Thursday 12 April 2018

Saluting an old friend

This coming Saturday sees the annual Salute wargames show in London organised by the South London Warlords. It is a huge show - the biggest event of the UK wargames calendar - but is not one that I have attended since back in the day when it was held at Kensington Town Hall. I vaguely remember going to Olympia once but since then I have never been.

All that is in the past though as this Saturday I shall be going to Salute for the first time at the Excel Centre in London.

My reasons for not going in the past have tended to focus on the size of the show - I have to fight through crowds of people commuting to and from work all week so doing the same at the weekend is not something I am enthusiastic about - and the overall cost of the day. Drive up and park for the day and buy your ticket in advance and bang - £30 gone already, not to mention the cost of the petrol so call it £40 all in. I am by no means tight but that is a big chunk of money when you factor in the inevitable trade stand spend. The mention of the financials is by no means a criticism - it is just that the cost represents a big chunk of the wargaming budget that I could readily use elsewhere.

Many of my gaming friends regularly go (and in spite of the crowds and cost element - perhaps they are more dedicated than I!) and the show draws a huge amount of the 'bloggeratti' and so I have bowed to the inevitable and will be attending for my usual half a day.

I am actually really looking forward to this show - despite my usual misgivings - and so have built up a modest war chest - there are a few items I have earmarked for purchase in advance - and there is even some 'Ooh shiny' funds to hand as well.

So what is on the list then? Well I will be heading to pick up a copy of Battlegroup Torch from the Plastic Soldier Company to begin with. Peter Pig will be relieving me of some cash as, I suspect, will Dave Lanchester. Tumbling Dice will be seeing me, as will Caliver Books. Finally, I may have a mosey on by the Perrys.

I shall look forward to the legendary 'bloggers meet up' and hope to see friends old and new so if you see me say hello.

See you there.

12 comments:

William Stewart said...

Looking forward to the Post-op debriefing.

BigLee said...

Look forward to seeing you at the meet up.

Paul O'G said...

Looking forward to hearing what you think of it, and seeing the pics!

Ray Rousell said...

See you there young man!

david in suffolk said...

Hi David, I will look out for you at the meet-up, it would be nice to say hello, having exchanged comments about 1970s Sittingbourne and Sheppey a few weeks ago. That's if you haven't run screaming away from the maelstrom that is Salute these days...!

David Crook said...

Hi William,

I am hoping to get a few pictures and to say hello to a lot people so the AAR will follow as soon as I can draft it.

All the best,

DC

David Crook said...

Hi Lee,

Looking forward to seeing what all the fuss is about so will see you at some point tomorrow!

All the best,

DC

David Crook said...

Hi Raymondo,

I am looking forward to it. See you there - no doubt making sure Postie behaves himself!

All the best,

DC

David Crook said...

Hi Paul,

Its my first time at the Excel (described by some a zeppelin shed) and I am looking forward to seeing it. There are a few bits I want to pick up but the main thing will be catching up with people that I have not seen for a while.

AAR at pictures will follow at some point.

All the best,

DC

David Crook said...

Hi David in Suffolk,

I am braced for impact so to speak and hope to see you there at some point. If it doubt shout out 'Swampie' and I reckon if I am in earshot I will respond!

All the best,

DC

Carl said...

Be nice to meet you at the Bloggers meet..

David Crook said...

Hi Carl,

It was a pleasure meeting up with you at Salute and also for sharing just how your blog got its name!

All the best,

DC