Went to Berwick Wargames Association today to celebrate Wal’s eightieth birthday, and let me tell you, it was an epic bash! Picture a room bursting with laughter and tales taller than the miniature soldiers themselves, as friends and fellow wargamers gathered to toast this incredible milestone. Wal, a longtime companion and our fearless commander in the plastic warfare, has spent decades inspiring us—mostly by making us question our sanity for spending weekends battling alongside him and his tiny army! His vast knowledge of games has crafted countless legendary moments on the battlefield, including the infamous day he lured me over to show off his new table. Imagine a battleground teeming with lead Byzantine and Sassanian cavalry that decided to audition for a theme park ride! We just about managed to avert disaster and save Wal’s carpet from a landslide of tiny warriors. Undeterred, we heroically shoved a chair under the table and charged on, rolling dice like valiant gladiators, all while desperately trying to keep a straight face. Who would’ve thought that gaming could also be classified as a full-contact sport?
The atmosphere of the day was buzzing with excitement like a bee in a paint shop as members gathered to celebrate this momentous milestone. A slew of large games were on display, including a mesmerizing 7 Years War battle that showcased miniatures so beautifully painted they could’ve won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Seriously, those flags were individual masterpieces; I half-expected them to start waving themselves! Not to be outdone, the Napoleonic game brought its own flair, with scenery so vibrant it made my crayon box look like a dull monochrome disaster. The camaraderie among the group was off the charts, with laughter and friendly banter echoing across the table like a sitcom episode gone wild!
I say table because, despite the plethora of games just waiting to be tackled and the upbeat vibes swirling around us, we found ourselves languishing at the Bar-b-Que table, chatting “ship” like pros all day long. We shared stories and laughter like they were on sale, reminiscing about our glorious pasts and forging connections that would make even Wi-Fi jealous. It was a twilight zone of conversation where time just gave up, lost in the delicious scent of grilled goodies, while the sun and the wine, put on a show, casting a warm glow over our little gathering, as if to say, “This is the highlight of your week, folks!” And it was!
The day was bursting with laughter and hilarity as the banter ricocheted around like a hyperactive pinball, creating an atmosphere so electric that even a power outage would’ve been jealous. Poor Wal found himself as the designated punchline, taking a flurry of playful jabs with the grace of a seasoned pro, including one particularly colorful remark dubbing the event an “open casket” gathering—clearly because his jokes were dead on arrival! Not his age, never that! The laughter bounced around the table, with the group delighting in the lighthearted exchanges as Wal, always the good sport, wore his title of “center of attention” like a badge of honour. We even claimed to have our very own zombie on the team, a hilarious way of saying he had a knack for scaring away the 40k players. The day was a wild romp of unforgettable fun and riotous camaraderie that would be talked about for ages! well at least until the end of the weekend,
On the drive across town I picked up some goodies on the way as one does. As well as some paints I picked up these fine fellows.
I have given away most of my fantasy armies away and needed some skeletons for “The Silver Bayonet”. Fitting really as it was Wals 80th!
I always like to pick up some of the larger Reaper figures like this Troll king.
Also this giant wererat.
Wal we hope you had a great day and remember what was written on your card:
“The good news is that you’re just waddling into the 4th quarter of the game of life; the bad news? At your age, the only scoring you’re likely to do is on your weekly bingo night!”