I can summarise 2021 really simply, it sucked. I hoped that it would be a better year than 2020 but it really wasn't. The first clue was Vapnartak (the York Wargames show) being cancelled. After that my personal wargaming year just got worse. This wasn't helped by my having surgery in late May which took me out of circulation for a couple of months or more. As a result I didn't get half of what I had planned for the year done although what I did manage to do I was please with.
I had opted to make Altar of Freedom my focus rule set for the year but they are a set that really requires a live opponent and lock down and social contact restrictions put pay to that option. On the plus side I did create two 2mm ACW armies and a bid generator for AoF but face to face gaming just didn't happen. I also got my 2mm ACW rules to play test standard and with the exception of linking section reference headings to text I'm happy that these are done. The intended El Cid period armies of Spain and Wars of the Roses 6mm projects were still born. These stay on the board for 2022 though. Painting also suffered as I really lost my drive after I came out of hospital and at this point it hasn't resurfaced. That is partly down to having retired at the end of June. Now instead of a bit of painting time being a reward to myself for working hard all day (or possibly hardly working) it seems like a luxury as I should really be lifting some of the house hold chores and delayed jobs from Mrs E's shoulders.
Re-enactment wise the year wasn't quite a complete bust there was a major event held at August Bank Holiday which I attended for one day. The downside was that I couldn't take the field as I hadn't been cleared by the surgeon for strenuous activities at that point! I did take the chance to take pictures from the crowd lines and although I say it myself I was happy with most of the results.
The thing which was really hard was the toll taken on friends by 2021. As you will have probably guessed I'm no longer in the first flush of youth! So what that means is that most of my friends are of a similar vintage, and it's a vintage where grapes start to fall off the vine. I lost two friends from my circle of re-enacting friends in the first half of the year and in the run up to Christmas my friend the Northampton based historian Mike Ingham died suddenly and unexpectedly while another friend from the Naseby Battlefield Trust and wargaming had a stroke and was hospitalised. Then on New Year's day came the last kick in the teeth from 2021 when I got the news that an old friend from the Sealed Knot had died just before Christmas. Yes 2021 really, really sucked.
So it is with some passion that I end this post by saying here is a hope for a better 2022. Here is a wish that you all have a happy, prosperous and above all helathy New Year 2022.
I’m with you on 2021. I lost two nieces (in their 30s/40s) in the last two months of the year, and an uncle in the first half.
ReplyDeleteHope we all have a better 2022.
2021 certainly wasn’t a year to remember (with any fondness). Any word on Phil?
ReplyDeletePhil moved to a hospital nearer home and is making steady progress. He played a couple of games of DBA against Graham (Trebian) and won both. He is also able to paint figures which is good news. He isn't able to have visitors at the moment as the hospital has closed that option back down in light of the current Covid issues. So it's a case of so far so good.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that. Phil deserves better, but so good to hear he’s on the mend. As you say, so far so good.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to him for a steady recovery.