Sunday Roast

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This Sunday, I’m thankful for Sunday Roast at my local pub.

When my wife and I were in England years ago we were lucky enough to enjoy a couple excellent examples of this classic dinner.

Recently our favourite pub, The Irish Heather Shebeen, brought their Sunday Roast back into rotation. It’s a great way to spend an evening once or twice a month.

But when you think about it, it really is more than just a meal. The owners and staff are familiar faces. Even some of the other patrons are there for dinner as often as we are. There’s always chatter and laughter. The short walk through our neighbourhood to and from the pub are nice bookends to the meal.

And wrapping up dinner with a sweet sticky toffee pudding is just the ticket.

If you can find an old-school pub near you that does a good Sunday Roast, I can’t recommend the experience highly enough.

The Lord of the Rings Really Does Rule Them All

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This Sunday I’m thankful for the 25th anniversary theater release of the Lord of the Rings Extended Editions.

I was lucky enough to get the last seat in the house Friday night for The Fellowship of the Ring.

Yesterday I watched The Two Towers.

Today I’ve got The Return of the King lined up.

I saw all three theatrical versions at their midnight release showings in ’01, ’02 and ’03. And I’ve watched all three of the extendeds a number of times over the years of course, usually back-to-back. They’re like spending a day with an old friend. I’ll put them on and make dinner and paint or work up something in Photoshop.

But I haven’t seen them on the big screen since those early aughts.

One thing that struck me last night is how many shots looked like they were torn straight out of 1970s and ’80s Brothers Hildebrandt Middle Earth calendars.

I’ve never done a deep dive on it before so I took a quick look this morning and figured out why that is.

Turns out one of the chief concept artists for the films — John Howe — was inspired greatly by those very same calendars. Couple that with the brilliant work of the movies’ cinematographer — Andrew Lesnie — and you get those incredible shots, frames, stills and scenes one after another. Banger after banger!

It really has been an amazing experience. And, as the man says,:

 

Local Conventions Are Fun

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This Sunday I’m thankful for Trumpeter Salute.

It’s the biggest annual gaming convention in Vancouver.

Last year — 2025 — I ran a game on Saturday that I’ll talk about later.

But the games I played on Friday night and Sunday morning are why I really like local conventions.

Friday night I played in a game of Freikorps vs Communists.

It was a fun 15mm Rampant variant.

We fought the reds to a standstill. Would’ve preferred to vanquish, but alas.

Then on Sunday morning I played in one of the epic games of Wild West that has been a staple of Trumpeter meets for years, decades. Another 15mm masterpiece, running classic Boot Hill.

I got to play the Man With No Name.

The Trumpeter monthly game nights have expanded over the years to include roleplaying and board games. Hell, there’s even some HeroClix now.

So if you live in the GVRD I recommend you check Salute out come April.

 

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