Lathany

This is mostly for the benefit of Chris, but others may be interested. We're returned to Conan Exiles for the Isle of Siptah episode with sorcery. It's both familiar and new.



And I've made a Path of Dawn for you to follow from the SW shore to our current camp - but mind the crocodiles!

- Sunday 30th I met Liz at Kew, seeing her in person for the first time in two years.
- Errant ran yesterday and it now occurs to me that we should really check back in with the dig site.
- I've been playing a lot of Phoenix Point but, wuss that I am, on a nice safe difficulty level.
- I'm now on Spotify and was delighted to find the Secret World soundtrack on it.

Today's window was a woodpecker.

My online Monster Hunter group met for the last time this year (OK, as one of them said, there's only a week and a half left...). But we advanced the story line and there were some satisfying captures.

Various things from the last few days:
- I told work that I was planning to make spag bol on Friday evening. A said she'd looked up the recipe, wondering what sort of exotic thing it was and then realised. "Doesn't say much for my Italian roots," she commented ruefully.
- In Monster Hunter World, for the first time I played for an hour or so without Mr Fox as I had some catch-up to do. Half-way through his Palico (NPC sidekick) turned up to help me. And talked to my Palico about how great his Monster Hunter was.
- Bea and I tried nail varnish from A-England (with thanks to Antonia). Hers is purple and mine is blue. So far the colour is lovely, but both needed multiple coats.
- I've proof-read nine short stories this weekend (three of them mine) as my writers' group is going to print them in a book.
- Dark Fall: Ghost Vigil is rather good, and I plan to write a review now I've finished it. It's an indie game involving ghost gadgets, general creepiness and an OK plot/concept.
- XCom Chimera Squad is both rather different from standard XCom and rather awesome.

Today I finished the Silent Night demo (it took me about four hours). Here is a screenshot from the final sequence.



It's been a rather quiet day - I had a muddy walk and a piece of Christmas Cake this afternoon.

Last Monday I joined colleagues from work at HintHunt near Euston station for an hour long escape room. They have two rooms and the premise of my one was: "A crime scene investigation where a private detective (JM) has found a dead body in his office and he has been wrongly accused of murder. The police have sealed off the office and you have managed to gain access to the crime scene. You only have one hour to find the evidence and clues to wind up with case, prove JM’s innocence and find your way out of the locked room!"

I thought that the game was an excellent way to spend an hour. We did manage to escape with 1 minute and 37 seconds to go, although we needed hints galore (although, apparently, so does everyone else). Thoroughly recommended and, one day, I'll try the other room.

It being half-term, I took a couple of days off - Wednesday and Friday. On Wednesday I mainly used it to relax and enjoy not having to commute or work. On Friday I took the family off to Kew for the day.

We saw this year's Orchid display which, despite this photo not showing people, was very crowded.



The weather was lovely and sunny and the gardens looked beautiful.



We also saw some peacocks on our travels.



On Friday evening, we did pancakes (bateleur was out on Tuesday evening). Savoury ones with bolognese sauce and then sweet ones. My favourite was my last which I did with chocolate-and-caramel spread, a touch of maple syrup and some brandy.

Also on Friday, I started playing Goetia, a ghost game that I finished today.



It's an interesting puzzle game, although with a somewhat gloomy atmosphere. If and when my GameFAQs review is published, I'll link to that from here.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, I've caught one of the lurgies going around. I've felt a little too cold all day, somewhat depressed and a bit fragile.

However, I have finally finished the Christmas cards (I think) and done the last load of school washing this year (I hope).

Also, I've played a fair amount of Steamworld Heist and briefly popped in to the season event of Secret World Legends. I picked up a pet in the latter - it's not very cute.



It was a rare in the original game.

As happens every year, Secret World Legends launched its Xmas event. Logging on gets you a pet. Also, Krampus is back.



However, my favourite SWL event is The Christmas Conspiracy and this isn't up this year.

I've bought Dragon Age Origins Ultimate Edition for the PC, as the Playstation is very popular in this house. I've been playing through as a rogue for the first time (and as an elf for the first time).

We've just killed Flemeth.



With luck I should finish it whilst I'm still on leave.

The Xmas event in The Secret World ended yesterday. However, Star Wars was still going. Consequently one of our party got to snowball the Emperor.



It made me feel better about horribly losing to him later.