{"id":1406,"date":"2019-01-05T21:36:53","date_gmt":"2019-01-05T21:36:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=1406"},"modified":"2019-01-09T22:14:59","modified_gmt":"2019-01-09T22:14:59","slug":"birthday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=1406","title":{"rendered":"Birthday!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Heavens above, I’m 47!<\/p>\n

\"47th\"
Cremant du Loire avec O.J.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"47th\"
Mmm, pancake breakfast.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I had a lovely birthday: pancakes and bubbly in bed, for breakfast, pressies galore, lunch and dinner out. Very indulgent and enjoyable.<\/p>\n

Got quite a few books, as is my usual way. Most extravagant bookageness on this occasion goes to a fairly old edition of The Photographic History of The Civil War<\/i>, that being the ACW. Originally in 10 volumes, my version is condensed into five, and is nicely presented, in a case ‘n’ all.<\/p>\n

\"47th\"
Columbo, Grand Deception.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My inspiration for these books was actually a Columbo episode, in which an ACW-crazy general with a diorama of Pickett’s charge has the same edition on his bookshelves. After the Napoleonic era and WWII, the ACW is my next ‘favourite war’.<\/p>\n

Whether it’ll ever come to anything I don’t know, but I harbour dreams of building my own armies of Rebs and Unionists, perhaps even making the figures myself. Books such as this collection – fabulous in and of itself – are also great reference material, obviously.<\/p>\n

\"47th\"
Looking forward to this.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"47th\"
Speer’s WWII memoir.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The money dad gave me went on two more military history titles: For God And Kaiser<\/i>, by Richard Bassett, about the Austrian armies of the Hapsburg empire, and Inside The Third Reich<\/i>, by Albert Speer. Whilst I’ve only thumbed through the ACW volumes, looking at the pics, I’ve actually started reading Speer’s account, which I’m finding very fascinating.<\/p>\n

My mum gave me some money, which I told her I was going to spend on some ‘toy soldiers’, not having bought any for quite some time. I think I’ll buy some Austrians in 6mm, probably mostly Adler, but maybe some Baccus as well? And, again… maybe I’ll even sculpt and cast some figures of my own?<\/p>\n

\"Good
The Good Life.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hannah had already bought Teresa and I the complete Good Life<\/i> on DVD, but she also got me Marcos Valle’s eponymous 1970 album. I already had a Japanese reissue of this, but I’ve wanted to get the American Light In The Attic label reissues, as well, and that’s what this one is. I listened to it yesterday, and it is SUPERB!<\/p>\n

\"Marcos
Marcos Valle, 1970.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Other presents included a router, a sander, and sundry other bits and bobs. And I’m thankful and grateful for all of them. So thanks to all concerned, especially to Teresa, for helping me have a lovely day. Oh yes, we also stopped in a local pet shop and chatted with some parrots…<\/p>\n

\"Parrot\"
‘Hello’, quoth he…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Heavens above, I’m 47! I had a lovely birthday: pancakes and bubbly in bed, for breakfast, pressies galore, lunch and dinner out. Very indulgent and enjoyable. Got quite a few books, as is my usual way. Most extravagant bookageness on this occasion goes to a fairly old edition of The Photographic History of The Civil … <\/p>\n

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