Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 2^nd September 2025.  As usual, we will start playing shorter games from 7.30pm as people arrive, until 8pm when we will start something a little longer.  Following a recent change of hands, the pub is now doing food again, so those that will be eating will be arriving from around 6.30pm.

This week, the “Feature Game” will be Parachute Panda (one review and another review).  This is a light, fun little filler game with a bit of take that, cute artwork and, of course, lots of pandas…

– Image by BGG Contributor W. Eric Martin, adapted by boardGOATS

And speaking of pandas…

Jeff walked into a bar with his pet panda. It was about 5pm, but they were ready for a good night of drinking. They started slowly, watching the Magpies play on the TV, drinking beer and eating peanuts. As the night went on, they moved to mixed drinks, and then shots, necking one after another. Finally, the barman called, “Last orders,” so, Jeff went to the bar one last time.

“One more for me… and one more for my panda,” he asked. The barman set them up and Jeff and the Panda knocked them back. Suddenly, after one drink too many, the panda collapsed in a heap on the floor. Jeff left some cash on the bar, put his coat on and headed for the door.

The barman called after him, “Hey you can’t just leave that lyin’ there…”

To which Jeff replied, “Don’t be daft—that’s not a lion, it’s a panda…!”

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 19^th August 2025.  As usual, we will start playing shorter games from 7.30pm as people arrive, until 8pm when we will start something a little longer.  Following a recent change of hands, the pub is now doing “basket meals”, so those that will be eating will be arriving from around 6.30pm.

This week, the “Feature Game” will be Critter Kitchen (rules, review and tutorial video).  This is a worker placement and programming game where players take on the role of restaurateurs competing in food challenges, and planning an epic meal to impress a celebrity food critic.

– Image from facebook.com, adapted by boardGOATS

And speaking of restaurants…

Jeff and Joe were having a chat over a pint, when out of the blue, Jeff suddenly said, “I really love meatballs, in fact, I love them so much that I’m planning to open a Swedish restaurant.”

Joe, was a little taken aback, but after a moment or two considering, replied, “I like them too, but it’s a bit of a stretch to open a restaurant to get them.  In any case, where are you going to find a Swedish chef?”

“Oh,” replied Jeff, “My chef won’t actually be Swedish—do you think anyone will notice I’m using an artificial Swedener on my food?”

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 5^th August 2025.  As usual, we will start playing shorter games from 7.30pm as people arrive, until 8pm when we will start something a little longer.  Following a recent change of hands, the pub has now started doing “basket meals”, so those that will be eating will be arriving from around 6.30pm.

This week, the “Feature Game” will be Cubed (rules, review and how-to-play video).  This is a very simple, sort of 3D, hexagonal/triominoes domino game which plays relatively quickly and, at least in theory, with a lot of players.

– Image from cubedthegame.com, adapted by boardGOATS

And speaking of Dominoes…

Jeff had been having a drink in Faringdon after work.  As he left the Old Crown in the Marketplace, a sign caught his eye and he went into the shop to find out more.

“Your sign outside says three strippers for £4.99,” said Jeff. “Are we talking topless or fully nude here please?”

“Sir,” replied the guy behind the counter, “This is Domino’s Pizza—they’re chicken strippers.”

“Ahhh…” Jeff responded.  “OK, now the pricing makes sense… How long is each dance please?”

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 22^nd July 2025.  As usual, we will start playing shorter games from 7.30pm as people arrive, until 8pm when we will start something a little longer.  Following a recent change of hands, the pub has just started doing “basket meals”, so those that will be eating will be arriving from around 6.30pm.

This week, to mark the announcement of the Spiel des Jahres winners, the “Feature Game” will be Looot (rules, review, how-to-play video).  This is a resource collection and management game where players take on the role of Vikings conquering new territory and building their village.

– Image by boardGOATS

And speaking of Vikings…

Jeff was working in a fancy-dress shop, so when he and his mates decided to form a disco pop band they each chose a costume. Jeff dressed up as Viking, Joe as a Caribbean pirate, Jim as a Mongol, Jon as a Bedouin raider, Jack as a Spanish conquistador.

The called themselves The Pillage People…

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 24^th June 2025.  As usual, we will start playing shorter games from 7.30pm as people arrive, until 8pm when we will start something a little longer.  Due to a recent change of hands, the pub is NOT doing food at the moment.

This week, the “Feature Game” will be the Ein Auftrag geht noch (aka Just One More Contract…) expansion to the popular push-your-luck sailing game Port Royal (rules, review, how-to-play video, expansion summary).  This is a light card game where players are trying to earn as much as they can from the Caribbean Sea, but if they set their goals too high, they might take home nothing.

– Image by boardGOATS

And speaking of sailors…

It was a dark, stormy, night at sea and Jeff was on his first assignment on-board ship—guard duty.  The Captain stepped out taking his dog for a walk and Jeff, slightly nervous snapped to attention, made a near-perfect salute, and snapped out, “Good Evening, sir!”

The Captain, who was out for some relaxation, returned the salute and said, “Good evening Seaman, nice night, isn’t it?”  Well it wasn’t a nice night, but Jeff wasn’t going to disagree with the Captain, so Jeff saluted again and replied “Yes sir!”.

The Captain continued, “You know there’s something about a stormy night that I find soothing, it’s really relaxing. Don’t you agree?”  Jeff didn’t agree, but then he was just a seaman, so without hesitation, he responded, “Yes sir!”

Then the Captain, pointing at the dog said, “This is a Golden Retriever, the best type of dog to train.” Jeff glanced at the dog, saluted yet again and said, ” Yes sir!”  The Captain continued, “I got this dog for my wife.” Without thinking, Jeff replied, “Good trade, sir!”

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 10^th June 2025.  As usual, we will start playing shorter games from 7.30pm as people arrive, until 8pm when we will start something a little longer.  Due to a recent change of hands, the pub is NOT doing food at the moment.

This week, the “Feature Game” will be Sierra (rules).  This is a shiny new game about travelling the Andes that received a UK preview at UK Games Expo ten days ago.  As we have a pre-release copy (flown in specially), we thought we’d take advantage of it to give the game an outing.

– Image from philibertnet.com

And speaking of The Andes…

Jeff and Joe were enjoying a drink one evening when Jeff mused, “Whenever you see photos of people in the Andes they are always dressed in woolly ponchos, why do you think that is?”

His mate replied, “I dunno, perhaps because that place is Chile…?”

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 27^th May 2025.  As usual, we will start playing shorter games from 7.30pm as people arrive, until 8pm when we will start something a little longer.  Due to a recent change of hands, the pub is NOT doing food at the moment.

This week, the “Feature Game” will be Flip 7 (rules, tutorial video, review).  This is a quick, push-your-luck card game along the lines of Blackjack that recently won a Golden Geek award and received a nomination for the Spiel des Jahres.

– Image by boardGOATS

And speaking of card games…

Jeff was chatting to Joe over a pint one evening.

“My wife says she’s leaving because of my obsession with Poker,” said Jeff.  “But I think she’s bluffing…”

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 13^th May 2025.  As usual, we will start playing shorter games from 7.30pm as people arrive, until 8pm when we will start something a little longer.  Due to a recent change of hands, the pub is NOT doing food at the moment.

This week, the “Feature Game” will be Moon (rules, tutorial video, review).  This is a card drafting game where players construct bases, vying to build the new lunar capital.

– Image by boardGOATS

And speaking of the moon…

Jeff was chatting to Joe over a pint. “I’d really love to travel to the moon,” sighed Joe.

“Me too, but it is too expensive.” replied Jeff. “The costs are simply out of this world…”

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 29^th April 2025.  As usual, we will start playing shorter games from 7.30pm as people arrive, until 8pm when we will start something a little longer.  Due to a recent change of hands, the pub is NOT doing food at the moment.

This week, the “Feature Game” will be Creature Comforts (rules, tutorial video, review).  In this game, players spend Spring, Summer, and Autumn gathering different resources from the forest and spending them to collect items that will home a more inviting place while the world outside is covered in a layer of snow in the Winter.

– Image by BGG contributor hipopotam

And speaking of snow…

Last year, Jeff and his wife had bought themselves a tandem for Christmas, but the first chance they got to try it out was January when there was snow on the ground. Reluctant to put off the excitement any longer they decided to take it out anyhow.

It was freezing cold out, and riding a tandem can be a little tricky especially when it is icy, but after a couple of tries and a few near misses, they were going.

“Hey, l-l-look at us!” cried Jeff. “We’re riding a b-icicle built for two!”