Postal services - Good and (very) bad!

Good.

The new C&C printed mat has arrived in excellent time - it was estimated for delivery end of Jan when I ordered due to the seasonal holiday period. It was shipped from Spain via FedEx and arrived 5 days leter. It is as I expected a thing of beauty! Possibly I should have requested the heavy red section lines be left off but it's a board game mat and it's an important part of the game so it's fine. I like that it does not have the 'Commands & Colors Napoleonics' printed across the centre unlike the official folding board. The hexes are a perfect size match for the tiles  as you can see. The price of this mat was just £35.00 plus £14.00 shipping via FedEx from Spain to UK.

British line infantry 4 blocks/figures.

Neatly finished sewn edges.

The edging graphics are lovely.

Very Bad.

I'm painting away on the figures with most of the British infantry done, but the steel washers that I ordered for the bases have still not arrived despite being posted by RM 1st class letter post over a week ago. My latest Essex Miniatures order all of the French infantry and some cavalry packs) have also not arrived after 5 days. I think I know what's going on here as our regular and very reliable postie has required an operation to his knee and clearly his round is not being covered. As I sit and paint by the front window most mornings I generally spot the postie on his rounds but this week not a sighting, we now have several items overdue for delivery here. Today is Saturday morning and both myself and the dog are on the lookout. You never know. Edit 12.30pm and- Nothing!

Meantime the painted British figures are building up awaiting bases as you can see, line infantry 4 figures/blocks, Light infantry x 5 and a unit of Guards x 5 figures. I have gone with the post 1812 shako and grey trousers with  the lights in 'Stovepipe' shakos. I intend to colour code the edges of the washers, red for line. red/green for lights and red/gold for Guards etc. For French 'Militia' (conscripts) will be blue/white.