ALEC in Lockdown

As some of you know, I am supporting Movember, the annual effort to raise funds and awareness for men's health issues.  The focus is on prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health issues.

It's the latter which I've had issues with, and is the the reason I support Movember - particularly this year, when we're all feeling issues of isolation.

Movember have shared some notes on mental health and suicide prevention here.  What I'd like to flag is ALEC.

ALEC is a mnemonic which provides a model for 'talking to your mates about mental health'.  It's a handly primer for raising this difficult issue with anyone you might be concerned with

A - Ask.  Ask how they are feeling.  "You don't seem yourself lately - are you OK?"  Be prepared for the answer "I'm fine" and to bring up the reason you ask.  If you've noticed something in particular (they've been withdrawn, haven't been as active on social media, etc) it's worth mentioning.  

L - Listen.  Having asked the question, give the person the chance to answer and pay attention to the reply.  Odds are that you're not going to solve the problems that they raise, but it will help them to share them with someone else.  Ask follow-up questions that might help the person to focus on what's at the root of the issue.  "That's can't be easy.  How long have you felt that way?"

E - Encourage.   Encourage action.  Help them focus on things that might help.  Have they felt like this in the past?  If so, was there anything that helped then?  It might help to get back into a routine despite lockdown - patterns of sleep are particularly important.  Are there other people that they trust and who they can talk to?  Is it time to talk to a doctor?

C - Check-In.  Having had the initial conversation, keep in touch and follow-up with prompts if necessary.

And before anyone asks, "I'm fine".  I've found winter lockdown more difficult than the one earlier in the year (which, I must admit to quite enjoying), but my mental state is OK.  

I'm getting out of the house most days and am in contact with people through social media.  As those who follow the blog know, I'm getting quite a lot of on-line RPG gaming done.  Like a lot of gamers, I've really discovered the benefits of Discord, Zoom, et al this year.  I'm getting more oportunities for gaming now than ever before.  And as we all know, gaming is good for mental health.  Of course, I miss sitting down at a table and playing face-to-face, but I've made contact with a lot of new people and do really enjoy the sessions I take part in.

Thank you for reading this.  If anyone wants to contribute to my Movember fundraiser, you can do so here.

 

Books and Stuff (NS, No 3): Reading in June 2020

So what did I read in June?

HRF Keating, Mrs Craggs: Crimes Cleaned Up

As I recall it, I read a book by Keating (probably The Perfect Murder) when I was in Sixth Form and trying out all sorts of things to see where my tastes lay*.  I remember not being very impressed and wondering why people rated him.  This book hasn't done anything to change that opinion.  Back when I was 17 I would have felt honour-bound to finish a book I'd started (this is only about 200 pages); but now I know better, and I gave up on it after the first two stories.

If your tastes run to comedy Cockneys and char-lady-puts-The-Establishment-in-its-place, this might be the book for you.  It's not for me.

*As it happened, a few years later I was given a masterclass in appreciating C20th crime fiction by my eventual wife.

Peter Le Fevre and Richard Harding (edd), Precursers of Nelson: British Admirals of the Eighteenth Century

I've really enjoyed reading this, despite some of the fifteen chapters (fifteen subjects and fifteen authors) being distinctly dry.  Over the years I've read a lot of naval history, and it was good to return to a subject I've neglected of late.

In addition, most of my reading has been from the Revolutionary/Napolenic Wars onwards (the studies in this book start with the Restoration Navy and the 'Glorious Revolution'), so it was instructive to read about an earlier period.  That, of course, was the avowed purpose of the volume, which was published during the 'Nelson decade' (ie, beteweeen the bicentenaries of the Battles of the Nile and of Trafalgar).

Given this, and the JD Davies fiction I've been reading lately, don't be surprised if I go on a C17th and C18th naval binge (as far as my home library will allow)!

Deborah Cadbury, The Dinosaur Hunters

This is a well-writen and readable account of the dawn of geology and paleontology as sciences in early C19th Britain (the word 'scientist' is a neologism of 1834 arising from popular discussion of these debates).

If I may be allowed some more autobiography*, this book invoked some pleasant memories.  Back in 1980-something when I was wondering what to study university I briefly considered History of Science (blame James Burke's 'Connections', Carl Sagen and Saturday mornings watching Open University programmes before the Westerns came on) before settling on Theology.  A course on The Church in the Modern World included a section on (Geology and) the Victorian Crisis of Faith, and installed in me a fascination with C19th Church History.  Various things followed, and one of the places I ended up working in had walls that look like this...

All very obscure, I know: but that's 'connections' for you.

*And this is my blog: so yes, I will be.

Bayt al Azif: A Magazine for Cthulhu Mythos Roleplaying Games, Issue1 (Oct 2018)

There's a detailed review here which says more about the magazine that I could here: though I wouldn't be so hard on the production values, which I didn't have a problem with.

For me the stand-out articles are the Reveiw of 2017, the scenario by Jared Smith set in C8th Damascus and a scenario by Rich McKee set during the Vietnam War (with added pointers to a world-wide DELTA GREEN type campaign).

If money was no object I'd be buying more on Cthulhu Mythos RPGs, but it isn't and most of the stuff out there is too expensive for me.  The eternal truths will have to remain shrouded from my prying eyes...

Currently Reading

Stanley Ellin, The Speciality of the House

A collection of short stories in the Crime Masterworks series by an author I'd not heard of before.  These really are well-crafted little gems - most dryly humorous.

100 Days

No, not that 100 Days...

It's been 100 days since my last drink.

Cynics (and I know who I'm looking at) will read that and point out that it's coincided with the pubs being closed.  Well, so what?  And anyway, if Lockdown's taught us anything it's that you don't need pubs to get a drink.  My social media feeds have been crowded with ads offering to deliver hard liquor to my doorstep (I've been more tempted by potential deliveries of fine cheeses and coffee).  But yes, the pubs being shut has helped.

So how do you celebrate 100 days without a drink?  I don't know.  Perhaps I'll post tomorrow and tell you what happened.

If you Google 100 days sober you get two things.  First, a lot of motivational bullshit.  I'm afraid anything motivational leaves me cold: it just always has (so don't feel oblidged to add a motivational comment to this post!).  I have my own reasons for not drinking at the moment, and they don't coincide with a lot of what I read.  Second, you are told how much better your health is.  I don't know about that.  I've not been weighing myself or taking my blood pressure, so I'm willing to concede that there might have been some changes there.  I'm told I should be sleeping better.  I'm not: my sleep patterns are terrible at the moment.  I'm not any less depressed that I was a couple of months ago (but at least I'm not drepressed and drunk, which has been a very dangerous combination for me).

What for the future?  I'll try to carry on with this.  What will happen when I walk past a pub at 5pm on a sunny summer's day and everyone's sitting out drinking?  I don't know.  I'm probably going to walk home a different way for a while.

Seven Books

Over on Facebook I decided to post seven book covers over seven days.  No explanations, but they've all influenced me.

And I didn't tag anyone to do the same (curses on all chain letters!).

House Moving

It begins!

As those of you who follow me on Facebook may have noticed, I'm in the middle of a house move.  

In typical Norwich fashion I'm only moving about 200 yards, so my plan had been to do it gradually over a fortnight, with the use of my trustly sack truck.  I had the offer of a help from a man with a van to move the Big Stuff, but that wasn't due until the end of the week.  I've also had a couple of friends with a car give me a couple of morning of their time.

That's been going fairly well - though I've had a couple of set-backs.  First, it seems that carrying 50-or-so boxes of books down one set of stairs and then up another isn't too good for old knees: it's manageable now, but I had to have a couple of day's light duty.  

Secondly, the lockdown!  The chap with the van can no longer help me.  That leaves me with the problem of the stuff I was hoping he could move.  I can probably manage the bed and kitchen table, and I think I will leave the sofa behind (leaving stuff behind is an option for me).  The main problem is going to be the fridge/freezer.  I don't think using the trolly is an option (at least by myself).  I shall have to see.

Some photos of progress so far...

Reading Highlights in 2019

According to Goodreads I read 37 books in 2019, almost entirely fiction.  I'm not going to talk about them all, but I thought I'd mention my highlights.

More or less in the order I read them...

David Mitchel, Cloud Atlas.

This was a hangover from 2018, during which I'd discovered Mitchel and read several of his books. 

Like all of Mitchel's books it plays games with Time and narrative - it's a matyoshka doll of stories nested around each over.  I've not seen the film, and can't imagine how they managed to convey all this.  Perhaps not to everyone's taste, but I found it stunning.

Margaret Atwood, The Penelopiad

Atwood had a good year, and I made my small contribution by reading The Penelopiad and The Handmaiden's Tale.

This is her retelling of The Odyssey, which of course she did from the viewpoint of Penelope rather than Odysseus.  It's a "feminist retelling", but being Atwood it's much more than that.  A very impressive work.

This was apparently the first of the Canongate Myth Series, in which contempory authors were invited to reinvent myths from various cultures.  Looking at the list of authors and the stories they've tackled, I think they may be worth digging into.

 Joe Gores, Hammett

A fictional episode in the life of Dashiell Hammett, set in 1928 San Fransico, just as he is becomming known as a writer.  His past as a Pinkerton agent results in him being involved in a devilishly complicated case.

I know nothing of San Fransico in the 1920s, but Gores did a fantastic job of capturing the atmosphere of it, I'm sure authentically.  Hammett's life-story is worthy of a whole heap of novels, and Gores left me hungry for more.  So...

 Dashiell Hammett, The Maltese Falcon and The Continental Op

I read The Maltese Falcon back in the late 80s and hadn't read The Continental Op.  But I was glad to have picked them up this year!

The Maltese Falcon must be my pick of the year.  It is the epitome of a detective novel.  Little more than a novella, but perfectly-formed.  A masterpiece.

I like The Continental Op too.  I think that these stories are always overlooked, which is a damn shame.

 The Laundry Files series by Charles Stross

After reading all the San Fransico stuff I had an itch to read something pulpy and a little Cthulu Mythos.  I'm not sure who had recommended the Laundry Files, I picked up the first book and then during the year (and not without a break!) read all nine currently in the series.

The series premis is that the things that inspired the Lovecraftian Mythos are real, that the stars are aligning and that there is a small department of British Intelegence (the Laundry) tasked with countering the threat.  The first book is compared to The Ipcress Files in depicting the mundanity and work-place boredom involved in secret intellegence work, but as the series progresses the stakes are raised and (without any spoilers) things moved out of dingy offices and onto the world stage.  I recommend it.

Ruthanna Emrys, Winter Tide

This is another take on the Mythos.

At the end of The Shadow Over Innsmouth in 1928, Lovecraft tells us that the US Government bombs Devil's Reef and takes the inhabitants of Innsmouth off to concentration camps.  This book (the first in a series) follows the story.

By 1942 all but a handful of the People of the Water have died in their desert camps, which are converted to hold Japanese-Americans.  When the latter are released, so are the last two of the People, children when they were interned.  It's now 1950, the Cold War is afoot, and the Government has need of them...

This won't be to everyone's taste.  Emrys is deliberately setting out to subvert Lovecraft's racism and fear of 'the other', and some may feel that practically all her protagonists are shoehorned into 'otherness'.  But I enjoyed the book, and Emrys has a lyrical touch.  I shall read the next book.

I am a Character from an HP Lovecraft Story!

I'm sure that there is a genre of fiction (meta-fiction?) in which characters in a story realise that that's just what they are.  I'm equally sure that there is a psychological disorder (The Matrix syndrome?) in which people think that they and everything around them are fictional constructs.

As I've been lying in my bed (it's now 3am) I have come to the conclusion that heads this post, and which compels me to write (while I still can!).  Let me provide the evidence:

1. For many years I practised the profession of archivist.
2. During that time I worked in the archives of a (notorious) religious order; a university; a 300 year-old bank that had interests in the Caribbean and Africa; and the museum of a port town that contained the records of many seafarers and the artifacts they brought back from their travels.
3. Following a sudden collapse and almost three weeks in a coma, I withdrew from the profession and now trade in rare and hard-to-find books.

Madness and the void surely await me!

This line of thought was initiated by an interesting Kickstarter - 'Welcome to Miskatonic University', which sets out to publish an anthology of short stories inspired modern life in that ancient establishment.

One of the features backing is that one is invited to submit one's photo and up to three key details about oneself.  On the basis of this, the creators will have a pool for designing characters to populate their Arkham, incorporating the character into My Miskatonic, a guidebook to Arkham and the university.  

From such innocent requests can darkening realisation grow...

Going Sober for October!

October is for more than painting Zombies - Macmillan Cancer Support are having a campaign to raise funds by having social drinkers think about stopping drinking.  There's some good reasons for doing this.  First, it raises money for a damn cause and, secondly, because drinking alcohol is a major cause of cancers in the general population.

Now, please excuse me while I go into "Testify!" mode.

Like most people, I know too many people who have had cancer.  In my case, both my elder brother and my mother died far too young because of it.  Macmillan Cancer Support provides help and advice to those with cancer and their dear ones.  It is a charity that campaigns for better cancer care in the UK.

I have had problems with drinking.  Although these days I would classify myself as a social drinker, in the past it has caused me a great deal of trouble.  It has cost me a degree, a job and several friendships.  I have had health problems, both physical and mental, because of it, culminating in a suicide attempt that left me in a coma for two weeks.  Breaking the habit for this month will help me stop entirely.  If I can raise awareness and money along the way, that's a good thing.

I ask for your support.  If you wish to donate to Macmillan though my giving page, I would be grateful.

If drinking ins't your vice, there's also Stoptober - the NHS campaign to encourage people to stop smoking.

Liebster Award

As I'm sure many of you have noticed, the Liebster Awards are doing the rounds again.  I am flattered to say that this blog has been nominated by Legatus Hedlius from the always entertaining Legatus' Wargames Armies blog.

The Liebster Awards are a purely nominal award in which bloggers recognise their peers.  In that in turn it asks the recipient to make nominations, it is a little like a chain letter.  Given that it doesn't have any of the dodgy moral pressures or other drawbacks of chain letters, and that the aim (to introduce readers to new blogs) is a worthy one, I'm more than happy to accept it and pass it on.

Over time the 'rules' of the award have evolved - some variants and supposedly 'official rules' can be found here.  It the true spirit of the blogosphere, I'm going to pick and choose the elements that appeal to me.

Post the Logo and Explain the Award

Done.

Thank and Link to the Nominator 

Surely this doesn't have to be a 'rule'!  Done.

Answer Questions about Yourself

The Legate hasn't nominated any questions, so I'll answer the same ones he did.

Why did you start blogging?

Quite simply because of a mid-life crisis - my first post was on my 45th birthday.  I'd been off work for some time and was feeling isolated (three weeks in intensive care, another three on the renal ward and 18 months off work, and I didn't have a single visit from a work colleague).

I was concerned that I was loosing my communication and writing skills and wanted to do something vaguely creative (and that's why I eventually plucked up courage to pick up a brush).

I didn't expect to be here all now with so many hits, knowing some pretty decent people and being a hair off 400 posts.

If you could change one thing about the wargaming hobby, what would it be?

I'm not a wargamer and don't know enough about the hobby to start changing things.  99% of the contact I've had with it has been through the internet.  Wargames bloggers are a welcoming, friendly and above all, generous bunch.  Equally, I've not had any negative experiences with the forum (the Lead Adventure Forum) I participate in, and only with one figure supplier.

I do however think wargamers should buy more books!

What is best in life?

The love of a good partner, family and companionship.

And upside-down whippets...

Fame or fortune?

In a fantasy world fame, but in reality there's a lot to be said for over-sufficient income.

What miniatures are you most proud of having painting?

Any I've completed, to be honest.  But it was nice to be able to hold my own in the Analogue Painting Challenge.

How do you deal with burn-out?

Badly.  But I'm a lot better since I've given up drinking.

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

They both have horns on their bottoms.

'Star Wars' or 'Star Trek'?

It's a question of style or substance: 'Star Trek' wins every time.

But I want to say 'Firefly'

If you could only buy from one miniature company from now on, which one would it be?

Artizan or Copplestone - probably the former.

What is your favorite takeaway?

Chinese food.

Nominate 6-12 blogs for the Liebster Award

Because it seems the principal aim of the award is introduce readers to new blogs, I'm going to stick to the "less than 300 followers" rule.

Arlequin's Adventures is a relatively new blog run by Jim Hale.  The strap-line is 'A Blog Devoted To Tabletop Adventure Gaming with Miniatures and the Lighter Side of My Hobby' and Jim's description of what he's doing is here.  Jim also has an interesting blog on wargaming 'more real' historical settings.

Bloggers for Charity.  The content might be a little thin of late, but the concept makes up for that - bloggers and wargamers getting together to raise some money for a couple of worthwhile charities.

Civil War Navy Sesquicentennial.  Remembering the naval history of the American Civil War.

Colonel O'Truth's Miniature Issues.  The Colonel hasn't posted much since moving house last year, but it's well worth working your way back through the blog to see the crazy, marvelous things he has made.  Inspiring stuff!  A love of rivets helps, but isn't necessary.

Dreams of Space - Books and Ephemera.  Non-fiction children's space stuff, 1945-1975

Fiends in Waistcoats.  Gaming Gothic Horror and other interesting Victorian oddities.

Happy Valley.  Grandpa Amos doesn't post to a schedule: he only writes when he has something to say.  And that's worth reading.

Herefordshire 1938.  As good an exponent of A Very British Civil War as you'll find.

Mad Padre's Wargames. The thinking clergyman's hobby.

Mannie Gentile - Toy Stories for Ever.  The American Civil War in old school 54mm.

Prometheus in Aspic.  A lot of thought-provoking stuff here.

The Gonzo History Project.  James Holloway is a wargamer, but here he blogs about how his academic discipline, history and archaeology, interfaces with popular culture - it's worth reading his reviews of (mostly bad!) films and pieces on how the Gothic and archane appropriate historical themes.

Waziristan on a Fancy.  A wargaming project that take a period (the North West Frontier in the 1920s and 30s) and takes an in-depth look at the history and geography behind it.

Pose questions to your nominees

1. How would you describe your blog?
2. Why did you start blogging?
3. How do you relax (if it's not blogging)?
4. What is your favorite holiday destination?
5. Who inspires/has inspired you the most?
6. Why is a raven like a writing desk?
7. 'Star Trek' or 'Star Wars'?
8. What was the last book you read and the last you bought?
9. Who is your favorite fictional character?
10. Which historical event would you like to visit?

Shelfies

A couple of things have coincided to bring this post.  First is an article I read in the local paper about 'shelfies', the second is a post by Joppy over on Steam, Steel and Torpedoes where he does just that.

Ever one to spot the latest trend, I present you these, my bookshelves...

I wish...

No, here we are...

Fiction A-L (somehow I've lost the other photos from this room...)

Misc stuff

Mainly The Wife's

And now My Shame...

Naval and Maritime

Mainly Exploration

Ref and Military

 And for bedtime...

The to-read pile (1)

The to-read pile (2)

Day in the Life Of...

I've nothing interesting to blog about, so I thought I'd tell you about my day.

It started later than it should have as The Wife had a bad night and didn't sleep much.  We have to do a deep clean this weekend to help with her breathing.   But coffee beckoned and then an hour or so catching up with e-mail, my blog-feed, forums I'm a member of and Facebook.

It had been raining overnight, but by the time I took the dog for his walk we had beautiful blue skies and sunshine.  The walk ended up in our favourite coffee-shop (with our favourite staff on duty today).  Zeppo was devastated to find that I'd forgotten to bring his box of treats and (unsuccessfully) tried to persuade me that a Scotch egg would do instead.  I had a couple of flat whites and read the local paper, in which I learned that there was going to be an interesting-sounding one-day conference marking the centenary of WWI (including a paper on the Ottomans at war 1912-1922) and that an exhibition has started of photos of medieval memorials from East Anglia churches.  I reminded myself that I hadn't posted any interesting obits lately, though I'd read a couple of candidates.

After lunch I did a Post Office run and then had to go and see a man about some books - ending up with a bag of things to add to the sales list when I update it this weekend.

A little job for the weekend

As I was in town (I can't bring myself to say 'in the City' as locals do!) I mooched around the pound shops to see if there was anything that could be converted into gaming goodies: sadly there wasn't.  I then popped into my local toy/model shop for some paints and a look around.  I considered going to a new wargaming shop I've heard has opened, but decided that it was too far to go given I still had to get something for supper.  So I got something for supper...

Home and collapse of stout party.  Revival by tea and toast.

I sat down and wrote a research report for a guy interested in a brigadier killed in action in Sep 1918 - I'll need to visit the National Archives to do some further work on him next week.

After that, I cooked a delicious supper and The Wife and I settled down to tv and laptops.  

And that, ladies and gentlemen is how it rolls being the Depressive Diplomatist...

Shiney Things!

First an attack of Real World.  This might go some way to explaining why I've not been blogging so regularly over the last few months.

Last week I got sacked, or as the letter put it 'it was with regret I delivered my decision that your employment be terminated due to medical capability.'

Enough of that.

Lot 620 at DNW 25 Mar 2013

After a while I decided I need a little treat.  Normally I would get myself a nice book, but I fancied something a little different.

I can't afford anything at either of the medal auctions coming up this month (another thing I haven't blogged about!), so decided to go for something completely frivolous.




I've ordered a Steam Tank...

...and some Selenite Warriors.

I did consider a Mad Scientist, to go with some Killer Robots I've had my eyes on, but The Wife persuaded me That Would Be Silly.  Next time though...

The miniatures (28mm scale) are all from Ironclad Miniatures, from whom I've lifted the pics.  [I hope they don't mind as, in effect, I'm promoting their products, but if you're connected with them and want me to remove the pics, I will.]

They arrived today, and I'm very pleased with them.  I dare say they'll sit in the shed for ages before I decide to construct and paint them, but that isn't the point.

Books and Stuff

A [supposedly] weekly round-up of my book news.

What I've been reading....

Carried on with The Kingdom Beyond the Waves.

What I've bought....


Bruce Fogle, The Dog Owner's Manual - 30p
MRD Foot & JM Langley, MI9: Escape and Evasion, 1939-1945 - 30p
John Parker, The Gurkhas - 30p

Projects in Hand

I'm sorry I haven't really blogged this week.  That's partly down the the fact that I was away for a few days last weekend and that there have been developments on the health/work front - Real Life does tend to get in the way sometime!

But mainly it's because I have been distracted by other projects, so I thought a few words of explanation might be in  order.

Military Medal Project

The first is a commitment I made some time ago (way back before I started this blog!) to do some drudge work to help in a book on recipients of the Military Medal that's projected to come out next year. I'd undertaken to do some collating of information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission registers and other sources on recipients who died in World War I, and I'm afraid to say that I've been neglecting it of late. 

Thus one of my New Year resolutions was to do a certain amount of that work every day before I thought of doing other things, like blogging.

I'm half-way through the 'Gs' and have several tens of thousands to go...

Depressed Diplomatist or Citizen Scientist?


Those who know me, or who have read between the lines of this blog, know that I have an interest in the planets of the Solar System, especially Mars.

An interesting project to map Mars has come up this week.  This is Planet Four, which is asking ordinary people to give some time to look at and classify photos of the southern polar region.  The idea is that thousands of people doing a little each can achieve more than a handful of scientists (and it's not a process that can be easily automated).

This Citizen Scientist project is from the Zooniverse stable, which has several projects on the go.  These range from astronomy (deep space, Mars and the Moon), to nature (whales, bats and the ocean floor), to the humanities (looking at ancient papyri).

In the past I've been involved in a climate project, transcribing WWI-era ships' logs to use as raw data in plotting weather patterns.  Of course, that has a spin-off for naval enthusiasts like myself, and I'm glad to say that the transcripts are now becoming available on naval-history.net. 

Hostages to Fortune

But I am committed to this blog, so to force me to actually do something, I'll make some rash promises about what you'll see in the near future...

I have in hand a draft of a profile of Sir William Goodenough, who was probably the RN admiral who saw most action in WWI.  After that, aware that I've lost the original concept of the Monday Moustaches by including too many admirals (Beardies?), I'll concentrate on army types to restore the balance.

I've also started drafting a post on the Order of Merit as part of the Orders of Knighthood series.  That, I suppose, should be partnered by a look at the Companions of Honour.

The next Royals in Medals will probably be Prince George and Princess Marina, the Duke and Duchess of Kent.  I haven't done anything toward this yet.

Over to You...

Oddly enough this neglect on my part has been matched by a peak in visitor numbers.  I'm interested in feedback.  What brought you here?  Do you come back regularly?  What do you like/dislike about the blog?  What would you like to see here? 

Bear in mind this is my blog, and I'm not going to go off in any radical new directions!