In case you were wondering, some of the parts to make my groovy Rough Riders were sculpted by Rob at Curious Constructs.

Monday 10 February 2014

Celebrating 50,000 Hits


Evening Gents. I'm just kicking back with a cool drink on a sweltering 43 degree day looking over the crazy number of visitors that have stopped by my little blog this week.

Over the last two and a half years my hit counter has slowly risen in small increments. I try to blog regularly but usually one post a month is all that eventuates from my sporadic hobby time. As a result, this is only the 67 post on my little blog while other blogs of the same age are at well over 100 posts. Never the less, I noticed last week that I was only a couple of thousand hits from the 50k mark and I thought to myself "That will be a nice milestone to hit in 2 or 3 months time". I'm surprised to say however, I completely underestimated how many people would be interesting in checking out the cavalry! In a week my Rough Rider Army post has clocked over 4500 views which is about 10 times more then I expected it to be seen in a month. The result is that I have absolutely smashed past the 50,000 hit mark by several thousand.



At this milestone I'd like to give a massive 'thank you' to all of the readers that drop by my blog, my 92 public followers, and particularly the regulars that frequently comment on my posts. It is really motivating to hear that someone has enjoyed seeing something that I have been working on. I'd also like to thanks Col. Gravis for encouraging me to start this blog in the first place. Before that time my hobby was becoming a very solitary pursuit. Finally, I would like to thank all of the authors to the many blogs that I follow. I am continuously inspired by your skill, enthusiasm, and dedication to this hobby.

Before ending this post, I have recently discovered a few things about myself which does explain my hobby habits...
I was thinking about why I have blogged such few posts and I was imminently reminded of my first blog post where I wrote:
"As well as being fanatically involved in WH40k I am trying to finish up my PhD. So I guess my blogging will be sporadic until March 2012 when I get to call myself doctor and have way more time to paint, game and blog."
Well, in about March 2014 my PhD thesis IS finally being submitted. There are very good reasons why this has taken so much longer than expected but I do need to concede that I am a bit of a 'creative type' and accordingly something overlook deadlines (because I'm too caught up in my work). I also tend to think too big and I don't always finish projects - although I always do come back to them. This pattern also spills over into my hobby time which is very apparent from this blog. Examples include my slightly ridiculous Risk Set, my extremely excessive Praetorian Army, my overly elaborate Hobby Desk and recently, my rather ambitious Rough Rider Army.

To sign off, I have a heap of (rather horrible) snapshots from over the last 15 odd years of my gaming (it is hard not to laugh at the old photos).


























































Thanks again everyone!

20 comments:

  1. You've come a hell of a long way. I wish i had kept at least some of my first minis, but in my youth i sold them or traded them all for newer, shiner things. ~sigh~ I envy you the nostalgia of being able to clearly see where you came from and hold it in your hands :)

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    1. Thanks Zab. I have come close to repainting them so many times. It came down to me deciding to paint the stuff I haven’t painted first before stripping the old models. It’s funny how an old model with a crappy paint job can make you smile.
      I'm looking forward to a time when my painting makes my current models look bad :)

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  2. Dr Col Auckland ? It has a certain ring to it...

    Nice fots, too.

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    1. I have been chasing it for so long… it feels like a TV series that promises something but goes on and on and on. Then 10 seasons in everybody is asking "Wasn't something meant to happen ages ago?"

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  3. Congratulations. Now e mail GW and let them know that just the mention of Rough Riders generated 4500 hits in a week.

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    1. Lol Ady, I'll totally will do that!
      If I get a reply I'll let you know. :p

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  4. You've come a long way, Baby.

    Congratulations, mate, and SERIOUSLY nice work for that brilliant array of pics!

    Here's to 100,000

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    1. It really has been a long gaming journey. In the 4th photo (or 3rd down on the left) you can see the paper blast marker that we use to use. LOL, it was ages before I got hold of proper templates. And that hideous blue Leman Russ with yellow stripes! It's 2nd paint job was far nicer on the eyes.

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  5. ...I ought really to point out too, that yours is absolutely one of my favourite blogs!

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    1. Oh thanks Drax. I’m happy if people stop by and enjoy what they see.

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  6. One of the best picture posts I've ever seen - a joy to look at. Thanks for a smashing blog, and here's to 50K more!

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    1. Cheers Ed, The hardest part was cutting all the photos down to just these. I was shocked to see how many old gaming photos I had tucked away in different places!
      That gaming mat must have been one of the first things that I made. It was just an old roll up blind painted brown lol. It is shocking how many games have been fought over it!

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  7. Keep up the excellent work sir. It's always a joy to come visit this blog for each new post.

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    1. Thank you Dai, I’ll keep the posts coming as long as people keep stopping by and read them. :)

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  8. Congrat! You've deserved every one of those 50000 hits!

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  9. Well done Colonel on the milestone - great stuff all round - Its always good looking back ay yesteryear. I found a photo from my very first little army the other day - Ultramarines painted by a 15 year old Muppet - ah the memories.

    In other news, was it you looking for the peaked guard officer caps the other day as I stumbled upon a couple in a little bag of bits that I cant for the life of me think what I was going to do with them - if you need them give us a hoy and I'll bring them along to the next club day.

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    1. It is weird looking back at them. At first I was like ‘what was I thinking’. But then I remembered how I saw them back in the day. Highlighting didn't matter, think gluggy paint was the norm, but they were amazing because they were my 'pith helmeted space soldiers with laser guns!'
      It’s a joy remembering the excitement of youth.

      Also, YES YES YES! I was after guard officer caps! This is the second time you have helped me out with bits. Please let me know if you are looking for something yourself.

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    2. ....they were amazing because they were my 'pith helmeted space soldiers with laser guns!' and silver boots !

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    3. LOL, yes, and the silver boots!
      Too much time spend watching old episodes of 'Lost in Space' and 'Thunder Birds' :)

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