Skip to main content

Too Much TIme on His Hands? Indeed Not!!!

Recently, it has been suggested that perhaps Stollen’s Grand Duke Irwin-Amadeus II has too much time on his hands. Imagine! The nerve! While his advisors and closest ministers certainly cannot speak for the other petty rulers around apocryphal 18th century Europe, they assure us that the Grand Duke’s days are quite full with little time left for foolishness.

When he is not undergoing torture at the hands of the royal dentist Herr Doktor von Ötker, Irwin-Amadeus can be found strolling the gardens of Krankenstadt Palace accompanied by a small retinue, or reviewing his troops as they muster and maneuver. And yes, most days he wears the famed lobster costume missing the left claw! However, those closest to the Grand Duke have suggested procuring another costume so that the first can be washed – it is getting just a wee bit gamey as summer approaches. Negotiations have begun recently with the royal seamstress in the basement of the palace, to produce a second costume for the Grand Duke. But Grizelda is being rather difficult and holding out for some kind of promotion within the palace household staff.

Otherwise, Irwin-Amadeus fills his days with various state functions like the recent dinner and ball held for the trade delegation from Reconstituted Byzantium. Then of course there are the various sessions of the Ministry, which Irwin-Amadeus opens and attends with regularity, often observing from the gallery above the chamber floor where much of Stollen’s government discussion takes place. Or alternately, the Grand Duke can be found at his writing desk, keeping up with his correspondence. Regardless of the subject matter of these letters, they usually conclude with a phrase similar to, “Yes, yes. But I think I’ll have a bath now. Fetch my rubber duck!”

Then, of course, there are the ongoing chess games with Hans the 11 year old stable boy, in which Irwin-Amadeus can spend hours staring at the board in situ, plotting his next moves – only to be confused and befuddled instantly when Hans is summoned to make his own next move. The current game has continued sporadically for the previous three weeks with no sign that Irwin-Amadeus will win this time either. The situation is a source of endless frustration for our beleaguered Grand Duke!

Finally, if there is nothing else on tap for a given day, Irwin-Amadeus does his best to avoid his wife, who he refuses to refer to by any name other than Fraulein von Nordin -- her maiden name. Yet the two have been married for more than 25 years! The union is not what we could call “happy” or mutually satisfactory.

So, there you see, Irwin-Amadeus II has a rather busy life with little time for typically “kingly” pursuits like riding, hunting, and debauchery with the fairer sex.

Comments

Should the Grand Duke find some time in his busy schedule for hunting, he is of course still upon open invitation to the royal hunting lodge of Their Graces of Hesse-Engelburg.
meadows boy said…
Oh, to have been an 18th century Grand Duke!.
Bluebear Jeff said…
A courier arrives with for the Grand Duke. It is from Graf Maurice von Hirschbock of Stagonia.

When opened, what should appear except a large costume lobster claw.

A right claw.
David Morfitt said…
The Grand Duke might like to know that the first of the Prussian Line Infantry Templates is now up on my blog: http://nba-sywtemplates.blogspot.com/

David.

Popular posts from this blog

Presenting the Anspach-Bayreuth Kuirassiere!!!

Here they are, with the rearmost nine figures still drying, three squadrons of the Anspach-Bayreuth Kuirassiere, now in the service of the Grand Duchy of Stollen. And now, it's onto that artillery!

Taking Stock Part II: The (As Yet) Unpainted but Planned OOB. . .

  Two companies of Reichsarmee grenadiers painted back in 2017 or 2018.  Minden Austrians of course. A lovely early autumn day here in the grand duchy.  Bright sunshine and a light breeze with cool temperatures will make for some very pleasant late afternoon lawn mowing in a little while.  But first a bit more discussion of painting plans for the future. Last time, I looked back at the various and sundry units, support troops, and civilians that I've managed to paint in the last 17 years as the Grand Duchy of Stollen project has developed.  So today, let's look into the seemingly bottomless Drawer 'o' Lead to my left for a clue to the new direction.  Be forewarned, it's not going to be a quick job getting everything painted and based, but there we are. The following plans are based on the pile of unpainted figures already here.  Any future purchases will be limited to small things that might be needed to fill out the envisioned units (the odd few officers mounted o

Having a "No Day". . .

  F or the almost 20 years that she lived in Mexico, one of my late mother's Irish friends frequently mentioned having a "No Day."  A day with no social obligations, chores, tasks, or other work that interfered with whatever personal interests took one's fancy on the day in question. Since today -- a gray and chilly Saturday -- is Mom's birthday, the Grand Duchess is out with friends, and the Young Master is ensconced on the sofa in the TV room with a cold, yours truly is taking his own such No Day.  I think Mom would approve of my decision to make the world go away, as the old Eddie Arnold song intoned, even if only for a little while. So, I will spend Saturday afternoon focused on that first squadron and small regimental staff of Eureka Saxon cuirassiers.  These have stood waiting  untouched over on the painting table for almost three weeks while we skied and otherwise gadded about with snowy, winter outdoor activities. I hope to share a painting update Sunday a