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Latest News and Blog Posts from Wayne “Pendragon” Owens.
BBW – Llandyrnog Village Coffee Morning
This morning Hugh, Nev, Clive and myself all popped along to the Llandyrnog Village Coffee Morning.
While there we drank coffee (Well it was in the name of the event), ate biscuits, and gave a presentation on Blood Bikes Wales to the people in attendance. We also answered loads of questions, and let people take photographs with the Blood Bikes.
I also won a cake in the raffle, which is the first time I have won any raffle in a very long time.
After dropping off the Bikes and equipment on the way home, we decided to stop off an have a pint, and chat about the event.
While there we decided to go visit a Rose Croix meeting, that we had never visited since a call for support came out via email while we were in the pub. So a good aday all around.
Blood Bikes Wales
Blood Bikes Wales is a charity that transports blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, donor breast-milk & any other urgently required medical items to hospitals at night, weekends and bank holidays. This service is provided completely free of charge, allowing the NHS to divert funds where they are needed most.
Our riders are a hardy bunch that operate in all but the very worst weather.
Bag of Dungeon
I have recently been given a Bag of Dungeon to look at, so I have decided to give it a go single player.
Bag of Dungeon is a dungeon crawling tile-based game harking back to the good old deadly days of exploring dungeons, slaying monsters and stealing treasure. It’s a simple-to-play tabletop game where 1-4 players send a party of adventurers into the ever-changing catacombs in a quest to find the Ring of Creation before escaping with their lives and their loot.
But can you trust your fellow adventurers? To begin with, you are all loyal to the quest and each other. But once the Ring is discovered it will cast a shadow of doubt and deceit over those who seek to steal it. You may decide that being a lone wolf is a far smarter choice than loyalty, even if it means the death of your former companions.
You will meet monsters, find treasure and use items to stay alive and escape with the Ring before the dungeon seals itself shut, imprisoning for all eternity anyone who remains.
The game has a simple but clever mechanic; great for young and/or new gamers to learn fast and take part while still giving more experienced gamers a satisfying time at the table. The game takes 20-60 minutes and changes every time you play.
—description from the publisher
I gave it a quick run-through, during which the Goddess of Luck was playing with me. I played with two characters, the Dwarf and the Elf. The Dwarf had an attack of 2d6+3 and on his first move found a chest which contained a +3battleaxe, and an attack bear, giving him a 3d6+6 (The end dragon only had a 4d6 attack). And since you can use an Action Point to pull your companion into the battle giving you a 1d6 extra, but me at 4d6+6 which decimated the Dragon.
So for this test I am going to play as just a single character.
I again picked Duric the Dwarf, who I have decided is wandering the Dungeon looking for shiny things.
II set the bag up, and took my first move.
Round 1: The dungeon turned to the right and I encountered my first monster, which was a Goblin (1d6+1). The battle lasted one attack before I killed the monster and looted his body. I found a health potion which will come in very handy. I then advanced forward.
Round 2: I advanced and ran into a Mummy (1d6+4) I have been lucky so far with only finding low level monsters. This battle was harder and I took 3 points of damage before I won. Looting the body I found a Loyal Bear (+1d6) which I have decided was chained up by the mummy and not in one of its pockets. Do mummy’s even have pockets?. Looking forward I could see a healing pool, which I used to heal my damage..
Round 3: The dungeon just twisted left and right as I made my way deeper and deeper into the dungeon.
Round 4: I came upon another Goblin (1d6+1) and the battle was a massacre. He rolled a 5+1 giving him 6. I rolled 2 6’s which was a critical hit giving me 24+3 and my bear rolled a 3. so 30 points of damage to his 5 health. I did get a nice teleport crystal which I believe may save my life at some point. I then continued along the tunnel and ran instantly into another Goblin (1d6+1) who again did not last more than 1 combat turn, I did get a nice set of steel armour from him.
Round 5: The tunnel turned to the right and right again sending me back in the direction I had came from where I ran into my first tear 2 monster, a Skeleton (2d6+1). Defeating him gave me 2 items of loot, I got a Magic Shield and a bomb. My Dwarf is now inanly giggling while petting his holy hand grenade of baBoom!
Round 6: I continued along the tunnel meeting another Mud Monster (2d6+2) who thanks to my bear stood no chance. Looting him I found a small chest which contained a +2 Magic Sword, and an Elven bow. Alas I now have too much equipment to carry, so I need to leave some items behind. I think I will leave the Bow because good Dwarves do not use flimsy Eleven weapons! and I will also leave behind the teleport crystal so that I can have a sword and shield.
Round 7: Moving on I arrived at a crossroads, and set of a trap of flying daggers. (2d6 damage) I rolled really bad and got 12 points of damage to my 11 health, or instant death! BUT! the Goddess of Luck was with me, my Armour and Magic Shield prevented 3 points of damage so I only lost 9 health, and the health potion I looted at the start of the dungeon healed me for 10 point. So I am back at full health after a very lucky save.
Round 8: I used 3 of my actions to look in the 3 other directions of the crossroads, and I can see monsters in each direction. So with my last point I picked one at random and moved in to attack a Zombie (1d6+2) who my dwarf killed by chopping off its head with his magic sword. Looting gave me a Morning star, which my dwarf has decided is more dwarfy than a poncy magic sword, and so is swapping his weapon.
Round 9: Still exploring the monsters around the crossroads I encountered a Mirror Monster (Same Base as me 2d6+3) so Mirror-Dwarf V Dwarf+Bear+Morning star. I won without taking any damage thanks to my magic shield and armour. Looting set off a spear trap which gave me 1 point of damage even with my armour, I also got another set of armour which the bear refused to wear, so I left it there.
Round 10: let me take out the last crossroads monster, a Zombie (1d6+2), and I looted from him a lovely pair of magic books of +1movement. I also came across another crossroads.
Round 11: Time to explore the 3 other junctions of this crossroads. In two directions the dungeon continues on, but in the 3rd is the exit. As I look at the exit a dragon wakes and looks at me, at the same time sealing the exit so only the magic ring can open it and allow exit from the dungeon. I rolled for where the ring popped up, and thanks to Goddess Luck the ring spawned at the exit. So all i need to do to win is kill a dragon. The question is, do I explore more for better items before fighting the Dragon, or do I attack.
Round 12: I was going to look for better items, and monsters to kill but while I was deciding which direction to head, my Dwarf shouted For Gladhammer and threw his Holy Hand Grenade of BaBoom at the dragon and attacked!. The Bomb does 9 points of damage taking the dragon down to 11 health as the dwarf jumps into battle. So its now a battle between the Dragon (4d6) at 11 health v Dwarf and Bear at (3d6+5) with a -3Damage and 10 health.
First attack and I lost 2 health (8).
Second attack I lost but my armour took the hit
Third attack and I struck a lucky blow with my morning star dealing 7 points of damage (4)
Fourth attack I struck and did 5 points of damage killing the Dragon. The bear’s hit was 5 so he got the kill, ripping out the throat of the dragon.
I unlocked the exit with the ring, and saw freedom.
All in all it was an enjoyable Dungeon run.
This game allows for 1 to 4 players to have a quick and simple dungeon run which is different every time you play it. There are also special cards to add extra quest tasks in your game. There are even some PVP items. and you can create your own items, and characters. There is also an expansion “Bag of Dungeon 2”.
I would recommend this to any gamer, and I would like to thank the person who sent it me to look at.
A Talk at Wrexhamian Chapter – The Missing Word on the Plate of Gold
This evening I attended Wrexhamian Royal Arch Chapter at the Maesgwyn Hall, to give a talk.
The Chapter had nothing planned for the evening, so Scribe Ezra contacted me a couple of weeks ago to ask if I could arrange something for the evening. I of course said yes, since we should all be getting a daily advancement in Masonic Knowledge. I asked if they had anything in particular that they would like a talk on, and I was informed it was my choice.
I considered multiple options for a topic, before discussing it with the Sunday Evening Beer club, and finally settling for “The Missing Word on the Plate of Gold”.
The talk was about what used to be on the plate of gold, and the meaning and symbolism behind it all, and when it changed to what we have today, and more importantly, why it had to change.
The first and last. 300 Years of the BoC
This morning I popped along to the Rhyl Masonic Hall to attend the meeting of the North Wales Lodge of Provincial Grand Stewards No 8865.
Last year was the 300th year anniversary of the Book of Constitutions, and every Province was asked to do something special to mark the event. Our Province got the North Wales Association of Masonic Study to create a presentation, and give it across the Province at every Installed Masters Lodge, The Stewards, and Grand Lodges, and the IPZ Chapter.
I arranged the year to start at a meeting of the Maesgwyn Lodge of Installed Masters, and I was here there today for the last presentation to a Lodge. It has been a good years run, and the talk will stay in the NWAMS’s archive and will be available to be given at normal lodges going forward.
So if anyone in North Wales would like to hear the talk, get in touch with the NWAMS and invite a speaker along to your event.
2023: Year in Review
I used to end the year with the “The Year that was XXXX” meme post.
I have not copied those posts over to this blog yet, and am unsure if I will, (I probably will when I get this place fully updated).
But I did want to do some sort of look back over the year post, since this last year I got this site live(ish), I had a lot of fun giving talks, visiting lodges, promoting Blood Bikes, getting myself a speakers profile. Basically 2023 was a good year and I wanted to mark its ending in some way.
Writing
2023 was a fantastic year in relation to writing.
I finished writing a talk “The True Masonic Church” and even presented it several times.
My book “Widows Sons – Outlaw Bikers or Masonic Ambassadors” was the best selling masonic book in both the UK and USA on two different occasions. Ok, It was only an Amazon bestseller, but I am still proud.
The first of the NWAMS books that I am redoing is almost finished and should be released early 2024.
Masonry
My Masonic year of 2023 was an interesting one. At the start of the year I installed my last successor into the chair and was not in any chair of any order for the first time in 6 years. I was also not on the progression ladder anywhere for the first time since I joined Freemasonry in 2006. I really enjoyed my retirement for the 10 weeks it lasted. I agreed to go into the chair of Clwyd College SRIA to help them out. I enjoyed my retirement while it lasted.
I also gave 4 talks on behalf of the North Wales Association of Masonic Study, along with 4 Blood Bikes talks to various Lodges.
In total, during 2023 I attended 49 masonic meetings (14 of which were visits) across 20 Masonic Halls. I ended they year on the new Masonic season which looks to be a busy one. I have therefore decided to record the year in a series of Blog posts The Year of a Busy Mason.
Blood Bikes
2023 has been a great year in relation to Blood Bikes Wales. I’ve been out and about all year long giving talks and presentations to various groups including :- Women’s Institute, Ladies Groups, Church Groups, Masonic Organisations, etc.
From various talks we were able to raise over £15,000 which was a very good amount. I would like to thank everyone who has helped out over the year.
The Year That Was – 2023
Its that time of year again.
Where I look back over the previous year and answer the same 40 questions.
1. What did you do in 2023 that you’d never done before?
OK, New things :-
- Became an Amazon Bestselling Masonic Author in both the UK & USA at same time.
- Got my first Speaking booking from the N.W.A.M.S.
- Visited an Athol Lodge for the first time.
- Had a role in the Opening/Closing of the Provincial Chapter Meeting.
- Gave the First talk on St Edmunds.
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I gave up on resolutions many years back as I never seem able to stick to them.
Although I am challenging myself for 2024 to get at least one of the NWAMS books published and available to buy, and get my website updated.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
None that I can think off.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
A few Masonic Friends passed away this year, including my Seconder.
5. What countries did you visit?
The usual suspects of England/Wales/Scotland.
6. What would you like to have in 2024 that you lacked in 2023?
For 2024 I have two things I would like to have.
- Updated Personal Website.
- NWAMS Book published.
7. What dates from 2023 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
- 14th January – My first visit to an Athol Lodge to see a good friend go in the chair.
- 7th October – Being part of the opening/closing of Provincial Grand Chapter.
- 18th November – My book hitting #1 in Freemasonry around the world.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Noticing my phone going nuts during a rehearsals meeting, and checking it to find out my book on the Widows Sons was going nuts online, with people around the world mass buying it pushing it up the charts.
The funniest part was seeing people discussing it on Facebook groups I am a member of, and strangers claiming to know the author.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting my website updated as I had planned.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing, other than colds and the odd accidental paper cut.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Well this is a hard one this year.
I guess the Windows Tablet I got so I could do PowerPoint presentations with a projector. A Tablet makes it a lot lighter and smaller to carry about.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
- Myself, Just because.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The people who are trying their best to destroy every TV series, Book Series, Film Series that had male characters, and forcing their own woke agenda onto everything to the detriment of good storytelling or actual plot.
The world is getting more and more ridiculous.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Books, More Books, Possibly a few more Books.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Taking part of the Provincial Grand Chapter Opening/Closing.
It was cool to actually have a role other than just walking in and out.
16. What song will always remind you of 2023?
Even though I have not seen the episode since I stopped watching the show when the message became more important than the story.
The Goblin Song from Doctor Who’s Christmas special.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- a) happier or sadder? Happier
- b) thinner or fatter? Same
- c) richer or poorer? Richer
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Writing, Following my Dreams, Conquering the World.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? .
Getting upset by the behavior of people.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Eating too much, drinking too much, and doing nothing.
21. What was your favourite month of 2023?
December. Due to book sales, and realising I had raised over £15,000 for Blood Bikes Wales over the year.
22. Did you fall in love in 2023?
Alas No. I am high functioning Sociopath.
23. How many one-night stands?
I do not believe in one-night stands. How can you tell if you realy like something unless you try it at least a couple of times?
24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Way too many to mention, As well as all the excellent ongoing TV shows, There was the new finds of :-
- The Traitors.
- Reacher.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
You know what? NO! I do not believe I hate anyone this year that I did not hate previously. Maybe I am growing as a person, becoming more enlightened? Or is everyone already on THE LIST
26. What was the best book you read?
This is always a very hard question. According to Goodreads I have read about 155 books this year. Trying to pick the best of that lot is not going to be easy.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
None. Mostly this year I have been listening to classic rock radio station, so nothing new.
28. What did you want and get?
A new Tablet.
29. What did you want and not get?
A new website.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
- Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I am still not having birthdays. I have decided to stop having them so that I can live forever.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If the Woke agenda was removed from all entertainment.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2023?
Mostly Cargo Pants (I like the extra pockets) Jumpers.
Oh and suits, because suits are awesome…… True story
34. What kept you sane?
Sane? Sane? “You Keep Using That Word, I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means”.
I think the Sunday Night Beer Chat has done a lot to keep me sane, and save lives!
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn.
I may have been re-watching the Suicide and Harley Quinn films.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
This year there are 2.
Firstly the fact the Welsh NHS is falling apart and yet our Welsh Government have wasted millions on reducing the 30mph national limit down to 20, which is causing businesses to close, villages to be cut off from public transport. They have wasted even more changing the areas of Wales to split up areas that voted against Labour and created 18 new areas, so that they can stay in power at the next election.
And even worse than that was the Wrexham Local Development Plan. Wrexham councillor’s voted against the suggested Labour Government plan to build 1000s of homes on green areas with no infrastructure. So the Welsh Labour Government said “You voted wrong. Do it again!” so Wrexham had another vote and again voted against the plan. So the Welsh Labour Government said “You voted wrong. Do it correctly”. And after the vote was against it again, the Welsh Labour Government said “You did it wrong. Do it one last time! Oh and anyone who votes against it will be fines £10000’s and sent to jail!”.
There is no democracy in Wales.
37. Who did you miss?
No one. “ high functioning Sociopath” Remember? Remember? from Question 22?
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I do not think I met any new person who exceptionally stood out.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2023?.
All publicity is good publicity!
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I’m knitting with only one needle
Unraveling fast. It’s true
I’m driving only three wheels these days
But, my dear, how about you?
The last Masonic Meeting of 2023 – Christmas Dinner Count
This evening was my last Masonic Meeting of 2023!
Tonight was the turn of Wrexhamian Lodge’s December meeting, which is usually more of a social gathering than a meeting, and a chance for us all to escape families between Christmas and New Year. Depending on how many excited kids you had to deal with over the Christmas week, this escape is necessary.
The night was cursed with multiple issues, like the Caterers had booked out the Festive Board room without asking us, so we were forced to eat upstairs in a small room. And the Lodge room and upstairs doors have been secured with keylocks, which the Lodges have not been given the codes too.
When we eventually got in and setup, we found we were short a few officers, so I stood in as JW.
The night had 3 talks/presentations.
- A daily advancement of Masonic Knowledge.
- The Royal Arch, and what’s it about.
- The MCF, where does our money go.
It ended up being an enjoyable evening, and a great way to see out 2023.
Now, I did not stop for the meal this evening, but since the year is now over I can tally up the Christmas Dinner count. I started doing this the year I was Active Steward and ended up having a Christmas Dinner count in the double figures!.
This year I was lucky because my work did not have a meal, and I skipped a Lodge’s festive board. So the count is 5 Masonic and 1 Personal Christmas Dinners, so 6 in total.
Note to Self: I think I did accidently agree to give a talk at the Next Wrexhamian Chapter meeting, I need to check that.
Merry Christmas (2023)
I would like to wish a very Merry Christmas to every Group, Organisation, and Person who has supported Blood Bikes Wales over 2023.
Whether it is from Donations, booking us to come give a talk on what we at Blood Bikes Wales do, or by running a fundraiser or event. Whatever you have done over the year, has been truly appreciated by us.
I thank you for your support, and look forward to more Talks and events in the New Year.
So on behalf of Welsh Nev, Hugh Jackson, and Myself we would like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas, and a prosperous New year.
BBW – Donation from Clwyd Lodge of IM
Today I, popped along to a pub with Nev and Hugh to meet up with W.Bro Paul Smith.
We were there to have a pint, and to receive a donation of £200 from the Clwyd Lodge of Installed Masters for Blood Bikes Wales. I had a great time catching up, and discussing the great work the Freemasons do for Charity, and what the Provincial Almoner does. It was very educational.
While out we also received a bonus donation from Joyce Jackson and her friends for £95.
Pictured are Hugh, Paul, and Nev. (I am as always designated photographer)
(I have not included this in the Year of a Busy Mason series since I am here as a Blood Bikes Wales person and not a Mason.)
Blood Bikes Wales
Blood Bikes Wales is a charity that transports blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, donor breast-milk & any other urgently required medical items to hospitals at night, weekends and bank holidays. This service is provided completely free of charge, allowing the NHS to divert funds where they are needed most.
Our riders are a hardy bunch that operate in all but the very worst weather.
BBW – Donation from St Melyds Lodge
This evening I popped along to St Melyds Lodge at Meliden Masonic Hall, for their Christmas meeting.
We had been asked to attend because the Lodge had raised some money for Blood Bikes, and had been waiting for a chance to hand it over. So Nev, Hugh and Myself visited. On this occasion we took along Wrexhamian’s latest Fellowcraft and Blood Bike member with us.
It was a very enjoyable evening, especially since it was their Christmas meeting so the festive board was full of singing and Christmas cracker hats.
I believe this is my last Masonic meeting before Christmas, so the last Masonic Christmas Dinner of the season. This year was not too bad with just 5 Masonic Christmas Meals.
The members of the lodge presented Blood Bikes Wales with £1400 which they raised from a charity event.