RTB AT LARGE

Front Rank Bavarians

2012-01-26T09:01:00.000Z

Front Rank Bavarians painted as a commission last year.

Bit too over fed for my tastes but nice figures all the same.

These arent display shots but rather ones sent to the client for him to check over

He was very pleased with the figures although we did have issues with DHL / US customs....

Hope you enjoy the pictures.

The best laid plans of mice and men.................

2012-01-04T13:57:00.000Z

Well, 2011 was a massive year for painting for me. I completed 5 very large commissions (over 2,000 figures in total) as well as painting quite a bit for me. One of my regular clients (who I am completing some work for as we speak ) reckons I am getting better! Seeing as I am charging him the same he is getting some value there.

The pictures arent very good, with very poor lighting but I think you get the drift.

Naples Chasseur trumpeter now in Texas.

Naples general

Front Rank Polish fusilieer - an experiment really to see if I could still paint the Foundry way.

French light infantry for a client

6 x 36 battalions of them!

Same client's Russians.

One thing that is going really well, and I hope to have painted figures up soon, are my Poles that Paul Hicks has sculpted for me. These should be available for sale Mid Feb as I want some painted for me first! A reminder of what they look like:

And on a final note this wargaming malarkey is rather contagious isnt it? From not being interested at all four or five of us (inlcuding Ken, Simon - Big Red Bat - Miller, Will "The Belgian" ) are planning a quasi refight of Borodino at Chez Blaireau end of March. So, if you live near Edwalton in Nottingham pop along and throw some dice! If you are competitive, tee-total and gamesy however the offer is withdrawn as there will drinking, eating, cigar chomping, cat spoiling (my cat has Ken trained to open doors at her whim) as well as some very bad jokes.

2nd battle of Murowski-Staag

2011-11-30T09:24:00.000Z

Marshal Ney leads the French cavalry to doom.........................

My new (metal) French Cuirassier unit

Side view

Evil Russian horde - part of the new painting commission

My jaegars out front but the rest are now Ken's.

French cavalry brigade that obviously got wiped out

French in L'Ordre Mixed..........for all the good it did them

Artillery and Bavarians

Into the valley of death road the slaphead....................

Right, as many of you know I am no wargamer, but I am confused. Please see picture above. The French got 11 dice but teh Russians got 16. How? Same number of figures, same number being able to fight. If I continue with this wargaming malarkey I dont think I'll use Blackpowder.

The result was as expected. In other words I lost all my cavalry but my infantry were pretty much holding their own but my entire left flank was about to be rolled up by the victorious Russian cavalry division.

Hope you like the pictures.

Ken's Russians

2011-11-21T09:21:00.000Z

Finished a large commission a month ago for a division of Russians with Cuirassiers for my friend Ken.

8 x 24 figure infantry battalions, including two jaegar

Three brigade stands

And a divsional command - below

Flags are by GMB, basing by me.

All in all I am quite pleased with them.

Problem is Ken wants to "road test" them a week Tuesday................................

With my generalship and inability to read a rule book I see my French getting a hammering

The guns are by Front Rank with Foundry crews.

Hope you like them.

News on the Poles soon and a report of my defeat.

Poles apart and other stuff.

2011-09-13T13:36:00.000+01:00

Sculpted by Paul Hicks, directions and finance from me.

Yes, the mystery is solved, they are mine! Mine I tell you! All mine!

This isnt really a commercial decision, although they will be available for sale, but I warn people I will be covering my costs so please dont complain as your complaints will be referred to our customer services department (Puss-fat the cat) and unless you are willing to bribe her with a freshly roasted free range chicken then you have no chance.

Couple of points though:

Yes, the range will be added to include a full command including officers on horseback.
Possibly will include cavalry and artillery crew.
Wurttemburg is next as we can use the same dollies - this is not cheap by the way so if you do want to complain and whinge please doate to the "feed fatso fresh chicken fund instead of manky cat food."

David asked about the buildings from my first wargame; they are made by a company called Conflix - search google or fleece-bay. They are pretty cheap and excellent quality. Highly recommended.

I've been doing lots of commission work the last few months so not much new from me. I reckon I've painted a few thousand figures this year and only some artillery for my "good" self.

The real world cup is on at the moment and my lot stuffed South Africa but still f*cking lost by one stupid point! AAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHHH!!!!! Same old story.

England were truly shocking (hahahahahahahahahahaha) against Argentina who would have beaten them easily but lost their skipper, play maker and inspiration. Saying that, and this hurts, England showed exactly what South Africa did against Wales, some teams know how to win.

I wont mention the hacking scandal other than to point out that Blair was in bed with Murdoch as much as Cameron, but at least Blair never actually had someone on the payroll who still being paid by him. But then if you know my views about our Old Etonian Dave, jsut call me Dave (when the camera is on us anyway then its Mr to you peasent) Cameron.

Nos da for now. Pray for Wales as I cant handle this anymore.

Battle of Muravski-staag

2011-07-28T14:12:00.000+01:00

I fought my first ever real wargame last night with my chum Ken.

Ken commanded a joint Russian / Prussian force trying to evict a joint French / allied force from a small village.

The game ended about 11pm with the French still holding onto the village

However, they were about to be creamed (technical term there) as the Russian juggernaut was about to splatter what was left of the French left flank.

Good fun, great company, and Ken was very patient explaining the rules to me.

We used Blackpowder and overall it was good. I total newcomer picked them up (sort of) quite quickly.

My only real concern was why should an attack column get as many shots as a line?

Seems a bit odd to me. There were other things that just didnt feel right to me but may be thats my ignorance.

Napoleon popped along to have his picture taken.

The Old Guard were all that stood between a Russian / Prussian victory and salvation at the end.

The Prussian line were wiped out to man and the game ended when the Bavarian artillery were probably about to do the same to the reservists

A flurry of orders..............two glasses of red, some ham rolls, pork pie but none of those horrible sausage rolls or Pringles...........

They looked relaxed dont they?

Through sheer ineptness I managed to lose all the French cavalry and horse artillery without really achieving much. Or, I held up the Prussian long enough for the reinforcements to arrive!

Russian jaegar did well. B*stards.

The beginning of the Russian onslaught.

Help! Foundry Russian Napoleonics

2011-07-27T09:27:00.000+01:00

I wonder if any of you kind ladies or gents can help me out of a pickle? No! Not branston (although with cheddar there is nothing finer) but the Foundry have stitched me up!

A while back I bought some of their Napoleonic Russian regiments; I bought some fatigue cap in great coat, and some in fatigue cap. Guess what? They are exactly the bloomin same! This means I didn't buy any in fatigue caps and uniform coat during the last sale and I urgently need some!

If you have some spare Russian infantry march attack in uniform coats and fatigue cap I would be most interested to hear from you. I can either swap you for great coated figures, or full dress with shako.

I'd also be interested in getting hold of some Russian Grenadiers (not guard) in post 1812 kiwer, and French grenadiers pre-1812 in campaign uniform and bearskin.

If you can help drop me an email at: roger.murrow@mmc2100.co.uk

Thanks.

Latest commission

2011-07-05T14:21:00.000+01:00

Foundry French Empress Dragoons painted by Moi, basing by Arch Duke Charles

These are now in the collection of the said Arch Duke

Front Rank Lassalle sold to ADC and based by him

How to paint lots of different black horses and not have two the same shade

Foundry Grenadier a cheval again in Canada as part of the collection of Arch Duke Charles.

Victrix Corner

2011-06-10T09:11:00.000+01:00

I've assembled and painted three battalions (with Will's help) of Victrix French.

These have been painted as Italians and Swiss.

All in all I like'em, but not putting them together!

These were the last unit I painted with the black undercoat method

I had a varnish disaster with these so apologies if they arent very good

The varnish went "white" and the figures needed retouching

Quite a loss of detail - Julian wouldnt be happy with me!

The Swiss came out really well.

White undercoat though

Will did the assembly on these hence they are well modelled.

Italian skirmishers

Hope you like'em.

Perry French line lancers

2011-05-30T14:26:00.000+01:00

Completed unit of 12 figures

Nice figures

Still have to get, and paint, the six rear rankers with swords

I hated putting the pennants on - GMB

.......unto the valley of death..............

Oops! Wrong war.

The casuality figures are very nice

Iannicks favourite horse - hope you enjoy the pictures

Foundry French horse artillery

2011-05-24T16:12:00.000+01:00

My horse artillery for my little army

Officer in charge of team

Flash git officer, bungler and officer with pointy thing

Side view of one gun and crew

Battery with teams

Russian artillery

2011-05-20T12:52:00.000+01:00

Foundry Russian crew with Front Rank gun

Command stand

I much prefer the Front Rank guns and they seem to work with the Foundry crews

And Foundry dont make Licornes either

Some French lancers on the horizon

The full battery

Another view of teh command

Blogger awards

2011-05-11T13:15:00.000+01:00

I've received two nominations for these blogger award thingies. I believe you have to inform people of seven things they dont know about you. Err..............ok, here we go:

1. I am half Welsh, quarter Polish, and a quarter Danish. So, you can tell I am a calm, laid back individual who does not paint himself blue, murder, pillage and charge tanks on horse back.
2. Through thirty years of rugby I have broken over fifty bones including seven nose breaks - same nose each time.
3. I have played "Bar Crawl" Monopoly in New York. I lost.
4. The first time in Paris I managed to get seperated from the rest of my group, with no Francs, twenty words of French and no idea where I was. Fortunately there was an English bloke there who bought me drinks, paid for my cab across Paris when my group contacted me. His name was Don Letts the film maker and erstwhile member of Big Audi Dynamite.
5. I have an MBA for my sins.
6. I joned the Labour party when I was 15 and they wanted me become a councillor, have a poltical career in South Wales. As soon as I could I "eimgrated" and went to university at Warwick!
7. On my 21st birthday I drank 21 pints of beer.

My nominees are:

Martin Kellys site
Clash of empires
Scott Macphees site
Paul Alba's beautiful AB Napoleonics site
Giles's site even though he is a tory git

Long time no hear

2011-05-06T09:08:00.000+01:00

For some reason blogger hasnt been allowing me to post. I am sure its Cameron's fault.

Above are some Russian Generals who are leaving for the states soon.

This is a Perry lancer for moi.

Outlandish officer

I am pleased with this horse. I like painting horses.

Standard bearer

Naples cahsseurs that are already in Texas.

Detail of the trumpeter

General de division

Some foundry dwarfs that are now in Belgium

A front rank Pole ... just an experiment really.

Hope you enjoy.

I am not commenting on the AV referendum (I cant believe people are rejecting a chance of democracy) or the six nations as I can jsut about handle losing to England, but England playing attractive rugby? Please! What next? Common sense from politicians?

Wales were their usual mixture of sublime, surreal and silly. No wonder I have grey hair.

Foundry & Perry Prussians and French.. and some Calpe

2011-03-11T15:06:00.004Z

Russian Jaegers, dragoons, cuirassiers and command

2011-02-24T16:08:00.006Z

Foundry Russian generals
Most of my Russian collection

Dragoons

Cuirassiers

Jaeger regiment - head swaps by William De Pretre and Dmitri

Just gone back to using Foundry flesh - I hate to say it but better than vallejo

These can be used as skirmsihers as are based on triangles if you look carefully

I know Russian officers were meant to wear green but you ever seen BBC's War and Peace?

I think I did a good job on these two.

Nive white horse Iannick?

Too many non helmeted really.

I forgot to pipe the collar white

Gallant aristocratic pig with heroic adc

Flag by GMB

Pesky Prusskies

2011-01-10T13:25:00.004Z

I've been asked a few times for pictures of my completed Prussians ( well, Landwehr cavalry and grenadier battalion to come......)
Here they are: all Foundry and Calpe with some Perry's in there as I liked the figures.

They are on my new terrain layout purchased from pseudo Welshman Gareth Lane.

Now you cannuicks and Frogs have no excuse not to come over for a game.

For the record the infantry comprises of:

One line regiment - 3 battalions and Jaegar

One reserve regiment - 3 battalions

One Landwehr regiment - 4 battalions and volunteer Jaegar

Cavalry comprises of:
One cuirassier regiment
One dragoon regiment
One hussar regiments
One Silesian Uhlan regiment

Artillery comprises of:
One foot battery - 2 x 12lbs
One horse battyer - 2 x 6lbs and howitzer

There are also:

Brigade command stand
Blucher p*ssed out of his mind plus minders
Artillery command
Two senior commands
Light cavalry brigade command
Heavy cavalry brigade command.

Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Happy new year

2011-01-04T16:39:00.003Z

Long time no hear..............and its all my own fault. Or more correctly clients. I've been working for a living and its just not on.

First of all a quick roll call of painting for 2010.

6 x 36 fig Foundry French light infantry for a commission
5 x 24 Front Rank Bavarians - commission
40 odd Front Rank Bavarian cavalry and staff - commission
6 x guns and 4 crew Front Rank Bavarians - commission
4 x guns and 3 crew each Foundry Bavarians - commission
16 x Bavarian Foundry cavalry - commission
A load of Foundry Bavarian infantry and staff - commission
12 x Foundry guard chasseur a cheval - commission

5 x 30 Foundry Russians - mine! All mine!
2 x 36 Foundry French line - mine!
12 Bavarian cavalry and two generals - mine!
37 x 2 Bavarian infantry - mine!
1 x 18 Bavarian infantry - mine!
2 x Bavarian guns and 14 crew - mine
15 x 3 Russian cavalry regiments - mine!
Napoleon and headquarters staff Perry - mine!
3 x Prussian Foundry horse artillery and 20 crew and command - mine!
16 x Foundry Prussian cuirassier - mine!

Not a bad year then really.

I've got plans to finish my Russians, do a couple of commissions and add to my French with Perrys. Also should have completed the purchase of my allied 1815 army to start painting the end of 2011.

Hope to get some pictures of the completed Prussian army and my new terrain layout soon.

Also you will see my new painting website soon and I am hyoping to take more commission work on as I am getting fed up with this marketing malarkey. Too much stress and not enough drinking time.

gratuitous pussy shots

2010-11-01T15:32:00.003Z

I did a few favours for a professional photographer work wise and in payment she took some pictures of my furry goddess; she who must be obeyed.
Her name is Little'Un, but only answers to "your majesty", or at a push "Puss-Puss".

Hardly original I know but based on years experience I now reckon you either get cats or you dont.

I find them absolutely hilarious, and Puss-Puss is a joy to live with.

Foundry French

2010-10-22T08:42:00.005+01:00

Not painted any Foundry French for years but I realised they are the best pre-1812 in campaign
The completed unit

Rear detailing

The colonel - the worst figure

Grenadiers

Command

Lovely mix - I think all my fusileers are different

All the grenadiers are unique I think

I wanted a mix of trousers to give that campaign feel

The weakness of this range is the voltiguers - they are not good. But using the grenadier body with Victrix heads produces these. Will in Belgium did the surgery.

The white is deliberately grubby. I am sure white trousers would not have been that white on campaign.

Foundry Prussian horse artillery

2010-10-11T14:57:00.005+01:00

Firstly the pictures are shocking. I forget how bad a photographer I am.
This horse artillery battery is the penultimate Prussian unit of my little army. It now comprises of: one line regiment (x3 battalions), one reserve regiment (3 battalions) one Landwehr regiment (x4 battalions), one foot battlery, one horse battery, hussars, dragoons, curiassiers, uhlans (saxon due to pretty uniform) plus regular and volunteer Jaegar. Just the Landwehr cavalry to go..............

Foot artillery command

Martin Kelly will weep but these are Foundry foot artillery painted to look like horse artillery. They are using French 8lbs they've acquired.

Howitzer.

Horse artillery command.

"I can see what you are doing you dirty little man..........."

All in I did an ok job but could have been better. I remember why I used to give my guns a gentle dry brish towards the end now.

Russkies - even more of them!

2010-08-30T09:46:00.004+01:00

Five battalions down.................six to go..........
Close up of the grenadier battalion

Some Bavarians sneaked in...........

Front Rank Casuality figures

Line battalion

Close up

General de brigade

Grenadiers

The Russian horde

Russian command

2010-08-23T12:00:00.003+01:00

Been busy (and still) with a large commission of Front Rank Bavarians but managed to add some Russian command to for my grenadier battalion. Will post pictures of the finished Russians when the bases are done but here is a taster.

Napoleon et peacocks - Perry miniatures

2010-07-19T12:57:00.005+01:00

A marshal waiting imnpatiently
Doing the hard Guardian cross word takes team work

Cworr! She's fit!

Oi! You lot! Remember the battle!

The heat......the flies.....the dust............champagne.......champagne...........

That map is rubbish.

This ADC came out well though.

This guys hand writing is better than mine!

Grumpy hussar

Hope you like them.

My mate Dotty

2010-07-06T08:44:00.002+01:00

A few years ago I went to Hampton court (not that one) near Leominster. Lovely gardens and a fantastic river walk. Whilts there I was accosted by the "owner" - Dotty the cat.
Dotty was semi-feral; he was quite happy to lord it over everyone, but I dont think he was ever totally domesticated. He did however adopt me!

The first time I met the furry hero he came from nowhere and decided I must be a soft touch. He then followed me round the gardens until he was side tracked by a load of birds.

I subsequently returned to Hampton Court Gardens and each time was greeted by my friend. The last time I saw he stayed with me for a couple of hours which was charming. Again he came from nowhere and we had a lovely afternoon (my wife walked off and left us to it!). Its a bit surreal being followed round by a cat that isnt "your".

I returned to teh gardens last year, and although I was told that Dotty was around, I couldnt find him. I went there again this weekend and was informed that Dotty had passed away at the age of 15 through "old age".

I would have loved to have seen him again as I was very fond of that cat, and he cheered me up everytime I saw him. I suppose what made it special was that he wasnt anyone's pet, and chose his friends. Dotty hated being indoors but loved people. I've never heard of such a gentle and friendly wild cat; he hated being indoors but made sure he was fed by the lovely people who run Hampton court.

If you go to the gardens there is a little gravestone in the vegetable garden by Dotty's favourite tree. A lovely touch for a lovely little cat who will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

RIP Dotty. Thanks for being my mate.

Russkies ...tharsands of them sar!

2010-06-15T08:38:00.003+01:00

Foundry Russians
Best Foundry Napoleonic range by far..........

............and incomplete

Looking to complete a small Russian force by the end of the year

Hope you like the pic's.

Flags by GMB

They look grumpy dont they?

Grenadiers are being painted at the same time to form a combined grenadier battalion

Should be loads more Russkies this year.

Recent work

2010-05-17T08:37:00.005+01:00

I've been busy! This is my commander of French light cavalry - Foundry Guard Chasseur officer.
Foundry Bavarian cavalry completes my Bavarians.

Foundry Hussar officer painted up as a senior cavalry officer.

H eis old and grumpy just like me!

Not sure I did the Tigger skin very well.

Foundry hussars

The complete unit.

Another view.

Bavarian officer.

The full unit.

Hope you like them. Will post some more pic's later this week.

March and April totals

2010-04-30T08:28:00.004+01:00

Morning Campers,

Apologies for lack of activities but been very busy.

The photo's are part of a large commision thats heading for the states very soon. Pretty pleased with them and hope the client is. I do have some spare painting capacity coming up so if you want a paint job of the standard above drop me an email (address in about me) or leave me a note here.

March painting total was 36'ish Swiss and 18 Prussian Cuirassiers, with April being far more productive with 72 French Light infantry and 12 French Hussars.

One final note to British readers; please vote on May the 6th. The future of the country is in your hands so please use your choice wisely.

RTB

Victrix Swiss etc

2010-03-25T12:15:00.006Z

I have been busy with work, and the six nations, but did manage to finish the Vixtrix Swiss and put a flag on my Prussian Cuirassiers (I know its the wrong one but I dont care).

Saving Private Henri?

Italian Colonel

Italian skirmisher base

Not much to paint to be honest.

Metal colonel

Voltiguer base - very happy with these

And the grenadiers

"Toberones are on me boys!!"

These were assembled by Will in Belgium

Flag by GMB

Do you like the horse Iannick? Foundry paint pallet on that one.

The wine was an excellent Burgundy I enjoyed with a fine Cuban cigar to celebrate completion.

Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Victrix are fine figures but I just dont enjoy painting them to be honest. They can be hard work and if you dont know the French uniform, and whats meant to go where, you may struggle.

Tanoch dros cymru!

2010-03-01T08:55:00.002Z

..or happy St David's day. As a nation we jsut gifted France a game, and probably Les Grand Slam as well. The England scrum half gifted Ireland the game at Aich'Q and Scotland gifted Italy the game by being dire. Wasnt it nice of them all to join in the fun?

February total was:

36 Prussian Calpe reservists - quite happy with them

18 Foundry Prussian Cuirassiers - like the horses but not happy with the figures at all. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Mainly Calpe Prussians

2010-02-15T11:16:00.004Z

Foundry French artillery officer
Perry general and adc

Calpe Prussian reservists in British rifles uniform

Flag by GBM

I tried to make the trousers look muddy - not sure if it worked.

Detail of the rear

Just noticed the ink stain on the officer - bugger

Nice figures but glad they are done.

January painting totals and Six Nations

2010-02-03T08:23:00.003Z

Some truly rubbish pic's of the French and Bavarian artillery I painted in January. Will take some new pic's soon. All figures are by the Foundry and painted on a grey undercoat.

Total for Jan was:

6 Bavarian guns

24 Bavarian crew

1 French howitzer

6 French crew

36 French light infantry

I am currently 2/3rds of the way through 36 Prussian (Calpe) reservists in British rifles uniforms.

Six Nations: Wales yet to announce side and a crisis at scrum half (where are my boots?) and England have picked their best team in years. Me worried? Yep.

My tip for the top is.................England believe it or not. If they beat Wales they'll do well.

Ireland are overrated (and were very lucky in quite a few games last year - England and Wales especially), France could win every game or get hammered.

Scotland are still rubbish but might sneak the odd win and lets hope Italy ( as long as they dont do it against Wales) win the odd game.

1. England

2. France

3. Wales

4. Ireland

5. Scotland

6. Italy

My record as a punidit is appalling so dont expect the table to look anything like that an the end!

The six nations will afffect my painting as there will be a fair amount of boozing and rugby watching going on!

More Bavarians!

2010-01-05T10:50:00.002Z

Detailing of the light infantry battalion for my brigade.
Light battalion as a firing line. Last two bases can be positioned as skirmishers.

The final regiment set out as a firing line about to advance.

Close up of the command and light company.

The full brigade.

Hope you like them.

Only the artillery to go, although I have some cavalry so if some nice person out there wants to sell or swap me a cavalry officer and trumpeter I'd be most interested.

Foundry Bavarian foragers and general

2009-12-29T09:01:00.004Z

A Bavarian general and adc

Forager group (plus cjhickens) a real joy to paint (not the chickens) and I am really happy with them.

Another view of the chickens........

They represent the three regiments in my Bavarian brigade (including the killer chickens)

As someone who has been experimenting with baking his own bread please note the exploding bread rolls.

Roast pork sarnies and some nice weiss-bier methinks.

Porky not having a great time.........

Hope you like them as much as I do!

I am a rubbish photograpgher, and the figures look better in the flesh, but I am very happy.

2009 painting total

2009-12-22T08:45:00.004Z

Quite a productive year for me, especially considering as this year I took the plunge and set up on my own. The painting has served an additional purpose as its given me a break from what other wise may have turned me into a workaholic.

The general theme was initially trying to finish my Prussians (still not completed but not far to go), but also adding some new units to my French 1813/14 army, then some commision work, and some plastic experimentation. I have two commisions for 2010 that I am looking forward to but still undecided as to what to paint for me. The choices are:

1. complete the Prussians

2. Russians from scratch - I have all the figures

3. Anglo-German force for northern Germany / Waterloo. I have most of the foot, some artillery, but need cavalry. I also have the excellent Foundry Wellington command set.........

Not made my mind up yet.

Anyway, the totals are:

For me:

20 Old Guard Grenadiers - Foundry

20 Old Guard Chasseurs - Perry

15 French casualties - Foundry

30 assorted Prussian skirmishers and Jaeger - Calpe

72 Prussian Landwehr - Calpe

72 Italians - Victrix

5 Prussian Brigade command - Calpe

4 Prussian mounted officers - Calpe

72 Bavarian line - Foundry

18 Bavarian light - Foundry

4 Bavarian command - Foundry

5 Bavarian foragers - Foundry

3 Discworld characters

Commission work:

88 Bavarian line and light

16 Bavarian cavalry

3 Bavarian command

Grand total:

412 foot

32 mounted

.................and four chickens and one pig......................two witches and a cynical policeman.

Hope you have a great festive season and will post pic's of the new Bavarians when my clients stop giving me work to do and I can have a holiday!

Cyfachion Y Timor

Autumn rugby and politics

2009-12-02T08:13:00.003Z

Well, I've had a good time watching the rugby, and yet again I am gutted most of the time. Here's my state of play of the northern hemisphere sides.

Wales - to paraphrase the owner of a dog called Snoopy "good grief................".

How can you go from one minute give New Zealand a hell of a battle, to nearly winning a game (admitedly undeservedly) against them, to scraping through against the might of Samoa, and flattering to deceive against Argentina and then getting stuffed by the aussies? I think Wales have forgotten how to play, and need a cutting edge in the backs. When it boils down to it Wales have a world class first choice XV but very little strength in depth.

Not optimistic about the six nations.

Ireland: should have been well beaten by the Aussies, should have lost to RSA but a draw and a win says it all. Great sides are lucky and I think the Irish could be peaking for the world cup in 2011 nicely. Declan Kidney is going to be a great coahc, and comes across as a nice man. Good luck to them.

Scotland: dont see the rebirth msyelf. Very, very lucky against the Aussies who were appalling that day (if they'd played like that against Wales they would have got hammered) and showed their true class by loosing to a weak Argentina side. Robinson will do a good job but the side is still one dimensional and will struggle.

Italy: nice to see them win (eventually) against Samoa and performed well against the New Zealand 2nd XV. But it was the 2nd XV.............are still going to struggle against the top 10 and without Prarisse (best looking girlfriend in international rugby?) may find it even harder, but Mallet is a world class coach so be prepared for the odd upset.

England: now, far be it for me to stick up for the Public School boys but for f*cks sake they had 20+ squad members out injured! Johnson's selection is still weird but I think there is a good side in the making.

France: well, they are France! One minute world beaters and the next they get hammerd (the score flattered them by all accounts) 12-39 by New Zealand. Typical France. Like my old club you are nebver sure who is going to turn up, and are capable of loosing to anyone on their day.........

Politics

Umm............highlight of the year (besides Labour climbing the polls again) was Brown's riposte (courtesy of Alistair Campbell by all accounts ) to Cameron during the Queens speech debate. Basically the Tories want to do away with inheritance tax in £1million estates. Brown pointed out that this must be the only tax reform proposed in history where the proposer of the change knows personally all the people who will benefit from it.........

Tories are still dodgy economically, some good social reforms but god help us if they get back in power as I get the feeling they are just out of their depth. They have also managed to alientate every centre / right party in Europe with their shenanigans and Camerons back track over the euro treaty referendum means they have exposed themselves to attack from the UK Indepdence party. Mr Teflon is loosing his touch methinks.

In many ways I hope for a hung Parliament as I beleive we should have a fairer electoral system based on teh single transferable vote in multi-member constituencies, and the Liberals seem to be the only people who have got to grips with the economic probloems facing UK PLC. Or, if you are a Neo-Con Airbase 1................

Yankland still depresses. The general tactics of the Republican right seems to jsut throw mud (lies in other words) and hope some of it sticks. The bollox told about the NHS still p*sses off immensely. I dont know how Obama handles it all - no wonder he still hasnt managed to give up smoking.

On a final note, and this is meant to inform rather than scare, apparently 75% of Republican voters dont believe Obama is president (these are the same ones who dont believe in evolution, believe in the tooth fairy and John Wayne was a real action hero) as he was either inelligible to stand (not a yank) or that the vote was rigged. The other scary stuff I found out was Reagan (who basically destroyed teh US economy and left it to Bush senior to sort out) is now seen as some quasi liberal.............thats how far to the right the republicans have gone.

Add to all this that your average Republican voter doesnt believe in climate change, same sex marriage, or global warming (let alone that its been caused by man) and we are basically f*cked if these nutters ever get back into power. Sarah Palin for El Prez anyone?

Perry Guard Chasseurs

2009-11-07T12:50:00.004Z

I bought these 2nd hand with some other Perry stuff for a cheap price. Problem was these boys were "painted".
Truly terrible paint job so I started just highlighting but basically hand to totally repaint.

Quite pleased with the results but there is a loss of detailing due to the numerous coats of paint.

I think the officer came out well though.

And I am getting the handle of the white.

Beautiful sculpts as per usual from the twins

Loads of charater

I put the flag upside down but its the wrong one anyway and was going to be replaced

Hope you liked them.

Perry & Foundry French

2009-11-05T08:32:00.004Z

Perry General de division and aide
Chsseurs a cheval

Elite company

Foundry light infantry and skirmishers

Line infantry skirmishers (plus pesky Prussians)

Foundry Old Guard

The 1st regiment of the Old Guard - at the back as usual!

Perry and Foundry cavalry

Swiss skirmishers plus Prussian reservists

Hope you like them.

Foundry Bavarians

2009-10-30T13:02:00.004Z

Its been a while but I have been busy with Bavarians!

These are Foundry shown in a firing line. Grey under coat, some inking and use of Andrea paints for the flesh tone and the white.
At the ready to receive cavalry

The 36 fig regiment and mounted colonel

Holding off the Prussian horde

Skirmisher base

Command group

Detailing of the white

Painting total for 2009 - part 2

2009-09-25T08:17:00.002+01:00

Added to my last tally a couple of months ago we can add the following:

36 Victrix Italians using white undercoat and a nasty accident using vallejo matt varnish. Sob. 8 friggin hours of inking and lining to deal with the worst effects of the varnish but their beauty is still marred!

15 Foundry casualties using the Army Painter stuff as an experiment.

64 Foundry Bavarians that are now safely on their way to Canada.

2 Hovels buildings.

On the whole not a bad total as I dont paint that much and have hardly done any at the weekends.

At the moment am working on some foundry Bavarians por moi, and then back to some more Bavarians for some Canadian meglomaniac.

Foundry French Napoleonic artillery

2009-09-10T11:46:00.002+01:00

Horse artillery in campaign dress

8lb battery

I think all the figures are different

Side view

Limber and team

My first houses

2009-09-03T13:45:00.003+01:00

Prussian estate agents moving in to get their pound of flesh

Small Franco / Corsican chap wants to put house on market indepedently

The first French regiment I ever painted marching out to deal with Prussian interlopers.

I am quite pleased with the results although the purists will say its Spanish, I have seen very similar houses in Bavaria.

Italians (Victrix) with a white undercoat

2009-09-02T13:59:00.002+01:00

Discworld

2009-09-01T13:11:00.003+01:00

I am a massive Terry Pratchett fan, and have been reading his books since the late 80's.

These are my three favourite characters.

Esme Weatherwax

Nanny Ogg (plus Greebo the cat)

Commander Vimes (the Republican hero)

A woman after my own heart................hic

Army Painter Part 2

2009-08-27T12:37:00.004+01:00

The final figures

These were all touched up, with may be some more highlights, and softening of the "goo".

They were matt varnished and all based to my usual method.

Total time was 20mins per figure.

Would I switch to it?

No. I paint for pleasure, but I can imagine that you can get some good results if you play around with it. And if it means gamers can get better quality armies on the field then why be so snobby about it? Its a good product.

This Swiss could have been very good if I'd spent more time on him.

White jsut doesnt work for me.

Even more Prussians

2009-08-18T09:20:00.003+01:00

After my matt varnish accident I am waiting for non humid conditions here at RTB mansions before I complete my army painter experiment and base my Italians.

As you can never have enough Prussians please see some recent pic's of the Prussian horde.

My favourite unit

Teaching Jonny Froogy a good lesson

Foundry Prussian hussars

Perry Brunswickers painted as Silesians.

Foundry dragoons

Foundry and Calpe Landwehr

Army painter

2009-08-14T14:44:00.007+01:00

First of all a quick picture of my white undercoated Italians. I am moderately chuffed with them. Andrea white is the way forward! Thank you Martin Von Kelly! There will be more pic's of these once I've based them etc.

Now, we've all heard about this magic tool called army painter. I was dismissive until I read an article by the chap who paints for Warlord Games and the chariot he did. So, I thought lets see.

I have / had no intention of using it to replace my usual style, but thought it may have uses for giving depth instead of inks, details on brown, toning down fleshes and detailing muskets. So I gave it a go.

I have a load of Foundry French casualty figures and I thought why not see what happens. So I blocked in the basic colours and away you go. I used a grey undercoat by the way.

The whole lot took about 3hrs from start to finish and there were 12 figures.

I was deliberately not very precise as I wanted to see what happened.

The Swiss came out the best (use for red methinks) but not exactly blown overboard by it ever for use with casualty figures.

And white is a no no from what I can see.

I am going to spend an hour or so tarting the figures up, will matt varnish, do the bases and report back but at the moment its anyone want to buy some army painter off me?

US Health care & Cameron's European Strategy

2009-08-12T07:38:00.004+01:00

As many will be aware, one the policies Obama pledged to undertake when he was elected was to introduce a universal health care system in the states, as the yank system basically means if you aint got cash you don't get treated. This system is fantastic for chemical companies, health insurance, doctors and, gulp, lawyers (Giles - you could make big $$$$ there), marketing people (except nice people like me of course......)

If you have read the newspapers you'll know that the rabid US right (58% of whom don't actually believe Obama is an American and shouldn't be allowed to president,and I think about 70% believe the world is only 4,000 years old etc) are attacking the British National Health Service. Some recent attacks include:

Any one over a certain ages doesn't get treatment
You have no choice i.e. you have to use the NHS and nothing else
There is a cap on drugs per patient
That the costs are bankrupting the UK economy (strange, I thought it was the bankers)
That's the NHS is evil (I am not making this stuff up, apparently saving lives is evil if it isn't done via health insurance etc)

The British embassy is more or less countering every point, but has to remain politically neutral.

I know the NHS is not perfect, but it provides fantastic health care for the vast majority of the population, is vastly under financed, allows people to choose to pay if they can afford to / want to, and if you look at whats happening in Wales now you'll see how it should be run (English villages on the borders asking if they can be Welsh of all things). But, lets forget arguments, and dwell on three facts:

The UK spends less per head of population on health care than the states
The UK is ranked 18th in the WHO list of quality of health care, the US comes 37th!
Sarah Palin says Obama's plans are evil (this woman is f*kcing bonkers by the way)

So there you have it. Just when you think yank land is getting sane and rational, you get states legalising carry guns out in bars when people are getting pissed, and now trying to introduce a health care system that is cheaper, and will save lives, is evil.

Good old diddy David Cameron, the first Old Etonian Man of the people, has to his credit tried to re-invent the Conservative party as a centrist liberal organisation. The only really piece of total madness is his European strategy.

Basically Dai has taken the Conservative out of the largest centre right grouping in the European Parliament and aligned them with a cross section of euro-lunatics. The reasoning, I would assume, behind this was to demonstrate his euro-sceptic credentials when he has to battle his own right wing over social reforms. There have however been a couple of spanners in the works of this piece of political genius: the Poles.

First of all the Polish Freedom and Vodka (or whatever they are called) party have demanded the leadership of the grouping even though the Tories are by far the largest party (all due to shenanigans by pro-European Tories), and now the leader is on record (he is also on record as being anti-gay etc) as being totally pro-Europe! Apparently all you had to do was go to the English section of his parties website and you'll see that the party is not anti Europe or the anti new treaty at all!

Its not really a surprise that the Tories have f*cked up big time here (alienating the centre right in Europe, making themselves the laughing stock, loosing all credibility etc) when you realise the political genius behind this is none other than William Hague! Aka the only man in Britain who actually thought the Tories had won 2002 general election! More Hague ideas and Labour may win the next election after all .

Painting total for 2009

2009-08-05T12:20:00.002+01:00

The total for 2009 isn't too bad actually, especially given that I went self employed, still suffering from a slipped disk in my neck, and the demands of the two ladies in my life (wife and cat in that order unless the cat is behind me..............).

Totals so far are:

20 Foundry Old Guard Grenadiers
72 Calpe Prussian Landwehr
18 Calpe Prussian Jaegar
9 Calpe Prussian Musketeer skirmishers
48 Foundry Bavarians
10 Calpe Prussian mounted officers
36 Victrix Italians

I am also currently 90% of the way through painting my second regiment of Victrix Italians.

I am quite impressed with those totals given that I only paint for an hour or so each night, may be a couple of hours at the weekend, and have other interests as well - wine and rugby mainly.....

Italians should be next up as am totally disenchanted with politics at the moment.

Has the world gone mad?

2009-07-28T09:46:00.003+01:00

Last week, despite CCTV footage showing him punching with the coordination of a professional boxer, and the fact that the assaulted did not fight back, the Liverpool footballer, Stephen Gerrard, was cleared of assault as he was acting in "self defence".

The singer Aime Whitehouse was cleared of assault despite numerous witnesses stating, under oath, she had physically assaulted another lady. She was found not guilty as the judge cast aspersions of the sobriety of ALL the witnesses.

Yesterday a business man was arrested and charged with stabbing a youth. The fact that the youth in question was on the man's property, was vandalising his van, assaulting the man's son who was defending the property, and the fact that the knife belonged to the youth, or one of his cohorts, seems not to count for anything.

So, the moral of this story is you are going to physically assault someone make sure that you are rich enough to afford the very best legal team, make sure you have the cult of celebrity on your side, and if you are just a normal person looking after your property, and your loved ones, you are stuffed.

Makes you proud to be British eh?

In the words of Victor Meldrew.............." I just don't believe it".

Lions defeat and injury

2009-07-23T12:17:00.003+01:00

Good show to the boys by stuffing the Sarfers in the last test, but I think this is going to be a case of a series we should have won. What amazes me is the injury list. For example Wales provided, in total, ten of the test side over three tests. Five are now seriously injured, with four of the five probably not fit to play again this year.

Some misinformed people have said we stuffed the Sarfer 2nd team in the final test, but they miss the point; DeVilliers (he is barking by the way) had to rest players as they were as messed up as the Lions team, and he now has to play in the Tri-Nations (speaking of which the Kanga-shagga's should really have beaten the sheep molesters Saturday) so needed to blood his squad / rest key players. There were also many in Sarfa land who actually thought (until they had been stuffed by an injury hit Lions team) that the side in the 3rd test was actually the best Sarfer team!

My own pathetic career was finished by broken ribs that are still not right three years after the breakage (I was 41 at the time!), but it makes me think this game is getting harder and harder. After my cartliage operation in 1987, and the odd dislocated shoulder, I was more or less able to play pretty good level for 20 odd years. But now my body is in such series downward spiral that makes me think I am friggin glad I am not 21 now!

No politics as I am getting pretty p*ssed off with all of them to be honest. I keep on having Doulgas Adam's type thoughts about how not only coming down from the trees was a bad idea, but actually we should have stayed in the water..................see what depression the lions losing a test series causes?

Victrix French painted as Italian 3rd regiment

2009-06-30T14:59:00.014+01:00

Confronting the Prussian hordes

Voltiguer company

Grenadier company

The thin white line.......

Lovely figures.....but

Buggers to assemble (I am no modeller)

And I think the black undercoat obscures teh details that isnt as pronounced as found in metal figures

I am now painting another Italian regiment with white undercoat and inking

I like them and am converted. Anyone want to buy my foundry naps?

Lions misery

2009-06-30T14:56:00.002+01:00

Ok, we lost. First test we should have won but people didnt take their opportunities. Second test we had them bang to rights but injuries to key players let them back in the game, then it was only the 10 minute ROG cameo that gave them the game.

Burger should have walked - how you can do that to someone is beoynd me and for his coach to defend him is ridiculous - but I thought we did enough to win the game anyway.

Ho hum. In a way its pathos as in 97 the Saffers were by far teh better team and we sneaked it. Vice versa this time, but bollox it still hurts.

Politics and lions

2009-06-22T08:36:00.002+01:00

Firstly politics: I am now convinced that Gordie is a Tory plant. Or that Cameron has some pretty dodgy polaroids of him as these are the only possible explanations for why Gordie hasnt fought back against a smear campaing that Charlie Whelan would have been proud of. For Cameron to claim the moral high ground, and for the Telegraph to attempt to smear Skinner (hardly ever claimed expenses) is like the Norweigans criticising any other european nation over whaling!

Iran: nice to see Mugabesque democracry alive and kicking in my favourite theocracy. The logic here is fantastic (David Cameron acting as a consultant?) as Ayatollah in charge said the election couldnt have been rigged as you cant rig an election of that many votes............err........may be he should read how Stalin and Napoleon did it..........

As to the Lions, gutted. Even with the problems in the tight still should have hammered them........well, beaten anyway. Monye carrying the ball in the wrong arm twice and Phillips knocking on a milimetre from the line...........gutted.

Lets hope no knee jerk panic over selection although the big worry is the skipper. Second tour in a row he has been poor. I am optimistic though but we could do with a back up goal kicker on the pitch.

The Posse, Wyatt, Sherlock, Clint and Dr ?

2009-05-08T11:16:00.007+01:00

Some early painting attempts now in the collection of Paicey Boy.

I have an on going wild west / victoriana project that I will start next year. These are early attempts and are Foundry, Harlequin and Artizan miniatures.

Warwick university Welsh Society Kenilworth Pub crawl 1985

2009-05-08T11:06:00.004+01:00

Gulp. I cant believe I was ever this young.

Assorted charaters in the photo are:

Adrian Burder - now marketing director for the Dog's Trust!

Jill Phillips (now Mrs Burder)

I cant remember the names of the two other girls. I was p*ssed out of my mind.

Mark Denton (Half "A") - some techy nerd in BT

Adrian "Tugger" Young - no idea but you can guess what we thought of him by his nickname

Mark Gartside - no idea. Lost contact years ago.

Kevin Owen - ditto

Pat "the strap" - ditto

RTB - still a git.

Ogmore beach, Badger wood and blue bells

2009-05-08T10:52:00.007+01:00

Ogmore beach Easter 2009.

Boooty! The most evil cat in the world by my mother loves her (the furry spawn of satan.........)

Inside badger wood with my favorite tree

Bluebells Sah! Tharsands of them!

The edge of badger wood from the path

The view from Badger wood looking towards where we live.

And even more Prussians!

2009-04-16T14:24:00.014+01:00

The Prussian deployment
Blucher (pissed?) and staff

Cavalry officers (Perry Dutch/Belgians)

12lb battery

Foundry advancing infantry

I am quite proud of these

Silesian Uhlan (Perry Brunswickers)

Reservists

Hussars

Hussar officer

Reservist officer

The Prussians are coming!

2009-04-14T11:25:00.009+01:00

Calpe Staff officer set

Calpe firing line - French skirmishers by Perry twins

Calper Landwehr advancing

Detail of Prussian adc

Foundry Blucher and Prussian line

Calpe firing line

Foundry figures in background.

Foundry reservists to left, rest are Calpe. Flags by GMB

More French

2009-04-09T11:21:00.008+01:00

Some Swiss on the move - say cheese boys!

French line with skirmishers arrayed.

French division laid out, with light infantry in line, and skirmish screen.

Side view.

Horse artillery battery manhandled to support cavalry and infantry attack.

French light infantry.

French Artillery

2009-04-07T15:30:00.005+01:00

Post and pre-1812 uniforms to give an eclectic mix

Close up of pre-1812 uniform

Foundry French 8lb's. All crew are different.

The bl**dy bases warped but still look quite nice.

I like my artillery horse team.

Its all gone Gus from Drop the Dead Donkey????

2009-04-07T11:19:00.005+01:00

Now, I have worked in marketing for over twenty years. I enjoy it, and continue to work within the industry, but what has always confused me is why do we need marketing people for hospitals, councils, government departments etc? Why? Some one tell me?

I am willing to see the sense in that you need communications people, even research people, but why does a NHS hospital need a marketing director on £100k per annum? What marketing strategy are you going to come up with? Who are you competing against? We have a friggin national health service and the prospective customers are dying, literally in some cases due to badly needed funds for doctors and nurses being spent on marketing people, to get into the hospitals?

I was reading today in the good old Nuardiag that council chief officers earn more than the PM! How on earth can that be justified ? The common answer is that they have to compete with the private sector for key people. Really? Is that so.................its not jobs for the boys and girls at all is it? I know for a fact that unless you work in the non profit sector you wont get anywhere for a senior marketing role, and I know that all council chief executives are career local government people. So, why are these people so vastly over paid? Or, with regards to marketing people why do they have jobs whatsoever? Is the private sector going to head hunt local government people? Errr...no.

Can you remember when Thatcher pulled the best con trick known to man by selling the utilities to the British people when we already owned them so she could have so tactical tax cuts just before an election? As soon as the utilities were privatised the senior (ex) civil servants gave themselves enormous pay increases. The logic being was to stop them being head hunted by US companies. Panorama hired a head hunting company to submit the CV's of all these people to US firms to see how many of them would be targeted. Guess how many. Zilch as none of them were considered qualified to even be middle managers in a private utilities company.

When the NHS trusts were introduced they actually made nurse redundant at hospital and recruited administrators and marketing people! What for? Please, if someone out there understands this please tell me. I have interviewed marketing people from the public sector and their skills bases were not transferable to the private sector. Nor, in most cases were their personalities (you don't tend to do 35hrs per week on flexi-time in the private sector shall we say), and I am sure they are admirable people, and its not the individuals I am ranting against but the logic of the situation.

Why do companies need marketing people? Answer to define and implement a marketing mix, to define and research new products, to support sales, to keep ahead of the competition, and to communicate.

Now, where does that come in for a state hospital? Its all Gus from Drop the Dead Donkey hasn't it.

French Napoleonics

2009-04-06T11:53:00.019+01:00

Some pic's of various figures, including my only Front Rank figures.

Perry French skirmishers.

These were the first Perry's I painted and I am not overly happy with them.

Foundry Dutch lancers and Perry Chasseurs.

I just thought I'd post some general photo's of mainly Perry Nap's.

Not the easiest of figures to paint but I am moderately happy with them.

I quite like painting horses amazingly.

Napoleon et boys.

I am not overly impressed with thepaint job I gave them but 5/10 not bad.

Figures are beautiful.

More Chasseurs

Close up of a French General.

French Imperial Guard

2009-04-03T08:37:00.001+01:00

These boys are probably the best Foundry stuff I've ever painted. Some of the Foundry figures are fantastic and a joy to paint. There's a fair bit of conversion work here so the unit is pretty much unique. Flag is by GMB.

I know its heresy to say this, and I am a massive fan, but I actually prefer these old Perry sculpts to their own offerings. I dont know why - just the character.

You will kindly note that I have been very brave and attempted to paint stripy trousers! Cworr! That's well hard I can tell you. Respect to anyone who does it all the time.

There's a lot of head swaps (the mounted colonel is actually a line colonel with a new head etc) and for those particularly observant you'll see Perry plastic heads as well.

Hope you enjoy this as much as I did painting it.

The figures were painted using essentially the "Foundry" three colour system, with RTB amends, and Barry Hilton ideas. Paints are Foundry and Vallejo.

Saviour day

2009-04-03T08:26:00.001+01:00

No, its not a plug for another Cliff Ricard record, but rather the fact that we should rejoice that some of the worlds most powerful people have got themselves re-elected, big directorships when they retire, and massive advances for their autobiographies (please Mr B can I write yours?)...........sorry, I meant they have saved the world economy.

Now, don't get me wrong here, I really am pleased, and I think they have done the right thing (for once), even though our German friends and French fiends were playing silly buggers before it all. But, you telling me it wasn't just one big ego trip? If it works its got Brown five more years.
I actually sympathise with Cameron; he's done nothing really wrong (besides Boris Johnson and George Osbourne but we all have our crosses to bear), and even though he is a Tory, and a politician, I actually believe he is good bloke. He's re-positioned the Tory party as a classical liberal party (with monarchist, anti-European hang-ups, but hey ho) and is trying to be sensible. However...........how can you criticise the government for doing what you would have done, and everyone knows that's what you would have done? The other point is you've played a safe game since becoming leader, no gaffes (that's where George and BJ come in), you are massively ahead in the polls and now its looks as if you going to be the next Tory leader not to become PM as Broone from Dunfermline as shafted you well and truly by becoming the saviour of the world!

Oh well. Hahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahha. Its a larf innit?

Enfants Perdu.........

2009-04-02T15:38:00.001+01:00

My big hobby at the moment is building up 28mm Napoleonic armies for the period 1814/1815. To this end I have a fair collection of Prussians and French.

Like many collectors I am far more successful at buying than I am at painting but recently I have speeded up quite dramatically. How? I really have no idea as I paint for no more than ten hours each week but I seem to be getting quicker than a race horse with an ounce of baccy up its arse.

What does this mean? It means that I have sold off some of my older figures to make room for more goodies! Here's a sample of the figures I have recently sold to my new chum Iannick in Canada. He is a good sort as 1. he isn't a yank, 2. he likes cats, 3. he has commissioned me for some more painting! Anyway, please see my lost children or enfants perdu for those who (unlike me) parlez Francais.

Day 1 - the cat is evil

2009-04-02T09:15:00.002+01:00

She isn't but this is my first post and I am taking advantage of the fact that she is asleep in her cradle and not looking over my shoulder just in case I am writing about her.

Its a grey day and there is no doubt about that.

Why do I think of John Major when its like this?

My main thought for today is the Conservative Party. I find it like Monty Python at the moment that they are lecturing the government, us, the world, everyone etc about the wrongs of capitalism, evil bankers and how could the government have let the bankers and financial institutions get away with being unregulated. Now, this to me is like a serial killer lecturing a police man who shoots someone in the line of duty. Politics aside ( I am no lover of a political party that is by nature racist, homophobic, monarchist, defender of privilege, hypocritical, anti European etc etc etc) but a couple of facts about Cameron and his cronies:

1. Err, what do you think most of them do for a living or have done in some capacity?

2. Examine their friends, peer groups and how many are involved in the city

3. Look at their investments, directorship, school chums, uni chums etc

And, this is fantastic, Cameron and Osbourne were 18mths ago criticising the government for wanting to regulate the financial services industry. Now, don't get me wrong, Brown and Tory part Mk2 dont come out of this mess very well, but they are guilty of complacency and wishing to appease the middle classes of Ing-Er-Lund by keeping a paws off approach to regulation.

For me the only people who come out of this well are, and I really hate saying this, are the friggin Liberals. They have been more or less right about everything that has occurred so far. Vince Cable is my financial guru. My only problem is that everytime I think of the liberals I return to the old Derek and Clive (Peter Cook and Dudley Moore) sketch where Derek goes to Clive and says "what would you do for the Liberals?" To which Clive replies "Fuck'em". Not even worthy of ridicule.

So, Labour are incompetent, the Tories are hypocrites (no change there) and the Liberals are not really worth bothering about even if they are right.

Makes you proud to be British eh?