Really? In September? In 2010, I came home from work one evening, all bummed out and p'd off, sat down on our sofa, and said to my wife, "Go to the animal shelter tomorrow and adopt a kitten, we'll name it 'Christmas', and every day will be Christmas around here. Well, she did, and it is. Now we start every day by saying Merry Christmas and pretty much end every day that way, too.

So, now it's 2023, Friday has come and gone and this wonderful Free Forum we don't have to have a username and password to log into just to read and chat about our hobby is still up and running. Well, Merry Christmas! There is a Santa Clause.

As brutal as a week that ever was, it still ended well for me. I got my three boxes of Blue Color Orion Polish WWII Tank Crews all the way from The Ukraine, I got a good news phone call at 4:30 p.m. Friday, and I received from China all the 3D Wooden Puzzle Kits I need to make Gordon Pasha's Playset 1885 Khartoum Palace. That qualifies for Christmas in September to me. Yep, things are looking up!

Honestly, this is true. I couldn't possibly make it up. So, Thank You Strelets Team, try to have a great weekend, and just pretend it's Christmas!

Merry Christmas to a cat called Christmas!

As a cat person myself, Merry Christmas! Lol!!

Was about to say rather early but when I am already seeing mince pies etc in the supermarkets...never mind!!

Dear Roger,

I swear I spend more on Mr. Christmas's foods than I do on myself. Can't wait for the Holiday Treats.

And we wish you a Merry Weekend to you, also!

Thank you so much, Baratheon! And Mr. Christmas thanks you, too. The Perfect picture which shows the good life.

I'm enjoying putting together the small buildings I'll use for Gordon Pasha's Palace. One unexpected benefit of it/them is that I don't have to completely assemble the roof. I can simply leave it flat and it looks fine. In fact, to have Gordon's Palace on the Nile River, a Collector could set up Gordon, Pasha looking for his relief column that arrived two days too late, or more fun, settng up Egyptian soldiers and cannons all around the Palace's roof in defense firing at the Mahdist's boats.

Have a Merry Weekend, Baratheon, and again, we thank you! - GC

"It's good to be home!" said Gordon Pasha as he disembarked from his steamer onto the shores of the Blue Nile headed to his palace for eternity.

Gordon Pasha's Khartoum Palace on the Blue Nile

"It's good to be home!" said Gordon Pasha as he disembarked from his steamer onto the shores of the Blue Nile headed to his palace - for eternity.

And in the end - "Gordon rests in his beloved Sudan!" exclaims the movie's narrator.

The following pictures of Gordon Pasha's Khartoum Palace on the Blue Nile are my version for a Playset. It is not complete but the basis is there. Only details such as matting for the (2) bases, some trimming, stairs, a fountain, palm trees and a Mosque tower for prayer, plus some figures of Egyptian Soldiers and Mahdist Warriors to join Gordon in his final battle. Here we are so far:

Dear GC,

I missed this one. The place looks excellent!

The ornate windows and balconies are beaut.

Gordon and his escort look quite at home.

Regards, James

Thank you, James. I just ordered some Palm Trees for the corners. The wood trimming/cutting to bring the two bases together is done. I'll post the finished photos under a new thread when complete. At least another 2 - 3 weeks as all my parts come from China. OK, stay safe and have fun collecting! - GC