Just released for patrons first, the captioned slideshow version of La Bataille des Deux Fermes, the decisive, epic battle that decided the 1752 campaign fought between Grenouisse and Borgenmark Get early access for less than the price of a cappuccino a month! www.patreon.com/posts/144309...

Today’s work plans: 0. Cat’s relaxation plans: 1.

For my paying patrons, the latest Off the Cuff in which I bring you up to date on my health and my plans for the immediate future. www.patreon.com/posts/off-cu...

Another little victory: managed the steep steps up to The Loftwaffe today to do a couple of hours work for Wargames Atlantic. Safely back downstairs and resting now, but pleased to have ticked another post-operative challenge off the list. First physio session and dressing removal coming next Monday

For anyone that needs it: Hove seafront just a short while ago.

(Corrected version)

Have popped into the hospital for a quick check-up, but basically all’s well. Hip Day +8 and I’m pain free and walked 400m on crutches to get here.

Here’s Squeaky, the neighbourhood cat, keeping me company as I continue my recuperation projects, with mini painting and a watercolour on the go.

Home again.

Hooray! I’ll be allowed home this afternoon, after passing the exhausting stair climb/descent tests. Pain levels still significant but blessedly lower than yesterday.

My thought for this morning. Ow. Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow. 😫

And here’s a Borg grenadier on sentry duty.

Bored with being an immobile patient already, so glad I brought pencil & paper to do a bit of concept sketching for one of my imagi-nations.

I’m out of surgery and recovering. The first of two new hips will be tested shortly! Thanks for all the kind wishes folks.

See you on the other side. www.patreon.com/posts/see-yo...

Time shrinks so rapidly. Suddenly, my hip operation is happening _the day after tomorrow_. I fancied I had all the time in the world to prepare but no: in 36 hours or so I’ll be heading to hospital. I’m finding it very hard to give myself permission to relax – I am, indeed, my own slave-driver.

Please share this precious moment with me. With thanks to @warbases.bsky.social www.patreon.com/posts/142023...

The death of social media? www.bbc.com/worklife/art...

Just published a special public episode of Off the Cuff to explain what's happening to me over the coming weeks. Do pop over and have a listen and of course I'd really appreciate anyone who decides to sign up as a patron – I'm going to need all the support I can get! www.patreon.com/posts/off-cu...

Took delivery of a 2023 refurb MacBook Pro M2 with 1TB hard drive yesterday, so I’ll be able to keep working after my forthcoming hip replacement when I won’t be able to access the giddy heights of my Loftwaffe for a bit. This thing is phenomenal! There’ll be no problem getting creative stuff done.

Only wargamers understand the thrill of anticipating the delivery of hundreds of little MDF rectangles and circles. Thanks @warbases.bsky.social for sourcing my latest fix! Looking forward to that first sniff.

Discover more about my ever-evolving world of imagi-nations on my Patreon. The magnificent red-coated regiments of Schwitz are just one example. www.patreon.com/posts/141599...

An exciting afternoon, checking how many MDF bases I have left.

So, I just threatened to cancel my AdobeCC subscription and they more than halved the monthly cost for me. That’s canny customer service and a big relief as far as I’m concerned.

Just uploaded my first feature-length video for patrons, an account of the struggle between Borgenmark and Grenouisse in the epic Bataille des Deux Fermes. Available to all paying patrons – get access all exclusive content for less than the price of a cappuccino a month. www.patreon.com/battlegames

My imagi-nations campaign video covering the Assault at Contre-Rivière, an episode in the epic struggle between Grenouisse and Borgenmark, is now available to everyone for your entertainment. youtu.be/7HU08KiWt_g?...

On World Mental Health day, I thought I'd re share this #Podcast with @battlegames.bsky.social covering that very topic. Those who have listened to me before can expect the usual bad language but I think we hit t'nail on head with this. #wargames #MentalHealthDay www.patreon.com/posts/battle...

As an fyi to anyone else who sees this, this bundle is absolutely worth getting your hands on. I got it a couple of years ago and it made a huge difference to my photography.

My arthritis can't cope with the trip to Newark for The Other Partizan on Sunday, so I made a little tribute video to encourage others to go – and to please post lots of pics online afterwards! youtu.be/F1bOpfC31S4

Out now for paying patrons: my "Off the Cuff" podcast in which I talk about the experience of playing Le Bataille des Deux Fermes over ten days, starting with an opponent and then completing it solo. www.patreon.com/posts/off-cu...

My epic imagi-nations battle (le Bataille de Deux Fermes) has finally concluded after 10 full, action-packed turns. Grenouisse eventually managed to wrestle the central hill from Borgenmark’s control, forcing the bluecoats to retreat to the pontoons as the sun sets over the battlefield. Vive le roi!

The epic game continues: turn 7 ends with the Grenouissian pressure finally beginning to tell, with a Borg gun captured, a musketeer regiment breaking after being caught in a crossfire, and another finally beaten in a bitter hand-to-hand fight with elite Schwitzer mercenaries. Still all to play for!

Things you can do when wargaming solo No. 385: pause the game to make a little unit of bargees.

End of Grenouissian turn 6, a stonking turn with too much action to cram in here – become a patron to get the full story! But here are a couple of overview pics, plus one of a Borg battalion surviving a double charge by Grenouissian dragoons – and surviving! Who said resistance was futile?

The imagi-nations battle continues. Grenouissian turn 5 is packed with action as their artillery opens fire, musketry rolls along lines of infantry & cheers ring out as both infantry and cavalry units plunge into close combat. The brave Borg hold firm in places, but elsewhere cave in under pressure.

The imagi-nations game is continuing solo. Here’s the end of the next Borgenmark turn, with reinforcements arriving but pressure building all along the L-shaped defensive line. It’s going to be a very tough but for the Grenouissians to crack, especially as the cramped ground makes deployment tricky.

The imagi-nations campaign game as we left it last night, with Grenouissian infantry steadily grinding forward from the south, while their cavalry & light infantry sweep in from the east. The Borg, meanwhile, encouraged by a new C-in-C, have formed solid defensive lines as they retire. See Alt tags

Imagi-nations game set for tomorrow: the campaign between Borgenmark & Grenouisse continues. Here are the Borg, retreating from their defeat the previous day, heading back to the pontoon bridge they built just a few days previously. The pursuing Grenouissians can enter at bottom (S) or right (E).

Second hand bargain. 1974 first edition! Over 50 years old but still fantastic reference.

Out now, exclusively for paying patrons, the third instalment of The Rise of Borgenmark, an episode in the long-running Wars of the Faltenian Succession. Come on over, join in for the price of a cappuccino, have a listen and read the hand-written campaign journals! www.patreon.com/posts/rise-o...

A couple more classics from Blandford.

Oldies, but goodies – out of print for many years, but absolutely cracking reference if you can find them second hand.

My latest "Off the Cuff" 30-min podcast for all my patrons, both paying and free. Head on over, sign up and listen as I explain my gratitude for our wonderful hobby. www.patreon.com/posts/off-cu...

Planning a little pirate game for tomorrow with visiting editor of Miniature Wargames, John Treadaway. His party of Royal Marines must rescue the kidnapped Bishop Toto from Longbeard and his scurvy crew. We’ll be using the classic Legends of the High Seas from the much missed Warhammer Historical.

I am devastated. I have been following the incredible work of SaveAFox Rescue for years and like everyone, felt huge affection for Mikayla. Everyone who spreads online hate should be forced to watch this powerful message from her grieving husband. www.instagram.com/reel/DLQHXiY...

The next Grant unit on the restoration table is avon Ratzmer Ulanen. The paintwork seems to have survived reasonably well, so just some judicious retouching required. Again, the late Charles Grant did some clever conversion work here from the original Spencer Smith WWI German Uhlans.

The Lanciers de Saxe ready to join the ranks of Grenouisse… And in black and white for those who didn’t recognise them the first time. [Long alt text!]