Quality Time

Anyone who spends any time online knows the benefits of using the Internet as well as the annoyances. The key is to strike a balance between the two, and ever so slightly in favour of the former.

Recently, I've been reappraising my own use of the Internet; from social media, through hobby forums, to online chat. This was prompted by a realisation that sometimes I would be "clicking for clicking's sake".

Here are two things that I've done in the last week to improve the quality of my time online and free up time to devote to my hobbies.

15 mm Arab Camel Archers (Essex)

This is one of my "hobby haul" from Phalanx last month. They are the first camels for my Arab Empire armies. Imagine an Arab army without any camels!

I wanted Essex figures as I usually find them a pleasant change of "painting pace" compared to Forged in Battle. Plus I have no intention of fielding large numbers of camel riders so buying a large pack from Forged in Battle wasn't really an option.

In the end I was glad only bought one pack. Usually, I find Essex figures quicker and easier to paint, but not this time.

15 mm Daylami Medium Infantry (Forged in Battle)

After nearly eighteen months painting an Arab Conquest army with a deliberately limited & muted colour palette it was time to go wild. And what better subject to choose than that wargaming cliché the Daylami: fierce mountain warriors renowned for their brightly painted shield designs.

Hobby Haul

I don't normally do this but what follows is that staple of wargaming blogs: the "what I bought at the last show" post but with a twist or two.

Ten days ago I spent the day at the Phalanx show (St Helens, UK) helping Dave Lanchester run his bookstall.  I didn't get a lot of time for shopping but I went prepared with a list to focus my efforts.  The purchase of the day was a rather special dice tray: