New acquisitions and update

Some new acquisitions for Ronin and a picture of the village elders house in construction.
I was excited to, at last, find some bamboo for Ronin. This is great news! 100 pc's for a £6.41. There are 3 sizes in total; 7, 9 and 13 cm. Around 2/3 rd's are the larger size and an equal division between the other two. I got these from STK e-shop on Amazon. They are based in Hong Kong. I'll look forward to planting these when I next buy bases.

To give an idea of the scale, this is a Dixon miniature 25 mm figure. Wonderful!

Next up are two purchases from Colonel Bill's Wargames Depot (Colonle Bill's Wargames Depot). I bought them at Campaign in Milton Keynes last Saturday (mkws). This is an annual wargames and competition show and, usually, I go for both days and stay hours. I could only stay a short while which is why I didn't actually buy much this time. I think I'm making up for it with online purchases.

The first is a pack of more civilians. This time to go with the handcarts that I bought with the village elders house.

Next are some bales and sacks to go on the carts or as scenery in the games. I have a specific reason for this as I want to wargame a raid on the rice barn at some stage.

I found this beauty on I don't know where!

This stage will look great as a stage for a town fight. The name of the company is ttcombat ( ttcombat.com) There are also other Japanese buildings to view on their site. I will let you look for yourselves or you may like to wait until I buy some and build them before deciding .

This is where I am with the village elders house I am currently building as a relief from the Napoleonic's.

And these are the two carts I bought along with the above. I don't know whether to paint these. I think I might buy some and paint them for the town and leave these for the games set in the rustic wilderness.

Lastly, these cherry blossom trees from the Model Tree Shop (themodeltreeshop). Not exactly enthused by the models though they are adequate. I was hoping for a little more realism, I suppose. I may look at some means of improving them. Any ideas welcome.

At the end of the month I expect to buy some bases for the Napoleonic's.
Now, what can I ask for Fathers day?

Poems for wargamers

There are many poems about war and I thought I would like to share those that I know and those I find along the way.
First up is a poem I found in an anthology of poetry years ago:-

The Blue and the Gray
Francis Miles Finch

By the flow of the inland river,
Whence the fleets of iron have fled,
Where the blades of the grave-grass quiver,
Asleep are the ranks of the dead:
Under the sod and the dew,
Waiting for judgement day:
Under the one, the Blue,
Under the other the Gray.

These are robings of glory,
Those in the gloom of defeat,
All with the battle-blood gory,
In the dusk of eternity meet:
Under the sod and the dew,
Waiting for judgement day:
Under the laurel, the Blue,
Under the willow, the Gray

From the silence of sorrowful hours
The desolate mourners go,
Lovingly laden with flowers,
Alike for the friend and the foe:
Under the sod and the dew,
Waiting for judgement day:
Under the rose, the Blue
Under the lilies, the Gray.

So, with an equal splendour,
The morning sun rays fall,
With a touch impartially tender,
On the blossoms blooming for all:
Under the sod and the dew,
Waiting for judgement day:
Broidered with gold, the Blue
Mellowed with gold, the Gray.

So when the summer calleth.
On forest, and field of grain,
With an equal murmur falleth,
The cooling drip of the rain:
Under the sod and the dew,
Waiting for judgement day:
Wet with the rain, the Blue,
Wet with the rain, the Gray.

Sadly, but not with upbraiding,
The generous deed was done,
In the storm of the years that are fading,
No braver battle was won:
Under the sod and the dew,
Waiting for judgement day:
Under the blossoms, the Blue,
Under the garlands, the Gray.

No more shall the war cry sever,
Or the winding rivers be red,
They banish our anger forever,
When they laurel the graves of our dead!
Under the sod and the dew,
Waiting for judgement day:
Love and tears for the Blue
Tears and love for the Gray

I will post occasional poems. There are some nice, translated, poems from ancient China that I like. I hope you will too.