In an effort to be a good boy scout and get the jump on my next scheduled OU course, Children’s Literature’, starting in September I’ve borrowed a couple of books from t’ut library that are on the reading list.
The first one is Philip Reeve’s ‘Mortal Engines’, which I’m about a third of the way through.
Not particularly impressed, if I’m honest, ‘cos even as a ten year old (slap bang in the middle of the target age range) I’m pretty sure I would have found the whole premise of a post apocalyptic world where entire cities were mounted on tank-like traction bases a little bit, erm, silly, but I have enjoyed some of the tongue in cheek references to bands like the 13th floor elevators and songs by the likes of Dylan (Idiot Wind) and the Knack (my Shirona)... there’s a few other ‘pop-culture’ references too – or, more likely, lots more pop culture references I haven’t recognised (Invisible Worm seems to ring a bell...?) ; but then I am only 100 or so pages in.
Anyhoo, this is a bit that caught my eye because it was amusing to see the ol’ home town pop up at all, and to see it pop up in a guise that is so far removed from both the ‘disgusted of...’ and ‘where rich people go to die...’ contexts that are usually applied:
[We join our heroes Tom and Hester just after they have crept onboard an unknown town that almost run them over]
Hester motioned for him to keep quiet and led him towards the foggy stern, where he could see a tall building that must be the Town Hall. As they drew nearer they made out a sign above the entrance which read:
Welcome to
TUNBRIDGE WHEELS
Population 500 467212
And still rising!
Above it flapped a black and white flag; a grinning skull and two crossed bones.
“Great Quirke!” gasped Tom. “This is a pirate suburb!”...
*
Can’t help thinking, as I typed that, that the whole concept seems a bit derivative... Which Monty Python film was it that had Insurance office buildings setting ‘sail’ and trundling off in search of booty and adventure? Yerse... Any old how, I still like the idea of good ol’ TW as a ‘pirate suburb’, and if they ever be looking for a black-hearted, salty old seadog to take the helm as Captain I’ll happily take on the job. A-ha, me hearties, & cetera & cetera...
Poor old Ben had to dip out on a JAWS (Just Add Water and Scouts) day on Saturday he’d been really looking forward to. He was all lined up for jet-skiing, scuba diving, and windsurfing etc but instead had to spend his day running to and from his bedroom to the crapper on account of the squitts and vomits. Fortunately he managed the course successfully all day (and night) Saturday and Sunday, but there was an unfortunate following through incident on Friday before the full implications of his upset tummy became apparent to him. It did not help that he was on a school trip at a local outdoor activity centre, but all in all he handled the whole situation incredibly well and nobody was any the wiser ;). I will spare you the details, but suffice to say I found an extra carrier bag in his packing I wasn’t anticipating, and it wasn’t a lovely thoughtful gift from the souvenir shop. Mind you, it was something he made himself, so I guess that makes it even more special! If he happens to read this he will kill me...
We suspect it might have been the fault of an undercooked sossidge or chicken wing, as the class had a barbecue on the Thursday night. Beware the burnt-on-the-outside-raw-on-the-inside banger; it has been the downfall of many a brave man and seen the ruination of many a pair of undercrackers!
Heavens, only a week and a half and the summer holidays start. Yoiks! Oh lord we beseech thee... six weeks of sunshine with rain between 10pm and 5am every night. It’s not much to ask, is it, and it makes a huge difference to us poor old parents... I’ve stocked up on Valium and Paracetamol for me and have managed to negotiate double rations of Ritalin for the boy for the duration... I jest of course. I wouldn’t really take Paracetamol that casually...
Scouts, Squitts and Roaming Cities
In an effort to be a good boy scout and get the jump on my next scheduled OU course, Children’s Literature’, starting in September I’ve borrowed a couple of books from t’ut library that are on the reading list.
The first one is Philip Reeve’s ‘Mortal Engines’, which I’m about a third of the way through.
Not particularly impressed, if I’m honest, ‘cos even as a ten year old (slap bang in the middle of the target age range) I’m pretty sure I would have found the whole premise of a post apocalyptic world where entire cities were mounted on tank-like traction bases a little bit, erm, silly, but I have enjoyed some of the tongue in cheek references to bands like the 13th floor elevators and songs by the likes of Dylan (Idiot Wind) and the Knack (my Shirona)... there’s a few other ‘pop-culture’ references too – or, more likely, lots more pop culture references I haven’t recognised (Invisible Worm seems to ring a bell...?) ; but then I am only 100 or so pages in.
Anyhoo, this is a bit that caught my eye because it was amusing to see the ol’ home town pop up at all, and to see it pop up in a guise that is so far removed from both the ‘disgusted of...’ and ‘where rich people go to die...’ contexts that are usually applied:
[We join our heroes Tom and Hester just after they have crept onboard an unknown town that almost run them over]
Hester motioned for him to keep quiet and led him towards the foggy stern, where he could see a tall building that must be the Town Hall. As they drew nearer they made out a sign above the entrance which read:
Welcome to
TUNBRIDGE WHEELS
Population
500 467212And still rising!
Above it flapped a black and white flag; a grinning skull and two crossed bones.
“Great Quirke!” gasped Tom. “This is a pirate suburb!”...
*
Can’t help thinking, as I typed that, that the whole concept seems a bit derivative... Which Monty Python film was it that had Insurance office buildings setting ‘sail’ and trundling off in search of booty and adventure? Yerse... Any old how, I still like the idea of good ol’ TW as a ‘pirate suburb’, and if they ever be looking for a black-hearted, salty old seadog to take the helm as Captain I’ll happily take on the job. A-ha, me hearties, & cetera & cetera...
Poor old Ben had to dip out on a JAWS (Just Add Water and Scouts) day on Saturday he’d been really looking forward to. He was all lined up for jet-skiing, scuba diving, and windsurfing etc but instead had to spend his day running to and from his bedroom to the crapper on account of the squitts and vomits. Fortunately he managed the course successfully all day (and night) Saturday and Sunday, but there was an unfortunate following through incident on Friday before the full implications of his upset tummy became apparent to him. It did not help that he was on a school trip at a local outdoor activity centre, but all in all he handled the whole situation incredibly well and nobody was any the wiser ;). I will spare you the details, but suffice to say I found an extra carrier bag in his packing I wasn’t anticipating, and it wasn’t a lovely thoughtful gift from the souvenir shop. Mind you, it was something he made himself, so I guess that makes it even more special! If he happens to read this he will kill me...
We suspect it might have been the fault of an undercooked sossidge or chicken wing, as the class had a barbecue on the Thursday night. Beware the burnt-on-the-outside-raw-on-the-inside banger; it has been the downfall of many a brave man and seen the ruination of many a pair of undercrackers!
Heavens, only a week and a half and the summer holidays start. Yoiks! Oh lord we beseech thee... six weeks of sunshine with rain between 10pm and 5am every night. It’s not much to ask, is it, and it makes a huge difference to us poor old parents... I’ve stocked up on Valium and Paracetamol for me and have managed to negotiate double rations of Ritalin for the boy for the duration... I jest of course. I wouldn’t really take Paracetamol that casually...
:D