Thursday, 15 September 2022

Gaucin trip and real life stuff

 We recently had a family holiday to Gaucin in Andalusia,southern Spain . It's one of those picturesque whitewashed hillside towns/villages with a view of the straits of Gibraltar  and North Africa ( you can see why it was called the pillars of Hercules in classical times) from our verandah. 


There is a little castle, originally an Iberian strong point then a Roman fort and an Arabic castle, the castle of the eagle, a battle in 1309 and the fort stormed by the French during the Penisular/war of Independence. 















I have to say I am tempted to dig out my old airfix Roman fort and bash it about a  bit , to make it usable over a nice big period of time and area, Roman, fall of Rome Medieval or Napoleonic? We also went to Ronda which was an Andalusian city with Arabic baths.







There is still some of the walls left and I am tempted to do something inspired by the last building for my Italian wars terrain!










We also managed a  trip to Baelo Claudia, a Roman city that was just past Tarifa, the family allowed me to wander around taking photos which was good of them as they were a bit bored, but nice bit of Forum,  theatre and museum, even better it was all free!

So not much figure painting, it's been too hot and busy, work and family, also a couple of weeks ago on Saturday my brother was told the chemotherapy wasn't working, we went from some years to a two to four weeks in a day and then to a matter of days, he died the following Saturday so one week.  

He took me to my first wargame when I was about nine on the back of his motorbike, we went to some hall where there was a game with airfix plastic battleships on the floor.      I remember his Vosper MTB model he made with love and care ( and the moment it was destroyed by our older brothers lobbed football!) My interest in model making and probably wargaming stems from him. I also remember him being stationed in Crossmaglen with his British army unit while I ( as a child) was visiting our relatives barely on the other side of the border, interesting times!

I'm going to miss him, apologies for the lack of wargame content, and also being remiss in visiting blogs but on both counts I hope to be back up to speed pretty soon. 

All the best 

Iain 


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53 comments:

  1. Ed M16 September 2022 at 03:11

    Terrible turn of events with your brother. Deepest condolences on your loss.

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  2. Jonathan Freitag16 September 2022 at 03:14

    So sorry to read about the loss of your brother. My condolences.

    Now, your vacation to Andalusia is fabulous. Thanks for sharing your adventures. Wish I was there!

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    Replies
    1. caveadsum147120 September 2022 at 11:09

      Thanks Jonathan, definitely worth a visit!
      Best Iain

      Delete
  3. Peter Douglas16 September 2022 at 03:34

    Great photos. I am very jealous. I also want to see a kit bashed Airfix Roman fort etc on this years challenge.

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    1. Peter Douglas16 September 2022 at 14:05

      Iain, feeling like a real heel as I obviously did not read the full post first time through. So sorry to hear about your brother.

      Delete
    2. caveadsum147120 September 2022 at 11:10

      Thanks Peter, don't worry, not a problem! Will try with the airfix fort!
      Best Iain

      Delete
  4. Michal DwarfCrypt16 September 2022 at 03:50

    Oh, my God. My condolences.

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  5. Anonymous16 September 2022 at 05:07

    So sorry about your brother Iain. That is a big loss.
    Chris/Nundanket

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  6. Cyrus16 September 2022 at 06:47

    Really sorry to hear about your brother, Iain.

    Lovely photos of Andalusia, it must have been a great holiday.

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    Replies
    1. caveadsum147120 September 2022 at 11:11

      Thsnks a lot Cyrus, I'm sure you would appreciate it a lot there!
      Best Iain

      Delete
  7. Anonymous16 September 2022 at 06:59

    Condolences to you and yours.
    Alan Tradgardland

    ReplyDelete
  8. Matt Crump16 September 2022 at 07:42

    Very sad to hear about your brother Iain, hope the family is ok. As for Spain it is high on the list of places to visit thanks for the prompt 👍

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    1. caveadsum147120 September 2022 at 11:12

      Thanks Matt, yes I thought of you and your collection, must have been awfully hot in chainmail!
      Best Iain

      Delete
  9. Norm16 September 2022 at 08:05

    Iain, sorry for sad loss. Going to your first wargame on the back of his motorbike is a nice memory to hold.

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  10. Dave Stone16 September 2022 at 08:22

    Sorry to hear of your loss Iain, sounds like you have many fond memories of your brother, and all that he introduced you to.
    The holiday looks to have been filled with culture, and history, and wonderful photos.

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    1. caveadsum147120 September 2022 at 11:13

      Thanks Dave, definitely a good place to visit!
      Best Iain

      Delete
  11. 'Lee.16 September 2022 at 08:38

    Very sorry for your sad loss Iain. The photos are beautiful.

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  12. The Jolly Broom Man16 September 2022 at 09:26

    Really sorry to hear your terrible news. I hope the holiday helped lift your spirits a little.

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    1. caveadsum147120 September 2022 at 11:15

      Thanks Mark, the break came at a good time to be honest.
      Best Iain

      Delete
  13. Ronin16 September 2022 at 12:55

    Mi dispiace per la tua perdita condoglianze.

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  14. Stew16 September 2022 at 14:13

    That’s a great memory of your first wargame.

    “Life is eternal. Love is immortal.
    Death is a horizon. And a horizon is just the
    Limit of our sight.”

    I’m sorry for your loss.

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  15. Mike Vella16 September 2022 at 20:37

    Deepest condolences Iain. Truly sorry for your sad loss.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Lawrence H16 September 2022 at 21:29

    Very sorry to hear about your brother Iain. Makes me think I must make an effort to see mine early next year now we can travel again. Great inspiration there from the trip to Spain.

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    1. caveadsum147120 September 2022 at 11:56

      Thanks Lawrence, yes you get a lot of time to regret, better to act earlier, lovely bit of Spain.
      Best Iain

      Delete
  17. Fitz-Badger17 September 2022 at 02:00

    Sounds like a grand holiday to Andalusia and the photos look great.
    My condolences on the passing of your brother. Sounds like you have plenty of fond memories with him.

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  18. rross17 September 2022 at 06:05

    Trying to think of an original way to say what everyone else already has, but there are a limited number of appropriate phrases. Very shocking news to have such a sudden change in prognosis for your brother. Obviously, you knew he was terminally ill, but for it to go from a few years to a few days overnight must have been terrible for your family. The holiday photos are very nice and you obviously have a tolerant wife and children!

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    1. caveadsum147120 September 2022 at 11:58

      Thanks Keith, yes it was a rather rapid turn of events in the end.
      Best Iain

      Delete
  19. James Fisher17 September 2022 at 06:45

    Great photos Iain.
    That 'Moorish' architecture is superb; all those wonderful arches. A huge step-forward in design and load-bearing!
    Regards, James

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    Replies
    1. caveadsum147120 September 2022 at 11:59

      Thanks James, agree on the arches, very elegant.
      Best Iain

      Delete
  20. Aly Morrison18 September 2022 at 02:06

    My condolences Iain…
    It’s clear your brother lead you down the right path…and he is therefore responsible for a lot of good times you have had over the years.
    You have no need to apologise for the lack of posts old chap…

    The holiday photos are splendid.

    All the best. Aly

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  21. uiduach OB22 September 2022 at 23:42

    I'm sorry for your loss Iain. Take good care of yourself. Such things hit hard.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Phil25 September 2022 at 07:39

    Superb pictures, Andalousia is a little treasure...Sorry for your loss...

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    1. caveadsum147126 September 2022 at 09:28

      Thanks Phil and yes Andalusia is lovely.
      Best Iain

      Delete
  23. Mark Strachan25 September 2022 at 19:25

    Iain, sorry to hear of your loss.

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  24. fireymonkeyboy5 October 2022 at 12:27

    So sorry to hear about your brother, Iain. Always hard to lose someone you love, especially when they've had that much influence on you. Hug your family, and take comfort in one another.

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  25. A Miniatures Hobby Room19 October 2022 at 06:27

    Late to see this. So sorry for your loss Iain and glad you have good memories to last.
    Andalusia and the rest of Spain is high on my bucket list. You are so fortunate to be near so much history. Ours only goes back a couple of hundred years or so.

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    1. caveadsum147119 October 2022 at 12:05

      Thanks Vol, definitely worth a visit if you can!
      Best Iain

      Delete
  26. Joe Procopio20 October 2022 at 06:31

    Sorry to hear the sad news of your brother's passing. My mother went from initial cancer diagnosis to passing away in six short weeks at age 74 about a decade ago. The swiftness of these things can be a challenge. Condolences to you and yours.

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    Replies
    1. caveadsum147120 October 2022 at 11:52

      Thanks very much Joe, I appreciate it and it can happen so quickly.
      Best Iain

      Delete

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