced me to this fantasy themed drafting game.
How much did I like the game? I ordered an English language copy of the game from Germany because it was out of stock in the uk.
I do enjoy drafting games. It’s why I have three copies of Sushi Go for starters! It’s also a mechanic I like when used with other games such as MtG.
I like that each player has their own unique objectives that when completed give some sort of bonus during the game.
Also having monster cards that you can beat if you have enough attack to get an instant bonus of some kind is pretty neat, and gives an alternative tactic to follow.
It also like Sushi Go plays fairly quickly.
This was a fun game collecting resources, conquering territories, attacking your neighbours.
It does mechanically have a Catan vibe. The resources you get each turn determined by a roll of the dice, and if you control territory of that type.
It also has trading between players. You can do trades with other players anytime except when you are the active player when you are restricted to trade only with the bank.
There is player elimination in the game. And we did eliminate Marcin from his very own game moments before Dave grabbed victory.
A fun, “aggressive” alternative to Catan.
I’m very late to the party on this one. It was only at a recent gaming afternoon at Diego’s did I get to play it for the first time.
Sadly without the table attention grabbing cardboard tree.
Having now played this worker placement, tableau/engine building game I can see where all the fuss comes from. I don’t quite get the Wingspan comparison unless it is that later bit. To me they don’t really compare or compete.
I enjoyed the game a lot. Most definitely will play it again.
The game I went all Chihuahua over to deny Marcin!
This is actually a very clever game.
Although there is not a lot of player interaction. There is chances to screw over your fellow players. Especially when you are first player.
I like the hand management. It causes some hard decisions. You may really want your die that turn to be a three to get much needed resources, but you also really want its ability when you become first player. Having to decide which is more important can be a tough decision.
The current first player deciding player turn order is also nice. Make the right choice here and it’s possible to steal buildings from other players.
I’m glad I got this game.
Another great trick taking game.
This has some nice additions to the genre where if you don’t win any tricks your personal deck gets stronger. Plus your deck is made up of the tricks you win! Which means your deck gets watered down potentially with low cards. But then you get that boost of powerful cards.
It’s a solid fun trick tracking game.
A fun area control game with multiple avenues to victory.
Do you concentrate on getting the longest route or groups, most territory, or control of neighbouring towers, or a combo of the previous options?
Definitely one to play again.
That’s it I kinda run out of steam there at the end. Put still I think you get the gist. I enjoyed all of these games and definitely would play again.
I decided to return to Roydon Common and the upper field.
I wanted something easy on my legs (I’m still trying to rest them as much as possible) whilst giving Dolly a bit longer walk wise.
I thought also the benefit of doing this route was the horse trough on the planned route as a water stop for Dolly.
However when we reached the water stop spot the horse trough was gone! All that remained was the outline in the grass of where it once was.
We walked on to find a suitable spot to chill and have lunch.
BRS 3000T, Fire-Maple Gas Canister Stand, BRS-3000T Special Stainless Steel Windproof Ring, Pathfinder Stainless Steel Nesting Cup.MERMOO YILAN Collapsible Pour Over Coffee DripperMandatory selfiePad Thai adjacent
My brew kit for today was the ultra light hikers favourite BRS 3000T, which I used with a BRS-3000T Special Stainless Steel Windproof Ring (from AlieExpress), a Fire-Maple Gas Canister Stand, plus the Pathfinder Stainless Steel Nesting Cup that goes with my Pathfinder canteen.
I also used my brew kit staples of a UCO Collapsible Cup, MERMOO YILAN Collapsible Pour Over Coffee Dripper, and Fire-Maple Dandelion Buddy Camping Table.
Before making lunch I made a brew, and gave Dolly much needed water.
My lunch was inspired by Chef Corso and his “pad thai” recipe (YouTube video here). But I’d forgotten a couple of ingredients (the powdered coconut milk, garlic and ginger powder). Instead my flavouring were packets of soy sauce, English mustard, sweet chilli sauce, plus two packets of peanut butter. I call this pad thai adjacent! Plus some sliced up cured meat (forget what it was specifically) thrown in. It was pretty tasty but left a messy pot.
So yes I did wash up before packing away.
The BRS and windshield did ok in the gentle breeze. It wouldn’t hold up in a stronger breeze or wind. But with the SOTO 750ml Thermolite pot, everything (stove, 100g gas canister, pot grabber, windshield) but the canister stand fits nicely inside the pot, and the canister stand tucks on top in the included bag. It’s a nice light weight cook system.
While we were chilling the day was starting to warm up.
Once packed up (leaving no trace we had been there) we did the final bit of our walk back to the car.
Dolly is really good off the lead. Stays very close, doesn’t go off chasing wild life. And is the same when we stop for a brew. She is very much like the wolf pack were when we were out and about and stopped for a brew.
Since the last post that seems so much longer than six days ago I’ve been increasingly more tired.
So tired I’ve found myself “snoozing” in the afternoons once I get home from work.
But more worrying is yesterday my legs started to feel like they did a few weeks ago when I had the chest infection when they decided they were not going to work properly.
Luckily I managed to manage my legs at work so although they felt weak and not able to rush around, they didn’t decline any more.
It got me thinking what is my body reacting to again that it’s hitting my legs once more?
Is my tiredness linked to this struggle going on in my body?
I think if there is no improvement in a day or two a trip to the doc might be in order.
That will be a second visit in the space of a month. Unheard of! Before the last visit they hadn’t seen me for years.
The little monsters have had the odd flea. So it was off to the vet to get the good stuff to remove them. The vet weighed them. Dolly was 10 kilos! How is she as heavy as my base weight for doing the TGOC? I agreed with the vet she needs a diet. I’m not over feeding her. But mum needs to cut down on treats. In our defence Dolly hasn’t grown in size since having her. Her future is less food, longer walks (legs permitting).
I have been gaming. Played one or two new games. But that will be the subject of another post.
The country is getting its Summer early this year.
Which means only one thing.
By the time the expo arrives we will be in the midst of a rainy spell.
Which will be about right for my first camping experience at the expo.
I have to admit I’m getting pretty excited about going to the expo this year. In recent years I’ve not really felt that excited about going. Don’t get me wrong I’ve enjoyed myself whilst there. But I’ve not felt excited in the run up. No anticipation.
I think this newly found excitement is due to the fact I’m camping this year.
The final bits of gear have arrived. I have a solution for when I take Dolly camping (yet to order it).
So what bits of gear arrived?
The Jetboil Genesis Basecamp stove is finally officially available in the UK. Despite having the Naturehike folding twin burner stove I did purchase the Genesis Basecamp. Plus a Firemaple griddle.
Using a very generous Amazon gift voucher from my aunt for my birthday plus some of my own money I bought a 20 litre portable fridge/freezer for camping. Which is currently acting as an over flow freezer!
I also have an electric hook up cable. Which solves my charging issues for my phone etc.
The tarp pole from Alpkit has also just arrived. This is used with the Tarpstar 1 (or 2).
So apart from deciding what I’m going to eat. I think I’m ready.
I had hoped to write this post a couple days ago. However I’ve been shattered and trying to “recover”.
So last Saturday I drove the four hours plus from Wisbech on the eastern side of the UK to Blackpool on the north western side of the country.
I’ve never been to Blackpool in my fifty seven years on this earth.
I’d seen the signs for Blackpool as I drove up the motorway towards the Lakes or Scotland.
But until now I’ve never had a reason to turn off.
After parking my car in the multi-storey car park I had a little walk to find my hotel.
The hotel was on the corner of the road and was basically a converted three storey house. Checkin was finding my key and door code in an envelope in the hallway.
My room was on the second floor (the third floor was for staff). What I hadn’t realised when booking that none of the rooms were en-suite on the floor, but instead had to share a toilet and shower.
But it got worse. The toilet had no lock, and no toilet paper.
In my room there were no towels, and the pillows looked awful. Too soft and thin.
But the view of the sea from the room was cool. Plus the hotels location was actually great.
If I threw a stone I’d have hit five or six chippies. Two minutes from the dirtiest McDonalds in the country, 10 mins from the conference, five minutes from Primark, TK-Max, Poundland, and other shops. I think it’s best to say it was more or less on the sea front.
Luckily I had enough time to make it to Primark and Poundland to purchase some towels and toilet paper.
My May the Fourth teeThe bedView from my roomMy own wash basinWorst camo everMy tee for Wes StreetingHome for the four days
There was no breakfast included in my booking. However if there had been I don’t think I’d have eaten it considering the state of the hotel.
So for three of the four mornings I had a McDonalds breakfast. I’m not very adventurous and always go for the double sausage egg McMuffin, hash brown, white americano. Some times I add a second hash brown, and if really hungry a second breakfast McMuffin of some kind.
Sunday morning I got chatting to the manager at the McDonalds. It would appear this was the worst weekend of the year to be in Blackpool. Apparently this weekend each year is the Young Farmers AGM, who it would appear treat it as a three day stag weekend.
The conference itself was very interesting, and the debates informative.
‘First time delegate, first time speaker’ was greeted with a round of applause from the conference floor. But it felt very much like ‘long time listener, first time caller’ to me.
I was wearing a different themed tee each day. Such as a Star Wars pride tee for May the Fourth, or a V for Vendetta tee for the day we had a Labour guest speaker (turned out to be Wes Streeting).
I wasn’t overly social in the evenings. There was a branch meal Sunday evening at a Wetherspoon’s, plus a company sponsored meal Saturday for union reps in their employ.
On the last day of conference I got up early, packed, checked out (put my key through the letter box). Then with more stuff than I came with made the up hill walk to the multi-storey car park. Paid and then made my way to the car park next to the conference.
After parking I went to the Greggs round the corner from the conference, bought a bacon butty, hash browns, and a coffee. I had these outside sat at one of the benches in front of Blackpool church in the morning sun.
The conference didn’t finish until 3pm on the Wednesday. Another four hour plus journey back across the country, saw me arriving home at just gone seven thirty.
By the time I’d made a fuss of the dogs, unloaded the car I was in bed.
The two days at work had been very taxing because I was knackered. So as I type this post up I’m hoping a day of taking it easy will be enough to recover.
Yesterday was going to be another scorcher. What better time to head off to Whitehills Wood to look for the hidden pond.
As we pulled into the small car park I was pleasantly surprised that there were no other cars.
I’m not saying I’m anti-social. But less people means more opportunities to spot the inhabitants of the wood.
We got ready (basically putting on my trail shoes, tarp hat, and haversack) and headed off into the beckoning shade of the woods.
It wasn’t long before we were at the point of the route to go off path looking for the pond on the map.
We have an alibi.Dolly keen to help me with lunchMore signs of bushcrafting? secret messaging maybeThis is not Vietnam! I am not a tunnel rat! You can’t make me!Our picnic view!A surprise at the pondLet’s investigate Obligatory ZZTop selfie That’s betterThe fish I’ve not identified yet
We passed the mysterious serial killers murder hole, or whatever you want to call it that we discovered on our last trip here.
In a what would seem a failed attempt to use “natural” navigation techniques to find the pond we continued straight along some deer paths.
My logic went if there was indeed still a pond in these woods then the local wildlife would have trails that would lead me to it.
A solid theory I thought.
As we followed one such “path” we stumbled upon a most definitely man made path.
Dolly and I headed left along it looking for another deer path heading in the direction of the pond.
I thought we had found one. But sadly it too like our previous visit ran into a wall of rhododendrons and trees.
It was at this point that I thought we had been defeated once again. So we stopped to for refreshments and to enjoy our shaded surroundings.
After packing up we retraced our steps back to the man made path. But instead of then heading back to the car I decided to follow the path to see where it came out.
But not too far along we came across an even better path that followed a stream.
Maybe this stream fed into the pond!
So we headed left following the path/stream. Five minutes later we were greeted by an amazing, beautiful pond and clearing.
It even had fish in it.
There was an even bigger surprise of a building there in the style of a mausoleum.
This was such a pretty spot. I’d love to wild camp here.
Dolly and I had been so close that if we had gone right earlier we’d have been having our lunch in this hidden gem.
After taking in the serenity and beauty of this spot we headed back.
More exploring was required where did the path come out?
We followed it and the stream to the edge of the woods heading to a river, and come across a gate that was locked!
Looking at the sign on the opposite side of the gate, it would appear we had been unintentionally trespassing!
This section of wood and the pond belonged to the Castle Rising estate and was not open to the public.
We turned round to retrace our steps to the spot we originally joined the path. Once there it was deer tracks back to the woods we were allowed in.
Why there is no signage up in the woods is a mystery to me.
After a brief water stop for Dolly we made our way back to the car.
Back at the car we were still the only vehicle there.
Had we been the only ones in the woods while we were there?
This had been a most excellent walk. Next time we will try and find a route to the other pond and the river.
I’ve had backend issues that have got in the way of writing posts.
I use the Jetpac app on my iPad to write these posts and recently it decided to stop working!
Well not connect to the site. It wasn’t showing any written posts, drafts, photos. It was as if the blog was brand new, containing nada.
Yet log into the blog via a browser and everything was still there.
I hated having to use the WordPress post editor. It’s horrid. It really puts me off writing. Yep that’s how much I hate it.
However managed to resolve the issue this morning. So normal service can resume.
I’m currently on day five of seven of the steroids I have to take to try and clear up a chest infection I’ve had for over three weeks. Probably more likely over four.
It all came to a head last Friday when during work I slowly started to lose the use of my legs! I could move them but had no control over how they moved. My footsteps got gradually heavier as I walked. It got so that I was at times struggling to stand. Luckily I had a flat top that I could use for support.
I have to admit I was a bit worried. It felt I was getting a glimpse into mums world.
There was no way I could continue at work so I went home early. Calling the doctors on my way to get an appointment.
I rarely go to the doctor so it must have been serious.
A rest at home before my doctors appointment made a big difference. At the doctors the diagnosis was the chest infection was stressing my body so much that it affected my legs. I was prescribed the steroids.
Luckily Saturday was a day off when I could relax and take it easy. Which did include a gaming afternoon at Diego’s. More on that maybe in another post.
So that’s been life for the past week or so. Why I’ve been quieter than normal.
