Best Christmas Present Ever (And Some Orcs)

I am very happy to report that Madame Padre is back home where she belongs, after two surgeries and a long recuperation.  She went into hospital on 11 Nov, was discharged on 9 Dec, and then readmitted on 12 Dec when everything went rather sideways, for a total of 35 days and nights in hospital over two months.  In today’s health care system, where they send you home hours after minor surgery or delivering a baby, that length of stay is almost unheard of.  Yesterday she celebrated her first day of freedom by going back to hospital, but as an outpatient this time, for her first dose of chemo.   She will receive this drug every three weeks, and by Easter we should know how she is doing.   During all the ups and downs of this process, I was buoyed and supported by so many of my wargaming friends, including readers of this blog.   I thank you all.  Life from here on is uncertain.  Kay is classified as a palliative case, meaning that her cancer can only be managed, not cured, and while her doc says that chemo gets good results, we know that her cancer is advanced and inoperable.   Each day is a gift, a chance to appreciate what we’ve done and been together, and to make plans as bravely as we can for the future.   That seems like the best Christmas present we could receive, and we’re grateful for it.

 In all of those 35 days I have been visiting the hospital when I wasn’t working, sleeping, or tending the Catbeasts of Mordor, so there wasn’t a lot of painting going on.   I did however get a few small projects accomplished, including these eight Orcs from Vendel Miniatures, which are now repped on the Sgt. Major Miniatures page, here.  My friend James and I went in on an order to flesh out our armies of Middle Earth project, as I wanted some diversity from my mainly GW collection of LOTR figures.  These fellows are the OR5 Small Orcs Charging, I think, though the chaps in the photo aren’t throwing their spears overhand (which seems to be a Vendel thing).

I wanted to give them a uniform look, as one would expect for a liveried and trained orc regiment raised in Mordor proper.   A lot of the GW Orcs look quite irregular and scruffy, but these fellows look more dependable, less prone to fighting amongst themselves (Damn!  Lord Sauron, my troops have self-decimated … again!).  As per my SOP for basing LOTR badges, the bases are 

I owe the inspiration for the various Eye patters on the shield to James.  Over on his blog he has done some terrific work bringing his Vendel figures to life, including elves, bad guys, and dwarves. Highly recommended.  These four look like they are posted on guard, perhaps at the gates of Dol Goldur, looking for bagginsess?

And orcs stabbing overhand, or maybe throwing, though since most of them are not cast with any other weapons, throwing may not be such a good idea.

 

I am quite happy with Vendel figures, seeing as how my orcs and these other fellows have painted up.  Vendel figures have a pleasantly old school feel to them, and are quite a bargain, allowing me to round out my legions of Middle Earth without spending a fortune on GW figures - the LOTR range is still available for the most part, but is produced on demand now, I think, and is now all hard plastic, even the sculpts that were once metal.  

I wonder, do they know it’s Christmas time in Mordor?  Well, we do here.   

From Madame Padre and I, blessings to all of you and your loved ones.  Cherish them and cherish your time with them.

Blessings to your brushes!

MP+

These figures bring my 2016 totals to:

28mm:  Foot Figures: 110; Mounted Figures: 10; Buildings: 3; Terrain Features: 2

20mm:  Buildings: 1

6mm:  Mounted figures:  36;  Buildings:  2