Category Archives: life, the universe, and everything

Another life update so soon?

life, the universe, and everything, still alive

Wow what a last few days.

I’ve had a stinking cold that has really taken it out of me. It’s been a real struggle going to work. I’ve definitely not been 100%, maybe 50% at best. Which has really drained me by the end of the shift. I’ve spent so much time sleeping and coughing.

The last thing I was feeling able to do was a brief play of Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Luigi’s Mansion 3 before the cold kicked in.

I’m hoping the cold clears up in the next day or two.

Something board gaming related did happen this week. as predicted Apiary did arrive, along with the latest wave of Rolling Realms promo packs. Now I have the problem of how to fit those promo realms in the Rolling Realms box. It’s currently bursting at the seams with no room to spare.

No actual gaming took place due to my taking on an extra shift at work last Tuesday. We were short staffed on a shift and I said I’d go in to help out.

But next week I’m not going to miss the Tuesday lcg/ccg/tcg session. Then I just need to survive the week before having a week’s holiday. Much needed rest and hopefully some gaming.

Super busy but surviving

life, the universe, and everything, still alive

It’s been a day or two since my last post. As usual for these silences not much gaming wise has happened. Work is still dominating life at the moment.

Board game wise Apiary is due to start be posted out to Stonemaier Champions next week. So excited about that. It’s been a bit unusual for Stonemaier to have such a delay between the pre-order going live and the games being sent out. But as Jamey explained in this weeks Facebook Live broadcast it was tied in with Essen and having units on sale there. I think that’s sums up the thinking.

I did get the latest (as in came out in September) Marvel Champions campaign box NeXt Evolution and the two wave 7 character packs Angel and Psylocke. Plus I have the XL GameGenics playmat for the game now too.

Don’t know if I mentioned it previously but I did get in the Fellowship of the Ring Saga for Lord of the Rings lcg. That’s to play with Nathan, and potentially the lcg/ccg/tcg group at Fenland Gamers. I should see if there is a playmat for this too that is similar the Marvel Champions I just got.

I have two new video games for the Switch that just arrived. Well earlier in the week Luigi’s Mansion 3 arrived. Then yesterday Super Mario Bros. Wonder came out. So expect initial posts on those games soon.

Then finally somehow during all the work I need to get on with reorganising my home. It’s an ongoing project.

So that’s where life is at the moment.

Failed Orders

life, the universe, and everything, still alive

Not much has been going on the last few days.

A dice tower I had ordered via Amazon turned up but broken. It wasn’t damaged in the post. It had to have been done when created. So wasn’t chuffed with that. But it got worse as the dice tower also wasn’t the clear plastic that I wanted but frosted. Naturally I asked and received a refund.

Continuing the refunds I had a refund for the issue 250 of Retro Gamer I had ordered direct from the publisher. That was a real saga. Allegedly the issue had been posted. But it was never delivered. So they sent a replacement which did turn up. However that was the wrong issue! They then once again allegedly sent another replacement. Which you guessed it never arrived. After a brief email exchange from a now unhelpful support I requested a refund via PayPal. Which I got. I’ve sworn never to buy Retro Gamer again after this awful experience.

I was really keen for issue 250 because of the mini magazine looking back at the legendary 8 bit power house software developer Rare/Ultimate.

Back in the day Ultimate as the majority of the UK knew them were creating amazing games that were pushing what the hardware could do.

Cookie, Jetpac, and Trans Am on the ZX Spectrum were my first encounters with Ultimate’s catalog.

There was definitely a distinctive art style to those games. They had great game play. Jetpac became one of my all time favourite games of all time. A game that I did get up to level 99 on.

Attic Atac was also a great game that influenced my all time favourite video game creator Jeff Minter on his C64 classic Ancipital.

I could go on title by title of their catalog. But it was their game Knight Lore, third title in the Sabre Man series that had everyone go wow! It was isometric. It looked amazing. Reviewers and players were like how is this even possible on a Spectrum? It was ground breaking and was copied by others. I don’t think it is unfair or incorrect to say it was genre defining.

Seeing the Ultimate name on the box was seen as a guarantee of quality back then.

That’s why I wanted this particular issue of Retro Gamer. I wanted to see if there were any new insights into this legendary British powerhouse. And maybe step through memory lane once more. Looking back on the good times I had playing those games.

So that’s my two stories of recent failed orders.

Catch you in the next post.

My Gaming September 2023

bgstat, by the numbers, gaming stats, life, the universe, and everything, stats, still alive

I know it’s been a day or two since the last post.

But that’s the drawback of working 7 days a week and having currently 2 jobs. I just got to survive until the start of November. Then I’m down to one job and hopefully (shift dependent) more gaming.

I am going to be late or behind on posting.

Thankfully I know you will be understanding and supporting. So I feel less guilty on that front.

So how bad has the current normal hit my gaming?

Well as the 3×3 image and the underlying stats show pretty badly.

Long gone are the golden days of yester year when I was clocking up crazy gaming numbers each month.

But even taking into account the more subdued gaming stats of this year. Septembers numbers are very poor. Almost looking like my stats when the pandemic was finally taken seriously by the UK Government and we entered lockdown.

I’m not sure I’m going to beat these numbers in October. But whatever gaming I do get to do I will treasure and savour even more because I know it’s a rarity for the time being.

A little update

life, the universe, and everything, still alive

I’ve survived the weekend.

It’s been amazing being back to the old job. Didn’t realise how much I missed the work or the people.

Obviously I’m not gaming much for the foreseeable future. But…

I did get some gaming in during the week. It was our clubs hopefully weekly lcg/ccg/tcg game night.

This session saw a three player game of VtM: Rivals.

It’s been a while since we have got the game to the table. So we were a little rusty on the rules.

I wasn’t expecting to win. But thanks to Marcin throwing himself on his own sword to give me a points victory to deny his rival Diego getting the victory. I did. If Marcin hadn’t died then, I would have on my turn with four antagonists delivering the fatal blow. Which would have given Diego the points victory.

Hopefully like Dice Masters this evening will allow us to get the game to the table more regularly.

The next lcg/ccg/tcg night will see MtG getting a turn at the table. I’m looking forward to that.

The game collection is growing again!

Thanks to Ben I got Hadrians Wall, and Trekking the World from Marcin. Which was a very generous thank you for giving him the Star Wars Carcassonne I had (and never played).

The Lord of the Rings lcg The Fellowship of the Ring Saga is on its way. I’m looking forward to getting it to the table next time I visit Nathan. Who knows I might even get it to the table on a lcg/ccg/tcg night.

Fuji Flush and Grail Cup are also winging their way to me.

And that’s it until the start of October but there will be more about the addition in a separate post at the time of ordering. But I’m sure you can guess what it will be.

The dvd walk down memory lane is getting a new addition in the form of the complete Transformers cartoon and its movie from the 80s. Although that Saturday morning chill of watching the cartoons is on hold.

Catch you in the next post now you know I’m still alive.

I had the best Nan ever, and I miss her so

life, the universe, and everything

Two long years since Nan left us.

Miss her so much.

September really does hurt the soul and show the scares on the heart are still there.

With the passing of Ebony inbetween the two anniversaries this year I don’t think my heart can take much more this month.

The hard part of these anniversaries is when they fall on a work day and you have to turn up and act as if nothing is up.

It’s only once you get home and close that front door that you are alone with your grief and memories. When the emotions that you have bottled up all day can come out. The tears flow.

Nan I love you. Look after the wolf pack for me.

Back with the fam!

life, the universe, and everything, still alive

I had an interview this morning at my previous place of employment. It went well because I left with a job offer. Though a two month notice period did put that at risk.

But an offer to start immediately by working weekends helped swing things back in my favour.

Which basically means until my notice period is up I’m working two jobs!

The implication gaming wise means during the next two months I’m not going to be able to make club nights or weekend gaming sessions. A necessary sacrifice.

However it does make tomorrow nights gaming session extra special.

Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated

life, the universe, and everything

Three back to back life events updates in a row and no gaming stuff. I know not good enough.

If life hadn’t decided claiming Ebony wasn’t enough of kick in the emotional nads. It decided physically it needed to torment me as well.

Just after midnight last night a kidney stone decided it no longer wanted to be cooped up inside but wanted to see the big wide world instead.

I have a high pain tolerance but when this happens it really does test my limits. I think the previous time this happened I described how intense the pain was. Breaking out in sweats, throwing up just from the pain.

Early on while still able to I got mum to take Nico and Loki. Probably a good idea. Fur ball company often helps when one of them leaves us. It’s their presence, being happy just to be curled up next to you. Not demanding anything. Listening, boy are they good listeners. All stuff you need at moments like this.

I was then lying with a bowl in the conservatory trying to survive the pain. Why there? It was cool, and when you are sweating so much from the pain it helps believe me. Plus it was also next to a toilet. Which I would need.

What helped get me through was the hope that this would be all wrapped up so I could make the interview I had at 8:30am.

As the clock approached 8am the pain still there I needed to contact the interview and work.

Although out of the kidney the stones were now in my bowel causing just as much pain until they were passed.

I was in no position to make those calls myself. Just attempting was making me do multi coloured yawns or more accurately what little was left in my stomach.

It would need mum to make the calls for me.

Unable to give mum the numbers to call, she would need Google. The flaw in the pain induced plan. Mum doesn’t know how to use Google!

So between expelling bile I told her to get my brother to do it.

I was unable to correct mum when she told my brother it was a chest pain. A mistake that would worry my friends at work.

Once those stones had finally passed out of the body I was right as rain. Feeling like I’d been sparing with Tyson and getting a few kidney punches, and very very drained.

I was then able to contact my friend let her know how I was. That’s when I found out about my mums lack of biology knowledge. I’m glad she didn’t call an ambulance, which she was close to doing.

As I was writing this tale of suffering I’ve got lucky and another shot at the interview. That’s a big big relief.

I’m now recovering and recharging from that marathon pain session.

It’s been a shit twenty four hours.

To loved ones no longer here

life, the universe, and everything, still alive

Today has always been a tough day for me. Even after 35 years the pain of my Dad’s death has not eased.

The proverb “time heals all wounds” on this anniversary seems so hollow.

Dad’s passing has always meant September has never been a month where emotional I’m in a good spot.

But the pain is now doubled with Nan leaving us just eight days later.

It truly feels like September is the month my heart and soul shows how broken they are.

The only signs to the outside world is I may become more reclusive and avoid the outside world. Which might mean I cancel plans at the last minute and piss off friends. But that is unavoidable. It’s hard to give the true reason. I’m one of those irrational folks that will gladly help anyone in anyway I can, but not be able to ask for help when I need it. Sometimes that mask slips. I’m sure I’m not as good at hiding it as I think.

I miss them both dearly.

But I remember the good times and their love. May they both be in peace wherever they are.

Why so silent?

life, the universe, and everything, still alive

Well for two or three days I have been. And didn’t think you wanted more posts on my current fixation.

The plan was for September to get off to an epic start of gaming after the disappointing amount that took place in August.

However best laid plans etc meant that this start to the month has been a damp squib.

For instance today was meant to be Twilight Imperium 4 again. And it would have been if British Gas had come to upgrade mums meters at the time they told her (8am).

In my defence my mum organised this without checking with me first.

However as the morning went on and no sign of a British Gas engineer I had to make a call about if the game went ahead.

The guy didn’t turn up until after midday. Apparently they didn’t know they had to come to mums until they thought they had finished their last job for the day and got told they had mum to do.

This is what a disappointing month of gaming looks like

So with no Internet, and having dog sitting duties whilst the engineer was next door I tried getting mums dog Ebony to settle. But she just wouldn’t. She’s an old dog who doesn’t handle changes to routine that well. Which meant it was nigh impossible to watch any dvd. But I tried a couple episodes of Blake’s 7.

So no gaming but at least mum has a new smart meter for her gas and electric.

I’m hoping Tuesday still happens and I can draft Dice Masters with Dave, and finally get the gaming off to a start for the month.

On the arm front the arm is starting to get sore again. But not nearly as bad as before. So I’m still popping the pills to control things to allow me the use of the arm and to try and rest it as much as possible.

Some gaming stuff did happen in the last week such as…

I had been putting off getting the recent Rolling Realms promo packs when they were released due to cash flow issues at the time.

But now I have them and they are added to the Rolling Realms box. Which now is so full you couldn’t fit another card in it. Well not with out a bit of knife work on the insert.

I did finally manage to get the custom Dice Masters playmat image that I purchased shared with Patriot Games for printing. It was too large to upload via their website. So hopefully that arrives soon. Just hope Gav is able to find the playmat I originally had now. I know the dice bag I ordered off etzy has been posted. So with a fair wind it will be here by Tuesday.

Other arrivals in the week were two Dark Phoenix draft packs. Can’t wait to draft these. The temptation to crack them open has been huge. I want to know if I have the current meta defining Master Mold Endless Sentinels in one of them. So far I’ve been good and resisted.

Wow did I just sneak in Dice Masters to this post? Oops. Bait and switch.

Thanks for reading this far and catch you in the next post.