COW 2011 - Part 1 - Friday

Despite heavier than usual traffic on the A1 and rain which varied from heavy to torrential, I managed to arrive at Knuston Hall in good time.  After ensuring that everything was set up as required (it always is - I don't know why I bother) I spent the remainder of the afternoon and early evening meeting and greeting other arrivals.
Immediately after dinner, the first event of the weekend was the Plenary Game.  Such games are designed to include all 40+ attendees and to last no more than 90 minutes.  Perhaps predictably, many Plenary Games over the years have been somewhat silly.  This year's was no exception...  All In The Best Possible Taste was the result of an offhand remark from my stepson Louis, which was taken seriously when I mentioned it to the other Yorkshire-based members of WD - John, Jerry and Martin.  The game involved each team (of 5-7 players) being given two (three if they bribed the umpires with drink) cards, each bearing the name of a battle.  Teams were then given 15 minutes to prepare their chosen battle to the others - using the medium of interpretive dance!  Actually, the game went rather well - not least due to the creativity and enthusiasm of the players.

The Battle of Taranto.  Some team members act the part of Italian AA gunners...

...and here come the, er, Swordfish.

The remainder of the evening was spent running Better Red Than Dead, for which Martin and I had brought our WW2 Soviet uniforms. 

A group of unwilling conscripts - sorry I mean patriotic volunteers - plays Better Red...

More conscripts.

Richard Brooks ran his Broken Square game several times.

Some squares broke - this one hasn't.  Yet.