Friday, August 31, 2012

GW and Mark - both good in my books

I had let a few issue of White Dwarf 391 pass by on ebay because Mark from the local GW was seeing what he could do. Since they have me as a subscriber for the last 4 years they said that they would look around for one. I’ve been subscribing for over 10 years but they have passed the information from UK to US to Canada and back as the printing of the issues has changed. Mark has already been great in this matter so anything more would be outstanding. In calling him back he said that they were able to find a copy and had mailed it to me.

This is beyond anything I could have expected. Many people are down on Games Workshop for being an evil, money-grubbing corporation but they have certainly done more than right by me in this matter. Mark’s help in this is even better – if only they were more local I would certainly patronize it more.



Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Fire is your friend

While we were out and about the weekend before last, we popped by the real Canadian Superstore and out front they were blowing out some summer merchandise. We picked up a fire pit that started at $89.95 and had been reduced to $69.95 and was being blown out at $19.95.




Our old pit has served us well in the last decade but rust has finally claimed it. When we went to put it away last month after the last time we used it, the area around one of the bolts holding the leg gave way and the leg fell off.



The new pit went together pretty well and seems to work well enough for us. It’s not as deep as the old one or quite as solid but it is a bit more stylish and hotdogs and marshmallows roasted up equally well in it.

Friday, August 24, 2012

White Dwarf - subcription hiccup

My White Dwarf subscription had lapsed. Back in the day, they used to notify you that your subscription was coming to an end. But since they have changed it back to a North American edition they no longer do this. Since subscribers often won’t get an issue until the second week of the month, I wasn’t certain until last week that it wasn’t coming – and I wasn’t able to get to the ‘local’ Games Workshop until Wednesday.

I can’t really complain as I had last renewed back in Feb and received issues up to July. I finally managed to pop by Games Workshop and Mark hooked me up with another year’s subscription but the August issue had a minicodex for 40K in it and has completely sold out. I could get them delivered to the store but, with them not being open on Mondays and Tuesdays, and being located in St Vital – I’m rarely able to get to the store to pick them up.

The renewal kicks back in for the December issue so Mark will hold a copy of the new issues until I’m getting them again. I checked Chapters, McNally’s, and even Comics America to see if they had a copy of the August issue – but none did. So I will have to try my luck on the secondary market.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Games for $10

I picked up a copy of Beowulf: The Movie and a Mutant Chronicles starter. I’m not sure how either will be – but the are both Fantasy Flight games for $10 each so I figured that I couldn’t go too far wrong.


I hadn’t really noticed that the Mutant Chronicles was a starter and not a regular game when I first picked it up but when I did I figured I’d give it a try anyways. They had more starters so if I need more figures I can always pick up a few more sets – if they’re able to work together. Otherwise I could always see if I can modify them to work with Inquisitor.


The Beowulf seems much more complex then what one would be led to believe from the picture and copy on the back. I'll have to let you know how it is if I can get the kids to play it.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Got Get Bit!

We finally got a copy of Get Bit! I’m not liking the new packaging though – with the plastic window. I find that it just isn’t as solid as a fully cardboard lid.

I’m also a bit annoyed that you can no longer get the Sharkspansion set. I understand that the Kickstarters were miffed when they heard that the expansion would also be available to regular people – thinking that it was an exclusive. But an expansion like that should available on an ongoing basis – or even added to the basic set – like the extra bugs in Hive.

I can always make a set of cards but would have liked to have a matching set.

Friday, August 10, 2012

40K - sixth time's a charm?

I have been putting off teaching the boy 40K as there was a new edition pending. The 4th edition boxed set, Battle For Macragge had a nice tutorial for teaching new player, but by the time he had the set the 5th edition was out. We got busy and I kept meaning to go through the tutorial and use the basis with the new rules but never found the time.

Now that the 6th edition has finally come out, I think it is time to teach him the rules for the Grim Dark Future.

Of course, I will need to get a copy of the rules first – but they are on my short list. I might wait and see what the boxed set for 6th edition contains first. I’m also still looking to get a copy of the 5th edition hardcover as well now that they have come down.

I’ll also need to verify the codices – I still have two from 2nd edition that are still unaccounted. I have all the codices from the 3rd edition, and only need 4 from the 4th edition and the last 4 from the 5th edition.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Too hot

I don’t handle the heat well. It’s probably left-over from when I was hyperthyroidial and it always felt about 10 degrees warmer to me. If the temperature starts to edge above 26 degrees Celsius then I’m not doing well. Above 32 degrees and I’m really tired and cranky.

With the warm weather that we’ve been having lately, I haven’t been getting much done beyond trying to clear down our PVR enough to upgrade to a larger model. We would have upgraded as soon as they became available but you lose anything recorded on the old PVR when the new model is added.  We want to be switched over before the new season starts.

While not doing the major renovations, we are still looking at having some work done. We’re getting estimates for fixing the roof, the tub surround, and adding an air conditioner. As always, dealing with contractors is a varied experience – with some more reliable than others. It is proving to be an interesting time.