Well, the deadline has passed, and I must have sat up until several seconds past midnight sifting through the entries. Thanks very much to everyone who sent one – a
number of people said they were going to, but obviously thought better of it,
and a surprising number sent a note saying, “I’ll take one, ta…” – obviously
these are people who visit the supermarket with a reversible jacket, so they
can go round the free samples several times – quite right too.
Since the entire episode was a dreadful conceit and
self-promotion of my own I can hardly crib about the limited response. After a
short ponder, I decided to award one to Epictetus
for his stout effort in Limerick form (it would be graceless to mention that my
nom de blog is pronounced Fwa) – this
is it, and very good it is:
A philosophical
wargaming bloggist
Thought a free mug
was not to be missed
So for better or
worse
His thoughts turned
to verse
In an attempt to
make the short list
His input to the
hobby was duff
His painting was
really poor stuff
He had written no
rules
And his blog got no
views
There was no way
that he’d done enough
He suspected that
he’d get no joy
With the arguments
he could deploy
Still he gave it a
go
Because you just
never know
With that estimable
chap MS Foy
I also awarded one to the worthy A W Kitchen, for straightforward brass neck, since he reckoned he
deserved one of my mugs because he had recently broken the handle off his own.
I like his style.
Though he made no formal entry, I also feel I should send one to
Polemarch, whose blog got me
thinking along these lines.
If you 3 gentlemen would care to send me a comment bearing your
postal address (which I will not publish, of course) I shall wrestle with the
logistical problem of how to send a fragile item through the Royal Mail, so
that you may have the pleasure of my ugly mug watching over your wargames.
Well, I missed out! I had a very pithy grovel prepared too but not up the level of that most enjoyable limerick.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to the winners.
Mugs, Royal Mail - I feel another blog post coming on...
ReplyDeleteTo win the competition of MS Fwa
ReplyDeleteFilled Epictetus with jwa
Not even the denunciation
Of his mispronunciation
Could his moment of triumph destrwa
Splendid - a moment of glwa.
DeleteOverwhelmed by your generosity - would you let me know how much the postage is and I will send you the money via Paypal , Tony
ReplyDeleteNot at all, my dear fellow. I appreciate the thought, but I shall not hear of it. Thank you for reading the blog! - Regards - MSF
DeleteAwesome Prizes!
ReplyDeleteI may have to purloin the idea in due course also!
’Tis a pity I did not find
ReplyDeleteThis game within sufficient time
To puzzle deep within my mind
And deliver smart and witty rhyme
Not that I am expecting a mug to arrive from 25,000 miles away you understand, but I thought this ballad should get another airing. It is from a war games campaign of over two years ago.
ReplyDeleteThe Ballad of Ulrichstein
In eighteen hundred around about o-nine
Our Army marched off to Ulrichstein;
We took a little sauerkraut, we took a little 'wurst,
And when we found the rebels, the veterans all cursed.
We fired our guns but the Rebels kept a-comin'
And there seemed just as many as there was a while ago.
We fired once more and we began a-runnin'
Seekin' hidey-holes where our arses wouldn't show.
We looked down the fields and we saw the Rebels come,
There must have been a couple of 'em, beatin' on the drum,
They marched so nigh it made our ears ring;
Then came their musketry, and, Man, did it sting!
We fired our guns... etc
Gen'ral Kyle said we'd take 'em by surprise,
If we didn't fire our muskets or look 'em in the eye.
We held our fire 'til we saw their faces well,
When they opened up with cannon fire an' gave us shot and s--hell!
We fired our guns... etc
We ran through the hedgerows; we ran through the marshes;
We ran through the thickets until the sun was set.
We ran so fast their Hussars couldn't catch us,
We ran for a week or so and still we're runnin' yet!
They fired their cannon 'til the barrels melted down,
Then they grabbed their horses and fought another round.
They fed them green grass, loaded gravel that they found,
Turned their tails towards us, and fired into the brown.
We fired our guns... etc
We ran through the hedgerows... etc
We fired our guns... etc.
Damn! I forgot! But well done the winners!!!
ReplyDeleteI considered just smashing the things up and posting the shards in jiffy bags with a tube of superglue - cut out the middle-man - I am confident I can put them in a ball of bubblewrap which will avoid chipping and bangs, but won't help if someone drives a fork-lift truck over them - will look for some kind of box - should get them posted Tuesday or so.
ReplyDelete