After finishing work and 2 hours and 11 minutes sleep later the Rejects (Ray, Myself and Postie) headed to Salute 2013, got there and into the long fecking cash queue (next year if I go it will be a pre paid ticket or nothing) about 0950hrs and got into the fecking show at 1040hrs!
A fecking tiring day but a good day, didn't get everything I wanted but that's just the stupidity and tiredness talking, met a lot of fellow bloggers and people who just followed my blog but didn't have a blog stopping me and saying so (not as scary as people think), so knackered at the end (we left about 1620hrs but didn't get home for ages as Ray got us lost in a housing estate somewhere near the venue).
Salute 2013 looked the busiest I've ever seen it and hopefully was good for the traders who attended, now it's been mentioned that Salute should or could be over 2 days, now if it was over two days I would still only go to the first day (international visitors would probably prefer 2 days) but if it was me I would recommend that it was on for longer like 0900hrs until 1800hrs (long I know but it's a one day hit) but that's just my opinion.
The fecking queue.......
Andrew (Loki) helping out at Warbases, don't forget his giveaway........
....but then to me the best demonstration game at the show (I will show other stuff tomorrow), simply stunning, full of figures but loads of beautiful little vignettes.
I give you from the Essex Gamesters, I actually took more pictures but they didn't turn out great.....WATERLOO 1815, The Emperor Speaks!
....so tomorrow pictures of some of the other games, bloggers, figures and possibly loot but my other half actually reads my blog!
So blog stalkers aren't that bad, good to know. Looks like a great time was had at the show.
ReplyDeleteNumber 1, what fun!
DeleteAt least you were in the right queue when you arrived! I queued up for 20 mins, got to the doors, only to be told it was for ticket holders only lol. Had to travel the length of the center to join the back of the other queue! Still I know now for next year. Sadly I didn't notice the Waterloo game until they started packing it up, but even then it still looked amazing!
ReplyDeleteSame thing happened to me. Both this year and last year...
DeleteSounds like a damn good day. Tiring, but good. If it was pretty successful this year (and it sounds like it was busy at least) then maybe they will extend it by a day.
ReplyDeleteExcellent pics of the Waterloo game. I only managed to see a corner of it as there were was such a crowd around it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great experience, SALUTE. I agree with you; it´s better more time in a lonely day than two days of show.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the Waterloo game pics.
That's an impressive setup for Waterloo! Glad it was a good turnout. Hope you were awake for most of it.
ReplyDeleteOh my, the Waterloo game is just fantastic. I can't imagine how much time and effort it took to produce that level of figures, terrain and presentation. And I couldn't help but notice the pic of the field hospital with a dog nosing around the limbs. :-O
ReplyDeleteGreat pics, I'm gutted I missed the Waterloo game at its full effect!
ReplyDeleteGreat to say hello again my good man, shame we didn't get more of a chance for a natter, but there was a pasty with my name on it!
ReplyDeleteA pleasure Michael!
DeleteI've seen tons of pics, There was some awesome displays/games on. All being well I shall come and say Hi next year!
ReplyDeleteGood to hear!
DeleteI've seen a few picks of the games at the show and it all looked fantastic, one day I'll get down myself. Thanks for sharing these. Everyone seems to have captured different elements of the game. Social media's great!
ReplyDeleteI have to say it was a highlight to finally meet the man behind the blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm blushing!
DeleteBlog stalkers you say? Can't wait to meet my first one. Seems to be good times though! Our local show runs from 8am to 5pm and that is pretty long.
ReplyDeleteThat Waterloo game looks fantastic. Thanks for the pics. I hope you get caught up on your rest.
ReplyDeletethat set looks mighty fine, Fran!
ReplyDeleteSeemed great!
ReplyDeleteI really like these photos from the game - this Hougoumont farm made my day! And because of it I linked this post on Facebook (hope you don't mind).
Cheers
Of course not David.
DeleteNice looking tables Fran. So glad to hear that all of you had such a good time yesterday. Looking forward to seeing what you bought.
ReplyDeleteI hate you bloody mainlanders with your easy access to shows all year !!!!
ReplyDeleteLooked to be a rather good show with lots of nice games
We mainlanders are very smug!
DeleteGreat pictures of the Waterloo game. I almost feel like I was there. You SWMBO actually reads your blog!? I'd be in deep shit if my wife read the blog. Or at least mocked disapprovingly. She doesn't have a sense of humor about tits.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it! And that's a damn fine looking board there..
ReplyDeleteWow! Thanks, General.
ReplyDeleteFar out! What else is there to say?
ReplyDeleteMagnificent set up - looks like a museum piece. Best, Dean
ReplyDeleteFantastic, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGlad you guys had a great time, including Ray's lack of land nav skills!;) I still have a few more years till military retirement, then I'll use my vacation time from work for vacation!
ReplyDeleteI and my wife plan on a British Isles vacation to see castles and sites all over. I will make sure the trip coincides with Salute!
First Salute pictures I've seen, thanks so much Ray, I read about that game on the Lardies list but amazing to see it. As someone once said, c'est magnifique, mais c'est n'est pas la guerre
ReplyDeleteRay!Ray! Who is this Ray guy?
DeleteI got tired just looking at all of the pictures...lol.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder you are tired Fran!
ReplyDeleteGreate pictures Fran !
ReplyDeletebest regards Michael
Thanks for your company in the que. It made the waiting more of a pleasure than a chore.
ReplyDeleteThe Waterloo game was an act of love. I cannot conceive of putting that many man hours into making a game. Inspiring.
Excellent looking pictures, thanks for sharing, a great pleasure for those who did not wait in the fecking queue Fran!
ReplyDeletePhil.
Great looking pictures, and was good to bump into you Fran, if it was only for a short while. Hopefully get a better catch up in the future.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures, Fran!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for sharing them with those who weren't there... :-(
Cheers
Stefan
Great photos. Love the soldiers with muskats (?)
ReplyDeleteOHH wow great pics Angry, thanks for posting mate.
ReplyDeleteQuite the set up.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting up pics Angry. Looks like a great time.
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear you guys had a ton of fun! Pre-paid tickets are definitely the way to go.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a blast. That's a lot of people! How's it feel to be a blogging celebrity?
ReplyDeleteI'll try to not let it change me!
DeleteGreat post mate and some cool pictures. That Waterloo game was mind bogglingly good.
ReplyDeleteThat is quite the Napoleonic game. I'm impatient for GenCon now.
ReplyDeleteSuper pics and glad you made it with just a couple hours sleep. A two day venue would be nice like you said for us out of towners.
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Lovely photos there Fran, especially the close-ups of the Waterloo game; you got the lighting/exposure just right. Great to meet up with you and all the other bloggers as well. Great fun. Hopefully we'll all make it again in 2014.
ReplyDeleteA pleasure to meet you Mark and here's to 2014!
Deleteimpressive and beautiful table!!
ReplyDeleteand the Emperor himself ... wow!!!!!
I can't imagine how the gamers could play with so many figures and on a so large space.... it lets me dreaming....
The Waterloo game is very reminiscent of Peter Gilder's game of so many years ago, the one that probably got me into Napoleonic Wargaming.
ReplyDeleteYou'll probably get the blame for Ray missing the Waterloo game.