Sunday, 18 October 2026

Festung Frigidaire


The missus has been in hospital for a bit, having a nasty old operation as it happens. Fortunately my natural self preservation instincts kicked in and I managed to survive the first week by fashioning a nest of twigs on top of the fridge freezer and stocking it with cheesy comestibles. I was still up there, munching on a stale pie crust and clad only in my underpants, when my youngest son flew over from the UK (on a plane, he’s not ruddy superman, even though he thinks he is) to rescue me.

Der Festung


He’d been sent by a higher authority (the wife) to teach me the ways of the Spag Bol, and teach me he did.  Unfortunately this remains the only thing in my culinary locker, so to speak, and I’ve begun to develop a definite tomato based complexion that might take quite a while to wear off. ((Sigh)). Turns out you shouldn’t eat Spag Bol more than four times a week. Who knew?

Anywhoo the sprog also brought some post in with him, tempting me down from my kitchen based eyrie on a more permanent basis through the medium of newly arrived models and a quick AVBCW game, the result of which I cannot bring myself to share.

Some of the models, like my generalship were not so great, it has to be said, and as you can see from the poor fist I made of them (below) I was both nutritionally deprived and emotionally wrought whilst painting them.  


Regrettably the mother in law seems to have pushed her way into the middle of the picture. Soz about that.

Truth be told there ain’t that many Selenite moon men models out there to choose from, so needs must when the devil drives, eh? 

I was also in receipt of a handsome parcel of tanks which I will regale you with, dear reader, in later posts. Fanciful steam powered things they are, and unlike the moon men they are a wonder to behold. Also in the same parcel were some very nicely sculpted Prussian and home service British infantry. Very toy soldier(ish). Aly would have deffo painted them all shiny, and it wouldn’t take much to tip me over the edge on that front too. I can really see the attraction.


Got three of these buggers done before the missus returned home, looking far too chipper for someone that’s just has major surgery.  Recovering well I’m pleased to report. I suspect it’s the healthy portions of Spag Bol I’ve been dosing her with since she got back.

By the way apologies are due to all you bloggers out there whose sterling work I usually comment on, but of late have not. My excuse is that we’ve had no internet for the best part of a week (Denial of service attack on Orange France apparently. I wonder which state actors could possibly be behind that?) and umptytump trips back and forth to the hospital in Limoges that’ve soaked up a lot of time.

So then, I’d better sling my hook. I’ve several pounds of mince here that’s not going to brown itself off and two or three packets of spaghetti to boil. Yum yum.

Toodleooh.


8 comments:

  1. Very good to see that Mrs. JBM has made it back safely and soundly. Also very good to see that managed to survive in her absence. Your posts are always good for a laugh first thing in the morning. Great way to start my day. Thanks!

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    1. Hi Jon, good to know I can still raise a chuckle!

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  2. Glad to hear your wife is home and over her op. Nice work on the Home service Brits and Moon men, good start to your project.

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    1. Hi Donnie, yeah it’s a start of sorts, but I’ve got a shed load of stuff to make and paint over the next few months. It’s been a bit hectic here this summer / autumn but hopefully it’ll calm down now and I can make some decent progress.

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  3. Glad to hear that your wife is on the road to recovery. Nice painting.

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    1. Thank you Richard the wife is recovering well, however I have to say that my painting is only ever “wargaming standard” however hard I try.

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  4. Best wishes to the Current Mrs B.
    Your kitchen looks bloody lovely. But you’re going to have to explain the rooks nest to me. Is it a French seasonal thing and you’re going native on us?
    Ironic that it’s Orange they targeted, given that the Orange one is actively helping them.
    Chris/Nundanket

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  5. As always a very entertaining read Mark:)! Good to hear that SWMBO is doing well post-op, courtesy of copious quantities of said spag bol ;). Shame to hear about the internet outage, ditto all the shenanigans going on in France at present, especially the loss of the Limoges town hall:(.

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