Big, Unexpected Victories!

Phew! Just when you think it might all implode and end in a disappointing mess of non-attendance and failure, things take off unexpectedly!

Having missed a couple of meetings due to work commitments, I was very disheartened on my return to discover from my partner-in-crime that there had been no-shows for two weeks running. But just as I was wondering whether it was time to call it a day, one of the other local wargamers, whom I had been badgering to attend with no luck (the timings were too late for him), suddenly appeared along with a car-load of eager followers. Not only that, but he had brought no fewer than three gaming tables with him!

All of a sudden, I'm struggling to accommodate this many people! It's great to report that they seemed to enjoy themselves, even though not everyone got to have a game, and they all agreed that they would come again as and when they could. The main sticking point was a combination of location (a little out of their way, being out of the city) and transport (one car between the lot of them). But I hope they've been sufficiently impressed with what they saw to return as they are able. Frankly, I'm happier to see turnout fluctuate from one week to another, because it gives me time to work on the terrain question.

This is my major sticking point, now. Originally, I was confident that I could find the storage space for whatever we needed, but I beginning to worry that I was optimistic in that respect. We desperately need more terrain and playing boards, but have we got room to keep it?

I must find my way down to the Community Hall tomorrow morning to negotiate with the manager. I'm lucky enough to have good contacts with most of the major users of the hall, but it simply comes down to the question: do we have the room to do what we want?

Now, there are storerooms in the Hall. At least one of these is perfect, but has been claimed by the joint chaos of the Brownies and the Toddler Club. The other, I've not been able to peek into, so I am hopeful. Worst case, there are two sheds outside. One of which is sufficient but far from ideal. The other may be better, but is the manager personal storeroom, so I don't know if he'd share it. The last option is to arrange our own storage by providing a shed or garden storage chest type thing of our own, but there's a limit to how many of these can be attached to one Community Hall...

We'll see how things go tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I've finished the latest draft of the club rules to distribute tomorrow night and I will try to get two other over-18s to agree to take the interim jobs of "Committee Member" so that we can get ourselves sorted for full GCN affiliation. God willing, that will mark our chance to really push ourselves forward as the only affiliated club in 40+ miles.

Let's hope that my latest victory doesn't turn out to be Pyrrhic.