Vampifan's Views 55 - Monthly Musings 33

Vampirella by my favourite Vampi artist, Joe Jusko. She looks gorgeous!

So another month draws to a close. It has been a month of ups and downs for me. The big good news story for me was that I recently had a check up at Sunderland Eye Infirmary to see how I was getting on after my cataract operation on my left eye last month. That went amazingly well. The nurse who examined me asked me to read an eye chart with my right eye first. This is my bad eye. I could read the top three lines okay but I struggled with the fourth line. Lines five and six were just a complete blur. However, when I read the chart with my left eye I could read all six lines. Even the bottom line, which was very small was perfectly legible. The nurse was delighted and I felt just amazing. I later saw a consultant, who was just as pleased with my progress and she booked me an appointment in October to have the operation done on my right eye. I can't wait to get it done so I can have perfect vision in both eyes. I came home feeling ten feet tall and utterly delighted. This check up that I had last week gave me a massive boost and also something to look forward to. Having already undergone one cataract operation I now know what to expect and I have no fear or anxiety about the operation. I wish I could get it done sooner but fortunately I'm very patient.
On the hobby front, things have gone really well. I have just about finished making my Stoelzel's Structures' Brummie's Burgers fast food restaurant. All of the furniture, fittings and props have been made and glued in place. All that remains to do is the roof, which I have started on. It looks fantastic and I can't wait to finish it. I should complete it next week, then I'll photograph it and review it as soon as I can. So what will I make next? Whenever I complete a building I like to switch tactics and make some more card vehicles. I haven't made any of Carl's vehicle's from his Auto Park set, which is something I really must remedy. Top of my wish list for vehicles are a fleet of black SUVs. I'll probably make four of them and as luck would have it, they are an option in the Auto Park set. The black SUV is such an iconic vehicle with a multitude of uses.
On the figure painting front, I have now finished painting the last of my Zombicide season 2 survivors and zombivors. Currently, I am painting more Zombicide season 1 zombies. I have 30 left to do, which will complete the second and final tray of zombies from the original boxed set. I have split them up into two lots of 15 to make painting them a bit easier. With both trays of zombies you get four of each pose, giving you eight of each sculpt in total. I differentiated between them in the first tray by painting each set of four in different colours. For the second tray I have decided that all 32 will be converted. Remember, I have already made my Laurel and Hardy zombies from this tray. So, I have recently converted two lots of four zombie Runners, four female zombie Walkers and three zombie Fatties. Most are simple conversions but I did push the boat out on one of the Fatties by converting him into a chef. Once they are finished I'll convert and paint the remaining 15 - 11 male zombie Walkers and 4 female zombie Walkers. Getting the second tray of zombies painted will give me enough zombies to play the game without having to resort to using unpainted figures, something I hate doing.
The picture of Vampirella I used for this post was painted by Joe Jusko, who, in my opinion, paints her better than any other artist. This painting was one of a number used for the front cover to celebrate the recent relaunch of the new Vampirella monthly comic. Dynamite Entertainment went overboard with variant covers for this relaunch, producing a staggering 26 different covers! Despite being one of Vampi's biggest fans I only bought one Vampirella #1 comic - the variant cover painted by Joe Jusko.
Incredible as it may seem, I have now read all of the novels I own. This leaves me with the option(s) of buying something new or revisiting some old favourites. I've gone for the cheaper option and have begun re-reading one of my all-time favourite vampire trilogies - The Vampire Odyssey by Scott Ciencin. It is over 15 years since I last read them. I just know I will enjoy them all over again. All three were originally published in 1992 and I can vividly remember buying them on one of my holidays to Florida, USA.
That's all for now, folks. Take care and be happy.