Sunday 19 September 2021

Ticking Over (Sort of)


No details, no clues but part of the smorgasbord of randomness circulating in the cavernous expanse of my  imagination

 The past couple of weeks have flown by, mostly for all the wrong reasons, but here I am once again! The good news is that Laurel is finally in the system and so is waiting on her initial appointment with the neurologist. This should be by the end of the year. We can then plan next stages etc which will be great news for her and all of us. My brother in law is as well as can be expected under the circumstances but he remains in good sprits although West Ham United losing to Manchester United will not have cheered him up! We have had a further domestic situation to deal with on top of all this - I will not go into details for various reasons - so life at Maison Crook has not exactly been a barrel of laughs.

One must maintain an air of sang froid though, and muddle through, which is what we do.

Needless to say gaming activity has been at a minimum and in truth I have really been unenthusiastic about anything other than looking for stuff to dispose of. I did a little work on the remaining ACW ships but my heart was really not in it so I stepped back and left it alone. I have tackled a lot of reading though, that and thinking about stuff which is my usual default option when life gets in the way.

The slightly modified bases for the block armies are in the hands of Warbases which I am looking forward to receiving. I have some writing to catch up on - the ACW rules as well as an article for Battlefleet (the journal of the Naval Wargames Society) - as well as a few ideas that are circling around.

The biggest thought that has been occupying rather a lot of my time is not what I want to do, rather what I do not want to do. This is the opposite to how I would usually approach my gaming and rather surprisingly it seems to make rather more sense than focussing on what I want! There has been a lot of stuff identified that is now surplus to requirements.

In summary then, and not trying to be too bleak, things are likely to be low key for the foreseeable future although beneath the surface thoughts are being thought, schemes are being schemed and plans are being planned.

Not a great deal different from usual then….

14 comments:

The Jolly Broom Man said...

Keep your chin up matey.

Aly Morrison said...

“thoughts are being thought, schemes are being schemed and plans are being planned.”
This of course sounds like a perfect recipe for wargames butterfly inspired MDF wonders.

Take it easy old chap… the mojo will return.

All the best. Aly

David Crook said...

Hello there Jolly Broom Man,

Aside from a general lack of enthusiasm - as much to do with a lack of time as much as anything else (work is being particularly trying) - I would say I am more distracted than anything else. My chin has not dropped to the floor as such but is flapping in the breeze somewhat!

Cheers old chap,

DC

David Crook said...

Hello there Aly,

I know the full on mojo will return at some point and MDF marvels will follow - so watch this space and the butterfly….

All the best,

DC

David Crook said...

Hello there nundanket,

Thank you old chap. I have been known to come up with the odd phrase now and then so am flattered to be in such lofty company! I seem to recall something similar in Dune - wheels within wheels perhaps?

Shades of the Steve McQueen classic - The Thomas Crown Affair and the Windmills of your mind….

Round like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning on an ever spinning reel
Like a snowball down a mountain, or a carnival balloon
Like a carousel that's turning running rings around the moon
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping past the minutes of its face
And the world is like an apple whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind!
Like a tunnel that you follow to a tunnel of its own
Down a hollow to a cavern where the sun has never shone
Like a door that keeps revolving in a half forgotten dream
Or the ripples from a pebble someone tosses in a stream
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping past the minutes of its face
And the world is like an apple whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind!
Keys that jingle in your pocket, words that jangle in your head
Why did summer go so quickly, was it something that you said?
Lovers walking along a shore and leave their footprints in the sand
Is the sound of distant drumming just the fingers of your hand?
Pictures hanging in a hallway and the fragment of a song
Half remembered names and faces, but to whom do they belong?
When you knew that it was over you were suddenly aware
That the autumn leaves were turning to the color of her hair!
Like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning on an ever spinning reel
As the images unwind, like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind!

All the best,

DC

Steve J. said...

Fingers crossed your mojo returns soon and then we can find out what you've been musing on whilst dealing with life's trials and tribulations. Chez moi I am juggling many balls too, which can be a challenge at times, but c'est la vie!

Unknown said...

Sad to hear you've lost the spark as I am finding mine, specifically for Naval. I've admired your blog from a far for some time now and had a question or two in regards to Naval Wargaming.

Would love to pick your brain sometime via email if that would suit when things are a bit less trying.

All the best and I hope things begin to look up!

Regards,
Steven

David Crook said...

Hello there Steve J,

The mojo is on a gentle simmer at present but I will turn the gas up at some point!

All the best,

DC

David Crook said...

Hello there Steven,

Happy to help if I can - drop me an email on drcrook@btinternet.com.

I have taken a fresh look at my ACW ships and hope to resume work on them at the weekend - assuming nothing else untoward happens!

All the best,

DC

David Manley said...

Sorry I missed this when you posted and I hope things are looking up for you all very soon. Now I'm up in London a bit more during the week we should do beers :)

Elenderil said...

Sorry to hear that things are rough at the moment as the saying goes ’This too shall pass’. Stay positive as best you can.

David Crook said...

Hello there Elenderil,

The odd life event is normal but three at once is rather over egging the pudding, as they say!

We bend with the breeze but always straighten up eventually....

Many thanks old chao and stay well.

All the best,

DC

Buzhna said...

David,

Just seen stuff about your travails & wanted to wish you all the best. Gotta strange feeling things will turn around somewhat, & in something of a rush too...Hang on in there,

B

David Crook said...

Hello there Buzhna,

Thank you most kindly! I always think that half the battle is understanding a problem because in doing so you take some of the sting out of it.

Nil Desperandum and all that!

All the best,

DC