Photo 366 – Week 4
Posted under Photo 366 2012
22 366 Then and now
Bertie went to party today which gave me some quality Lego building time with Diggy. We made the camper van on the left which was only mildly satisfying. It’s a sweet little thing but rather sparse to be honest. It might be cool to have a board and a bike up on top, but there are few creature comforts in the Lego van…two seats, a TV, one mug, a frying pan and a mug. It’s hardly the Ritz.
Compare and contrast with Katie’s Camper Van, to the right. Katie has been a beloved toy since Bertie was 2 and has been our present of choice for many of our friends children over the years. WOW toys no longer make Katie, she has gone to the big toy cupboard in the sky. Alas she has been usurped by ‘Casey camper van’, a more gender neutral version I suppose though neither of my boys were bothered by such nonsense. I digress.
Katie has got loads more going on that Lego van, she’s a high end kind of van. Inside she’s fitted out with a bed, a sink, vanity unit and a chest of drawers. Her matching luggage sits neatly on top, and the top flips down to reveal a garden AND hopscotch. Totally wonderous.She also has a picnic table and chairs, complete with a big fat cake on the table. And when you’re all caked up and you really want to get the party started, there’s a BBQ. Katie also has a trailer and I must say that this is where Katie gets….her edge. The top of the trailer comes off and is a tent for those unexpected guests. The bottom part is a swimming pool. Yes, an actual swimming pool. The fun just never stops when you’re out and about in Katie, it’s so hard to know what to do first..hopscotch, scoff cake, break open the BBQ or have a swim? The choices are almost endless.
Katie also comes with with a friendly dog, with its own basket and water bowl. The dog is, however, proportionally the size of a mutant brown bear when compared with Katie camper van man. But let’s gloss over that shall we? Katie camper van man is WELL UP for everything life can offer, just see his chirpy expression and thumbs up let’s goooooooooo stance. Very pleasing to see he’s a snapper too. I do hope that’s a Nikon round his neck.
Katie camper van woman has gone awol. It’s not impossible she’s in the bin as she suffered a serious attack of the Toddler Chews a while back. But Katie camper van man isn’t going to let that put a damper on things, no way. He might be single and in possession of the world’s largest mutant dog but, hey, he’s got a pool out back and a vanity unit. Life is sweet.
23 366 Up
I absolutely did not lie on the floor of my writing room to take this shot. Nope. Not at all.
24 366 Dragon Dance
Not seen: Diggy at the front of the green dragon…
Reception performed the most lovely dragon dance today, as part of their celebration of the Chinese New Year. They’d written a beautiful story to accompany the dance, a tale of friendship, battles and caves.
I was so impressed with the elegance and coordination of the dancing. No one fell over, neither dragon went the wrong way and nor did they bump in to each other. No mean feat with 12 4-5 year olds at the helm. Afterwards they wished us a Happy New Year in Chinese, and distributed red envelopes which they’d decorated with Chinese symbols and stuffed with chocolate coins and a ‘wish’.
They were all so excited to take part in the performance, and so proud of the costumes they’d made and rightly so. Not a dry eye in the house.
25 366 Contained
Spotted this very studious looking chap in Starbucks today, looking so contained. I wonder what he was working on? Laptop, notebook full of notes, ipod and coffee. He was still there 2 hours later when I walked past again. That’s free wifi for you.
First of this year’s ‘street photography’ shots, something I’d like to do more of though I’m very shy about it.
26 366 Work in progress
Lots of fantastic photo opportunities today…a perfect, complete rainbow complete with twin straddling the road on the way home from school and a wonderful golden crescent moon tonight. Somehow I ended up with an iphone snap of my current crochet project, a Babette blanket.
I’ve had a Babette in mind for a while, but finally decided to tackle it last week. Ideally I’d have splashed out on Yet More Yarn but the stash frowned and shook its wooly head and decreed otherwise. So I’m making it using only my stash. I’m appalled at the very small percentage that the blanket is going to make in the stash. I’ve resolved not to buy any more wool until I am destashed, but that’s going to take all year at this rate.
I love the pattern, but am dreading sewing in all the ends and sewing the 130ish squares together.
27 366 For sale
Introducing Frances, our boat. We’ve owned her for 4 years. We’ve never sailed her, set foot in her or even seen her until today. I know. Crazy.
The husband and I had lunch together today in town, and even sat outside by the river enjoying the lovely winter sun. Afterwards we pottered along the river admiring the boats and then remembered ‘Frances’ our boat. The husband said, ‘I wonder where she is” and then happened to peer over the wall of the local boatyard and there – finally – we spied our boat. She’s not looking very pretty here, she’s a proper Swallows & Amazons boat…14 foot clinker with red sails. Pity we (a) can’t sail and (b) clearly never had any intention of doing so.
No doubt we’ll sell her and then the boys will really get in to sailing and will never forgive us and will need therapy forever.
28 366 Dog cat
Not the shot I’d planned and not taken by me either. I went out in to the garden to shoot, Parker accompanied in his dog like fashion. I bent down to shoot, Parker said ‘why thank you I don’t mind if I do have a piggy back’ … and proceeding to cuddle and nuzzle me for 10 minutes. I gave up attempting a self-portrait and handed the camera to a delighted looking Bertie who took 1,000 shots.
poor katie camper man, maybe introduce him to lego lady at some stage and see if you can get a heated love affair going, make some use of the pool maybe hahahaha love this and the cranes beautiful
Clearly, Katie’s Camper Van ROCKS (even if Katie has gone walkabout!). But I have to admit that I thought that was a COW standing in the garden and only after I read your description of the mutant dog, did I have to go back and re-assess my cow decision!! THE POOL is definitely the selling point on this cutie pie.
It’s always so sad when the best toys get discontinued. If you’re interested, once the boys grow out of them, you could probably get big bucks via ebay for this “antique” toy!!!
Now that I’ve shared about the camper van… I have to return to your pics and admire the others!
Thanks for sharing!
Love this pic…ps did you know you are on the front page of Mumsnet today? x