Once again it’s been TOO LONG since my last post on this blog! On the bright side it has been shorter than the previous time between posts, so I’m going to focus on the positive, keep calm and carry on — speaking of which, I was lucky enough to recently visit the U.K. with my wife and three children over the Christmas/New Year Holidays. It was our kids’ first time in Britain, and I’m very happy to say we all had a pretty fantastic time.
As this blog is not meant to chronicle my family’s travels, I am strictly limiting this post to things wargame related…
First on that short list is my favorite General Officer of the Victorian Age, whose sculpted visage I spotted from several hundred yards away as the family and I were walking through St. James Park, passing Horse Guards Parade, en route to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.
I took leave of my family — who chose to rest — approached with a great deal of excitement, and was pleased to discover the statue was who I thought it would be…
Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts,
VC, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, KStJ, VD, PC
Next up on the Colonial Gaming related front (at least peripherally!), was dinner at “THE INDIAN CAVALRY CLUB” in Edinburgh. The food was excellent, the ambiance quirky but welcoming, and we enjoyed our meal immensely, complete with the “Regimental” signage…
After visiting Edinburgh Castle, my family and I toured, “THE SCOTCH WHISKEY EXPERIENCE,” ending with a visit to what I believe is the world’s greatest collection of Scotch Whiskey, some photos of which I am including here on principle…
Last but MOST IMPORTANT BY FAR (in our current wargaming context!) was the afternoon I spent with friend and fellow-gamer, Willie Anderson, who I’d been lucky enough to meet in person and bring home for an all-too-brief visit to my place the prior June.
This time it was Willie’s turn to pick me up and take me to his place.
Without further ado I present the most imporant and valuable part of this post:
A VISIT TO THE ANDERSON COLLECTION…
(Willie’s ruddy Scotts visage on the left, my own
pale, balding Brooklynite pate on the right)
I really can’t thank Willie enough for the time and effort he spent on my behalf.
I sincerely hope I’m able to do the same for him again on this side of the pond!
I leave you with a highly recommended LINK to Willy’s own blog, which as you can probably imagine contains a FEAST OF SPLENDID PROPORTIONS for anyone who enjoys beautiful figures and euqally beautiful terrain:
* * * * *
I hope to be back with a new post relatively soon, with a post about a Napoleonic game I participated in and/or a second post showing the hobby project I’ve been working on the past few months…
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your visit to the UK. I hope the family had as good a time!
Willie's collection looks fantastic.
What a real treat of a post. So pleased that you enjoyed your visit and a magnificent insight into the Anderson collection.
Holy Cow! What a fantastic collection of figures. Did you visit Mr. Anderson before or after “THE SCOTCH WHISKEY EXPERIENCE”?
Beauty. It looks great.
William, I visited Willie AFTER imbibing samples of the 5 main regional single malt Scotch whiskeys. They were small samples, so I was able to fully appreciate Willie's collection!
Glad you enjoyed it as well, Michael, and thanks very much for taking the time to leave your comment!
I heartily agree on all counts, Edwin, and I thank you for taking the time to leave your gracious comment!
Thanks, my friend!
Welcome back, and I'm glad you enjoyed your visit to my homeland. Willie has a superb collection there. Nice photos, thanks for sharing.
Ethan,
It was great to see you and fantastic that you found the time to visit I know your time was short in the UK.Those pics look really good given they were taken on a phone in the winter well done!
I must give the whiskey tasting a go looks like a great day out.
Thanks for posting the link to my blog hope to see you at some point in the future.
Best
Willie
You'll need to be remembering that whisky is spelt 'WHISKY' in Scotland. No such thing as whiskey made in this country unless some foreigners are up to their tricks.
https://www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk/
Good lad that Willie, a true Scotsman.
Jim
Given the international blogging community I think the spelling whiskey can be allowed the pics of the bottles speak for themselves, I don't need to tell you that early forms of the word in English included uskebeaghe / usquebaugh/ usquebath and usquebae in the 16th 17th and 18th centuries respectively along with the traditional whisky.
Best
Willie
Thanks Willie, for reminding me of my heritage. I am unfortunately entombed in the 21st Century and feel obliged to defend what little of our common history that still remains in the public domain.
Thanks also for your helpful advice on the international front. I am a well travelled man and have also spent many decades working in an international organisation. I still get confused over my origins and what I should be defending.
You will know the song I quote from.
'we can still rise now and be the nation again'
I just wonder what this nation is.
Jim
Great collection by the way.
Jim,
One thing is certain we both have in common is great taste in visiting Ethan's fantastic blog.
Best
Willie
True
glad you had a great visit the This Sceptered Isle
Beautiful collections