Most weeks I get together with a couple of friends to play paper based role play games. We have been looking at the possibility of continuing this over the internet using a sweet little package called Fantasy Grounds
This provides a virtual table top to play on. Check out the demo, the dice are so cool! We will need to use some voice messenger package to be able to talk together, but this should enable us to carry on playing in some form or other. We are looking at the possibility of inviting other players into the group to extend it beyond just the three of us.
At the moment Kevin is working up a game based on the D20 Darwin’s World and a campaign called Metropolis Rho, a particularly violent apocalyptic vision of the future.
To support this Kevin has also been looking at a particularly snazzy map drawing package called Dundjinni. Check out some of the pretty pictures at the gallery.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Kombi Heaven…
Part of my recent obsession with the old Volkswagen Kombi van led me to peruse various auctions sites and last week I found a 1974 camper van on a New Zealand site. Knowing that we were going to be spending nearly six months there I had been looking a car prices when I found this old ‘bay-window’ Kombi, and since the price was much cheaper than in the UK, I asked my family what they thought of it. My brother arranged with the owner to have a look at and thought it was fine so now we are the new proud owners. Sue wants a large sunflower decal on the side and I fancy a windsurfer in the back.
Can’t wait to bowl up to the beach in it and watch the sun go down.
Can’t wait to bowl up to the beach in it and watch the sun go down.
A weekend of culture…
Henry IV Part 1…
We visited the National Theatre recently with a few friends to see Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part 1. The theatre sits on the south bank of the Thames at Waterloo in London next to the National Film Theatre, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Harward Gallery and the Royal Festival Hall. From the outside this group of buildings evoke mixed feelings regarding their rough concrete architecture, but inside each has wonderful performance spaces that bring out the best in any performance.
Henry IV Part 1 and Part 2 are a little more challenging than many of the better know of Shakespeare’s work, but quality of the performance more than made up for the occasional lack of comprehension in the words. All of the cast was fabulous but, to single out a few, Falstaff: Michael Gambon, Hotspur: David Harewood, and Prince Hal: Matthew Macfadyen were outstanding. We are all looking forward to Part 2 which we will see soon.
Romeo and Juliet…
The next day we drove up to visit my Aunt and Uncle in Tring where we were due to watch an outdoor performance of Romeo and Juliet at the nearby Pendley Manor. As we drove up the heavens opened up and the rain continuing on and off as we ate dinner. Chancing things and taking some wet weather protection we ventured out. Apart from a few spots here and there the rain held off until the crucial moment where Romeo sees Juliet in the tomb, then the two prone figures were lashed with a quick downpour and soaked to the skin before umbrella carrying attendants could rescue them. After a short interlude where the performers and those of us in the audience sort cover, the performance continued and concluded to a rapturous applause. We have seen this company before and they are extremely proficient for an amateur group.
Sunday Lunch…
We stayed over at my Aunt and Uncle’s after the play and met up with several of their friends; work colleagues of my Uncle when they all worked together in architecture and interior design. We had hoped that both Jack and Sue could come along, but unfortunately Sue was ill. We managed to quiz Jack though about some of the things to consider when working with glass and kilns. Together they are Devilish Designs.
Also there was another couple who had also worked together in the interior design industry. John though had a claim to fame that predated this. He was the bass player in a Brit Pop/Rock band in the 60’s called the West Coast Consortium, and they even had a record at number 22 in the charts.
We visited the National Theatre recently with a few friends to see Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part 1. The theatre sits on the south bank of the Thames at Waterloo in London next to the National Film Theatre, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Harward Gallery and the Royal Festival Hall. From the outside this group of buildings evoke mixed feelings regarding their rough concrete architecture, but inside each has wonderful performance spaces that bring out the best in any performance.
Henry IV Part 1 and Part 2 are a little more challenging than many of the better know of Shakespeare’s work, but quality of the performance more than made up for the occasional lack of comprehension in the words. All of the cast was fabulous but, to single out a few, Falstaff: Michael Gambon, Hotspur: David Harewood, and Prince Hal: Matthew Macfadyen were outstanding. We are all looking forward to Part 2 which we will see soon.
Romeo and Juliet…
The next day we drove up to visit my Aunt and Uncle in Tring where we were due to watch an outdoor performance of Romeo and Juliet at the nearby Pendley Manor. As we drove up the heavens opened up and the rain continuing on and off as we ate dinner. Chancing things and taking some wet weather protection we ventured out. Apart from a few spots here and there the rain held off until the crucial moment where Romeo sees Juliet in the tomb, then the two prone figures were lashed with a quick downpour and soaked to the skin before umbrella carrying attendants could rescue them. After a short interlude where the performers and those of us in the audience sort cover, the performance continued and concluded to a rapturous applause. We have seen this company before and they are extremely proficient for an amateur group.
Sunday Lunch…
We stayed over at my Aunt and Uncle’s after the play and met up with several of their friends; work colleagues of my Uncle when they all worked together in architecture and interior design. We had hoped that both Jack and Sue could come along, but unfortunately Sue was ill. We managed to quiz Jack though about some of the things to consider when working with glass and kilns. Together they are Devilish Designs.
Also there was another couple who had also worked together in the interior design industry. John though had a claim to fame that predated this. He was the bass player in a Brit Pop/Rock band in the 60’s called the West Coast Consortium, and they even had a record at number 22 in the charts.
Sunny Side Up…
We are less than a couple months away from starting one of the biggest adventures in our lives. We are about to become truly migratory, following the sun south to give us permanent summer for as long as we can sustain it. Everything is coming together now as we finalise that last details, most importantly finding someone to look after the house (and help with the mortgage). Boxes are being packed to be stored or shipped on ahead, travel arrangements are almost complete and tickets are ready for collection. Just a few more details to sort out and we will be ready (physically if not emotionally).
After a short visit to Malaysia and Singapore we will be down under mid October and looking to spend quality time with family and friends (taking advantage of their generous natures).
Now all we have to do is find some way of sustaining this for as long as we want too by discovering some well hidden talent of making something out of nothing.
Exciting and scary in equal measures; fingers crossed and stomach knotted.
After a short visit to Malaysia and Singapore we will be down under mid October and looking to spend quality time with family and friends (taking advantage of their generous natures).
Now all we have to do is find some way of sustaining this for as long as we want too by discovering some well hidden talent of making something out of nothing.
Exciting and scary in equal measures; fingers crossed and stomach knotted.
Summer Garden…
Now is the time of year where we are reaping what we sowed. We do not need to buy many vegetables at the moment and again Sue is having to be inventive with the seasonal abundance.
We have had a greater success with our berries since we covered the bushes on a net cage to stop the birds enjoying them before we could. We are also expectantly excited at the prospect of the melons swelling in our green house along side the chillies and peppers (again, though, the aubergines are looking disappointing).
We have just started harvesting our butternut squash and they are huge (several times larger than what we have seen in the shops).
Most of what we have decided to grow this year has been summer crops and only a few plants will be in the ground over the winter; leeks and over-wintering Japanese onions.
We will have to be quite determined to eat it all the harvest up before we leave for sunnier climes. Either that or we will have to give it all away.
With our looming extended visit to the southern hemisphere we are looking forward to starting with a whole new batch of crops as soon as we arrive.
We have had a greater success with our berries since we covered the bushes on a net cage to stop the birds enjoying them before we could. We are also expectantly excited at the prospect of the melons swelling in our green house along side the chillies and peppers (again, though, the aubergines are looking disappointing).
We have just started harvesting our butternut squash and they are huge (several times larger than what we have seen in the shops).
Most of what we have decided to grow this year has been summer crops and only a few plants will be in the ground over the winter; leeks and over-wintering Japanese onions.
We will have to be quite determined to eat it all the harvest up before we leave for sunnier climes. Either that or we will have to give it all away.
With our looming extended visit to the southern hemisphere we are looking forward to starting with a whole new batch of crops as soon as we arrive.
Cousins United…
One of Sue’s Aunts decided to have a garden party inviting her sisters and their families to her cottage in the countryside. A lovely afternoon was had with many members of the extended family that we would not ordinarily get to see very often. As is usual the passage of time was marked by how much the children had grown up. Jamie joined us and happily played with the more boisterous younger relatives.
Everybody managed to catch up with the each other over a tasty buffet and a few cold drinks before we had to leave; promising not to leave it so long next time.
Everybody managed to catch up with the each other over a tasty buffet and a few cold drinks before we had to leave; promising not to leave it so long next time.
Festival Virgins…
At the end of July we went to our first festival with our neighbours Deb, Dave and son Tom. Apart from Debs we were new to the whole thing and naturally apprehensive. Womad Rivermead 2005 was probably the best introduction to festivals that we could have hoped for. We all have an appreciation of a variety of music and although many of the acts were unknown to us, many of the cultural styles were not.
We had decided to camp the weekend, which might not have been so wise considering Deb is heavily pregnant with their second child, and Tom is only two and a half years old. We also managed to find the only party-animal-stoners in the park to pitch our tents next to (though they were amenable to gentle diplomacy which improved our second nights sleep somewhat).
We found the mix and variety of music echoed by the audience as there were as many colourful sights off stage as on; original hippies, alternative lifestylers, extended families, old heads, greenies, stoners and many more.
The large numbers of 'right on' people in the audience meant that the traders had to cater for them, resulting in a superb range of food stalls and an interesting diversity of clothing, jewellery, arts and craft stalls throughout the site. There were several stages and performance spaces on the site, so no matter what your tastes your challenge was trying to find time to see all that you wanted to.
As with most large informal camping sites the major concern was the ‘facilities’ and after a while they were dire (I have never seen cheering and applause for the arrival of sewage truck before). Luckily the site was adjacent to a leisure centre which meant for a small fee you could use the pool, showers and bathrooms there.
Overall we were very impressed with the event, and we are already thinking about planning a return visit next year. We are also hoping that they will announce another New Zealand Womad as we would be keen to visit that too.
We had decided to camp the weekend, which might not have been so wise considering Deb is heavily pregnant with their second child, and Tom is only two and a half years old. We also managed to find the only party-animal-stoners in the park to pitch our tents next to (though they were amenable to gentle diplomacy which improved our second nights sleep somewhat).
We found the mix and variety of music echoed by the audience as there were as many colourful sights off stage as on; original hippies, alternative lifestylers, extended families, old heads, greenies, stoners and many more.
The large numbers of 'right on' people in the audience meant that the traders had to cater for them, resulting in a superb range of food stalls and an interesting diversity of clothing, jewellery, arts and craft stalls throughout the site. There were several stages and performance spaces on the site, so no matter what your tastes your challenge was trying to find time to see all that you wanted to.
As with most large informal camping sites the major concern was the ‘facilities’ and after a while they were dire (I have never seen cheering and applause for the arrival of sewage truck before). Luckily the site was adjacent to a leisure centre which meant for a small fee you could use the pool, showers and bathrooms there.
Overall we were very impressed with the event, and we are already thinking about planning a return visit next year. We are also hoping that they will announce another New Zealand Womad as we would be keen to visit that too.
More of wot I have read…
The Gallows Thief by Bernard Cornwell
I have not read many of his books and I have totally missed the Sharpe phenomenon on the small screen, but I am aware of the author’s attention to detail and passion for this period in British history. It is an enjoyable read – some might even call it a ‘ripping yarn’ - although some of the characters do tend towards being cartoon like and the subject is presented in a ‘boys-own’ sort of way.
‘Gallows Thief is a detective story, set in Regency London, a time when there were no detectives as such. There was a very busy gallows, however. This was a period when the English and Welsh gallows were at their busiest and, very occasionally, the government appointed an 'Investigator' to look into a conviction. That Investigator is the hero and detective, a man who was an army officer, but who, since the battle of Waterloo (it had to get in somehow) has fallen on hard times.’
Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation. And this is one of his best. Rider Sandman is a typical Cornwell hero, rather like his best known central character from the Sharpe series, Richard Sharpe. Sandman is poor but honest, a decent man in desperate times. The story opens with a stomach-churning series of public hangings in 1817, and then switches to Sandman being offered money to investigate a murder and the chance to save a convicted murderer from the gallows. The authorities are convinced that Charles Corday, a portrait painter, murdered a countess whose portrait he was painting. But before stringing up Corday, the Home Secretary is forced, by the intervention of the Queen, to hire an investigator to confirm the painter's guilt. Sandman is an early 19th century Philip Marlowe, a Georgian private detective, moving effortlessly from aristocratic circles to the slums and jails of London. Cornwell at his best is utterly compelling. And this is Cornwell at his best.
Gavin Esler - Daily Mail
I have not read many of his books and I have totally missed the Sharpe phenomenon on the small screen, but I am aware of the author’s attention to detail and passion for this period in British history. It is an enjoyable read – some might even call it a ‘ripping yarn’ - although some of the characters do tend towards being cartoon like and the subject is presented in a ‘boys-own’ sort of way.
‘Gallows Thief is a detective story, set in Regency London, a time when there were no detectives as such. There was a very busy gallows, however. This was a period when the English and Welsh gallows were at their busiest and, very occasionally, the government appointed an 'Investigator' to look into a conviction. That Investigator is the hero and detective, a man who was an army officer, but who, since the battle of Waterloo (it had to get in somehow) has fallen on hard times.’
Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation. And this is one of his best. Rider Sandman is a typical Cornwell hero, rather like his best known central character from the Sharpe series, Richard Sharpe. Sandman is poor but honest, a decent man in desperate times. The story opens with a stomach-churning series of public hangings in 1817, and then switches to Sandman being offered money to investigate a murder and the chance to save a convicted murderer from the gallows. The authorities are convinced that Charles Corday, a portrait painter, murdered a countess whose portrait he was painting. But before stringing up Corday, the Home Secretary is forced, by the intervention of the Queen, to hire an investigator to confirm the painter's guilt. Sandman is an early 19th century Philip Marlowe, a Georgian private detective, moving effortlessly from aristocratic circles to the slums and jails of London. Cornwell at his best is utterly compelling. And this is Cornwell at his best.
Gavin Esler - Daily Mail
Monday, August 15, 2005
Slow to post…
I have not been very good at keeping this blog up to date recently. It is not because I have nothing to report, on the contrary, we have been very busy, to busy to post.
I hope to remedy this soon as we have lots to tell you all.
Bear with us.
I hope to remedy this soon as we have lots to tell you all.
Bear with us.
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