On this day in 1941 a Heinkel 111 sank the SS Thistlegorm whilst it awaited entry into Suez Canal with supplies for the 8th Army. My son Rory and I dived it a few years back. The holds were full of trucks, Bren carriers, motorcycles and other equipment. Here is his video. youtu.be/qcfnn0r1qq4?...

After taking a battering in the storms on Friday and Saturday, the weather is now set fair on the South West Coast Path. Making good progress having reached the 420 mile mark at Wembury, taking in all around the Plymouth Sound. Just the 200 to go.

Spent the afternoon photographing the sale items…keep your eye out Sunday morning! #nerdlings #miniatures #wargaming

The Stone House & water well just about ready for “Lincoln’s life or a Tiger’s death!” - Steel Lard next Saturday. I’ll hit the roof with a light grey dry brush. It served as a makeshift hospital during both 1st & 2nd Manassas. Bee hives and cart also from Sabotag3d. @sabotag3d.bsky.social

No Steel Lard prep this weekend. Need to be made of steel instead. Back on the South West Coast Path in the war wagon. A wild authorised site on the Rame Peninsula with 50 knot gusts forecasted tomorrow and Saturday. A good job we booked.

Prep for Steel Lard - the non sexy stuff…

An afternoon to myself. Footy. Norwich got a draw at the Britannia. Rugger- didn’t those Red Roses do a great job. Ryder cup - something satisfying about seeing the Yanks getting turned over (even though I normally hate golf); and the 14th Brooklyn getting prepped for Steel Lard!

Early morning September sun and a windowsill make an ideal painting area. Working on these 1st Corps Early ACW Militia for Steel Lard. They’ll represent the 4th South Carolina that supported Wheat’s Tigers on Matthew Hill at the 1st Bull Run. I like the uniformed Airfix Confederates look to them.

Beware the bees! Steel Lard - Sheffield UK. 10th October 2025. More than just scatter terrain from that very nice man in Cannock. @sabotag3d.bsky.social #spreadthelard

Tickets are still available for Steel Lard, Saturday 10th October 2025. The venue is Patriot Games, Sheffield. It makes for an attractive weekend with Partizan 2 on over in Newark just over an hours drive away. Reply to me and I’ll pass you down the line to Richard.

Play tested my Steel Lard scenario “Lincoln’s life or a Tiger’s death” today with my son Rory. Recreating a specific event set during the 1st Bull Run. It proved invaluable and quite remarkable that Rory commanding the Confederate force, made similar decisions to the leaders on that actual day.

Played 2 games of the new “Ticket to Ride - Northern Lights”. Some nice new mechanics to create extra friction. Stations have gone. Bonus cards increased from 1 (Longest track) to 8 from which 4 are selected at random. Bonus train cards are available for building most of the grey coastal routes.

I managed to stay sober and sensible enough last night at Ebor Lard in order to put up this wallpaper mural into my son and daughter-in-law’s nursery this morning. Our first granddaughter is due at the end of November.

When the company’s trumpeter interrupts your game of chess it’s probably time to fight the Russians. Sharp Practice Deployment Point for the 1812 campaign.

Following on from feedback ( the food of champions) from the Genie, I’m happy with the progress so far on The Stone House - 1st Bull Run. This will play a central role in my ACW Sharp Practice scenario for Steel Lard. @Sabotag3d.bsky.social

My ACW Sharp Practice game for Steel Lard features a historical action on the Rebel’s far left flank at the First Bull Run. The Stone House played a prominent role in the battle for both sides serving as a field hospital. That very clever Genie made my wish come true! @sabotag3d.bsky.social

What an honour it was to meet one of my heroes high up on the Black Sail Pass in the Lake District yesterday. It was none other than Haze himself from the YouTube channel Haze Outdoors. I was gushing like a kid at Christmas!! Haze has 127k subscribers. Check him out for outdoor adventures.

Wheat’s Tigers all ready to go on the prowl at Steel Lard in Sheffield. “Lincoln’s life or a Tiger’s death!”. They’ll be backed up by some boys from the 4th South Carolina. Hope to see some of you there. #Sharppractice #Speadthelard

I’m re-working this Reb gun crew to utilise the rather nifty 1p Sabot base sent to me by the Genie. It will match up with the basing for the rest of my force. The fitted dice trays at the back make a useful grip when picking the whole item up. @sabotag3d.bsky.social

That’s two groups of Wheat’s Tigers finished. 1st Corps figures.They’ll go into action at Steel Lard - “Lincoln’s life or a Tiger’s death!”. A Sharp Practice scenario based on a specific, frantic action that historically took place morning phase at the First Bull Run 21st July 1861. #Speadthelard

Sniper Elite 4 on the iPad!! Level 1 FOC in the App Store. It requires a very very light touch. The fire button (one on each side of the screen) is a tiny bit intrusive. I found myself loosing of a shot when I didn’t mean to therefore alerting the enemy. All very atmospheric and great graphics.

Image of Ozzy filmed doing “Dirty Women” from the Technical Ecstasy album, at the Hammersmith during the Never Say Die tour 1978. It was put on celluloid and released as a video cassette. I had it on Betamax and wore it out. I saw the Sabs at the Ipswich Gaumont 3 nights before this was captured.

I’m fucked off. Can’t make Sutton Hoo, observing James and the Peterborough Wargames Club in action. Picked up Covid somewhere, unbelievably, on the South West Coast Path last week, where I didn’t even get a chance to kiss the wife. Time to press on with the Tigers for Steel Lard. #Speadthelard

South West Coast Path - Polruan to Polperro. A tough 6 miles or so with over 1800 feet of ascent. A remote, switchback of a ride, at times along a very narrow path. One or two precarious sections got the heart racing. Fortunately the south westerly weather was on our backs.

South West Coast Path - Pengellys Famous Fishmongers, Looe Cornwall. It isn’t all sweat and tears. Best mussels I’ve ever tasted.

My first Anglo Saxons ready to face the Viking hordes. They look acceptable from a metre away. Six are Foundry. Two others are Irish noblemen from Footsore that I had. I like the pattern shields Foundry provide. Not tempted to use any transfers yet. #midgard #spreadthelard

I finished my 300 point Viking force. I anticipate having a lot of fun with this. Mostly Steve Barber Models with a Wargames Foundry Reinforcement pack. Now for a Saxon army to face them off. My ambition is to have something to bring this time to the party at Midgard Moot next April 2026.

Nare Head - South West Coast Path. A fascinating location for students of military history. The Royal Navy originally set the site up in WW2 as a decoy location. It then became a nuclear protection bunker. If you are interested in learning more then read the plaque pic at this National Trust site.

Back on the South West Coast Path. Pendower Beach to Fowey - 32 miles; elevation 6929 ft; 7101 ft descent. A remote section = a logistics challenge, greatly assisted by AB Taxis of St.Austell and the wonderful Transport for Cornwall bus service - even better that I have my old bastard’s bus pass.

South West Coast Path - no nice views pics yet. A man has to eat first. Salmon pasta coming right up in the camp kitchen. Korev lager is a taste that grows on me.

Regrettably I’m open to sensible offers on my Cannondale Synapse Carbon road bike, 56 frame. Since my discectomy at C6 level I sadly can’t use it anymore. Full spec on request.

For sale: Bolt Action 20 brown order dice. £12.00. Postage at cost.

2/ So if any kind folks have any spare available I’ll happily buy it off you.

Inspired by Ben Kane’s “Hunt for the Eagles”, I have in my mind’s eye a scenario based on the visit of Germanicus to the battlefield of the Tuetonburg Forest in AD15. I’d like to run this at Steel Lard in the autumn. I’m after A Tale of Grimdark Krautcover. It’s sold out everywhere. 1/

Puffins on Lunga, Treshnish Isles, today.

The Coledale Round, Lake District. Taken from Castlerigg.

First one of the season for me. St. John in the Vale - Lake District.

I’m very happy with the outcome of these Foundry Praetorians and Eastern Archers. Steve Saleh’s sculpts are a delight to paint. Maybe about 7-8 hours work in total since last Sunday. All being well, after a few months of drill they’ll go into battle at Steel Lard in Sheffield later in the year.

I’m pretty pleased so far with the outcome on these Foundry Praetorian Guard. Not necessarily Rome’s best in their fighting machine, they did turn out in their finest. I went for Foundry Burning Gold with Reikland Fleshshade for the armour.

Infamy, Infamy The “On Patrol” scenario from the main rule book. Centurion Rorius Dickus takes on Kenvectrix. A great game with the two sides smashing the granny out of each other. The Roman force with their better drill and armour, held on. A great introduction to the rules. roryee.bsky.social

Affric Kintail Way completed in 5 days. I’m pretty happy with that. The weather was sensational. Never known anything like it. Cold nights though, with ice on my tent every morning.

One of the most amazing bits of backpacking gear available. A Flextail Mini Pump that inflates my Exped mattress. It also doubles up as a torch. However when the optional added rubber shade is attached, it illuminates my tent. Luxury living on the Affric Kintail Way. #AffricKintail

Tea on! Affric Kintail Way. ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ 🌞

Here we go then. Affric Kintail Way. Let’s see what these old bones can do!

Officially opened in 2015, the Affric Kintail Way runs from Drumnadrochit on the shores of Loch Ness to Morvich in Kintail, near the West Highlands seaboard. Our stage-by-stage guide - with free GPS mapping and instructions downloadable to your mobile: www.walkhighlands.co.uk/lochness/aff...

Getting there. The shields just need touching up a bit to hide any white spots. Amazing how a shield transfer transforms an average paint job into something more visually pleasing.

At last, the full range of Little Big Man Studios shield transfers are now available from Victrix Miniatures, including these designs for my Foundry EIR collection. Nothing stopping me now.

Couple of spaces have cropped up for Herts of Lard next month due to some cancellations, so get in touch and secure your place at the finest (and possibly only..)@toofatlardies.bsky.social event in Hertfordshire! Details here! joebilton81.wixsite.com/hertsoflard-...

That’s me signed in for Midgard Moot at Boards & Swords - Derby on 26th April, and rulebook finally purchased. I blame @cakeweaver.bsky.social for the inspiring photos from his scenario set in the Teutoburg Forest.

Right then. Let’s see how I get on with this new arrival. I’m reminded of the ditty “Give a fool a tool and he is still a fool.”