2014: Plus la change

This cat and I have a great deal in common

So, 2013 is in the can and we're gearing up for the new year. It's been a fairly tumultous year here, but from a wargaming perspective there have been a couple of major changes. 

- The War Room. I didn't have a room in which to play games this year and I think it showed in the number of games that were played and the fact I made far fewer blog posts. That is not to say that we didn't get to play games, there was Little Wars and the Cabra-Kildare War and plenty of Cold War shenanigans. There just wasn't quite as much as I would like. 

Better set my mind to changing this. 

- The Cold War Project is beginning to take shape. I still have a lot of writing to do on this, but its beginning to reach a sort of critical mass. A lot of preparation and reading have gone into this one. 

- Writing. I got a lot more writing gigs in 2013 than I did in 2012, almost exactly twice as many in fact. A great of this has got to do with Miniature Wargames and many thanks due to Henry Hyde for taking pieces from me. There have however, been a few commissions that weren't for Miniature Wargames and weren't even wargaming related, which were nice.  More on them anon. 

No luck on fiction unfortunately and not on the novel front, but I shall simply have to apply myself. 

- Napoleonic Armies. Despite the fact that we got precious few games of Napoleonics in, my Napoleonic armies have grown quite considerably.  The Spanish are almost done and are simply lacking a few units here and there. The Russians are certainly over the half way mark and thanks to the purchase of some complete units from Krisztian, I've made a start on the Austrians.  Quietly confident, that we will at least get through the Hundred Days and all the Spanish scenarios this year. Possibly not the cavalry engagements that require ridiculous amounts of horse, but quite a few. 

- Rogue Trader 40,000.  There have only been a few games of this in 2012 and I'm not sure that Savage Worlds wouln't be a better fit for the kind of rpg with figures sort of games that I enjoy running. However, as a means of getting to play games with old friends, most of whom don't care for historicals, this has been a great success. 

- The Sword and the Flame. If I have a wargaming regret for 2013, it's been not playing more of this game. We've only managed two games and they've both been crackers. Raising forces for this may take a while, but I think it will be worth doing. 

There have been other ups and downs outside this wargaming life. 

- The house is further along and we're almost done in the kitchen and bathroom. The War Room just requires decorating, but the structural stuff is all done. 

- Mrs Kinch and I are both fitter and trimmer than we were last January.  This has come with its own challenges, I spend vastly more time stretching in the gym than I used to, but there have been concrete improvements in my strength and stamina in the last twelve months. Consistency and forethought are key. Mrs Kinch is still working away at swimming. 

- I've managed to achieve more of a work/life balance and become a more regular attender at Church, the lack of which was making me unhappy.  I've also managed to get more involved which is good. 

- I'm learning to drive and I am well on my way to sitting my driving test this year. Passing it will be another story of course. 

- I passed a professional exam, which I'm happy with. 

- Mrs Kinch has had more professional success in the acting line this year than ever before despite a number of quite serious health scares.  I am fiercely proud of this. 

All in all, we've a great deal to be grateful for and can look forward to the rest of 2014 with cautious optimism. Wishing you all a very Happy New Year, may it be blessed, peaceful and prosperous. 

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