Over a year ago I had plans to start playing the LoTR lcg with Nathan.
But like a lot of things those plans never happened.
Since then though I have got the final part of the revised saga The Return of the King. Plus the three revised campaigns Angmar Awakened, Dream-chaser, and Ered Mithrin including the matching hero boxes.
Another expensive spin off is I have bought some of the GenCon stand alone scenarios to play. I’m not getting all of them. That’d be some serious cash splashed out. I’ve gone for the ones that interested me.
So which ones did I get?
The Massing at Osgiliath – GenCon 2011 Scenario
The Battle of Lake-Town (Hobbit) Scenario GenCon 2012
The Mines of Moria – Gen Con 2019 Scenario Pack
Escape from Khazad-Dum Custom Scenario Kit
The Siege of Annuminas – Fellowship 2016 Scenario
Yes it’d be nice to get them all. Even better it’d have been nice for FFG to have done a box set containing them all. But that’s just a wild dream. It’s not going to happen.
There is one more I’d like Murder at the Prancing Pony, which basically makes the game into a Cluedo inspired murder mystery who done it. I’m curious as to how it plays. Does it work considering the theme?
So what of the plans hinted at in the posts title?
Well discussions have started with Marcin and Dave to gauge interest in playing through the three book sagas on a Saturday. They seem to like the idea, and interested.
So I need to select a Saturday to start the journey.
I’ll talk deck specifics in another post nearer to the start of the campaign.
With no Anthony to troll him this week Marcin was going to have a stress free evening.
It was good to see and play some games with Jonathan. It’s been way too long since we last sat at table and played a game.
We started off with a game of flip 7 which I won comfortably. Somehow Marcin reached the heady heights of 26 points and never managed to add any more to his total.
Our next game was Rebel Princess. Which Marcin redeemed himself by winning easily. Luckily he didn’t manage to keep a zero points score. Can’t have him matching my zero score in the last game.
Our final game was Wild Gardens. It’s an interesting action selection, resource gathering, contract fulfilment game.
This one took nearly two hour to play. It could have been quicker but when one player has ap what can you do?
Marcin won this game to.
It was a fun evening apart from the ap inflicted player dragging the game out. Plus it was really great to see Jonathan again.
Thursday evening I caught the Met Office YouTube channel warning that after the weekend the weather would once again get worse.
So I mentally made a plan to go out with Dolly on my day off.
On our way out I needed to get some petrol inside the car, otherwise we weren’t going to get very far.
At the petrol station while paying I picked up a packet of beef jerky to use as a dog treat on the walk. Which wasn’t a bad option considering there were no actual dog treats to be bought.
We then headed off towards Roydon Common. But instead of parking at the first car park we carried on to the second car park.
This was a much smaller car park that was also in the woodland that I was aiming for on our previous walk.
We were seeing wildlife almost instantly. The woods were alive with bird song. I was pleasantly surprised seeing a butterfly fluttering across the path a couple of times. It was a brimstone I think.
The woods seem to be crawling (at l ast five) with Muntjac feeding just off to the side of the path. Dolly never even noticed them as they froze hoping not to be seen. Pretending to be a statue by the Muntjac allowed me to get the phone out for a photo.
Brew stopMuntjacMuntjacTodays brewBoundless Voyage Titanium Cookware Set with the Phantom – Ultralight Stove
The path we were on was the one I was hoping to connect up to when we came here previously.
Instead of connecting up with our previous route we cut across to edge of the wood that bordered the common.
It was on this return leg that we stopped to have a brew.
For this brew stop I was using the Boundless Voyage Titanium Cookware Set with the Phantom – Ultralight Stove.
While I was waiting for my water to boil I gave Dolly some water and we shared the jerky. By share I mean I had a couple of pieces and Dolly had the rest.
It was this return leg that I tried Dolly off the lead. I was forced earlier to briefly take her off so we could get over a fence using a sty and dog hole in the fence too far from the sty.
Dolly was really good off the lead. Didn’t run off, stayed close.
I think she enjoyed the little bit of extra freedom.
As we got close to the car park I put Dolly back on her lead. I’m glad she was. There was an owner getting out of his car, his dog not on a lead or his control. He had no idea I was there or with a dog. A fecking idiot. Luckily nothing happened but I hate stupid dog owners like this.
But that last bit aside Dolly and I had a great walk in the woodland. Plenty of little paths for us to explore on return visits.
This post is just going to be a brain dump, no particular order or structure. Just thoughts put on the page as they hit me.
Obviously this post is me reflecting on doing the Alzheimer’s Research UK fundraising campaign 28 Miles In February. I think it is also going to be, or hope it’s going to be advice for those thinking of not only doing this themselves next year or any other charity run event.
I think the first thing that comes to mind is when I first signed up and the donation pages that the charity automatically sets up for you. For Alzheimer’s Research it was a Facebook donation page and a Just Giving page. Which was fine. The only issue I had was I couldn’t update the Just Giving page. Never got it sorted, naturally the charity said to deal with the Just Giving support. So much hassle and an extra step(s) so I could post updates. I gave up on this as a way to update folks. In the long run it meant I had one less place to update.
When the charity sets up your donation pages they set a default fund raising target of £150 (this may differ with other charities). You were apparently meant to be able to change this. But I never did.
But don’t let this target put pressure on you. Change it to something you think is more achievable or do as I did ignore it.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t raise that target and all you can raise is far less. Whatever you raise is fantastic and money the charity didn’t have. It all helps no matter the amount.
Also remember that we are still in a cost of living crisis. Money is scarce for a lot of people.
Which brings me onto the charities Facebook page for the fundraising.
I ended up ignoring the page. It’s meant to be there for support and encouragement. But a lot of the posts felt like blowing their own trumpet, “look at me”.
It really did feel like some posts were “look how much I’ve raised” or “look how far I’ve walked/run”. Although I think their hearts and intentions were well meaning. These posts can make those struggling whether to do the miles or raise money feel like they are failing.
It’s not a competition or a pissing match. It doesn’t matter how far others walk or how much they raise. What matters is you do you and remember why you are doing this fundraiser.
For me it was in my Nan’s memory (see one of the first posts). I was doing this for her and to raise awareness of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Whatever I raised or walked was for those reasons. What I did was a success because of that.
The charity did send all those taking part in the fundraiser a beanie. Something that ended up being useless to me because it was too small. I have a large head. It would have been nice if there was an option to select a larger sized beanie. My plan for the beanie is to give it to my aunt when she returns to the UK later in the year. She was my largest donee and because of other reasons I think will make good use of it.
They also sent out a buff to those that raise a certain amount before the fundraising started. It was fine it was a buff. Not the best one but adequate.
If you are here reading this you are likely to also have read one or two of my blog posts on here keeping folks up-to date on my progress.
I did try sharing on the Facebook group but admins deleted the post. They were not allowing links to external websites. They were fine with people sharing their videos talking to camera (kinda like a vlog), usually whilst walking. This kind of demoralised me from participating in the group.
It was a pain posting in two places (blog and Facebook page), plus there was a “dashboard” that showed you how much you had raised across both donation pages. It’d also let you update how much miles you had walked.
This was helpful in tracking your fundraising and distance walked. But nothing else.
When I first saw the ad for the fundraiser I thought how would I find time to do the big walks to do that number of miles? I don’t get back to back days off. So there would be no weekends away to walk in the mountains or part of a long distance trail.
Then it dawned on me I don’t need to do big walks. All I need to do is a mile a day.
That was much more achievable with my job and caring duties.
I think in the Fleet Pond post I lamented how much I missed the place and the army land. Where I grew up and live the nearest woods is at least 40 minutes away not 5. I have to settle for bridle ways and farmland.
But that’s cool. Some people don’t even have that. It doesn’t matter where you walk that daily mile. it’s the fact you have got out and walked that mile that matters.
My plan on the walks was to stop and have a brew mid walk. I carried a brew kit with me on every walk. I never did stop half way. The weather was not the best for stopping and enjoying the surroundings. It was only on a couple of the walks that a had a coffee at the end.
I think it’s important not to feel guilty if you miss days. Life happens. It certainly did in February for me.
While you are not walking spend 5 mins planning your next walk. It’ll give you something to look forward to and help ease that feeling of guilt.
To do this fundraiser you don’t need expensive gear to take part. You just need some footwear you can walk distances in such as trainers. You’ll also need warm clothing and/or a waterproof coat of some kind.
Yes you could go out and buy stuff. But unless you are going to keep on walking as a hobby (which you might) there really is no point. Unless you don’t have any suitable shoes etc.
I think after all the above ramblings we need to remember the reason we are raising money ( no matter the amount), and have an enjoyable time doing it.
Finally I’d like to say for the umpteenth time a very big thank you to all those that kindly donated money. Your generosity was amazing. Thank you.
There was one final thing I needed to do before the expo. That was pre book the parking at the NEC.
Instead of paying on the day. Which would also involve having to queue up at the ticket machines.
You can just flash the QR code on the way out. Also more importantly you save a little money by paying in advance. It’s not an amazing amount. But better than nothing.
I also bought my three day expo pass. I don’t know why, there is no early bird advantage in doing so, unlike the parking. Why expo organisers? Why?
There is no avoiding the queues to get your ticket. You still queue in the “long” queue that those purchasing on the day do.
They won’t run out of tickets. So it’s not like the expo has limited places.
But still I bought it in advance. I just wish there was some incentive or reason to do so.
So with some final bits of car camping gear I need to get I’m just about ready for the expo.
If you’ve been following this series of posts documenting my participation in the Alzheimer’s Research UK 28 Miles In February fundraising campaign, then you will know last Tuesday Dolly and I completed the challenge.
We actually walked 29.25 miles and raised £399.
Which is an amazing amount.
The generosity of friends and family in these uncertain economic times has truly taken me aback.
I am forever truly grateful for the donations and I can’t thank them enough.
It really means a lot that I’ve been able to raise so much in Nans memory.
There will be a final post mortem post in a day or two.
I wasn’t sure whether today’s walk would be the penultimate or the final one.
All I knew was Dolly and I would be walking round Roydon Common. The exact mileage I had no idea. It would be what it was once we had finished it.
This wasn’t the first time I’d been here. Back when I was married we did a route here with the wolf pack. I can’t remember where this route was from it was either Country Walking or a book of walks in Norfolk. That was the first and only time I’ve ever seen an adder. It had been sunning itself in the middle of the path. Luckily the wolf pack walked straight past it. Didn’t even notice it was there.
After the weather the previous day I was pleasantly surprised by the blue skies and the sun being out.
It’s a thirty odd minutes drive for me to get to the official car park for Roydon Common. Luckily the traffic wasn’t too bad. We made good time to the start.
Start Point: TF 68075 22983
Distance: 6.31 miles
Total Distance: 29.25 miles
Instead of head straight onto the common itself Dolly and I went round the border of Rising Breck.
As the loop came back on itself we came across a trough full of water. I dug out Dolly’s collapsible dog bowl and scooped out some water for her. Dolly had a quick drink.
We were going to do a loop of the seasonal path. But after a short distance on the high path of the loop I saw some ponies grazing. Dolly hadn’t noticed them. I wasn’t sure how Dolly would react to the ponies so I turned back.
The plan changed to take the path crossing the common.
Looking for that path we disturbed a roe deer as we read a sign next to a possible path we could take. Sadly the path was closed due to nesting birds. Which was fair enough.
We found the path we were looking for.
Near the end of this path running the length of the common we paused for a brief liquid intake under a tree.
I’m not a fan of plain water so I mixed in some Crystal Light to turn it into squash. These are my favourite way to flavour water. I love the fact these sachets are so light, and take up no space whatsoever. I’ve used them for years.
Dolly naturally had plain ol’ vanilla water, followed by a dog treat. It was that or let her eat a mini pine cone.
Our brief rest spotVibes of boggy ScotlandIf it’s good enough for poniesZZTop inspiredGrazing ponies
After leaving Roydon Common we entered Grimston Warren nature reserve.
It was while looking at the information board I saw a path that went through a neighbouring reserve called the Tony Hallatt memorial reserve. The path connected up with one that would take us through the woods on the opposite side of the common.
So instead of doing a circuit of Grimston Warren we would walk through just a small taster of it.
As we turned off to cross the Tony Hallatt memorial reserve there were more ponies grazing to our left. But too far for Dolly to notice. But then on the path ahead of us was a pony grazing.
I was about to learn how Dolly would react to this equine obstacle.
The pony itself looked at us but did not react at all. You’d think it was almost used to walkers and their four legged companions. Dolly also hardly reacted to this new obstacle.
I don’t know where we went wrong following the path through the Tony Hallatt memorial reserve. But some how we missed the turn. Instead I ended up carrying Dolly across a very muddy, torn up by ponies crossing of a stream.
We then had to do a stretch of boggy land. That had no islands of solid ground to help you out. Followed by me having to carry Dolly over a stream. A crossing she refused to do under her own steam. So much for liking water! Eventually we made it out of the bog onto solid ground and out of this small reserve.
That bog did sap our strength a bit.
It was then I decided instead of trying to make our way to the woods we would make our way back to where we left Roydon Common. From there make our way back to the car.
I think Dolly and I were starting to feel our energy ebb.
Our walk back was pretty uneventful.
Once back at the car Dolly had a couple more dog treats before sleeping the rest of the journey home.
This was an amazing walk. We had great weather. I spotted a few likely spots that would be good wild camp spots.
Roydon Common is an amazing place. Dolly and I will definitely be back.
If you feel you are able to make a donation you can use one of the donation links below.
I’d like to say a big thank you for doing so and if you weren’t able to I’d like to thank you for reading this far and hopefully sharing the page.
Sunday or day 6 as I called it saw Dolly and me drive out to one of the last places that I used to walk the wolf pack.
Our route to the start point had us pass through a Walpole Marsh that I no longer recognise.
It is not the fenland village that I grew up knowing. The prefab village hall now a bungalow. My godparents bungalow and small holding bares no resemblance to the home I used to play in and around.
The Wheatsheath pub that my grandparents (on Dads side) no longer standing. The old chapel that was next to it that had a mysterious appeal to me as a child.
The nursery that little Nan used to work at now bungalows.
Yes this Walpole Marsh is a stranger to me.
But our starting point for the walk is by the River Nene not far out of the village.
Start Point: TF 47009 18310
Distance: 3 miles
Total Distance: 22.94 miles
This first part of the walk along the bank of the Nene is where I used to walk the wolf pack. But like the drain walks it was always a there and back again. I never did the circular walk that I ended up doing today.
I think we were walking the right direction this time into the wind at the start with it being behind us, giving us a push along on the way back.
There are stretches along the bank where it is evident that rabbits are living. Whether it is the signs of the warren, very short grass (obviously eaten by rabbits), or the tell tale droppings.
With a sub station and gas power station in the local area, plus wind turbines on the opposite side of the river it really is hard not to be near or view a power pylon.
Back in the day when I was a scout I did a charity walk from the scout hut (now knocked down and built over in the expansion of the next door pet food factory) along the bank of the Nene up to the Sir Peter Scott lighthouse, then back over the Sutton Bridge swing bridge and back to Wisbech and the scout hut on the opposite bank.
Dad joined the scout group as a volunteer. He ended up looking after the tail end Charlie’s like me.
This was a massive walk for me. The first time I had walked such a distance, over 20 miles if I remember correctly.
It was Dad that wouldn’t let me quit as my feet started to hurt. He pushed me to finish. And I’m glad I did. Who knows I may recreate that walk one day.
We got to the point of the route where we turn away from the Nene. Pass what is now a series of small ponds, and head towards what used to be the nursery at Walpole Marsh.
At the outskirts of the old nursery boundary we cut across a field using the trodden path. Luckily the mud was firm underfoot.
If you feel you are able to make a donation you can use one of the donation links below.
We then followed a farm track that ran parallel to the road through Walpole Marsh giving me and Dolly a great view of the back of the homes that make up the village.
I’ve never really seen this side of Walpole Marsh. When we walked Nan and grandads dog with them we used the main road from the pub to the nursery. But otherwise this route was similar to the one we did as a kid some fifty years ago. It was interesting seeing the gardens I have never seen before.
Our final section of the walk was on road with a side wind. Sadly this road is busier than all those decades ago. Now the road has frequent cars speeding along its uneven surface to and from the power plant.
I think Dolly was glad to finally get back to the car and out of the wind.
I’d like to say a big thank you for doing so and if you weren’t able to I’d like to thank you for reading this far and hopefully sharing the page.
This month, even taking into account it’s two or three days shorter, it’s been a poor month for gaming for me.
I think it’s fair enough to say life has thrown more than one spanner in the works this month to what feels like a gaming famine for me.
So I was pretty over the moon being able to get to last nights club night.
Before going I knew I wasn’t going to be late. After all I had work the next morning.
Yeah because of the family stuff the previous week I’ve ended up doing a seven day tour of duty at work without a day off. My next day off being this coming Tuesday.
So club night.
It ended up being five of us which meant we played Far Away.
For some reason I hadn’t noticed the copy I bought off Amazon wasn’t English! Luckily the game itself is language independent and I just needed to download and print off the English rule book off bgg.
Far Away is an interesting game. You play cards left to right in front of you over eight rounds. Then at the end of the eighth round you score your cards right to left.
Add in a drafting mechanic where the order of players drafting is based on the value of the card played. The player with the lowest value choosing first, and the highest valued card going last.
Plus if the card you play is higher than the previous card you get a sanctuary card that can help with scoring.
It is a fun game that sees you trying to draft and play cards that not only get you a sanctuary card but also give you symbols to trigger scoring.
Not many games get you to try and think like this.
Marcin won this.
Our next game was Flip 7.
This game ended the only fitting way it could with a big push your luck to get the flip 7 to win the game.
In what was the last round Colin had stuck with a score to take him over 200 points. I needed to get more than 40 points to hit 200. With a couple of plus points cards and even a second chance I had to go for the seven cards to get the bonus 15 points.
Each card flipped ramped up the pressure as I went for it. I couldn’t stick.
Luck was with me and I got the seven cards and enough points to snatch victory.
My final game of the evening was Rebel Princess.
I had a great game not taking a single point over the five rounds.
I love the changing rule each round. I do think my favourite rule card is musical chairs. “After each trick, every player passes a card face down from their hand to the player on their right, simultaneously.”
I just love the element of chaos it brings.
But being able to navigate the game to win with zero points was pretty cool.
It was great to get out and play some games. Let’s hope life decides to slow down the challenges it throws at me so I can play some games.
After a couple of days getting back in to the work routine, doing errands for mum, it’s back to clocking up some mileage with Dolly.
This time we were back to the South Holland Main Drain. But this time we were starting our walk at the end of the drain where it joins the River Nene.
Start Point: TF 47714 20193
Distance: 2.47 miles
Total Distance: 19.94 miles
At the parking spot used to be a bungalow that I believe was used by the water company for employees.
This was another walk that I did with the wolf pack back in the day.
Today’s walk down memory lane was a bit windy. Strong enough to low my tarphat off. No old man Logan look for me this walk.
There was no sign of bird life as we made our way along the lower embankment. A fact I put down to the wind.
The only life we saw was grazing sheep in a field to our right as we walked away from the car.
When we ascended on to the top of the embankment I saw no trace of the trees or remains of a bridge I would have sworn had been there.
My memory was most definitely playing tricks on me and possibly merging two similar walks together.
With the wind turbines on the opposite side it felt a little like we were in the shadow of the new fen giants that tower above the landscape.
It wasn’t until we were nearly back to the car that we heard some bird song. But that was drowned out by the roar of a jet fighter once more taking part in target practice over The Wash.
As we made our way pass the remains of the bungalow I noticed for the first time ever a door way that went down (photos above). If I had been alone I might have explored it.
Once back in the car out of the wind we headed back home. Dolly snoozing all the way back on the seat next to me.
If you feel you are able to make a donation you can use one of the donation links below.
I’d like to say a big thank you for doing so and if you weren’t able to I’d like to thank you for reading this far and hopefully sharing the page.
