Ramen on a rainy Saturday

 Ian and Leena tuck into a bowl of Chinese ramen

My lunch was a spicy noodle with fried rice and gyoza, or pan fried pork dumplings. These things we can't get so much back in Nova Scotia, so we enjoy them while we can while here.

Snug as a bug in a rug

 Leena curls up in her brothers quilts and touque

Whereby Ian curls down for bed

Ian's latest Karate belt: Brown

Ian is only the second student in his Karate dojo class to advance through a belt level twice! He was awarded a brown belt on November 2, 2014. He was given his certificate and belt tonight at his class.
Picture to follow

Battle of Valcour Island October 11, 1776

This was the final battle of the Quebec 1775 campaign whereby the Royal Navy and Crown forces defeated Benedict Arnold's fleet

from Osprey Publishing Quebec 1775

The Continental Navy of Lake Champlain. I could only find two vessels.

A Royal Navy sloop packed to the gunwhales with guns and troops. 

A screen of Light Infantry cover one bank

While Amerindians allied with the Crown 

The Americans take casualties from RN gunfire.

The Americans fire back taking out 3 of the ships guns.

The Royal Navy fired broadsides cutting down gun crews and boarding parties.

One whaleboat decided to clear out the Amerindians but took horrible casualties.

The Americans can't make much headway, but put one group to flight.

Broadsides lead to more casualties on each side.

The Amerindians begin to counter attack.

The Royal Navy close in to board.

The Americans flee to their whaleboat.

The Americans loose their main mast.

The whaleboat flees while the Americans are about to be boarded.

Here the Navy comes

boards and cuts down any who stand in their way. Canada is saved again!

Beginnings and Endings

I'm at a bit of a crossroads. This year has been full of personal hardships which have impacted me more than I care to admit. I have had two major personal setbacks, one the passing of my mum and the second, a change in direction in my career.
I need to seriously think about if I want to remain in Japan or return to Canada. As many visitors have noticed, I have slacked off on black powder gamming. I believe this might be a sign that all is not well. However, my son and I have jumped in headfirst into World War Two gamming.

I still have plans for some 18th century games once my holidays come up, but real life may impact this. I will need to devote more time in the search of employment to start in April 2015.

I guess I've hit a bit of a mid life crisis. However for me, its not a simple as buying a ticket and flying home. I have a wife and children to consider.
Worst case scenario is that I return home solo to set up life, then bring them over. That would be more difficult. Also, setting myself up back home would be tough as I'd need to get myself transport plus insurance. Then a half-decent job.
Oh well, it can be a bit of an adventure, just a bit of a stressful one.

Red coats 27th Regiment of foot

 video by Ethan Thomas of his own  figures painted as the 27th Regiment

Attack on Fort Washington November 16, 1776

It's been awhile since I have been able to have a big black powder battle. Most of my gaming has been taken up with my Bolt Action games on my Grampies War blog. Plus my son is more interested in that era now.


On November 11, 2014, I had it off for the first time in eleven years.
The historical information for this battle is as follows.

Washington left a force of 3000 troops in a fortified position with orders to hold out, and inflict as many casualties on the Crown forces in the hope that they would loose heart, much like what happened at Breed's Hill in Boston in 1775.

The American position consisted of an outer gun battery of Pennsylvanian artillery on their left while a screen of smaller defences covered the approaches to their main camp.

The American forces consisted of 5 battalions, while the Crown forces had 28!

text from Osprey Campaign New York 1775

 Fort Washington November, 1776

The Americans made up of the within the fort, 5th Pennsylvania, the foreground on the right being the 3rd Pennsylvania, with Rangers. 

Pennsylvania militia

The Crown centre 

The Crown right, made up of Hessian's

The British Light Infantry and Grenadiers make a feint 

The British centre bypasses the outer defences of the Americans to head straight for the American fort.

The Light Infantry pour advancing fire which makes one gun crew withdrawal

The 42nd Royal Highland Regiment (The Black Watch) and the 71st Fraser's Highlanders advance on the American right clearing out the last of their defenders.

The Grenadiers make their assault on the main position. The first rank was cut down by rebel fire, but the second line poured in a volley which broke the Americans.

Having surrounded the fort, and with a Royal Navy vessel in the river (not shown but the table edge would be where the ship is), the Americans surrender. Washington's gamble failed, the British did not blindly attack.

However, with the main army able to slip away, the British fail to crush the Americans before winter.

Wacky Japan; Tokyo Disney Resort, and other images of Chiba

Just a smattering of shots taken recently

Without a zoom lense its hard to see, but Mt. Fuji is in the centre of this shot. One of the few really clear days you could see, but with the wind, it was chilly.

A fire in a local farmhouse, next to Michinobe station

 remains of a farm house, at the beginning of cold weather, many old families use keresone heaters, which are big fire hazards. 

 A hologram of a girl selling Asahi beer.

 My triple scoop ice-cream from Ben and Jerrys as my family got to go to Tokyo Disneyland while I had to work. My wife said I could get something to eat.

My favorite spicy chips by Blairs

and my favorite British crisps. these taste like fish and chips

I also got some chicken and chips. I finished work around 3pm, then walked to a Kasairinkaikoen to catch the train to Maihama, the station for Tokyo Disney Resort. I got there about 4pm and my wife said they'd be another two hours. To top that off, the resort had sold out of passes, so I spent the time enjoying junk food. 

Ian does the second level green belt test

Ian is the first boy on the left front row.

This is a better shot of him from behind.

He begins his kicking test.

Afterwards, we went to Lalaport Tokyo Bay, in Funabashi, Chiba, We had lunch at Sweets Paradise which is an all you can eat pasta and dessert buffet restaurant. This is a very popular place for Japanese ladies and little kids. The food wasn't too bad. But I don't want to eat cake for a while!