Well it has been a week since my return from the pillaging expedition to the land of the auld enemy. Having a last recovered from the all the drink and debauchery (including multiple rings of fire!) I can at last offer my grateful thanks to all involved, I had a great time.

A special thank you must go to Mr. Gibson for introducing a certain Stevie `mutineer' B., yes thanks a bunch, him unable to follow clear and distinct orders, failing to roll reasonable dice and going so far as reporting me to STRAVKA, never mind that I will be unable to look at beans on toast the same way ever again.

I took Italian Condotta, (after a discussion with Mr. Child on the subject of regular allied commands baggage, after which he did a complete U turn and allowed Mr Kershaw's army {only joking}). Why? Well I just got some lovely painted very late knights from Mr Hill, like the look of Ps (S), fancied pikes (though these only arrived the day before we left) and had inside information as to what Greg and Mr. A. were bringing!

My list (based really on what I could lay my hands on),

Milanese 1497AD

1 CinC Reg Kn (S)
1 Reg Ps (O) Crossbowmen
3 Reg Ps (S) Hand gunners
2 Reg Art (I) organ or light guns
4 Reg Bd (F)
2 Reg Bd (O) 18ME

1 Sub Reg Kn (S)
5 Reg Kn (O)
3 Reg Bw (X)
3 Reg Bw (O) DBE
2 Reg Bw (O)
1 Reg Ps (O)
1 Reg Ps (S) 24ME

1 Sub Reg Kn (S)
5 Reg Kn (O)
2 Reg Ps (O)
2 Reg Ps (S)
2 Reg Art (O)
2 Reg Bw (O) 24ME

6 Reg Bge (O)
2 Reg Sp (I)
8 Tf (kindly allowed by a gentleman rules checker) 14ME

Not my usually style of army, planned to kill elephants with artillery (Ha!), attack with knights between DGO controlled by Ps (S), of course never happened! Kn (S) generals could have made +1 for his wingmen interesting (think only happened once).
Any how, after consumption of pitchers of beer (very social), my first game was against the Spartans (already covered), TBF I was extremely lucky, on Ps (S) managed to kill his Ps opponent to get behind the exposed C in C, which I promptly dispatched with much relief. Artillery killing a few Sp (S) helped, allowing Artillery to be the main shooter supported by bows and a couple of fortunate dice rolls saw of the main command.

Game 2, (if I remember correctly); against Pete's low countries (the Army I wanted to take with army baggage!!!!!), lucky once more, Pete advanced to my Artillery, and in the first 4 bounds of shooting 4 dead Pike! one command of knights worked a flank of Kn(I) and things were going reasonably well, until of my brave armoured guys died to peasant pretend knights leaving a huge whole and possible exposed rear of my general (buttock clenching time {even with out a ring of fire}), Pete, gentleman that he is then threw a one for pips, with his general in combat this was of absolutely no use, I was able to polish of this command in the next bound to tip the army over the edge.

Game 3, Dave's WOTR, reminder to myself, do not invade in cool in spring, we had MUD! Dave looked it up and sighed, minus one when moving to attack up hill, no biggie, laughed when I pointed out that it was –1 to Knights and dismounted (very important distinction) every where, even being shot at. I proceeded to abandon the bows and try and stay away from the Bw (S) most of the game, it was a small bit of a surprise when the Bows (ironically) from my bow command proceeded to inflict a few causalities, shouting at their cowardly superiors to return, mainly thanks to minus 1 for Dave's undismounted Bd (S) attacking up hill LOL, eventually my brave bows went down. Highly unsatisfactory game for Dave, time was called just as he had me in a corner, machine guns cocked and ready for bear (even ones armoured and on horses).

Game 4, against the `Mutineer' and his not so silly Selies, Stevie attempted a night attack so I deployed well back, with no moon there was a very slow advance upon my position, the sun finnnnnnally rose and my army found themselves out deployed and with expendables pressing on my open flank, I tried a redeployment to my left (I know Knights and expendables don't go), so was conducting a fighting with drawl. Laugh of the game (and there was loads of them this weekend), Stevie, in one of his wonder moments) about faced one of his micro pike commands to come about and face my new position, this left his Pk (O) general in range and arc of my artillery, never being one to look a gift horse in the mouth promptly dispatched this foolhardy leader, breaking that command. I was about to deliver a devastating attack on his flank (yeah right still cowering) when time was called, I think 13 12 to Steve.

Game 5, sick head, ring of fire, just what I needed a game against Ian, poor use of terrain on my behalf gave Ian a good defensive line, he was not coming out and I was not going in, we called it a draw. I should have prolonged the art and shoot him out but the head was fuzzy, the `Indian' was not sitting well and I was delighted.

Game 6, elephants at last. Mr Ainsley. Truthfully I would have preferred to play this game much earlier as the comp could rest on this game (just in case of any throwing allegations). TBF if either of us won with a big result then a podium finish was guaranteed but it is elephants or Bd (S) against nellies. Furthermore strong winds were not going to help. A gentle hill and some difficult going and I was trying to funnel his attack to an artillery platform, LOL. Plenty of pips saw Ricky move out of the way, I took out some Bd (F) with resilient Bw (X) but when his flank march arrived and with elephants closing in on my Bd (S) and other knights the writing was on the walls. TBF I could have run away to start but I needed to win big as well.

9th overall, two wins, three draws and a loss, was two wins and three draws more than I expected as I usually do not like small armies and was too over cautious with my knights.

Had a great weekend, plenty of gargle, met loads of gents and even goaded someone to attack Pete's hoard defended TF (LOL).

A special thanks to Hammy for his patience and umpiring of another game between one drunk and one tipsy Irish lads with a Stevie supporting cast!

Will be back next year with a surprise army!