More 10mm EIR - and another batch of holiday snaps

 I finally got myself motivated to get back to the painting desk over the last couple of evenings, and here are the results! one of the many advantages of the 10mm figures is - I can paint heaps of them in quite a short period!

These are the "attacking" legionaries from the fabulous Cromarty Forge 10mm range - these ones arrived with my overseas visitors at the tail end of September.

If you look closely at the centre base, second row, you can see the Optio figure, the 2 ic of a century.

An Optio was stationed at the rear of the ranks to keep the troops in order. Their duties would include enforcing the orders of the centurion, taking over the centurion's command in battle should the need arise, supervising his subordinates, and a variety of administrative duties.

The Centurian in the front rank has a side-to-side plume, whereas the Optio has a rear to front 

I put a 28mm Perry figure next to the unit to give an idea of how tiny 10mm figures are!

Now, having pulled in an audience with a few toy soldier pictures, I am going to inflict the next stage of my recent holiday on you poor people!

These are all the images of our seven days in Rarotonga (Cook Islands)

All ready for a good stay!

Some holiday reading!

Our first day, we visited these gardens

Not a hazard sign you see every day! The car hire lady did warn us not to park under coconut trees, because any damage would not be covered by insurance!

First stop for cocktails and beer - we once again saw some passing whales 9like we did the previous year) but no pics this time.

An international award - the French get everywhere!

Time for another cocktail!

Reef cruising boats at Muri Beach

Entertainment at the local Saturday Market

Some local kai (food) - tuna steaks!

An unexpected visitor one morning! The local dogs are very friendly but totally free to roam wherever they feel like - they often walk along the beach with a random passerby for a while, then head home again

The start of the cross-island walk - its recommended you have a local guide and involves some really rough terrain, so we didn't go much further!

A few shots of the harbour in the main town Avarua

This one is for Dean of WAB fame!

And its time for cocktails (and food) again!

Local fire show 

Our friend was back again next morning!

We took a stroll along the beach for about 5km

Popped in here for a liquid refreshment - the girls hopped on the local bus but Gavin and I walked back the way we had come.

And then - it was time to head back to New Zealand again.

I am off to a game at Julian's tomorrow - first one in almost two months - and no idea what we are playing but hopefully should be a fun day - an AAR will follow in a day or two, no doubt.