COVID Cancellations (and more fun with ships)

We're all fine sheltering in place.  That's the good news.

CANCEL One Paycheck or Two

I've decided that during all this craziness that I am staying home.  We're taking the isolation very seriously.  I could be going to work but I think that is a little on the reckless side because I work in a place where the virus will run rampant.  I don't work in a hospital, so don't judge me too harshly.  I just don't want to expose my family to serious sickness.  It's hard to do the right thing by everyone, but family first.  I'm not getting paid, but I am in a position that I can afford that (well, afford is a strong word).
On the plus side, My wife is ecstatic about it as I am around to help out with the kids and home schooling.  And The Endless home projects she is discovering.   There's also a little more hobby time.

On the negative side; a week and a half in and I am utterly bored.

CANCEL One Garage Sale

I was gonna miss the Conquest Convention because my wife had decided that instead of having fun that weekend, we needed to participate in one of those huge community garage sales for children items; those things were people pack into a warehouse with all the stuff that their kids outgrew but are still in good condition so they can sell it to someone with younger kids.  She was right, of course. We got a garage full of old kid stuff that gots to go; clothes, toys, and a pretty odd assortment of My Little Pony plush dolls that daughter #1 suddenly decided one day weren't cool anymore.

We were working very hard to organize and price all these items when we got the email that the event would be cancelled due to COVID 19.  And I, the master manipulator, puller of puppet strings, immediately thought, "Well now, I've earned some hubby points by doing all this pointless work sorting items without compliant, and with the giant sale cancelled I wonder if I could swing by the convention?  But don't bring it up now, it's too soon.  She's still pissed about the sale being cancelled.  Wait 2 days and then bring it up..."

CANCEL Conquest Sac

A day later and Conquest Sac was cancelled, due to COVID fears.  

So when that fateful weekend arrived I decided that I would do some solo gaming and practice an Age of Sail scenario that I might use at Kublacon at the end of May.  With gaming opportunities low and needing some more experience with the Blood, Bilge, and Iron Ball rules and try out some of the house rules.   I broke out 2 squadrons of 4 ships each and had them sail toward each other, on a collision course with destiny for a solo game.

Game set up.

British Squadron had 1 80 gun ship and 3 74s.  French Squadron had 1 120 gun ship and 3 74s.

close up of the French

British

Some British Ships.
I'm in real danger of painting every British ship yellow.
For the next one, I must try out a different color scheme just to mix it up a little.

As both fleets are sailing toward each other (OK, Fleet is a strong word), I decided that each would try to take the Wind Gauge but by different means.

The wind is coming from the right.  I forget to put a wind arrow.
The British admiral signals for his ships to turn into line abreast formation and sail up wind,
The French Admiral signals for his ships to turn in succession.  

A few moves in and it starts to get critical on who will get the next sail chit first.

It's the British, and the lead British 80 gun ship opens up on the lead French 74

Getting ahead of the British is gonna be impossible,
so the French cut left to engage and pick up speed by turning down wind.
Remember the wind is coming from the right.

The lead French 74 is taking a pounding.

The British with little options, attempt to thread the needle.

"It's warm work..."

aaannndd around this time in the game I stopped paying close enough attention to report on the happening.  There was more game but my motivation to chronicle it sank.  But I ended the night with a better understanding of how the rules interpret Age of Sail tactics and how to run the game at Kublacon.

And I had a good time.

CANCEL Kublacon 

I know, you all saw it coming!  A  little while ago I got an email that Kublacon will be cancelled as well.  Expected, but still a let down.  I was progressing on the next two shops quite nicely and even mostly on target to getting all the ships I wanted done in time.

French ship on the left, British on the right.
WIP shots.  

I guess I'll finish these two ships since they're almost kinda sorta nearly done already.  The think about if I want to go on to something else or continue with being a shipyard. 

Cancel on Birthday Party

Second Son had his second Birthday, but sadly the party will have to be postponed.  My wife insists that we're only postponing it, not skipping it.  I'm not so sure.

Stupid Virus is Cancelling All My Fun!  

I hope you all are keeping yourself and your loved ones safe and sound.  All and all everything here is going to be alright.  Everything in life is only for now.  I hoping that with good thinking and common sense, we'll all see the other side of this thing sooner than later.  

In the meantime, I'm gonna try to not lose my mind with boredom and get some more painting time in.  I even had to start running OUTSIDE like a poor person instead of at the gym.  I know I'll have to go back to work eventually, but I'm monitoring that week by week. 

But let's take care of ourselves and each other.

And don't worry about me, I know I am rich in other ways....

But How long will it last?

Thanks for reading.  And I mean it; keep care of yourself and loved ones.