Vive le Roi!

God Save the King! The 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 approaches, and I began to realise that although I might, at a push, finish my British and Canadian forces in 20mm, I most certainly would not manage to field an army from the aggressor nation - the late rebel territories, masquerading as the 'United States of America'. So, deciding that I could not let this anniversary go unplayed, I ordered this most interesting box from Boardgame Guru:

It was delivered to my office this morning (I only ordered on Friday), and great was the temptation to dive in - I manfully waited until returning home (at 8.15pm), only to have to go to secure my allotment hut which had been broken into yet again (what is it with these scally wags? Why do they wish to purloin my broken tools, collapsible seats, balls of tangled string, and empty bags that once contained chicken s**t?). Following that, a large bag of rhubarb demanded that I chop and stew it, and, in between, my grandson paid a visit, for which, much thanks. So, I have only glanced at 1812; the Invasion of Canada. But, it boasts a very nice board:

featuring the Great Lakes and the border areas. Aaaah, the Great Lakes! They have the same resonance with me as the Panama Canal had with the unforgettable cafe owner in Quai des Brumes. I am an enthusiast for the Canadian canoe, and paddling along the placid rivers of England I imagine myself a voyageur, singing the Song of the Paddle. To Canada we owe more than we suspect, or remember. 

And here, to whet my appetite further, the playing pieces:

On another note, I confess that the great Hawker Weather Build has set off the kit-bashing fever (aircraft strain) once more - a sort of plastic malaria. So, on the stocks, a 1:72 Me Bf109 G-10: