tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61123953779157061372024-03-19T02:12:21.050-07:00Caching GamesWhere geocaching meets board games and more besides ...Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-21378410345782357272013-01-02T04:18:00.000-08:002013-01-02T04:18:23.346-08:00Five & Dime List 2012
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">7 Wonders</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial;">
is my most played game for a second year in succession, albeit with many less
plays than the previous year. In
fact there were no ‘Dimes’ and a mere seven games were ‘Fives’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The common feature of all of
these games is that they are ‘super-fillers’, taking 30 minutes or less to
play. Maybe this reflects less
time for boardgames or possibly a trend in the industry, time will tell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1aOoM2VkLuI8MeBx3mJFc2rffpGwLeKl63ut2vHShK0yfFpP7JD2HK7M5dov_V36bbTN5pi17Q-O8Q3Cvc0WKXMDaMTTm6I9dT90LCITgBjvjdzWAE7c-QRmVx8Ed0qDqIT_dW9WutAaw/s1600/pic860217_t-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1aOoM2VkLuI8MeBx3mJFc2rffpGwLeKl63ut2vHShK0yfFpP7JD2HK7M5dov_V36bbTN5pi17Q-O8Q3Cvc0WKXMDaMTTm6I9dT90LCITgBjvjdzWAE7c-QRmVx8Ed0qDqIT_dW9WutAaw/s1600/pic860217_t-1.jpg" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Game – 2012 Plays<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">7 Wonders - 8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">King of Tokyo - 7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Tumblin-Dice - 7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Bullenparty - 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Extra! - 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Las Vegas (aka Vegas) - 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Pinguïn Party – 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
Canyon - 4<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Kolejka - 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Pickomino (Heckmeck) - 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In 2011 </span><i style="font-family: Arial;">7 Wonders</i><span style="font-family: Arial;"> got to the table no fewer than 30 times and </span><i style="font-family: Arial;">Pinguïn Party</i><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><i style="font-family: Arial;">Dixit</i><span style="font-family: Arial;"> and </span><i style="font-family: Arial;">23</i><span style="font-family: Arial;"> were all ‘Dimes’.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Hopefully 2013 will see many
more hours spent gaming with more (longer) strategic games hitting the table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-14038104008751141322012-12-30T08:54:00.001-08:002012-12-30T08:54:42.245-08:00Podcasts Part 2
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[This has been in the can since July …]<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, sat
on a plane between New York and Los Angeles I have a choice of watching a movie
I have no interest in, playing yet another game of patience on my IPad or
continuing this series on the Blog.
The Blog has it, so onwards ...</span></div>
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</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Into the Gamescape</span></b></h2>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A show
presented by three chaps from around the Gloucester area.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although that's only c 25 miles
away and we have mutual friends, I've never met them which is kind of weird as
I've met several US-based podcasters, but not the ones from down the road.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
presenters break down into a normal chap, a clever clogs and a slightly slower
one who the other two take the piss out of (and of course is the one that the
listener inevitably likes best). Pretty standard British bloke banter really
which is both the best thing about it and also the worst - it's funny but
somehow a <i>Glawster</i> accent is somewhat
less appealing than an American one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The show
itself appears irregularly but is always worth a listen</b>. It is mostly Euros,
but they have also covered war games, Ameritrash and, heaven forbid, even
RPGs. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<h2>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Board Games To Go</span></b></h2>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblEzGKqc8aWgqtZE2qPK4GD57TpOS0udxzMOWEt7Bs8hr-skuadw8grH4wLUJ5bhiFY-4NOruLCcv8NmCxPYRI2KQAMHrYCe55l9I8bmMvzuPb7zSbOjTJ6-iwhGU3ho79XZNHZqN7tE4/s1600/pic728371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblEzGKqc8aWgqtZE2qPK4GD57TpOS0udxzMOWEt7Bs8hr-skuadw8grH4wLUJ5bhiFY-4NOruLCcv8NmCxPYRI2KQAMHrYCe55l9I8bmMvzuPb7zSbOjTJ6-iwhGU3ho79XZNHZqN7tE4/s200/pic728371.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe
that only <i>Geekspeak</i> (with Aldie and
Derk from <i>BoardGameGeek</i>) was earlier
than BGTG as I missed the early episodes. This show is presented by Mark
Johnson, with guests appearing on some episodes. <b>This is a show that shouldn't
work on so many levels, but it totally succeeds and is an absolute "must
listen"</b>. Mark's
presenting style makes this very easy to listen to and he absolutely has a
"radio voice". Above all
though he has interesting opinions and that is an essential ingredient for any
good podcast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recent
episodes include one on playing games outdoors (clearly not aimed at UK
listeners!) and one on games themed on a European vacation. My favourite shows are the ones he does
pre-Essen where he speculates on the games announced for the Fair, in much the
same way as we all do. However
some of us invariably make the trip and end up with a collection of mediocrity
based on a combination of short demos, the "buzz" and ill-advised
hunches ... but we never learn!</span></div>
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<h2>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Royal Society of Gamers</span></b></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A
London-based podcast that formerly had 3 presenters and worked quite well.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They consisted of an English guy, an
American and a German.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The latter
was by far the most entertaining, in one episode stating that Jaipur was
"borderline racist" and, following some mild criticism of an abstract
game by a co-presenter, saying that his remarks "were offensive to
abstract players".</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wonderful
stuff!</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The interstitial music
between segments was also very stirring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately
the German and American guys have left leaving the Englishman and several new
co-presenters. Sadly the production is lacking and it is difficult to pick out
the individual voices - bring back the foreigners!</span></div>
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<h2>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Spiel</span></b></h2>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkSasfcSHPRPg3zxfLBR6gE4QgikngJsIUbtnWTLS1HqNZjxJHBnEBhSgi2L16nHZ2BVEE_egZhCu41FFuQ4LPDHgwQVtO7gvoNMECH4NRG5N64hXRy-6YwMdkRRoYn6TQPKG979B8MQD/s1600/pic329232_md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkSasfcSHPRPg3zxfLBR6gE4QgikngJsIUbtnWTLS1HqNZjxJHBnEBhSgi2L16nHZ2BVEE_egZhCu41FFuQ4LPDHgwQVtO7gvoNMECH4NRG5N64hXRy-6YwMdkRRoYn6TQPKG979B8MQD/s400/pic329232_md.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we arrive
at the Grand-Daddy of them all, at least in my view. <b>This is the most professionally produced of all the Board
Game podcasts and is an audible joy from start to finish</b>. Presented by Stephen
Conway and David Coleson from Indianapolis, two very zany characters who are
fanatical, and I do mean FANATICAL, about games.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The show
is divided into well honed segments, arrives fortnightly and usually runs to
well over two hours. It always
includes game reviews, including older titles, game news and competitions plus
much else. The production of the
show is absolutely first-class from the overall balance of the content through
to the carefully chosen interstitial music. My only criticism of the show would be that occasionally the
reviews are <u>too</u> detailed - sometimes you already have the game or it
simply doesn't interest you and you just want to get on with the show. However as I listen in the car, I
cannot skip to the next segment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
highlight of the year is the Spiel's coverage of the annual <i>Spiel Des Jahres</i>
award. They play all of the short-listed games for the 3 awards over several
episodes (usually including difficult to get hold of games) and forecast the
winners and their favourite game in each category. The Spiel have also migrated to video production and
their coverage of major events is excellent (Gencon and Essen last year). If
you look closely at their Essen coverage you might even spot yours truly!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was
lucky enough to meet up for Dinner with David and Stephen last year at Essen
and they are as charming and interesting in the flesh as they come across on
the podcast. <b>If you only have time to listen to one podcast, this should be the
one!</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course
there are other podcasts, and some of these may be very good indeed, but there
are only so many one can keep up with. Of the others, I listen to <i>Board Game Babylon </i>with Eric Burgess if
the subject matter is of interest (which it often is). I also listen to <i>The State of Games</i>: the content is not
particularly of interest, but the female co-presenter sounds gorgeous!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Gone,
but not forgotten ...</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It must
take an incredible amount of effort to produce a regular gaming podcast, time
that could be spent gaming. Several shows have fallen by the wayside and this
is the pick of the best ...</span></div>
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<h2>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Game On! With Cody and John</span></b></h2>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1mSAnXWGTPFNaExdejwkB2nh56w69U9jYYz03wwGynYTkvNIkF9WxXUTt7dZOJhvo7-fsonHMbkmcknVneqj9clgzz4jolyVXYNE0Q7POkG7RJvZTZcY_38HNP-gr1GVqTyICwMQgJVI/s1600/go_webbanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1mSAnXWGTPFNaExdejwkB2nh56w69U9jYYz03wwGynYTkvNIkF9WxXUTt7dZOJhvo7-fsonHMbkmcknVneqj9clgzz4jolyVXYNE0Q7POkG7RJvZTZcY_38HNP-gr1GVqTyICwMQgJVI/s400/go_webbanner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Presented
out of Indianapolis, the </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gaming Capital
of the world</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, by John Richard and Cody Jones. This one ran for 84 episodes
and I listened to every one. Early episodes were very much Ameritrash and RPG
focused gravitating more towards Euros by the end. The show worked brilliantly
because it came across as two very good friends who were also game fanatics,
which, of course, was totally the case.</span></div>
<h2>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></h2>
<h2>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Little Wooden Cubist</span></b></h2>
<div class="Body1">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkUVLbhRqhk31c_ACisZ0uOO4KAEBSjzkMy0NotT2eAyqt6UTjk0b9RgfrfxJg-xNaaSZ2X0iFoiA0DnOQbUKikiqVHpLQXmMKw-DdYxnHj_UgqGWAD3x6pUd-W4y5HbzvDBEy7uIUZ5H/s1600/pic226518_t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkUVLbhRqhk31c_ACisZ0uOO4KAEBSjzkMy0NotT2eAyqt6UTjk0b9RgfrfxJg-xNaaSZ2X0iFoiA0DnOQbUKikiqVHpLQXmMKw-DdYxnHj_UgqGWAD3x6pUd-W4y5HbzvDBEy7uIUZ5H/s1600/pic226518_t.jpg" /></a><o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A
short-lived podcast that was a delight to listen to. Presented by Charlie
Eastwood</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, a
US-based priest who really was an enthusiast rather than someone who was
particularly knowledgeable about games. Charlie had a very easy going manner
and a radio-friendly voice that worked perfectly for this format.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<h2>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Happy Happy Board Game Love-in</span></b></h2>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Presented
by the incomparable Luke Morris, <b>this is the only podcast that has made me both
cringe with embarrassment and laugh out loud</b>. It may have been terribly
produced, but it was absolutely inspired. More episodes please Luke!</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Non gaming podcasts</span></h2>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Podcacher</span> </h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0t5LEWpVEakT7Okw0DTSZxbxrmE8ZM_Zf8Zsgh8A3IPu9bGm-tlfVkEOXvqIZlm5GF2D3mN0P-kaeIMGwkjNFkBrq6SPicrAsSZ8JwuRGJayJQhGWUulA1zu6nPuYWEBXrrWDAYrWKkd/s1600/podcacher2010a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="56" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0t5LEWpVEakT7Okw0DTSZxbxrmE8ZM_Zf8Zsgh8A3IPu9bGm-tlfVkEOXvqIZlm5GF2D3mN0P-kaeIMGwkjNFkBrq6SPicrAsSZ8JwuRGJayJQhGWUulA1zu6nPuYWEBXrrWDAYrWKkd/s400/podcacher2010a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A weekly
podcast on Geocaching, produced by <i>Sonny
and Sandy from Sunny San Diego. </i>This
is a superb, very professionally produced podcast that covers everything about
caching, including events, Groundspeak announcements, tips & tricks,
caching stories and much more besides.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One very
impressive aspect of the show is that it is truly international. This show is both entertaining and is
also a great resource for anyone interested in the hobby. It is hugely impressive that Sonny and
Sandy produce a high quality show week after week without fail.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<h2>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-Dl05nKrt4RvaFokaR0p345in_MbnsU24zaL7ckiGyMAkzadmuYwypXfgHZ9VU_q9wIjgXDzpzXsrfr9KFTj-0SMfOgHiXSXN5iMx3WTqevgV7B9hSAGMLGXAjkh0wryNHn4lPRc-Rzo/s1600/139815782717638.1825.2052706815.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-Dl05nKrt4RvaFokaR0p345in_MbnsU24zaL7ckiGyMAkzadmuYwypXfgHZ9VU_q9wIjgXDzpzXsrfr9KFTj-0SMfOgHiXSXN5iMx3WTqevgV7B9hSAGMLGXAjkh0wryNHn4lPRc-Rzo/s200/139815782717638.1825.2052706815.png" width="110" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Wrong Bed</span></b></h2>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You
didn't think there could be a podcast about darts, well think again ... Presented by Justin Irwin (</span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Bachelor of Darts) </i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and Tricky D,
this podcast has now seen several </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">seasons</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Covering both the PDC and
the BDO, it features coverage of events, interviews with the </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">dartists, </i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and features such as </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Darts tweet of the week </i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(drollest
twitter offering from a darts player) to </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Darts
on the Telly</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (spotting darts boards on television programmes). Irreverent,
fun and unmissable if, like me, you love your '<i>arras</i>.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<h2>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday Night Comedy from Radio 4</span></b></h2>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Basically
either </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The News Quiz</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (with Sandi
Toksvig) or </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The NOW Show </i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Punt &
Dennis) from the previous Friday. A good way to ensure that you don't miss the
best comedies on British Radio.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That
concludes my journey through the world of podcasting, at least for now.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-44249280958285325812012-12-30T08:11:00.000-08:002012-12-30T08:11:59.130-08:002012 - A Summary
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<br />
<h2>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Games</span></b></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A combination of missing the normal cons, plus extended
periods of working away, meant that I only played approximately half the number
of games I played in 2011. However
my choices for this year are:</span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Game of the Year</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSoo42MJhKsRCAOKVybKWc8_OYLajwEhUGfQASD10_s3T4GK2QOfIIMHu_vsJkOqYtW3wNeLDbQro4XFiWd8gr1VCAsoI0-oig5wXdMmiYakoOo2Djg4OF5S94GV1SatWsPzkP4r7Eu43/s1600/pic928373_t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSoo42MJhKsRCAOKVybKWc8_OYLajwEhUGfQASD10_s3T4GK2QOfIIMHu_vsJkOqYtW3wNeLDbQro4XFiWd8gr1VCAsoI0-oig5wXdMmiYakoOo2Djg4OF5S94GV1SatWsPzkP4r7Eu43/s1600/pic928373_t.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Kolejka</i></b> – aka the Polish queuing game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great theme, simple to play, slightly ‘thinky’ but not too
much, a bit of ‘take that’ and good fun.
Not strictly released in 2012, I first played it at Midcon in 2011 but
the international edition came out this year.</span></div>
<h4>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9w1-8xUYtj1ihu_r6Hwx2-gU9zG4JaVJrDvjJTErfj8Ru3-P7N2DRYC8f5UgKzeWQI83ZKxltmVvN3Qd3XV_2JnpHkEzPYsU938ejAYj5Hk6l9hEL9ntCdu_o4wZ8pJDck-7tuU_LL8f/s1600/pic761434_t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9w1-8xUYtj1ihu_r6Hwx2-gU9zG4JaVJrDvjJTErfj8Ru3-P7N2DRYC8f5UgKzeWQI83ZKxltmVvN3Qd3XV_2JnpHkEzPYsU938ejAYj5Hk6l9hEL9ntCdu_o4wZ8pJDck-7tuU_LL8f/s1600/pic761434_t.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Runners-Up</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>King of Tokyo</i> – glorious dice-throwing monster-fighting game</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Tumblin’ Dice</i> – yet more dice! (Tumblin’ to be exact)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Bullfrog Goldfield</i> – brain-bustin’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Con of the Year</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_rNm6pYOAprmDYh2JsiV-oB7s1BWGiSAmpDdzHAnVAKNsSVjMMocuoG1KdC0cuerBIjNIE2ZP_xuC7O2vMw0MnECA2-gcJ59CkYunF69IBHkXC8BHjM_xwKsaxI7LfxqWh2_zfhH_FhD/s1600/tcad_info.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_rNm6pYOAprmDYh2JsiV-oB7s1BWGiSAmpDdzHAnVAKNsSVjMMocuoG1KdC0cuerBIjNIE2ZP_xuC7O2vMw0MnECA2-gcJ59CkYunF69IBHkXC8BHjM_xwKsaxI7LfxqWh2_zfhH_FhD/s200/tcad_info.jpg" width="119" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year I managed to miss <i>Manorcon</i>, <i>Midcon</i> and <i>Essen</i>. But of the ones I did attend, it had to
be:</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The Cast are Dice</i> – great venue, good food, great people,
crap hotel (well 3 out of 4 can’t be bad)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Geocaching</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again about 50% down on 2011, mainly due to the crap weather
that dominated the year. However
we did add Gibraltar, Morocco, Jersey and Norway to the countries we have
cached in. So to the awards:</span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cache of the Year</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p>Well it had to be </span><b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">GC3Q9RE – Caching Heroes Number 1: Slogger007</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Placed by Team PDB&G in my honour. Many thanks to Matthew and family. Of course I claimed the FTF on it!</span></div>
<h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1u7pydnvwSc1FvFRyoHBj98XUQQqJffAeyKVFlmEb9gkNofugy0VCqwIBaIVl3dwEPqrG9g2bX1m9edroQogLou_7yzpOqHPfvn-GWh46AqwNkFuuyfBIY8xpBTmzp3Eqskh6Gb0f34X6/s1600/74d7ae63-5c55-4bed-b9cc-e691c60b9a32.png.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1u7pydnvwSc1FvFRyoHBj98XUQQqJffAeyKVFlmEb9gkNofugy0VCqwIBaIVl3dwEPqrG9g2bX1m9edroQogLou_7yzpOqHPfvn-GWh46AqwNkFuuyfBIY8xpBTmzp3Eqskh6Gb0f34X6/s200/74d7ae63-5c55-4bed-b9cc-e691c60b9a32.png.jpeg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h3>
Caching Event of the Year</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Easy: the <i><b>Geolympix</b></i> in Oxford in July. 11 icons in 11 hours including our
first Wherigo and first CITO.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Caching Day of the Year</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">15<sup>th</sup> July – 136 caches found in the Nevada
desert. Epic!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Books</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve read 17 books this year which must be my adult
record. The best ones being:</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyR_km1ZzZaEKTA1Zlcl_2KQ4HWbuqLVDOogFWm4YsdPvBReQJMvfIhORj5-5OJjPJuiqqSOStM32WfeMKu0xvdW3h4c5pMtonInMqsAv33ggVZk6lkdY2p14E4AuXvsiOq3EddhIedp-/s1600/31+dHs9KPKL._AA160_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyR_km1ZzZaEKTA1Zlcl_2KQ4HWbuqLVDOogFWm4YsdPvBReQJMvfIhORj5-5OJjPJuiqqSOStM32WfeMKu0xvdW3h4c5pMtonInMqsAv33ggVZk6lkdY2p14E4AuXvsiOq3EddhIedp-/s1600/31+dHs9KPKL._AA160_.jpg" /></a><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Best non-fiction reads</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cider With Roadies – Stuart Maconie</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CAMRA's Good Beer Guide 2013 – Roger Protz</span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Best fiction (in reading order)</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnSfHJRpq9XCkIGX3oBS4ptTMmGjAMnzg1KnkrDeCEUze19aOX8ggcYOWyBVZl1t3dWV7V21S3c86z1XWAQWgIBA3xcI5ZxvtzGkHc7txTFREW3aaB1LDQy6jdFPI69vH8WeX7Wrbx16l/s1600/51y5nSvBOVL._AA160_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnSfHJRpq9XCkIGX3oBS4ptTMmGjAMnzg1KnkrDeCEUze19aOX8ggcYOWyBVZl1t3dWV7V21S3c86z1XWAQWgIBA3xcI5ZxvtzGkHc7txTFREW3aaB1LDQy6jdFPI69vH8WeX7Wrbx16l/s1600/51y5nSvBOVL._AA160_.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roman: The Fall of Britannia – KM Ashman</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hereward: The Devil’s Army – James Wilde</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Leopard Sword – Anthony Riches</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spartacus: Rebellion – Ben Kane</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1356 – Bernard Cornwell</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Wolf’s Gold – Anthony Riches</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Bourne Identity – Robert Ludlum</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roman II: The Rise of Caratacus - KM Ashman</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Comedy</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p>Rich Hall in Cirencester & Simon Evans at the Arts
Centre</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Music</span></h2>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Best Live gig</span></h3>
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>John Otway</i> at the Vic</span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Jack White</i> at the Ally Pally</span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>From the Jam</i> & the <i>Blockheads</i> at the O2
Academy Bristol</span></span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGd8u1ANDKgxcVtUrm4HANLysaKgarSY-j2LdPgMEK_DR5p1ycBEskRI7v9my6lLAE56E6pHFQtFc5fFuQz1hXFnVLwRpHC6k4kfbe2-ZUnB7ONkz49ZLRjzpAclATuwNw6GkrCuHBPq9/s1600/61qnoEWCPgL._AA160_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGd8u1ANDKgxcVtUrm4HANLysaKgarSY-j2LdPgMEK_DR5p1ycBEskRI7v9my6lLAE56E6pHFQtFc5fFuQz1hXFnVLwRpHC6k4kfbe2-ZUnB7ONkz49ZLRjzpAclATuwNw6GkrCuHBPq9/s1600/61qnoEWCPgL._AA160_.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Best Album</span></h3>
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">England keep my bones – <i>Frank Turner</i> [OK I know
it was 2011]</span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boys & Girls – <i>Alabama Shakes</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blunderbuss – <i>Jack White</i></span></span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h2>
<h2>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_Sv5R3QGKkkAZJY-6oIuZ1D3AiVyuXUDyFvDMDNyiqULj7f7CQ1UwlWnyAY8XYTv_Jq-qDcGPVn9Cn4-x8r3AZo0W7rwomYfWgMCnFaqN8ia-PjQGn6y2Q36CH_kFIz9pUwXMW33PSb6/s1600/technical._V385943056_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_Sv5R3QGKkkAZJY-6oIuZ1D3AiVyuXUDyFvDMDNyiqULj7f7CQ1UwlWnyAY8XYTv_Jq-qDcGPVn9Cn4-x8r3AZo0W7rwomYfWgMCnFaqN8ia-PjQGn6y2Q36CH_kFIz9pUwXMW33PSb6/s200/technical._V385943056_.jpg" width="188" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h2>
Tech of the Year</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kindle Paperwhite – goodbye paper!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h2>
<br /></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Year as a whole</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p>Overall 2012 will be remembered as the year of sport:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">London 2012</span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chelsea winning the Champions League</span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Swindon winning League 2</span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glaws continuing to dominate Barf</span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Ryder Cup triumph</span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">England beating India in the test series in
India</span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bradley Wiggins winning the Tour de France.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p>Not that I voted for the SPOTY, but if I had done it would
have been:</span></div>
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</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bradley Wiggins</span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mo Farah</span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sarah Storey</span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alistair Brownlee</span></span></li>
</ol>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-15034611538398628732012-06-10T16:54:00.000-07:002012-06-10T16:54:05.235-07:00Podcasts Part I<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I drive a lot of miles in an average year: typically 30-40,000 and so have a lot of time to listen to music in the car. For the last 4-5 years, in fact ever since I've had the ability to connect my IPod to the car stereo, 90% of my car journeys are spent listening to podcasts. This is my view on the best I've come across. Part 1 starts with a few Board Game podcasts, with more to follow in (surprisingly!) Part 2.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>The Dice Tower</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Let's start with perhaps the most popular. The <i>Dice Tower</i> is presented by long-time host (and ubiquitous reviewer) Tom Vasel and co-host Eric Summerer. Tom is widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable personalities in the hobby and it comes across in the show. His personal tastes tend to the <i>Ameritrash</i>, but he likes his fair share of <i>Euros</i> as well. He does sometimes come across as quite arrogant, although he seems aware of this and this has diminished more recently. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I met Eric Summerer at <i>Origins</i> a couple of years ago and taught him <i>Nimmt 11</i>. He is a smashing fella and, although still the junior presenter on the show, his contribution to the show is significant. An important part of the show's appeal in the past has been it's rota of guest contributors. This is one area that is in need of refresh, the current irregular crop of contributors is somewhat lacking, save for the excellent Geoff Engelstein and very occasional visits from the entertaining Moritz Eggert.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Overall, the <i>Dice Tower </i>remains absolutely essential listening. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Garrett's Games & Geekiness</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Mostly games, unless you count drinking wine as geekiness! (now real ale might just count!). Anyway back to the podcast ...</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The weekly show is presented by Doug Garrett, usually accompanied by his wife Shelley. I met them briefly at Essen a few years ago and they are as nice in person as they come across on the podcast. Their taste is primarily <i>Euro</i> in nature (special favourites being Michael Schacht & Stefan Feld) and they tend towards the "<i>Cult of the new</i>", although they have just started re-reviewing old games recently.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The show occasionally has round-tables with industry veterans recorded at cons. An excellent recent episode featured Susan McKinley Ross (designer of SdJ winner <i>Qwirkle</i>) and our very own Martin Wallace together with Aldie from BGG. What the American audience made of Martin's dry English humour would be interesting. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I enjoy <i>Garrett's Games</i> because it's a very easy show to listen to and, by and large, there is a large overlap between my taste in games and that of the presenters. Overall, a highly recommended podcast.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EdzB4azLTc8L_wJnhKFfDeNQRr4WleEM45N-VLruAyqCETQl-gh3pLrcoyl6mDT6y7IWxw06fJ3uKntIH2b4QCqvpOS7vqmGo0HryP6X8M6xom6KpLE1kYlIMtAXgbz7611_IgAMFhFx/s1600/OBGclean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EdzB4azLTc8L_wJnhKFfDeNQRr4WleEM45N-VLruAyqCETQl-gh3pLrcoyl6mDT6y7IWxw06fJ3uKntIH2b4QCqvpOS7vqmGo0HryP6X8M6xom6KpLE1kYlIMtAXgbz7611_IgAMFhFx/s200/OBGclean.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<b>On Board Games</b><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This slightly irregularly appearing show is primarily presented by Don Dennis, Erik Dewey and Scott Nicholson (yes he of the excellent <i>Board Games with Scott</i> video series). The format of the show is generally a round-table discussion followed by a series of game reviews. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The industry round-table discussions are usually excellent and sometimes entertaining. They are definitely the best regular such spot on any podcast and, alone, ensure that this podcast is well worth a listen. They also cover a strange selection of games in their reviews which is very different from all of the other podcasts listed here.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One warning about the show is that Giles Pritchard is a fairly regular guest presenter. Quite possibly a very nice guy, but his abrasive Aussie accent simply grates and I immediately switch off when his contributions pop up.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Overall another podcast that is well worth a listen.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Part II</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">To come, a selection of other podcasts, including:</span></div>
<ul>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>Boardgames to go</i></span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>Into the Gamescape</i></span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>The Spiel</i></span></li>
</ul>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-1597775515862138712012-06-10T16:28:00.000-07:002012-06-10T16:28:49.202-07:00UK Games Expo 2012 - still disappointing ...<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Over-priced food, inadequate parking, grown (!?) men dressing up as <i>Star Wars</i> stormtroopers and games not turning up - yes it must be the <i>UK Games Expo</i> once again!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We've been along every year and in recent years we (well at least me anyway) have said "never again". This year will almost definitely be the last. So what is most wrong about the Expo:</span></div>
<ol style="list-style-type: decimal;">
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It just hasn't grown appreciably - the number of exhibitors is still minimal. </span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">There were no major game releases this year, even worse the one key new game that even graced the Expo's programme failed to appear. </span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">There are not enough retailers there to generate any price competition between vendors.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So, enough of the negativity, what was good about the Expo:</span></div>
<ul>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">There is plenty of space to play games - we had enjoyable games of <i>Anchorage</i> and <i>Extra!</i></span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I got to see the <i>Going Cardboard</i> film which was very good</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We used the trip to visit <i>Imrans</i> on Ladypool Road for an excellent Balti</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The future of the Expo seems to be in creating a UK equivalent of <i>Origins</i> at the NEC Metropole. Currently the Expo exhibitor space is around a third of the size of the <i>Origins</i> Dealer Room and considerably less interesting.</span></div>
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<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I hope the Expo grows and thrives - maybe I'll check it out in a few years time. In the meantime, roll on Essen!</span></div>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-73322038588035570852012-04-09T10:29:00.018-07:002012-04-09T11:48:10.766-07:00A-Z of Games, Caches & Songs – ‘A’<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10ytVlTPNP-cSI7hItg80j8iV290NLW2Oh5kAn7V6MwtuVL8ThmzYZWoGj0IJkJj20OP4Cf6eX8fIggOHXqdSRUwrblmqWNbUacqCyFDTj_i28w7A09p1fL6_MoV4Xym477bJjiZf85QO/s1600/51JXaJ8gOOL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">A weekly A-Z of Games, Caches & Songs through the alphabet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>5 games, 3 caches and 10 songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This week it’s ‘A’.</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Games</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Acquire – Sid Sackson</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Agricola – Uwe Rosenberg</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Airlines Europe – Alan R. Moon</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">American Rails – Tim Harrison</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Automobile – Martin Wallace</span></li></ul><!--[if !supportLists]--><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b>Caches</b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2"></p><ul><li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Tahoma;">Aladdins Cave - Northking</span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Tahoma;">A(queduct) Ray of Hope - Roobydoo</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Are you game enough?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>- Hanando</span></li></ul><!--[if !supportLists]--><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Songs</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">'A' Bomb In Wardour Street - The Jam</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Symbol;">A</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">bsolute Beginners - The Jam</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Acquiesce - Oasis</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Action Packed - Jonathan Richman</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Alison - Elvis Costello</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">All Around The World - Lisa Stansfield</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">All the Same to You - Laura Cantrell</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">All The Young Dudes - Mott The Hoople</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">All Woman - Lisa Stansfield</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Alright - Supergrass</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Anarchy In The U.K. - Sex Pistols</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes - Elvis Costello</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Away From The Numbers - The Jam</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;">And in more detail ...</span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Games</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">My 2 favourite games and 3 other very strong ones.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTaIVZHBFlEurX0KDh2VELYZsXjvsK-wf8NvRpaownaLpPEoJ1WYGbbBxhDqaT6wQHmNlBPyZFdrJ12423Z8ZaKf2bDJdPbq872j__q2NO6e5tqiZ-hs9UtneAT41XYSMIibsU-dm6LYJ/s320/pic342163_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729459514812393922" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 148px; height: 150px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b>Acquire</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">I’ve only recently discovered this classic Sid Sackson title, originally published in 1962.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">It is basically a stock trading game against a backdrop of hotel growth and takeovers.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">It plays like a new Euro and I’m looking forward to lots more plays of it.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTn7khpLfikmJaWmHLFDXHIEBhgw1M5J2GFy6nSuJVTwIxo3aLVIbb0oNV6TnAyns4PGfPhIP-hOb6qlMyttVQ08KbojUGQTbwduHW2AJr-X8WuTF57pmIDbFpAN5qYOHLeEbsQNR-_oz/s320/pic259085_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729460037562572738" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 150px; " /></span></b></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><b>Agricola</b></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">Whoever thought faming could be fun?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>An ‘event’ game – the experience being more important than the winning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The sheer number of cards means that each game will be fresh for years to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My second favourite game after <i>Automobile</i>.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBdCkoidUoXTORjFMGI8fgdZc25NxRET_gBqW1dDEDA0ht-E0k1LgFkjYBd467z8Mpq1p5jBREvnmSggtGeEuDuwAPlwGezAHLAHb3oNEJGq3-2LoOHAnaX7__mryzrRZdm3d6ZcEnWHg/s320/pic975416_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729460364254411778" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px; " /></span></b></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><b>Airlines Europe</b></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><i>Acquire</i> meets <i>Ticket to Ride</i>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Well almost – stock-holding certainly meets route-building but this is a very strong game in its own right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is Alan R. Moon’s latest re-working of <i>Airlines</i> and <i>Union Pacific</i> and therefore has a pedigree dating back to 1990.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbf4IEaOxLBkcJTmGZd14qzXYyd5vtVqiEPEWVdATrGZjUsBe5IRvf7gShGTQ3RP5dZFWj6PuW6Hjk7z4T1TIDaeJZMobrdIX85a62B3SGPBqZqQTEcHkyh1OZLuZj5P6_5526CGvVLfK/s320/pic606553_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729460605065071682" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></b></span></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b>American Rails</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">Another stock-holding and route-building game – a theme seems to be emerging here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Similar to both <i>Chicago Express</i> and <i>Steel Driver</i>, but superior to both.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuO0yqDJq7ypbyK65Ro8uKuapjMmeJszzWx2CVHMyPO74-AGHpoLKITjuL9Ry5d-Xm1pbArV4aJi-SI0NZQTRYtp-u5kV_T4AxtKUtJjzoQmiAz8bLPIKV5tzskozyPtGH9vSWOoBcCbx/s320/pic412623.jpg.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729461067414441298" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 320px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b>Automobile</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Martin Wallace’s finest moment and my favourite game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Excellent theme and straight-forward gameplay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Often wrongly dismissed as overly maths-heavy, it contains many of Martin’s favoured mechanics and can be wonderfully confrontational.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As Kenny Rogers sang in <i>The Gambler</i> – <i>you got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Except in this case, it’s all about car manufacturing …<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Caches</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Tahoma;"><b>Aladdins Cave</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Tahoma;">Sadly recently archived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This was a simple puzzle cache in central Nottingham with the final in a large ammo can in an army surplus store!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The reasons why the cache was outstanding was the enthusiasm of the store owner who we discussed caching with for more than 30 minutes and also the store itself – the best army surplus store I’ve ever been in (“hey make sure that you give a discount to my geocaching buddies”).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Tahoma;"><b>A(queduct) Ray of Hope</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Tahoma;">The primary reason why caching in Swindon is in such good shape is one man – Roobydoo (Keith Shailes).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He has placed more than 200 local caches (at the time of writing I’ve found 199 of them) and really gave the hobby a boost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is one of his best – the cache was placed in a pipe with a hidden entrance so that you are literally standing on top of the cache but can’t understand why you can’t find it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The other end of the pipe is close by though so you can use this as a guide to discover the main entrance.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b>Are you game enough?</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">A fun local puzzle cache that combines Euro gaming with caching, how can it not be on the list?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeKiDX3Jjku_noqYLgZO5v37DMtNw7f9jYWFRqhygmURC3n4I0OYW-sxe36R3i0pDTzfETisLEorcQFhdvIvAeH-QVd3CPRlLotUH7n-GsCtX3s6scW1rPk34uRSuyyT0qAJWtPETrM9-/s400/IMG_0278.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729462461343394130" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Songs</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">A distinctly punky edge to this first batch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There are also 13 tracks – I was unable to pick out a favourite ten.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_0MltBfCjYegxBbyS0gLEN0yXeF2lRbWqvzWOODP_Gqega0QbfOD1Gbb4x_p6aHOJINk8nz4rnh9Y81T5DexOCWLZKtD4-aWCJcG-H9SsYwpqK6-KjCaNiLAAD66ZNhrIPEVoCeolv33/s200/4932.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729463026220069250" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 194px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b>'A' Bomb In Wardour Street - The Jam</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">A song that captured the mood at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One of the stand-outs on <i>All Mod Cons</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I first heard it at the <i>Brunel Rooms</i> on a mini-tour to promote the forthcoming album.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6w2hHUQ_VIYirVZSVcEFtO3LlEuDK1Xjxb6_YGNYHg6Z8pW5L9s_wKvYyzL0kLIJn7x7jgJG7mLxBcM7rqIc_qzX3DkSMGWKCVYwJF0nnvknCF-ddP7hglSTq9jr0toFzWGfl0usgJQk/s200/44143.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729463685013339602" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 199px; " /></span></b></span></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b>Absolute Beginners - The Jam</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">With its soaring brass, this was a forerunner of the direction for Weller post-Jam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Also a great book by <i>Colin MacInnes</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijORRcqDpu8Zvu1ux_yS8O8uAqvXI6Iq_nSNBs-bsNKwUu8yFNBQvLi5eBYX0EdVU-3qFCFYqCOAr8kn85_HOuhcXfDs8GJTNrvry1TVBb5pEJh99051txsRbNqM-Ki64ex2kmsSfVyk8q/s320/Somemightsay.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729464370647683266" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 196px; " /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></b></span></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b>Acquiesce – Oasis</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">Superior ‘B’ side of Some Might Say.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b>Action Packed - Jonathan Richman</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">From the 1989 <i>Jonathan Richman</i> album.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Recorded some great stuff around this time.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b>Alison - Elvis Costello</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">Seminal single from first album.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_3DAePhyphenhyphenfpjbVZL9nXhVLlgB91nGC543I1JpdbYJScy_q_YTR-gzs0NUa3bVXJ7ifGYz51Rz9p60Bmo8by813ORAxGMjdh4gwUE5kebZyLhckti-3orgaPT8txkK7U7G8kIqxLcjq78H/s200/39647.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729467413355548674" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></span></b></span></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b>All Around The World - Lisa Stansfield</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">I’ve always had a soft spot for Rochdale’s finest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>#1 hit in 1989.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCsisMSJjimdxiXfTPUuhAzRbHqUL0PPf3F_A63FZcWJzFkwn3spR2HoQYr6xrtRaPm_nH-4Tt7_QOsRyg09LTUec_3g1pyag9SVIGvVNJu7OYIsjWSlc-PnIBDxZRyN7G9GoQUvweZ2U/s200/51aMmsVHE9L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729468775856563522" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b>All the Same to You - Laura Cantrell</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">Along with Jonathan Richman and Erin McKeown, Laura Cantrell is one of my favourite singers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Taken from the 2002 album <i>When The Roses Bloom Again</i>, the album that got me into her work.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b>All The Young Dudes - Mott The Hoople</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><i>Bowie</i> written song from 1972.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One I remember from the youth club, still sounds great today.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEeM5-3FpVuiUMQOrjp7PPUBStzKBOmIuQ3cLuOD7y7nZ4RJcPwu8fJ-d-1ZDIMQxNnBETDQDAewvz8oead0iGFp1FUWntwEbPs96XYSg1KJHAUBrY1KNokSjMbaqP5ydlIkESEceXFkL/s200/12280.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729467985425737474" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 174px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b>All Woman - Lisa Stansfield</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">Incredibly just a minor hit in 1991.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b>Alright – Supergrass</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">The feel-good summer track of choice.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b>Anarchy In The U.K. - Sex Pistols</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">I first heard (and saw) this on an EMI promo video in <i>Harrods</i> Music Department in December 1976.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Great sneering vocal, although it sounds a bit twee now.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b>(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes - Elvis Costello</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">From a time when EC was routinely churning out fantastic pop songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I love the lyric <i>Oh, I said "I’m so happy, I could die”, she said "drop dead," then left with another guy</i>.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10ytVlTPNP-cSI7hItg80j8iV290NLW2Oh5kAn7V6MwtuVL8ThmzYZWoGj0IJkJj20OP4Cf6eX8fIggOHXqdSRUwrblmqWNbUacqCyFDTj_i28w7A09p1fL6_MoV4Xym477bJjiZf85QO/s200/51JXaJ8gOOL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729469486326602626" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b>Away From The Numbers - The Jam</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">Apart from <i>In the City</i>, the standout song from the first Jam album.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-35554519545258817552012-03-25T12:30:00.000-07:002012-03-25T12:31:15.941-07:00Book Review<div><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11102997-hereward" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Hereward " border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327144459m/11102997.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11102997-hereward">Hereward</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1411059.James_Wilde">James Wilde</a><br /></div><div>My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/300503687">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /></div><div>This book would be a 4.5 star if that were allowable. In fact as a first novel, it is really deserving of 5 stars.</div><div><br /></div><div><br />Not quite as polished as a Cornwell, Scarrow or Kristian, but nevertheless a good paced and very readable book right from the start. I finished it in 3 - 4 days and it was a book where just one more chapter was required to be read every time I picked it up.</div><div><br /></div><div><br />I knew about the central events of 1066, but not too much else about this period. I cannot vouch for the historical accuracy of the book, but it is a <strong>very</strong> enjoyable read and I have a new name in my list of 'must-read' authors. I am looking forward to the follow-up later this year and have already pre-ordered it.</div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4137869-ian">View all my reviews</a></div><div><br /></div>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-50221179193457441182012-03-03T08:35:00.001-08:002012-03-03T08:40:37.293-08:00On holiday in Sölden ... shame about the jacket!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXXZyL88OX0G3NCccEXRvyj2_zqQAGSq-L_va_isBc_7oUZCevpLp0840Fne_zBFfIPKJ9PadJH2Q-ZvqZbyTAdcbOrm0ivcVdaS1xaDoaIfOgY83DApMVczJelym8QT147aYO5w0tgbB/s1600/speed_finish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXXZyL88OX0G3NCccEXRvyj2_zqQAGSq-L_va_isBc_7oUZCevpLp0840Fne_zBFfIPKJ9PadJH2Q-ZvqZbyTAdcbOrm0ivcVdaS1xaDoaIfOgY83DApMVczJelym8QT147aYO5w0tgbB/s400/speed_finish.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715710651397016114" /></a>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-2384111553243432782012-01-18T15:30:00.000-08:002012-01-18T16:02:10.550-08:002011 Five and Dimes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO81wKfuJrqv4FZDQGXS_Iuytjh3Zhwj_bIWn36hHW75p5ACFDehsisLTEOGfgqxmPqxYS7MX9lMSmnsailOEgOB6qsl3XjBRPLbMQBos_FxkjN5B9k46c1cca1xzolPC_5gK5EnkKsDCQ/s1600/pic1040215_t.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;"><b><br /></b></span></p> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin-left:-5.4pt;border-collapse:collapse;mso-table-layout-alt:fixed; border:none;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:0;mso-yfti-firstrow:yes"> <td width="254" colspan="2" style="width:253.5pt;border:none;background:#A0B6D7; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">10 or more plays<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:1"> <td width="197" style="width:196.8pt;border:none;background:#A0B6D7;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">Game<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td width="57" style="width:2.0cm;border:none;background:#A0B6D7;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">Qty<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:2"> <td width="197" style="width:196.8pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/68448/7-wonders"><span style="font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;text-underline: nonecolor:blue;">7 Wonders</span></a></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" style="width:2.0cm;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">30<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:3"> <td width="197" style="width:196.8pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/56933/pinguin-party"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:blue;">Pinguïn Party</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" style="width:2.0cm;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">27<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:4"> <td width="197" style="width:196.8pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/39856/dixit"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:blue;">Dixit</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" style="width:2.0cm;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">16<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:5"> <td width="197" style="width:196.8pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/103651/23"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:blue;">23</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" style="width:2.0cm;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">11<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:6;mso-row-margin-right:253.5pt"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> </td><td style="mso-cell-special:placeholder;border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm" width="254" colspan="2"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:7"> <td width="254" colspan="2" style="width:253.5pt;border:none;background:#A0B6D7; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">5 or more plays<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:8"> <td width="197" style="width:196.8pt;border:none;background:#A0B6D7; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">Game<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td width="57" style="width:2.0cm;border:none;background:#A0B6D7;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">Qty<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:9"> <td width="197" style="width:196.8pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/327/loopin-louie"><span style="font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;text-underline: nonecolor:blue;">Loopin' Louie</span></a></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" style="width:2.0cm;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">7<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:10"> <td width="197" style="width:196.8pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/106662/power-grid-the-first-sparks"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:blue;">Power Grid: The First Sparks</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" style="width:2.0cm;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">7<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:11"> <td width="197" style="width:196.8pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/86246/drum-roll"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:blue;">Drum Roll</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" style="width:2.0cm;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">6<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:12"> <td width="197" style="width:196.8pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">Ticket To Ride – all versions<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" style="width:2.0cm;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">6<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:13"> <td width="197" style="width:196.8pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/619/the-bottle-imp"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:blue;">The Bottle Imp</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" style="width:2.0cm;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">5<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:14"> <td width="197" style="width:196.8pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/72420/braggart"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:blue;">Braggart</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" style="width:2.0cm;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">5<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:15"> <td width="197" style="width:196.8pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/39088/hoppladi-hopplada"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:blue;">Hoppladi Hopplada!</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" style="width:2.0cm;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">5<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:16"> <td width="197" style="width:196.8pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">Power Grid – all versions<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" style="width:2.0cm;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">5<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:17"> <td width="197" style="width:196.8pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25669/qwirkle"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:blue;">Qwirkle</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="57" style="width:2.0cm;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">5<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:18;mso-row-margin-right:253.5pt"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> </td><td style="mso-cell-special:placeholder;border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm" width="254" colspan="2"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:19;mso-row-margin-right:253.5pt"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> </td><td style="mso-cell-special:placeholder;border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm" width="254" colspan="2"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:20;mso-row-margin-right:253.5pt"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> </td><td style="mso-cell-special:placeholder;border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm" width="254" colspan="2"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:21;mso-row-margin-right:253.5pt"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> </td><td style="mso-cell-special:placeholder;border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm" width="254" colspan="2"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:22;mso-row-margin-right:253.5pt"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> </td><td style="mso-cell-special:placeholder;border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm" width="254" colspan="2"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:23;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes;mso-row-margin-right: 253.5pt"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF; padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt"> </td><td style="mso-cell-special:placeholder;border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm" width="254" colspan="2"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[if !supportMisalignedRows]--> <td style="border:none" width="0"><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></td> <!--[endif]--> </tr></tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Most years I record exactly zero ‘Dimes’ – in 2011 I managed to record no fewer than 4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A quick summary of each game:</p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNKLfLHKf1-sHqceD_wBYKJ2jH-ZCX-BBce4k-Ub3PheERkl6Bu6mP2-X4YI5DgE1ZmUQ5ZDJng52bqm5S9tenJbJ6zcZeIKS4M-hfdbSCWQl8cyG7w7rKtT_5uWbpeFyElop9Okz2poE/s1600/pic860217_t.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNKLfLHKf1-sHqceD_wBYKJ2jH-ZCX-BBce4k-Ub3PheERkl6Bu6mP2-X4YI5DgE1ZmUQ5ZDJng52bqm5S9tenJbJ6zcZeIKS4M-hfdbSCWQl8cyG7w7rKtT_5uWbpeFyElop9Okz2poE/s320/pic860217_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699120079736365474" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 151px; height: 150px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal">I don’t need to go into any detail on <b>7 Wonders</b>: this hit from Essen 2010, the top-ranked game of that year on BGG, continued to hit the table regularly in 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Its streamlined playing time and variety of play will continue to see it hit the table for some time to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The ‘<i>Leaders</i>’ expansion refreshed the game in 2011 and is a natural addition for experienced players.</p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZRHT5ZpRBVcWJs6lrCxSo_GWJCg2N1ZMd-8Qb8dRvR4Nur43wr2-NgsynJGMajxD2symJmeN-PQCJxFR3hO8Z0OrBtI1CrS1wfHKGzdOeH4BF9af9ft7CPNpBHabRUV2_LrT-6XkEubu/s200/pic558634_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699120444396005794" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 115px; height: 150px; " /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Pingüin Party</b> also continues to hit the table regularly, whether at family gatherings or on game <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZRHT5ZpRBVcWJs6lrCxSo_GWJCg2N1ZMd-8Qb8dRvR4Nur43wr2-NgsynJGMajxD2symJmeN-PQCJxFR3hO8Z0OrBtI1CrS1wfHKGzdOeH4BF9af9ft7CPNpBHabRUV2_LrT-6XkEubu/s1600/pic558634_t.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; ">nights.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; ">This light filler continues to entertain and where would be be without the classic ‘Miserable Penguin’ opening?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; ">The good Doctor’s finest hour?</span></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Dixit</b> is the party game for family occasions, yet still not totally out of place on game nights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The second expansion ‘<i>Dixit Odyssey</i>’ added a lot of new cards to the mix, along with 6 new rabbits, allowing up to 12 players.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Always guaranteed to produce laughter.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>23</b> is perhaps the surprise hit from Essen 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A light card game from Amigo, covering much the same ground as ‘<i>No Thanks</i>’ or ‘<i>6 Nimmt</i>’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Its simplicity and simple gameplay has made this an instant hit.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7OBwOf7eDktmyXazUlu-X2My54BHw4m8iBu52PBMdyzij6s0fQfVOo66FeUUpRJt4-w2LzgJ_YHB2d7YivrdfeYzRd0mHrMeNS_FEFjeRI3NeU5dfsZu-xaqUOkp33YKhFCXw91IlieD/s1600/pic289639_t.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7OBwOf7eDktmyXazUlu-X2My54BHw4m8iBu52PBMdyzij6s0fQfVOo66FeUUpRJt4-w2LzgJ_YHB2d7YivrdfeYzRd0mHrMeNS_FEFjeRI3NeU5dfsZu-xaqUOkp33YKhFCXw91IlieD/s200/pic289639_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699122314383647410" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 141px; height: 150px; " /></a><b>Loopin’ Louie</b> is the classic game of dexterity and skill – always entertaining, especially when alcohol is in the mix!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My copy cost me £5 from Tescos five or six years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Money well spent – <i>every little helps!</i><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Power Grid: The First Sparks</b>, or <i>Power Grid Lite</i> as it has been dubbed, is a wonderful re-implementation of <i>Power Grid</i> mechanics that plays out in about half the time of PG.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This fun version of PG, with an iron age theme, was the <i>2F-Spiele</i> game from Essen 2011.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Drum Roll</b> was perhaps my favourite game of Essen 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A great theme with superb artwork.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaM2ErYq4Uiojd9qAfEFZ7yLw4TsGlNxFuMctbqHJbNdBTKPeQR7zyYxwdFD5qRYt7uom3UKarSRDOXC0fVtHkltGvgnD7R6Yt3gxBgo4XhP9-dON9wQFQNFVnTjjzo_RJwnLh0Da4QzVl/s1600/pic979376_t.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaM2ErYq4Uiojd9qAfEFZ7yLw4TsGlNxFuMctbqHJbNdBTKPeQR7zyYxwdFD5qRYt7uom3UKarSRDOXC0fVtHkltGvgnD7R6Yt3gxBgo4XhP9-dON9wQFQNFVnTjjzo_RJwnLh0Da4QzVl/s200/pic979376_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699122674550134322" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 109px; height: 150px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">This is a smooth and elegant implementation of the ‘worker placement’ mechanic, although perhaps plays 30 minutes too long.</p> <!--EndFragment--></span></a><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ticket To Ride</b> continues to be consistently played.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This year I played Nordic twice (the 2/3 player map of choice), classic USA once, Europe once, Switzerland once and the new India map once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The India map brought an enjoyable fresh variant to the game family and is currently my favourite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I also bought the <i>Alvin & Dexter</i> expansion which livens up the USA map.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>2011 was also the year I sold Märklin – I just never got it to the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’ve also played some TTR using the excellent <i>IPad</i> implementation but only include ftf games on my play stats.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I purchased the <b>Bottle Imp</b> a few years ago, after a game with Steve Kearon at a con, but really only played it last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is a roller-coaster of a trick-taking game which seems to play excellently as a 3-player.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKsuFvVHF3kx1EqV4WFIpo9_M5Tfhk7ogkeTK-j9QQ5fa80-D4gYWMp3KeT4g6fziwiWOZUDecWqOVLenHL8JJKyBUxpyog2VCRjPE_4-fpHRKcuytbWBI0o_7RJNuX0OMxIE65f_rgJ6/s1600/pic855410_t.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKsuFvVHF3kx1EqV4WFIpo9_M5Tfhk7ogkeTK-j9QQ5fa80-D4gYWMp3KeT4g6fziwiWOZUDecWqOVLenHL8JJKyBUxpyog2VCRjPE_4-fpHRKcuytbWBI0o_7RJNuX0OMxIE65f_rgJ6/s200/pic855410_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699123066982168002" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 116px; height: 150px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal">I picked up <b>Braggart</b> at the UK Games Expo back in June.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is a humorous light-hearted game which is great in the right setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is an ‘experience game’ – a bit like <i>Dixit</i> – nobody cares who wins, the fun is in the experience.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Hoppladi! Hopplada!</b> is a rabbit-themed push-your-luck dice game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>All of the plays relate to the holiday period in January.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Power Grid</b> remains a firm favourite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This year I played classic PG twice, the Brazil/Spain & Portugal expansion twice and the China map once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Of these, the China map seemed to offer the most challenging game experience.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tijNA-2vqX71ABCB-Ps1WTHd1OyO_VbdWPR5LbbeNcoYDJJvzJgNrrg1GecTTjc_0SlD_P4h8YCM3oVE69HvOMEVWoRGJBz6A2l4uYR3zx1UxaBUhvABiAMhTFFK9vDaO-CN_-zbiLfY/s1600/pic309353_t.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tijNA-2vqX71ABCB-Ps1WTHd1OyO_VbdWPR5LbbeNcoYDJJvzJgNrrg1GecTTjc_0SlD_P4h8YCM3oVE69HvOMEVWoRGJBz6A2l4uYR3zx1UxaBUhvABiAMhTFFK9vDaO-CN_-zbiLfY/s320/pic309353_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699119606885482834" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">I first played <b>Qwirkle</b> at Essen, then some friends in Germany bought it and we played with them, and then we bought a copy for my Mother-In-Law and so we played with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Frankly I detest the game, it is far too dependent on the luck of the tile draw, but usually do well when playing it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Bubbling under: <b>Totemo</b> was a surprise hit (from <i>Surprised Stare</i>!) which I picked up at the UK Games Expo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Released in 2010, the bits are great and it is a great introduction for non-gamers.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">All in all, I played no less than 96 different games in 2011 – and people wonder why I can’t remember the rules of games!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The total number of games played was 251.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Surprise hits of 2011: I’d pick out 3 – <b>Small World</b>, <b>Stone Age</b> and <b>Hanabi</b>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30keufFXASAifJQ4Ey1-qAjL24BL4to_emHESsTW0rgk-tGD0Xw4tfZii9NpQRnJ-mkKJ5j-Ti-kL_BkRfSRp8zOk93svY3IDLrXqdVKu9bSUhA0LUZZWcj0QS_qehBK5suipC2N2Ve3M/s1600/pic428828_t.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30keufFXASAifJQ4Ey1-qAjL24BL4to_emHESsTW0rgk-tGD0Xw4tfZii9NpQRnJ-mkKJ5j-Ti-kL_BkRfSRp8zOk93svY3IDLrXqdVKu9bSUhA0LUZZWcj0QS_qehBK5suipC2N2Ve3M/s200/pic428828_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699123563223978306" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; ">I normally run a mile at the threat of dwarves, elves and the like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Fantasy games leave me absolutely cold – my fantasies certainly don’t involve pixies or ogres!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However <i>Small World</i> was a great little area majority game and I look forward to playing it again.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Somehow <i>Stone Age</i> completely passed me by over the last few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I finally got to play it at <i>Midcon</i> and had a blast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I now own the game and look forward to more plays in 2012.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO81wKfuJrqv4FZDQGXS_Iuytjh3Zhwj_bIWn36hHW75p5ACFDehsisLTEOGfgqxmPqxYS7MX9lMSmnsailOEgOB6qsl3XjBRPLbMQBos_FxkjN5B9k46c1cca1xzolPC_5gK5EnkKsDCQ/s1600/pic1040215_t.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO81wKfuJrqv4FZDQGXS_Iuytjh3Zhwj_bIWn36hHW75p5ACFDehsisLTEOGfgqxmPqxYS7MX9lMSmnsailOEgOB6qsl3XjBRPLbMQBos_FxkjN5B9k46c1cca1xzolPC_5gK5EnkKsDCQ/s200/pic1040215_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699123901999974434" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">I played <i>Hanabi</i> for the first time at <i>Midcon</i> as well, and I think it is the first time I’ve ever enjoyed a co-op game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The theme is that you are trying to stage a firework display by working together – the twist is that you can’t look at your cards, but everyone else can see them (you hold them the wrong way round).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is ostensibly a team puzzle game, but is a hoot.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Finally my ‘Top 10’ 2011 releases, at least thus far:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Power Grid: The First Sparks</p><p class="MsoNormal">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Drum Roll</p> <p class="MsoNormal">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Pantheon</p> <p class="MsoNormal">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>7 Wonders Leaders</p> <p class="MsoNormal">5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Airlines Europe</p> <p class="MsoNormal">6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The Dwarf King</p> <p class="MsoNormal">7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>23</p> <p class="MsoNormal">8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The City</p> <p class="MsoNormal">9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Nefarious</p> <p class="MsoNormal">10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Coney Island</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-14222742312398992902012-01-14T15:17:00.000-08:002012-01-14T15:18:57.350-08:00A Dance with Dragons<div><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2782553-a-dance-with-dragons" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="A Dance With Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire, #5)" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51LqynbphlL._SX106_.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2782553-a-dance-with-dragons">A Dance With Dragons</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/346732.George_R_R_Martin">George R.R. Martin</a><br /></div><div>My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/261926472">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /></div><div>I read AGOT and then the rest of the series back-to-back. I rested a couple of months and then launched into this latest episode. This book is becoming increasingly like the literary equivalent of a soap opera - you feel the need to keep up because of the time invested in the series, which is considerable, and the need to find out how your favourite characters fare (in my case, Tyrion and Jon Snow).</div><div><br /></div><div><br />However at the same time you increasingly start to lose interest in some of the lesser storylines and realise that you don't care one way or another what happens to them. Some of the strands need to come together, but I can't see that happening any time soon. A "must read", but no longer 5-star.</div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4137869-ian">View all my reviews</a></div><div><br /></div>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-39555077797239782582011-10-28T14:17:00.000-07:002011-10-28T15:02:19.281-07:00International caching - 5 countries in a day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kXZTA9Wr3x-hYGvWANqpV_SKXdnP96P0Y2I40GKAJiqqqTEOP7jqQ1hm80qC-PzCLIVN-LpPvd5eeKerxndKJF7itksI4yweccy9NsVw95xSZQiUfAYnW_5JdystOLbT3NRmXAjihcH4/s1600/essen+sign.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 141px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kXZTA9Wr3x-hYGvWANqpV_SKXdnP96P0Y2I40GKAJiqqqTEOP7jqQ1hm80qC-PzCLIVN-LpPvd5eeKerxndKJF7itksI4yweccy9NsVw95xSZQiUfAYnW_5JdystOLbT3NRmXAjihcH4/s200/essen+sign.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668663715491685266" /></a><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">We haven’t had a lot of time for caching recently, but an occasion presented itself recently when we could not just grab a few caches, but could cache in no fewer than 5 countries in a single day! [I did look at adding in Luxembourg, but never realised before how inconveniently situated it is]. The occasion was a road trip to stay with friends who live between Dusseldorf and Essen – the draw being <i>Spiel</i> at Essen the following day.</span><!--EndFragment--> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well it is said that planning and preparation are key to performance and, true to form, I commenced my planning at around 7.30pm the night before. That was exactly 7 hours before we were due to leave with just a little question of some sleep to squeeze in as well. The plan was to find two ‘cache and dash’ locations in each country close to the chosen route. How difficult could that be? Well quite difficult really – the cache density is considerably lower in Europe and the language issues meant that the cache descriptions were double dutch to us – quite literally in Holland. Anyway sufficient possibilities were found and uploaded to the GPSr and I sloped off to bed for a couple of hours kip.</div></div><div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 24px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZ9pLynyx3ScqzhCOix-kwWsPPnoPwT1g-rfWywrfi6xnH74dw4dzjW39ymV-RHtJwsEZYH8jcgjw7l7u86DvxMv8FLB9VwEOF5xhFLOeZ6f2Y08cXB0tAlHkAbJGK0yJoU4EzRjTKDOr/s200/ghostsngoblins.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668657357525038418" />Leaving home at 2.30am. our first port of call was ‘<span style="font-style:italic;">Ghosts & Goblins - 7 – Ghoul</span>’ in Chiseldon, part of a series that had only just been placed and less than 5 minutes from the M4. Even in the dark the cache container was clearly visible from the car and it proved our easiest find of the day. One down at only 2.40am.</div><div><br />The next port of call was Membury Service Station 10 miles eastwards down the M4 to pick up ‘<span style="font-style:italic;">The Teddies Motorway Mayhem Membury M4 East bound</span>’. This is on my regular commute to work and, for once, my usual policy of “I just can’t be arsed” had paid dividends and an easy find was available, exactly as promised by the hint.<br /><br />Thereafter followed a nice straight-forward run down to Dover. We had a stop for a coffee and bacon roll on the way and were still parked up waiting for the ferry at 5.30am. </div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijl3xkKFrsj-Gp4oroySjS2LPbgTJYuVPx2NgZcep6sRpQqjOtWRDj3BNCEyexz2UoPcRaA3Z5VIU98Oj-BcyUWjBzAO6rGT5qZGSOQfBXzyD9ArLnj3B0UhGTm5uCkkUwsqcB48GjmDR0/s200/ferry.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668657780393105170" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 123px; " /><div>We were first car onto the ferry as well (for the first time) and, unsurprisingly, the first off. Our luxurious <i>Sea France</i> vessel awaited. Well it wasn’t that luxurious really, but I don’t think you can quibble for £48 return. The continental breakfast was a snip at only £6 and before we knew it we were launching off the ship ramp into Calais and hitting France just like in <span style="font-style:italic;">Saving Private Rya</span><span style="font-style:italic;">n</span>. Except there were no bullets, or dying or Germans (except the one in my car), but you know what I mean!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vAuiizkoL-2GgqHkQmNzg2tA19_ubZz9H5vbvqiIIbZH5CY0tve-wRJoKiem6lJ688IwIokLUY2Grpiz3d6Y-paAUTmxZ2l0nGHhujRJ_WXkYLIQu0HnPZaRsgaod2MKAcwiemO6Ta9Z/s200/Calais+sign.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668658811558534786" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 131px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The plan unfolded – the next cache was in a quiet part of Calais. This was ‘<span style="font-style:italic;">La Plage (Géocalais 4)</span>’ and was quickly found . It was in a cassette case (ever heard of them children? They were a bit like iPods …) which makes for a nice slice of nostalgia, but a pretty poor cache container. Anyway who am I to criticise our snail-eating neighbours, after all it was my first cache in <span style="font-style:italic;">La France</span>.</span></span></div><div><br />We then set off for a nearby park to locate French cache #2. Ten minutes later and despite a text exchange with the UK for translations, we still couldn’t locate the damned thing. To cap it all I managed to step in a helping of <i>Chien</i> poop and was far from pleased. The words “Bloody French” and worse were heard ringing around the locality. It took me 15 minutes to remove this particular piece of France from my shoe. If only I had a longbow to hand, I could have re-enacted my own version of Agincourt with the local canine population of Calais.<br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzGQEUmechLwvsJBgaihxsBh-rLcGrVoeraeOO3IKiw2AcPcPWH4SF_ofU4TPKaoIoTEK54Aspk8xExZw_RVUcT0S0pC3NRm8rv7WFhZeIf-lrxtTns4XO5hoLXQIDupM6jGlbVk6RfJO/s200/deneuve.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668659087575621842" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 146px; height: 200px; " /><br /></div><div>However not to be outdone, we relocated to a park near Calais town hall to bag no. 2 in France. 15 minutes later we still hadn’t found it and our quest for 2 caches in each country suddenly became a quest for 1 cache in each country. Persistent light rain later reinforced this decision. Anyway a note to all readers – don’t organise a caching trip to Calais, you’ll be very disappointed and you’ll end up hating the BLOODY FRENCH. Having said that, there is nothing amiss about Catherine Deneuve ….</div></div><div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6xb_BbUyBAceetw6zM2WNMNb3NjMtZOVuzOxs9GU1fDhdnwYjmnS26sqh1_H0so9dojJOznndy9LxUoH1UgcfubPC92lP1-q_xqMW2e70rqMjxHLGTQNWvzB8EDrpZc7xFhTOQeGGk2J/s200/Belgium+sign.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668659432791211218" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px; " /></span><div>Anyway it was off to the Autoroute and the quick road to Belgium, home of <span style="font-style:italic;">Poirot</span>, <span style="font-style:italic;">Tin Tin</span> and, um, that’s just about it actually. Next stop was a Service Station on the motorway between Gent and Antwerp. Needless to say, our run of continental DNF’s continued. This was turning into a disaster – all that planning time had been a waste!<br /><br /></div><div>Luckily our trusty car-bound GPS has a ‘co-ordinates’ setting and so we put our back-up grid reference into it and zoomed to our next Autoroute exit point. Unfortunately our trusty</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iG3EcxOgWvLsxp-aGhdcLdcQ4UbHde5hKMPN8U-ssRdoMXrrkEOR0VECx3S4FflxudNJW2hqqqMAwK-Hau4bKCCdK5ZUZzPZe7vNYgAZQF3cnQcfQCb5NLcGVB0hFgeYlVsQe1cAcbAe/s200/TB+hotel.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668660329409200338" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /> Garmin led us into a farmyard (quite literally) on the wrong side of the motorway. We beat a hasty retreat – you don’t want to provoke a Belgian famer – and re-located to the correct site. Unfortunately it meant parking on a busy(!) single-track road and a muddy scramble in the rain up the motorway embankment. The ammo can turned out to be ‘<span style="font-style:italic;">TB Hotel – HAASDONK</span>’ and we logged our one and only cache in Belgium.<div><br />We then had a choice of either turning round and driving the 2 miles back to the motorway junction or not turning round and driving miles and miles through dull Belgian countryside. We chose the latter.<br /><br /><br /></div><div>Time was pressing and we crossed the border into Holland, a place you pass through but where you very rarely stop – an international version of Milton Keynes really. Anyway we headed off to ‘<span style="font-style:italic;">Stop 'N Go - Carpool Geldrop</span>’ and a very quick find under the pine trees. It was supposed to be a Car Pool, but I didn’t spot a single ‘No Petting’ or ‘No Bombing’ sign, so it was all a bit disappointing. Our Audi left in disgust, after the promise of a Dutch aquatic adventure for like-minded Automobiles vanished in the drizzle.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdpyQrXXpCz135txs3pNbpjKH0Adk3jJz4BLExjhQdEZ44CJjwfoHxcUO2_uQh0wtLzTXGiOYAazIUgA7kfOfc_iLiC66X4CyCWTu26YMTkfyvceWsSOwD4B5auLei-YDj3mKjHXLyQea/s200/autobahn2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668663401662896642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 90px; " /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So four countries down and just one to go. We crossed the border at Venlo and just a couple of miles later we were at ‘<span style="font-style: italic; ">TB-Hotel D-NL/NL-D an der A40</span>’. Another quick find just off the Autobahn (bahn bahn bahn bb-er Autobahn I hear you all sing in a <span style="font-style: italic; ">Kraftwerk</span> accent). By now it was knocking on towards 5pm, or 17.00 as they say on the continent, and we had cached in 5 countries.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0K1TB_ENnRYIUOxKVLgFotHOnR2fTPU-mL7RUddpvJ4rxrJV9olqxhmMfjrFd-dpbeKWmt_gQBetVtBNy1PMi6g45dKlXy82ePgiO7jWPOT9_Zfn0XyMJL7JlDQ1thq3C5C_II-no8Nm/s200/wankum.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668660726851807554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /><br /></div><div>Not long after we passed the motorway exit for my favourite German town. A bit juvenile, but it cracks me up every time.<br /><br />Did we feel elated? No not really … a drive-by cache is a drive-by whether it is in the UK or Germany. However there is now a bit more shading on my profile map and we’ve ticked another virtual task off the list. However next year we’ll do the journey via Luxembourg – why stop at five countries?<br /></div></div>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-57826529507192397452011-09-19T15:34:00.000-07:002011-09-19T15:35:25.108-07:00Very Short Book Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8044557-all-my-friends-are-dead" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="All My Friends Are Dead" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1280269519m/8044557.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8044557-all-my-friends-are-dead">All My Friends Are Dead</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1977411.Avery_Monsen">Avery Monsen</a><br/><br />My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/211176431">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />Inspirational<br /><br/><br/><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4137869-ian">View all my reviews</a>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-65899450213951084062011-09-04T12:53:00.000-07:002011-09-04T12:54:42.952-07:00Short Review - A Game of Thrones<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13496.A_Game_of_Thrones" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312430353m/13496.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13496.A_Game_of_Thrones">A Game of Thrones</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/346732.George_R_R_Martin">George R.R. Martin</a><br/>
<br />My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/205183922">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
<br />Well I've played the board game, seen the TV series and now finally read the book. I was amazed how close the TV series was to the book. Sean Bean was perfect as Ned Stark, even if he does support Sheffield United. A great book - normally I wouldn't touch a 'fantasy' book, but this is one hell of a read. 800 pages for £4 on Amazon as well - bargain of the decade.<br/><br/>Part 2 now ordered - I can't wait.
<br /><br/><br/>
<br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4137869-ian">View all my reviews</a>
<br />Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-4403414400508558952011-06-14T15:00:00.000-07:002011-06-14T15:30:26.927-07:00Birth of a new game group<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 120px; height: 90px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOB-oKDimcpbrnZOw0qTm9JmTfwTQuEi8JMNNepSrzu81KYvBprufAqD3PelvdJJGqCdTOqTZigj5pTY5ooj8cIl1ggEOet0LQoWv43h3BTOTKi7kSWfkxn0VCNjxtfzGe2wsLuIjCa15/s200/bgg_cornerlogo.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618205720991682402" /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:15px;"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 87px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIkLgRtAT7EN89umgDiRihGyvYNo8Jtt_m4yo0qpkl2XdaLsBaV2OWZN_PkV9WOGNYZqh5pRjZR_eREXNRxQ2r6zuH3XCUmr6E03mVlPIA4Q-EPZOURFESd8FgNS9SVbUtAwqyWQ2VaaV/s200/images-2.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618203582624920130" /></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" face="Calibri, sans-serif" size="11pt" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I’ve been playing in a group in Swindon since September 2006. We play every Tuesday at the home of one of the group, although at one stage we played twice a week. The group works well: nobody is up their own a*se (important), we generally like the same sort of games, everyone is </span>open to new games and we all win roughly the same percentage of games. How did I come to join the group? Via Boardgamegeek – I found a Swindon-based gamer and asked him if there was a group in Swindon.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Roll forward, and there are occasional enquiries on BGG about gaming in the area. I must admit that, as a natural miserable git, if I have spotted them, I usually just ignore them. However a forum post this year by James M</span>ullard called ‘Swindon?’ seemed to generate some traction and it appeared a new group in Swindon was a distinct possibility. Several local-ish gamers chipped in and there seemed to be a genuine inter<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">est in getting something started. The two drivers of the forum post were Tony (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">fellonmyhead</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">), long-standing Tuesday night gamer, and Jess (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">castaway</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">). Somehow I volunteered (not like me!) to check out a couple of potential venues.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I ended up visiting a couple of local hostelries – the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sandgate</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (my pub of choice back in 1976, aged 16) and the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Check Inn</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> at Wroughton. To cut a long story short, the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sandgate</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> is a sh*thole, and the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Check Inn</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> is the total opposite. As a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fullers</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> pub, the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Check Inn </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">not only boasts a superb range of real ales (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">London Pride</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Eldridge Pope</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> etc), but also does excellent food as well. Tony the landlord lets us use the dining room for free each Monday and seems very happy with the arrangement. The extra food and drink sales on a quiet Monday means that it is a win-win all round.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We held our first meeting on Monday, March 21</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">st</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, advertised entirely through the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Geek</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and word of mouth (as it still is today), and 11 people turned up. We have now met 13 times including on 3 bank holiday Mondays. The highest turnout thus far is 14, the lowest 5 (on a bank holiday). We average around 9 a session, most weeks being 8-10. Already a nucleus of attendees has formed who tend to come along each week.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9egOENa0ipGk4d1pDCUT2pi24f5yqSTvrz1cON_d1ltLeU4Bp2cZQ3fPtEQW2bcAyLdwU0pZFGWhCYEo7CpT3JawQMsXf7BXyjzl9AmCbf8UkHFfvtW0WNDVUnvfreNwika4Tk_GYh4Y/s200/pic173153_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618201645688046978" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 150px; " /></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkjqC6GCioMFu8eMnnfQ9V69zN6ISsqfTexSXN8PfidmxkAX2rdJYa2NCjUPFW33_Vper_WbuTGqy_AvTPxblPg3jFTxRSgtJQmMk78ps3wK7NsfGNnDViJvBGGVjrcqHvDwxGuX3AYzW/s200/pic866095_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618201358405909986" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The group tends to play Euros, usually light-medium weight, although we have also played </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Power Grid </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and some </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Wallace</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> titles. Games played recently include </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Carcassonne</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ticket to Ride</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fresco</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Dixit</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Kel</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">tis</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Forbidden Island</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Kingsburg</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ingenious</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">London</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Power Grid</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Seven Wonders</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Braggart</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Alien Frontiers</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, to name just a small selection.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><br /></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A good feature of the group is that we try to mix it up so we play with different people and everyone seems to enjoy the sessions. The group is very informal which I think works well. There is no ‘leader’ or ‘organiser’ – it’s just a case of turning up and playing. I’m sure the group will continue to thrive – if you’re reading this and fancy joining us, we meet at the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Check Inn</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, Wroughton every Monday from 7pm-ish to around 10.45pm.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0jxRYCHxdx8kLNc1Kg7hdIEhsTSJ0N0Pu-KObaG8Uc8V_1tIL_HhvBXtTPesa12-k3xlmAzoNkIlSiLQ1B4FfW3Q1puCA2_DBEAX5BYmnfmtXwsqr5hAWGNHblltuaBDodiucI7qRWdp/s200/exterior_4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618205223867178370" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px; " /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;font-size:15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5nRXIg6MH3-lnSnAYbSJJ3FdrwFR58yilf_J54a1haAJqoqQUdPbd8no6K83qj1Ed3PZ5WaO6gtwRPn45Ig-NUhgRhyphenhyphen-myHbf46f4UAX4Npi8B1ugO3vUA2ei4hZBkrjdCbM4L1EzUy3/s200/dining_1.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618205449141818690" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 99px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;font-size:15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-57151721244194253722011-06-09T15:00:00.000-07:002011-06-09T15:12:46.458-07:00UK Games Expo – mixed feelingsI love the concept of the UK Games Expo, but seem to enjoy it less and less each year. I can’t put my finger on exactly why this is the case, but as a boardgamer, I’m increasingly seeing this as an optional visit rather than a destination event. So what are the positives and negatives of the event?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Positives</span><br /><br />• A range of games retailers (but I wish there were more)<div>• A good smattering of small publishers – this to me is probably the most positive thing about the Expo<br />• A lot of demo tables (even more so for miniatures)<br />• A good mixture of serious gamers and families/casual gamers<br />• Er, that’s about it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Negatives</span><br /><br />• The venue is now stretched – the Expo needs to move. Some of the outer areas suffer markedly in footfall terms.<br />• No significant new boardgames released – without a Treefrog or Ragnars release there was no “must go” reason to attend<br />• No price competition between the retailers – the prices were all very samey across the board. A bit of competition on hot games like <span style="font-style:italic;">Seven Wonders</span>, <span style="font-style:italic;">Dixit</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">Dominion</span> would be a start!<br />• The format is a bit tired – a bit of innovation is required.<br />• The entry fee - £8 is too high, and must put off casual gamers/families.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">So-so’s</span><br /><br />• Refreshments – limited and over-priced, but at least Ladypool Road is nearby (we went to <span style="font-style:italic;">Imran’s</span> after the show)<br /><br />So what changes would I make? In no particular order:<br /><br />• Change venue (though keep it in Birmingham if possible)<br />• Tie it into cons to get the regular/serious gamers in (of all persuasions). Talk to the <span style="font-style:italic;">Manorcon</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">Midcon</span> guys and arrange an “Expo-con” at the same venue.<br />• Persuade more retailers to come along – maybe tie their costs into a %sales basis to reduce their exposure; encourage discounting and price competition<br />• Twist the arms of all local publishers to release new games – make this a <span style="font-style:italic;">de facto</span> pre-Essen roll-out for UK publishers. Invite German designers such as Reiner Knizia and Michael Schacht.<br />• Encourage small publishers – maybe by discounting<br />• Promote tie-ins with complimentary hobbies – such as comics (<span style="font-style:italic;">a la</span> Essen).<br /><br /><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSilCmk485k4DqeMO271bO4CFLpM1_eQ62StLuKvuWYVR3naLdlUu1YYq6pxaxidnwSI5f3m_jL5NbtvJu1FNMBsb-BRTOvjOdXG2-HA3OnGoLwgaqHCiCBbKnNtpFOUgtD_J0YK8VCXpo/s320/pic739382_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616344902987609522" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 107px; height: 150px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span>So, despite all the above, did I enjoy the Expo this year? The answer was yes. Find of the day was undoubtedly <span style="font-style:italic;">Totemo</span> from <span style="font-style:italic;">Surprised Stare Games</span>. Yes I know it was there last year, but I only tried it this year. An excellent abstract strategy game that will go down really well with the family.<br /><br />I also bought <span style="font-style:italic;">Braggart</span> – not my favourite type of card-game, </div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwS7DX1VavMBoFdaa_ebvDRyajsIP0pBFrGM3CIda72aUqYfsU7ioxlz2btmLBv_0LGitclledHXmly2KIz0uW_t2zBV-_pd54I6ea5s0DMo98LFohdEMd6E_QtSYpe2FBwC0EET7zMMl/s320/pic855410_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616345181290646210" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 116px; height: 150px; " />but I know it will be well received by both gamers and family. Therefore a good buy – the 2 young ladies who demo’ed it also won me over with their enthusiasm for the game. I also purchased <span style="font-style:italic;">KingBrick</span> – a 2-player flicking game. As a <span style="font-style:italic;">Subbuteo</span> addict in my youth, this simple straight-forward game was a no-brainer and, at £10, also a bargain. I’m sure it won’t see much table-time, but I still couldn’t resist it. A couple of other small purchases completed the day.<div><br /></div><div><br />I hope the Expo continues to grow and thrive, but I feel that it needs a shot in the arm to move forward.<br /></div></div>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-59237650442784576182011-05-27T14:44:00.000-07:002011-05-27T14:48:21.744-07:00Book Review: Fortress of Spears<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9800975-fortress-of-spears" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Fortress of Spears (Empire, #3)" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TE71zbJ0L._SX106_.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9800975-fortress-of-spears">Fortress of Spears</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3092445.Anthony_Riches">Anthony Riches</a><br/><br />My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/169994676">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />This is the third outing for Anthony Riches series about a Roman Centurion/Fugitive from Justice based around Hadrian's Wall. Like the previous books this is an excellent romp, with some interesting scenarios and storylines. The book is well worth reading and I'm already looking forward to #4 in the series.<br /><br/>So, why only 4 stars? The fact that I had the book for 3 weeks before picking it up speaks volumes - a Giles Kristian or Sam Barone book would have been started immediately. I would rate these books slightly below those of Cornwell, Scarrow, Kristian or Barone, but not too far behind. The main problem with the book is that the main character is almost a super-hero and is simply not believable. Added to that the dialogue, although improved from the previous books, still does not ring true as being of the correct era. Finally the status of Marcus as a fugitive has been played out to the full - I cannot recall the details of how this came to be, and don't particularly care anymore. I hope that the author will concentrate more on the relationship between Marcus and his colleagues moving forwards.<br /><br/>Having said all the above, this is a very good book and I will definitely pre-order the follow-up.<br /><br/><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4137869-ian">View all my reviews</a>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-8090703412699356542011-05-21T14:41:00.000-07:002011-05-21T14:44:54.701-07:00Book Review: Odin's Wolves<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9730656-odin-s-wolves" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Odin's Wolves (Raven #3)" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51WRT8DebbL._SX106_.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9730656-odin-s-wolves">Odin's Wolves</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2776821.Giles_Kristian">Giles Kristian</a><br/><br />My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/169989238">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />This is the third book in the <em>Raven</em> saga, and a worthy follow-up to the two others, both of which were 5* books. It is over a month since I finished the book, so some of the details are not so clear, but needless to say, I pre-ordered the book and eagerly devoured it as soon as it arrived.<br /><br/>The book describes the Viking band's journey from the French coast to Rome and Miklagard (Constantinople). The book really takes off from about the half-way stage and the sections describing the band's adventures in Rome and Miklagard are riveting and extremely well written. Of course there is a surprise at the end, but I won't be spoiling that here.<br /><br/>One of the best aspects of the first two instalments was the development of the characters. Unfortunately many of these have now been killed off, so more will have to be introduced in the fourth book. The author shouldn't shy away from this, as he did such a good job before. <br /><br/>What sets these books apart from others in the genre is the quality of the dialogue in Giles Kristian's books. You really feel that the characters are real and 100% believable. I think he does this better than any of his contemporaries, including Messrs Cornwell, Scarrow and Iggulden, and that's a mighty fine list of authors!<br /><br/><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4137869-ian">View all my reviews</a>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-44355532586232204022011-05-21T13:17:00.000-07:002011-05-21T13:38:48.925-07:00Wilko Johnson<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihozxvtoRoj6CVL5e1Q_XWBEHim1e4Bc7HSdnm3bMZyFoJyQUEl8CaRuwKb_vWmU5gsoOHjjjXMgr1Sy4SVN2di5s0Ru11OZhOl0h4vbmAUK-Uph6_PZkr7e6x6JuR7R_gRu9WFt2sEFvx/s1600/images-1.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Fleece, Bristol 6th May</b></div> <p class="Body1"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 269px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQ2LgPNPVAk452LFrj_PKrw0MZfKMUTXeqyeSneTurJiVp3w8jr60wbhHZa7qmYxXBjXE5Axk68CE278JzKd-wFnOvgPd_SLdMK1Xn7l9UCcQejJwkI06B8rnIbNlwrRqCvusBNYG0fh3/s320/images.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609270320015176306" /></p><p class="Body1">Growing up in the seventies, I liked <i>T-Rex</i> and I liked <i>Slade</i> and, of course, I fancied <i>Suzi Quattro</i> and <i>Linda Ronstadt</i>, but the first group I was really into were <i>Dr Feelgood</i> in 1976. I still remember coming home clutching the seminal <i>Stupidity</i> album the week of it's release with it's classic cover picture of Lee Brilleaux and Wilko. That album remains my #1 favourite live album, and yes, even better than the <i>Johnny Cash</i> live prison albums.</p> <p class="Body1"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihozxvtoRoj6CVL5e1Q_XWBEHim1e4Bc7HSdnm3bMZyFoJyQUEl8CaRuwKb_vWmU5gsoOHjjjXMgr1Sy4SVN2di5s0Ru11OZhOl0h4vbmAUK-Uph6_PZkr7e6x6JuR7R_gRu9WFt2sEFvx/s200/images-1.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609270535668247906" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 192px; " /></span></span></p><div><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><p class="Body1"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;">I finally got to see Dr Feelgood live in Autumn 1978 at Brighton Top Rank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Of course by this time Wilko had left, but nevertheless they were still storming live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I saw Wilko live for the first time shortly afterwards at the Marquee. I’ve seen him since, of course, and also with </span><span lang="EN-US"><i>Ian Dury</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;"> (on the DIY tour).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>To my mind, Wilko is a national treasure that needs preserving and it's great that he's still strutting his stuff over 30 years later.</span></p> <p class="Body1"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;">So to the </span><span lang="EN-US"><i>Fleece</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;"> on a Friday night. It is warm and packed, almost definitely sold-out. Just the sort of atmosphere you want for a slice of R&B.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>First band up were Billy Whizz: dire. Second up were 3-piece The Soulvents whose musical influences were given away by the singer's Fred Perry shirt and Mod-ish haircut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The guy was one excellent guitarist and his repertoire was impressive, unfortunately he had no stage presence whatsoever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Anyway Steve Marriott & Weller influences aplenty, he covered one Weller track and finished with a crowd pleasing </span><span lang="EN-US"><i>All through the City</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Definitely worth catching again.</span></p> <p class="Body1"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;">And so to Mr Johnson, who as per usual was joined by Blockhead Norman Watt-Roy and Dylan Howe on drums.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Wilko looks more and more like </span><span lang="EN-US"><i>Alf Garnett</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;"> every year and Norman is like the butler in a Hammer Horror film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Pretty they ain’t, but my God can they still brew up some R&B!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Wilko is as energetic as the very first time I saw him and this is music as it should be – R&B in a small sweaty bar.</span></p> <p class="Body1"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;">As usual the Dr Feelgood songs go down best – I remember </span><span lang="EN-US"><i>Back in the Night</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;">, </span><span lang="EN-US"><i>She Does It Right</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;">, </span><span lang="EN-US"><i>Don’t Let Your Daddy Know</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;">, </span><span lang="EN-US"><i>Sneakin’ Suspicion</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;">, </span><span lang="EN-US"><i>Keep it Out of Sight</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;">, </span><span lang="EN-US"><i>The More I Give</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;">, </span><span lang="EN-US"><i>Paradise</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;"> and </span><span lang="EN-US"><i>Twenty Yards Behind</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Wilko was joined by Jerry Tremaine (I think that was his name) on vocals and harp for a storming </span><span lang="EN-US"><i>Woolly Bully</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;"> and </span><span lang="EN-US"><i>Roxette</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><i>Dr Dupree</i> was also in the mix somewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A single encore – a rollicking </span><span lang="EN-US"><i>Bye Bye Johnny</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;"> – it is always good to see Mr B Goode, the patron saint of R&B, make an appearance!</span></p> <p class="Body1"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-;font-family:Helvetica;">I’m already looking forward to the next time Wilko and co. are in town!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-78388543769197491112011-05-07T06:14:00.000-07:002011-05-07T06:19:43.109-07:00John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Reading South Park, 5</b><sup><b>th</b></sup><b> May</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpO2anh02vtaGVWnYUhNfUviXLQUuFzu5FFIHAC-GeflcCxeOlV9peAJGPrZJywqu_um2fcraStrAww5RaoP-7N4_qryH3VITT-7RhjfG4kGfX4icx4AmA0gYgKMnb4hb8pgY1Q-dNmNJB/s320/40odd.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603962798759447394" /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I first saw John Otway live around 1981/82 on the same bill as UK Subs and Gary Glitter (go figure!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I need to point out that this was before Mr Glitter had been outed as a paedophile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>On the night, the UK Subs were Sh1t, I was totally underwhelmed by the young-ish Otway and Gary Glitter (and the original Glitter Band with 2 drummers) were superb!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rolling forward to about 2 years ago, on a whim my friend Jarrod and I caught a JO & WWB show at the Windsor Arts Centre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I remember saying at the interval that what we had witnessed was either total cobblers or absolute brilliance, but I didn’t know which.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Anyway after the second half we decided it was the latter and are both now confirmed fans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We also saw him last autumn in Gloucester, with his ‘Big Band’, although I drank so much that night that frankly, memories of the show, and the afternoon rugby game, are somewhat hazy!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Anyway to Reading: instead of the usual tiered seating at the venue, there were just chairs on the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The audience was perhaps 200-250 people, mostly fat fifty-somethings (yes … like me!), but with a smattering of people outside that profile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As usual a fair number were diehard fans and, again as usual, both Otway & WWB mingled with the audience before the gig, in the interval and after the gig.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Pretentious they are not.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Seeing Otway is an event rather than a gig.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The songs don’t change much, the patter between songs is familiar, Otway’s boy-ish enthusiasm, honesty and showing off would be totally daft in other settings but just works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Add in WWB’s excellent musicianship and dead-pan humour and you have a winning formulae.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As Otway says … Wild Willy is just a Musician, whereas I’m a star!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So what was new on the night?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a wheely-bin used in an act for a start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It housed Wild Willy’s amp for his electric guitar and was open and closed as appropriate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Totally idiotic, but it worked brilliantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>WWB also introduced a Pete Townshend guitar wrecking segment, although the damage was done DIY-style with a hammer and saw!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After the show the guitar was flogged for £35!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Musically, the highlight may well have been a touching(!!) rendition of Rolf Harris’ ‘Two Little Boys’. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">An Otway concert is like a Jonathan Richman concert (another favourite of mine), in that you smile all the way through it and all the way home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is that kind of experience.</p> <!--EndFragment-->Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-49128010886900862902011-03-16T15:23:00.000-07:002011-03-16T15:40:43.286-07:00Five & Dimes 2010 (+ a peek at 2011)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6FvjVCHodeJDo7le3bFuALKZ63sPfUvDBRlAROCm_anLkLpTvl8bEYU4GSV_liYmNlnRR-GcPa0XLyg0SHc1EDQp3JJDRJ_p8cf6xETYz4Pnkt6y9pDXSb2jh5U-uiajf45bksQGoG52/s1600/pinguinparty.jpg"></a><p class="MsoNormal">American gamers seem to enjoy doing their annual ‘<i>Five and Dime</i>’ analysis of games played, and thanks to BGG it is quite easy to compile these:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Five and Dimes from Jan - Dec 2010</span></span></b></span></p> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin-left:-5.4pt;border-collapse:collapse;mso-table-layout-alt:fixed; border:none;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:0;mso-yfti-firstrow:yes"> <td width="372" colspan="2" style="width:372.0pt;border:none;background:#9EB7D7; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">10 or more plays<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:1"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#9EB7D7;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">Game<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td width="32" style="width:32.0pt;border:none;background:#9EB7D7;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">Qty<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:2"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/56933/pinguin-party"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonefont-family:Verdana;color:blue;">Pinguïn Party</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="32" style="width:32.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">13<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:3"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/65990/don-quixote"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonefont-family:Verdana;color:blue;">Don Quixote</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="32" style="width:32.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">11<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:4"> <td width="372" colspan="2" style="width:372.0pt;border:none;background:#9EB7D7; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">5 or more plays<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:5"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#9EB7D7;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">Game<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td width="32" style="width:32.0pt;border:none;background:#9EB7D7;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">Qty<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:6"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/63706/11-nimmt"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonefont-family:Verdana;color:blue;">11 nimmt!</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="32" style="width:32.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">8<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:7"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/68448/7-wonders"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonefont-family:Verdana;color:blue;">7 Wonders</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="32" style="width:32.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">7<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:8"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/66188/fresco"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonefont-family:Verdana;color:blue;">Fresco</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="32" style="width:32.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">7<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:9"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/47046/gambit-7"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonefont-family:Verdana;color:blue;">Gambit 7</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="32" style="width:32.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">7<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:10"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/39856/dixit"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonefont-family:Verdana;color:blue;">Dixit</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="32" style="width:32.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">6<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:11"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/29355/high-score"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonefont-family:Verdana;color:blue;">High Score</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="32" style="width:32.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">6<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:12"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/39088/hoppladi-hopplada"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonefont-family:Verdana;color:blue;">Hoppladi Hopplada!</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="32" style="width:32.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">5<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:13;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/24068/shadow-hunters"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonefont-family:Verdana;color:blue;">Shadow Hunters</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="32" style="width:32.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">5<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6FvjVCHodeJDo7le3bFuALKZ63sPfUvDBRlAROCm_anLkLpTvl8bEYU4GSV_liYmNlnRR-GcPa0XLyg0SHc1EDQp3JJDRJ_p8cf6xETYz4Pnkt6y9pDXSb2jh5U-uiajf45bksQGoG52/s200/pinguinparty.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584810581480236578" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 115px; height: 150px; " /><p class="MsoNormal">The above list is quite typical of the average year for me: one or two ‘dimes’, usually light family-friendly games, and a handful of fives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The two dimes were both introduced to me by Steve Kearon – PP at <i>Baycon</i> and <i>Don Quixote</i> at <i>Manorcon</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Both are fairly light family-friendly games, PP has become our standard light end-of-the-evening card game but the family also enjoy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>DQ was an initial hit, although I haven’t played it for months.</p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6ORkc6MyOWvqwpZknd6Vn2fysj4tCTKMUH7Tza626R5z_JrVYs-jX7CfC6hthDMQxn78lF9xSYdt34yTwSxQ5mEnkVIBa2ghUH1RYGUD2AucOgFwkE9Zud5xIZHTZUOOXIrC5nYRny3_/s200/fresco.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584810288182649554" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 152px; height: 150px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><i>11 nimmt!</i> is often dismissed as just a <i>6 Nimmt</i> variant, but is far superior to the original game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Excellent for 4/5 and a light card game for gamers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><i>Seven Wonders</i> was <b>the</b> hit of last year’s Essen and continues to be played on almost a weekly basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I first played <i>Fresco</i> at <i>Origins</i> last June, and it remains a favourite of mine although the group I play with it don’t enjoy it as much as I do. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Gambit 7</i> (the UK version of <i>Wits & Wagers</i>) and <i>Dixit</i> are both excellent family-friendly party games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Most of their plays will have happened around Christmas.</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LYBYzFplCaxRpZhxsPRGCZVQxZzI_DOkCJiL1BQqR3yy-X9jpYA1cAeWB4DvhCdXnGwOSiRu1Cj8jR7MTwoRZ7AmB701NoAmfmxK-BlzNAIarbZ_u9xHUzEU-oa1XUouLtw_x8-cdkO5/s200/hoppladi.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584809930974804082" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><i>High Score</i> is the American name of <i>Wurfel Bingo</i> – an excellent family-friendly push-your-luck dice game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><i>Hoppladi Hopplada!</i> is another family-friendly push-your-luck dice game, this time featuring rabbits and hutches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Silly fun really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Finally <i>Shadow Hunters</i> was the starter of choice for the Bolton games group – not a game I particularly enjoyed, but well you just have to join in!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, of the above ten games, no fewer than six are essentially family games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The remaining four are fairly light-weight games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So, let’s move on to 2011, so far:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Five and Dimes from 1 Jan - 16 Mar 2011</span></span></b></span></p> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin-left:-5.4pt;border-collapse:collapse;mso-table-layout-alt:fixed; border:none;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:0;mso-yfti-firstrow:yes"> <td width="372" colspan="2" style="width:372.0pt;border:none;background:#9EB7D7; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">10 or more plays<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:1"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#9EB7D7;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">Game<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td width="32" style="width:32.0pt;border:none;background:#9EB7D7;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">Qty<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:2"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/68448/7-wonders"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonefont-family:Verdana;color:blue;">7 Wonders</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="32" style="width:32.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">14<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:3"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/56933/pinguin-party"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonefont-family:Verdana;color:blue;">Pinguïn Party</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="32" style="width:32.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">12<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:4"> <td width="372" colspan="2" style="width:372.0pt;border:none;background:#9EB7D7; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">5 or more plays<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:5"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#9EB7D7;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">Game<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td width="32" style="width:32.0pt;border:none;background:#9EB7D7;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">Qty<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:6;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes"> <td width="333" style="width:333.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/39088/hoppladi-hopplada"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonefont-family:Verdana;color:blue;">Hoppladi Hopplada!</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="32" style="width:32.0pt;border:none;background:#F2F2FF;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:14.0pt; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;">5<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Seven Wonders </i>and PP continue to be played on almost a weekly basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They are both quick, fun and varied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My guess is that the number of plays will be a lot higher by the year end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The plays for <i>Hoppladi Hopplada!</i> were primarily around Christmas, but like 7W and PP, the first thought after a game of HH is ‘Why don’t we play again?’</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">All pics copyright Boardgamegeek</span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-23767301126998452872011-03-04T12:25:00.000-08:002011-03-04T12:48:00.262-08:00February Caching Outings (Part 2)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzO6Di-Ueo7pa0U_QGC89jkun8N3RM0M6xCnCmHeoA6ZA0syfAhlDIXnk-ivUAh808yJuPZXuu1Ulcd1Vuq-81oyKv0VnQHgTt0dbMOqX7v0up0b5H-PP7Jj7pdtjHRgZP1Mpm6bQp3TI/s1600/dorcan.jpg"></a><p class="MsoNormal">The following Saturday was the Wiltshire Event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We love Stan’s events and always attend if possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Great attendance, excellent food and, of course, Wadworths 6X from Russell the landlord and a good old chin-wag with RoobyDoo (Keith), Furtive Ferrets (John) and TurnerTribe (Suzanne) among others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Even won a minor prize in the raffle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Before the event we did a lovely little circuit of 8 caches along a very quiet and still K&A canal.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6vN6fMNtTXvnncLW-pJRrIwSD56fncbuKF8bH-nRl6PuQA-gDd-88aZ99eXu9VmIsQ6qeqVuZDEYbdM877oqWOO_0qG1MQoUKHGg4cDGfKPy1Tha0bvId-oeaI7ijsnLKxQfxKApuwwn/s200/canal1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580326342680368050" /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><canal pics=""></canal></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YeIdeSkbnwnMWjs4YKPrUHX4TFWzncGE73k-gIdzXc3Z2HEInSqOKTpobDI-RUC28V42Q_k3KRwtbsxSVMECIgBJcRGq65pbjBW7EMLNDcfHyRVvcU0z4BY-LTuwqZ2ogZWHYhn2bdl9/s200/canal2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580326697201783218" /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Got home from Devizes and found that a cache (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">1<sup>st</sup> Stratton Scouts</i>) had been published close to home, in fact probably the closest one there’s ever been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Well it had only been out for less than 2 hours, surely we’d be in for a shout for the FTF.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Logging on to the cache page we found it had already been visited by 5 caching teams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The initial disappointment was quickly replaced when I saw that the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Chaos Crew</i> had bagged the FTF – a long over-due FTF for Sarah & team!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was further dissipated when, a couple of hours later, two new caches (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">2 = Cuddly Toy Hotel</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">1 = On The Way.....</i>) were published by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Newmanmadhouseteam</i> up near the Great Western Hospital in Swindon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I knew that I was due a Sunday morning lie-in, so donned the head-torch and set off in the pitch black.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The mud ensured that I had grown 6” by the time I had reached the caches to grab the FTF’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The Cuddly Toy hotel is a really good cache, but is a bit out of the way – it deserves a lot of visits in the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>On the way back I grabbed the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">1<sup>st</sup> Stratton Scouts</i> cache (couldn’t resist).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was a bit spooked at GZ, at around 10.30pm, when I heard a noise behind me as I re-hid the cache.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A youth was in the woods about 30 yards behind me – doing what I have no idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Needless to say, I legged it out!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzO6Di-Ueo7pa0U_QGC89jkun8N3RM0M6xCnCmHeoA6ZA0syfAhlDIXnk-ivUAh808yJuPZXuu1Ulcd1Vuq-81oyKv0VnQHgTt0dbMOqX7v0up0b5H-PP7Jj7pdtjHRgZP1Mpm6bQp3TI/s320/dorcan.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580327450756497426" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 164px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">Had a Sunday morning lie-in, had Sunday lunch and then was just getting ready to go out and grab a couple of caches on the Downs when a whole new series based around Covingham, Eldene and Liden was published by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Newmanmadhouseteam</i> (again).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Well what to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Grab as many as possible of course!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Over the next 2 hours I got round all 10 caches, grabbing no fewer than 5 FTF’s!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It could have been more: I failed to find one cache first time round (Toolaroola grabbing it!) and was beaten to another by the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Middleleaze Moles</i> as I stood and watched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Great to see new caches being hidden on this side of town though - an excellent weekend of caching thanks to this new-ish team.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><dorcan school=""></dorcan></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsM3XkdIJO0SLaa1ikP8WxpCO6aUzVie78evcnYP4xnwNRP3SsYCwzYXPzzuOEomVUjZZUmi-yktyrwXPR_h9GSzjdJVLrdmV-Nzd865WsCv525_Y3UM7Ca8nG__IrFh-3SthQX1qDyzjT/s200/nat+trust.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580325214382598802" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 167px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">2 whole days then passed before my notifications signalled a few new caches being published near Lacock, south of Chippenham.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In fact these were right on the edge of my notifications area and it turned out to be 20 caches over 6 miles in a circular walk from Lacock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The next morning dawned and it was absolutely pee-ing it down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I logged on and noticed that the Lacock village caches had all been nabbed first thing, but the rest were pretty much untouched.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><lacock sign=""></lacock></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Therefore, after lunch, I drove across for a FTF hunt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’ve never been to Lacock before and was surprised at how pretty it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Ditto for the surrounding countryside – the route cut through some delightful areas and was absolutely full of varied and very cunning hides from start to finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I won’t spoil it for anyone who reads this, but I would recommend you give this a go!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I would rate it as definitely a 5* series, I can’t think of a better one (well maybe my MDT!).</p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVH_7vHI4cIARNKKE87c7TQ_k5wecA-auI52IkABuQsDozMyxxLNyND3FvwYhYBOD0SFUj-ehIVzUe2SDNErx7MxZcZqb3AX56ijC6x901EUwO2QUqvLJR6kmQDo8wPN6ePa97U4w6nD_9/s200/meerkat.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580325632599097938" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">If I were you I’d start on the village caches mid-morning in Lacock and aim to be at the Bell on Bowden Hill for lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You can then walk off the lunch around the circuit and return to Lacock for a cream tea – what a day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>By the way, here is one of my favourite caches from the series – not a clever one, it just made me smile - Simples!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><meerkat></meerkat></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Anyway I had a pretty busy day rather than a pleasant amble around the caches fortified by real ale and a cream tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In the end I finished in the pitch black, reaching my final cache (#1) at 6pm and fumbling blindly for the cache container.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I managed to bag 21 caches with only 1 DNF.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Among these were no less than 14 FTF’s, so a good day all round!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The following evening a new cache was published just outside Watchfield, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Force 10: Zoe</i> by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Eaglegale</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Another first hide by a cacher I met briefly at the last <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Swindon Soirees</i> event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sniffing another FTF I was up with the larks the next day and snagged the cache about 10 minutes before <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Flones</i>, another local cacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>To paraphrase Robert Duvall, I love the smell of an empty logbook in the morning!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyA1FG0x6Yfy-AhHtCqQdTs6FmiKllogDRwX2rSnHIkqNGHyK4h7_RF_4Eowcvkhct29dzaesZ9H0jaNM1W8dsMpUwmmMXlUy8zkZIQD7Y2IbCtQixFI7BIl_spIIXyGvPEa-7KO9cgb6L/s1600/McD.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyA1FG0x6Yfy-AhHtCqQdTs6FmiKllogDRwX2rSnHIkqNGHyK4h7_RF_4Eowcvkhct29dzaesZ9H0jaNM1W8dsMpUwmmMXlUy8zkZIQD7Y2IbCtQixFI7BIl_spIIXyGvPEa-7KO9cgb6L/s200/McD.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580324551066240610" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 162px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal">The weekend, last one of the month, was wet, full stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No geocaching at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But all was not lost: on the Monday at tea-time 3 new caches were published – one by our friends <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Newmanmadhouseteam </i>at McDonalds on Great Western Way (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Take Five</i>) and two over in Sparcells by new hiders the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Dartmoor Devils</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We quickly rushed out to Maccy-D’s straight to the cache.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Whilst piling in (subtle I’m not), we were approached by another cacher who turned out to be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">iBertie</i> (Paul), who had beaten us to the cache but couldn’t find it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This has happened to me a few times and is a right b@st@rd to put it mildly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Anyway I quickly located the item and even offered a joint FTF with Paul (must be going soft in my dotage!), but Paul, who is a gentleman and a scholar and also hider of the very good nearby <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Central Park</i> cache, was having none of it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><mcdonalds sign=""></mcdonalds></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We returned home, feeling pretty pleased with ourselves and over the course of the next couple of hours I noticed the Sparcells caches hadn’t been logged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Cue action!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So a quick drive to the first – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Sparcells’ First Cache – Bridge Over Troubled Water</i> – where I parked up close by (just how I like it …).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Needless to say the cache was under a bridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Opened it up, blank logbook: good call!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The second cache was less than 200 metres away, walked quickly no other cachers in sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The log book contained a name – beaten to it by the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Furtive Ferrets</i>; I uttered a rude word and signed the log. But a good evening to end to a great month.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Summing up February</b>: lots of finds and lots of FTF’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Discovered a great series at Lacock and pleased to see all the new caches around Swindon, mostly put out by new hiders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The future looks very bright indeed!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">A review of my cache series</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Marlborough Downs Trail</b> – 1 or 2 visits per cache.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Will refresh sometime around Easter.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Lower Stratton Loop</b> – remains popular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At least one cacher a week does the series.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Sevenhampton Puzzles</b> – not much interest since early in the month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Interest waning<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>- puzzles too difficult or are puzzles just not popular?</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Caches found this month: 94</b> (2<sup>nd</sup> highest month ever)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>No. FTF’s this month: 25</b> (record month)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Total caches found to-date: 1,078 Total FTF’s: 89</b></p> <!--EndFragment-->Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-8079650261773505102011-03-03T15:57:00.000-08:002011-03-03T16:29:38.652-08:00February Caching Outings (Part 1)<div style="text-align: left;">A local caching friend of mine, Sarah of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Chaos Crew</i>, includes a monthly summary of her family’s caching <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">adventures </i>in her <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Are you flowin’?</i> blog (referenced below).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These are both interesting, including a good selection of photos, and brilliantly capture the essence of why this is such a good hobby (read it – you’ll see what I mean).</div> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Of course this also provides a good historical summary of each month’s caching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Well, I’ve never been shy of stealing someone else’s good idea, so I’m going to do just that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However I’ve never been one for taking many photos so they will be sparse at times to put it mildly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Also I’ll label them <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">outings</i> rather than <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">adventures</i>: my caching outings tend to be enjoyable rather than exciting.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The month began with a visit out to Sevenhampton to check on one of my puzzle caches there (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Man with the Golden Pen</i>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A Wantage based cacher had visited it the day before and whilst walking back to the village had been surrounded by a gang of armed locals</p><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 65px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvNaVIedjh9tuzCyw1Oun7Wczr_L2wGYCdWD4MuqpBvQSpr7XGJ3z8QdMuATrYQJm-v7DIYqJBNQALXOmtFc9G9d0PzVldY9khCZeezRLvCTU1HxAJaUHIup7IeKB6iM4mHYhjXhfcouL/s200/jamesbondlogo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580013194470881922" />(hunt supporters, or more likely shoot helpers) demanding to know what he was up to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He had calmly explained geocaching to them and they left him alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was thought that they may have removed the cache.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Anyway I went and checked and the cache was still safely <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">in-situ</i>. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><bond logo=""></bond></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The weather was pretty appalling on the first Saturday of the month so I just had a couple of hours to do the 5 caches in the triangle between Hodson, Chisledon and the M4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The wind was in the ‘right’ direction and the noise from the motorway was taken away from me making this an exceedingly pleasant little outing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A cock-up on the final cache of the afternoon meant I ended up in someone’s back garden and had to climb over their back fence – oops!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sean (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Smenus</i>) joined us the following day and we were determined to go caching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However again, the weather in the morning was foul and we only got out mid-afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We then proceeded to do 15 caches in the Coleshill and Coxwell Circuit (CCC), this being a circuit that starts at Badbury Clump, proceeds cross-country to the attractive NT village of Coleshill, then goes cross-country to the attractive village of Great Coxwell, before circling back to the Clump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Badbury Clump and the villages are very nice, but the bits in-between are dull and boring.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><national trust=""></national></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN70tkIAJiGA342EP3Xd4JaM3t7LMRRlu4hK5CCgaCjl78H2mYdIHK6tLWkFpJez8doDz030ke5V56d4qsm5dehtb8MC14m19EtGWwFqQ8dE9jC3edprXvOSBLBWMFBIEh8tQzWnBZDQ-j/s400/photo+1-3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580012177824158050" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">Unfortunately we left it too late and this ended up being a bit of a forced march to finish in daylight.<span> </span>We were pretty pooped by the end, to put it mildly. We did however record our 1000<sup>th</sup> cache on the circuit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This happened at a particularly dull cache.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We recorded the momentous 1001<sup>st</sup> cache, which was marginally less dull, with a picture where we unsuccessfully attempted to spell ‘1001’ with our fingers!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On arrival at home, we noticed that a new puzzle cache had just been published – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Whomping Willow</i> to give it a name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The Cache Owners were the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hegwig Hawks</i> who appear to hide mostly Harry Potter themed caches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now young HP leaves me cold, but Sean and his sister read all the books and so I thought we might be in with a chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We both started independently on the puzzle; I was about half-way through it, and feeling quite pleased with myself, as I’m not good at puzzle caches, when Sean announced he had solved it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>5 minutes later we were in the car, armed with a couple of torches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was all quiet at GZ – I love a bit of night caching – and within a few minutes I had located the cache.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Our first FTF in February.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It later turned out that another caching team were also planning to go out that night and only changed their minds when Sean logged the find.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In the FTF race, he who hesitates is Second-To-Find!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As an aside I heard recently that a local caching team grabs FTF’s but deliberately doesn’t log them for a few hours just to encourage others to join the FTF race, obviously without a hope of success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Charming!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On the following day we went back and polished off the last 2 caches in the CCC series and also completed RoobyDoo’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Best Ale?</i> puzzle cache.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This contains some internet research, which I completed in June 2009, some locally gained information, for which I used Google Earth (naughty I know!), and then the walk to the cache.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This cache now holds the record for our longest to solve cache at 20 months!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtg_iSlDZKTZkcya39EDqnEC6ExXzmRAe49EFCPnfO5IeMcl33u5MfG9sNJ-mvvSFVkqh9w4r9FVqPM7DUG8VgEmZbWLKTdqlYMiQIlA2UdVJLmfTFSCBkMIN-E_8S9qTIWDCVFKeSODx/s320/6x-header.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580010751087154178" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 52px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">The logo has nothing to do with caching, but 6X is the best ale! ... to answer RD's question!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">After the puzzle cache we legged it over to the nearby <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Watchfield Windmills</i> cache where we grabbed this picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Economically bankrupt (they cost more in subsidy than the electricity value they produce), and an environmental eyesore, they are strangely compelling up close.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQD5vWJyYXeuWfs0msXM7ZchRUGEmoGz8HRUlZotrCPjJC_4CmUL21b7gLH-1eNN94r1oni0UbSKd9Xa-kJuDbmsvbCYmcjDDpJbWySkaan7DP_jo79Oo2N9zSjjF_86d_dAb1AGH8oVGE/s400/windmill.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580010103806067746" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><watchfield windmills=""></watchfield></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkxXnx0zN12gDpPjx59W9FC3xSmfVqplcfMiy3kod1TytkIdpLbB3HaPxMZmVzeTCGePVgyDX1wq-8UKIFGRtl451qbWJuEFpJ_xVoSvEUolNVyzm2OojgLHFqo7ZrULlE4x9OGN-6gJX/s320/vixen.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580008658126024786" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 253px; " /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The following Saturday we drove on over to Grove, near Wantage to attend the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Logging Yer Lurve!</i> event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Beforehand we did a really super circular walk in the winter sunshine around Grove starting from the aircraft on the edge of what was the Grove airbase (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Grove’s Venom</i>), taking in a stretch of the abandoned Wilts & Berks canal.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><plane></plane></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3s450ZQO-W8Jr3auz5Fjd7Qi2-awdUl5LgHE3wujg7iWeRyoUy1uQfsgxbrxcqI7IcYWmSILCuKzbFBqqlD2cLhRWtO0TDc450g1afuNlmqZC7RUunhZrTfnE3Ba3McQZk18gDxIi1gxC/s320/bellend.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580007674037835522" /><p class="MsoNormal">The following day we attended February’s <i>Swindon Soirees</i> meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Very good, as always, but I had to leave early to see John Cooper Clarke in Reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Next day I had some business to attend to in Halesowen and couldn’t help taking in a local urban micro called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">ding dong!!!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>F-narr, f-narr to quote Viz!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><bell end=""></bell></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">A couple of days later we had a visit to Nottingham Uni with Smenus, grabbing a cache on-site and one just outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>On the way we visited <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Aladdins Cave</i> which is a puzzle cache just outside Nottingham Centre – basically an ammo can in an Army Surplus Emporium, not many ammo cans there then!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The very friendly store owners are cachers themselves and we had a mega chin-wag; their prices are also great, so a visit is highly recommended if you’re ever in Nottingham.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">To be continued ...</span></b></p> <!--EndFragment-->Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-68127913047517768352011-02-26T04:52:00.000-08:002011-02-26T05:14:25.700-08:00Seven Wonders<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">An impression, not a detailed review</b><div><b><br /></b><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 151px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3xS4_7HDXk0agFihvcPRgbbjIxQ2W4gpw48bVNKQYcjt-jh_L52WW1q9JY-rRDTgIp2amTfKcTlmCHV3Z7uWxQcMnIWJJ9yRgSimgvaGUm17Umh-FxdOLoss3Zo-PVS6KYNYLlDvqzMi/s400/7+Wonders+box.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577981063505826274" /> <p class="MsoNormal">I joined a small, but friendly, gaming group in Swindon in Autumn 2006.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>On night #1 we played <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Age of Steam</i> – my initiation into the age of modern gaming had begun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The group members have pretty similar tastes in the main, and I can never recall any serious falling out over choice of game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We all have our preferences – they can generally be accommodated and, if not, they find table time elsewhere when everyone around the table will enjoy them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We are definitely followers of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Cult of the New</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>With the exception of fillers, we tend to play new games each week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Or at least that was the case until a few weeks ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In the last four years very few games have made it to the table three weeks in a row: I can only recall <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Agricola</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Le Havre</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Automobile</i> doing so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Of course there are other ‘staples’ that we regularly return to, most notably <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Ra</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Power Grid</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Steam</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The latter two being highly variable because of the range of different maps available for each.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Since Christmas we have held nine Tuesday game sessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Seven Wonders</i> has been played no less than 13 times and at seven of these sessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So what has made this game buck the trend?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Why do we continue to play it?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Firstly a little history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Seven Wonders</i> was definitely the ‘hit’ of Essen 2010 – maybe not to the same extent as say <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Agricola</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Dominion </i>in previous years, but definitely had the ‘buzz’ coming out of the show.</p><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbXcaE-5LH7AA84Bk9XIiFjlWQoxPauDjxuGHplvSO-3TvTyvdcxKsl6uS_tV0DtF6Sd2LQXnpEhukOEKtbWQB6BXDmbzzGIK6Er-yQEEbm-CJHt6jU306IWHZCoSY4jTlfSusexg8JLm/s320/7+Wonders+in+play.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577981367951045010" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Since its release last October it has risen to 15<sup>th</sup> place on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Boardgamegeek</i>, easily the highest of the latest Essen crop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I first played it at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Midcon</i> in November 2010, playing it 4 times with up to 7 players.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I then ‘helped’ Father Christmas procure a copy and it duly arrived, as if by magic, under the Christmas Tree.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">The game in a nutshell</b></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">-<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Civ-building game, based on one of the Seven Wonders<img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 141px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdYfCKGtijfroidFSatvJd1Fmy73KJ8fMrObaLlthtblYzLnl0A9mwtR25uRP4y7H5_ZuKGY6GtTGTI-K0V7Z79YPDVbllFsqEEuLe8pRWEz_JAaGAUZfNIsCkgk_Y99DuKfpGqUDaR6F/s200/Example+cards.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577982691995128514" /></li><li><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">-<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Plays 3-7 players</li><li><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">-<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Takes around 30 minutes, slightly quicker with experience</li><li><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">-<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>The playing time is constant irrespective of the number of players</li><li><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">-<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Simultaneous card drafting</li><li><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">-<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>18 decisions per game</li><li><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">-<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Generally plays differently each time</li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">The good<o:p></o:p></b></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">-<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Scales well<img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 88px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZmiJvcpnc82BROAYuU_N8NqtA__rOSxuiEC-kLsYjtRcAx_oR4vJUS5oc0osPxQn15Ih8qOPvQm5zLSA2zQaExLfntBUV2Vk6W9iUH9_aDFuIAIJzY2E9QJZvILLXuBCHY9zDql_UuFo/s200/A+Wonder.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577982373764066178" /></li><li><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">-<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Quick playing time, you generally play at least twice</li><li><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">-<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>You feel that each game is different</li><li><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">-<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Elements of strategic and tactical play</li><li><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">-<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>It is fun!</li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">The bad<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">-<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Maybe a bit lightweight for some (not for me, I love lightweight!)</li><li><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">-<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Nothing else</li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It helps that we all enjoy playing the game; there is no dissent on that score.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There are many paths to victory and each game feels fresh and new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As the playing time is so short, even if you finish with a low score, your first thought is to re-shuffle the cards and have another go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Still a great game – destined for my Top 10 methinks.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is also somewhat ironic that we have recently discovered <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Glory to Rome</i>, a more involved game (that we also enjoy) that has some similarities to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Seven Wonders</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We have now played it two weeks in a row, but will it last?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Any pictures above are copyright </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Boardgamegeek</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-74946001584230567802011-02-22T03:28:00.000-08:002011-02-22T03:51:07.653-08:00John Cooper Clarke (live)<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">Sub 89, Reading, 13<sup>th</sup> Feb 2011<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(rescheduled from Dec 2010)</span></b><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">My favourite poem is not by Keats or Shelley or even Edward Lear but is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">(I Married A) Monster From Outer Space</i> by John Cooper Clarke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It includes the classic verse:</span></p> <img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 186px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uEtTji3O8V9HBLc56kt9fFkwZVkrvyDbc3WrTjboO0JotA4jw0wlg7Lhz98cemQNlx6gMJsZ_i-JrSrk4OtJAQnYjgQHDCg_yitN6I0Et2im23CjdlBon8uYEgTlDmLfL7-dUp093hpy/s320/jcc+tour+poster.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576475679454605730" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">We walked out - tentacle in hand<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">You could </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;">sense that the earthlings would not understand</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">They'd go ... nu</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;">dge nudge ... when we got off the bus</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Saying it's extra-terrestial - not like us<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">And it's bad enough with another race</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">But f*ck me... a monster ...from outer space!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><br /></span></p><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 110px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzIA0hqpsNRgVBibtQuZXP2hwUFmYoC_gAsUry52-wIc0ZP9DFueiIgzNdE-d776Z-86ydrUyaMpqkEK3RcbxnE1HHjLxli2uOMuuV8Iw-xldUS10zscxPhwo-rKKisD2o5f3-lRWqH_n/s320/jcc+book.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576478544637049906" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">I have a copy of the Bard of Salford’s esteemed collection of poems entitled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">ten years i</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">n an open necked shirt</i>, published in 1983.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That was a couple of years after the last time I saw JC</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">C </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">li</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">ve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This was a time when a paperback cost around £3, a LP (as they were called back then</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">cost a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">bout £3 and a ticket to a gig also cost about £3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How the world has changed – a paperback now costs c.£5/6 (thanks to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Amazon</i> and the demise of the NBA), an album is essentially </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">free* </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">(thanks to Napster/the internet) and it can cost you up to £50 to see your favourite band (thanks to a multitude of greedy b*st*rds lining their pockets).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Why do you think so many washed-up third-rate bands from the 1970s and 1980s are now reforming?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">This was the first time I’ve been to Sub 89 – a decent little club, holding about 600, smack in the middle of Reading, not far from the station.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Usual hard-looking, but friendly enough, bouncers and beer sold in plastic glasses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We stuck with the Newcastle Brown as there was nothing reasonable on tap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The crowd was perhaps 250-strong ranging from students to pensi</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">oners, average age c. 50-ish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Seats were provided for the elderly audience, but we stood at the back – poetry being best appreciated standing.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">It was somewhat reassuring that the Support Act was embarrassingly bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That’s the way it traditionally was, and the way it should be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We took the opportunity to slip away to the Wetherspoons-type pub </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">down the road – decent reasonably-priced real ale (London Pride I think from memory) and haggis, neeps and tatties on special at £1.99.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Champion.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">Back to Sub 89.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The couple of times I’d seen JCC live before he simply stood up and rattled through his poems in about 30 minutes or so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This time he had 90 minutes to fill – good value at £15/ticket.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">Enter JCC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Not looking too dissimilar to the character we all remembered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You may think I’ve put on weight … it’s only since I stopped taking drugs</i>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However the accent and mannerisms hadn’t changed one iota.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s somehow as reassuring as the crap support band – it’s like 1977 all over again.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">The set consisted of about 30 minutes of poems (at most), the rest of the time being anecdotes, jokes or explanation</span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">s of the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">poems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A typical joke: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Condoms were very hard to get hold of in Ireland 15 years ago … they had to smuggle them in inside bags of heroin</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One anecdote was about his first paid gigs which just happened to be at Bernard Manning’s infamous Embassy Club, and being introduced to the audience with ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Well he’s not my cup of tea, but you may like him …</i>’</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">The crowd would probably have been happy enough if he merely repeated his set from 1980.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He only did 3 old poems – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Beasley Street</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Chickentown</i> and one more that </span></p><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 255px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGA1EHGJwQG-7xH3qqSHVZoocjXnxVi8R5DAQjrg5JZpgsm-ErK7Xgu5HGVmE1OwWex3BI5-BJz3HtZj58hqlK8zScu_jogozHKbbONVHP0Oll3sAkfuVuGADybJznDi7qMktkcmPectW/s320/jcc+live.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576477804482906770" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">I’ve forgotten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However there is a spattering of new work including an update of Beasley Street about the gentrification of the area – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Beasley Boulevard</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Another standout was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Belgium is the Watford of the World</i> – the title says it all.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;">All in all, an excellent evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We can no longer witness the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Clash</i> or the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Ramones</i>, but the poetry of punk lives on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I definitely won’t leave it 30 years until I see him live again.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">* Not me Officer, I pay for all of my downloads</span></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112395377915706137.post-13477946301638184402011-02-11T01:29:00.000-08:002011-02-11T01:31:19.950-08:00Book review - The Joy of Geocaching<div><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7941024-the-joy-of-geocaching" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Joy of Geocaching" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1270182328m/7941024.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7941024-the-joy-of-geocaching">The Joy of Geocaching</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/473593.Paul_Gillin">Paul Gillin</a><br/></div><div>My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/123470601">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /></div><div>First the good news: this book has no line drawings of dodgy looking bearded men. You can also leave it on the bookshelf when your parents come round for tea.</div><div><br/></div><div><br/>Unfortunately the strap line on the cover of the book is <em>How to Find Health, Happiness and Creative Energy Through a Worldwide Treasure Hunt</em>. If there is anything that will stop a Brit, and probably most Europeans, opening a book it is twaddle of this ilk. However I realise that Americans seem to need this schmaltz – here we are the <em>Chicken Soup for the Geocacher’s Soul</em>!</div><div><br/></div><div><br/>But wait, it gets worse … the introduction actually contains a story of how Geocaching saves someone’s life. I kid you not! At this stage most readers will surely be reaching for the sick-bucket.</div><div><br/></div><div><br/>But wait, stay with it. The book that follows this very questionable opening is actually quite good. That was my initial reaction after a couple of chapters. Half-way through I was beginning to revise my opinion and thought the book rather good. By the time I’d finished it, my conclusion was that the book is very good indeed. So what does it contain?</div><div><br/></div><div><br/>Well just about everything that the budding geocacher needs really. It covers all of the basics – buying a GPSr, navigating <em>geocaching.com</em>, planning a trip, the different types of hides and geocaches, navigation and etiquette. It also covers the social side of the sport, plus specialist branches such as power trails and extreme caching.</div><div><br/></div><div><br/>One aspect that is commendable is the coverage of technology and the features of <em>geocaching.com</em>. However both move on at a pace and will necessitate future revisions of the book. The extensive coverage of <em>GSAK</em> is a bit galling for Mac owners though.</div><div><br/></div><div><br/>The true strength of the book is the way that the hobby is brought to life by <em>Waypoints</em> and <em>Cacher Profiles</em> in the book. The authors use real life examples and anecdotes from enthusiasts to illustrate why this is such a fun hobby. The authors have made some excellent choices to represent geocaching and deserve a lot of credit for this. I read the book over several months – its layout facilitates this and I enjoyed dipping in and out and reading short sections. This is a well thought-through book that is extremely well written.</div><div><br/></div><div><br/>So what are my criticisms of the book? There are some minor sections that are disappointing – for example the sections on letterboxing and orienteering. However my biggest criticism would be that the book is too US-centric. It would definitely be improving by widening its coverage, and probably sell more copies too. Of course this is a general sin of American media, but the <em>Podcacher</em> podcast is a great example of how an international perspective can be a strength.</div><div><br/></div><div><br/>I love geocaching, but view it as a fun hobby rather than a source of health, happiness and creative energy. Although in reality all three probably do apply, just I wouldn’t articulate such things. So after reading the book what are my thoughts? Firstly this is a well researched and excellently written book. Secondly it captures the hobby perfectly. Thirdly it illustrates why so many geocachers enjoy the hobby and get so much out of it. Finally it handles the basics perfectly, yet is equally enjoyable for the experienced geocacher.</div><div><br/></div><div><br/>I enjoyed reading the book and learnt from it. I also laughed at some of the anecdotes, recognizing some of them from my own experiences. I am not a beginner – I have over 1000 finds and 40 hides. That the book caters for the absolute beginner and also for me is quite an achievement. As I read the book, I thought ‘I should write a book about geocaching’. However if I dedicated a year of my life full-time to writing a book it would not be a patch on this one, so why bother?</div><div><br/></div><div><br/>I bought this book last summer in Cape Cod, mainly because I wanted to read about geocaching. The only other books I’d seen at the time were <em>The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Geocaching</em> and <em>Geocaching for Dummies</em>. <strong>Quite frankly if you buy one of those books in preference to this one, you’d be both an idiot and a dummy</strong>.</div><div><br/><br/></div><div><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4137869-ian">View all my reviews</a></div><div><br /></div>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05053352214448083590noreply@blogger.com1