After setting up the terrain, we departed for the pub at which Original Gravity were supposed to be playing. Disappointment followed when they told us that they weren’t due to be on until 5:30pm and that the program was running late. I decided to indulge in a beer (Abbott) and bought a round in which Craig and Edwin’s “small” cokes were actually pints. Di had told me to eat, so I had to

have some of the pub’s barbeque which was pretty expensive and nowhere near as good as I was to get later. A second round was bought in which Dazza’s “large” coke turned out to be a half pint (obviously some obscure Hampshire measuring system). I was annoyed when I spotted, after getting my second, that the pub sold the splendid summer beer “Ale Fresco”. My disappointment was assuaged a few minutes later when the Batemans arrived, Andy carrying a glass of ditch water that he claims the pub sold him instead of Ale Fresco (he claimed it tasted OK).

We departed the pub and the armies were set up: Spartans v. Macedonians 272BC. Dazza and his very better half Michelle against Dan (who was to be known by me increasingly as “Darren” as I topped up my alcohol level).

Dan realised that the Macedonians had the advantage in light troops and cavalry on the flanks, while they were inferior in heavy infantry in the centre. Darren and Michelle decided to wait with their Spartans and meet the enemy on their own terms. It was remarkable that 3 people who’d never played before could formulate sensible plans so well.

Richard arrived with a jug of French 75, which he claims is alcoholic but I think is just a good source of vitamin C (being as far as I can tell pure fresh lemon juice, yum!)

As Dan’s forces closed, the Spartans sprung their surprise – 3000 extra Greek allies hidden in a wood on their right flank. Confusion followed with Macedonian elephants trampling Gauls in their attempt to escape. All looked lost until the Spartans’ allied Greek general got himself killed by Greek mercenaries fighting for the Macedonians. The Spartans’ right flank started to collapse and the left was in no better shape, but the Spartiates (elite Spartan spearmen) in the center were gaining the upper hand. Just as the Spartan flanks collapsed, Dan tried a tricky manoeuvre with his veteran Macedonian pikemen which had them facing in 2 different directions. Disaster inevitably struck and both armies retired exhausted.

There was then a short hiatus while I increased my cold resistence with lots more healthy vitamin C drink, and the teams were replaced – more wargaming was required. This time it was our new ACW friend Geoff (Macedonian) against a tag-team of Batemans (Spartans). The number of spectators steadily increased and I too tagged myself out of umpiring the second game when Hobbit and Dave G. kindly volounteered.

Time for quite a lot of food, more vitamins, a hedgehog (not eaten, saved by Darren and a teatowel), being dragged up by Dan to act like a chicken (he was much better as he is more angular and actually remembers to flap his wings). I was probably calling him “Darren” a lot by this stage. But all this has been covered with more style and humour by Kate in an earlier article.

A few visits to the wargame showed that the game went pretty much as the first but with Geoff not falling into the same error as had Dan.

Eventually the health drink ran out and I had to switch to iron- and antioxidant-rich port instead and sometime on Sunday retired to bed.

Sunday’s highlight was the Poplar Hawk Moth discovered in the garage. It’s bit of a shame that they never feed so it was going to die soon.

An hour to a meeting, three and a half for the meeting, an hour back and two hours to home should have been the end of the day but I was forced to have a splendid curry with Di, Steve and Kate.

A most excellent weekend. Here’s to many more. It’s marvellous that we have such great people in Tillier’s.

Baiiiiii

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