I usually don’t do these dedicated round-ups when I participate in other people’s monthly painting challenges as I usually only finish a single model, or a couple of models, but this year’s Monster March has been a little different. While my initial plans involved completing four models – a giant, a bone giant, a giant worm and a dracoloche only ended with me completing the last model from that list (with several additional unnamed models considered as mental “stretch goals”, the fact was that my father’s health issues put paid to my early month’s painting work on that angle – in fact he’s been in for over a week now with serious heart issues, and we’ve had a rollercoaster of different medical opinions that have included a multiple bypass open-heart surgery to the off-pump version of the same, to a stent possibly being possible after all, to the stent having too great a risk of exsanguination (it’s a real word, Blood Angels fans!)
So the last over-a-week has been one of the most fucked-up ones in my life. Cue slightly more aggro, more swearing in general and more specific use of the word “cunt” in this blog than usual. In any event, following a week of “surgery tomorrow” that hasn’t happened and “angiogram and stent tomorrow”, which also hasn’t happened – after a meeting this afternoon with a doctor who turned out to be one of Melbourne’s top cardiologists (I googled her name afterwards), the final verdict, in her words, is “do no harm”, so rather than fucking with pointy and sharp things, there’s a slight adjustment to medication and some observation, and we take him home (finally) in a few days so he can return to his garden and real food. (I’ll get some photos up at some stage for TUG – at least one person will appreciate it!)
That’s all well and good, Azazel. But what does that have to do with the important business of Toy Soldiers? I’m glad you asked. It’s because I’m exactly like a self-absorbed 16 year old girl with her diary. It’s also because the last week (off work, because obviously – and yes, they’ve been very supportive, though no-one from there follows this blog) has necessitated me diving heavily into distraction, occupying my mind as much as possible and trying to avoid additional stress. In this case, that’s been attempted largely by painting monster models like a motherfucker and playing The Division 2. I got one model done, then another, then another …and just kept going (until they leaked into April!)
It’s also the reason that I’m (once again) way behind in reading and commenting on other people’s blogs and haven’t even started on the Round-Ups for the dual-mode March Challenges. I’ll get to them of course, but I’m not going to go nuts rushing.
So to finish up, I’d like to thank Swordmaster for running the challenge again this year, as it’s given me something external and productive to distract myself and focus on over the last couple of weeks while things have been so …fucked up.
Here’s the models!
Shadows of Brimstone Dark Stone Hydra
Conan Kickstarter Dragon
The Others: 7 Sins – Avatar of Gluttony
Scotia Grendel Dungeon Crawler (Giant Centipede)
Reaper Bones Dragon Plant
Castle Ravenloft Dracoliche
The Others: 7 Sins – Avatar of Wrath
Ice Elementals – Mantic Games
The next couple of posts will be my final models for my own March Challenges that haven’t gotten posted as I focused on getting the MM stuff up ASAP and as I completed them. After that, round-ups and April models.
Azazel's Bitz Box. 
Here’s hoping for your life circumstances to get unfucked soon! And that’s a pretty impressive pile of monsters there, too!
LikeLiked by 5 people
Thanks Alexis, still quite a mire to wade through, and more ins uncertain than I’d like, but other things have gotten back to normal now (like being back at work – yay?)
Thanks on the models 😉
LikeLike
Agree with Alexis on everything! I like all of these minis, although I didn’t expect to see them together in a beach party setting! I’ve finally worked out what the dragon’s head looks like and I still like that model. And an entry to the Carnivorous Plant March Secret Challenge is always welcome!
LikeLiked by 4 people
One of the positives (and negatives) is that I’m now completely out of carnivorous plants to paint up!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mate, you know I’m sitting here nodding with total sympathy re your dad; opposite side of the world but things aren’t any different. Hope you get him home again soon.
As for those monsters, great work as ever 🙂
LikeLiked by 5 people
Thanks mate – he’s home now so it’s a matter of setting things up to be as good as they reasonably can now. With that, another meeting tomorrow morning. One that’s well overdue, but still not looking forward to it.. :p
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well thats a pretty shitty week by any standards and although I cannot say I have had exactly the same experience I have without a doubt had some very shitty weeks. I guess we all have or will do at some point in our lives. If I can offer one small piece of advice without trying to sound patronising. Do try to make time for yourself. I say this only because you will be no fucking use to anyone if you screw yourself up as well.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Yep, you’re quite right mate. One of the small …well, not comforts, but things I try to remember is that everyone has or will go through much of the same at some stage.
My biggest issue right now is a very fucking short fuse when people say or do stupid things around or to me. I’ve really had to clamp down on myself in that regard at work! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice monsters (obviously – you did ‘em!), and hang in there dude… Wishing you a damn good life-unfucking.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Thanks mate. Still on the way there… slowly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Echo what the other say about hoping that things start getting better soon.
Like those miniatures, particularly the centipede. Whatever you did to get that orange carapace the way you did, it is eye-catching.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thanks Ann. The centipede was a matter of picking out one of the most garish and hard to deal with orange paints I own, much frustration, a year or so in limbo and then finally knuckling down with a wash, some drybrushing and picking out some bits in black – and clearly a healthy dose of luck in the end as well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope things improve for you and your Dad.
Hobby time can be a wonderful distraction and allows you to decompress.
Cheers,
Pete.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thanks Pete, and you’re right. I’ve been getting back into my painting properly again in the last week or so, and now starting to try and catch up on the blogging part. If only the stupid manticore I’m trying to finish wasn’t covered in stupid scales!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Echoing what everyone else said mate and hope everything gets back on an even keel soon.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks mate – I appreciate it!
LikeLike
Great to hear your Dad is being allowed home, from recent life experience I know it can be very trying. Your output has been amazing with all you’ve had to go through, as you say great to have the distraction to not dwell too much. Here’s hoping the year get’s better !
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks mate. He’s been home now for a few weeks, so we’re trying to get some more support (including social) in place for him, especially now that the weather here is turning. As far as the figures go – gotta keep the mind busy!
LikeLike
Hi Azazel!
I hope things are slowly getting back to normal. I am sorry to hear about your dad. I am sure all here are wishing him speedy recovery.
I am glad Monster March provided much needed distraction and it had a bit of therapeutic effect. Your models are fantastic and I mentioned that earlier that my favorite, somehow, are Ice Elementals. Great job indeed!
I wanted to thank you for participating in the challenge! Keep up the great work!
Cheers,
SM
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for running it again mate – I was very happy to take part and it worked well for me not only as a way to get some models completed, but something positive to focus on while getting my mind off other things, as we tend to dwell on the bad shit when it’s imminent or going down – even in the many hours when we’re not in a position to influence anything or even comfort people.
LikeLike
Best wishes go out to you and your Dad.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks mate!
LikeLike
Wishing you and your family the best – may the tough times pass but the love live forever. Clearly, your dad must have done a great job raising you and I’m sure he’s proud.
Much less important, but nice group of creatures!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Mark – even now the saga continues (split into three threads) but hoping to get the last main work on one of them over and done with this weekend. Fingers crossed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope things get better Az
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks mate. Still working on it week to week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s all we can do sometimes
LikeLiked by 2 people
I echo all the above, wishing you and yours all the best.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I appreciate it mate – cheers! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: #Monster March 5 – 2021 WIP-Date | Azazel's Bitz Box.