Friday, December 23, 2016

Best Christmas Present Ever (And Some Orcs)

I am very happy to report that Madame Padre is back home where she belongs, after two surgeries and a long recuperation.  She went into hospital on 11 Nov, was discharged on 9 Dec, and then readmitted on 12 Dec when everything went rather sideways, for a total of 35 days and nights in hospital over two months.  In today’s health care system, where they send you home hours after minor surgery or delivering a baby, that length of stay is almost unheard of.  Yesterday she celebrated her first day of freedom by going back to hospital, but as an outpatient this time, for her first dose of chemo.   She will receive this drug every three weeks, and by Easter we should know how she is doing.   During all the ups and downs of this process, I was buoyed and supported by so many of my wargaming friends, including readers of this blog.   I thank you all.  Life from here on is uncertain.  Kay is classified as a palliative case, meaning that her cancer can only be managed, not cured, and while her doc says that chemo gets good results, we know that her cancer is advanced and inoperable.   Each day is a gift, a chance to appreciate what we’ve done and been together, and to make plans as bravely as we can for the future.   That seems like the best Christmas present we could receive, and we’re grateful for it.

 In all of those 35 days I have been visiting the hospital when I wasn’t working, sleeping, or tending the Catbeasts of Mordor, so there wasn’t a lot of painting going on.   I did however get a few small projects accomplished, including these eight Orcs from Vendel Miniatures, which are now repped on the Sgt. Major Miniatures page, here.  My friend James and I went in on an order to flesh out our armies of Middle Earth project, as I wanted some diversity from my mainly GW collection of LOTR figures.  These fellows are the OR5 Small Orcs Charging, I think, though the chaps in the photo aren’t throwing their spears overhand (which seems to be a Vendel thing).

I wanted to give them a uniform look, as one would expect for a liveried and trained orc regiment raised in Mordor proper.   A lot of the GW Orcs look quite irregular and scruffy, but these fellows look more dependable, less prone to fighting amongst themselves (Damn!  Lord Sauron, my troops have self-decimated … again!).  As per my SOP for basing LOTR badges, the bases are 

I owe the inspiration for the various Eye patters on the shield to James.  Over on his blog he has done some terrific work bringing his Vendel figures to life, including elves, bad guys, and dwarves. Highly recommended.  These four look like they are posted on guard, perhaps at the gates of Dol Goldur, looking for bagginsess?

And orcs stabbing overhand, or maybe throwing, though since most of them are not cast with any other weapons, throwing may not be such a good idea.

 

I am quite happy with Vendel figures, seeing as how my orcs and these other fellows have painted up.  Vendel figures have a pleasantly old school feel to them, and are quite a bargain, allowing me to round out my legions of Middle Earth without spending a fortune on GW figures - the LOTR range is still available for the most part, but is produced on demand now, I think, and is now all hard plastic, even the sculpts that were once metal.  

I wonder, do they know it’s Christmas time in Mordor?  Well, we do here.   

From Madame Padre and I, blessings to all of you and your loved ones.  Cherish them and cherish your time with them.

Blessings to your brushes!

MP+

These figures bring my 2016 totals to:

28mm:  Foot Figures: 110; Mounted Figures: 10; Buildings: 3; Terrain Features: 2

20mm:  Buildings: 1

6mm:  Mounted figures:  36;  Buildings:  2

58 comments:

  1. Great figures and fantastic that Madame Padre is home.

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    1. Thank you milord Duke for this and for all your steadfast encouragement this past year. Blessings to you and your girls this Yuletide.

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  2. I've been away from home for some time, and I'm only just catching up with other people's blogs, hence my failure to comment earlier.

    I am sorry to hear the news about your wife's medical condition, but it sounds as if she is getting excellent treatment, and that it is having a positive effect. Please accept my best wishes for her continued improvement, and hopes that her life will continue to be a joy that both of you can continue to enjoy for the foreseeable future.

    I hope that you both have an enjoyable Christmas,

    Bob

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    1. Thank you kindly Bob. Kay did indeed receive excellent care. Our national system is probably a bit like your NHS in that it is not always good at day to day care, maintenance and prevention but excellent in times of crisis.
      Wishing you and yours a joyous and merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Looking forward to reading your fascinating blog more often.

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  3. Michael - delighted that Kay is home - I wish you both a lovely Christmas, and may she continue to gain strength in the coming weeks. Bless you both.

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    1. Thank you so much, Tony. Same to you and yours at Chateau Foy.

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  4. Great news. I wish you both a merry Christmas cheers Paul

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  5. Michael, you deliver good news that Kay is out of hospital in time to celebrate Christmas in your home! Enjoy this Christmas holiday together with friends and family. We wish you both the very best.

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    1. Thank you Jon, and the same to you and yours. Your support has been much appreciated.

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  6. Absolutely the best news. Wishing you and Kay a very merry Christmas. God bless you all..

    (And the cat beasts of mordor)

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    1. And the same to you and all the Kinches. The Catbeasts of Mordor send their regards and especially to Sir Harry F.

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  7. Indeed a lovely Christmas gift for her to be home by your side (and you by hers), and news by Easter seems to be very appropriate.

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    1. Very kind of you and I agree with your very apt Easter sentiment. All the best of the season to you and yours, looking forward to more of your marvellously eclectic posts in the new year.

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  8. Merry Christmas to both of you. Nice work with the brushes too.

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  9. Merry Christmas and all the best to both of you from me as well!

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    1. Many thanks brother. Same to you. Love your blog, always full of creative ideas.

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  10. Everyday is a blessing. Merry Xmas to you and Madam Padre.

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    1. Thank you, Ashley. So grateful for your support and kind encouragement. Best to you and yours.

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  11. Wonderful news...hope you both have a Merry Christmas. Nice to see some 'traditional' orcs sporting the Eye of Sauron....good work.

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    1. Thanks brother. Same to you and your loved ones. Yes, it is a Sauron Christmas this year. I wonder if he gets anything in his stocking beside coal? Poor chap.

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  12. Huzzah for the Mrs. and for you! Merry Christmas to both of you!

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    1. Thank you Pastor. Same to you and Beth. Be well and prosper in the year to come. Hoping we can game together at some point.

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  13. Great news to have Madame home for Christmas. Thoughts and best wishes for 2017.
    Peter

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    1. Thank you kindly, Peter - a great gift indeed. Same to you and yours. Let's hope 2017 is kinder to all of us.

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  14. That's good news for the holidays! Best wishes to you both for the new year.

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    1. Thank you Pat. Same to you and yours. Here's to a pint and some dice rolling together in the new year.

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  15. Merry Christmas to you both - it is best when family are together...

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    1. Cheers, Ion. Agreed. Hope you and yours are all well and enjoying the holidays.

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  16. I sent off for the start of two opposing forces (wood elves v goblins/orcs) from Vendel over a year ago ( including some of these orcs) and they have been hardly started. Your figures encourage me to get them out and have a go when things are a tad quieter...

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    1. I think you will like painting the Vendel figures. They are very simple sculpts, so not demanding of effort to get every single detail, but they have a very pleasing rough and ready look when done.

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  17. Great to hear that the Madame Padre is home for Christmas, wishing you both a very special time together.

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    1. Thank you so much Michael. All the best to the Family Awdry this holidays.

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  18. Really happy to see you both at home at last.
    You've taught us a lesson over the last months that I'll put to good use from now.
    Be sure you'll have a seat at our table and minds in tonight's dinner
    Merry Xmas to all

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    1. Thank you Benito. I pray that your lady is well and your lives can proceed happily. Enjoy every moment together. Tomorrow I will be serving a nice Spanish Rioja for Christmas dinner and will be toasting you and yours.

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  19. What excellent news!

    Best wishes to both yourself and Mdme Padre over the festive season.

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    1. Thank you so much Edwin. All the best to you and yours. I am sure Christmas in Norwich Cathedral would be quite lovely, wish I was there.

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  20. Wonderful news that your wife is home - Thanks for the reminder to cherish everyday with your family - sometimes we become distracted by things of lesser importance and loose sight of that fact.

    I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas

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    1. Indeed, Millsy, my sentiment exactly. Thank you kindly and the same to you and yours.

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  21. Very glad to hear that Mme Padre is back for Christmas. Both of you are in our prayers.

    Oh, and fantastic work on those Orcs, let's not forget!

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    1. Thanks so much, mate, much appreciated. Glad you liked the orcs.

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  22. That is good news.
    I noticed that these orcs are green skinned. Your others are black skinned

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    1. My orcs are multi-skinned. Barad-Dur has a big diversity recruitment program going, to ensure a greater employment equity environment. Compare that with Rohan and Gondor - all white, very racist!

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  23. Great post, great news, love the old school orcs, have a great Christmas.
    Best Iain

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    1. Many thanks, Iain. All the best to you and yours as well.

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  24. Great news that Mme. Padre is back home for Xmas. Have a great time together.

    All the Best,

    Pete.

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    1. Thanks Pete. Hope you and yours had a good one.

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  25. Aye. Great to hear you have the missus back home for Christmas Padre. Have a wonderful time.

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    1. Thank you so much. Hope your Christmas was as good as mine.

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  26. I'm so pleased Mrs Padre is home for Christmas. Have a great Xmas and New Year the both of you.

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  27. Hi there
    Glad that you have the Mrs back home during the holidays.
    Give her my regards and a very God Jul to the both of you!

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  28. So very glad she's home. Best Christmas present ever.

    Have a good holiday, padre. And all power to your Paintbrush.

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    1. Thank you so much. Hope you and yours had a festive tine as well.

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  29. So very glad she's home. Best Christmas present ever.

    Have a good holiday, padre. And all power to your Paintbrush.

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  30. Am everso happy to hear the Madame Padre is back where she belongs, but your news made me so sad Mike. I wish you both so much love and happiness throughout this, it's been stressful enough.

    Those orcses both fit in very nicely with your previous collection and look rather spiffy with your very nice freehand designs on their shields.

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