My OperaThe Best Laid Plans
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 9:12:02 PM
Knowing that I was facing a later Carthaginian army I looked at the army list. What strengths do I need to neutralise and which weaknesses can I exploit? Serious business this wargaming - leave nothing to chance (or as little as possible). Bearing this in mind I tailored my Abyssinians to face the Barcids across the table.
Setting up I found the match-ups to my liking and a real bonus - his cavalry in the centre right opposite my camels. In DBM cavalry hate camels. So there I was poised to deliver a killer blow when.... I throw a one. The allied command (including the camels) decides that they don't really want to get involved in this fight. Much better to wait and see what happens next.
Eventually the camels join the fray but the battle turns out a dour affair with me getting the worst of it. I barely survived the encounter - in fact only saved by the bell. The moral of this story is surely that no matter how much you plan the cricketer of fate can still bowl you a googlie.
In contrast the planned trip out on Wednesday was abandoned on a grey morning. The night had been cold for the time of year (down to 5 degrees C) and the new day was not the warmest. Rain in the air and a keen wind. The forecast was not good either.
Jill went off to Middlesborough on her own - rather her than me! I still remember going there for an interview (1991). As I crested a hill on the A19 I almost turned back. The place is a caldera shaped depression belching chemical fumes. The town stunk. Even the Royston cokeing plant seems like paradise by comparison.
So lunchtime I took the mutt out for a walk. Some thought, if not actual planning, was required here. The need to have bolt holes from the short, but heavy, showers. Royston park seemed a good option. We even got two-thirds of the way round before the clouds opened.
We belted for one of the strange semi-circular huts that line the bowling green. Narrowly avoiding a collision with the groundsman all three of us squashed in as the rain hammered off the metal roof. Mash was, however, happy to see a new human and luckily the man likes dogs. Post rain, a much stroked pooch, a very licked man and an amused observer (me) carried on with our various tasks.
As a contented dog munched into her food (tripe flavoured with chicken - Yuk!) I thought about some of the games I have played. OK I have enjoyed some of them - badminton, American football and even 5-a-side Soccer - but others I have loathed. (Only the English could invent such boring games as tennis and cricket). It's just the lack of equanimity that gets to you. Dealing with Lady Luck is like trying to get rid of pet fleas - as soon as you think you've won another one comes out to bite you.
Setting up I found the match-ups to my liking and a real bonus - his cavalry in the centre right opposite my camels. In DBM cavalry hate camels. So there I was poised to deliver a killer blow when.... I throw a one. The allied command (including the camels) decides that they don't really want to get involved in this fight. Much better to wait and see what happens next.
Eventually the camels join the fray but the battle turns out a dour affair with me getting the worst of it. I barely survived the encounter - in fact only saved by the bell. The moral of this story is surely that no matter how much you plan the cricketer of fate can still bowl you a googlie.
In contrast the planned trip out on Wednesday was abandoned on a grey morning. The night had been cold for the time of year (down to 5 degrees C) and the new day was not the warmest. Rain in the air and a keen wind. The forecast was not good either.
Jill went off to Middlesborough on her own - rather her than me! I still remember going there for an interview (1991). As I crested a hill on the A19 I almost turned back. The place is a caldera shaped depression belching chemical fumes. The town stunk. Even the Royston cokeing plant seems like paradise by comparison.
So lunchtime I took the mutt out for a walk. Some thought, if not actual planning, was required here. The need to have bolt holes from the short, but heavy, showers. Royston park seemed a good option. We even got two-thirds of the way round before the clouds opened.
We belted for one of the strange semi-circular huts that line the bowling green. Narrowly avoiding a collision with the groundsman all three of us squashed in as the rain hammered off the metal roof. Mash was, however, happy to see a new human and luckily the man likes dogs. Post rain, a much stroked pooch, a very licked man and an amused observer (me) carried on with our various tasks.
As a contented dog munched into her food (tripe flavoured with chicken - Yuk!) I thought about some of the games I have played. OK I have enjoyed some of them - badminton, American football and even 5-a-side Soccer - but others I have loathed. (Only the English could invent such boring games as tennis and cricket). It's just the lack of equanimity that gets to you. Dealing with Lady Luck is like trying to get rid of pet fleas - as soon as you think you've won another one comes out to bite you.
