Saturday 17 December 2022

Starting again from scratch

Well it’s been a long time coming but finally…finally…a games room of my own with a 6 x 4 table. No more  rushing to finish up a game before tea. Huzzah.

The geek cave.
The observant reader will notice that the whole shemozzle is little more than two IKEA book shelves on legs, topped by two slabs of pine - but it’ll do the job I reckon. After a great deal of reflection I’ve now officially abandoned the bucket of sand terrain modelling concept and will be going for some of those fancy geek villain furry mats - if they ever have any more in stock that is.

An added bonus to this gaming space is a dedicated painting and model making area with actual real life daylight. There’s even room to turn around should I feel the need. Such wonders! And to think it only took moving to another country to achieve it. 

Sadly the geek cave is still pretty bare since The Current Mrs Broom twisted my arm into going to the Limoges Christmas market and all of my remaining pocket money got spent on hot chocolate and crêpes.  Damn it.

Limoges Christmas market. I haven’t had a good crêpe in years… 
< insert crude joke / innuendo here  >

No sign of the Pendraken AWI order as yet either but seeing as everyone in Britain is now on strike I’d probably best not hold my breath, lol.

Right then I’d better sling my hook I suppose; the archers I’m adding to my Elizabethan pike and shot company won’t paint themselves, more’s the pity.

If I don’t catch you again before the big day have a great chrimbo / festivus / kwanza!

Toodleooh.


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34 comments:

  1. Anonymous17 December 2022 at 17:26

    That looks the business Mon Vieux! Well done.
    Merry Christmas/Hyvää Jolua

    Chris/Nundanket
    P.S. Odd that we’re all en grève over here and on your side of the Channel people are working.😉

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    1. The Jolly Broom Man17 December 2022 at 21:15

      Hyvaa Jolua to you too Chris. Should be a bit nicer in the geek cave when I get a few pictures up and so on. Being British over here used to be regarded with a degree of amusement by my French friends, now they just feel sad for me. One half jokingly referred to me as a refugee. :-(

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  2. Norm17 December 2022 at 18:56

    Good to see you have settled quickly and that you now have your own space.

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    1. The Jolly Broom Man17 December 2022 at 21:19

      Hi Norm, I’m still trying to get used to it mate. Not sure if it’ll improve productivity bu5 its definitely a step on the right direction. I hope you are sticking to your resolution not to do too much blog material over Christmas. We want you nice and fresh for the next WOTR instalment!

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  3. David Crook17 December 2022 at 19:18

    Hello old chap,

    My one and only question - were you wearing a cravat when eating crepes and drinking hot chocolate? Asking for a friend…. :-)

    The Ikea themed gaming table look is really neat and having the books underneath is an inspired idea and I may well borrow that for the man cave!

    Email me when you can - I have something that may be of interest to discuss…..

    All the best mon ami,

    DC

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    1. The Jolly Broom Man17 December 2022 at 21:39

      Hey ho DC how’re you diddling? I’m afraid the cravats don’t cut it at -7 degrees, so I compensated for any apparent lack of Frenchness by having a man bag. I know. When in Rome and all that. The storage area underneath the table top is actually two IKEA book cases in tandem. It gives me 16 cubby holes to fill with military books, but was originally intended for terrain (now stored elsewhere). I’ll drop you a line shortly. : -)

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  4. rross17 December 2022 at 19:34

    Great things take time, JBM, and that gaming area looks like a great thing to me! I thought you had cleverly had it constructed with storage solace for books in the base...but the idea of using a couple if Ikea book cases is equally clever! Joyeux Noel and all that (may be incorrect spelling, I couldn't be arsed checking!)

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    1. The Jolly Broom Man17 December 2022 at 21:26

      To be fair Keith the table idea only came to me recently when I was dragged around IKEA in Clermont Ferrand. I leant over a book shelf being used in a room display and suddenly thought, mmmm, this is just about the right height for gaming.

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  5. Graham C17 December 2022 at 20:26

    Now that looks the bees knees, loads of room…… Geek villain have had a full restock and in my opinion they’re the best mats out there. Really looking forward to seeing this develop.

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    1. The Jolly Broom Man17 December 2022 at 21:28

      Hey Graham, thanks for the kind words. I like the look of the geek villain cut out rivers and roads too. If Im not on Santa’s naughty list he might drop them down the chimney too.

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  6. Peter17 December 2022 at 20:50

    Not only a wargames table, but a spacious room by the looks of it.

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    1. The Jolly Broom Man17 December 2022 at 21:30

      Hey Peter, it’s big enough for a few more display cabinets that’s for sure. Filling those cabinets with miniatures will be a bit of a challenge mind you.

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  7. Ben Cato17 December 2022 at 21:54

    Well done JBM! Great looking table and room. You have obviously been good to Mrs JBM and she hasn't sent you to the garret but allowed you a wonderful room.😊
    Good luck with the painting and your first christmas in your new home.

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  8. The Jolly Broom Man17 December 2022 at 22:08

    Cheers Ben, The Current Mrs Broom wanted a craft room so it was only fair that I got something similar in return. Hope you have a great Christmas too!

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  9. Elenderil17 December 2022 at 22:30

    Well that’s a fine looking table and no mistake. Looks like you are settling in well. Here’s to a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

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  10. Jonathan Freitag18 December 2022 at 15:48

    Oh, this is a terrific looking space with so much potential.

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    1. The Jolly Broom Man18 December 2022 at 17:05

      Thanks Jonathan, I’m looking forward to testing it out!

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  11. Steve J.18 December 2022 at 19:47

    Great to see you having your own dedicated game space up and running. Sadly I too have to clear the table at the end of my games, but one day hope to have a similar set up to yours.

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    1. The Jolly Broom Man18 December 2022 at 21:16

      Hey Steve, you never know what’s around the corner matey. This time last year a games room of my own was just a pipe dream.

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  12. Aly Morrison19 December 2022 at 06:58

    A splendid looking man cave JBM…
    The table looks the business…

    Have a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year…
    All the best. Aly

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    1. The Jolly Broom Man19 December 2022 at 16:36

      Thanks Aly, hopefully it’ll improve my generalship?! Merry Xmas to you too.

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  13. caveadsum147119 December 2022 at 16:34

    Fantastic looking games room, very swish! I've got to pack 100s of figures, terrain and deep cut mats for a trip across the Channel tomorrow night and a game in the Loire valley on the 23rd, what fun!
    Best Iain

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    1. The Jolly Broom Man19 December 2022 at 16:38

      Hi Iain, I don’t envy you your journey but I do envy you the game. Hope you enjoy yourself and have a great Christmas!

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  14. david in suffolk19 December 2022 at 17:07

    That room and table looks really good, and very interesting that you get to go to places like Limoges and Clermont-Ferrand ( 'My Night With Maude', anyone? ) for your shopping!
    In time-honoured fashion I take it you 'crept in, had a crepe and crept out' ?
    Have a thoroughly Joyeaux Noel!

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    1. The Jolly Broom Man19 December 2022 at 20:31

      Thanks David. Not that keen on Limoges, but Clermont is really pretty at this time of year. I’m going to have to check out my night with Maude now dammit!

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    2. The Jolly Broom Man19 December 2022 at 20:35

      Okay just found it on the web. Black and white, french, late 60’s, intellectual. I’ll be putting my cravat and smoking jacket on for this one. Where did I put that cigarette holder?

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  15. 'Lee.20 December 2022 at 08:28

    That's a lovely light looking space JBM, perfect! Really great to see you are settling back to life in France, that Welsh milkman experience must seem like a bad dream now :) All the best to you both,
    Lee.

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    1. The Jolly Broom Man20 December 2022 at 08:43

      Now I come to think of it Lee he probably did me a favour. This whole process of disaffection and moving back to France started with his nasty rant, so cheers Gerwyn! Hope you and yours have a great Christmas mate.

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  16. Anonymous2 January 2023 at 23:52

    Lovely space to fill with toys. Er, I mean, amusing distractions of historical research. Not too late to go with the sand table option. Perhaps someday you can lure your neighbor J. out of his warm deluxe yurt to join you in your palatial drafty splendor. Happy New Year & Good Gaming!
    ~ Tom T

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    1. The Jolly Broom Man4 January 2023 at 14:38

      Thanks Tom. Not sure that toy soldiers…erm sorry…historical miniatures, is really Jeremie’s bag, besides I’m always cautious about revealing my true nerdy nature to outsiders. Lol.

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  17. ~ Tom T5 January 2023 at 23:57

    Ha! I relate to that JBM. I do have a couple of neighbors that have been here long enough to remember my youthful halcyon years practicing & teaching Renaissance rapier in our neighborhood park. One was kind enough to recently tell me she knew they had chosen the right neighborhood to move to when they saw us practicing. Swords, doublets & hosen & codpieces. Oh my! Though, now that I think of it, I don't think any of them know that I play with toy soldiers. Just that, pre-pandemic, a few my Dearest & Oldest Friends would park on both sides of the street while we played games & drank beer a couple of times a year! Thanks for the laugh at the Memory. Good Dice Luck & Good Gaming in your new palatial digs!
    ~ Tom T

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    1. The Jolly Broom Man15 January 2023 at 15:26

      Thanks Tom, sorry about the delay in responding to you but I deliberately kept away from the blog for a week or so in order to get on with some painting. Renaissance rapier eh, tres interesting. Full contact stuff?

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  18. Anonymous18 January 2023 at 05:30

    No worries JBM. Just saw your query myself. Definitely full contact ~ full body target, full speed fencing in the round. Whole nine yards: case / brace, dagger, buckler, cloak, off hand scabbard. All based on 1600 manuals. (Okay Cap Ferro published, I think, in 1610.) Earliest days, many decades ago, with remounted epees before schlagers became available. (They can hurt.) If you’re curious goolgefu SCA rapier ~ predates HEMA or HACA. Most beautiful freeform deadly Dance imaginable. Good thing we had masks & rebated weapons.
    ~ Tom T

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