Last week I spent a couple of days with my youngest son Ric, the street performer. He lives near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire, a lovely little town which I had not visited before. I gave my camera a good workout, and if you are interested you can see my pictures here. Whenever I stay with him I find something interesting to photograph. A year ago it was spare legs, and he was so pleased with the picture I took that he framed it and hung it in his workroom where the legs are also hanging on the wall. I was well chuffed!
What intrigued me this time was his hands-free Ikea dustbin. I had been trying to open it with my right foot on the pedal to drop a teabag into it, but this got me all of a twist, until I realised it would be much easier if I used my left foot, which would leave me still standing square in front of the bin! When I questioned the arrangement, he explained that he had been fed up with having to use one hand to open it, leaving only one hand for scraping plates etc, so he worked out this rig. It's hard to believe, but when you press the pedal, the lid actually lifts at the front, and Bob's your uncle, as they used to say. 
The pedal came from a 'hi-hat' cymbal stand from a drum kit, and if you don't know what that is, which I didn't, I have found a picture for you.Yesterday afternoon one of my grandsons had his eighth birthday party, and Ric (who is his godfather) entertained them with an outdoor game which he has invented and constructed called "Card Sharp Capers". This involves guessing the values of giant playing cards, with wrong guesses incurring penalties of buckets of water tipped over their heads! Two children play at a time, and can enjoy the fun of pulling the handle to douse each other.
4 comments:
I still say "Bob's your uncle". And "Nellie's your aunt" too :-)
A lovely insight to your visit with your son.
Ingenious invention Grommit!
Dear Ms Taylor,
I've found your blog by chance, and I've been reading it for a while. It's interesting, entertaining, and I think it's one of the most original blogs I've seen around here... maybe that's because (if you'll excuse me) it's the first time I see a 78 years old person writing a blog. It's admirable.
I like what you write and the way you write it. I think I can learn a lot with this blog for many reasons: first, because I'm just 23, and it'll be really interesting to read the opinions and thoughts of an experienced lady :-) Then, because I'm Spanish and I'm interested in practising English, so if you let me, I'll be happy to practise with your blog.
Of course, I invite you to visit mine, although it's written in Spanish.
Well Ms Taylor, nice to meet you! :-) I'll come back to your space. Best wishes.
I have emailed you personally, but I want to reply here too. I am discovering through my blog another person who has revealed herself as I get old. I think she may have been there when I was young, but marriage and raising children needed somebody more serious. One of the things I am trying to say now through my blog, is that this time of life is your last chance for being who you are, and all that you are, fearlessly and with joy.
I have visited your blog, and can read much of your Spanish, so we can learn from each other, which will be a pleasure for both of us.
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