In the Superman comics of old, citizens frequently seemed to be scanning the skies for strange sights. Oddly, this seems not to be the case today. But they miss much as a result. I live on one of the flight paths to Birmingham International Airport, and not far from Coventry Airport. The latter handles light aircraft and, in the summer months, vintage aircraft. As a result, one can often look up at the sound of unusual engines and see a Dragon Rapide, or a Dakota, or some other beautiful classic. But few do. Today, I had just stepped out into my tiny garden to peer at emerging buds when I heard something slightly different overhead, apparently descending towards Birmingham. I looked up to see that marvel of 1950s design - the VC10! With its T tail, four aft mounted engines, and raked wings it is still a design classic - 50 years after it first flew. And the one that passed overhead today will be one of the very last to fly, for the six that the RAF have (the last) are due to be retired at the end of this month. What a stroke of luck that I stepped out at that moment.
The Duke of Tradgardland illustrated one of his
recent posts with a couple of very nice medieval figures. Sadly, His Grace appears not to have the complete set, so I illustrate it here:
It is the Piers Plowman set from about 12 years ago - the Perry realisation of the famous English medieval poem by Langland. If you are not familiar with Piers, you can still get the idea from the figures here:
Plus ca change: the above figure could be an EU bankocrat - except that he/she would simply steal your money from the bank these days, and wouldn't have to actually go and find you.
Finally, my grandson in my garden yesterday, impersonating a 'monster', or, I thought, the Green Man:
Nice set that - I find myself more and more attracted to dioramas these days.
ReplyDeleteYes, dioramas that aren't model perfect dioramas, but more like wargaming dioramas - if that makes any sense.
DeleteThanks for posting the piccie of the ploughman and his oxen.
ReplyDeleteGreat green Man too.
It was a great little set - the sort of thing that German flats makers are good at, but in the round!
DeleteNice little vignette, and foliate head in your garden. The Green Man by Kingsley Amis is a jolly good read if you have not read it already.
ReplyDeleteOnly a child would have instantly seen the play possibilities in a handful of weeds. It's a long time since I've read Kingsley Amis (even as a boy I thought Take a Girl Like That a bit nasty), but I might well try Green Man.
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