Yes that’s right I’ve booked my pitch at the camp site.
I have paid the 30% deposit for an electric grass pitch. The rest of the payment goes out at the start of May.
Yes the price I paid is about the same as a Travelodge for the same period (minus breakfast and other optional extras like WiFi) if you managed to get a bargain deal of £35 a night. Which is very very rare these days it seems.
Despite the expo being nearly 6 months away. I’m starting to get excited about going.
On the life front I returned back to work Friday after technically 2 days off. I wasn’t recovered or even close. But well enough to drive safely.
I’m getting stronger but the chest infection itself is still there draining my energy.
Meantime despite my best efforts not to pass on to mum she now has it. Luckily thanks to the flu jab I think not as worse on the symptoms front. She seems much more functional than I was at similar stages.
The main aim is that we are both well enough to enjoy the big seasonal day.
With the tickets for the 2025 expo now on sale. You can buy them early. But I see no reason whatsoever to do so. There is no early bird discount. They won’t sell out. So getting them just before hand or even on the day makes no difference. You still have to queue.
In the last couple of weeks I put in my holiday request to cover the dates of the expo, and it has been approved.
This is the only holiday dates I care about. The rest of my holiday and when I take it off doesn’t really bother me.
But now knowing I have the time off work I can now go ahead and book my accommodation. Which as my previous posts have highlighted will be under canvas at a campsite within striking distance of the expo.
Yes I have a campsite in mind.
There are three more items I am looking at for making my car camping experience a bit more “luxurious”. The first is a cool box, an electric hook up cable, and a folding camp bed.
Yes I can get a pitch at the planned camp site with an electric hook up point. So I could charge my devices, etc. That would take the pressure off having to try and power my phone or OutIn Nano.
Also the cool box I’m looking at is electric, running off the mains or car cigarette lighter socket. The nice thing about this is I can also use it when I’m off on training courses staying in hotels.
The camp bed I’m looking at getting is either a Naturehike or OEX one. They are low profile and something I could use when visiting Nath so I’m not sleeping on his sofa. Or after he moves have setup in his spare room.
I like having car camping gear I can use elsewhere. It makes me feel I’m getting value and use out of my purchases.
I’m starting to get excited about the camping experience. I’m hoping that this will be my most chilled expo.
But the big thing over the last few of days is I did put in a bid for the first expansion for the Fallout board game on eBay.
However I didn’t win the auction. The final price for the winner of the auction was £170 plus postage! Yeah the expansion isn’t worth that amount by any imagination.
The Road to UKGE 2025 #3
I know this could be a separate very short post in its own right. But I don’t feel it warrants it.
Continuing my opportunistic approach to buying camping gear ready for next year I’ve bought a stove for camp use.
Sadly it’s not the Jetboil Genesis Basecamp. That’s very expensive and not sold in the UK. So the cost gets even more expensive getting it from abroad.
This morning one of the cheaper alternatives I’d been looking at on Amazon was part of the Prime Big Deal days. The Naturehike 2-in-1 Gas Camping Stove was reduced by 15%. So I decided to pull the trigger on purchasing it. It comes with a griddle. Which has saved me the expense of getting one.
I’ve also bought a ultralight portable beach table. It should be wide enough for the new stove, and low (or is it high?) enough so the stove can be used whilst I’m sitting in my little camp chair. The table was also part of the Prime Big Deal day.
The nice thing about not leaving the purchase of needed equipment to nearer the time is that I can take advantage of such deals.
I didn’t think I’d be writing anything about next years UKGE so soon. In my mind the next post was months away in early 2025.
But here I am with another brief post.
I had been thinking that for the camping experience next year I’d use my tarp configured as a “tarp tent” using a poncho as a vestibule. The inspiration for this was the YouTube video below.
However I made the mistake of looking on the Alpkit website and seeing they had a sale on!
I had liked the look of the Tarpstar pyramid range of tents they did. I nearly pulled the trigger on the two person Tarpstar 2. However I ended up going for the single person Tarpstar 1.
They both have the identical outer. It’s the inner where they differ. In the two person Tarpstar 2 the inner takes up all the space. However this means getting in and out of the Tarpstar opens the inside to the elements, such as rain. Which is equally true when it comes to cooking in bad weather too.
Whereas on the Tarpstar 1 the inner only takes up half of the inside, leaving you with a pretty large vestibule to stash gear, cook in bad weather etc.
So as a single person you have to decide what’s more important that inner with the larger living space or having that vestibule.
For me it’s that vestibule. Being able to stash the camp chair away during the day, cool box, etc was more important.
So that’s why I pulled the trigger on the Tarpstar 1.
I’ve “chosen” a campsite to book. Sadly not able to book the UKGE dates yet.
The dust has just about settled and I’m already getting a UKGE post for next year written!
My plans for next years accommodation is to use a camp site.
As I have previously mentioned I feel this is the last thing to experience at the expo. I’ve done the a room share at the Hilton and had the whole expo experience that involves, such as evening gaming, see “celebs” in food queues etc.
I’ve done air b&b whilst helping demo Epic the Card Game for Wise Wizard Games. I’ve stayed at a deer farm, Travelodge (several times), that awful pub.
I think the only accommodation I’ve not done is the camping side.
A few years back now I remember on the Board Gaming Trading & Chat Facebook page it was mentioned that one or two of the group going to the expo were staying at a camp site.
Since reading that was an option it’s always been at the back of my mind when I’ve looked for accommodation during the expo. Especially when I’ve left it rather late to find any affordable bargains.
But I’ve finally decided to pull the trigger on that idea and do it next year.
I’ve googled camp sites near the expo. There are one or two that I like the look of. So in the new year I’ll book the one I decide to go with.
I have been bearing in mind camp site usage as I refresh my outdoors gear. Sadly the camp stove I want the Jetboil Genesis Basecamp is no longer made (it’s an ex stove). They must be good stoves as they don’t exist on eBay unless I want to pay stupid money for one from like Australia which would also hit me massively on import tax too.
The only thing I think I need that would be camping specific is a gazebo to use for cooking, chilling, playing games (I have two folding tables), etc. Oh plus some sort of cool box and a camping bbq.
If I could convince Nath to join me camping I’d invest in a suitable tent and cots to make the experience as “glam” as possible for him.
I don’t expect there will be another post about the expo until the new year. So see you then (there will naturally be my other boring content until then).
So I’m back home. Bags in the house but not unpacked. Reunited with the two attack chihuahuas Nico and Loki. So it’s time to reflect on this years expo.
One thing I hate about the UKGE isn’t the show itself, and this stands even for cons I don’t attend also. Is the flood of haul photos that hit social media once attendees start arriving home.
I get it. They are excited about their purchases, and want to share with the world what they got. I’m happy for them. No I really am.
The issue I have is it can come across as a bit insensitive to those unable to attend or afford such a haul. This has been the first and last UKGE where I haven’t been on a very limited budget. And it can make you feel a bit bad seeing all the hauls. Yes it’s a me thing. But I’d be surprised if others don’t feel that way.
Those board game content creators that go often put out a video of their hauls. Which is basically them saying “look at how much free stuff I got”. They buy the odd game. But the majority of the stuff is free from the publishers. I really do hate those videos. It’s boasting. I don’t like it.
This is why I’m not going to share photos of everything I bought or list everything. I’ll mention one or two games if I think they have an interesting story from the expo to justify mentioning them.
I don’t like talking about my acts of random kindness. However I will this one because it explains poorly how I ended up with three copies of Moving Wild!
I ended up with two copies of Moving Wild by Oink games on day 1 of the expo. Ben had picked me one up (at my request) but before I had seen his text saying he’d got it I had picked a copy up with Scout.
When I mentioned it on Twitter/X my friend Gavin claimed it. But I felt bad I hadn’t given it to someone on the Facebook group Board Game Trading & Chat UK.
So day 2 I bought a third copy! Along with a copy of Rafter Five as I picked up a copy of Maskmen for Ben. I then posted on Board Game Trading & Chat UK saying that I’d chose one lucky person not able to attend the expo to win both games and the promo meeple. All they had to do was leave a comment on the post.
Later in the day I was walking pass the Oink stand and noticed the designer of Moving Wild Chris Priscott was coming to the end of his signing spell on the stand. There was no queue and I thought that having the copy I was giving away signed by the designer would be a rather cool surprise for whoever got it. So I got Chris to sign the copy. Sadly my own copy was sitting in a box in the shop & drop. Yes I could have kept the signed copy. But that wouldn’t have been the right thing to do.
It will be interesting to see how long it is before the person that won the game notices the surprise.
Even after selecting a winner I felt bad. I would have loved to have been able to send all entrants a copy. Sadly I’m not a super rich person.
Before the expo had started I had arranged to buy a well played copy of the 2011 out of print Gears of War board game by FFG. It was much cheaper and affordable than a good quality one, which often goes for nearly £400. The exchange of plastic and cardboard for paper went smoothly. I had also agreed to do a similar thing for Marcin because a couple of people he was buying from were at the expo on the days he wasn’t. The shop & drop is important for these sort of deals so you aren’t carrying them around all day.
When I was gaming with Charlene and Diego on the bank holiday Monday, Charlene mentioned that there was a card game of the game I was talking about. A day later could I remember what game it was? Nope. Nor could Charlene. But dang when I was browsing the stalls at the expo and saw the Gears of War card game it instantly clicked thus was the game Charlene had mentioned.
My highlight of the show has to be the people/friends I met and gaming with them.
On the first day of the expo I got to play some games with Harrison and Ben. Which was great fun. Life has meant Ben and I haven’t been able to play anything for a while. So to be able to sit down and play some new to me games such as Robotrick and Charms was great fun. We had a blast lots of Banter, and a very funny fact about Ben came to light.
Day two say me playing an Inventors of the South Tigris with Sarah and Luke. Sorry can’t remember their friends name who was also playing. I think I held my own in the game seeing as I was the only one who hadn’t played any of the previous games in the series. Then got to do the Yonder demo with them later in the day. I really liked Yonder and will be backing it when it hits Kickstarter. It was a half hour demo that flew by. I was wanting to play more of the game.
In the evening Charlene invited me to join her family for the evening meal, and then playing some games back at the hotel with them. That was a great evening. Although I will say I hadn’t been to Nando’s for a couple of decades, and their extra hot sauce is not hot. I felt it was more salty than anything. They definitely hadn’t used reapers or scorpions for the extra hot sauce.
The last day of the show I managed to rope Colin into doing the Star Wars Unlimited demo with me so I could get a play set of the Grogu promo card. There was a pleasant surprise because not only did we get the promo I wanted. But the demo person also gave us each a promo card of the leader we were playing.
For two days I bumped into my friend Jamie. I hadn’t seen him for a few months. So it was good to catch up briefly. He did tell me about the games shop in March running a weekly Star Wars Unlimited event on a Sunday. Which works great for me because that is normally my day off.
Fenland Gamers Annual Expo Photo
This year I returned to the Fort Dunlop Travelodge for my accommodation. I went with the standard plus room, that includes the Wi-Fi and a coffee machine, and paid for the all you could eat buffet breakfast. My room was on the tenth floor and had a great view.
Obviously I took some bacon and sausages with me to the expo, along with a couple of sachets of ketchup and mayo from the buffet. This was my filling for the wraps I had with me. That was lunch taken care of for the day.
Ok I ate at the hotel Thursday evening, and with Charlene and family Saturday. Which meant Friday night saw me sitting on a bench outside the hotel with my peak ignition stove(the pizo ignition no longer working), titanium pot, and 6 bean chilli. Apparently the hotel staff had found it humorous that I had done this. Hey I had an awesome chilli.
I thought this worked well, and sets up camping for the expo another year really well.
I hadn’t really gone to the expo with any particular aims or games to get. The plan was to take things as they came. The only organised thing, a first for me was the game and demo with Sarah. However I enjoy the freedom of having no real plans.
I had a great expo, missed Jonathan not being there. But understand why. Looking forward to next year. Time to start planning.
And now lots of photos to end the post with.
My 3 day pass collectedMiddle AgesInventors of the South TigrisFirst day ticket collectionLorcanaMy room view My 10th floor viewMiddle AgesOne of the many competitions going on at the expoCourtisans YonderMoving WildThursday night teaYonderMoving WildCourtisans Found my chilli eating spotMiddle AgesCourtisans Out in JulyHappy I got the For the Queen promosLoved this playmat6 bean chilliYonderMy massive photo bomb of expo photos
UPDATE: forgot to add the organisers released the attendance figures for this year. Can’t remember last years figures. But I’m guessing by the organisers statement this is the highest attended yet.
With the expo kicking off Friday and my expo experience starting tomorrow. This will be the last Road to post of 2024.
In something very out of the norm for me I’m actually prebooked on a demo for the boardgame Yonder. I know absolutely nothing about the game except that it’s by the favourite designer of Sarah (Boardgames in a Minute) Haakon Garder. Sarah very kindly invited me to join her on the demo and handled the booking.
Earlier on the same day I’ll be playing Inventors of South Tigris with Sarah and Luke Hector (Broken Meeple). So it looks like finally I’ll get to not only meet Luke in real life but play a game with him.
I’m also going to be picking up a couple of games at the expo. Marcin and I have both bought games before even stepping foot in the halls of the expo. That’s the danger of For Sale posts with collection at the expo going up on the Facebook groups. I’ve managed to get a well loved copy of the Gears of War boardgame. There is no way I could have afforded one in much better condition. The money they go for is ridiculous, well over a couple hundred quid.
I’ve also decided I’ll be using my Markill Peak Ignition gas stove to heat up my evening meal of 6 bean chilli. It could have been my og Jetboil but I wanted the flexibility of which pot I use. Which I haven’t decided yet.
Despite having hundreds of games for sale, plus a games library. I like many others will be taking games with them to the expo!
One of the games I plan to take is my latest arrival (as in it came this morning) For the Queen.
This storytelling card game has been a “grail game” of mine for a while. It’s been out of print for a while, and hard to get hold of.
Luckily Darrington Press (the publishing arming of the Critical Roll cult of Mercer) got their hands on it rights and have just published a second edition with updated art, and question text.
I have to say for a card game the production quality is phenomenal. I really love the art.
It really is a size where it can be kept in a bag all the time ready to be played at a moments notice.
So I’m hoping that whilst at the expo I can get it to the table.
The 3 by 3 below shows my current leanings of games to take along with me.
Obviously it doesn’t show my box of dice, deck of cards, to play games such as Ship, Captain, Crew or LCR. It should be a given that will be with me.
I’ve tried to go with games that are small, quick to teach and play, plus if possible support a group of players. Although there are a couple that are two player.
Whilst at the expo I will post about which games actually did make it.
With only approximately two weeks left until UKGE is upon us I did something I haven’t done in a long time. I pre-booked my tickets.
I don’t know why.
There is no benefit buying them in advance. No early bird discount. You still have to queue to get your ticket when you arrive.
Maybe it’s because I was feeling a bit low about the whole thing.
I knew Ben was no longer going due to reasons. Reasons that were totally understandable and relatable. I’ve been in that situation myself.
Then Jonathan who also seems to be not as enthusiastic as he once was (I don’t know how else to describe it) about gaming and the expo, has decided he will not be going. The expo was a father daughter thing for him. A shared experience they both enjoyed. This year would have been the first year that that would not be true, with his daughter still being at uni. I totally understand.
Strangely for me the show has been a social thing, over a gaming or purchasing thing. I rarely spend (or had the funds) to buy lots of games at the expo. My visits have always been on a very tight budget, and trying to get the maximum bang for my restricted budget.
I rarely do the open gaming. I still don’t get that side of the expo or even expos like Airecon, where gaming is the main focus. Why travel all that way, with the associated expense of tickets, accommodation, etc. to play games with your friends? And let’s face it the majority of folks there are playing games with the people they went there with. Why not save the money and time and just play games at home?
Last year I met Sarah of Board Games in a Minute. Sarah came all the way from the US to go to the expo. She’s a really cool and kind person. Hey anyone who feeds and provides shelter for “wild” cats is pretty cool in my book.
Sarah is returning to the expo this year, so I’m hoping that we can get a chance to play a game at the expo. Or at least catch up, talk about the expo and what games caught our attention.
Last year I didn’t get a chance to meet Luke Hector of Broken Meeple fame irl. So hopefully that can happen this year. I’d love to play a game or two with him as well.
Now I know Luke and Sarah are YouTube content creators and this all sounds very fanboy like etc. I rarely do this content creator cult of personality thing. There are some that are so head stuck up their own arse, clicky. Luke and Sarah are not like that. Which is probably why I like them as content creators and people.
Sadly it’s looking unlikely my friend, game creator, and all round really nice guy Byron will make the expo. Health problems are throwing a spanner in the works on that front. Which is a shame, but I do wish him a speedy recovery.
Although I’ve not gone specifically with anyone to the show. But with my friends there it feels that I have. We bump into each other, arrange to meet up, maybe try a game demo, etc.
So with two of my good friends not there. I’m not sure how the expo will be this year.
It does seem that the majority of Fenland Gamers and friends will be at the expo on the Sunday. So that day may feel more like the expo for me.
Yeah, yeah. How can the expo be a social thing for me? How can I talk fondly about meeting people and enjoying my time with them, and even missing them?
I know. I don’t see myself as a social person, or people person. But somehow it’s something I enjoy when it comes to gaming! I suppose in a future post we can explore this dichotomy. A look into the warped world view and mind of Darren. That’s a very scary thought.
For now you just have to accept that this sociopath both enjoys these social interactions and will miss those not going.
UPDATE: Ben is now attending the Friday. So it will be great to see him there and catch up. Life for both of us has conspired to get in the way of us playing games. It’s been too long.
Didn’t think I’d be writing another UKGE post so soon. I thought my next post would be nearer the time going over what I’m looking forward to at the expo itself.
But here I am.
As you know I’ve set myself the goal of returning to the hills this year. I pulled the trigger on a TREKOLOGY Ultra Lightweight Compact Portable Chair. And although I won’t be lugging the it into the middle of nowhere. Its main use is for campsites.
What helped make the decision easier was the light bulb moment of I can take it to the expo with me.
Now hear me out.
One thing at the expo that is in very much short supply is a place to sit down and have a moments rest. You often end up finding a spot and sitting on the floor.
But what if I had my own chair?
No more sitting on the floor.
I’ve also decided what I’m going to do about my evening meals, and eating during the day.
Breakfast is taken care of. That’s part of my Travelodge booking.
I’m going to make use of my backpacking skills and equipment and take my food with me.
Along with the camping chair above I also have some Ziplock Aluminium Foil Bag, Resealable Food Bags on the way.
These will allow me to prep before hand, bag the food, and reheat it as a boil in the bag.
What stove I’ll take will be decided at the time depending on how I feel.
Then all I need to do is find a quiet spot, maybe even on the benches in front of the small lake at the NEC, and enjoy my home cooked meal.
