Well, Victorious is done and dusted for another year, and I have survived with both my wallet and most of my sanity intact, which I regard as a considerable achievement.

The Tiny Dinosaurs finally had their outing. After all the shrinking, repainting, new terrain and general indignity of being reduced from impressive prehistoric monsters to creatures that could probably hide behind a twenty cent piece, they made it onto the table. They behaved themselves reasonably well, attracted plenty of attention and have now been packed away again. Whether they regard this as hibernation, extinction or simply gross mistreatment by their owner remains unclear.

My grandsons came along to help, which was greatly appreciated. Apart from providing some useful extra hands, they also provided the sort of technical and organisational advice that grandchildren seem increasingly required to give their grandparents. I am beginning to suspect that my principal role at conventions is now to provide transport, while younger and more competent members of the family actually know what is going on.

The books and rules sold well, which was very pleasing, and I also managed to dispose of most of the assorted stuff I had taken along for the Bring and Buy. Anyone who has been involved in wargaming for any length of time knows exactly what stuff means. It is the collection of figures, rules, terrain, games and mysterious boxes that we have absolutely no further use for but have somehow been unable to throw away because they might come in handy one day. This time, quite a lot of it went to new homes.

There was, however, an even greater triumph. I only bought one thing.

Yes, one.

I went to a wargames convention, wandered among traders, second hand bargains, figures, terrain, rules and all manner of shiny temptations, and returned home having purchased just one item. There should probably be some sort of medal for this achievement.

Of course, getting rid of most of the Bring and Buy stuff and then buying something else means the collection has not actually become as much smaller as intended, but that is hardly the point. Progress in this hobby is measured in very small increments.

So Victorious is over, the Tiny Dinosaurs are safely back in their box, most of the surplus stuff has departed, the books and rules found new readers, the grandsons were a great help, and I somehow escaped without bringing home another carload of things I did not know I needed until I saw them.

I am calling that a successful weekend.