ASH Day 1 After we reluctantly agree to play guard duty for our latest ally, the dodgy necromancer Dulgahar, he goes down to his mysterious underground lair and we explore this strange dilapidated building. What can it be about this place that attracts so much interest? The rooms are dusty and empty -- and then … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: Fast talking and fast walking
Blog highlights from 2013
The top ranking posts on this blog for 2013 make interesting reading, I think. 1. But what if Hogwarts really does exist? (February 2013) The number of people who regularly find me using search terms like 'does hogwarts really exist' and 'does hogwarts exist' is amazing. Do you suppose they are all kids reading the … Continue reading Blog highlights from 2013
What I read in 2013
It's becoming a habit of mine at the end of each year to reflect back on the books I've read in the past 12 months -- and invariably I decide the list is not long enough, or diverse enough, or recent enough and I resolve to do better. (Here's what I read in 2012.) This … Continue reading What I read in 2013
Thoughts on The Hobbit – The Desolation of Smaug
As a huge fan of the Peter Jackson et al movies set in Middle Earth, I once again rocked up to the latest installment of The Hobbit hoping it would be wonderful. Once again I enjoyed the movie -- the lavish and dedicated depiction of Tolkien's fantastical world, the rousing adventure, the eye candy in … Continue reading Thoughts on The Hobbit – The Desolation of Smaug
D&D chronicles: A trail of corpses
ASH Oh, the past few days have been glorious! Our swords drip with blood, a trail of corpses in our wake. Turns out the monastery was teeming with undead -- skeletons, zombies, ghouls. We defeated them all in two stupendous battles. And then a wraith attacked us and somehow we defeated that too. There is … Continue reading D&D chronicles: A trail of corpses
Fishing community
I've been going through my holiday photos and found a couple that speak to this week's WordPress weekly photo challenge theme of COMMUNITY. These pictures are of the tiny and very picturesque fishing village of Clovelly on the northern coast of Devon. Fishing is a very community-oriented activity -- the villagers go out in the … Continue reading Fishing community
A-Z of fantasy: H is for Horse
Seems I dropped the ball on my A-Z of Fantasy series... I made it to G and then got distracted. But I think I'll continue with it at a leisurely pace, because it seems such a shame to leave it there. So. We're up to H. Today... H is for HORSE. HORSE: A solid-hoofed plant-eating domesticated … Continue reading A-Z of fantasy: H is for Horse
From Corfe Castle to Brighton
Let us journey back to the UK for a short while . . . Soaring high on a hill above a village in Dorset is a ruined castle. It's a strong, defensible position and the crumbling edifice dominates the lush green landscape all around. This is the 1000-year old Corfe Castle, built by William the Conqueror … Continue reading From Corfe Castle to Brighton
D&D Chronicles: Playing both sides
ASH We have arrived at the mysterious monastery. It's surrounded by a dilapidated stone wall covered in vines. We're crouched behind the wall, staring at the large building on the far side of the enclosure. It's terrifying. Even in broad daylight. This might be because our party isn't in very good shape. We managed to … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: Playing both sides
D&D Chronicles: A dodgy bargain with the enemy
Did I mention I was travelling for at least part of the time with nearly my whole Dungeons & Dragons contingent? Perhaps I didn't. Well, I was. Five out of the six of us were all crammed into a holiday unit in Cornwall for a week, and we happened to take our dice and character … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: A dodgy bargain with the enemy
Ellen Gregory 