I went again this year, which considering how I felt at the end of last years show that I blogged about here, might come as a surprise, but as they say what a difference a year makes. Last year I was recovering from not having my contract renewed, and not realising how burnt out I was from my job, this year I was a totally chilled pussycat.
So, I arrived fashionably late at 11.45. No queues, no fuss, no muss. Straight through the door like some VIP. Started walking the show. Bumped into people, pretty much everyone I wanted to meet bar one; so a big hi to John Lambshead who I missed seeing. My plan was that we would meet en passant, we would bump into each other at the bloggers lunch time meet, or Plan B; I would have you called on the tannoy. Plan B failed, because it was broken, and so ends a sad tale.
Still I met up with Tamsin, who will definitely try and come around to my place this coming year, so we can break the "we only meet at shows" friendship thing we have going. She has her Salute Loot post up on her blog here.
Met up with Rchard & Nick from TooFat Lardies, John & Mel from GZG. Talked to Henry about the upcoming seven page Ogre article that is going in the next issue of Miniature Wargames. Said hi to Dave at Caliver Books, the guys at Pendraken, got John Treadaway to sign my copy of the Crucible.
Then I hung with all the cool bloggers for my fifteen minutes of fame.
I bought two things at the show, and I was given one present. Thank you Graham, from GRAMODELS, who made me a periscope for me. Not painted as he wasn't sure what type of camo I wanted, woodland or urban. Me I'm thinking fluorescent orange or pink, because I know the first thing that will happen when I lay it down on the table is that I won't be able to find it.
The show felt different this year, which might be down to the lack of the bring & buy stand, or any number of other reasons one might think of. Whatever, I don't know, but I did enjoy the show, which I think can be put down to prior planning prevents poor performance. In this case taking the right glasses with me, wearing a small rucksack to distribute the weight, and wearing comfortable shoes.
So goodbye Salute 2014, and hopefully I will see all my blogger friends again next year.
Great to see you and the blogging crowd in that pic, Ashley. I feel like I know some of you lot and would love to be at sic a meet-up one day, even though almost everything I've ever heard about Salute is discouraging. I love the periscope.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
M
The periscope was an unexpected surprise indeed.
DeleteSalute: be prepared, set expectations at realistic levels; it's only a one day show after all is said and done.
"seven page Ogre article that is going in the next issue of Miniature Wargames"
ReplyDeletePlease let us know when this issue hits the stands. I don't normally read that publication, but I will pick up a copy for this Ogre content. Can you share a little about the subject matter (i.e., will it be scenarios, rules variants, etc.)?
It's a review, history and commentary. I'll post a notice as and when, next week or so.
DeleteNice photo! As Mike said, good to put faces to some of the names so familiar after a few years now of blogging contact
ReplyDeleteSorry to have missed you; I was in a bit of a black mood (a confusion with Caliver meant the thing I thought I'd pre-ordered for show pickup wasn't available, and nor were most of the other things I wanted to buy) and sloped off fairly early.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely agreed on the shoes. My feet were still hurting the next day.