Jingle Bells, Bloody Hells its Christmas!

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Gavin Syme

Xmas gets into Halloween and more…

A short posting today as I have a lot on just now but its a good one. When can you tell its not only Christmas but also the blatantly sad side of commercialism? Well its easy, walk down the main street in Girvan on the 6th of August 2013 and see Christmas decorations for sale blazing away merrily in a shop window.

Yes, I kid you not. Its a little game my good lady and I play every year with the festive season and also with other dates such as Valentines Day, Halloween, Easter, Summer Holidays and the juggernaut that is Christmas Day. I can tell you as a FACT that since 2004 not only has the festive season been happening a week to two weeks earlier (taken from first seen as in today) but it has also been pushing aside other famous days too with the full swing of Xmas now occurring before Halloween in the shops in 2012.

It makes me all the more determined to make some seasonal miniatures this year, keep the fun in it, its not all about the money after all. Not all about trying to grab every single possible sale. Well for some of us.

It made a grim vista as I stood there in a t-shirt in the sun….

GBS

Fjodin adds some cracking miniatures to the SHM Range

Posted on August 1, 2013 by Gavin Syme

Creatures and Nightmares!

Today I added four more new 15mm scale miniatures to the SHM Range on 15mm.co.uk. All of them created by the talented Fjodin who resides in Australia. Its true that Fjodin has other miniatures in the range but these ones, as you can see above, are excellent and to me his best yet. Three sort of ancient creatures and a nightmare horror to go with them. Useful for all sorts of things I am sure.

Only a Pistol? You are in trouble my friend!

I have included another image of the new miniatures above, a scaling shot with a standard sized Human for comparison. The point of this posting aside from virtually patting Fjodin on the back is to once more make the point that I am justly proud of the whole concept of SHM. While I do not know if these miniatures will sell well enough to cover the costs of molding and so on that is not the point with SHM. Yes, money is not the point. The point is that above you can see four miniatures (five if you include the Human Commander) which most likely would NOT EXIST without SHM. The talent that Fjodin has developed and the exposure he has had to gain more work would have been MUCH more difficult for him to achieve. So the wargamer benefits and the designer benefits too. To my knowledge I am the only person offering the chance for novice designers to get virtually any concept into production if they have the talent.

SHM gives the wargamer awesome and odd miniatures and the designer the confidence to grow. Sometimes all you need is a chance.

Well done Fjodin!

GBS

Cuddly Alien gifts from America

Posted on August 1, 2013 by Gavin Syme

Huggable Face Hugger and Comforting Chest Burster

A while back my good lady wife got a package in the mail from America from our good friends the McAlisters who came to stay earlier this year. Yes, I know, its been a while coming but while my good lady opened the box and took this picture on the day I have only just gotten to this posting now. Honestly you would think I sat about doing nothing eh!

I have always loved the Aliens franchise and particularly the second movie Aliens which to me is the best one. As a movie it has entered the popular conciousness and been borrowed from countless times and its also had a massive effect on wargaming too being sourced for LOADS of science fiction systems.

Thanks McAlisters! These might not have acid for blood but they do have the stuffing for hugs a plenty. 🙂

GBS

Muskets, Shako’s and Fantasy from the Talented Mr Minadeo

Posted on July 30, 2013 by Gavin Syme

The Injia Game set up for play!

My good friend Bob Minadeo runs a great wargaming blog of which I am a frequent visitor and sometimes blogger about. He recently put up a posting with a double claim to fame for it was not only in celebration of his latest published rules set (which he let me look at and is excellent) but also the putting into it the awesome fantasy nature of Flintloque. Using his newly published rules from 2 Hour Wargames and all pro-painted miniatures from his collection by Alternative Armies Bob has put up a posting with plenty of images and its a fine read too.

I like to think I contributed a bit to the process….I helped with the uniform of his Othari Cavalry as Skinners Gnolls and I sometimes assist in choosing miniatures and bits from the massive World of Valon range to suit his latest slightly demented on table scheme. Such as the miniature below which featured in the ultimate part of the ’98 Campaign.

A Furry Top O’ the morning to ya!

Well done Bob!

GBS

Pacific Rim – Review

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Gavin Syme

Pacific Rim Poster!

Two weeks ago I got the chance to be treated to a showing of Pacific Rim at the Odeon Kilmarnock. It has taken me some time to get around to posting this review of the film basically because I have been mired in the shallows of the summer school holidays, birthdays, house guests and other things which have slowed me right down on non-essentials (see I do this blogging lark out of love not money!). But now here we are and the film is still very much on at the cinema so its still relevant. A full 3D experience in a modern and this time fully functioning cinema (my experience last year with Dredd was interrupted by technical problems in the same cinema)…how was it?

As normal I tried to avoid trailers, adverts and especially reviews of the movie before going and in this I was successful. Aside from a TV spot and the basic idea I knew nothing and went into it with an open mind. A mind that was frankly very excited to see the film since I really like giant robots, giant monsters and the whole anime roots and premise of Pacific Rim. I also really like the films of Guillermo del Toro too and Hellboy as well. So my mind was looking for comparisons for Pacific Rim and while some people have used Transformers and the 1990’s version of Godzilla they are wrong the true father of Pacific Rim is the seminal Robot Jox from the 1980’s (which you should watch if you like mecha) and it delivered big style.

The giant robots and the monsters were superbly rendered on screen and the action set pieces were at times really tense and nail biting too. Characters are often a let down in summer blockbusters but not in this case as the cast played off each other brilliantly. From the names of the ‘Jagers’ to the names of the pilots there was a tongue in cheek humour. The film had heart and drive while dropping the nod to its source material. At no point in the cinema did I feel bored or did my attention wander from the screen and while you could have written the ending on a postcard and mailed it from minute one of the performance it did not matter. In short it is a very good film in its own right before you get to the genre and in terms of the genre it is one of the finest of its kind ever filmed. Go and see it!

In terms of wargaming there is plenty of scope for giant robots in scales such as 15mm with 1/100th and 1/72nd plastic kits…heck even a few 1/60th if you want really big. Gives me ideas!

Pacific Rim Movie book and Pacific Rim Year Zero book

Finally I got a package this morning ordered just after seeing the movie containing the two books that go along with the Pacific Rim film. Excellent! Once time allows I will read them and hopefully post a wee look at each of them.

Go see the film!

GBS

One and One make Eleven!

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Gavin Syme

Mascots and Mayhem with the Birthday boy on the right

Happy Birthday my Son! The grand old age of Eleven is now yours!

A day off work for me and a trip to the Chocolate Factory near Dumfries with The Thinker and two of his friends along with his Uncle Jim and Aunty Cat too. In blazing heat I watched him mix and pour chocolate in a chilled room (grrr!) and then have a riot of a time looking for fools gold in a panning stream and play for the afternoon at the large outdoor activity area (pirate ship, slides and other fun). I chose this destination as his younger brother had gone there for his own birthday back in March and really enjoyed it. A grand time was had!

Minecraft was the custom cake theme this year

The birthday boy is into Minecraft just now so we decided to theme his birthday cake upon that very subject. My good lady wife goes all out for the birthday parties and cakes and so forth which I think is lovely and the children really do appreciate it. A new bike and other gifts were his. A little more than normal as a reward for doing very well at school and also being chosen to represent Girvan Primary at the opening of the new harbour pontoons last month. I have pictures of him there but I forgot to post about it…doh.

Enjoy your day my now not so little non white metal soldier!

Winter 2002….The Thinker a decade ago!

Perhaps I do post a little too much on the children and the family. But hey life is more than only work and I do adore them all so.

GBS

A Little Gift from a Good Friend!

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Gavin Syme

I got a little gift from a good friend. As you can see it is from foreign fields afar and rather strong in the spirits department at 50% volume. It is in a wax sealed stone earthenware bottle. I am a fine fan of Gin and other spirits so I look forward to trying this fine bottle out. Though I do think I will hold off until cooler weather (its about 27c here just now). You can learn more about Filliers here and below is some information about the eight year old Jenevers:

OLD JENEVERS: 8 YEAR OLD

Filliers old jenevers are split up according to the amount of time (5, 8 or even 12 years) that the carefully selected juniper berry distillates are left to age in oak barrels.

Stone pitchers containing 5- and 8-year old jenever:

Our malt wine made with maize, rye and malt ages for five or eight years in American oak barrels dating back to 200 l. We blend them constantly in separate barrels with carefully selected juniper berry distillates that have been aged for five or eight years. This guarantees its unique and unadulterated quality and flavour.

Look and taste the 50° Jenever:

Colour: copper, golden brown
Aroma: very sweet and particularly pleasant, complex
Flavour: bitter and sweet, with hints of vanilla, pepper and cinnamon.
Finish: long, bitter with sweetish hints of vanilla.

Lovely!

GBS

RNLI Girvan Harbour Gala 2013

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Gavin Syme

On Sunday it was the annual Harbour Gala Day in Girvan and I have to say that apart from nicer weather this year over last the day also seemed busier and the mood better than in 2012. I did not spend long at the Gala having other things to attend to in the morning but I did see a very inspiring team up between the Life Boat and the HMS Gannet helicopter for a mock rescue at sea scenario. The usual assortment of rides and stalls along with a bring and buy all against the edge of the harbour.

Below you can see some of the pictures I took including the ‘bubble balls’ and the sea rescue. It was a brilliantly bright and warm afternoon.

Girvan Habour Gala 2013 – The view from the sea front

Girvan Habour Gala 2013 – The Bubble Balls!

Girvan Habour Gala 2013 – The Thinker looks at the Life Boat

Girvan Habour Gala 2013 – The Sea Rescue

Good fun for all the family. Perhaps next year I will get more time at the Gala. Who knows?

GBS

Totally Choosing a Baby Name…badly.

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Gavin Syme

Recently in a conversation with a friend the subject of baby names came up. Now I know that is not something you would expect a fellow like me to think about but I have done it three times in the past for myself and also chipped in a couple of suggestions for others. So why this posting?

Aside from a fun little read I decided to do a quick browse for ‘choosing baby names’ and came across this video. To me this is an example of a poor way of choosing names for your children. Have a watch. The first mother chooses something that will cause endless confusion for her daughter (but not to worry it makes her sound edgy and trendy..well for at least a year as nothing changes like trends!), the second something traditional (after suffering a bit of brain death beforehand) and the third…well she is the best of all. The third will not tell you the name of the child for ‘internet security reasons’ thereby making her whole appearance on the video pointless (incidentally I found her and the name in less than two minutes online so bang up security job there self promoter!).

My idle muse on this is actually quite simple. When you have the joy and honour to choose a name for a child do it with kindness and care. It is the biggest choice you will ever make for that baby, toddler, child, teen, adult, parent before you. Ignore trends, ignore your friends, choose wisely and choose fittingly too. That name will benefit or hinder them for their entire life.

I followed my own grandmother’s rules, you might find them amusing or useful:

1. Choose something you are not afraid to shout out loud in the street.

2. Never choose anything beginning with the same letter as your surname (alliteration is not cool!). Simon Syme anyone?

3. Avoid the names of children of your friends or the friends themselves. Also give each child a different starting letter in their names, avoids you accidentally calling the child their siblings name!

4. Find out the most common regional names where you live and do not use them (in South Ayrshire it is James and Claire for my generation).

5. Trends change and celebrities are vapid. Have integrity and give the chosen name time to solidify in your mind before committing to it.

GBS

“The Jaws that Bite, the Claws that Catch”….

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Gavin Syme

A snapshot taken moments before a bloody and savage death for an intrepid explorer of the wild ways and places. Rumour has it that this fearsome beast is no myth and poetic imagining but is instead a white metal reality coming this week for pre-order at 15mm.co.uk. I could not possibly say at this time but perhaps in a few days time….a more in depth look maybe.

For now gaze and long for it…I know I do.

Now I must go a galumphing back to work.

GBS

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