All Quiet at Totleigh-in-the-Wold. . .

Here is another seasonal photograph culled from somewhere on the web.  Not especially Christmas, but I like the quietude it suggests.  In a way, it reminds me of walking along the Nidar River in downtown Trondheim, Norway as snow fell during the winter of 1999-2000.

The Grand Duchess and Young Master left for work and school half an hour or so ago, and it's just yours truly with the two cats at home.  It is mercifully and wonderfully quiet  here at the moment since we are on the edge of open country well away from highways, apartment buildings, and our street is not a major thoroughfare in any way, shape, or form.  It is delightful.  As soon as I finish the current mug of coffee, I am off to the local hardware store in Williamston (purposefully avoiding the big box stores, thank you very much) to purchase some picture hanging hardware and then some Christmas wrapping paper and ribbon at the local Fresh Market outlet nearby. 

As for my play-by-email game with Mr. Horne, well, I wish I could say that I rolled over his own army in a keen display of tactical aptitude on my part -- and I began the game with a distinct plan in mind -- but bad luck with the dice and poor handling of my available troops (rash and overly bold on my part) quickly led to rather significant casualties, especially among my gun crews on my right flank and cavalry.  In the end, the application of Young and Lawford's 50% Rule (we used the Basic Rules from Charge!) meant that my army fled the field after five (or was it six?) turns.  Fun was had on both sides, however, I think I am safe in saying, and Greg was a good wargaming host.  Time permitting, we might try another such game as soon as next week, but my thinking is I need to to adjust how I do things and be a little less Marshal Ney and a bit more Lord Raglan in spirit.

Meanwhile, back in real life. . .  Sometime today, I'll bite the bullet and put in a few hours on reading student papers and calculating final grades to submit online next Monday.  This, of course, is what pays the bills, and I've taken several days off due to the move and related activities.  Back to the salt mines!  But, best of all, I pulled my copy of The Wargaming Compendium (a Christmas present from the in-laws back in 2013) from the shelf last night, something I have not done for many, many months, and read bits and pieces here and there until I drifted off to sleep.  It was a very pleasant way to end an otherwise full day.  Life is slowly returning to normal.

-- Stokes