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A nice quiet day and evening. . .

Austrian staff on foot by Minden Miniatures (photo 'borrowed' from the Minden Miniatures blog).

A very quiet birthday yesterday, celebrated with the Grand Duchess and the Young Master (who is now a devotee of all things chocolate)  over a delicious Indian meal that I picked up and brought home for us early in the evening from one of our local Indian restaurants (we are very fortunate to have three within just a few miles of us).  A chocolate cake with a few candles followed that was baked by my wife, with "help" from our son, and then some cards and a few nice gifts, including a recent finger painting by the Young Master and a bottle of Glenmorangie single highland malt whisky from the Grand Duchess.  Oh, and on the miniature soldier front, I placed a small order to Minden Miniatures late yesterday afternoon for Austrian and Prussian staffs on foot plus some more Croat grenzers and a couple of other odds and ends to fill out a few things in the collection here at Stollen Central.  All in all a delightful way to mark the passing of yet another 29th birthday.   ;-)
 

Prussian staff on foot, also by MInden Miniatures.  This photo too has been 'borrowed' from the Minden Miniatures blog.

Comments

Peter Douglas said…
Stokes

Happy belateds. Curry, scotch and chocolate make a very fine tiffin indeed. And far nicer time than watching the punditification on Election night.

Cheers

PD
Bluebear Jeff said…
Many many many years ago my maternal grandmother had her 78th birthday.

When asked her age, she replied "two Jack Bennys" . . . (he always claimed to be 39 on his shows, year after year).

Happy Birthday, sir. May you have many many more.


-- Jeff
Fitz-Badger said…
Happy birthday to the Grand Duke and many happy returns!
Bloggerator said…
Happy Birthday old man,

Greg
My Dear Ulrich,

May your birthday be celebrated by the angels! I have requested the cathedral choir master to have a Te Deum sung in honor of the day. The voices of the Grognatzian Choir shall lift their voices in your honor.

All the very best,

Gerardus Magnus
Capt Bill said…
All of Beerstein wishes you a Happy Birthday. Reich Duke Wilhelm has ordered a twenty one gun salute fired to honor your great occasion!
Wolff said…
Happy Belated Birthday, Stokes! Those are some fine looking figures there. Can't wait to see what you do with them.

Looks like you had a great evening with your family!

Have a great weekend, and good luck with the battlefield relocation.

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