Monday 30 March 2020

Do you know where you're going to?

Do you like the things that life is showing you…

A huge thank you to those good folk that have been in touch or given me a gentle nudge to see if all is well.  I am happy to report that we are indeed keeping well and delighted to be reunited with the Saintly Mrs. Awdry, here at 'Awdry Towers'.  I don't want to dwell too much on current affairs as '28mm Victorian Warfare' has always been about my bumbling progress through this most wholesome of hobbies, but in this instance the two are intrinsically intwined so I will beg your indulgence.

It was, of course, inevitable, but when I heard the news that 'Salute 2020' was, in effect, cancelled I have to confess it rather took the wind from my sails.  James and I had been working hard to meet the deadline and we were on course to have everything done for the show, only to hear that there was to be no show.  We had done so much, committed so much time and effort only to see it snatched from us.  I struggled for a week, not knowing how to react, but the reality was that there was a much more pressing concern and that we all needed to play our part.  As a school we were mindful that we needed to be ready for the enforced closure, making sure our systems were in place to support the pupils remotely.  We remain open, albeit with a skeleton staff to support the needs of the Keyworkers' children and to care for the remaining boarders who were still trying to secure flights home.  With the rest of the country on lock down I was effectively living in a bubble, and because I was a residential member of staff, able to give additional time to the remaining boards.  
By the end of last week, the final touches were made to the last board and that is where I have had to leave it.  Deciding that it would be an indefensible position to be caught goofing around, photographing the final set up at this time of National crisis, James and I are resigned to waiting it out before our project can be reunited and shared as it was intended.  How this will come about is still an unknown at present, although ideas are forming.  I am hopeful that this period of 'Staying Home' will allow me to finish off some more of the miniatures, characters and extras that were planned along with the opportunity to catch up with the many splendid weblogs that I so enjoy following.
I have taken the liberty of updating the logo for the project, as the 'South London Warlords' have very kindly acknowledged that we are eligible to take our place at the show in 2021 and, whilst James and I are yet to confirm, this remains very much a possibility.  Returning to my somewhat obscure title for this post, the future uncertain; health, wellbeing and even job security are all unknown at this point, but these are all, in most cases, beyond my control.  What I would like to champion and celebrate is the sense of community that pervades throughout our cosy corner of the infoweb.  I have mentioned already the gestures of concern that have nudged me back to the painting desk along with the genuine acts of kindness like those that offered to help paint the remaining troops - thank you again Tamsin, Matt, Iain and Richard!

Uncertain and unsettling times these may be, but I hope that we can all continue to help each other with our mutual support and appreciation of each others' endeavours.  Stay safe and well, one and all.

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55 comments:

  1. Glad to hear all is ok with you Michael, in these strange times we all are faced with something that is over whelming & its hard to know what we should be doing or not doing.

    I don't mean that in any legal way as we all have to follow the guide lines set out, but in a personal way.

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    1. Thank you Frank, at times like these you really start to appreciate what is important.

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  2. I'm very glad to hear that all is well with you and the Saintly Mrs Awdry. It is a shame that we won't get to see the game at Salute this year, but it does mean lots more time to make it even more spectacular. :)

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    1. Thank you Tamsin, if we can keep motivated who knows where this will end! :D

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  3. I look forward to a battle report around Schloss Itter here on your blog when we are in more settled times. A virtual tour will still let us marvel at your hard work!

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    1. Thank you Nate, a virtual fly by might be the way to go, once we get it all together.

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  4. Glad your back home. Stay safe

    Ian

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  5. Great that you're back home Sir M. I was so looking forward to seeing the game at Salute, but needs must. I can only imagine how gutted you both were. Keep plodding away.

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    1. Thank you Ray, I am sure you will get to see it at some point. Was really looking forward to you have a run round the castle at Salute.

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  6. I had imagined that the demands of work woukd be the reason for your short absence and am pleased that all is well with you and yours. The cancellation of Salute, whilst inevitable in the current climate, it can be thought of more as delayed !
    Thanks for the update, stay safe.

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    1. Thank you Joe, I am thankful to be home and that is really all that matters. I am sure the castle will get its audience at some point.

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  7. Ah yes, being confined to barracks with Mrs Z and all the little Zs does mean absolutely no chance of painting anything until school/guides/rock choir/ballet/trampolining and tap dancing start again.

    Oh well....

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    1. Oh I am sorry about that, so much has been curtailed - it really is all very strange.

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  8. Stay safe and be well sir Michael! It is good to hear that all is going well for you and your family.

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    1. Thank you Mr. Nimrod, I am sure we will find a way through it all.

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  9. Nice to hear that all are safe and well. Look upon the time being given to you to allow more time to save up for one of those Tyrolean mountain hats that you can wear at the demo game next year.

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    1. Thank you Phil, now that a great shout, just Googled Tyrolean mountain hats and clearly I need one of those! :D

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  10. Jolly nice to know all's as well as can be with you and yours. The project will see the light of day and be admired as it deserves. 'Keep buggering on.' ~ Winston Churchill.

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    1. Thank you A.J. lots to be grateful for and looking forward to sharing the project with a wider audience in due course.

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  11. Good to hear you are both heading back towards a better place. The wait for next year will just make the conclusion of your project all the sweeter when it does happen mate.

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    1. Thank you Millsy, certainly gives us something to look forward to, hope all is well with you?

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  12. When I heard they had cancelled Salute I immediately thought of you and all the work you had put into the project and how disappointed you must be feeling.
    What a terrible and uncertain time we are living through, stay safe.

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    1. Thank you, it was a rotten moment, but by that stage we knew it was coming. Now need to look forward to trying to get back to normal.

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  13. Oh, stay safe in this strange times sir!

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  14. Good to know things are settling, I am often at my most harmonious when sat in the dungeon with music and brushes....that feeling of just completing another unit or figure is great. Hang in there and do what you enjoy, the world will return to something like normal soon or perhaps even better for a while

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    1. Thank you Matt, although I suspect there will be some twists and turns ahead. Like you I am happiest when allowed to sit quietly and paint or even think about painting.

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  15. Good to hear all is well, I look forward to one of your (now non schlos related ) wonderful vignettes!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thank you Iain, still plenty of Schloss fun to be had yet though. :)

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  16. I do hope you and James will be able to go to Salute 2021, and see this project to completion Michael. In the mean time do a little something just for you, so you can look at the situation anew, and enjoy your much deserved time together mate

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    1. Thank you Dave and wise words indeed. I have a few loose ends to tie up and then I think on to something completely different.

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  17. Do I know where I´m going to? At the present ding dong the wine is red intake, I certainly won´t be able to follow the yellow brick road so I reckon somewhere over the rainbow. Prost!

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    1. Should I be worried with just how much red wine is been imbibed during your isolation Paul? :D

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    2. Nah, I only worry if there´s not enough wine to consume. :-) Hic!

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    3. oh, and I´m wearing sunglasses. Just because one can´t go out it doesn´t mean one can´t look cool.

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  18. Glad all is well with you & the family Michael! Blessed are the bloggers, as even though we are limited in our running about, we can still share these spaces & by doing so allow others to know alls well!

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    1. Thank you Terry and absolutely we are blessed indeed to have so many mutual supportive friends.

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  19. Good to hear all is well with sir, you have to go for your 2021 slot at Salute, after all the effort you have put into that glorious looking game!!

    Stay safe mate, Cheers Roger.

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    1. Thank you so much Roger and I know you are right, but who knows where we will be this time next year?

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  20. Look at it as an excuse to have your own virtual Salute (including ordering yourself a few treats)! Stay safe, and keep blogging ;)

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    1. Thank you, hoping to do something to mark the day or at least VE Day.

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  21. Stay safe and keep up the good work - both on and off the gaming table!

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  22. Glad to hear all is well your end mate. Hope it stays that way and you get to regain that hobby energy you need revitalizing.

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    1. Thank you Dai, mad busy with the remote teaching, but starting t get the hang of it now.

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  23. Such a shame that after all that hard work the show was cancelled. However, on the bright side you won't be under pressure to finish it for next year's Salute! ...and just maybe, I might get to Salute next year and see Schloss Itter in the flesh, so to speak.

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    1. Thank you Martin, it was a bit of a blow but still much to look forward to. Would be lovely to make your acquaintance in a year's time.

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  24. You too Michael. Stay safe at home!

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  25. Happy to hear you're still going and aiming to get everything finished by next year. It means you can get even more details in, maybe even expand a bit more 😁 ...

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    1. Now it is funny you mention that, there have been a couple of ideas that we want to explore.

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